Chapter 64: Flender Arrives, Tang Hao Strikes
Lin Xuan rode a fast horse, its hooves flying and kicking up dust as he galloped at full speed toward Nuoding City, his heart racing with the urgency of returning home.
The horses on the Douluo Continent naturally possessed greater endurance than ordinary horses. Furthermore, Lin Xuan had mastered the method of using spirit power to nourish the horse's body, allowing him to travel day and night without rest.
He harbored a sense of frustration that had accumulated over six years. At this moment, he only hoped to reach Nuoding City as soon as possible to settle his grievances with Tang Hao, Yu Xiaogang, and Flender.
While Lin Xuan was rushing along his journey, inside Shrek Academy in Suotuo City, Flender was holding a letter from Yu Xiaogang, his expression solemn and filled with urgency.
The few words in the letter were enough to shake his soul—Yu Xiaogang had found a way to evolve his Spirit and needed him to come to Nuoding City immediately to help.
Without the slightest hesitation, Flender immediately activated his Spirit Avatar. The massive figure of the Four-Eyed Owl soared into the sky, its wings flapping once to cut through the air as he sped toward Nuoding City.
For a typical Spirit Saint, traveling from Suotuo City to Nuoding City would take at least three days. However, in his haste to help Yu Xiaogang complete his Spirit evolution, he maintained his Spirit Avatar for the entire journey, taking only one day to appear in the sky above Nuoding Academy.
Tang Hao, hidden in the shadows of Nuoding Academy, only gave a faint glance after sensing Flender's aura.
When he realized the other party only had the cultivation of a Spirit Saint, he stopped paying much attention.
As long as it wasn't a powerhouse at the Spirit Douluo level or above, they wouldn't be enough to threaten Xiao Wu's safety, let alone take her away from right under his nose.
In the courtyard of Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang had already been waiting. Flender withdrew his Spirit and landed before him. Looking at the wrinkles at the corners of his old friend's eyes, he said with deep emotion, "Xiaogang, time spares no one. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and we've both grown old."
Yu Xiaogang also let out a sigh, his expression complex. "Indeed. I didn't expect to have another chance to trouble you."
"Let's skip the pleasantries!"
Flender couldn't suppress his urgency and quickly followed up with a question.
"The method for Spirit evolution you mentioned in the letter—have you really found it?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded, then shook his head again, his face filled with an irrepressible sense of regret.
"I did find it, it's just... he got away."
"Got away?"
Flender's brows furrowed, his face full of confusion.
"What kind of thing can run away? Is it a rare Spirit Beast of extremely high age?"
In his understanding, something that could aid in Spirit evolution and be described as having "run away" could only be a powerful Spirit Beast.
A flash of embarrassment crossed Yu Xiaogang's face as he explained hesitantly:
"It's not a Spirit Beast, it's a kid named Lin Xuan.
He has an extremely pure Dragon Clan Bloodline in his body. I originally wanted to... take his blood for Luo San Pao to drink; perhaps that would complete the Spirit evolution."
Flender was completely stunned, only snapping out of it after a long while.
"A child? Does he have some prominent background? Otherwise, with your strength, would you really need to specifically call for me?"
In his view, even though Yu Xiaogang was a bit of a waste as a Spirit Grandmaster, shouldn't capturing a mere brat be as easy as reaching into a pocket?
"He doesn't have a background."
Yu Xiaogang's embarrassment grew even deeper.
"But this kid, relying on a Physical Body tempered by the Dragon Bloodline, has astonishing strength. He managed to suppress both Tang San and me using nothing but physical power. We simply couldn't stop him."
Hearing this, Flender was completely speechless.
Two Spirit Grandmasters were actually "rubbed the wrong way" by a child?
This sounded like an utter fairy tale.
However, Yu Xiaogang never lied, which made him take Lin Xuan more seriously.
To be able to suppress two Spirit Grandmasters with physical strength alone, the purity of the Dragon blood in this kid's body was likely far beyond imagination.
No wonder Yu Xiaogang was so certain that his blood could make Luo San Pao evolve.
As for the matter of drinking human blood, Flender didn't care at all. He was never one to follow the rules; the fact that he could take in a Disciple like Ma Hongjun and utter the quote "only recruiting monsters" was enough to explain his style of conduct.
As long as it could help Yu Xiaogang complete his Spirit evolution, this "small matter" wasn't worth mentioning.
"No time to lose, I'll go look for him now!"
Flender took the portrait of Lin Xuan from Yu Xiaogang's hand, his spirit power surged once more, and his Spirit Avatar unfolded instantly.
The massive Four-Eyed Owl flapped its wings and soared into the sky, its sharp eagle cry echoing throughout Nuoding Academy, startling the students into screaming as they ran out of their dorms to look up at this rare Spirit Beast avatar.
It had been nearly a month since Lin Xuan ran away. Flender knew in his heart that if he were any later, he might truly lose all clues.
Even if the hope was slim, he wanted to give it one more try.
Inside Dorm Seven, Xiao Wu was sitting cross-legged and Cultivating. Hearing that eagle cry, she snapped her eyes open, a thick sense of hatred instantly igniting in the depths of her gaze.
He really came! And a few days earlier than she had expected. If Lin Xuan hadn't run fast, he would probably have been captured by Yu Xiaogang and Flender to have his blood and marrow extracted by now.
At the thought of Lin Xuan being forced to flee to a distant land, Xiao Wu's thirst for power burned fiercely again. She immediately closed her eyes, circulating her spirit power with all her might as she immersed herself in Cultivation.
Maintaining his Spirit Avatar, Flender circled and searched above Nuoding City. The vision of a Four-Eyed Owl was top-tier, capable of clearly capturing any movement within dozens of miles.
He flew circle after circle, turning the area within a forty-mile radius of Nuoding City upside down, but he couldn't find even a trace of Lin Xuan.
After all, a month had passed. No matter how obvious the tracks were, they had long been washed clean by the wind and rain.
It wasn't until his spirit power was exhausted that Flender dismally retracted his Spirit and stumbled back down to Nuoding Academy.
Yu Xiaogang hurried forward. Although he had already prepared for the worst, he couldn't help but ask with a sliver of hope:
"How is it, Flender? Any clues?"
Flender shook his head, his tone heavy:
"Didn't find him. This kid left too clean a trail, and I received the letter too late. I didn't find even a hint of a trace. Now I can only try expanding the search area, but it's best not to hold too much hope."
Yu Xiaogang's face was filled with disappointment. He could only let Flender go to his room to rest first and wait until the next day to continue the search.
For the next three days, Flender lived like a beast of burden—as soon as his spirit power recovered, he would immediately soar into the sky to expand the search area.
When his spirit power was exhausted, he would drop back to the academy to recuperate.
His search radius expanded from the initial forty miles to over two hundred miles, even flying over several neighboring cities, but he still found nothing.
Every time Flender took off, Xiao Wu would be terrified, fearing that some clue left by Lin Xuan might be discovered.
But after three days, Flender had grown thin, his eyes were exhausted, and his body was covered in dust, yet he still had no results.
This instead allowed Xiao Wu to relax; it proved Lin Xuan had run far enough that she didn't need to worry about him being caught by Flender.
Yu Xiaogang's mood also went from initial excitement to full expectation, and finally to complete despair.
He believed Flender wouldn't give him a half-hearted effort, so the only possibility was that Lin Xuan had truly left Nuoding City completely and had run very, very far away.
Without an accurate direction, trying to find a person was harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
As long as Lin Xuan slipped into any large city, they would have no way to find him.
"Bang!"
Yu Xiaogang slammed his fist onto the table, his expression extremely ugly.
This feeling of gaining hope only to lose it instantly was the most agonizing.
He gritted his teeth inwardly; he had better not find out who secretly leaked the plan, otherwise, he would definitely tear that person into ten thousand pieces!
Flender sighed and said helplessly,
"I've done my best. In a month's time, if he fled with all his might, it's possible he's even run past the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire. Finding him now is just too difficult."
As things stood, they could only accept this reality.
Seeing the atmosphere grow increasingly gloomy, Flender quickly changed the subject and looked at Yu Xiaogang.
"Xiaogang, come back to Shrek with me.
Although our faculty can't compare to the old established academies, we can definitely provide Tang San with a better environment for growth."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head and refused:
"No, Little San hasn't fully matured yet. I plan to let him go to Shrek after he turns twelve.
And... I want to wait a bit longer. What if Lin Xuan comes back?"
He had also heard these past few days that Flender had taken a Disciple named Ma Hongjun, whose spirit power Rank was actually on par with Tang San's.
This made him feel quite uncomfortable.
How could the Disciple of him, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, be inferior to Flender's Disciple?
So he planned to let Tang San settle for a while, wanting him to at least widen the gap by two Ranks from Ma Hongjun; only then would it befit his status.
Of course, he had another calculation in mind.
He remembered that Xiao Wu and Lin Xuan had an extremely good relationship. If Lin Xuan returned in the future, it would most likely be for Xiao Wu.
When that time came, he could use Xiao Wu as leverage to make Lin Xuan comply.
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender and added:
"By the way, there's a girl named Xiao Wu in Dorm Seven for Work-Study Students at Nuoding Academy; you might want to take note of her.
Like Little San, she is nine years old and also has the cultivation of a Spirit Grandmaster. Her talent is unparalleled.
If you're interested, you can take her back to Shrek together."
His tone was casual, as if Xiao Wu were merely a commodity that could be taken at will.
Flender's eyes lit up.
"A nine-year-old Spirit Grandmaster?
That's a bona fide monster; she belongs in my Shrek!
Putting such a good seedling in Nuoding Academy is simply a waste."
He immediately ignored his fatigue and walked straight toward Dorm Seven, wanting to take Xiao Wu directly back to Shrek.
But just as he reached the door of Dorm Seven, a tall figure appeared silently behind him, and a powerful pressure instantly enveloped his entire body.
"Who's there!"
Flender's heart tightened. Just as he was about to turn and counterattack, he was grabbed by the collar and instantly vanished from the spot.
In the dense forest outside Nuoding City, Tang Hao pinned Flender to the ground, his fists falling like raindrops.
He didn't use spirit power—it was pure physical strength, yet it beat Flender until his bones cracked and blood flowed, mouthful after mouthful of blood spraying out.
"Beat it! Don't meddle in things you shouldn't covet!"
Tang Hao cursed and threw Flender out like a tattered sack.
He didn't have much affection for Tang San and Xiao Wu, but he would never allow anyone to take them out of his sight, let alone allow outsiders to covet them.
If it weren't for the fact that Flender might become Tang San's future principal, he wouldn't have held back at all; Flender wouldn't even have been able to leave Nuoding City.
This was also the reason Lin Xuan dared to leave Xiao Wu alone in Nuoding City.
Before Tang Hao made up his mind to act against Xiao Wu, her safety was absolute.
Forget a single Flender; even if the entire Shrek Academy came out in full force, it would be to no avail.
Flender was beaten black and blue, his body covered in injuries. At this moment, his heart was full of regret, and he cursed Yu Xiaogang in his mind for being unreliable.
He hadn't even mentioned that the little girl had such a powerhouse guarding her!
He only now realized that a child with such talent being left undisturbed in a small place like Nuoding City was inherently suspicious.
It was all his fault for letting the word "monster" go to his head and forgetting his place.
He didn't dare utter a single word of complaint. He struggled to get up and scrambled toward the outskirts of the city, not even daring to look back.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to shout hoarsely: "Thank you for your mercy, Senior!"
This was the Law of survival on the Douluo Continent—survival of the fittest. He had come in high Spirits, but not only did he fail to find Lin Xuan and fail to take away Xiao Wu and Yu Xiaogang, he also received a severe beating. It could be said that the loss outweighed the gain.
In the end, he didn't even know who the person who beat him wasChapter 65: Settling Scores Starting with Yu Xiaogang
Flender had come and then left dejectedly. It wasn't until the day after Flender's departure that Lin Xuan appeared outside Nuoding City on horseback.
He didn't go looking for Tang Hao immediately.
Now that he possessed his own trump card, he no longer cared about Tang Hao's surveillance.
Compared to Tang Hao, the person who truly disgusted him was Yu Xiaogang, who had forced him to leave Nuoding City in frustration for an entire month.
Over the last few days, Yu Xiaogang's mood hadn't improved at all. Flender had come, but it was as if he hadn't; not only did they fail to find Lin Xuan, but Flender hadn't even taken Xiao Wu, the girl he had recommended.
At this moment, Yu Xiaogang's heart was filled with thoughts of Lin Xuan—that boy was the only way he could evolve his Spirit.
And yet, he had vanished right from under his nose.
Although Yu Xiaogang was demoralized by the failure to find Lin Xuan, the influence Flender left behind finally gave him the courage to walk openly within Nuoding Academy again.
Who in Nuoding Academy didn't know by now that Yu Xiaogang had a powerful Spirit Saint backing him?
In an instant, those who had once looked down on him completely changed their attitudes.
This was the only bit of good news Yu Xiaogang had received in days.
On this bright, sunny day, Yu Xiaogang went out to get some fresh air and try to settle his mood.
At least with Lin Xuan gone, the troublemaker of Nuoding Academy was out of the picture, right?
But as the saying goes, speak of the devil; just as Yu Xiaogang reached the Nuoding Academy Square, he saw a crowd of people surrounding someone and walking toward him.
As they drew closer, the crowd began to part, revealing the figure at the center.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Yu Xiaogang's pupils dilated in shock, and his body couldn't help but tremble.
"Grandmaster, long time no see! I've missed you to death!"
Standing amidst the crowd, Lin Xuan also saw Yu Xiaogang, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
As soon as he returned to Nuoding City, he had heard the rumors. Everyone was talking about a big shot who had arrived—a powerful Spirit Saint with Seven Rings—who was helping Yu Xiaogang look for him.
Hearing this, he thought it was quite a coincidence. Coming early wasn't as good as coming at the perfect time.
He might as well wipe them all out today!
Without any hesitation, he had headed straight back to Nuoding Academy.
Then he ran into the students. Seeing Lin Xuan so composed even though he knew a Spirit Saint was looking for trouble with him, everyone wondered if Lin Xuan had also found some kind of powerful backer.
In short, everyone adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward Lin Xuan's bold return in the face of a Spirit Saint's threat.
No one was stupid enough to offend the current Lin Xuan.
With him being this confident, it was possible he really had found a backer. If they, the small fry, stepped forward to pick a fight, they would just be looking for death.
The moment Yu Xiaogang saw Lin Xuan, he felt a flicker of joy, but in the next instant, he realized this possibility as well.
Otherwise, no one would walk into a tiger's den unless they were certain they could handle the tiger.
At the thought that Lin Xuan had returned with confidence while his own support had just left yesterday, Yu Xiaogang was filled with regret.
He resisted the urge to slap himself and desperately tried to control his trembling body.
A stiff smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Heh, Student Lin Xuan is back?
You left the academy for over a month without a word; we thought something had happened to you."
Yu Xiaogang desperately wanted to run, but Lin Xuan had already walked up to him step by step.
"Hahaha, without a word? What a fine 'without a word'!"
Lin Xuan looked at Yu Xiaogang with a smile and gently patted his shoulder. Though he was smiling, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.
As the one looking Lin Xuan in the eye, Yu Xiaogang felt his very teeth chattering.
If he had known Lin Xuan would return today, he would have been better off leaving with Flender yesterday.
Suddenly, Lin Xuan's smiling expression turned cold. He reached out, grabbed Yu Xiaogang's head, and slammed it downward.
Bang!
Yu Xiaogang felt an overwhelming force act upon his body. He was forced from a standing position directly into a kneel by Lin Xuan's single hand pressing on his head.
Crack!
It was unclear if it was the sound of the floor tiles shattering or Yu Xiaogang's kneecaps breaking, but the sound of something snapping reached everyone's ears.
Seeing Lin Xuan strike without a word, no one found it particularly cruel.
In fact, some even felt a sense of relief.
After all, since Yu Xiaogang had found a Spirit Saint to deal with the boy, no one felt it was inappropriate for Lin Xuan to come back and settle the score.
These were the rules of the Douluo Continent.
Yu Xiaogang's expression instantly became distorted with pain and shame.
He felt his kneecaps were broken, and the back he had kept straight his whole life was snapped in this moment.
Being humiliated like this in front of so many people made Yu Xiaogang feel he had lost all face, while simultaneously feeling a deep sense of terror.
Lin Xuan had truly come back for revenge.
Yu Xiaogang bit his lip hard, fearing he would scream and damage his reputation as the 'Grandmaster'.
"Yo, your mouth is quite tough. I wonder if the bones in your body are just as hard."
Lin Xuan smiled at the sight. He had been worried Yu Xiaogang would cave immediately, which would have been far too boring.
A tough mouth was good. It was much better this way. Everyone watching sensed Lin Xuan's madness and instinctively took a few steps back.
"Lin Xuan, don't—don't get too smug! If you dare touch me, I guarantee there will be no place for you on this entire continent, do you hear me?"
Yu Xiaogang felt a surging killing intent from the frantic Concept radiating from Lin Xuan.
This meant Lin Xuan already had blood on his hands; killing him now would be no psychological obstacle for the boy.
He even suspected that if he couldn't produce a strong enough trump card, Lin Xuan would definitely torture him before killing him outright.
"Oh? Take a guess if I believe you or not."
The madness on Lin Xuan's face didn't fade. He leaned in close to Yu Xiaogang and whispered:
"Do you think I'm still afraid of anything?
The trump cards you can pull out are just those few people: Flender, Liu Erlong, or perhaps Bibi Dong?"
Crack!
As he spoke, Lin Xuan didn't pause. He grabbed one of Yu Xiaogang's arms and snapped it with a powerful twist.
Yu Xiaogang was still reeling from the shock that Lin Xuan knew his secrets when the sharp pain hit him, nearly forcing a scream from his throat.
But before the cry could escape, countless strands of Blue Silver Grass surged from beneath Lin Xuan's feet, tightly wrapping around Yu Xiaogang's mouth and locking his agonized wails inside.
"See? This is much better. Making a scene is bad enough, but it would be terrible if you scared the flowers and grass."
Lin Xuan maintained an air of refined elegance, but his actions made every onlooker's skin crawl, feeling a chill from the bottom of their hearts.
Looking at Lin Xuan's calm and indifferent expression, it felt as if they were looking at a demonChapter 66: Luo San Pao is Crippled
Lin Xuan looked at Yu Xiaogang, who was struggling frantically on the ground like a caterpillar, and felt the pent-up frustration in his heart dissipate significantly, replaced by an indescribable sense of relief.
But this was far from enough.
Yu Xiaogang stared at Lin Xuan with eyes filled with extreme terror, as if he were looking at a monster ready to devour him.
He wanted to threaten Lin Xuan, to bring out his so-called trump cards, but his mouth was sealed tight. Forget about shouting threats, he didn't even have the chance to beg for mercy.
And how did he know about Bibi Dong?
Lin Xuan didn't want to hear Yu Xiaogang's nonsense, nor did he have the habit of listening to his enemies' screams; he much preferred the look of pain in their eyes.
Seeing the almost frenzied smile on Lin Xuan's face, Yu Xiaogang had never felt such regret.
Of course, he didn't regret offending Lin Xuan, but rather that he hadn't kept Flender around for a few more days, or that he hadn't simply asked Bibi Dong for help from the start.
He firmly believed that given his importance in Bibi Dong's heart, as long as he spoke up, she would definitely take action against Lin Xuan.
But now, what use was regret?
Lin Xuan's current appearance made it clear that he didn't intend to let him off easy. Whether he could survive today depended entirely on the other's mood.
If he died today, even if Bibi Dong sought revenge for him in the future, what would it matter to him?
Lin Xuan was in no hurry to finish Yu Xiaogang off, choosing instead to torture him bit by bit.
Wave after wave of onlookers were scared away, but not a single person dared to step forward and stop him.
Even if some teachers witnessed this tragic scene, they thought better of it; Yu Xiaogang had called a Spirit Saint to deal with a child, so it was only natural for the boy to return for a deadly revenge now that he had found a backer.
This was a private grudge, and it was not convenient for them to interfere.
Moreover, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were already unpopular in the academy, so there wasn't even anyone willing to go and call for reinforcements.
The only student sent to notify the Principal also walked at a leisurely pace, clearly adopting an attitude of "I went, I was just a bit slow."
On the other side, Tang Hao noticed that Lin Xuan's Aura had reappeared within his range of perception. Curious, he came over to take a look.
When he saw Lin Xuan's brutal treatment of Yu Xiaogang, he couldn't help but wonder: what exactly had this kid experienced in the past month?
He even has killing intent?
Possessing the Slaughter God Domain, Tang Hao saw through the faint killing intent lingering around Lin Xuan at a glance—this at least indicated that Lin Xuan had already killed someone.
To force a child to start killing at such a young age, Yu Xiaogang's current suffering could be considered his own doing.
Tang Hao watched Yu Xiaogang struggling in pain, without the slightest intention of intervening to save him.
In his view, with Tang San's talent, he could still Cultivate into a top-tier powerhouse even without anyone to teach him.
Yu Xiaogang was merely the best of a bad bunch he had picked; his only use was to solve the problem of self-explosion during the Cultivation of twin spirits. As long as he saved Yu Xiaogang's life in the end, he couldn't be bothered to care about anything else.
His only confusion was why Lin Xuan dared to return alone.
Indeed, in his perception, Lin Xuan was truly alone, with no powerful protector guarding him from behind.
Unless the protector was even stronger than him, but how could such an existence take an interest in Lin Xuan?
Although Lin Xuan had Innate Divine Strength and Dragon Clan bloodline, his Innate Soul Power was too low. Forget a Titled Douluo, even a Spirit Douluo probably wouldn't spare him a glance.
With no reliance and no background, where did he get the courage to return and take revenge on Yu Xiaogang?
This point became the greatest mystery in Tang Hao's heart at this moment.
"Lin Xuan, you're finally back!"
Just as Tang Hao was deep in thought and Yu Xiaogang was being tormented, Xiao Wu ran out from the crowd and immediately saw Lin Xuan torturing Yu Xiaogang.
Her eyes instantly lit up, and ignoring the brutal scene, she pounced directly toward Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan captured Xiao Wu's figure through the perception of his Blue Silver Grass. Thinking of the blood covering him and fearing it would stain her, he quickly controlled the Blue Silver Grass to wrap around Xiao Wu's waist, preventing her from getting close.
Restrained by the waist, Xiao Wu struggled for a moment, her feet kicking wildly in the air.
"Alright Xiao Wu, it's not convenient right now.
I know you're excited to see me, but let's talk about everything later."
Lin Xuan stood up, his eyes full of warmth as he looked at Xiao Wu.
The excitement in Xiao Wu's eyes upon seeing him was genuine; over the past three years, this young girl had unknowingly occupied a place in his heart.
"Lin Xuan, why are you back?
That guy called a Spirit Saint to find you. Before, he would fly out every day, and it was only yesterday that he wasn't seen. What if he suddenly returns today?
You should leave here first and come back once it's safe."
Xiao Wu didn't know that Flender had already left, assuming he had just gone further away to search.
If Lin Xuan were caught by Flender now, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"Don't worry, since I dared to come, I have the confidence to handle everything. As for that Spirit Saint, I can't wait for him to appear before me right now."
Lin Xuan rubbed Xiao Wu's head.
"Really?"
Xiao Wu had a look of disbelief.
"I guarantee it's true."
Lin Xuan's confidence didn't seem feigned, making it easy for others to believe his words.
The surrounding onlookers also showed expressions that said "as expected."
But in the next second, Xiao Wu became cautious.
"Then who did you find? What Realm are they?"
She suddenly realized, could Lin Xuan have brought back a "big backer"?
She currently couldn't hide from the detection of a Spirit Douluo or higher-level powerhouse.
"Don't worry, it's an existence sufficient to handle any danger directed at us."
Lin Xuan looked at Xiao Wu, his tone meaningful.
Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat, feeling as though Lin Xuan had discovered something, but whether it was Lin Xuan's words giving her strength or not, her emotions gradually relaxed, and she was no longer so tense.
"That's good."
Xiao Wu breathed a sigh of relief, then turned her head to look at Yu Xiaogang, her gaze becoming fierce.
"Lin Xuan, let me down. I must teach this old geezer a lesson today. He calls for help when he can't win; I've never seen anyone so thick-skinned!"
"Leave this to me. As a girl, you shouldn't witness such bloody scenes."
Lin Xuan said with relief.
While the two were talking, Yu Xiaogang, who was lying on the ground almost losing control of his functions from the intense pain, finally found a small opportunity.
He forced his spirit power to circulate and summoned his Spirit, and Luo San Pao appeared before him.
Seeing its master's wretched state, Luo San Pao's eyes instantly turned red.
Regardless of anything else, in terms of loyalty, Luo San Pao was no different from a loyal dog.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang being tortured like this by Lin Xuan, a sharp Aura actually rose from the usually cute and naive Luo San Pao.
"Luo-luo!"
Carrying the rage to vent on Yu Xiaogang's behalf, it charged toward Lin Xuan like a wild boar.
"Lin Xuan, watch out!"
Seeing this, Xiao Wu quickly cried out a warning.
"Don't worry, I've got this."
Lin Xuan had just been wondering about the reason for Flender's absence—whether he had left or gone further away.
He hadn't expected that within the perception of his Blue Silver Grass, Yu Xiaogang would actually summon his Spirit, Luo San Pao.
Facing the charging Luo San Pao, the expression on Lin Xuan's face instantly switched.
From warmth toward Xiao Wu to a ferocious look for his enemy, his expression grew even more savage as he clenched his right fist and punched Luo San Pao directly in its large face.
Luo San Pao's face caved inward instantly, and it was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut.
Lin Xuan flicked his hand again, and the Blue Silver Grass reached out first, tightly Binding Luo San Pao's plump body, while the other end naturally wrapped around Lin Xuan.
Instant Kill Eight Stage Drop!
A familiar scene played out once again.
Using the Blue Silver Grass as an elastic cord, Lin Xuan and Luo San Pao collided repeatedly in mid-air.
Red light flickered in Lin Xuan's eyes, his face filled with brutality; today, he would personally cripple Yu Xiaogang's Spirit!
"San Pao!"
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang's eyes nearly split from rage.
Although he and Luo San Pao were two independent entities and any injury Luo San Pao sustained while separated wouldn't affect him, once they underwent Fusion, all of Luo San Pao's injuries would be transferred to him.
He could naturally see how terrifying the attacks Luo San Pao was currently enduring were.
After all, the series of screams and the sounds of flesh colliding all suggested that he would die from a single touch.
Although Luo San Pao was a Spirit, and even one that looked like a pig, it could actually be considered a Spirit Beast.
Its physical constitution was definitely more robust than his, yet now it could only be beaten passively.
If it weren't the thick-skinned Luo San Pao being beaten but a human, that person would already be dead.
In fact, he only needed to recall Luo San Pao to spare it from further abuse.
But given his current condition, if Luo San Pao returned to his body carrying such heavy injuries, he probably wouldn't be far from death himself.
But if Lin Xuan didn't stop and ended up killing or maiming Luo San Pao, what would he do then?
Filled with the fear of death, Yu Xiaogang simply didn't dare to recall Luo San Pao, who had endured countless attacks, back into his body.
"Luo-luo!"
Luo San Pao continued to scream miserably until later, even its cries became too faint to hear.
Yu Xiaogang was so terrified that he closed his eyes, not daring to look any longer.
"Boom!"
After Lin Xuan's version of the Instant Kill Eight Stage Drop ended, Luo San Pao crashed heavily onto the open ground beside Yu Xiaogang.
Looking at the eye-closing Yu Xiaogang, Luo San Pao's eyes were also filled with pain.
It possessed considerable intelligence and naturally felt pain as well; its entire body now felt as if it were broken. Aside from being able to blink its eyes, it no longer had an ounce of strength left and couldn't even manage a cry.
However, Luo San Pao also understood that if it were to undergo Fusion with its master in its current state, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Yu Xiaogang would surely die.
To avoid implicating its master, Luo San Pao chose Self-Dissolution.
This situation was like a Tool Spirit Master's Natal Spirit being shattered, or even more severe.
The former: at best, spirit power plummets and the Realm is damaged; at worst, life is in danger.
The latter: at best, the Spirit disappears and spirit power is crippled, turning one into a complete cripple; at worst, life is in danger.
And Luo San Pao, to give Yu Xiaogang a better chance of survival, could only choose Self-Shattering.
In that way, although Yu Xiaogang would suffer a Backlash due to the disappearance of his Spirit, he would at least not be affected by its injuries, retaining a slim chance of survival.
"No, no no no!"
Yu Xiaogang suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Luo San Pao, his gaze filled with terror.
He had guessed what Luo San Pao wanted to do. He had already been called trash by the people of his Family for heaven knows how many years for having a Waste Martial Soul; if he were to lose even his Spirit now, what would he do?
Wouldn't he be even less than trash?
But he simply didn't dare to recall Luo San Pao into his body.
Between living a cowardly life and standing tall for once and then dying, Yu Xiaogang ultimately chose to live a cowardly lifeChapter 67: Tang Hao's Suspicions
Luo San Pao's body became transparent at a visible speed, like morning mist blown away by the wind, finally transforming into specks of fluorescent light that dissipated into the air of Nuoding Academy's plaza, as if it had never existed in this world.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes snapped open, his pupils constricted by extreme fear. All he could see was the faint spirit power fluctuations lingering on the empty ground, and Luo San Pao's unique aura in the air, rapidly dissipating, leaving no trace behind.
"Ah—!"
Even though his mouth was tightly sealed by the Blue Silver Grass, preventing him from letting out a full roar, Yu Xiaogang still squeezed out an extremely mournful cry from his throat, like a wounded beast wailing in despair.
His eyes were bloodshot, swirling with despair and madness. He twitched uncontrollably, like a madman.
Luo San Pao was gone.
That was his only Spirit, his companion for decades, his last proof of being a Spirit Master.
Without his Spirit, what was left of him? A theoretical Grandmaster who could only talk the talk? A cripple who couldn't even be a Spirit Master?
Would Bibi Dong still care about a cripple who had lost his usefulness? Would Flender still remember their past brotherhood and treat him, a powerless man, with special regard?
And Tang San... would Tang San still need a teacher who didn't even have a Spirit?
In an instant, countless thoughts exploded in Yu Xiaogang's mind like thunder. He felt dizzy, a strong metallic sweetness surged up his throat, and his vision went black. He almost collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
What he lost at this moment was not just his Spirit, but also the last shred of dignity he had clung to for decades.
Although he had been plagued by Spirit mutation his entire life, his spirit power stagnating at rank twenty-nine, despised by his Family, and mocked by the world as a good-for-nothing, he had ultimately relied on his perseverance to forcibly Cultivate to the threshold of a Spirit Elder.
Compared to those Spirit Masters with Innate Soul Power of one or two ranks, who would never make progress in their lives, he could already be considered top-tier.
Not to mention those Mortals who couldn't even Awaken their spirit power, he had at least once been a true Spirit Master.
But now, he didn't even have a Spirit.
From now on, he had completely lost the capital to even compare himself to ordinary people.
That pitiful dignity, built on a slight advantage, was crushed to dust the moment Luo San Pao dissipated.
Lin Xuan watched Yu Xiaogang's crazed state with cold eyes, without the slightest pity, only icy coldness.
This was just the beginning.
When Yu Xiaogang conspired with Flender and forced him to flee Nuoding City in a sorry state with despicable means, he should have foreseen this day of retribution.
"Lin Xuan..."
Xiao Wu stood by, looking at the empty grass, then at the dying, crazed Yu Xiaogang. She called out softly, a hint of imperceptible worry in her tone.
Lin Xuan snapped back to reality, the surging killing intent in his mind quickly receding. This Yu Xiaogang couldn't be killed.
If he died, who would be given the task of leading Tang San astray?
Wouldn't all his meticulously planned arrangements completely collapse then?
He still preferred the feeling of having the plot firmly in his hands.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Lin Xuan smiled slightly, all the hostility in his eyes fading, making him look much more open and bright.
"It's just that I've been too suppressed this past month. Now that I've let it out, I feel much better."
Of course, if one ignored the specks of blood and dirt on his clothes, this appearance would be more convincing.
"What about him? Should we kill him?!"
Xiao Wu saw Lin Xuan's eyes regain their clarity, and her hanging heart finally settled.
She turned to look at the barely breathing Yu Xiaogang, her eyes showing undisguised fierceness, and a hint of eagerness in her tone.
"Killing him would be letting him off too lightly."
Lin Xuan waved his hand, his tone flat but with a bone-chilling coldness.
"scrap his Spirit and cultivation is the greatest punishment for him. Wasn't he always arrogant, considering himself a Grandmaster?
I want to see how he can still be arrogant without his Spirit and spirit power."
"I want to see how he can still be arrogant without his Spirit and spirit power."
"Alright!"
Xiao Wu was slightly disappointed, but when she noticed Lin Xuan's messy, dirt-stained clothes, her brows instantly furrowed, and a hint of heartache flashed in her eyes.
"Come on, come on, how did you even spend this past month? You're so filthy!
I'll take you to wash up and change into clean clothes first."
Saying this, she took Lin Xuan's hand without question and quickly ran towards the direction of Dormitory Seven.
The surrounding students and faculty who were watching immediately subconsciously retreated, making way for a wide path, not daring to even breathe loudly.
In their eyes, Lin Xuan had already become synonymous with a killing god and a ruthless person; his methods were too brutal.
Killing Yu Xiaogang might have been understandable, but Lin Xuan chose the cruelest method.
Crippling his Spirit and cultivation.
For a Spirit Master, spirit power and Spirit are sometimes more important than life itself.
Once lost, it's like falling from the clouds into a swamp, a fate worse than death.
None of them wanted to offend Lin Xuan one day and end up like Yu Xiaogang.
It wasn't until Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu's figures completely disappeared from sight that the Old Dean arrived late.
He looked at the miserable, weak Yu Xiaogang in the plaza, and after listening to someone nearby recount the whole story, he merely sighed heavily and said no more.
He waved his hand, telling someone to immediately invite the academy's only healing system Spirit Master to give Yu Xiaogang simple treatment.
Yu Xiaogang, after all, came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Although he was expelled by the Family, he was still Yu Yuanzhen's son and had a Spirit Saint-level brother, Flender.
No matter how much he despised Yu Xiaogang's actions, he absolutely could not let him die in Nuoding Academy, otherwise, trouble would only continuously arise.
As for Lin Xuan... the Old Dean frowned deeply.
Although he didn't know Lin Xuan's background, after today's incident, Lin Xuan was clearly no longer suitable to stay in Nuoding Academy.
If the forces behind Yu Xiaogang truly pursued the matter, no one in the entire Nuoding City could bear the consequences.
He made up his mind that later he must have a good talk with Lin Xuan to see if he could persuade him to temporarily leave the academy to avoid the limelight.
Meanwhile, in a distant corner, Tang Hao looked at Lin Xuan's receding figure with a solemn expression, even forgetting to shake the wine gourd at the corner of his mouth.
If he remembered correctly, Lin Xuan's first Spirit Ability should have been self-healing.
However, the Blue Silver Grass Lin Xuan used just now was surprisingly no weaker in toughness than the Blue Silver Grass currently within Tang San's body.
Most importantly, there were faint golden Texture that had flashed across that Blue Silver Grass.
As far as he knew, for Blue Silver Grass to grow golden patterns, there was only one possibility—evolving into the Blue Silver Emperor!
Yet Lin Xuan had clearly only absorbed an ordinary Blue Silver Grass spirit ring, but his Spirit had become so tough and could independently cast Spirit Abilities like Binding. This could never be explained by ordinary mutation.
There could only be one possibility—Lin Xuan's Blue Silver Grass had not only mutated but had even begun to transform towards the Blue Silver Emperor!
"What exactly did this kid experience this past month? Where did he go? Could it be..."
Tang Hao's expression suddenly changed drastically, and a terrifying thought uncontrollably surged into his mind.
He no longer cared about continuing to hide, abruptly turned around, and stumbled yet urgently ran towards the waterfall outside the city where Ah Yin was buried.
He had to go check, he had to confirm Ah Yin's safety!
If Lin Xuan's Spirit transformation was truly related to Ah Yin, then Ah Yin... The more Tang Hao thought about it, the more scared he became, his heart felt as if it was tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and his breathing became rapid.
It wasn't until dusk that Tang San, dragging his weary body, returned to the academy from the Blacksmith Shop.
Ever since Lin Xuan took his Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges and all the Hidden Weapons stored inside, for the past month, he had practically lived in the Blacksmith Shop, forging day and night, just to re-forge a set of handy Hidden Weapons for himself.
From now on, he would no longer care about the rules of Spirit Master sparring.
If he encountered Lin Xuan again, he would definitely make Lin Xuan taste the power of his Hidden Weapons and avenge his previous humiliation!
As mentioned before, Tang San's popularity in Nuoding Academy was extremely poor. Not a single person was willing to proactively tell him the news that Yu Xiaogang had been crippled by Lin Xuan.
It wasn't until he returned to his dormitory, found Yu Xiaogang absent, and searched for him for a long time without success, that he had no choice but to ask a teacher.
With the teacher's strange expression, Tang San finally learned of the shocking events that had occurred in the academy that day.
He was completely stunned, unable to believe his ears—how could such a big event have happened in the academy after only one day away?
Especially Lin Xuan, how could he have returned so coincidentally today?
Flender only left yesterday!
A burst of anger instantly ignited in his heart, and Tang San instinctively wanted to go settle accounts with Lin Xuan.
But when he heard the teacher add that Lin Xuan's temperament had drastically changed upon his return, becoming extremely irritable, and that he had shattered Yu Xiaogang's Spirit on the spot, turning him into a Mortal, the anger in his heart was instantly doused with cold water, leaving only deep apprehension.
He was no match for Lin Xuan now.
If he rashly went to provoke him, and was also crippled by the enraged Lin Xuan, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Although he possessed the secret of twin spirits, both his father Tang Hao and his teacher Yu Xiaogang had repeatedly warned him never to expose his second Spirit.
After much thought, Tang San ultimately suppressed the impulse in his heart and, adhering to the principle of 'obedience,' sheepishly turned and ran towards the infirmary.
What he should do now is go see his severely injured teacherChapter 68: Tang Hao Appears
When Tang San arrived at the infirmary, a faint smell of medicine still lingered in the air, mixed with spirit power fluctuations that hadn't fully dissipated, like an invisible veil shrouding this simple room.
Sunlight streamed in diagonally through the window lattices, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor, yet it could not dispel the somber atmosphere in the room.
Yu Xiaogang lay on the hospital bed against the wall, the bedding beneath him appearing somewhat messy due to his struggles.
His Face was as pale as fine Xuan paper, devoid of blood. His eyes stared hollowly at the spiderweb-like cracks on the ceiling. It was as if all Life Qi had been drained from him, leaving behind only a flimsy shell that seemed as if it would fall apart with a single gust of wind.
"Teacher!"
Tang San's voice carried a hurried pant. He almost rushed to the bedside, the urgency and shock in his eyes nearly overflowing.
He had never seen Yu Xiaogang like this—gone was the high-spiritedness he usually displayed when discussing Spirit Master theories, and gone was the steady certainty he had when guiding his cultivation.
Even his breathing was as weak as a candle in the wind. If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, one would almost think this was already a lifeless corpse.
Yu Xiaogang slowly turned his head, his cloudy eyes focusing with great effort on Tang San's Face. His lips quivered a few times, but his throat only produced a dry rubbing sound, unable to squeeze out even a single complete syllable.
The backlash from losing his Spirit was like a maggot on a bone. Not only did it drain the remaining spirit power in his Dantian, but it also felt like countless fine needles piercing into his Meridians and throat, making even the simplest act of opening his mouth to speak exceptionally difficult.
Tang San's gaze swept over the circle of purple-blue bruises on his teacher's neck that hadn't yet faded, then fell on his arms exposed outside the bedding.
Those scars of varying depths—some were purple bruises from blunt force impacts, others were scabs from sharp objects—each one was like a red-hot branding iron, searing into his heart.
Recalling the words his classmates had gloatingly relayed to each other on his way here—"Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's Spirit has been crippled"—a chill shot up his spine to the top of his head, making the blood in his entire body feel as if it had frozen instantly.
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from excessive force. His nails dug deep into his palms, drawing thin lines of blood, but that slight sting was far less than the surging stifling feeling and anger in his heart.
"It's Lin Xuan... it must be him!"
Tang San's voice was terrifyingly low, as if squeezed through his teeth, every word carrying irrepressible fury.
He couldn't understand why, after not seeing him for only a month, that Lin Xuan—who used to be taciturn and even somewhat timid in Dorm Seven—would become so ruthless as to lay such a heavy hand on the teacher who regarded him like a nephew.
He never once considered that if he and his teacher hadn't pressured him at every step, even bringing in a Spirit Saint to exert force, how could that nine-year-old child have been forced to run into the wild alone and live in the peril-filled forest for over a month?
Yu Xiaogang didn't nod or shake his head. Only the despair in his hollow eyes seemed to deepen, like two bottomless dry wells.
He slowly raised his hand—the hand that had once written countless exquisite theories on the blackboard—now trembling like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, as he shakily pointed toward his Dantian.
That place was once the home of his Spirit, Luo San Pao, and the source of his spirit power circulation. Now, only a dead silence remained, like a frozen wasteland without a trace of life.
Tang San understood instantly.
Without a Spirit, it meant his teacher had completely been reduced to a cripple who could no longer Cultivate.
For Yu Xiaogang, who viewed the honor of a Spirit Master as his faith and poured his life's blood into the Legacy of his theories, this was more painful than killing him.
It was like a painter having his eyes gouged out, or a musician having his ears cut off. All his pursuits and sustenance had collapsed the moment his Spirit shattered.
"Teacher, rest assured, I will definitely avenge you!"
Tang San gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. A flash of gloominess, completely inconsistent with his age, flickered in his eyes, churning with resentment and hostility.
"Lin Xuan, he..."
He wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Yu Xiaogang's strained voice.
"Don't..."
Yu Xiaogang finally squeezed a raspy syllable from his throat, his breath so weak it seemed it would cut off the next second.
He paused, as if he had exhausted all his strength, before squeezing out three more words.
"He... is very strong..."
Those four short words were like a heavy hammer striking Tang San's heart.
He knew his teacher's character; he was always proud and never easily backed down. For his teacher to say the words "very strong," Lin Xuan's current strength was likely far beyond his imagination.
Even Luo San Pao, who had accompanied his teacher for decades, was easily crushed. His own bit of spirit power, which had just achieved a Breakthrough, was likely truly vulnerable in the Face of absolute power, just as his teacher thought.
Moreover, this had been proven in their previous encounter; he was not Lin Xuan's match.
Tang San fell silent.
His clenched fists slowly relaxed, leaving several crescent-shaped bloodstains on his palms, yet he was completely oblivious to it.
The flame of revenge in his heart did not go out; instead, it burned even brighter in the silence, only gaining a shell called "forbearance."
He secretly vowed that he would not only become strong, but stronger than anyone else—strong enough to protect those around him, and strong enough to make everyone who had bullied them pay a price in blood.
"Teacher, rest assured. Even if you no longer have spirit power, you are still my teacher."
Tang San held Yu Xiaogang's trembling hand, the warmth of his palm attempting to transmit some strength. His expression was as solemn as if he were taking an oath.
"I will definitely realize your theories for you and spread them across the entire continent.
I want all those who once looked down on you and those who mock you now to see that even without spirit power, you are still the greatest scholar in the Spirit Master's world."
"Good... good..." Hearing this, a spark of light suddenly appeared in Yu Xiaogang's cloudy eyes. He was so moved that tears welled up and nearly fell.
After becoming a cripple, his biggest worry was that Tang San would abandon him because he had lost his value. Now it seemed he had worried needlessly.
In that case, he would devote all his remaining blood and effort to help Tang San reach the Peak.
That was his unfulfilled dream, and now it could only be placed upon this Disciple.
"Teacher, what should we do next? Should we write another letter to Dean Flender?"
Tang San suddenly thought of something and looked up to ask, a hint of hope in his eyes.
Dean Flender was his teacher's close friend and a Spirit Saint expert; perhaps he would have a way.
Yu Xiaogang, however, slowly shook his head, a bitter self-mockery curling at the corner of his mouth.
"It's... useless..."
He took a breath, struggling to organize his words.
"His return this time... he must have found... a new backer. Otherwise... with his personality, he would never... come back knowing full well we intended to deal with him."
In his view, the situation had long since reversed.
Before, they used Flender's name to intimidate Lin Xuan. Now, it was likely the turn of "that person" behind Lin Xuan to intimidate them.
That "person" hadn't acted yet, perhaps because they hadn't made up their mind, or perhaps they were just observing.
As long as they behaved themselves and stopped taking the initiative to provoke him, perhaps they could still obtain a moment of peace.
But if they dared to do as before and write a letter to call for reinforcements, that would be no different from proactively handing over a handle, as if afraid others wouldn't find an excuse to finish them off.
Tang San also fell silent.
He finally experienced what Lin Xuan once felt—that feeling of always sensing a pair of eyes watching him from the shadows, making the hairs on his body stand on end and making him restless.
In the past, he acted boldly and ostentatiously, relying on his Tang Sect ultimate techniques and his teacher's guidance. He always felt that the people around him either lacked the strength to see his abnormalities or wouldn't pay much attention to him.
But now, at the thought that there might be an expert at the Spirit Saint level or above spying from the shadows, he felt uneasy all over. Even knowing there was a wall behind him, he couldn't help but look back. He became even more paranoid in his actions, always feeling that prying eyes were hidden behind walls, in corners, or on rooftops.
"Teacher, what if Lin Xuan wants to move against us!?"
Tang San said with a terrified expression.
Lin Xuan couldn't beat a Spirit Saint, but he couldn't either!
Maybe they should run too, and come back after finding a new backer?
"Rest assured, since he didn't kill me, it proves he still has some reservations about me and cannot bear the price of my death.
In the short term, he shouldn't make a lethal move against us."
Yu Xiaogang replied with unearned confidence while lying on the bed. He also had a background; as long as he didn't die, it was fine. He believed that if he died, Lin Xuan would definitely not have a good time.
The enmity between him and Lin Xuan could be considered a death feud, yet now that Lin Xuan could have killed him but didn't, it made Yu Xiaogang feel that his background was still somewhat useful.
On the other side, Lin Xuan had just walked out of the Dean's office. The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling; he raised his hand to block it, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He didn't have much objection to the conditions the Old Dean proposed—after all, having caused such a large commotion on someone else's territory, the fact that the Old Dean didn't directly kick him out but instead communicated calmly with him was already giving him plenty of Face.
Of course, there might be a bit of consideration for his "background" in this, but none of that mattered anymore.
Leaving Nuoding Academy was inevitable, but not right now.
He knew Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's current situation all too well—that torment of clearly hating someone to the point of gritting their teeth, yet not daring to act rashly due to fear. He had experienced it before; now, it was their turn to taste it.
He had been observing in secret all day today, but Flender never appeared.
Combined with what Xiao Wu told him before—that "Flender flies out every day, except he didn't show up yesterday"—he could almost conclude that Flender had left Nuoding City.
In this way, the "offensive and defensive positions" between him and Tang San's side had completely reversed.
In the past, because he feared Tang Hao's existence, he always acted with extreme caution, not even daring to be too ostentatious in his cultivation for fear of drawing that Titled Douluo's attention.
And now, it was Tang San and his group's turn to act cautiously. After all, the one currently "monitoring" the entire Nuoding City was his "background."
The reason the Old Dean relented and agreed to let him stay temporarily was also because Lin Xuan had guaranteed he would keep an eye on Yu Xiaogang and the others to ensure they didn't send any messages out.
To put it bluntly, it was using invisible pressure to trap them, making them not dare to make any more moves.
Lin Xuan strolled along the path toward Dorm Seven, hands in his pockets, his pace light.
The perception of the Blue Silver Grass was already fully activated, like a fine net shrouding every inch of the surrounding space; any slight movement could not escape his perception.
Just as he reached a corner, his perception suddenly caught a familiar figure—Tang Hao.
That blacksmith who was always drunk was currently leaning against a corner, holding a wine gourd, yet his eyes were exceptionally clear, gazing thoughtfully in his direction.
Sure enough, the second after Lin Xuan's perception locked onto Tang Hao, the other's figure disappeared from the spot like a ghost.
Almost simultaneously, Lin Xuan only felt a blur before his eyes as a powerful aura instantly enveloped him, carrying a faint smell of alcohol and an indisputable sense of pressure.
But there wasn't a trace of panic on Lin Xuan's Face; instead, he still wore that calm smile.
Deep in his mind, that long-dormant "Old Tang" mark was still steadily suspended, without any abnormality.
This thing was like a hidden legendary blade; once he encountered fatal danger, he didn't even need to actively activate it—it would immediately start its defense.
Since it had no reaction now, it was enough to prove that Tang Hao's current actions posed no threat to him