Tang Hao's Gruesome Death

Long Yao set down his teacup.

"Test their elemental affinity first."

"Anyone who cannot make the Water Crystal react need not proceed to the second test for now."

Shui Yuerou nodded.

"Will the character assessment still follow your method, Headmaster?"

"Yes."

Long Yao said:

"Let them choose for themselves."

Shui Yuerou glanced at Shui Yue'er.

"Choose between a calm lake and surging waves."

"Then explain why."

Shui Yue'er swallowed the pastry in her mouth.

"What if someone wants to choose both?"

"Tell her she can only choose one."

"What if she refuses to choose?"

"Then she leaves."

Shui Yue'er considered this.

"Isn't that a little too strict?"

Long Yao looked at her.

"Skywater Academy recruits disciples, not spectators."

Shui Yue'er immediately shut her mouth.

Shui Bing'er picked up her cup and took a small sip of water.

"The character assessment probably isn't meant to judge right and wrong."

"Of course not."

Long Yao said:

"A calm lake does not signify cowardice."

"Choosing the waves does not signify courage, either."

"I merely want to know whether they understand their own choices."

Shui Yuerou recorded these words on the last page of the roster.

"I understand."

She turned to leave.

Long Yao stopped her.

"After the assessment, send me a report on everyone's performance."

"Will you review it personally, Headmaster?"

"Yes."

Shui Yuerou nodded.

"Understood."

She left the True Dragon Tower.

Shui Yue'er looked at Long Yao.

"Headmaster, do you have to read so many rosters every day?"

"I only read the parts that need reading."

"Which parts need reading, then?"

"Your cultivation records."

Shui Yue'er immediately sat up straight.

"Is there something wrong with my cultivation records?"

"Yesterday, you unleashed seven bursts of soul power in the Heavy Water Formation."

Shui Yue'er's chopsticks froze in her hand.

"I just wanted to go a little faster."

"Going a little faster will make you lose control of the heavy water."

"I won't do it today."

"Just remember that."

Shui Yue'er nodded earnestly.

"I'll definitely keep it under control today."

Long Yao looked at Shui Bing'er.

"The same goes for you."

Shui Bing'er nodded slightly.

"I'll be careful."

Lunch ended.

Shui Yue'er put away the last pastry, slipping it into her Storage Soul Tool.

Shui Bing'er glanced at her.

"You can't eat on the third floor."

"I know."

"Then why bring it?"

"I can eat it after cultivation."

Long Yao stood.

"Let's go."

The three left the long table and headed toward the third floor of the True Dragon Tower.

The golden light outside the tower streamed through the gap in the door and fell across the stone steps.

High in the sky.

The text for second place finally finished forming.

Shui Yue'er glanced back.

"Headmaster, aren't you going to look?"

Long Yao stepped onto the stairs.

"There's no hurry to check the ranking."

"Finish today's cultivation first."

Shui Yue'er could only follow.

Shui Bing'er walked at the rear.

She raised her head toward the sky.

The golden words had already illuminated the entire continent.

But she did not linger.

She withdrew her gaze and followed Long Yao into the Heavy Water Formation.

The tower doors slowly closed.

At that very moment, the name belonging to second place fully appeared.

Skywater Academy.

Outside the True Dragon Tower.

The light of second place on the Golden Ranking had already descended.

A golden pillar of light covered the entire sky, completely concealing the ranking itself.

Everyone could see the position of second place, but no one could make out the words within.

Around the Golden Ranking, nine elements converged at once.

Flames, lightning, ice, storms, and spatial power intertwined.

The golden light did not spread any farther.

It lingered high in the sky, as though shutting out every attempt to probe it.

Shui Yue'er stood at the entrance to the third floor of the True Dragon Tower.

She looked up for a while.

"Who's in second place?"

Shui Bing'er did not answer.

Her spiritual power had already touched the sky, but the instant it approached the Golden Ranking, a force blocked it.

"I can't see clearly."

Shui Yue'er raised her hand.

She was just about to release her soul power when Long Yao spoke.

"Don't try."

Shui Yue'er lowered her hand.

"Even you don't know, Headmaster?"

Long Yao watched the golden light.

"If the Golden Ranking does not wish people to see, no one can see."

Shui Yuerou stood outside the tower.

Watching the ranking concealed by golden light, she said softly:

"Even the Golden Ranking can hide its words?"

"This is not concealment."

Long Yao lifted his teacup.

"That being does not wish to reveal their identity."

Shui Bing'er raised her eyes toward the sky.

"Second place has appeared on the ranking, yet she hasn't truly appeared."

"That means her identity cannot be made public right now."

Long Yao did not correct her.

Shui Yue'er propped up her chin.

"What about first place, then?"

"Wait for the Golden Ranking to give its own answer."

Long Yao turned and walked into the True Dragon Tower.

"Finish cultivating in the Heavy Water Formation first."

Shui Yue'er glanced at the sky.

The golden light of second place still lingered above the ranking.

She could only withdraw her gaze and follow Long Yao into the stone chamber.

Star Dou Great Forest.

Beside the Lake of Life.

Di Tian sat cross-legged on the lake's surface.

The dragon blood of the dragon god origin had already merged into his body.

The fissure in his chest had vanished completely.

A nine-colored dragon mark rested between his brows.

Golden dragon blood flowed through his meridians.

With every circulation, the dragon god's power surged from the depths of his bloodline.

The dragon wings behind Di Tian slowly spread.

Across their black membranes, nine-colored patterns lit up one after another.

Space overlapped on either side of his wings.

His body did not move.

Yet the surrounding lake water parted outward.

A bottomless chasm appeared in the center of the lake.

Gu Yuena raised her hand.

Silver elemental power rose from beneath the lake, closing the chasm again.

"Your power has not fully stabilized yet."

Di Tian folded his dragon wings.

"My origin has been restored. All that remains is to continue refining it."

"The dragon blood of the dragon god origin has changed your bloodline."

Gu Yuena looked at the commander's seal between his brows.

"Your Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King bloodline is now close to what it was in ancient times."

Di Tian lowered his head.

"I will master this power in its entirety."

Gu Yuena said nothing more.

She looked toward the sky.

The light of second place on the Golden Ranking was descending from the far edge of the continent.

That light revealed no trace of an aura.

Even she could not make out the being within it.

Di Tian raised his head to look at the Golden Ranking.

"My lord, that being is unwilling to appear."

"If she does not wish to be seen, the Golden Ranking cannot reveal her identity."

Gu Yuena withdrew her gaze.

"The Golden Ranking can only assess strength. It cannot forcibly interfere with her will."

Di Tian glanced toward Skywater Academy.

"That headmaster should know her identity."

"He does."

Gu Yuena said calmly:

"But he will not tell."

Di Tian asked no further questions.

He raised his right hand.

A dark golden dragon claw slowly emerged.

Nine-colored patterns spread along his finger bones.

The Dragon God Guards Commander Seal lit up at the same time.

Three hundred phantoms of the Ancient Dragon Guards briefly appeared behind him.

They held Dragon Spears, arrayed in a neat battle formation.

Di Tian closed his five fingers.

All three hundred phantoms turned into motes of light at once and returned to the commander seal.

Gu Yuena watched the scene.

"How long can you sustain the Dragon God Battle Formation now?"

"Seven breaths."

Di Tian answered.

"After seven breaths, the commander seal will temporarily fall dormant."

"That is enough."

Gu Yuena turned toward the Lake of Life.

"Seven breaths is already enough to change the course of a battle."

Skywater Academy.

The third floor of the True Dragon Tower.

Shui Yue'er stood before twelve beads of heavy water.

A deep blue droplet hovered above her palm.

The droplet slowly rose.

Six inches.

Seven inches.

Eight inches.

Sweat beaded on Shui Yue'er's forehead.

She did not raise it any higher.

Soul Power flowed slowly along the droplet's surface.

The heavy water did not fall.

Long Yao stood outside the stone chamber.

"Hold it for twelve breaths."

Shui Yue'er nodded slightly.

She did not answer.

Time passed little by little.

The tenth breath.

The eleventh breath.

The twelfth breath.

The heavy water fell back into place.

The stone chamber's floor trembled slightly.

Shui Yue'er lowered her hand and immediately walked up to Long Yao.

"Headmaster, I did it."

"Tomorrow, increase it to fifteen breaths."

Shui Yue'er's expression changed at once.

"Can't I increase it to thirteen breaths first?"

"No."

"Then do I still have to keep going today?"

"You're finished for today."

Shui Yue'er immediately sighed in relief.

She raised her head to look at the Golden Ranking.

The golden pillar of light still concealed second place.

Just then.

A heavy surge of Soul Power came from outside the academy.

The Mountain-Guarding Formation lit up.

The currents across the lake's surface halted at the same time.

Shui Yuerou hurried over from the Outer Court.

She reached the True Dragon Tower and stopped before Long Yao.

"Headmaster, someone has broken into the academy."

Long Yao lifted his teacup.

"Who?"

"Tang Hao."

Shui Yuerou's expression darkened.

"He has already injured two Outer Court stewards and is heading toward the lakeshore."

Shui Bing'er stepped out of the stone chamber.

"Clear Sky Douluo?"

Shui Yue'er came to her elder sister's side.

"What has he come to Skywater Academy for?"

Shui Yuerou looked into the distance.

"He says Yu Xiaogang died at the academy, and he demands an explanation."

Long Yao set down his teacup.

Beyond the lakeshore.

Cracks spread across the ground.

Tang Hao strode along the stone path, the Clear Sky Hammer in hand.

Dust clung to his black robe.

His gaze crossed the lake and settled in the direction of the True Dragon Tower.

Several academy teachers stood on either side of the path.

They released their Martial Souls but did not step forward.

Tang Hao raised the Clear Sky Hammer.

"Tell Long Yao to come out."

No one answered.

Tang Hao took a step forward.

"Yu Xiaogang was Tang San's teacher."

"He died at Skywater Academy. The academy must hand over his killer."

Shui Yuerou walked to the lakeside.

"Yu Xiaogang forced his way into the academy with a token and injured our teachers one after another."

"The headmaster already gave him a chance."

"He chose to stay, so he had to bear the consequences."

Tang Hao looked at her.

"You are not qualified to discuss this with me."

Shui Yuerou lifted her fingers slightly.

The academy's formation began to operate in response.

"This is Skywater Academy."

"Not a place where you can come and go as you please."

Tang Hao tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer.

"Then have Long Yao come out himself."

As his words fell.

The Clear Sky Hammer abruptly smashed toward the lake's surface.

The black hammer's shadow covered half the lake.

The lake water rolled apart to either side.

The dragon patterns around the True Dragon Tower lit up simultaneously.

Long Yao walked out of the tower.

He did not release his Martial Soul.

Nor did he activate his Soul Rings.

Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer stopped thirty feet above the lake's surface.

The hammer could descend no farther.

Tang Hao's expression changed.

He stirred the Soul Power within his body.

Black Soul Power poured continuously along the Clear Sky Hammer.

The hammer's shadow grew larger again.

Long Yao raised one finger.

"Take it back."

As those calm words fell.

The black Soul Power on the Clear Sky Hammer dissipated on the spot.

Tang Hao's arm sank.

He retreated three steps.

The stone path cracked beneath his feet.

"You're Long Yao?"

"Yes."

Tang Hao raised his head to look at him.

"You killed Yu Xiaogang?"

"I killed him."

"Yu Xiaogang was my son's teacher."

Tang Hao held the Clear Sky Hammer across his body.

"By killing him, you've made an enemy of the Clear Sky Sect."

Long Yao looked at him.

"The Clear Sky Sect is no concern of mine."

The Soul Power within Tang Hao's body surged rapidly.

Nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.

Two yellow, two purple, and four black.

The final red Soul Ring settled around the Clear Sky Hammer.

The air along the lakeshore froze in response.

Shui Yue'er took a step back.

Shui Bing'er raised her hand, shielding her behind her.

Tang Hao gripped the Clear Sky Hammer with both hands.

"Today, I will seek justice for Yu Xiaogang."

The ninth Soul Ring beneath his feet abruptly lit up.

The Clear Sky Hammer smashed down toward Long Yao with crushing force.

Long Yao did not dodge.

He raised his palm.

Golden light gathered in his palm.

The Clear Sky Hammer hung motionless in midair.

Tang Hao unleashed all his Soul Power.

A force pinned his body down.

His feet sank into the stone path.

The cracks in the Clear Sky Hammer kept widening.

Tang Hao stared at the golden light right before his eyes.

"What realm are you in, exactly?"

Long Yao did not answer.

He raised his hand and pointed forward.

The golden light passed through the Clear Sky Hammer.

The Clear Sky Hammer began to disintegrate, starting from its head.

Black fragments dissolved into Soul Power and scattered across the lake.

A dull tremor sounded within Tang Hao's body.

All nine Soul Rings shattered at once.

The golden light pierced his Martial Soul Origin.

Tang Hao spat blood and dropped to one knee on the stone path.

"You can't kill me."

Long Yao walked up to him.

"Why not?"

Tang Hao raised his head.

"The Clear Sky Sect stands behind me."

"My son is Tang San."

"He has twin martial souls. He is certain to become a god someday."

Long Yao looked at him.

"What does any of that have to do with me?"

Tang Hao opened his mouth.

But no further words came out.

Long Yao raised a finger.

Golden light landed between Tang Hao's brows.

Tang Hao's body froze in place.

His Soul Power stopped circulating.

That force pierced his bloodline and soul simultaneously.

The next moment.

Tang Hao collapsed onto the stone path.

His Clear Sky Hammer martial soul dissipated completely.

Long Yao withdrew his hand.

"Carry him out."

Two Academy Stewards stepped forward.

They lifted Tang Hao's corpse and carried it toward the academy gates.

Shui Yue'er watched as Tang Hao was carried away.

"Headmaster, he was a Titled Douluo too."

"He broke into the academy and attacked our people."

Long Yao turned and walked back toward the True Dragon Tower.

"Just like Yu Xiaogang."

Shui Bing'er glanced in the direction where Tang Hao had disappeared.

"If Tang San learns that both his father and teacher are dead, will he come to the academy?"

"If he comes, we'll deal with him too."

The two stewards carried Tang Hao out of the academy.

Shui Yuerou followed behind, personally checking that the academy's formation had suffered no damage.

Peace returned to the lakeside.

Shui Yue'er looked at the cracks in the stone path and raised her hand, summoning a stream of clear water.

The clear water flowed slowly along the cracks, washing the dust and blood into the drainage channel beyond the lake.

"Headmaster, where should we send Tang Hao's corpse?"

"Send it to the Spirit Hall Sacred Temple in Heaven Dou City."

Long Yao turned and walked toward the True Dragon Tower.

"Tell them that Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect trespassed into Skywater Academy and injured an Academy Steward."

Shui Yuerou nodded.

"I'll arrange it right away."

Shui Bing'er glanced at the stone path that the water had washed clean.

"Headmaster, Tang Hao was a rank ninety-six Titled Douluo."

"He had the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, as well as a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

"Mm."

Long Yao did not stop walking.

"He wasn't weak."