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The seventh and ninth soul rings on Sword Douluo flared at once. The figure in white instantly transformed into an enormous silver greatsword—this sword, too, stretched for hundreds of meters!
That colossal sword became a streak of sword light, flashing across the sky to collide with the crimson Clear Sky Hammer.
Boom!!
With an explosive detonation, a white shockwave rippled out from the heart of the battlefield, overturning countless nearby warhorses.
In an instant, men and mounts were hurled about; panic seized every heart.
Within dozens of meters beneath the positions of Tang Hao and Chen Xin, earth, trees, and weeds were all blasted away.
Recognizing the newcomer as Sword Douluo Chen Xin, Tang Hao roared in fury:
"Chen Xin!!! Have you fallen to being a lapdog of Spirit Hall as well?!"
The Seven Kill Greatsword let out a faint, ringing hum. "No choice—Poison Douluo is here."
Strictly speaking, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was kin by marriage to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. After all, they were all Ye Lan's family. He couldn't just stand there and watch Ye Lan's maternal grandfather be hammered to death by Tang Hao.
Tang Hao threw in every ounce of strength he had, yet he could not shake the Seven Kill Sword, the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum cyclone, or the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor true body.
He even began to show signs of being pushed back. Tang Hao, after all, was only a rank 95 Titled Douluo—and he was grievously wounded.
If not for the hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and the Clear Sky Hammer, he wouldn't even be able to stalemate the rank 96 Seven Kill Sword.
(A patch for consistency: In the original, a gravely injured rank 95 Tang Hao, relying on a hundred-thousand-year ring, one-shot seven members of Spirit Hall including Bibi Dong. That result is truly absurd. Note that Bibi Dong at this time is a rank 99 ultimate Douluo with twin martial souls; even weakened by the Rakshasa God's trial, she'd still be rank 98. Let's just say the author ate his own canon—making it up as he went. So here, Tang Hao's baseline combat power is treated as one level higher than canon, and with ring detonation, another level higher. That "one hammer to flatten seven" can only be explained if Bibi Dong didn't release her martial soul, didn't use soul skills, and chose to spare Yu Xiaogang's disciple, Tang San.)
Out of the corner of his eye, Tang Hao glanced toward Shrek Academy's side and was startled.
He found that all twelve members of Shrek Academy had been captured by Ghost Douluo, each one bound by shadowy, spectral hands.
Tang Hao's heart sank. The entire Shrek group had become Ghost Douluo's hostages.
He had to do something.
With a bellow, Tang Hao suddenly surged, blasting the Seven Kill Greatsword back half a meter. He then hurled the hundred-meter Clear Sky Hammer at the sword—
—and immediately shot into the air toward the bulk of the assembled academies.
In a blink, he flashed into the skies above nearly a thousand people.
Dark soul light flickered over Tang Hao's body; a crushing aura erupted from him, forcing countless people flat to the ground.
Only the Heaven Dou Royal Academy contingent escaped being pinned. At the instant Tang Hao's pressure fell—
Snake Lance Douluo, Porcupinefish Douluo, Star Douluo, and Bone Douluo appeared one after another, immediately offsetting Tang Hao's oppressive might.
Seeing four more Titled Douluo, Tang Hao's eyelids twitched. He glared at Ghost Douluo and shouted:
"Ghost Douluo, I advise you to let the Shrek brats go—now! Otherwise, I'll send these thousand lives to the grave with my son!!
If Spirit Hall can bear the consequences, then go ahead—kill my boy and see!"
At his threat, the faces of countless teachers and students blanched.
They had never imagined they would become hostages of the famed Clear Sky Douluo.
Was the Clear Sky Douluo truly so ruthless?
Curses erupted from below, but Tang Hao's brow creased—and his pressure mounted yet again.
The shouting ceased at once; they were too busy enduring the soul pressure to spare the breath to curse him.
Ghost Douluo, however, did not dispel the shadowy binds on the Shrek members. He simply remained silent.
If he released Shrek now, then the teachers and students of the Heaven Dou academies would be in real danger.
With Tang San as a hostage, he could force Tang Hao to scruple.
At that moment, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan encircled Tang Hao.
Chen Xin said, "Tang Hao, do not err further. These people are innocents. For a dignified Clear Sky Douluo, why do such a thing?"
Bone Douluo, Snake Lance Douluo, and Porcupinefish Douluo moved as well, widening the encirclement.
Cold sweat beaded in Tang Hao's palms—the very situation he least wished to face had come to pass.
If Sword Douluo weren't here, he still had a chance to break out.
But Chen Xin was one rank above him. Past rank 95, every level for a Titled Douluo was a terrifying gulf, akin to the leap from Soul Emperor to ordinary Soul Sage.
If not for his hundred-thousand-year ring, Chen Xin would already have him suppressed.
And if both Sword and Bone were present, that meant Ning Fengzhi had to be here as well.
Add Ning Fengzhi into the fray and—never mind rescuing Tang San—Tang Hao might well die here today.
In an instant, Tang Hao grasped just how perilous his plight was.
"You forced me!! If you've got guts—don't run!!" he roared.
"Killing God Domain!!"
A blood-red circular domain instantly blanketed all the Titled Douluo within range. Those caught inside were weakened by twenty percent, while Tang Hao's own power rose by twenty percent.
"Great Sumeru Hammer!! Ring Detonation!!"
Eight of Tang Hao's nine spirit rings—everything but the ninth—exploded in succession!
Yellow, purple, and black soul lights erupted from him, all of them pouring into his body.
His muscles swelled in an instant; soul power and physical might spiked sharply.
The Clear Sky Hammer that had fallen in the distance flashed back into his hand. The hundred-meter hammer expanded again—now a full three hundred meters long!
"Die for me!!"
"Sword-bones, hold him!!" Bone Douluo shouted when he saw the sight.
Chen Xin had no time to reply. His ninth ring lit once more; he turned into the giant sword again and slammed toward the massive Clear Sky Hammer.
Below, a seven-colored, radiant pagoda blossomed in Ning Fengzhi's palm.
"Seven Treasures True Body! Seven Treasures—Full Support!!"
Brilliant multicolored soul lights coursed across the Seven Kill Greatsword; all its attributes surged by eighty percent!
As for the other Douluo, Ning Fengzhi could do no more.
His soul power was limited; aiding a rank 96 super Douluo already taxed him to the limit.
He feared a protracted battle, so he had to maintain Uncle Sword's buffs at full.
Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Poison Douluo, Snake Lance Douluo, and Porcupinefish Douluo all flared with black soul light, unleashing a storm of soul skills to strike the colossal Clear Sky Hammer.
The titanic Seven Kill Greatsword and the barrage of soul skills crashed into the three-hundred-meter hammer.
Dong!!
Heaven and earth lost color; a blinding glare lanced through the blast's core.
The thick battlefield clouds were blown apart, and dazzling sunlight poured down upon the land.
In the aftermath, Chen Xin's heart lurched—Tang Hao had vanished from behind the three-hundred-meter hammer!
Where did he go?!
After unleashing the pinnacle strike of ring detonation, Tang Hao's state plummeted. He knew he didn't have much time.
All that uproar just now—was to seize hostages!
He had already appeared over the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Just as Tang Hao reached out to seize Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan, Silver Wolf and Ning Fengzhi moved.
The seventh and ninth rings on Silver Wolf flared at once. "Stellar Wolf True Body!! Power of the Stars!!"
"Seven Treasures—Full Support!!"
A gargantuan, silver, seven-colored meteor hurtled toward Tang Hao. His scalp prickled; in his exhausted state, he couldn't possibly withstand a direct hit.
Black soul light flashed in his palm—he recalled the Clear Sky Hammer, shrinking it from three hundred meters to mere dozens.
With a fierce swing, Tang Hao smashed into the seven-colored meteor. A terrifying recoil burst from his wrist—
Pfft!!
He spat a mouthful of blood, but borrowed the impact's force to fling himself in the opposite direction.
And right in the path of his tumble—stood three people!
Tang Hao's soul pressure slammed them to the ground. The three were Yu Tianheng, Oslo, and Yufeng.
Silver Wolf halted at once, not daring to act rashly—these three were all teammates of Ye Lan.
Seeing Silver Wolf's reaction, Tang Hao knew at once that Tang San could yet be saved.
He hadn't seized Ning Rongrong or Dugu Yan, but these three would do.
Silver Wolf sent voice-transmitted soul power, "Xiao Lan, what now? Tianheng, Oslo, and Yufeng were grabbed by Tang Hao."
Ye Lan's right hand, still lowered from wielding the hammer, curled thumb and forefinger into a circle—signaling a "3"—then returned to normal.
Silver Wolf nodded, understanding.
Seeing his students restrained, Qin Ming hastily demanded, "Your Majesty Clear Sky, as a Titled Douluo acting against Soul Sect students is improper, is it not? Please release Tianheng, Oslo, and Yufeng!"
To Qin Ming's question, Tang Hao barked, "You want me to let them go? Fine—have Ghost release the entire Shrek group first!"
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo moved to stand before the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, taking a stance opposite Tang Hao to prevent any sudden strike against Ye Lan or Ning Rongrong.
Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo stepped in front of Xiao Xue, likewise guarding against Tang Hao's move.
Poison Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo escorted the entire Shrek group to the front of the other academies' main force—where they could both keep Shrek in sight and shield the rest.
"Dad!! Run!!" Tang San shouted.
Ghost Douluo hadn't gagged Tang San; he let him speak, hoping to further cloud Tang Hao's judgment.
Hearing his son's voice warmed Tang Hao's chest. He steeled himself to rescue Tang San.
Then Silver Wolf spoke: "Tang Hao, there is no logic in trading three for eleven."
"How do you propose it?" Tang Hao tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer.
"Simple. Three for three. We will only release three from Shrek," Silver Wolf said coolly.
"Agreed. I want Tang San and Xiao Wu." Tang Hao answered at once.
At his words, joy blossomed across the faces of Xiao Wu and Tang San.
The rest of Shrek's hearts turned to ash. Zhao Wuji's face darkened; he said nothing.
After I've wagged my tail for you for so long, you don't even mention me at a time like this?
Zhao Wuji bit down in bitterness; his lip split, a metallic tang flooding his mouth.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan declared decisively, "The others, perhaps—but not Tang San! This operation targets Tang San specifically. How could we release him?"
"In that case, these three don't live to see tomorrow!!" Tang Hao roared, his soul pressure surging again.
Ye Lan stepped forward. "Elder Chrysanthemum, Tianheng, Oslo, and Yufeng are my teammates. I bear responsibility for them. Release Tang San."
Hearing Ye Lan plead for them, the three were overwhelmed with gratitude, gazing at him with blazing eyes. With a captain like Ye, they would follow him through fire and blades without hesitation.
Behind Ye Lan, Shi Mo and Shi Mo (Stone Mill and Stone Grind) likewise stared in awe at his back. Captain Ye was truly a god among men; in the future, one word from Ye Lan—
—and they would gladly stake their lives.
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. "Very well. Old Ghost, release Tang San and Xiao Wu!"
A ripple of shadow swept from Ghost Douluo; Tang San and Xiao Wu appeared at Yue Guan's side.
"Tang Hao," Yue Guan said, "send Yu Tianheng, Yufeng, and Oslo walking this way, and I'll have Tang San and Xiao Wu walk over there."
Tang Hao spoke then: "Tang San, the final slot is yours to choose."
Hearing that Tang Hao had given the last slot to Tang San, the expressions among Shrek shifted wildly.
Flender sighed, repeatedly jerking his head toward Liu Erlong, signaling Tang San to choose Erlong.
Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiangzhu all went pale. They knew their place in Shrek could never compare to Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, or Oscar.
Dai Mubai blurted grand promises: "Tang San, pick me!! When I return to the Star Luo Empire, I'll have my father ennoble you as the Blue Silver King!!"
Ma Hongjun pleaded through tears, "Third Brother!! Third Brother!! I'm afraid to die—woo woo—"
Oscar, however, didn't beg Tang San. He simply stared, dazed, at a white-clad maiden in the distance—nestled in the arms of a golden-haired man—
So very beautiful.
Hope flickered again in Zhao Wuji's dim eyes. He had helped Tang San before; though he'd failed, effort was effort. This slot should be his.
Tang San swept his gaze over the Shrek group and said, "I'm sorry. I can only save one more. I choose Dean Liu."
Liu Erlong was, after all, Yu Xiaogang's beloved. If his teacher returned and learned he could have saved one person but didn't choose Dean Liu, he would never forgive him.
At Tang San's words, everyone but Flender and Oscar turned wholly cold inside, nursing a budding resentment toward Tang Hao and his son for abandoning them.
There were three slots—why did not a single one go to me?
The exchange completed: Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Liu Erlong for Yu Tianheng, Oslo, and Yufeng.
Tang Hao immediately bound the three with soul power and sped off into the distance.
Watching Tang Hao carry Liu Erlong away, Flender, certain of his doom, shouted in fury:
"What will you do with Shrek Academy—brand us Tang Hao's accomplices and slaughter us all?!!"
At that, Silver Wolf stepped forward and spoke loud and clear: "Flender, what do you take Spirit Hall for?"
"Everyone, hear me. Spirit Hall does not slaughter the innocent. So long as you sever ties with Tang Hao and his son from this day on, Spirit Hall will not make things hard for you!"
The teachers and students from the other academies all heard the Star Douluo of Spirit Hall. Their eyes lit up.
They had never expected Spirit Hall to be so reasonable. Their goodwill toward Spirit Hall rose at once.
Whispers spread—praising Spirit Hall's righteousness and condemning Tang Hao's base conduct.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged a look with Ye Lan, eyes full of meaning.
So this is Ye Lan's kingly way?
Impressive indeed.
The nine members of Shrek wore tangled expressions—bitterness laced with relief.
They had thought today their death day; who knew they would return from the gates of hell.
Zhao Wuji's feelings were the most complicated of all. The Tang father and son, in whom he'd placed such hope, cared nothing for whether he lived or died—in the end, it was Spirit Hall that granted him a path to live.
"Tianheng, Yufeng, Oslo—are you alright?" Ye Lan asked.
The three crowded around him, voices ringing with gratitude:
"God Ye!! You're our god!! We thought we were done for!!"
"It's nothing. This is what I should do," Ye Lan replied.
"I never imagined Tang San was Clear Sky Douluo's son—that explains his combat prowess," Dugu Yan said, suddenly enlightened.
"Clear Sky Douluo is formidable too, to clash evenly with Grandpa Sword," Ning Rongrong added.
"Tang Hao was the most gifted of the previous generation; even the former Pope of Spirit Hall fell to his hands," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Rongrong, your grandpa's Seven Kill Sword is amazing—it can turn into a hundred-meter giant sword!!" Zhu Zhuqing said excitedly.
"Heh, perfect timing—I'll take you to meet Grandpa Sword today," Ning Rongrong said, tugging Zhu Zhuqing toward Chen Xin.
Xiao Xue lowered her head, mulling over the day's action. She knew a little of Spirit Hall's plan—and of Ye Lan's layout.
Though there were some hiccups, Spirit Hall had established a favorable image among this generation of Heaven Dou Empire's geniuses. In the past, Spirit Hall might have turned a just cause into a deed that everyone despised.
Though they hadn't brought the murderer of her father—Tang Hao—to justice today, she had learned the truth that Tang Hao had slain Ye Lan's parents.
Finding in Ye Lan a kindred soul with a similar wound, Xiao Xue's trust deepened; their hearts drew closer once more.
Sensing Xiao Xue's stirrings, Ye Lan drew her into his arms and murmured in her ear, "I'll take care of Tang Hao."
Xiao Xue still did not know that it had been Bibi Dong who killed her father.
But for now, this was the only solace he could offer.
After all, when the "murderer of one's father" stood so near, who could remain unmoved?
From the moment Tang Hao appeared, Ye Lan's heart had surged—but he had forced himself back under control in time.
The aim of this operation was to raise Spirit Hall's reputation among bystanders and to plant seeds of resentment toward the Tang father and son in Shrek's hearts.
He'd asked Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo to adapt as needed.
He hadn't expected the little interlude that followed.
Facing Tang Hao's terrifying combat strength, he could only watch Titled Douluo battle Titled Douluo.
At present, he couldn't participate in such a fight. He had to lie low and avoid exposure—stoking his hunger to grow stronger.
After that brief disruption, the Heaven Dou academy convoy prepared to move on.
"Dean Flender, what now? Are we still going to Spirit City?" Dai Mubai asked, puzzled.
"Boss Dai, you still going? We've no idea where Tang San and Xiao Wu have gone!! Even if we find Tang San, there's no way he'll go to Spirit City—that'd be walking into the tiger's jaws! Without Tang San and Xiao Wu, how are we supposed to fight the finals?" Ma Hongjun grumbled, giving up.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dai Mubai slammed his fists into a thick tree trunk; splinters and blood spattered everywhere.
"Damn it!!! Damn it!!" he howled.
Ma Hongjun, cowed by the ferocity, flailed in a panic.
Spent, Dai Mubai's eyes went empty.
He knew he was finished. He'd planned to rely on Tang San and Shrek Academy to defeat the Star Luo Royal Academy and win himself a chance at survival—now it was nothing but a fantasy.
Flender patted Dai Mubai's shoulder. "Let's all head back to Shrek. Mubai, Shrek Academy will always stand behind you."
"Ah… Tang San, Tang San. Our rise was Tang San; our fall is Tang San."
"From here on, life in the Heaven Dou Empire won't be easy for us."
Zhao Wuji said indifferently, "Losing Tang San isn't all bad. He was never truly one of us."
"Wuji, how can you say that? Tang San is still Xiao Gang's disciple. He went to Spirit City—who knows when he'll be back," Flender said.
Zhao Wuji waved a hand and wandered off.
As he trailed the Shrek group on their return route, a silent token slipped into Zhao Wuji's bosom.
He stiffened. To pass him something without him noticing—only a Titled Douluo could do that.
Who was it?
He slipped a hand into his robe, thumb brushing the indented characters on the token.
Moments later, Zhao Wuji's face changed—and then returned to normal.
Carved into the token was the character for "Chrysanthemum."
"You go on ahead. I need to… relieve myself. I'll be right back," Zhao Wuji said, feigning discomfort.
"Alright, hurry back. The little monsters still need you watching over them," Flender said wearily.
"Don't worry—I'll catch up quickly." With that, Zhao Wuji's figure blurred and vanished into the forest.
After several hundred meters, he found two figures waiting.
One was Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan; the other—Ye Lan?!
Zhao Wuji stared at Ye Lan in surprise, then bowed slightly. "Your Majesty Chrysanthemum Douluo, what business do you have with this humble Zhao Wuji?"
Seeing Zhao Wuji so perceptive, Yue Guan nodded inwardly. "Zhao Wuji, you're wanted by Spirit Hall as well. Do you know why we spared you today?"
Zhao Wuji's heart jumped. He'd thought Spirit Hall had long forgotten a trifling Soul Sage on their wanted rolls—he hadn't expected it was by intention that they let him go.
"I do not. If Spirit Hall has any orders, I, Zhao Wuji, will go through fire and water," he said quickly.
Ye Lan spoke then. "Zhao Wuji—long time no see. It's been nearly two years, hasn't it?"
Zhao Wuji dared not slight Ye Lan.
Ye Lan was the "scholar" under the protection of Star Douluo, an honorary elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. In the hostage exchange just now, Ye Lan had even swayed Chrysanthemum Douluo's judgment; and now Yue Guan stood beside him to meet Zhao Wuji.
To a man who could mobilize so many Titled Douluo, Zhao Wuji felt only awe.
"Yes. We last met in Soto City. I didn't know then that you were the captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team. I offended you and your academy without thinking—please forgive me!"
Ye Lan nodded, then asked, "Do you hate me for crippling your arm back then?"
(End of Chapter)