The forest was silent; only the soft rustle of wind through the treetops broke the hush.
Sword Douluo and Tang Hao stood seven or eight meters apart, facing off across the distance.
Their gazes clashed soundlessly in mid-air.
Though the terrifying pressure of a Titled Douluo had not been fully released, the very air had already turned thick as glue, and even the light seemed to warp.
Tension hung in the atmosphere.
Xiao Wu instinctively shrank behind Tang San, her delicate body trembling, her mind a sudden blank explosion.
She couldn't understand how two Titled Douluo had suddenly appeared before her.
What rattled her even more was that one of them was Third Brother's father!
But hadn't Third Brother said his father was only an ordinary blacksmith?
If Third Brother's father was a Titled Douluo, did he know her true identity?
Had he been deceiving her all these years?
She dared not think further; an icy chill shot from her soles to the crown of her head.
"Tang Hao," Sword Douluo spoke first, shattering the silence, voice cold and sharp.
"You know the worth of a hundred thousand year spirit bone—I cannot back down today."
His gaze slid past Tang Hao and landed on Xiao Wu.
That single look sent her plummeting into an ice-cellar.
In front of her, Tang San's whole frame shook, pupils contracting sharply.
"What hundred thousand year spirit bone? Dad, what's going on?"
"Little San, it's complicated—I'll explain later," Tang Hao replied without turning, his eyes still fixed impassively on Sword Douluo.
"Since you know its value, you also know I can't hand Xiao Wu over."
"Hmph!"
"Then there's nothing more to say. By the Spirit Master world's rules—whoever's fist is bigger, Xiao Wu belongs to them!"
With a cold snort Sword Douluo slowly raised his right hand, fingers pressed into a sword.
In an instant, incomparably sharp Sword Qi began to gather at his fingertips.
The surrounding leaves stirred without wind, sliced to fragments by the invisible Sword Intent.
"Perfect—I've long wanted to see just how much weight the Clear Sky Douluo carries!"
A mighty pressure surged from Sword Douluo's body.
He knew that taking Xiao Wu away without a fight was pure fantasy.
Yet he felt no fear—on the contrary, his Battle Intent blazed with anticipation.
Across from him, Tang Hao's expression was grim.
A year earlier, Dugu Bo had dealt him grave injuries, and remnants of that poison still lingered.
That Old Poison's venom arts were simply too virulent.
The memory still chilled Tang Hao.
And compared to Old Poison, Sword Douluo was likely even stronger.
At his peak, Tang Hao, wielding Ring Explosion, would not have hesitated to meet the challenge.
But now… he was no match for Sword Douluo.
"Damn it!"
"Am I really supposed to abandon Xiao Wu?" Tang Hao cursed inwardly.
Behind him, Tang San seethed with rage.
Sword Douluo actually wanted to take his Xiao Wu away—unforgivable!
Tang San's eyes turned bloodshot, his breathing ragged.
Yet he did not lose his reason.
From the conflicted look on his father's face, he realized Tang Hao was probably not this Sword Douluo's equal.
And on reflection it made sense—his father had only recently become a Titled Douluo, while Sword Douluo was a veteran.
But… was he supposed to watch Xiao Wu be seized?
No—never!
Tang San couldn't bear it; his mind raced.
Suddenly his eyes lit up and he stepped forward.
"This isn't fair!"
His shout instantly drew the gazes of both Tang Hao and Sword Douluo.
Sword Douluo gave Tang San an indifferent glance.
He knew the boy—Tang San, a Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master and a remarkable Genius with limitless future prospects.
He simply hadn't expected him to be Tang Hao's son.
Because Ning Rongrong had not gone to Shrek, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Tang San had never crossed paths.
Sword Douluo had been unaware of their relationship.
That single glance felt like a mountain crashing onto Tang San's shoulders, buckling his knees and driving his body downward.
Beside him, Tang Hao frowned and gave a cold grunt.
The crushing pressure on Tang San dissolved at once.
"So this is a Titled Douluo's Aura…" Tang San panted, still shaken by the sensation.
Sword Douluo regarded him calmly.
"What is unfair?"
Tang San straightened, fearless.
"Your Excellency has Cultivated decades longer than my father, yet you seek a duel—how is that fair?"
"If you still possess the pride of a Titled Douluo, grant my father ten years; fight him then."
"Ten years from now, if you can defeat him, Xiao Wu and I will place ourselves at your disposal."
Tang San's words were meant to provoke a delay of ten years.
If ten years later his father was confident of victory, perfect;
if not, they would have ample time to flee.
With the vast world to hide in, how could Sword Douluo find them?
In his previous life as a Tang SectDisciple, Tang San cared nothing for empty promises—
all was fair in war.
Tang Hao's heart stirred; given another decade, he was certain he could surpass Sword Douluo.
Yet Sword Douluo merely smiled, seeing through the ploy at once.
His calm gaze rested on Tang Hao.
"Were this an ordinary duel, I might grant you ten years to prepare—but today…"
"I am determined to obtain the hundred thousand year spirit bone."
With those words, any chance of compromise vanished.
Xiao Wu paled, her delicate frame shaking uncontrollably.
Tang San's heart sank; only hope in his father remained.
Meeting Tang San's gaze, Tang Hao's eyes flashed with madness.
He knew battle could no longer be avoided.
"You want war—then war it is!"
"The Clear Sky line fears no one!"
Tang Hao roared like a wild beast, his Aura climbing steadily.
In moments, when he looked again at Sword Douluo, his Aura had peaked, like a volcano ready to erupt.
Sword Douluo burst into laughter; a towering Sword Intent pierced the clouds.
Battle Intent blazed in his eyes.
Their two Auras collided across the open space.
With a boom, a violent wave of Qi surged in every direction.
The surrounding trees shrieked, bent and twisted by the blast.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were driven back step after step, nearly forced to their knees.
Yet just as the clash was about to ignite—
Sword Douluo's gaze suddenly sharpened.
"Something's wrong!"
He barked, sweeping the area with razor-sharp eyes.
"Someone has sealed off the noise and Qi here—"
"Who?"
Tang Hao sensed it too.
With such a commotion, the vigilant Flender should already have arrived.
"Show yourself, rat!" Tang Hao shouted, scanning the forest.
A moment later two figures stepped silently into view.
On the left, a youth in white trimmed with gold, strikingly handsome, pupils like deep abysses.
On the right, a middle-aged man in dark-green robes, his face cold and sinister.
All four present were startled at the sight.
"Yang Yuan!"
"Old Poison!"
Dugu Bo's lips curled in a mocking smirk as he looked at Tang Hao, voice low and slightly hoarse.
"Tang Hao, it's been a while—"
"We meet again."
(End of Chapter)
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