Just as Tang Hao was being blocked by the Qian Jun Jiang Mo Technique,
"Attack!" Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were both seasoned veterans. Seizing the opportunity, they vanished once more.
"Dad!" Tang San only had time to utter a cry of alarm before he felt two icy, bone-chilling, and irresistible forces instantly invade his body, like countless fine needles piercing his meridians and the depths of his soul!
The Soul Power of the two Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Douluo, raged wildly within Tang San's body, aiming directly at his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul origin, which he had not yet fully reclaimed!
"Ugh!!!" An indescribable pain erupted from the depths of his soul. Tang San's vision went black, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura deflated rapidly like a punctured balloon, his body went limp, and he completely lost consciousness.
" Little San!!!" Tang Hao watched helplessly as his son was instantly severely injured by the combined attack of Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo. The familiar aura of the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul was dimming and dissipating at an alarming speed... Clearly, the Martial Soul Origin had been severely damaged. Even if it was not completely abolished, its foundation would inevitably be greatly damaged!
"You... deserve... to die!!!"
Boundless rage, regret, and murderous intent instantly overwhelmed Tang Hao's reason. The shock of seeing his son crippled before his eyes drove Tang Hao completely insane!
"Bomb! Bomb! Bomb! Bomb! Bomb!"
Five muffled thuds, seemingly emanating from the depths of his soul, followed as Tang Hao's first five Soul Ring exploded one after another! Unimaginable, violent energy erupted within Tang Hao's body like a volcano, causing his body to swell up, fine beads of blood seeping from his skin, and his eyes turning bloodshot!
He unleashed the ultimate technique of the Great Sumeru Hammer, the Ring Detonation, at the cost of greatly weakening his own strength!
" The Great Sumeru Hammer!!!"
The Clear Sky Hammer, a mixture of blood and black, swelled to an unprecedented size, as if it were about to tear the sky apart.
Tang Hao gripped the hammer with both hands, abandoning all technique, unleashing only the purest, most violent, and most destructive power, and slammed it down fiercely towards the two elders, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, who were blocking his way, as well as the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo behind them!
This hammer blow contained the boundless rage and unwavering will to die of a Super Douluo!
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo's expressions finally changed. They hadn't expected Tang Hao to be so resolute, using such a near-suicidal secret technique right from the start!
" Coiling Dragon Defense!" the two shouted in unison, their Coiling Dragon Staff weaving together to form an impenetrable, absolute defense.
"BOOM!!!!"
A deafening roar, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were sinking, shook the entire Pope's Mountain violently! Large areas of the plaza collapsed, sending dust and debris billowing into the sky, forming a gigantic mushroom cloud.
The terrifying shockwave sent nearby Soul Master flying. Even Bibi Dong had to release her Soul Power to protect the platform.
The smoke and dust dissipated slightly.
The two elders Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, had torn golden robes and blood trickling from their mouths. They had clearly suffered from the devastating blow. Even their combined defense had been forced back more than ten steps, clearing a path for them.
Tang Hao's figure had already appeared beside the unconscious Tang San. He used his Soul Power to pick up his son, and without even looking at the others, he transformed into a streak of blood-red light and shot towards the Spirit City. His speed was so fast that he disappeared into the distant mountains in the blink of an eye.
All that remained was a desolate square and a deathly silent crowd.
On the high platform, Bibi Dong gazed in the direction where Tang Hao had disappeared, her fingers gripping the scepter turning white from the force. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she slowly spoke, her voice carrying far and wide:
"Issue an order: a continent-wide manhunt is issued for Tang Hao, a remnant of the Clear Sky Sect, and his son Tang San. If they are encountered... kill them without mercy!"
As Tang Hao and his son disappeared into the horizon, the residual power of that earth-shattering attack still trembled faintly in the air. In the Pope's Hall, countless eyes still lingered in shock as they looked at the deep pit and cracks, as if they had not yet recovered from the terrifying power of the Titled Douluo's life-or-death struggle.
On the high platform, Bibi Dong slowly withdrew her cold gaze from the distance. Her magnificent long dress was spotless, and she still held the scepter firmly, as if the dramatic changes just now were nothing more than a fleeting moment.
She turned back to face the silent crowd below, her voice regaining its Pope's authority and calmness, yet carrying an undeniable penetrating power. " The Spirit Hall guarantees the fairness and impartiality of the competition. The finals will proceed as scheduled tomorrow."
Her gaze swept over the remaining two teams, finally settling on the pale and furious faces of the Shrek Academy members. She then glanced in the direction of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and calmly announced, "The final match: Shrek Academy versus Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Having said that, he didn't look at the crowd again, and surrounded by cardinals, he turned and entered the still-golden Pope's Hall. The heavy doors slowly closed, separating the inside from the outside into two worlds.
On the other side, Tang Hao, carrying Tang San, mustered his last breath and flew at top speed for three hours before flying like a meteorite into a dense and boundless ancient forest.
Ahead of Tang Hao was a cave, half-hidden by vines and extremely well-hidden. Carrying Tang San, who was still unconscious and barely breathing, he stumbled into the cave and carefully placed his son on a relatively flat pile of dry grass.
Only now did their taut nerves dare to relax slightly. This relaxation unleashed a terrifying backlash from the forcefully suppressed tension, like a flood bursting its banks.
"Puff!"
A large mouthful of dark blood gushed out, and the explosion of five Soul Ring was devastating to his body.
Moreover, the hidden injuries Tang Hao sustained in his battle with the Spirit Hall years ago had never truly healed, and they were now being detonated.
The meridians felt as if they were being repeatedly pierced and stirred by countless red-hot iron wires, the source of Soul Power was almost exhausted, and pain was felt everywhere in the limbs and bones. It was a weakness and excruciating pain that penetrated deep into the bone marrow and eroded the soul.
Tang Hao's vision blurred, his body swayed, and he tried to lean against the rock wall, but he finally couldn't hold on any longer. He let out a muffled groan, and then collapsed like a mountain, falling heavily onto the cold ground and losing consciousness completely.
Inside the cave, only suppressed breathing could be heard, along with the faint hooting of owls coming from outside.
After an unknown amount of time, Tang San's eyelashes trembled violently a few times on the haystack before he slowly opened his eyes. The moment his consciousness returned, the excruciating pain that permeated his entire body, especially the emptiness and stinging sensation deep within his soul as if a piece had been forcibly ripped out, caused Tang San to groan, and his forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat.
Tang San struggled to sit up, his first reaction being to look around warily, only to find himself in an unfamiliar cave, dimly lit.
Then, Tang San's gaze settled on the burly but extremely disheveled figure lying not far away.
His tattered black robe was stained with dust and dark red blood, and his disheveled hair covered most of his face. But that familiar silhouette made Tang San's heart skip a beat.
"Dad?"
Tang San's voice was dry and hoarse, trembling with disbelief. Fragments of memory instantly pieced together: the cold judgment Pope's Hall, the chilling power of Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo invading his body, the excruciating pain as if his soul were being torn apart, then that roar that seemed to shake the heavens and earth, that familiar yet strange giant hammer, and the solid embrace and howling wind he felt in his final moments of blurred consciousness...
It's my father! It really is him!
Tang San's eyes instantly reddened, whether from the lingering fear of surviving the ordeal, the excitement of seeing his loved ones, or the heartache of seeing his father in such a terrible state. He endured the excruciating pain throughout his body and the weakness in his soul, and scrambled to Tang Hao's side.
"Dad! Dad!" Tang San's voice trembled with tears. He forced himself to calm down, took a few deep breaths. Although the Purple Demon Eye was difficult to condense due to the injury to his soul, its basic observation ability was still intact.
Tang San's hand trembled as he gently placed it on Tang Hao's wrist.
The pulse... was a complete mess! The Soul Power was nearly exhausted, and many meridians were severely damaged, showing terrifying signs of atrophy and breakage.
The impact of the Ring Detonation, the recurrence of his old ailments, and the exhaustion from carrying Tang Hao on a long and desperate escape... his body was on the verge of collapse!
A tremendous panic gripped Tang San's heart, but the next moment, a stronger emotion replaced the panic in his heart: he had to save his father!
Tang San first checked himself. His Soul Power Level had not decreased, and with the Mysterious Heaven Skill protecting him, his Soul Power had recovered slightly.
But what chilled Tang San to the bone was that when he tried to sense the Clear Sky Hammer... there was only an empty, excruciating pain deep within his soul. The hammer shadow, which had once been as responsive as his own arm and surging with power, was now so faint as to be almost imperceptible, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
The Martial Soul Origin had indeed suffered a near-devastating blow.
But at this moment, Tang San couldn't care less about his own grief. With his indomitable willpower, he mobilized that wisp of Soul Power, mixed it with the unique life-giving energy of the Mysterious Heaven Skill Tian Gong, and slowly channeled it into Tang Hao's body. He guided that wisp of warm energy to first protect Tang Hao's heart meridian and several of his most important organs, temporarily stabilizing his waning life force.