Shrek Academy Hotel.
At this moment, everyone calmed down and looked at Tang San. Dai Mubai asked, "Little San, what exactly happened? I was wondering why your appearance changed after you came back, and you didn't even use your Blue Silver GrassSpirit anymore. Can you tell us about it?"
Oscar also chimed in, "Yes, yes, Little San, tell us. Although we might not be able to help much, we will definitely stand by your side."
Tang San sighed and briefly told them what had happened during the time he was away.
Upon hearing this, everyone felt indignant for Tang San, especially Dai Mubai.
"Little San, this Xiao Tian is too much! Not only did he steal my fiancée, but he also stole the person you like, and he made Ning Rongrong target Little Ao. Now he even won't spare your mother! I think he's deliberately trying to mess with us. I don't know what method he used to make your mother strip your bloodline to restore her cultivation."
Dai Mubai felt that ever since he encountered Xiao Tian, everything he did went wrong, and he deeply empathized with Tang San.
Suddenly, Dai Mubai thought of something and tentatively asked, "Little San, since your mother can strip the bloodline from your body to increase her cultivation, and since she became Xiao Tian's Spirit, Xiao Tian should also be able to use her ability, right? Do you think he might be using this ability, which is why his strength has increased so rapidly?"
Boom!
The few people present fell into a period of silence.
"Mubai, don't talk nonsense. Since Xiao Tian has three hundred-thousand-year Spirits, he should have at least three hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bones. Hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bones provide a huge boost to a Spirit Master. If you want to say he's an evil Spirit Master (a fallen one) and have the Spirit Hall deal with him, that's not going to work."
After a long silence, Flender was the first to speak.
He had always been shrewd and knew Dai Mubai's intention, but it was hard to say whether Xiao Tian had used that ability. Three hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bones would have brought Xiao Tian at least a twenty-level spirit power increase.
No wonder Xiao Tian's strength increased so quickly. If the Spirit Bone's boost were excluded, he would probably only be in his forties, with spirit power not even as high as Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu.
Flender thought he had guessed accurately, but he overlooked one point: he didn't know that while Xiao Tian's spirit power increased rapidly, the spirit power of Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong also experienced a small burst in a short period.
Qian Renxue was aware of this point because she had been paying close attention to them in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace at the time.
Dai Mubai clicked his tongue and said nothing more, as he also knew that Flender was speaking the truth.
But soon after, he still said unwillingly, "Dean, although Xiao Tian might not have used this ability before, it doesn't mean he won't use it in the future. This is an ability that can absorb others' life force to improve one's cultivation. Think about it, if there's such a person around you, wouldn't you be scared?"
Dai Mubai, however, overlooked one point: if it weren't for Xiao Tian, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass would awaken into the Blue Silver Emperor, and he would very likely possess this ability.
This time, Yu Xiaogang spoke, "Enough, Mubai! What we need to do now is prepare for this afternoon's competition and figure out what strategy can win. The main reason Tang San's mother could absorb the bloodline from him is because of their shared bloodline. Being able to absorb the life force of clansmen to replenish oneself is also due to being of the same clan. There has been no record of the Blue Silver Emperor or the first-level Blue Silver KingSpirit having devouring abilities."
Yu Xiaogang hadn't expected that ten thousand years later, such a person would indeed appear. After awakening her Blue Silver GrassSpirit, her Blue Silver Grass came with a special characteristic: it could devour life force to enhance her own cultivation.
That person was Tang Ya, the Tang Sect Master ten thousand years later!
The Blue Silver Grass she awakened was not ordinary Blue Silver Grass; it could be said to have mutated into Dark Blue Silver Grass!
Since Blue Silver Grass could undergo such a mutation, it at least proved that Dai Mubai was actually right by accident.
Mutation wouldn't happen for no reason; it must have some connection to oneself, just like Ma Hongjun's pheasant turning into a phoenix. If you really want to put it that way, they can be considered the same kind, except the 'seniority' between a pheasant and a phoenix is a bit far apart.
And Blue Silver Grass indeed possesses the ability to devour life force, but it can only devour its own kind. Tang Ya's Blue Silver Grass, mutating on this basis to devour living things to improve cultivation, also became reasonable.
It's just that it's not ten thousand years later; otherwise, even if Ah Yin did nothing, she would probably be labeled an evil Spirit Master.
At this moment, Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San and asked, "Little San, what are your thoughts on this afternoon's competition? Originally, our plan was that the Heaven Dou Royal Team might want to conserve their strength and make the same choice as us, so we could face them and then use the Five-in-One Fusion Skill."
"But now it seems I miscalculated. Xiao Tian's strength far exceeds our expectations. Even if our team of seven fights him alone, we most likely won't be a match, let alone a seven-on-seven team battle."
Yu Xiaogang also sighed.
If Xiao Tian didn't have three great Domain skills, they might still have a two or three percent chance of winning, but the Domain's suppression on them was immense. The original two or three percent now approached zero infinitely.
The reason he said "most likely" was to avoid letting everyone lose confidence, but in reality, everyone present knew that no matter what, they would not be a match for the Heaven Dou Royal Team.
Flender comforted him from the side, "Xiaogang, this isn't your fault. Xiao Tian is too much of a prodigy, and his mind is exceptionally sharp. Who could have known he had three hundred-thousand-year Spirits assisting him?"
Yu Xiaogang sighed and looked at Tang San: "Now we have to face the Spirit Hall Team. If we use the Five-in-One Fusion Skill before Qian Renxue uses her Martial Soul True Body at the very beginning, with your Clear Sky Avatar and the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method, you might be able to eliminate quite a few members of the Spirit Hall Team in that instant. But this move can only be used once."
"If you use it a second time in a short period, your mental force won't be able to withstand it and will collapse. Secondly, when this move is cast, none of you five can move. If the opponent becomes alert and disrupts it, the Five-in-One Fusion Skill cannot be used."
"That is to say, even if we win the next match, we will still lose tomorrow's team competition. If we don't get the championship and those three Spirit Bones, then the rewards for second and third place won't differ much."
"The most crucial point is that your Clear Sky Hammer has now been exposed. After the competition, given the animosity between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect, they might make a move against you. Your father might not be able to protect you."
Yu Xiaogang's expression instantly became serious.
He knew Tang Hao should be in the shadows, but he still said this.
Because besides the Spirit Hall, if Tang Hao were to show himself, Xiao Tian might also make a move against him. With both sides attacking, Tang Hao's old injuries hadn't healed, and he was only at level ninety-five. How could he be a match for the Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Dugu Bo, and others?
Tang San pondered deeply in his heart. Indeed, according to Yu Xiaogang's analysis, even if they were lucky enough to win the afternoon match, they would still lose tomorrow.
But! He still wanted to give it his all, even if it was just winning the afternoon match. He also had his own pride.
He wanted his mother and father to see how he won the competition using the Clear Sky HammerSpirit!
Moreover, after the competition, his father had said he would take him to the Slaughter City for training. Once the training was over and he obtained the Slaughter God Domain, he would be told to return to the Clear Sky Sect.
If he backed down now and the Clear Sky Sect members found out, he wouldn't gain the approval of the Sect Master and the Elders. How would he then learn Ring Explosion and Great Sumeru Hammer?
These two secret techniques were the most powerful of the Clear Sky Sect. He had already lost his Blue Silver GrassSpirit, so he absolutely had to obtain these two secret techniques!
"Fight!" Tang San looked at his teammates, then gazed at Yu Xiaogang with determination and said, "Teacher, the people of Shrek Academy will never back down! Even if we lose, I will fight this last match!"
"Good! This is my good son!"
Instantly, a figure draped in a black cloak appeared in the room. It was Tang Hao!
"Father!" Tang San's eyes lit up slightly when he saw Tang Hao appear.
"Greetings, Clear Sky Titled Douluo!" The few people present respectfully greeted Tang Hao.
Tang Hao nodded with no expression on his face, then looked at Tang San and said, "Little San, since you want to fight, use your full strength! Even if you lose in the end, you must let the people of Spirit Hall know that the Clear Sky Hammer in your hand is not to be trifled with!"
"Our Clear Sky HammerSpirit is best at defeating the strong with the weak. Back when I had just been promoted to Titled Douluo, facing the pursuit of many experts from Spirit Hall, didn't I still defeat three Titled Douluo in one fell swoop? Qian Xunji was even critically injured and died. Your current situation is not as bad as mine was back then!"
Tang Hao encouraged him with a calm expression: "As for my internal injuries, you don't need to worry. If the people of Spirit Hall dare to make a move against you, they must ask if the Clear Sky Hammer in my hand agrees!"
Tang San said worriedly, "Father, but your internal injuries prevent you from using your full strength…"
Tang Hao said indifferently, "It's fine, these internal injuries have been with me for so many years, I've long gotten used to them. I can still use Ring Explosion and Great Sumeru Hammer now, don't worry!"
Tang Hao could indeed still use Ring Explosion now, but last time, just exploding three of the lowest-year spirit rings caused his old injuries to relapse, even causing slight bleeding from his mouth.
And this time, if he were to use full-power Ring Explosion + Martial Soul True Body + Great Sumeru Hammer, he would indeed be fine for a short period.
Because he was forcefully enduring it.
But once the battle ended, it would be far from just a period of weakness. Using his full strength would completely prevent him from suppressing the internal injuries within his body. The backlash he would suffer then might even be more severe than just a critical injury!
Even if a miracle truly happened later and he survived, he probably wouldn't have much longer to live, just like Tang Chen's final surge of vitality in the original work, his life force would rapidly drain away.
If that were the case, why would Tang Hao still dare to do it?
Besides truly wanting Tang San and the Clear Sky Hammer to become famous on the Continent, there was another important reason: just now, he suddenly heard a strange yet familiar voice in his mind—his grandfather, Tang Chen, a demigod-level powerhouse, the Slaughter King of Slaughter City, was rushing towards them at an extremely fast speed!
The reason Tang Hao found this voice familiar was that he had vaguely heard it once when he was being pursued by the Spirit Hall back then, but after a long time, no similar voice appeared again, so he found it strange.
But now it appeared a second time, and it was incredibly clear!
When this voice came, he could feel a slight tremor in his Slaughter God Domain, which allowed him to confirm that the voice should not have deceived him.
His grandfather had been missing for so long and had actually become the Slaughter King of Slaughter City. No wonder when he trained in Slaughter City back then, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the Slaughter King, and the Slaughter King's gaze would sometimes fall on his Spirit.
At first, he thought it was because it was the first time he had witnessed the power of the Clear Sky Hammer, which was why he paid so much attention.
It seemed he had guessed wrong then; it was because Tang Chen was his grandfather, and he naturally felt a sense of closeness to the Clear Sky Hammer.
However, what puzzled Tang Hao was why his grandfather didn't acknowledge him back then?
Could it be that becoming the Slaughter King would temporarily make one lose their memory?
Tang Hao couldn't figure it out; he would just ask him directly when the time came.
And as long as his grandfather appeared, even if he used his full strength and was severely injured, he would be fine. Since he was already a demigod, he would definitely have a way to find powerful healing Spirit Masters to treat himself.
If the Clear Sky Sect didn't have one, then the Spirit Hall!
Didn't Spirit Hall also not want their various branch halls to be destroyed for no reason later on?
Tang Hao thought to himself.
In his opinion, he was Tang San's backing, but Tang Chen was Tang San's, and his own, greatest backing!
It was his grandfather who, against all opposition, had prematurely passed on the Clear Sky Sect's secret techniques to him, as well as a full set of matching Spirit Bones.
Normally, even if his talent far surpassed his Elder brother Tang Xiao, it shouldn't have been like this. It would cause too much controversy and could very likely lead to discord between brothers.
But Tang Chen went against all opposition, and he was designated as the Sect Master's successor in advance. The things he needed were also passed on to him in advance, which allowed him to be so at ease when facing the pursuit of the Spirit Hall.
For all of this, he really had to thank his grandfather!
Just then, Ma Hongjun, who had been silent, spoke, but his tone was gloomy and low, with a faint wisp of black mist seemingly emanating from his body, his eyes bloodshot, and his expression twisted as he looked at everyone and said, "You said that since the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python became Xiao Tian's Spirits, it means their relationship wasn't bad before. So, the attack we encountered in the Star Dou Great Forest… shouldn't be considered an accident, right? Third Brother's Eight Spider Lances were pulled out, causing his cultivation to drop, but he was lucky… and obtained another one a while ago. But!"
Ma Hongjun's voice suddenly rose considerably: "My 'there' and Grandmaster's 'there' just disappeared and will never grow back. Grandmaster is old and doesn't need it, but how old am I? So many wonderful things await me in the future, but I've already become a eunuch!"
"Isn't working hard to become strong for a better life? Yes, 'there' is gone, and I can indeed focus more on cultivation, and my cultivation speed has increased a lot, but what's the meaning of it? Even if I become a Titled Douluo, or even a super Douluo, what then?
I am a cripple now… Before, I could comfort myself by thinking it was just an accident, that I was unlucky, but now? This was definitely premeditated! Why did they do this to me?! Is it wrong for me to just like beauty?!!!"
Ma Hongjun became more and more agitated as he spoke, and the black mist emanating from his body grew thicker.
(End of Chapter)
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