Whooo...
Just then, a fierce whistling tore through the air.
Tang Xiao and Tang Hao had each summoned an enormous Clear Sky Hammer, swinging them with the ferocity of roaring tigers.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black-nine soul rings rose beneath Tang Xiao's feet.
Not to be outdone, Tang Hao released his soul rings as well.
His ninth ring, however, looked somewhat dim and lusterless.
That was because he had used the secret art of Ring Detonation during his last encounter with Qin Xiao, and its cooldown had yet to end.
"Hao, you still have old injuries. Just stand by and cover me."
Tang Xiao spoke gravely to Tang Hao, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Heh, Tang Xiao, I wonder who gave you that confidence."
"Tang Hao was just as confident before, but in the end, he fled like a dog that had lost its home..."
Qin Xiao sneered. "Besides, if you're going to be a whore, why put up a monument to your chastity? You've already decided to gang up on me, so why act coy? Don't say I didn't give you a chance. Unless both of you attack together, you won't stand a chance."
The mockery in Qin Xiao's words was utterly undisguised. Flender and the others struggled to hold back their laughter.
Nearby, Sword Douluo's lips twitched slightly. This lightning-struck brat really had a vicious tongue.
Still, every word hit the mark.
Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, meanwhile, went pale and then flushed red.
There was no gentler way to put it: Qin Xiao's words were deeply insulting, and they hurt just as much.
"Big Brother, stop holding me back. Let me tear his mouth apart."
"Yes, tear it apart!"
Tang Hao's rage had already boiled over.
He felt as though a fire were burning in his chest.
"What a sharp-tongued brat!" Tang Xiao frowned as well.
Apart from the Clear Sky Sect's council of elders, no one else had ever pointed at his nose and cursed him like this.
He could not tolerate it.
However...
Just then, Qin Xiao released his soul rings, refusing to be outdone.
His first ring alone shocked everyone present.
Apart from Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi, everyone was aghast, scarcely able to believe their eyes.
"His first soul ring is actually red?"
"Am I seeing things?"
"That's not right. I remember Your Holiness's first ring being a yellow hundred-year ring when he showed it before. How did it turn red?"
Everyone from Shrek Academy discussed it in bewilderment.
"Hao, what's going on?"
Tang Xiao asked Tang Hao in confusion, "Qin Xiao's strength is nothing like what you told me. A hundred-thousand-year first ring? What on earth is going on?"
Tang Xiao was baffled, and Tang Hao looked just as dumbfounded.
"Big Brother, I swear I didn't lie to you. When he fought me, his first ring was a hundred-year ring. As for his first soul skill, he never used it at all."
"I have absolutely no idea why it's become like this."
Tang Hao felt unjustly accused.
He, too, wanted to find someone who could explain what on earth was going on.
"Even though this isn't my first time seeing it, I still can't understand how Qin Xiao obtained that soul ring."
Nearby, Sword Douluo spoke to Ning Fengzhi as well.
Ning Fengzhi merely shook his head calmly. "If it exists, there must be a reason. This is Qin Xiao's secret. Outsiders are destined never to uncover it."
Meanwhile...
Qin Xiao's remaining eight soul rings had appeared.
And he did not grow overconfident. The rings around him lit up one after another.
Each marked the activation of another soul skill.
Seventh Soul Skill, Thunder Emperor True Body!
Ninth Soul Skill, Thunder Emperor Armor!
Eighth Soul Skill, Thunder Beast!
In the blink of an eye, thunder rolled above Shrek Academy, and the wind and clouds changed color.
Qin Xiao, the one responsible for it all, crooked a finger at Tang Hao and Tang Xiao. "Come on, then."
Tang Hao: {{|└(>o<)┘|}}.
"Big Brother, I can't take this anymore. Forget figuring out where that hundred-thousand-year first soul ring came from. Let's kill him first."
If Tang Hao's heart had been filled with fire before, now a volcano had erupted within it.
"All right!"
Tang Xiao nodded firmly and charged toward Qin Xiao first.
But to his astonishment, Qin Xiao's third soul ring lit up, and then Qin Xiao vanished...
Nine balls of lightning transformed into eight savage Thunder Beasts and lunged at Tang Xiao.
"Hao, watch out!"
A bad premonition rose in his heart, and he shouted at Tang Hao behind him.
In the next instant, several Thunder Beasts entangled him, leaving him unable to break free.
His only consolation was that Tang Hao was no ordinary fighter either.
The moment Tang Hao noticed something amiss, he reacted.
He held his Clear Sky Hammer across his body like a shield and activated Clear Sky Body Protection!
At that very moment, Qin Xiao appeared out of thin air in front of Tang Hao, gripping an enormous lightning hammer with a head as thick as a water vat, and brought it smashing down.
"Thunderclap Annihilation!"
Boom!
The enormous lightning hammer in Qin Xiao's hands slammed viciously into the Clear Sky Hammer.
With Qin Xiao's current cultivation and combat strength, how could a sickly Tang Hao possibly compare?
Tang Hao immediately suffered an unimaginable impact. The tremendous force drove him backward, leaving a deep furrow plowed into the ground.
"What incredible force!"
"The mighty Clear Sky Douluo is actually this helpless? He couldn't withstand even one exchange with Your Holiness the Thunder Emperor and was driven back by a single blow?"
The vast majority of those present had never seen Qin Xiao fight seriously.
The sight before them at that very moment left them profoundly shaken!
"That's fucking awesome."
"They all say the Clear Sky Sect is unmatched in its domineering strength, but Your Holiness the Thunder Emperor seems even more domineering than the Clear Sky Sect's Titled Douluos."
As a fan of Qin Xiao, Zhao Wuji clenched his fists in excitement.
This was how violent a real man should be!
"Uncle Jian, I'm starting to understand why you lost."
"This Qin Xiao is truly ferocious..."
Ning Fengzhi spoke quietly behind Sword Douluo. With Sword Douluo's soul power barrier in front of him, he had no need to worry that his voice would carry and put Tang Hao and Tang Xiao on guard.
"This? That was just a probing attack from that lightning-struck brat. The real show is still to come!"
Sword Douluo curled his lip.
"Tang Hao, I never expected you..."
"To have grown even weaker..."
After landing that blow, Qin Xiao's smile deepened.
Tang Hao was considerably weaker than he had imagined, only about the equivalent of rank ninety-four...
Still, if he gave Tang Hao a chance to join forces with Tang Xiao, things would become somewhat troublesome.
He could only try to finish Tang Hao instantly before Tang Xiao broke free.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Tang Hao's eyes turned bloodshot.
A warrior could be killed, but never humiliated.
He was about to forcefully unleash the secret art of Ring Detonation.
He had no choice. With his current strength, only Ring Detonation would allow him to threaten Qin Xiao.
"Hao, don't!"
"You can't withstand the backlash of detonating your rings again!"
Just then, however, Tang Xiao roared from within the encirclement of Thunder Beasts, stopping Tang Hao.
Immediately afterward, another cry rang out.
"Clear Sky Nine Absolutes: Break, Seal, Slay..."
He's about to break free! Sensing the change, Qin Xiao hesitated no longer. He clenched his left fist and drove it fiercely toward Tang Hao.
Titan Sky Cannon!
Roar!
A furious roar reached everyone's ears.
Everyone fell into a daze for a moment, as though they had seen a Titan Giant Ape throwing back its head and roaring at the sky.
Immediately afterward, a bolt of lightning tore through the air toward Tang Hao.
This was the result of combining the Titan Sky Cannon with Qin Xiao's own power, making it several degrees more formidable than the original Titan Sky Cannon.
Without question, if Tang Hao took this hit, he would die!
Before you continue