Unity of Essence, Energy, and Spirit

"This..."

At the sight, the savage expression on Tang Hao's face froze on the spot.

He had never imagined that the brat before him would still have enough soul power to unleash such a powerful soul skill.

Did that make sense?

Was that normal?

Was that how things were supposed to work?

For a moment, Tang Hao even wondered whether he was fighting Qian Daoliu.

The brat before him was troublesome beyond imagination.

But could he admit defeat?

He was Tang Hao, the youngest Titled Douluo in the history of the Douluo Continent, the man who had killed Spirit Hall's Pope. How could he fall at some brat's hands?

Today, no matter what, he had to clash with him.

This battle had already reached the point where whoever backed down would lose everything.

"Detonate all seven rings!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Tang Hao used Ring Detonation.

"Still couldn't stop it?"

Seeing this, Dai Mubai shook his head helplessly.

Ring Detonation was far too shameless a skill.

Even if its user had little soul power left, as long as he had enough to guide it, he could detonate his soul rings and unleash tremendous power.

There was something Dai Mubai was very curious about.

If he remembered correctly, Ring Detonation was supposed to damage the soul rings themselves, even wearing down their internal patterns. Even if they could be repaired, their quality would be greatly diminished.

Why had these problems never happened to Tang Hao?

However heaven-defying the recovery ability of the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor's soul ring was, it was still only a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Could it be that these negative effects did not work on Tang Hao?

Or was he cheating?

But on closer thought, Tang Hao did not seem to have used his soul skills much. More often, he overwhelmed others with the Clear Sky Sect's supreme techniques and his Martial Soul Avatar.

Did that mean repeated Ring Detonation had greatly reduced the power of Tang Hao's soul skills?

Dai Mubai knew this was no time to think about that. The key was to withstand Tang Hao's seven-ring detonation first.

With a thought, he had the Darkgolden Tiger King block his front, while he prepared to unleash a Soul Bone Skill himself, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

The enormous Clear Sky Hammer hurtled straight toward Dai Mubai, wrapped in violent power and carrying an endless aura of destruction.

Dai Mubai wanted to dodge too, but at this distance, with an attack covering this much ground, there was simply no escaping it.

He could only take it head-on.

Boom!

A heavy explosion resounded through heaven and earth, and the collision of invisible forces destroyed everything in sight.

Where heaven and earth met, the massive explosion sent endless dust billowing.

The powerful Soul Masters in Suotuo City who had tried to approach sensed this tremendous power and hastily gave it a wide berth.

A battle on this scale, with power this great, was simply not something they could approach or get close to.

Roar!

With a furious bestial roar, the enormous Clear Sky Hammer was thrown back, while the Darkgolden Tiger King's body gradually dissipated.

Dai Mubai had intended to seize this opportunity to deal Tang Hao a fatal blow.

But he had still underestimated the tremendous power the Clear Sky Hammer unleashed after Ring Detonation.

Although he had not taken it head-on himself, he had still suffered considerable injuries.

That was not even the main issue. The most critical problem was the invasion of Divine Slaughter's Domain.

"That brute Tang Hao has actually found the threshold of unity of essence, energy, and spirit!"

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Dai Mubai casually tore away his tattered shirt and looked at Tang Hao with a piercing, icy gleam in his eyes.

He had not expected this.

Tang Hao's last hammer strike had actually incorporated Divine Slaughter's Domain and his own will. Now, a crazed, bloodthirsty power was constantly battering Dai Mubai's body and soul.

Seeing through all of this, Dai Mubai truly could not help wanting to curse.

Was this right?

Did this make sense?

He had spent so many years working at it, putting in considerable thought and constantly pursuing his research. Only with Xiong Jun's accumulated foundation, along with the insights he had gained from Di Tian and the other ferocious beasts, had he begun to find the threshold of unity of essence, energy, and spirit.

And Tang Hao? He researched nothing, sought no insights, and simply reveled in fighting, yet he had actually managed to touch upon this step.

Dai Mubai even suspected that this was the Asura God King's handiwork.

If that were really the case, he genuinely feared that Tang Hao's domain would advance mid-fight, or that Tang Hao would inexplicably erupt with power as they fought.

That would truly defy all reason.

Dai Mubai had not expected Tang Hao to unwittingly display a state of unity of essence, energy, and spirit, and Tang Hao had never imagined that Dai Mubai would withstand his Ring Detonation so easily.

After all, to ensure a one-hit kill, he had detonated seven soul rings outright.

Even a Titled Douluo above rank 95 could not withstand power like that.

Yet now, a teenage brat had withstood it.

He was now caught between advancing and retreating.

If he willingly lowered his head and admitted defeat, did he not have his dignity to consider?

If he kept fighting to the bitter end and detonated all nine rings, could he really win?

Even if he won, what state would he be left in afterward?

And after what had happened tonight, would this academy still let his son stay?

"Brat, I admit that what happened today was my fault. I acted rashly."

"I know you still have trump cards, but so do I. If you don't believe me, try it and see whether you die or I live."

"Why don't we both take a step back and let today's matter end here!"

Tang Hao ultimately chose to lower his head.

It was just unclear whether arrogance had become so ingrained in him that even when he lowered his head, his tone still carried a threat.

Dai Mubai did not respond immediately. Instead, golden light appeared in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Divine Slaughter's Domain around Tang Hao.

The golden light in his eyes was naturally a manifestation of his cultivation of Purple Demon Eye.

However, this was not the original Purple Demon Eye, but his improved version.

He had named his improved Purple Demon Eye Illusory-Breaking Golden Eyes.

It was hard to say whether it was stronger or weaker than Purple Demon Eye, but one thing was certain: Illusory-Breaking Golden Eyes suited him better, and better suited the workings of the laws on the Douluo Continent.

Through Illusory-Breaking Golden Eyes, Dai Mubai clearly saw that Tang Hao's Divine Slaughter's Domain was undergoing some kind of transformation.

At this rate, his domain might really advance.

"Solid proof!"

Seeing this, Dai Mubai knew that what he had always wanted to prove had been confirmed.

Namely, Tang San's transmigration had been orchestrated by the Asura God King.

And Tang Hao was Tang San's guardian.

Although killing Tang Hao might not necessarily have any repercussions, the prerequisite was that Dai Mubai could kill him with thunderbolt swiftness.

If he could not, Tang Hao would only grow stronger and fiercer the longer they fought.

"If you're scared, you're scared. Why make excuses?"

"It's not impossible for us both to take a step back, but you'll have to pay a sufficient price first!"

Even though he had already decided to avoid the brunt of Tang Hao's power tonight, Dai Mubai still showed no intention of yielding.