Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The atmosphere at Shrek Academy was unbearably oppressive, and everyone felt as though a boulder weighed down their hearts.
Because Tang Hao had arrived.
Though Zhao Wei Haotian Douluo wore tattered clothes and had messy hair, his aura was so oppressive that no one could catch their breath.
Especially when he saw Tang San: his eyes filled with both heartache and fury. He had only been gone for a few months. Why had his son been disfigured?
Tang Hao's voice was hoarse, laced with a chill.
"Who? Who did this?"
Yu Xiaogang steeled himself and stepped forward.
"His Excellency Haotian, it was a young man named Xuan Qing. Behind him stand Dugu Bo and a female Titled Douluo whose Martial Soul is the Hell Demon Dragon."
"The Hell Demon Dragon? What kind of Martial Soul is that? Why have I never heard of it?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head.
"I'm not entirely sure either, but that Martial Soul's appearance clearly matches a legendary Soul Beast recorded in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's archives."
"That Titled Douluo didn't release her Soul Rings, only her Martial Soul, but its oppressive might was far greater than Dugu Bo's. I estimate she's at least level ninety-five."
Tang Hao fell silent.
Stronger than Dugu Bo meant she was at least level ninety-five.
An expert of that level wouldn't be easy to deal with. No one who reached that level was a pushover.
And Dugu Bo was there too, a master of poison. If it came down to a fight to the death, even Tang Hao would have to think twice.
Tang Hao continued questioning him.
"What's that boy's background? How old is he? How strong?"
Yu Xiaogang told him everything he knew.
He was under ten years old, at level thirty-seven, with an Azure Dragon Martial Soul and a ten-thousand-year third Soul Ring. Although he had a Beast Martial Soul, he also carried a long spear, so Yu Xiaogang suspected he had Twin Martial Souls.
The more Tang Hao heard, the darker his expression grew.
If they had taken someone like him in early and made him their dog, he would have been a tremendous asset in opposing Spirit Hall. But now, that asset had become their enemy.
Tang San suddenly spoke.
"Dad, that Xuan Qing said your ninth Soul Ring came from Mom's sacrifice. Is that true?"
He had been thinking about that question for days, wanting to ask it all along. Xuan Qing's words had lodged in his heart like a thorn, impossible to pull out.
Tang Hao's body shuddered as he looked at Tang San.
He hadn't expected Xuan Qing to know something like that. Only a handful of people should have known the secret.
Tang Hao's voice came out dry.
"That boy said that?"
Tang San nodded firmly.
"He said your Soul Ring came from Mom's sacrifice, and that my Blue Silver Grass isn't ordinary Blue Silver Grass either. It's... the Blue Silver Emperor."
Tang Hao clenched his fists. He took a deep breath, knowing he could no longer hide the truth, and prepared to tell Tang San everything.
"I shouldn't have told you this so soon, but your mother really was..."
Before he could finish, his expression abruptly changed. He looked up at the sky. Two powerful auras were rapidly approaching, heading straight for Shrek Academy.
Tang Hao's voice turned grave.
"It's Yue Guan and Gui Mei! How did they find us?"
"Take Xiao San and go! Head to Heaven Dou City and find the master of Moonlight Pavilion. She's Xiao San's aunt."
"Remember, don't look back. Just keep running."
Yu Xiaogang and the others also felt those terrifying auras, and their faces turned deathly pale.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo—the twin enforcers of Spirit Hall, both level-ninety-five Titled Douluo.
"Xiao San, go!"
Yu Xiaogang grabbed Tang San and ran out through the academy's back gate. Flender, Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, and the others hurried after them.
They knew there was nothing they could do in a battle at this level. Staying would only hold Tang Hao back. They could only run, as far and as fast as possible.
"Dad..."
"Go!"
Without looking back, Tang Hao summoned the Clear Sky Hammer. Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet, and he unleashed his full aura.
The red Soul Ring in particular radiated a terrifying aura.
Just then, two figures descended from the sky and landed before Tang Hao. They were Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo.
Yue Guan looked alluring, idly playing with a chrysanthemum in his hand, but his eyes were icy.
Gui Mei was shrouded in black mist, his expression hidden, but his killing intent was unmistakable.
Recognizing the man before him, Yue Guan let out a cold laugh.
"Tang Hao, I knew it was you. After hiding for so many years, you've finally dared to show your face—and you even hid your son here. You certainly know how to pick a place."
Gui Mei's voice was hoarse.
"It seems His Holiness the Pope was right. Tang San is definitely your son. Twin Martial Souls, Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline... Tsk, tsk. He can't be allowed to live."
Tang Hao gripped the Clear Sky Hammer, his gaze icy.
"A chrysanthemum and a little ghost dare to set their sights on my son? I was wrong not to kill you back then. Today, I'll make up for it."
Yue Guan's expression darkened.
"Tang Hao, don't get too cocky. The winner has yet to be decided."
Gui Mei chimed in as well.
"That's right. His Holiness the Pope ordered us to bring you in, dead or alive. Neither of you is getting away today."
Tang Hao wasted no more words. He swung his hammer, and the enormous Clear Sky Hammer came crashing down from above, bearing terrifying force as it struck at the two men.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei's expressions changed. They moved to block the blow at the same time. The fragrance of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum filled the air, and black mist roiled as the two joined forces to resist him.
"Boom!"
Shock waves surged, and the ground split apart. The dilapidated buildings of Shrek Academy collapsed in an instant, and dust filled the air, obscuring the figures within.
Yu Xiaogang and the others had already run a long way, but the shock waves still sent them tumbling several meters forward. They scrambled back to their feet and kept running without daring to look back.
Yu Xiaogang dragged Tang San along as tears streamed down his face.
He hated how weak he was, how he couldn't help. All he could do was watch his father face two Titled Douluo alone.
Yu Xiaogang held on to him tightly.
"Xiao San, don't be reckless. His Excellency Haotian once fought three opponents at once and won. He'll be fine this time too. If he wants to escape, no one can stop him."
"If we stay, we'll only hold him back. Let's find your aunt first. Once we're safe, we'll find a way to contact him."
Tang San gritted his teeth and stopped struggling. He knew his teacher was right. If he stayed, he would only be a burden. But the unwillingness burning inside him blazed like fire.
Meanwhile, the three fighters were already locked in fierce combat. Although Tang Hao was fighting two opponents, he wasn't at a disadvantage in the slightest. If anything, he seemed to have the upper hand.
The boost from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was immense, and the Clear Sky Hammer was brutally powerful. The two were struggling to keep up.
"Old Ghost, he's even stronger than he was back then—at least level ninety-five. And that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring is simply absurd."
Gui Mei nodded.
"Exactly. But His Holiness the Pope said we have to complete the mission. Keep him occupied until the others arrive. We must make sure he doesn't leave today."
The two stopped trying to meet his attacks head-on and instead shifted to evasive tactics. Their mission was to keep Tang Hao occupied and give the others a chance to capture Tang San.
Once Tang San was captured, Tang Hao would be hamstrung.
Tang Hao saw through their intentions and attacked even more viciously, every hammer blow carrying crushing force.
The two were driven back again and again. After several clashes, both Yue Guan and Gui Mei were injured.
Tang Hao wasn't faring well either. Fighting two opponents took too much out of him, and his old injuries had yet to heal. He couldn't keep this up for long.
"Clear Sky Avatar!"
Tang Hao gave a low shout. The seventh Soul Ring on his body lit up, and the Clear Sky Hammer grew even larger.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei's expressions changed drastically. They simultaneously unleashed their Martial Soul Avatars and joined forces to resist.
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