Tang Hao's Scheme!

"If you still won't tell me who you are, I'm going to attack!"

Just as Xiao Wu was about to be dragged out of Nuoding Academy, she finally could not help asking.

Chen Xuanqing carefully surveyed their surroundings, as though he were guarding against something.

Suddenly, Chen Xuanqing pulled Xiao Wu into his arms and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You're a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that took human form, aren't you? There might be a Titled Douluo here. Let's get out first, then talk."

Hearing Chen Xuanqing's words, Xiao Wu trembled in terror and let the boy beside her lead her away.

And so Chen Xuanqing took Xiao Wu out of Nuoding Academy, then found a bustling restaurant where they could sit down.

By then, Xiao Wu had regained her composure and began studying the boy before her. His tall, slender figure, fair cheeks, and mysterious expression left her momentarily dazed.

Xiao Wu asked, "How do you know there's a Titled Douluo in Nuoding City? You're not lying to me, are you?"

"Why would I lie to you? There's a severely injured Titled Douluo recuperating here, and his son is also hiding his identity at Nuoding Academy. If he comes to visit his son, how could your identity stay hidden?"

Seeing how convincingly Chen Xuanqing spoke, Xiao Wu grew nervous again.

In fact, Tang San's father, Tang Hao, had come to his rescue many times. Even when Zhao Wuji bullied Tang San during the day, Zhao Wuji could end up taking a beating that very night. Clearly, Tang Hao spent plenty of time near Tang San, protecting him.

"Then who are you? Why do you know my identity, and why are you protecting me?"

"My name is Chen Xuanqing. I know your identity because I'm not interested in your soul ring." Of course, Chen Xuanqing left one thing unsaid: he was interested in her instead.

After saying that, Chen Xuanqing began ordering food. After all, the hundred-thousand-and-six-year-old Xiao Wu was still easy to fool. Perhaps this one meal would be enough to win her over.

Knowing that Xiao Wu was a rabbit, Chen Xuanqing naturally ordered plenty of carrots, and the two managed to enjoy a reasonably pleasant meal together.

After leaving the restaurant, Xiao Wu felt lost again, unsure where she should go next.

Chen Xuanqing reassured her, "Why don't you travel the continent with me for now? You need to get used to living in human society anyway."

"Mm-hmm! I'll stay with you for now, then."

Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly as she spoke, her adorably vacant expression looking very cute. Chen Xuanqing quite naturally began rubbing the little rabbit's head. The silky feeling beneath his fingertips made him look forward even more to petting a cat later.

The two left Nuoding City just like that. Of course, before leaving, Chen Xuanqing still said goodbye to Ma Xiunuo. He could not simply disappear without explanation, or Golden Crocodile Douluo would definitely come chasing after him from the Spirit Hall.

Half an hour later.

Chen Xuanqing and Xiao Wu had left Nuoding City and were walking along a sparsely traveled road. Xiao Wu seemed even happier now. Apparently, the bustle and clamor of the city did not suit this girl.

The two chatted as they headed toward the next city. The farther they traveled from Nuoding City, the fewer people they encountered on the road.

Suddenly, a figure dressed in coarse hemp cloth and reeking of alcohol blocked their path. On this desolate road, he clearly had not come with friendly intentions.

Chen Xuanqing asked, "Clear Sky Douluo, what is the meaning of this?"

"Heh heh heh! Young man, this has nothing to do with you. All I want is the hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form behind you."

Tang Hao had not expected such good fortune. He had only come to observe his son's enrollment, yet he had stumbled upon a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that had just taken human form.

Unfortunately, she had not ended up sharing a dormitory with Tang San. Otherwise, she might have become Tang San's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring someday. Sadly, all he could obtain now was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

Understanding the situation, Chen Xuanqing immediately stepped forward to shield Xiao Wu.

"Clear Sky Douluo, I was the one who brought her out of Nuoding City. If I stepped aside now, could I still call myself a man?"

Looking at the already towering figure before her, Xiao Wu burst into tears. She stretched out both arms and stepped in front of Chen Xuanqing, apparently hoping to protect him herself.

The sight stirred deep emotions in Tang Hao as well. Ah Yin had protected him in exactly the same way back then. But to avenge Ah Yin, and for Tang San's future, he had no choice but to kill the girl before him.

"Are you truly going to protect her? All that will accomplish is throwing away another life for nothing." As he spoke, Tang Hao revealed his soul rings. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red-their arrangement was dazzling.

"I'd like to test the Clear Sky Douluo's strength, too."

In an instant, five soul rings as black as ink appeared around Chen Xuanqing, looking incredibly striking.

Signs of beast transformation also appeared on Chen Xuanqing's body, and his entire frame grew considerably larger.

"Come fight!"

Chen Xuanqing surged forward, his right hand instantly swelling to several times its size, becoming much larger than Tang Hao's entire body.

"Doubled Spirit Transformation!"

Empowered by the soul bone in his right hand, Chen Xuanqing gathered his strength and sent a palm strike smashing toward Tang Hao.

Boom!

Tang Hao easily blocked Chen Xuanqing's strike with the Clear Sky Hammer, his expression utterly grim.

"A Soul King with nothing but black soul rings, and extraordinary physical strength as well. What a genius that should never have appeared. That strike was stronger than an ordinary Soul Emperor's, too. What an astonishing little fellow."

At this, Chen Xuanqing's heart sank. A Titled Douluo truly lived up to the title. Even against his outrageously powerful soul rings and physique, Tang Hao had still blocked his strike with ease.

Having defeated Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, without even activating his martial soul, Tang Hao was clearly no pushover.

"First soul skill: Bloodscale Holy Armor!"

"Third soul skill: White Feather Slimefall!"

"Fourth soul skill: Alligator Snapping Turtle Poison Devour!"

Over the past four years, Chen Xuanqing had not increased his soul power much. Instead, he had fused his three soul skills together to create a new form of his own.

A hint of green seeped through the dark red armor covering Chen Xuanqing, while green liquid dripped continuously from his sharp claws.

"Take this!"

Once again, Chen Xuanqing mustered every ounce of strength and charged. The sharp claws on both hands battered and hammered at Tang Hao relentlessly, while the green slime dripping from his body corroded a large hole straight into the ground.

Tang Hao grew serious at the sight. He swung the Clear Sky Hammer from side to side, blocking every attack, but his body kept retreating.

"Ah!"

With a low roar, Tang Hao suddenly unleashed his strength, sending Chen Xuanqing flying backward with the Clear Sky Hammer.

Then Tang Hao leaped into the air and aimed a kick straight at Chen Xuanqing's abdomen.

Tang Hao exclaimed, "What?"

Unfortunately, the slime covering Chen Xuanqing was as silky smooth as Dove chocolate. With one careless slip, the two figures slid right past each other.

"Those attacks were comparable to a high-level Soul Saint's. Are you really a Soul King?" As Tang Hao spoke, brilliant light blazed from his body. "But a dead genius is no longer a genius. Face your death!"