"Frost Sword Sect's Gai Yue. I do not know the two of you..." Gai Yue smiled lightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over them.
The two men exchanged a glance, a flicker of surprise flashing in their eyes. The Frost Sword Sect was a rising power on the continent, flourishing like the midday sun. Though only established for a few years, it had already become widely renowned.
And some time ago, when they had returned to Spirit Hall City, they had even noticed that the current Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall seemed to be quite close with a disciple of the Sword Sect.
Although encountering members of the Sword Sect here was unexpected, hiding their identities would only give others cause for gossip. Their minds quickly turned, and they introduced themselves.
"Spirit Hall, Snake Lance."
"Spirit Hall, Porcupinefish."
Hearing their names, Gai Yue raised his eyebrows. He was not actually familiar with all of Spirit Hall's titled Douluo, and these two he had never heard of.
This was not surprising. After all, he had spent the first half of his life in seclusion, cultivating alone, with little chance to learn about or interact with the affairs of the continent.
Seeing Gai Yue's expression, the two men explained their identities and added, "Our names are not well-known on the continent, so it's normal that you haven't heard of us."
"Today we are here with our young master to hunt for a spirit ring. If there is no conflict, we would ask Brother Gai Yue to move aside."
At this, Gai Yue merely smiled. At the same time, Oscar glanced at Qian Renxue fighting a spirit beast in the distance, then withdrew his gaze and said to Gai Yue, "Teacher, let's go."
Gai Yue nodded, and master and disciple stepped onto their flying swords, changing direction. In no time, they had disappeared.
Truthfully, Oscar did want to make contact with Qian Renxue—not because of her beauty, but because of her current identity.
But clearly, this was not the right time. Though Snake Lance and Porcupinefish had spoken without much courtesy, they had not pressed the matter into open conflict, which would only cause Spirit Hall to be highly vigilant against them.
For now, his clone was keeping Hu Liena occupied, drawing out a great deal of information. More importantly, the little fox had already been taken in hand. That girl seemed a little lovestruck; once she set her heart on Ailan, she refused to let go.
Oscar was starting to feel a little guilty about deceiving her, worried that it might be difficult to bring things to an end later.
The reason Oscar had spent so much time with Dugu Yan before was because his clone was constantly being teased by Hu Liena. But Oscar himself had never considered actually touching her, for fear that he might grow soft-hearted.
So although Ailan maintained a flirtatious relationship with Hu Liena, he always kept a certain distance, carrying himself like a gentleman. Even Bibi Dong seemed quite satisfied with him, nearly having Hu Liena wrapped around her little finger.
Meeting Qian Renxue had just been a small episode. Though Oscar wanted to draw close to her, he had not yet found a good opportunity, so he let it pass.
...
Ma Hongjun returned on the tenth day after leaving, having gained his fifth spirit ring with his own strength, his spirit power rising to rank fifty-two.
The benefit of absorbing a spirit ring above one's level was not only to strengthen the foundation and power of a spirit master, but also to allow faster breakthroughs in spirit power, saving considerable time.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were no different. With their Martial Spirit Fusion skill, Nether White Tiger, hunting spirit beasts was not difficult for them, though it did take them half a month to find suitable prey.
After obtaining their rings, Dai Mubai's rank also reached fifty-two, catching up to Ma Hongjun.
But Ma Hongjun was not yet fourteen, while Dai Mubai was nearly seventeen. The age gap between them was three years.
Zhu Zhuqing's spirit power rose by two levels as well, reaching rank forty-two. The couple's overall strength improved greatly, meaning their fusion skill would also become even stronger.
After that, under Oscar's lead, the Shrek team began special training, focusing mainly on coordinating with newcomers like Talon.
But Oscar's training method shocked Talon and the other four newcomers. Ning Rongrong and Jiangzhu, both support-type spirit masters, were also required to undergo combat training and face off directly against battle-type spirit masters.
After getting acquainted, they held several group battles. Talon and the others learned that Ning Rongrong's martial spirit was the top-level support spirit, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. But on this day, Ning Rongrong and Tang San stepped onto the battle stage, and the martial spirit Ning Rongrong released was actually Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix. Seeing this, Talon and the others thought their eyes were deceiving them.
They were stunned, thinking Ning Rongrong must be a twin-spirit wielder.
But Dai Mubai kindly explained that she was not. This was simply the effect of Oscar's fourth spirit skill.
It was only then that they realized Oscar was just a support-type spirit master—and yet, when Oscar had beaten Talon before, he hadn't even used his martial spirit.
Everyone knew that support-type spirit masters had pitiful fighting power. Compared to battle-types of the same rank, their combat strength was practically zero.
At that time, Talon had been rank thirty-five. With his terrifying strength, even a support-type at Spirit King level could only be beaten down by him.
Yet Oscar had subdued him without even using his martial spirit.
This revelation shocked Talon and the others, overturning their understanding. They had never heard of any support-type with such terrifying battle power.
Dai Mubai only smiled. Not just Talon and the others, even Dai Mubai's own group had been the same at the start.
Some geniuses simply defied common sense.
Thanks to Dai Mubai's explanation, Talon and his group finally accepted that Oscar was a support-type. But soon after, they were shocked again.
This time, it was because of Tang San. His martial spirit was Blue Silver Grass, a useless spirit, but in his hands it hardly seemed like one. Talon himself had lost to this so-called useless spirit.
But Ning Rongrong's spirit at that moment was the Evil Fire Phoenix, with spirit power at rank thirty-nine. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, which could normally restrict Talon, had almost no effect on her.
Just as they thought Tang San was about to lose and Oscar had arranged a boring match, Tang San withdrew his Blue Silver Grass and drew out a pitch-black hammer.
Seeing this, Talon's eyes widened. "Ha… Haotian Hammer?!"
His voice trembled. He was uncertain, but this was the hammer he had seen since childhood. His grandfather had always cherished the Haotian Hammer. Though Talon now knew the sect had wronged their clan, his grandfather still loved it. His grandfather's study still hung a portrait of the Haotian Douluo, with that mighty hammer Talon had long since grown tired of looking at.
So he could not have mistaken it.
Hearing his words, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Jiangzhu were all stunned before showing the same shock.
That Tang San was a twin-spirit wielder was already astonishing. What shook them further was that his second martial spirit was the Haotian Hammer.
The combination of a useless spirit like Blue Silver Grass with a top-tier tool spirit like the Haotian Hammer was almost chilling to think about.
But while the other three were only surprised, Talon's thoughts went deeper. Months ago, Haotian Douluo Tang Hao had come to the Strength Clan, even personally guiding Talon's cultivation.
But with the Haotian Sect in seclusion for so many years, no members had appeared on the continent. That made Tang San's identity confusing.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Talon. A shocking thought sprang into his mind: "Could Tang San be the son of His Excellency Tang Hao?"
He was both excited and uneasy. He dared not voice it, because Tang Hao had warned them that his identity must be kept secret.
Talon thought he might need to request leave to return home. If Tang San really was Tang Hao's son, his grandfather would surely reward him for bringing the news.
Even if not, simply carrying the rumor back would be good news for Tang Hao himself.
He collected himself and turned his gaze back to the stage. Tang San was still suppressed. His Haotian Hammer bore no spirit rings, while Ning Rongrong's spirit was the top-tier Evil Fire Phoenix, her power at rank thirty-nine.
If not for Ning Rongrong's lack of combat experience, Tang San would likely already have lost.
But he was not without options. His Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique had reached forty-three consecutive strikes. If he could finish building momentum, he could still contend with her.
But Ning Rongrong had already fought him many times. At first, she was always countered at the last moment. Now, however, she had learned how to restrain him.
The greatest weakness of the hammer technique was that if interrupted, momentum was lost. Seizing her chance, Ning Rongrong unleashed her third skill, Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike.
Her attack angle was devious. She first used Phoenix Fire Line to restrict Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, then followed with the third skill, leaving him nowhere to escape.
At the edge of the stage, Tang San had no choice but to fully drive his hammer technique.
The strike's power was immense. Under Ning Rongrong's full burst of rank thirty-nine spirit power, Tang San blocked the fatal blow but was knocked off the stage.
Ning Rongrong won.
Tang San was not discouraged. Smiling, he told her, "Rongrong, congratulations. As I am now, it's hard for me to threaten you."
She smiled back. "Don't say that, Third Brother. I only won because of the battlefield and my higher spirit power. Otherwise, I might not have beaten you."
Tang San had expected this outcome. Her advantages were too great: a top-tier spirit, higher level, and elemental restraint. Once she gained enough combat experience, his chances of turning the battle were slim.
But he was pleased with her progress. In just a few months, her battle sense and skills had improved greatly. That she could now defeat him by using the terrain was only natural.
He also knew that if his Haotian Hammer had spirit rings, defeating her would not be difficult. The thought thrilled him, as he imagined the future with his hammer ringed entirely in ten-thousand-year rings.
And as Oscar had predicted, once his Blue Silver Grass absorbed the right ring, it was likely to evolve. His strength would leap again.
So he would not rush to add rings to his hammer.
In this, Tang San admitted Oscar's teaching was stronger than Yu Xiaogang's had been.
Yu Xiaogang had only theory, often using Tang San as a test subject.
Oscar combined theory with practice, and only after verifying things himself.
After Tang San and Ning Rongrong stepped down, Jiangzhu and Huang Yuan went up. For Jiangzhu, it was her first true battle, her sausage fueled by Zhu Zhuqing's blood.
She had no experience, and though nervous, she did not retreat. With Ning Rongrong as an example, she too wished to stand on her own.
The fight began. Jiangzhu barely knew how to use the Nether Cat spirit's abilities, but Huang Yuan did not attack full force, instead guiding her.
Oscar stood by, offering her instructions so she would not be completely lost.
The point of this fight was to help her slowly adapt. More targeted training would come later.
And now, Ning Rongrong could serve as a perfect example.
Another matter was Tang San revealing his twin spirits before Talon and the others. At first, he had wanted to hide it. Both he and Yu Xiaogang had stressed that the Haotian Hammer must not be revealed.
But after talking with Oscar, Tang San realized that while they were not wrong, it did not align with his own heart.
His twin spirits were his advantage. In training, he always used the hammer, diligently practicing the hammer technique. Otherwise, he would never have reached forty-three strikes.
Talon and the others were now part of Shrek. Before them, it was fine to show it.
Oscar had warned that if anyone revealed Tang San's secret, they would be expelled from the team.
Most importantly, could Tang San truly guarantee he would never use the Haotian Hammer?
The upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament would gather geniuses from across the land. Against strong foes, if his Blue Silver Grass could not win, would he simply concede?
When Oscar posed this question, Tang San asked himself. Between hiding his secret and losing, he would rather reveal the hammer.
As Oscar said, the most important thing for a spirit master was conviction. Without an unyielding belief in victory, how could one reach greater heights?
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