Chapter 274: The True Dragon Furnace
The crushing defeat of the nine elders weighed heavily on Tang Xiao's heart. Yet, in his brief moment of distraction, Blade Eight's blade scored several cuts across Tang Xiao's body, leaving him bleeding heavily. Tang Xiao knew he couldn't keep this up. If this continued, defeat was inevitable.
He had to act now.
"Hao Tian Guard!"
Tang Xiao activated the only defensive skill in the Hao Tian Hammer's arsenal, creating a barrier as he pulled away from Blade Eight.
Blade Eight, however, was less than pleased to see his opponent retreating. "Don't run now, you Hao Tian trash!"
Ignoring his insults, Tang Xiao summoned his Martial Soul True Body, stepping back to prepare his next move. "Elders, fall back I'll handle these two myself!"
Sensing the surge in Tang Xiao's spirit energy, the elders quickly retreated, recognizing the change in his power.
Meanwhile, Chen Youyu, who had been battling the elders, seemed amused. She took a moment to stand aside, curious to watch how Blade Eight would handle himself. The thrill of combat was rare, especially with a worthy opponent, and Blade Eight couldn't let it end so easily. For him, this was a chance to test his skills in an unrestricted fight.
Hovering in mid air, Tang Xiao's gaze sharpened, and he scowled at Blade Eight's arrogant demeanor. This reckless young fighter would regret his overconfidence.
"Nine Ring Detonation: Great Sumeru Hammer!"
Tang Xiao roared, detonating all nine of his spirit rings in a devastating, all out assault. The effects were dangerous and exhausting, but he had no choice. He couldn't afford to hold anything back, knowing that any delay could result in disaster for both himself and his fellow elders.
Blade Eight, however, seemed thrilled rather than intimidated, his eyes shining with madness. "Yes! This is the kind of power I wanted! Now you're talking!"
"Berserker Blade Technique: Thunderstrike!"
As Tang Xiao's Great Sumeru Hammer plummeted down with explosive force, Blade Eight leapt up, surging forward like an enraged dragon cloaked in crimson lightning.
BOOM!
The collision of their powerful attacks unleashed a massive shockwave that rippled through the battlefield, as fierce winds sent sand and debris flying in every direction. Even the nearby elders squinted, shielding themselves from the fallout.
Chen Youyu remained serene amidst the chaos, a barrier of wind shielding her from the oncoming dust and debris. First Elder of the Hao Tian Sect watched the battle in disbelief, muttering, "Their weapons didn't even touch…"
In the air, both fighters held their positions as if locked in an invisible duel. Though their weapons hovered a meter apart, the sheer energy they released was catastrophic, shaking the ground below.
Tang Xiao stared at Blade Eight in disbelief. He'd detonated all nine spirit rings, unleashing power that touched the level of a Limit Douluo, but this young man matched him blow for blow.
Just moments ago, they'd been fighting as equals, with Blade Eight seemingly only activating a single ten thousand year spirit ring in the clash. But Tang Xiao had started to suspect the truth: Blade Eight's spirit rings weren't what they seemed. He'd been holding back, perhaps deliberately using a hidden technique to mask his spirit rings' true power.
The realization angered Tang Xiao, but he forced himself to keep calm. Knowing that the situation was dire, he finally made a decision. He knew that once the effect of the Great Sumeru Hammer faded, they'd be left vulnerable. To stay would mean death, for him and the entire Hao Tian Sect.
"Retreat!" he yelled, his voice desperate. "Run! We're no match for them. Protect the legacy of the Hao Tian Sect preserve our future!"
His heart heavy with sorrow, Tang Xiao dove back into the fray, determined to hold off Blade Eight long enough for the elders to escape. For a moment, he felt a pang of regret he had inherited his father's hopes, but this was his duty.
The elders, stunned at first, finally understood. Even though Tang Xiao had fought valiantly, they knew to trust his judgment. With grim determination, they prepared to escape.
Seeing his fellow elders preparing to flee, Tang Xiao felt a sliver of relief. "Father, I haven't failed you," he thought, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.
But just then, a deep, booming laugh echoed across the battlefield, and a large figure loomed in the sky.
"Hehehe… Sorry, but you're not going anywhere," a voice taunted.
The figure was Wang Bao, one of Ye Wen's five direct disciples, trained rigorously from birth and elevated to a Titled Douluo by his late thirties. While he lacked exceptional talent, Ye Wen's resources had forged him into a formidable powerhouse.
Tang Xiao froze as the oppressive aura of Wang Bao filled the area, his earlier confidence dwindling.
"Don't even try to escape."
"Seventh Spirit Skill: Martial Soul True Body True Dragon Furnace!"
"Ninth Spirit Skill: Sealing the Heavens, Binding the Earth!"
Before anyone could react, a massive, transparent golden cauldron appeared, enveloping the area within a five kilometer radius. A powerful barrier now isolated the battleground, sealing off any hope of escape.
Watching from her vantage point, Chen Youyu admired Wang Bao's mastery of his spirit skills. "Impressive, Sixth Brother. That technique is a terrifying one," she remarked casually.
Wang Bao scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "All thanks to Master's guidance, hehe."
Realizing the dire situation, the nine elders abandoned their initial escape strategy, opting to regroup and focus their energy on breaking through the barrier. Facing the Ten Prodigies was proving disastrous each of these warriors possessed unique skills, and even just two of them had nearly brought the mighty Hao Tian Sect to its knees.
As Tang Xiao had advised, they needed to run immediately, or they'd lose everything.
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