Tang Hao's consciousness reached a decision in an instant.
Ring Explosion!
The two yellow spirit rings circling him burst open, scattering into motes of yellow light.
A terrifying, domineering energy erupted the instant the two century-old rings detonated.
That tyrannical force smashed against the frozen space like a great hammer, sending ripples through the air.
Yet the ripples did not spread; the solidified space refused to shatter.
'Not enough!'
'Still not enough!'
Tang Hao's mind hardened; two thousand year spirit rings followed, exploding in turn.
A power even more overbearing than before surged out, slamming into the space sealed by Dugu Bo's eighth Spirit Ability.
This time the ripples widened, the entire space trembling on the verge of collapse.
'Almost there!'
'Again!'
His fifth spirit ring burst, and a crushing Divine Might erupted, crashing against the frozen space.
That single blow shattered Dugu Bo's Time Freeze.
Tang Hao's body broke free with a long howl that shook the surrounding fields.
'Well done, Dugu Bo; I never thought you could force me this far!'
Blood trickled from Tang Hao's lips; detonating five rings in succession placed an immense burden on a body already carrying old wounds, and the tyrannical venom laced with draconic might he had just absorbed made his condition even worse.
Yet how could the Clear Sky Douluo admit defeat so easily?
He watched the jade-green beam that had fully formed in Dugu Bo's mouth and was now shooting toward him.
At the critical instant Tang Hao reacted!
Sixth and seventh spirit rings—
Detonate!
Blood foam on his lips, he roared.
His Aura soared; whirling the mountain-sized Clear Sky Hammer, he smashed it forward.
Boom!
A brilliant jade radiance exploded outward like a green sea, spreading in every direction.
That strike, powered by seven shattered rings, tore the jade beam of Dugu Bo's ninth Spirit Ability to pieces and slammed into the enormous dragon body.
Clear Sky Hammer met the emerald scales of the Jade Phosphor Dragon Emperor.
In the past, Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent form could never have withstood that blow.
But now, after his Spirit evolved, the Jade Phosphor Dragon Emperor's quality surpassed even the Clear Sky Hammer, its physical strength incomparable.
Weakened by the Jade Phosphor Apocalypse Beam, the hammer blow merely shook Dugu Bo's blood and qi.
Tang Hao, on the other hand, had shredded the Jade Phosphor Apocalypse Beam—yet Dugu Bo was the Poison Douluo; his true power lay in poison.
The real attack of the Jade Phosphor Apocalypse Beam was not physical but the venom within the light.
The instant the beam was torn apart, that toxin erupted and poured into every limb and bone of Tang Hao's body.
Before, strong spirit power could have limited the poison, but how could Tang Hao, who had just detonated seven rings, still resist the invasion?
The venom of the Jade Phosphor Apocalypse Beam flared inside him; Tang Hao's face changed, he coughed a mouthful of blood, and his skin turned jade-green.
Worse, his skin began to rot, hideous and terrifying.
Tang Hao retreated at once, using all his spirit power to slow the poison's spread.
'So this is the famed Clear Sky Douluo?'
'Tang Hao, you disgrace that title!'
Rage blazed in Tang Hao's heart; his body shook.
He held the name Clear Sky as an honor, yet Dugu Bo claimed he shamed it.
'Dugu Bo, how dare you humiliate me!'
Fury erupted; his Aura solidified into a tempest that swept the area, his robes whipping in the wind.
He forced down the Jade Phosphor Dragon Emperor venom and released the Slaughter God Domain; frigid Killing Intent shot skyward.
Above his head, his eighth ring flashed black, and even the faint Aura it leaked made the air feel heavy.
Sensing it, Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes.
Outwardly he remained arrogant and disdainful, but inwardly he acknowledged Tang Hao's strength.
That Ring Explosion technique was terrifyingly unreasonable.
Fortunately, the man was not at his peak; otherwise victory would be uncertain.
Even so, Dugu Bo felt a twinge of trouble.
Tang Hao had only reached the eighth ring, yet the threat was already obvious.
If he went mad and detonated his hundred-thousand-year ring… still, Dugu Bo was not afraid.
He could see Tang Hao's current state: the backlash of Ring Explosion was immense.
Unless the man wanted to die and drag him down as well, he would stop here.
Thus Dugu Bo smiled coldly, his massive dragon body coiling in the sky, certain he understood Tang Hao's mind.
He did not believe Tang Hao had the resolve to perish together.
And indeed, Tang Hao's face was dark; seeing Dugu Bo ready for a fight to the death, he ground his teeth.
He longed to tear apart the Old Poison who dared question the name Clear Sky.
Yet he knew that even detonating his eighth ring would, at best, gravely wound Dugu Bo.
To truly defeat—or kill—him, he would have to shatter his ninth ring.
But Ring Explosion was brutal: while granting immense power, it also savaged the user's body.
Without sufficient talent and foundation, the move was suicide.
That was why only the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect was allowed to wield this divine skill.
Many of his old injuries were relics of past Ring Explosions.
Even at his peak he could barely endure the backlash; how could he now?
In his present state, forcing a ninth-ring detonation was simply courting death.
As the Clear Sky Douluo, he carried the hope of reviving the Clear Sky Sect; dying here in exchange for the Old Poison's life was not worth it.
Meanwhile, the dragon in the sky fixed his golden pupils on Tang Hao, mockery in his gaze, and spoke in a rumbling voice.
'Tang Hao, what if I insult you?'
'If you're unconvinced, then continue—let's settle both victor and survivor!'
Tang Hao quelled his anger; though unwilling to keep fighting, he would not show weakness.
'Dugu Bo, today I underestimated you. Had my old wounds healed, I would have taught you a lesson: the Clear Sky name is not to be shamed!'
'Next time we meet, I will erase this disgrace with my own hands!'
Even before the words faded, the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand shrank rapidly.
His figure flickered and in an instant vanished beyond the horizon.
Dugu Bo had expected it and made no move to stop him.
Among Titled Douluo, unless one side held overwhelming advantage, killing was nearly impossible.
Moreover, he feared pushing Tang Hao too far and provoking a mutual destruction.
Watching the disappearing figure, Dugu Bo sneered.
'What Clear Sky Douluo? Nothing but an empty name!'
(End of Chapter)
[Get +50 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]