The Aftermath Spreads

As the "Freshwater Blue Silver Grass" began to spread upstream and downstream from the riverbed in the middle section of the "Heavenly Yuan River", a sensational rumor spread like wildfire throughout the entire Soul Master World of the Douluo Continent in just a few days!

Tang Hao, the young sect master of the world's number one sect, the Clear Sky Sect, who is rumored to be the number one prodigy among the younger generation, was defeated by a few unknown people!

When many people first heard this news, their first reaction was to laugh it off. These days, people dare to boast about anything, and they're not afraid of being confronted by the Clear Sky Sect. Those guys who wield sledgehammers aren't exactly known for their good temper.

However, as the person spreading the news vividly recounted the scene, those who didn't believe it gradually became skeptical.

The process was incredibly detailed!

This also involves Ning Fengzhi, the young sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; Huyan Lie, the second-in-command of the Elephant Armor Sect School; and Hu Weiyan, the foreign affairs director of the Dragon Spear Lancelot Family, the third-ranked of the seven major families behind the Great Soul Fighting Arena Alliance.

Even more surprisingly, someone actually took out a "Image Recording Stone," a Soul Tool that a Soul Master had taken out on a whim, and recorded a short clip of the scene!

This caused an uproar throughout the entire Douluo Continent, with everyone intensely discussing the Clear Sky Sect's next move and the other party who had clashed with Tang Hao, Ling Yi, the former president of the Green Wood Merchant Association and now the city lord of Lingyun City!

Meanwhile, the leaked footage, fueled by those with ulterior motives, was quickly copied by many people. Even though the Clear Sky Sect and Lingyun City tried to suppress it at the same time, a considerable number of copies still leaked out!

"Bang--!"

At Haoyang Cliff, Tang Zhen slammed his palm down on the table beside him, his chest heaving violently, making one wonder if his chest would explode at any moment.

However, just a few seconds later, an even more violent cough came from Tang Zhen's mouth.

"Cough! Cough cough cough...!!!"

"Sect Master!" *2

Bai He and Tai Tan quickly stepped forward, looking at Tang Zhen with concern.

Xuan Baiyu, who was standing to the side, immediately summoned his Martial Soul "Aurora Phoenix-Tailed Bird" and activated his Seventh Soul Ring to unleash his Martial Soul Avatar, doing his best to heal Tang Zhen.

As the milky-white light energy poured down, Tang Zhen's cough gradually subsided. At the same time, the immense Soul Power of Titled Douluo within Tang Zhen's body was also suppressing the unique force that lingered over his heart, lungs, and other organs in his chest and abdomen, like a clinging leech.

Once Tang Zhen's condition improved slightly, Bai He quickly took out a jade box from his Storage Soul Tool, picked up a bright red "Blood Essence Fruit" from the box, and handed it to him.

This was a new batch of "Blood Essence Fruit" that he had just traded from the [Heavenly Craft Academy] yesterday, and he hadn't had time to hand them over to Tang Zhen yet.

However, this time Tang Zhen did not accept the "Blood Essence Fruit" directly. Instead, he glanced at the rare fruit that could replenish his lost Life essence and alleviate his pain, and then looked at the figure beside him with fierce eyes, who had been silent from the beginning.

"Wudi, are you aware of what happened this time?" Tang Zhen asked in a deep voice.

Feeling the oppressive force in Tang Zhen's gaze, Yang Wudi's javelin-like back bent slightly, and he lowered his head, respectfully replying, "Sect Master, this subordinate is unaware of this matter!"

"Oh?" Tang Zhen raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping down on Yang Wudi, and said indifferently, "Is that so? Then forget it."

Tang Zhen stared at Yang Wudi for a few more breaths, until a light sweat appeared on Yang Wudi's forehead, before turning his gaze to Bai He and Tai Tan beside him. "Tell me, what is the cause and effect of this matter, and why did it spread throughout the continent in such a short time?"

As the sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Zhen may not be known for his intelligence, but he still possesses the necessary insight.

Putting aside the details of how Tang Hao and Ling Yi clashed, the sheer speed at which the news spread reveals an undisguised scheming intent!

Unless you consider everyone to be blind or stupid, no one would believe that the spread of this news was a natural process without any external force.

Within days, the news spread throughout the entire Douluo Continent.

This is the Douluo Continent, not the information age where Ling Yi could know everything with just a mobile phone in his previous life. Although the speed of Soul Master, and even the speed of horses used as a means of transportation, is no less than that of various modes of transportation in modern society, it is absolutely impossible to achieve this level of speed unless someone arranges for a dedicated speed-type Soul Master to transmit information!

The Clear Sky Sect, the number one sect in the world! The Clear Sky Hammer, the number one Tool Martial Soul in the world!

Wow! What a prestigious title!

Such a flourishing and prosperous scene meant that countless people and forces Douluo Continent were eyeing the Tang Family.

The brothers Tang Xiao and Tang Hao traveled across the Douluo Continent, earning the formidable reputation of the "Clear Sky Twin Stars".

How did this reputation come about?

It's definitely not the kind of mutual flattery that happens in the martial arts world.

Human relationships and social etiquette certainly exist in the Douluo Continent, but they don't belong to the Clear Sky Sect, much less to Tang Hao, who is inherently arrogant!

When it comes to being arrogant, there are many people on the entire Douluo Continent. Above them is Qian Xunji, the Pope the Spirit Hall, and in the middle is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Therefore, Tang Hao's arrogance was considered perfectly reasonable not only by Tang Hao himself, but also by the entire Clear Sky Sect and even by the vast majority of people on the Douluo Continent.

But while it may seem reasonable, few people can remain calm when this deep-seated arrogance is directed at them.

When faced with the grand principle known as the "Clear Sky Hammer," everyone would do their best to praise the Tang Hao brothers, even behind their backs. When people mentioned the "Clear Sky Twin Stars," they were full of praise and made no attempt to hide their admiration for these two future Titled Douluo.

But none of this prevents everyone from secretly rejoicing when the two brothers encounter setbacks.

Watching figures high above the clouds fall to earth, covered in mud, is something most people find enjoyable.

Whether it's base or not, it's just one aspect of the complex nature of human beings.

Similarly, some people do things that harm others for their own benefit, some do things that harm others without benefiting themselves, and some do things that harm both others and themselves.

The human heart is capable of seventy-two changes, and thoughts can travel a hundred thousand miles in an instant. Many people don't even know what they will do next. Often, they only realize what they've done afterward, and then all sorts of regrets and unexpected emotions surge into their hearts, making onlookers laugh.

"Sect Master, the time has been too short, and the news has spread too widely. In a short time, the people below are really..."

Bai He glanced furtively at Tai Tan and Yang Wudi beside him, and seeing that the two of them were looking down at each other, he cursed inwardly. He could only bite the bullet and step forward, saying with a troubled expression.

As the patriarch of the Speed Clan, Bai He is also responsible for gathering and transmitting intelligence on the Clear Sky Sect. After all, the greatest strength of their clan's Martial Soul, the "Sharp-Tailed Swift," is speed, making this kind of work the most suitable for them.

In addition, as the brother-in-law of Tang Zhen, the sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect, Bai He is also the person most trusted by Tang Zhen among the many affiliated clans of the Clear Sky Sect.

Although Tang Zhen understood Bai He's predicament, his expression remained unyielding, his eyes gleaming with authority as he said, "Then intensify your investigation! I don't care about the difficulties, I just want results!"

This incident was clearly not the work of just one or two forces operating in secret. They needed to find out who was in charge so they could crush the most vocal ones. In that case, the prestige of the Clear Sky Sect, the number one sect in the Douluo Continent, would be maintained, or even enhanced!

As for the leader, although there is no evidence yet, Tang Zhen already has several suspects in mind.

Thinking of this, Tang Zhen paused, then changed the subject, asking, "Where are Hao'er and the others? Where are they now?"

"In a small city called Nuoding City in the Fasinuo Province the Heaven Dou Empire."

Bai He answered without hesitation. He had just finished a transaction at the Heavenly Craft Academy and rushed to the scene as soon as he heard the news. He then followed the movements of Tang Hao and the others to find them.

"Hmm..."

Upon hearing Bai He's answer, Tang Zhen that the other party had already been in contact with Tang Hao and the other two. He immediately frowned and asked, "Did you find out exactly what happened back then?"

Even now, after seeing the footage of Tang Hao's battle with the Valkyrie, Tang Zhen still finds it hard to believe that his son, who is like a prodigy, was defeated by two girls in their early twenties!

His son, Tang Hao, Soul Ancestor at fifteen, Soul King at twenty, Soul Emperor at twenty-four, and Soul Saint at thirty. With such extraordinary talent, he could almost be considered the number one prodigy in the world. How could he possibly lose?!

Perhaps a powerful elder could intervene and bully the weak, just like when the two sons were easily captured by the Sacred Pillar on Sea God Island when they went there to deliver a message.

But that Sacred Pillar was Titled Douluo, and his two sons, Tang Xiao, were Soul Emperor at the time, while Tang Hao was only a Soul King Rank. It was perfectly reasonable for them to be captured. In fact, if word got out, it would only further demonstrate how talented his two sons were, requiring Titled Douluo to capture them!

But what's the situation now?

According to the rumors circulating, if the information is true, Yang Shelly, the daughter of a collateral branch of the "Breaking Clan," is only twenty-eight years old, and another village girl Ah Yin is only twenty-two?!

Doesn't this mean that the person Ah Yin is even more talented than her own son Tang Hao?!

in addition...

Tang Zhen turned his head and took a deep look at Yang Wudi, who had his head bowed and eyes lowered, before looking at Bai He and waiting for his reply.

Bai He's expression suddenly became somewhat inexplicable, and he said in a strange tone, "At that time, Hao'er did not actually lose. Although he was temporarily at a disadvantage against the opponent's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he should have been defeated by the opponent's final move, ' Great Sumeru Hammer '."

"But at the crucial moment, a person clad in silver armor suddenly appeared beneath Hao'er's ' Clear Sky Hammer,' blocking the ' Great Sumeru Hammer ' attack with a single hand..."

"This is impossible!!!" Tang Zhen suddenly spoke up, interrupting Bai He.

The previous rumors only mentioned that someone stopped Tang Hao's "Clear Sky Hammer" from being thrown. The "Image Recording Stone" Soul Tool only contained brief images of Tang Hao and the Valkyrie's clashes. Those fast-paced battles exceeded the limit of the "Image Recording Stone" in terms of image retention.

But what did the Bai He say at this moment?

Tang Hao finally used the Great Sumeru Hammer?!

That's a divine-level secret technique that even he, the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, couldn't master!

It's not that his father, Tang Chen, didn't teach him, but that Tang Zhen failed to learn it, as did Tang Xiao Tang Chen's eldest grandson.

Only Tang Hao, due to his own talent, was able to truly master the ' Great Sumeru Hammer '!

It can be said that Tang Zhen and Tang Xiao knew all the key points of cultivating the "Great Sumeru Hammer", but the father and son just couldn't use the "Great Sumeru Hammer".

Without being able to use the "Great Sumeru Hammer," one cannot unleash that overwhelming combat power, and naturally, one cannot inherit the title of "Clear Sky Douluo."

"Clear Sky Douluo" is the strongest member of the Clear Sky Sect, and should also be the strongest member of the Douluo Continent!

This is the understanding of everyone in the Clear Sky Sect!

But now, Bai He is saying that someone single-handedly stopped Tang Hao's "Great Sumeru Hammer"?!

How utterly absurd this is!!

The oppressive aura of Titled Douluo suddenly erupted from Tang Zhen, pressing down on everyone in the council hall. Bai He, who was directly under the pressure, bent over at a ninety-degree angle.

Although he suffered from an incurable internal injury, this did not mean that Tang Zhen was a weakling who could not even kill a chicken. Without even lifting a finger, the pressure from the qualitatively changed Soul Power and mental power of the Titled Douluo level was enough to overwhelm Soul Master below the Soul Douluo level. The lower the strength, the greater the impact. It was normal for Soul Master below the Soul King level who had not yet been able to independently condense their mental power to be so pressured that they vomited blood and were seriously injured.

"This... no... is... possible—!"

Tang Zhen repeated each word carefully, his eyes flashing with a chilling light as he stared intently at the Bai He before him.

Sweat beaded on Bai He's forehead as he struggled against Tang Zhen's oppressive aura, gritting his teeth as he replied, "This is what Hao'er said himself, Xiao'er and Yuehua can testify to it!"

As he spoke, Bai He quickly overcame the pressure and recounted what Tang Hao and his two siblings had told him.

After listening to Bai He's account, Tang Zhen's eyes widened, then narrowed slightly. The terrifying pressure emanating from his body slowly subsided, causing Bai He and the others to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

However, Tai Tan, Yang Wudi, and Xuan Baiyu were also unable to calm down for Jiujiu.

As core members of the Clear Sky Sect, they knew best what the Great Sumeru Hammer meant to the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Zhen knew very well that even he couldn't block his son Tang Hao's "Great Sumeru Hammer" with his bare hands!

Unlike the Clear Sky Sect's combat techniques such as the "Clear Sky Nine Absolutes of Haotian," which allow for self-control of power, the "Great Sumeru Hammer" signifies the utmost effort once unleashed.

With Tang Hao's current strength and talent, even if Tang Zhen wasn't there at the time, he could be certain that Tang Hao's hammer blow had destructive power close to that of Titled Douluo!

"Call--"

Tang Zhen let out a long sigh. No matter how unwilling he was to believe it, he still had to accept this reality.

On the Douluo Continent, another Titled Douluo with astonishing combat power has appeared!

Thinking of this, Tang Zhen solemnly said to Bai He, "At all costs, find out this person's identity and background, what his Martial Soul is, how much Soul Power he has, whether he can withstand Hao'er's ' Great Sumeru Hammer ' with his bare body, whether he is Defense System Soul Master, Power Attack System Soul Master, or a single-attribute extreme path like you. I need to know all of this!"

"Furthermore," Tang Zhen frowned, and asked again, "What exactly caused Hao'er to develop murderous intent towards that boy named Ling Yi?"

"I remember Yuehua mentioning that kid to me quite a few times. They seemed to have a good relationship, so why did they suddenly have a conflict, and even get into a fight?"

"This kid named Ling Yi, he didn't even give me any face?"

Goodnight everyone~