Beat the Son, and Here Comes the Father

Everyone knew Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang had a wildly overactive imagination!

At that moment, he could barely keep the corners of his mouth from rising.

True Dragon bloodline! True Dragon bloodline!

If Sanpao could obtain even a trace of it, he would stand at the pinnacle of both theory and practice!

Then who would dare question his theories?

But the scene Yu Xiaogang imagined never came. Instead, Lu Ming burst out laughing.

He was hungry, sure.

But... this was just too funny!

"A Grandmaster who's over fifty and still hasn't reached level thirty?"

"That's quite a claim to 'greatness'!"

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. Lu Ming's words struck a raw nerve, leaving him sputtering with helpless rage.

"Look carefully, boy! This is the Pope's Token. I'm an Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall!"

Yu Xiaogang waved the engraved Pope's Token for everyone to see, then shoved it right in Lu Ming's face, spraying spit as he spoke.

"Cultivation isn't my specialty. Theoretical research is where I excel, and my disciple Tang San is proof!"

The speed with which Yu Xiaogang rushed to defend himself said everything about what he truly thought. He was only trying to fool himself.

Lu Ming chuckled at the sight of Yu Xiaogang, the "impotent husband."

He had no idea what Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong had ever seen in this crew-cut man.

His unproven theories, cobbled together from scraps?

"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters!"

Lu Ming spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear.

"Grandmaster managed to insult himself twice in one sentence. How could the rest of us compare to such a 'genius'?"

Snickers rippled through the crowd. Yu Xiaogang's face flushed crimson. He had spent half his life researching his theories, only for a child to belittle them like this.

His blood surged, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You dare belittle my teacher's supreme theories? You're asking to die!"

Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eyes. The hidden weapons in his sleeves were ready to fly, as though he might take Lu Ming's head at any moment.

Lu Ming went on full alert. If he sensed correctly, Tang San had already obtained his first Soul Ring.

Lu Ming had two Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. What was more, the system had just granted him three Self-Created Soul Skills:

Golden Dragon Rending the Sky, Golden Dragon Mysterious Circle Kill, and Heavenly Frost Immortal Sword!

With the Golden Dragon King's brute strength and those Self-Created Soul Skills, what did he have to fear?

"Fine, boy. Since you dare disparage my theoretical knowledge..."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes shifted toward Tang San, who stood nearby with a grave expression.

"Do you dare fight my personal disciple? Everything I know, I've put into teaching him!"

"If you win, we'll let this matter drop. If you lose, you'll obediently become my disciple."

Yu Xiaogang had calculated it all. He did not know Lu Ming's Innate Soul Power, but Tang San had already absorbed a hundred-year Soul Ring. Even if Lu Ming had Innate Full Soul Power, he could not possibly defeat Tang San.

At the thought, Yu Xiaogang let out a smug little chuckle.

Lu Ming knew that if he refused, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San would not let the matter rest. But whatever happened, he would never agree to become Yu Xiaogang's disciple.

People around them began murmuring. Most thought Yu Xiaogang was shamelessly bullying a child.

But with the Pope's Token in his hand, they did not dare say much.

"Take back what you said, or else..."

"Or else what? You'll kill me? Are you capable of that?"

Lu Ming paid Tang San's warning no mind.

He was starving!

But he had to deal with the situation in front of him first!

Lu Ming pushed off with his right foot. Even without a Soul Ring, the force of his movement cracked the floor beneath him.

Tang San, his Purple Demon Eyes active, looked faintly startled.

Lu Ming had only just awakened his Martial Soul, yet he already possessed such tremendous strength.

What was that Golden Giant Dragon?

"Ha!"

Lu Ming's attack was simple. He charged forward with the Golden Dragon King's overwhelming strength, aiming to knock Tang San down.

If necessary, he could use a Self-Created Soul Skill, too!

When Tang San met Lu Ming's golden, slit-pupiled eye, he felt his Martial Soul come under a faint pressure. The sensation was deeply uncomfortable, like being forced to stop just as he was about to take off!

"Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Tang San fought through the feeling and released his Soul Skill.

He had expected it to restrict Lu Ming's movements. Instead, Lu Ming acted as if it were nothing and kept closing in.

How was that possible?

After Tang San added his first Soul Ring, his Blue Silver Grass had become far tougher and gained the Mandala Snake's paralyzing effect.

How could this boy be completely unaffected?

The gap narrowed to just three meters. If Blue Silver Grass did not work, would Tang San have to rely on hidden weapons?

Or his other Martial Soul?

Remembering his father's and teacher's instructions, Tang San did not use his other Martial Soul. Instead, he fired his Silent Sleeve Arrow to disrupt Lu Ming's attack.

But Lu Ming swept his arm across and knocked the tiny projectiles aside!

Then he drove a heavy punch into Tang San's abdomen. The impact sent Tang San flying dozens of meters!

"Tang San!"

Yu Xiaogang hurried over and gathered Tang San in his arms, calling his name again and again.

Tang San's face was deathly pale, and he had fallen unconscious. Master and disciple were now in much the same state.

"Boy, this was only a sparring match! Why did you strike so hard?"

"Blows don't have eyes. Besides, he's already a Soul Master with a Soul Ring, while I've only just awakened. How could I afford to hold back?"

Lu Ming clutched his stomach. He was so hungry. That punch felt as though it had drained every last bit of strength from his body.

And just then...

A gray-clad figure appeared before Lu Ming. His face was hidden beneath a hat, but the pressure he gave off was astonishing.

At the sight of him, Yu Xiaogang broke into a delighted grin, smugness written all over his face.

For this was Tang San's father... Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao!

Tang Hao had been watching all along. When he saw the extraordinary power of Lu Ming's newly awakened Martial Soul—and saw Lu Ming defeat his gifted son without even a Soul Ring—killing intent rose in his heart.

A dragon-type Martial Soul he had never seen before, with such strength from the moment it awakened...

Submit, or be destroyed.

Tang Hao would never allow anyone to outshine his son!

"Boy!"

"I'll give you two choices. First, submit, become my son's lackey, and swear an oath to it!"

"As for the second... I'll snuff out a genius like you before you have the chance to grow."

Tang Hao's voice was cold, leaving no room for refusal.

Lu Ming's expression turned grim. Sure enough, after beating the son, he now had to face the father!

Back in Holy Soul Village, Tang Hao had barely paid Tang San any attention. Once Tang San awakened the Clear Sky Hammer, he could hardly bear to leave his side. What an ugly side Tang Hao had shown!

But Lu Ming did not panic. He still had a beautiful woman protecting him.

She was also a Titled Douluo, though he did not know whether she could defeat Tang Hao.

That did not matter. She only needed to hold Tang Hao off long enough for Lu Ming to escape!

"Big sister!"