While the competition in Spirit City was in full swing, Shrek Academy, on its way back to the Heaven Dou Empire, fell into a dire crisis.
They were currently besieged within a narrow mountain valley. The Serpent Dragon Joint Assault, the Spirit Fusion Skill of the Dragon Duke Meng Shu and the Serpent Woman Chao Tianxiang, had transformed into a thirty-meter-long great dragon soaring through the sky. Simultaneously, the Golden Triangle's Spirit Fusion Skill, the Golden Holy Dragon, had also manifested as a thirty-meter golden beast to stand in opposition.
Facing these two massive fusions were two men. One was shrouded in pitch-black energy, nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—shining brilliantly around him. This was the Ghost Leopard Douluo of Spirit Hall. The other was a man of hulking muscle clad in heavy armor, radiating the aura of a savage prehistoric bear. His nine soul rings moved in rhythm as well; he was the Devil Bear Douluo.
Zhao Wuji and the other teachers of Shrek Academy shielded the students at the very center, their faces grim.
Tang San looked up at the two Titled Douluos. His heart was filled with hatred for Spirit Hall. Why wouldn't they just let him go? Although he hadn't learned the specifics of his parents' grudge from "Prince" Xue Qinghe or Ning Fengzhi in this timeline, he had gathered enough information from Tai Tan to connect the dots. His intellect allowed him to guess that his true enemy was Spirit Hall. Being hunted by two Titled Douluos for the second time only served to fuel the fire of his rage.
Tang San made a silent, poisonous vow. 'If I survive this battle, I will make Spirit Hall pay in blood!'
In the sky, the Ghost Leopard Douluo spoke indifferently. "Elder Yu, by the Pope's decree, we are here only for Tang San. You may lead the others away. Refuse, and no one will be spared."
Bibi Dong had once again moved to protect her "Xiaogang," giving a direct order to the two Titled Douluos: the rest of Shrek could die, but Yu Xiaogang must not be harmed.
Yu Xiaogang felt a flicker of tenderness and hope in the depths of his heart, but he did not retreat. "Elder Ghost Leopard, Xiao San is my disciple. To me, he is like a son. Do you think I would abandon my son to save my own life?" He said coldly. "Words are useless! Do this today, and the Clear Sky Douluo will make you pay a bloody price in the future!"
Ghost Leopard Douluo snorted at the threat from a mere Soul Grandmaster. "Ignorant of the heavens. A mere two-ringed weakling dares to provoke a Titled Douluo? Even if Her Holiness wants to protect you, I'll take half your life for that mouth!"
He turned to the Devil Bear Douluo. "Let's end this. Kill Tang San so we can report back."
"Should have done that from the start!" Devil Bear Douluo grinned savagely. "Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!"
The black seventh soul rings of both men ignited. Unlike the stalling tactics of the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos, they struck with full force immediately. Two terrifying beasts, each over five meters long, appeared in the sky. The sheer pressure from two Titled Douluos instantly suppressed the two Spirit Fusion Skills.
The Serpent Dragon Joint Assault could rival a Titled Douluo, but it could only hold its own against someone newly ascended. The Golden Holy Dragon, while of superior quality, was held back by the Grandmaster's low rank, making it even weaker than the Dragon-Snake fusion. Against two Rank 95 Super Douluos in their Martial Soul Avatar forms, they stood no chance.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Nether Cold Light!"
"Fifth Soul Skill: Devil Bear Rage!"
Flender and the others were horrified. These Douluos were using ten-thousand-year skills directly. If these landed, not only would the fusions shatter, but everyone below would be annihilated.
At that moment, time seemed to slow for the members of Shrek Academy. They felt like ants waiting for the heel to drop. Tang San pulled Meng Yiran tightly into his embrace, shielding her with his back, his eyes full of cold defiance and lingering regret.
'Brother Gu...'
For some reason, Tang San's first thought was of Gu Xuan. He imagined Gu Xuan descending from the heavens with the Sword Douluo to save them. Unfortunately, Gu Xuan was currently in a lounge miles away, discussing how to dismantle the Spirit Hall team.
Just as despair took hold, a low voice exploded in the air. "A stray cat and a mangy bear. You dare harm my son? GET LOST!!!"
The voice wasn't loud, but the sheer majesty within it made everyone's soul tremble. Tang San snapped his head up, his eyes shining with joy.
With a low, thundering boom, a massive hammer wreathed in red light flew through the air. The bodies of Ghost Leopard Douluo and Devil Bear Douluo were sent recoiling back like cannonballs. Their faces paled; for the first time in years, a combined full-power strike had been met with such an overwhelming reversal.
A black figure appeared silently in mid-air, floating as if he had always belonged there. He was a tall, burly middle-aged man in his fifties, though his appearance was haggard. His robes were tattered and unpatched, revealing bronze skin. His features were sallow, his eyes sleepy, and his hair was a bird's nest of tangles.
Tang San's composure finally broke. Tears he hadn't shed when facing death now overflowed. "Dad... Dad..."
It was Tang Hao, who had been gone for over eight years. Behind him, a massive black hammer hovered in the void.
"Tang Hao!" Ghost Leopard Douluo barked, his eyes fixed on the man. They never expected him to appear now. Tang Hao's opening move had proven he could fight two-on-one. He hadn't even used a soul skill; raw soul power and his Martial Soul alone had repelled two Super Douluos who were using their Martial Soul Avatar.
"Tang Hao! You dare show your face? Do you not fear death?" Ghost Leopard Douluo growled.
"Death?" Tang Hao smiled faintly. He carried an aura of absolute indifference, as if an army of ten thousand meant nothing to him. He didn't waste breath on talk. One by one, soul rings rose from his feet—not fast, but with each one, his presence became more oppressive.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black... Red.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul ring?!" The two Spirit Hall Elders gasped. That was the ultimate treasure of the soul master world. Neither had been part of the original hunt for Tang Hao years ago, so they were blindsided by the red ring. Facing a Titled Douluo with a red ring whose soul power was equal to theirs, they knew the mission had failed.
"With just the two of you, how do you intend to kill me?" Tang Hao asked indifferently.
The two Elders exchanged a look. They weren't cowards. "DIE!"
"Ninth Soul Skill: Void Shadow!"
"Ninth Soul Skill: Devil Bear Heaven-Shaker!"
They didn't target Tang Hao; they aimed their ultimate attacks at the Shrek students below.
Tang Hao's gaze turned icy. "Seeking death. Look closely—this is the true Martial Soul Avatar Clear Sky Hammer."
Tang San's spirit surged; his father's words were meant for him. The Seventh Soul Skill ignited. The black hammer behind Tang Hao expanded, its head becoming as large as a hill, stretching a hundred meters long. Crimson patterns etched themselves onto the surface as the hundred-thousand-year red ring flared, turning the entire hammer a bloody crimson.
"Sky-Rending Strike!"
The hundred-meter hammer descended with a speed that surpassed the Elders' sneak attack. A single blow intercepted the ninth soul skills of two Rank 95 Titled Douluos!
BOOM—!
The entire valley trembled. Half a mountain peak was ground into dust silently. The shockwave was so intense that every soul master below Rank 70 was knocked unconscious instantly. Ghost Leopard and Devil Bear were slammed into the earth.
Tang Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, but he laughed wildly. "The debt Spirit Hall owes me... one day, I will collect it all in full. That day is not far off."
In a flash, Tang Hao vanished, taking the unconscious Tang San with him. Just before disappearing, Tang San had tossed an object toward the Dragon Duke Meng Shu.
Tang Hao's deep voice faded in the distance. "Grandmaster, Flender... you have taught my son for years. I owe you this debt of gratitude."
The two Spirit Hall Elders crawled out of the craters, shaken. Tang Hao's strength was monstrous; a single strike had blocked two ultimate ninth skills. His power was likely already beyond them.
The five members of Shrek who had performed the Spirit Fusions remained conscious, though their fusions had been shattered by the aftershocks. The two Elders glanced at the survivors but chose to leave. Their goal was Tang San; with him gone, there was no point in involving the others—especially since Bibi Dong had ordered them to spare Yu Xiaogang.
Soon, Shrek's food master, Shao Xin, began treating the students. The fusions had shielded them from the worst of the impact. Ma Hongjun was the first to wake, shouting in excitement. "Holy crap! That was insane! San-ge's dad is a beast! He's my idol from now on!"
Flender sighed, feeling a sense of dejection. Even as a Soul Saint, he felt like an ant compared to true powerhouses. If Tang Hao hadn't appeared, none of them would have left that valley alive.
In the crowd, Meng Yiran looked frantic. She realized Tang San was gone. "Xiao San..."
Dragon Duke Meng Shu sighed and opened his palm to her. In his hand was a bracelet with a thumb-sized golden sphere—a token Tang San had made specifically for her. Inside the sphere were Dragon Whisker Needles that could be fired with soul power. It was a parting gift and a hidden trump card for her protection.
Meng Yiran clutched the token, staring at the horizon, wondering when she would ever see him again.
(End of Chapter)
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