Chapter 245: Life and Death Moment! Sword Douluo Joins the Battle!
With a thunderous impact, the two streaks of light that had been rushing toward Xiao Wu were blasted back at an even greater speed. Gazing upward, the expressions of everyone changed drastically.
A man in tattered black robes hovered in the air, clutching a dark hammer. Though he appeared rough and disheveled, he exuded an unrivaled aura of dominance.
"Tang… Hao?!"
Bibi Dong, usually the epitome of icy composure, glared with fury, her eyes burning with venomous hatred. Her nine soul rings expanded outward, her soul power surging as her aura grew more oppressive.
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo immediately unleashed their martial spirits, and the three Titled Douluo let their energy sweep over the area, causing the surrounding spirit masters to back away hastily.
Tang Hao stood resolutely in midair. His dim yellow eyes swept over Dai Yao, who was quietly observing from the corner, before locking onto Bibi Dong. In a cold tone, he sneered, "Bibi Dong, here to avenge your teacher? Do you really think you can keep me here?"
At that moment, from within the Pope's Hall, four more powerful auras surged upward, linking with the three Titled Douluo outside.
"So, you're calling for backup?"
Tang Hao smiled with indifference as soul rings began to rise beneath his feet. As his final ring appeared, he seemed to overshadow the combined presence of all seven Titled Douluo.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.
Nine soul rings, including the coveted hundred-thousand-year ring, radiated an aura even beyond Bibi Dong's reach.
"Clear Sky… Douluo."
Everyone stared in awe at the black-robed figure above, whispering a name that had lain dormant for decades. The memories of his legendary feats swept through the minds of all who heard it.
Tang Hao, once the youngest Titled Douluo in Douluo Continent's history, now seemed even more formidable. Watching from a distance, Dai Yao couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and dread.
Though he knew Tang Hao was his enemy by association with Tang San, he couldn't help but feel a chill seeing Tang Hao now, alone, effortlessly facing seven Titled Douluo.
"Seven Titled Douluo," Dai Yao thought, "Yet Tang Hao treats them as minor nuisances."
Tang Hao's scornful words echoed in the hall, his contempt palpable. His seventh soul ring flared to life, and the Clear Sky Hammer expanded, reaching a hundred meters in length. The hammerhead gleamed with black light, then turned crimson as his ninth red ring activated.
With a crazed laugh, Tang Hao swung the massive hammer down toward the Pope's Hall.
Tang Hao knew that if Bibi Dong and her forces managed to restrain him, the arrival of the remaining four Titled Douluo would spell his doom. But he also knew his strike on the Pope's Hall would force them to abandon their attack to defend the very heart of Spirit Hall.
In an instant, the fabric of space within Spirit Hall warped under the oppressive energy, leaving all spirit masters below the rank of Titled Douluo paralyzed.
"Tang Hao, how dare you!" Bibi Dong shrieked, launching herself into the sky with Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo close behind. Within the hall, four more figures shot upward. The combined power of the seven Titled Douluo soared to meet Tang Hao's hammer.
A blast, like the wrath of heaven itself, echoed as Tang Hao's hammer collided with the seven Titled Douluo. The shockwave shattered windows and uprooted trees, turning Spirit City into a field of rubble.
Dai Yao, watching from afar, was utterly speechless. Even at such a distance, the force of the clash left his ears ringing, and his mind blank. He realized how fortunate he was to have moved to the farthest corner of the arena.
In the next moment, the seven figures were slammed into the ground, leaving craters on the floor of the Pope's Hall.
Dai Yao glanced up at the scene, marveling, "Tang Hao… even after years in seclusion, his power remains breathtaking."
Just as he assumed Tang Hao would whisk Tang San away like in the original story, Tang Hao, coughing up blood from the backlash, turned his icy gaze onto Dai Yao.
Under that piercing stare, Dai Yao felt as if he had been plunged into a frozen abyss, a bone-chilling dread immobilizing him.
"You insolent brat. You walked willingly into hell's embrace," Tang Hao sneered, his cold voice carrying lethal intent.
With both new and old wounds aching, Tang Hao was determined to kill Dai Yao at any cost. Dai Yao was the reason Xiao Wu's true identity had been exposed, and he wanted to spare Tang San and Xiao Wu the same pain he had endured with Ah Yin.
No one else could save Dai Yao now. The seven Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall lay defeated, leaving him vulnerable.
Tang Hao's massive Clear Sky Hammer materialized once more, plummeting down toward Dai Yao and his teammates with a power that could crush mountains.
The hammer's descent radiated such intense pressure that Dai Yao's ears buzzed painfully, his heart pounding as if gripped by a vice.
Awakening from their shock, the Oakland team looked up at the hammer with utter dread.
"Dai Yao!" Dugu Yan cried out in despair, her gaze full of sorrow as she looked at him.
Not just her, but Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong shared the same expression, though they had no time to voice their pleas before the hammer fell.
Gritting his teeth, sweat streaming down his face, Dai Yao instantly activated his martial spirit. White Tiger Eight Wings burst from his back, fanning out as he positioned himself to shield his team. In a desperate move, he unleashed his second soul skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, blasting his teammates out of the hammer's range.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan looked on in horror, their eyes wide as they were flung away, their hands reaching helplessly toward him.
In that instant, Dugu Yan felt her suspicions from earlier—whether Dai Yao would risk his life for her—come to painful clarity.
As she fell, her mind blank, she turned her gaze skyward to where Tang Hao hovered, her face twisted with fury. "Tang Hao! Tang San! I swear on my life to never forgive you!"
Facing the massive hammer above, Dai Yao realized his only option was his Chaos Green Lotus spirit's second soul skill—Green Lotus Shadow. This skill could theoretically shield him from any attack, but whether it could withstand a blow from a Titled Douluo was unknown.
"Tang Hao, Tang San… if I survive this, I will make sure you both pay for what you've done!"
Dai Yao focused his soul power, preparing to summon his second spirit. Despite the looming danger, he felt no regret about exposing Xiao Wu. Even if he had to make the choice again, he would do the same, though he had underestimated the depth of Tang Hao's hatred.
Risking serious injury, Dai Yao was determined to kill him.
On the battlefield, watching Dai Yao trapped in a seemingly inescapable situation, Xiao Wu and Tang San exchanged a look of intense emotion. Dai Yao's merciless actions, which had exposed Xiao Wu's true identity, now left their future perilously uncertain. Soon, those who coveted her spirit ring and bones would come at them like a rising tide. The thought of being forced to separate filled Tang San with burning hatred for Dai Yao.
"Father, thank you. Please, finish off Dai Yao for me," Tang San whispered as he gazed at the disheveled figure above, who to him, was a comforting and familiar presence. In Tang San's mind, Dai Yao was already as good as dead.
Watching the Clear Sky Hammer draw closer to Dai Yao, Dugu Bo bit his lip. Despite the risk of angering the mighty Tang Hao, he decided to intervene and try to save Dai Yao.
Nine spirit rings flared around him as he activated his martial spirit, the Jade Phosphor Serpent King coiling before springing forth like an arrow from a drawn bow, rocketing towards the massive hammer.
"Dai Yao, move!" he shouted as the serpent's jaws parted in a furious command.
Noticing that Dai Yao had already struck Dugu Yan out of the hammer's range, Dugu Bo felt validated in trusting his granddaughter's safety to him. Hearing Dugu Bo's cry, Dai Yao was briefly stunned, then felt a surge of gratitude. Dugu Bo, who was already among the weakest of the Titled Douluo present, was risking life and limb to block Tang Hao's wrath.
However, Tang Hao's crushing gaze remained fixed on him, paralyzing Dai Yao's every muscle. When Tang Hao noticed Dugu Bo's approach, he scoffed dismissively.
"Overestimating yourself, Dugu Bo. Do you truly believe you can save this boy?"
Tang Hao's voice echoed like rolling thunder, sweeping through the sky with the gravity of a death sentence.
"Father, please save Dai Yao!"
Ning Rongrong, seeing Dai Yao on the verge of death, clutched Ning Fengzhi's sleeve, her pale face filled with worry and urgency. Though she had previously sworn to cut him off from her heart, the sight of him facing death sparked an uncontrollable impulse to save him.
Ning Fengzhi brushed his daughter's head gently, his gaze fixed on the figure in the sky, deeply impressed by Tang Hao's enduring strength. He glanced at Dai Yao with a conflicted expression. He'd initially seen him as a promising talent, later even as a future son-in-law after Dai Yao had presented him with the Qiluo Tulip, a powerful spirit herb. However, Dai Yao's persistent affiliation with Spirit Hall had driven a wedge between them. Dai Yao's potential could only deepen Spirit Hall's oppressive hold over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Ning Fengzhi sighed, his heart torn. Although the rational choice was to let Tang Hao eliminate Dai Yao, the emotions stirring within prevented him from passively watching his death.
Resolving himself, Ning Fengzhi exchanged a meaningful glance with Chen Xin, who had clearly been awaiting his cue. With a nod, Chen Xin shot into the sky.
"Third Soul Skill—Sword Wings of Flight! Old Poison, stand down. Tang Hao is out of your league."
Hearing Chen Xin's voice, Dugu Bo felt relief wash over him as Chen Xin swiftly outpaced him in midair.
"Tang Hao, that's enough! Take your son and leave. There's no need to make enemies on all sides."
Sword Douluo's voice was calm but unwavering as he faced Tang Hao. Though Chen Xin had no children, he treated Rongrong like a granddaughter, and he couldn't bear the thought of her weeping for a lost love.
The crowd saw only a flash of white light and felt an immense force as though the heavens themselves had been split apart. Chen Xin's thousand-meter-long sword formed from pure spirit power collided with the Clear Sky Hammer midair.
The ensuing screech of metal against metal forced everyone to clutch their ears in pain. Ripples of energy tore through the air, and both the hammer and Seven Kill Sword vanished in the shockwave's aftermath.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan… and that Seven Kill Sword. Very well." Tang Hao's eyes narrowed as he watched the spirit masters within Spirit Hall regrouping. With a flash, he vanished, taking Xiao Wu and Tang San with him, his powerful voice echoing faintly in the air.
"Grandmaster, Flender, you have taught my son well. I owe you both a great debt. Spirit Hall—our blood feud shall be repaid in full. That day isn't far off."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin watched the horizon where Tang Hao had disappeared, his expression serious. Tang Hao's power was truly daunting, leaving even him feeling a sense of awe. After all, Tang Hao was younger than he was.
At that moment, Bibi Dong, accompanied by six Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall, emerged in unison, their eyes fixed on the sky. Bibi Dong ground her teeth in fury as she watched Tang Hao vanish into the distance.
The six Titled Douluo beside her shared her unease—facing off against six Titled Douluo single-handedly, Tang Hao's strength was truly overwhelming.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10