The information Huo Lie sent was very detailed.
"Senior Brother, run a background check on him."
Upon seeing the message, Su Ming immediately sought to cause trouble.
Without the Trinity, without crossing into Douluo 1 simultaneously, being bullied by the Tang God King in Douluo 2 was one thing. But if he couldn't bully this little punk Tang San after coming to Douluo 1, wouldn't his trip be in vain?
Huo Lie clearly didn't expect Su Ming to reply.
He was stationed in Suotuo City to screen for talent, and he usually informed Su Ming and the other association presidents about exceptionally talented individuals.
Su Ming had always just read and received these messages without replying with any additional comments. Today, he actually showed extra attention to this person named Tang San.
Looking at the two investigative leads Su Ming pointed out, Huo Lie narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Family name Tang, Chaotic Whirlwind..."
The Chaotic Whirlwind Hammer Method was indeed a technique used for forging, but this hammer method was essentially lost among blacksmiths, with only the Clear Sky Clan still possessing the inheritance.
Under normal understanding, there must have been blacksmiths who mastered the Chaotic Whirlwind in the past, so perhaps some scattered inheritance remained, allowing Tang San to learn it.
This was Huo Lie's understanding.
But that was because he previously didn't know much about forging.
Veteran blacksmiths who truly understood would know that in the past, when the Chaotic Whirlwind circulated among blacksmiths, those who knew this technique were also people from the Clear Sky Clan.
Therefore, ever since the Clear Sky Clan retreated from the world, this technique disappeared from among blacksmiths.
It didn't matter if Huo Lie himself didn't understand; Su Ming told him to investigate, and someone would explain it to him.
Sure enough, after Huo Lie inquired with some veteran blacksmiths, he began to take it seriously.
A person from the Clear Sky Clan?
As the investigation progressed, he felt more and more that Tang San's identity was problematic.
Martial Spirit: Blue Silver Grass. Innate Full Spirit Power.
The key point was that his place of birth had no connection whatsoever to the Clear Sky Clan.
When the evidence basically points to an origin from the Clear Sky Clan but no relation can be found, that is the biggest problem.
Urged by Su Ming, Huo Lie delved deeper into the investigation.
And then he investigated a forbidden name—Tang Hao.
He shuddered, quickly fled Holy Spirit Village, and didn't leave his home for three days after returning to Suotuo City.
After receiving Huo Lie's investigation results, Su Ming simply smiled faintly.
As expected, if one was willing to investigate, the issues with Tang San's identity were very obvious.
He had Huo Lie investigate precisely because he wasn't afraid of Huo Lie attracting Tang Hao's attention.
At this point in time, Tang Hao was secretly protecting Tang San, so it was naturally safe to go to Holy Spirit Village.
This was also why he didn't stop Huo Lie from sending Tang San to Heaven Refinement City.
With Tang Hao following Tang San to Heaven Refinement City, it would be safer for Huo Lie to conduct his investigation here.
"Since he's Tang Hao's son, let him showcase his skills within the Blacksmith Association."
"Alright."
Turning off the spirit communication device, Su Ming looked at the Ice Fire Two Eyes before him, feeling a sense of security.
"Cultivating within the Ice Fire Two Eyes is safer than anywhere else. Tang Hao's movements have changed during this Douluo 1 period, making them hard to predict. If I were to actually encounter him, it could be a real crisis."
It wasn't just Tang Hao's route that had changed.
Su Ming suspected that the current Tang Hao harbored even greater malice towards him.
Past and future, reflecting each other, their mutual influence was even greater than in Douluo 2. After all, one was an illusory fragment of history, the other a future moving towards reality, detached from the River.
"The Clear Sky Clan also wants to learn forging techniques and sent a Tang Long and Tang Hu. Their malice towards Tang San is outrageously high."
Heaven Refinement City.
Due to the presence of the Blacksmith Association headquarters, the construction of Heaven Refinement City proceeded very smoothly.
Although just completed, its scale had already surpassed Suotuo City.
Throughout the entire city, major forces had established a presence. Not only first-rate forces, but even smaller forces led by Spirit Sages or even just Spirit Emperors found ways to secure a position here.
Various Spirit Master academies also competed to send students suitable for forging for exchange and study. With staggered schedules, there were basically dozens of exchange students from Spirit Master academies every month.
Tang San had now entered Heaven Refinement City under the pretext of an exchange study.
Huo Lie had already conducted one assessment, but to study in Heaven Refinement City, another assessment was required.
Tang Long and Tang Hu were assigned as the examiners for this assessment.
This puzzled the two.
Tang Long was the chief disciple of the Clear Sky Clan's third generation, while Tang Hu was someone aiming to compete for the chief disciple position. There had always been competition between the two, and they continued to show competitive spirit even in Heaven Refinement City.
They didn't understand why the association had assigned them together to assess a single newcomer.
"Tang San?"
A member of the same clan.
"Begin. Remember, display your most proficient forging techniques."
Tang Long offered a kind reminder.
Proficient forging techniques?
Without another word, Tang San directly demonstrated the Chaotic Whirlwind.
He focused entirely on forging the iron block before him, completely unaware that the expressions of the two examiners were growing increasingly grim.
The Chaotic Whirlwind was one thing, but he had mastered its essence perfectly. Even the Clan Head's teaching might not achieve this level of result.
When Tang San finished forging, admired his masterpiece for a moment, wiped his sweat, and looked up, his heart skipped a beat.
Tang San's expression changed slightly. Looking at the unfriendly faces of Tang Long and Tang Hu, he took two steps back.
"Seniors, was there something wrong with my forging just now?"
As he spoke, Tang San glanced left and right, looking towards the other two supervising examiners.
Those two examiners also didn't understand why Tang Long and Tang Hu looked so displeased, with expressions like they wanted to devour someone.
These two, who were always competing, had been very tacitly communicating with their eyes just moments before, and then simultaneously unleashed astonishing Spirit Power pressure towards Tang San.
Wasn't this a perk provided by the association?
Seeing the newcomer knew the Chaotic Whirlwind, they had Tang Long and Tang Hu, also from the Clear Sky Clan—
The two supervising examiners suddenly understood.
It seemed the association's good intentions had backfired.
Could it be that this Tang San wasn't from the Clear Sky Clan?
"Tang San!"
Tang Long shouted loudly.
As he shouted, Tang San's heart leaped.
"Is your father Tang Hao?"
Tang San's face drastically changed.
How could this be related to his father?
"It seems it's correct. The bastard child of Tang Hao!"
Tang San's expression turned ugly, blood vessels appearing in his eyes, radiating a murderous intent.
"How audacious."
Tang Hu's voice was icy. Spirit Rings rose from his feet one after another, and a black hammer almost as tall as himself appeared in his right hand.
"Who dares?!"
A cold voice rang out, forcing Tang Hu back. Then, a powerful Spirit Power shockwave knocked everyone present unconscious.
Tang San was grabbed by Tang Hao and they quickly fled Heaven Refinement City.
"Audacious!"
From three directions in Heaven Refinement City, powerful Spirit Power erupted simultaneously, all at the Titled Douluo level.
The news Su Ming received was that Tang Hao had appeared, three Titled Douluo collectively attacked, crippling Tang Hao. Chen Xin struck with his sword, severing one of Tang Hao's arms.
Not only did he sever Tang Hao's arm, but he also acquired a Spirit Bone.
Of course, he traded this Spirit Bone to the Clear Sky Clan.
It seemed to be a hereditary Spirit Bone of the Clear Sky Clan.
No matter how ugly Tang Xiao's expression was when he received the Spirit Bone, he gritted his teeth and uttered his thanks.
***
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(Chapter End)