Seeing Zhao Linchuan caught in his Blue Silver Grass, Tang San couldn't help wearing a cold smile as he declared:
"Zhao Linchuan, you'd better surrender!"
"You don't have a Soul Ring, and you can't release your Soul Power. Now that my Blue Silver Grass has you bound and its poison is entering your body, you have no chance of winning!"
"Give in now, and you'll suffer a little less!"
"Hiss—!" Zhao Linchuan suddenly sucked in a sharp breath. His expression "changed again and again," and his voice even carried a hint of "panic." "No good! The thorns on these vines are poisonous! My arm's starting to go numb!"
He "anxiously" tried to struggle, but the Blue Silver Grass was exceptionally tough, tightening around him with every passing moment.
The smugness in Yu Xiaogang's eyes practically overflowed. It was as if he could already see this gifted boy, who had repeatedly offended him, bowing on his knees and begging to become his most prized disciple's junior before his very eyes.
Tang San's confidence soared. He made the Blue Silver Grass tighten further as he cautiously moved closer, preparing to deliver the final blow.
"There's no other way!" Zhao Linchuan suddenly growled, his face set in a "desperate" expression. "I'll just have to use that move!"
He abruptly tensed his waist and abdomen. Rather than pulling his arm back to escape the Blue Silver Grass, he took advantage of the vines' pull and, like a tow-hauler straining in a tug-of-war, yanked backward with all his "strength"!
"What?!"
Caught completely off guard, Tang San felt an overwhelming force rush through the Blue Silver Grass, one he had no hope of resisting. He cried out as he lost his balance, his feet leaving the ground while the tremendous force dragged him through the air toward Zhao Linchuan like a human-sized sandbag!
The instant he reached Zhao Linchuan, the latter had somehow already clenched his left fist. Then, with one simple, unadorned punch, he struck!
Bang—!!!
A thunderous crash rang out, duller and more solid than the one at Dorm Seven last time!
It sounded as though a heavy hammer had pounded a bullhide drum.
"Ugh—!"
Tang San's cry of pain was smashed back down his throat. His eyes bulged, his face twisted in agony.
Like a baseball struck with all someone's might, he shot back even faster than he had come!
Crack-crack... snap!
The Blue Silver Grass vines wrapped around Zhao Linchuan's arm shattered under the ferocious force.
Tang San's body traced an arc through the air before slamming into a thicket more than ten meters away. He crashed through countless branches with a succession of loud cracks, then lay completely still amid the wreckage, unconscious.
Silence!
A deathly silence!
The smugness, satisfaction, and expectation on Yu Xiaogang's face froze in an instant, then fell away like shattered porcelain, leaving behind nothing but utter shock and bewilderment.
"X-Xiao San...!" His hands instinctively clutched his head, his eyes wide as he stared at Zhao Linchuan, who stood there calmly pulling the remaining vines from his arm. He looked as if he were staring at a prehistoric Ferocious Beast wearing human skin.
"How... how is this possible?!"
He hadn't used Soul Power or a Soul Skill. He'd even seemed to be completely restrained by the Blue Silver Grass and poisoned... Yet with nothing but a brute-force tug and a single punch,
he'd sent Tang San—who had obtained his First Soul Ring and reached level eleven Soul Power—flying? Knocked him unconscious?
Was this damn thing even human?!
What kind of monstrous physical strength was this?!
Zhao Linchuan tossed the last few lengths of Blue Silver Grass onto the ground, rubbed his wrist, and looked at the dumbstruck Yu Xiaogang.
"Grandmaster, if you don't hurry over and check on him, your precious student might really take his last breath and kick the bucket."
"X-Xiao San!" Yu Xiaogang came to his senses as if waking from a dream. He didn't care how undignified he looked. With his awkward, pigeon-toed gait, he scrambled toward the spot where Tang San had fallen.
Watching him go, Zhao Linchuan chuckled softly and examined his left hand. There wasn't even a red mark on his knuckles.
Mm, my left hand's got a decent punch too. Looks like both sides are developing pretty evenly.
Nodding with satisfaction, he turned and strolled leisurely toward the academy, leaving only a remark carried off on the wind.
"Grandmaster, when your prized student wakes up, don't forget to remind him about our bet. I'm a man who takes his promises seriously."
"Xiao San... how are you? Wake up! Come on, wake up!"
By late afternoon,
Yu Xiaogang used the Pope Token to force the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City to send a Soul Elder specializing in healing, invoking his status as an "honorary elder" of Spirit Hall. After expending a considerable amount of Soul Power, the healer finally brought Tang San around and stabilized his injuries.
The master and disciple walked back toward Notting Academy. Tang San's face was pale, and he kept his head lowered, saying nothing.
Yu Xiaogang sighed and broke the silence. "Xiao San, about what happened today... I underestimated Zhao Linchuan."
"That boy... is probably born with divine strength. If you fight him again, remember: don't get close and trade blows. Use the Blue Silver Grass's advantage in controlling your opponent, keep moving, and look for an opening."
Tang San silently nodded. "Yes, teacher. I'll remember."
Before long, the two reached the gates of Notting Academy.
But the area outside the academy gates was quite "lively" at that moment.
Zhao Linchuan stood there at ease, surrounded by a crowd of work-study students who had come to watch. Wang Sheng and the others pushed to the very front, their faces full of curiosity and excitement.
Xiao Wu stood quietly beside Zhao Linchuan, nibbling on half a carrot. Her big eyes blinked as she looked from Zhao Linchuan to Tang San and his teacher, who were approaching, full of curiosity.
When Yu Xiaogang and Tang San drew near, Zhao Linchuan stepped forward and spoke.
"Xiao San, looks like you've mostly recovered. Now, a bet's a bet. Shouldn't you honor the wager we made?"
"Zhao Linchuan! Don't push things too far!"
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. He immediately stepped in front of Tang San, fixing Zhao Linchuan with a sharp gaze. His tone was warning, with a trace of bluster.
"Leave some room for others today, and you'll meet again tomorrow!"
"There are some people, and some backgrounds, in this world that you can't afford to provoke."
"I advise you to quit while you're ahead!"
"Oh?"
Zhao Linchuan raised an eyebrow. Rather than backing down, he looked even more amused and deliberately tilted his head, striking a pose of "all ears."
"That's an interesting thing to say, Grandmaster. Are you telling me our classmate Tang San has some impressive status and background?"
He raised his voice, the challenge in it unmistakable.
"Come on, Grandmaster, why not say it in front of everyone? Let this country boy broaden his horizons and find out whether I can afford to provoke this 'impressive' background."
"You...!" Yu Xiaogang was so choked up that his face flushed red.
Tang San was the son of the Clear Sky Douluo, but that identity was an absolute secret. If it got out, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Trembling with anger, he unconsciously reached for his chest, where the Pope Token lay!
Perhaps... he could use this status to force Zhao Linchuan into submission, at least make him stop bringing up the bet!
Just as Yu Xiaogang was about to pull out the Pope Token and invoke his identity as a "Spirit Hall elder" to intimidate Zhao Linchuan—
Before you continue