Tang Hao Summons Yu Xiaogang!

"Cao Kun...!!!"

The low growl echoed through the cramped secret chamber, shaking dust from the walls!

Tang Hao shot to his feet, eyes bloodshot. His agitation threw his breathing into disarray again, and the wound on his chest split open, blood seeping through the bandages.

His son!

Tang Hao's own son!

That brat had blinded him and ruined his future?!

What bullshit about conflicting theories causing a cultivation backlash!

Tang Hao refused to believe it!

It had to be Cao Kun!

That strange brat had to have done something!

He had seen Cao Kun's unfathomable power with his own eyes, power that seemed almost to govern the Rules!

New grudges and old hatred burned together like poisonous fire, consuming his reason!

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to charge into Shrek Academy and tear Cao Kun limb from limb, even if it worsened his injuries or killed them both!

He clenched his fists until his bones cracked. The phantom of the Clear Sky Hammer flickered uncontrollably behind him, radiating a destructive aura.

Yet just as rage threatened to swallow him whole, the last shred of his reason forced down the impulse.

I can't go!

Going now would be suicide!

Cao Kun is far stronger than an ordinary Super Douluo!

I haven't recovered from my injuries. If I force a fight, I won't kill him. I might get myself killed instead!

Then who will take care of Little San?

Who will avenge him?

Besides... Yu Xiaogang is at Shrek Academy too.

He may be weak, but he's meticulous. His theories... might even be useful?

More importantly, he's Tang San's teacher. He may be able to reach him.

A plan gradually took shape in Tang Hao's mind, scorched by hatred and rage.

He forced himself to calm down, took out paper and a brush, and wrote a short letter by the dim light of an oil lamp.

Then he summoned an ordinary man who scraped out a living in Suotuo City's underbelly, someone Tang Hao controlled with money and force. He handed him the letter and a heavy bag of Gold Soul Coins, then gave him a few quiet instructions.

"Take this letter to Shrek Academy and give it to a man named Yu Xiaogang."

"Remember, only to him."

"If he asks who sent it, say... 'An old acquaintance wishes to meet. It concerns Tang San.' Do it right, and there'll be more money. Botch it, or let word get out..."

A cold glint flashed in Tang Hao's eyes. He said no more, but his murderous intent terrified the messenger into nodding frantically. The man tucked away the letter and Gold Soul Coins and scrambled out of the chamber.

On the morning of the sixth day after Little Scumbag's eye injury.

Sunlight scattered the morning mist, and Suotuo City began another bustling day.

On the western side of the city lay the ruins of an abandoned estate that had once burned down. Broken walls stood amid overgrown weeds, and few people ever came here.

Following the letter's instructions, Yu Xiaogang arrived alone, weighed down by worry.

He wore a plain gray robe. His face was haggard, and his eyes were bloodshot.

When he received the mysterious letter, his first reaction had been suspicion.

But the words "An old acquaintance wishes to meet. It concerns Tang San" had worked on him like a spell. He could not ignore them.

Especially now that Tang San's condition was worsening, he had to seize any possible hope.

He waited beneath a relatively intact section of wall, his heart uneasy.

Who could it be?

Someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

Or a healing expert who had heard about Tang San?

Or... someone with an ulterior motive?

As his thoughts raced, a tall figure, visibly stooped and weakened, appeared without a sound in the shadows behind him, like a ghost.

"Yu Xiaogang."

The voice was hoarse and cold, its murderous edge barely restrained.

Yu Xiaogang jolted and spun around. When he saw the man's face, his pupils contracted, and disbelief and horror flooded his expression!

"Tang... Tang Hao?! Your Excellency, the Clear Sky Douluo?! Why... why are you here? What happened to you...?"

He stared at Tang Hao's pale face, the bandages across his chest, and his tattered gray robe, which could not conceal how battered and destitute he looked. Yu Xiaogang could hardly believe his eyes!

Was this the Clear Sky Douluo who had once dominated the world and looked down on all before him?!

How had he ended up like this?!

"Why am I here?"

Fury twisted Tang Hao's face. "Because of Cao Kun at Shrek Academy!"

"Cao Kun?!"

Yu Xiaogang cried out.

"What... what on earth happened?!"

Tang Hao did not conceal it. He saw no need to.

In a curt, icy account, he described going to Shrek Academy that night to avenge Tang San, only to be gravely wounded by Cao Kun and forced to use a secret technique to escape with even worse injuries.

Of course, he left out how he had started the fight by making unreasonable demands and trying to kill. He blamed the conflict on Cao Kun's provocation and his defense of Zhao Wuji.

Even so, Yu Xiaogang listened open-mouthed, shaken to his core!

Cao Kun had gravely wounded the Clear Sky Douluo in three moves?!

Forced Tang Hao to flee for his life?!

That young man Cao Kun, who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen... possessed such terrifying strength?!

A Titled Douluo!

And no ordinary Titled Douluo!

At least a Super Douluo above rank ninety-five, perhaps even... a rank ninety-seven Titled Douluo?!

It overturned everything he thought he knew!

When had such a young, peerless expert appeared on the continent?!

And why was he hiding in a run-down place like Shrek Academy?!

No wonder... no wonder Zhao Wuji had suddenly reached rank eighty-nine!

No wonder Cao Kun had dared to refute my theories to my face with such certainty!

No wonder Tang San's "cultivation backlash" was so strange and difficult to treat!

It all seemed to fit together!

"Do you understand now?"

Tang Hao watched Yu Xiaogang reel in shock, his voice turning colder still.

"Little San's eyes had nothing to do with some bullshit cultivation backlash caused by conflicting theories!"

"That little bastard Cao Kun must be behind it!"

"He hated me for injuring his teacher Zhao Wuji, or perhaps he simply disliked Little San, so he struck from the shadows!"

"That bullshit diagnosis was just a cover!"

Yu Xiaogang staggered as though struck by lightning.

Tang Hao's words cut through days of confusion and self-blame like a lightning bolt!

Of course!

With Cao Kun's unfathomable strength and strange abilities, making Tang San suffer a "cultivation backlash" and lose his sight without leaving any obvious trace would be child's play!

It was him!

It had to be Cao Kun!

The thought filled Yu Xiaogang's mind, and hatred and rage surged within him!

Cao Kun had not only harmed Tang San; he had made a fool of Yu Xiaogang too!

"Your Excellency... what... what do we do now?" Yu Xiaogang asked hoarsely, his voice thick with hatred and uncertainty.

"As long as Cao Kun remains at Shrek Academy, I can't get close or take Little San away," Tang Hao said grimly, killing intent blazing in his eyes.

"He's too strong. I haven't recovered from my injuries, and I have no chance of winning a direct fight."

"Then..."