The transformed form of Dugu Bo, the Emerald Phosphor Serpent Dragon Emperor, swept his draconic gaze toward Tang Hao. Immediately after unleashing his eighth soul skill, he seamlessly transitioned into his ninth.
Ninth Soul Skill: Emerald Phosphor Divine Light!
In the next moment, the Serpent Dragon Emperor opened its massive maw, a ball of emerald light condensing within.
This was Dugu Bo's ninth soul skill. When combined with his eighth soul skill, it was powerful enough to annihilate an entire city.
This was his most terrifying killing move!
Previously, before his martial soul evolved into the Emerald Phosphor Serpent Dragon Emperor, the toxic properties of this soul skill were limited in effectiveness against Title Douluos.
Hence, he had once been regarded as the weakest among the Title Douluos.
But after his martial soul's evolution, although the nature of his soul skills remained unchanged, the toxicity they carried had grown exponentially.
Now, Dugu Bo brimmed with confidence.
Even a Rank 95 Title Douluo would find it difficult to deal with the extreme poison contained within his ninth soul skill.
Tang Hao would be no exception.
Boom!
A thick pillar of emerald light shot out from the Serpent Dragon Emperor's mouth, surging toward Tang Hao.
Almost simultaneously, Tang Hao, previously frozen in time, let out a thunderous roar. Relying on his overwhelming soul power, he forcibly broke free from the temporal seal at the last moment.
As the pillar of light hurtled toward him, Tang Hao felt the terrifying toxicity radiating from it—though it hadn't yet touched him.
This strike—he had to stop it no matter what. Otherwise, he might not leave this place alive.
Tang Hao's expression grew solemn as his aura surged upward at lightning speed.
The Clear Sky Hammer in his hands burst with milky-white light.
Slaughter God Domain, activate!
Great Sumeru Hammer!
Despite worsening his injuries, Tang Hao unleashed his final trump card without reservation.
The next second, the power of heaven and earth surged toward him, and six of the soul rings floating above his head detonated all at once.
This was the ultimate technique of the Great Sumeru Hammer—Ring Detonation!
With the power of the detonated rings fueling him, Tang Hao's aura erupted violently. Gripping his mountain-sized Clear Sky Hammer, he smashed it directly into the incoming emerald light.
Boom!
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward, instantly creating a crater in the mountain below.
The light beam clashed with the Clear Sky Hammer midair, the two forces locking in a tense stalemate.
Seeing this, the massive eyes of the Emerald Phosphor Serpent Dragon Emperor flickered with surprise.
He hadn't expected Tang Hao to unleash such a powerful killing move.
Had it been his old self, he would've been reduced to ashes by such a blow!
"Aaaahhh!!
Break for me!!" Tang Hao's eyes turned bloodshot. With a furious roar, he surged even more strength into the hammer.
Boom—!
A blinding explosion erupted at the point of contact between hammer and light. A deafening blast rang out across the skies, with shockwaves sweeping in all directions.
Within dozens of kilometers, soul masters everywhere felt the violent surge of soul power and looked toward the source in shock.
"Who's fighting out there?"
"With that kind of power... it has to be Title Douluos!"
---
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace
A shadow silently appeared behind Qian Renxue.
"Young master, two Title Douluos are fighting outside Heaven Dou City. One of them seems to be that old venomous monster—Dugu Bo."
Qian Renxue stood up, frowning slightly.
"Who's the other one?"
"And why are they fighting?"
"I don't know, young master. But Snake Lance has gone to investigate."
Qian Renxue nodded. "Good. We need to know of any disturbances around Heaven Dou City the moment they arise."
---
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy
Within the Board of Education, all three Deans rose to their feet upon sensing the soul power fluctuations.
"That soul wave... it's from His Excellency Poison Douluo," said Meng Shenji, frowning.
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin exchanged glances. Bai Baoshan said, "It's definitely Poison Douluo's energy... but something feels off."
Zhi Lin nodded. "Yes, the fluctuations are familiar, but something's subtly different."
"Should we go investigate?" Bai Baoshan asked.
Meng Shenji shook his head. "Anyone capable of fighting Poison Douluo must also be a Title Douluo. We'd only be a burden."
"Agreed."
---
Shrek Dormitory
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin all turned pale, exchanging looks filled with shock.
"Xiao Gang, come with me," Flender said grimly.
Yu Xiaogang caught on from their expressions—something significant had happened. Though his own level wasn't high enough to sense the clash.
Once outside, Flender said in a low voice, "Xiao Gang, is His Excellency Tang Hao secretly protecting Tang San?"
Yu Xiaogang had already told Flender about Tang San's identity.
Hearing Tang Hao mentioned, Yu Xiaogang was briefly stunned before replying in disbelief, "His Excellency Tang Hao is nearby?"
"I don't know. His identity is too sensitive—he can't reveal himself publicly."
Flender quickly summarized what he had sensed.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed with insight.
"I see now. Previously, Dugu Bo forced Little San to kneel and apologize, shaming him."
"With Tang Hao's temperament, how could he let his son be humiliated like that?"
"He couldn't appear in the academy due to his status, but he must've gone to settle the score with Dugu Bo in secret."
"Though Dugu Bo is a Title Douluo, he's no match for Tang Hao!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes brimmed with admiration as he spoke of Tang Hao.
Flender, however, frowned deeply.
While Yu Xiaogang's reasoning made sense—and he too believed Dugu Bo was no match for Tang Hao—a sense of foreboding weighed on his heart.
---
Qi Lin's Dormitory
Qi Lin and Dugu Yan were chatting on the sofa, while Gu Yuena sat quietly beside him, reading a book.
More accurately—a novel.
Even in Douluo Continent, novels existed!
Suddenly, Qi Lin sensed the distant soul power waves and instinctively glanced in that direction.
"What's wrong?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"Nothing, let's keep chatting," Qi Lin smiled faintly. He wasn't worried about Dugu Bo's safety.
Instead, it was Tang Hao—Qi Lin had a gut feeling that this time, even if he didn't die, he'd be seriously crippled.
---
Sunset Forest, Hundreds Miles Outside Heaven Dou City
Tang Hao sat weakly in a narrow cave, face pale and spirit haggard.
No one would believe that this wretched man, covered in blood and scars, was once the mighty Clear Sky Douluo who had shaken the continent.
After the battle with Dugu Bo, half his face had been corroded and disfigured.
A gaping, fist-sized bloody hole had been eaten into his chest by poison.
Even more terrifying, his left arm was completely gone, the severed stump still oozing foul-smelling rot.
Had he not retained his three strongest spirit rings—including a 100,000-year one—for his final Ring Detonation, Dugu Bo might have ended him.
And Dugu Bo had expended a massive amount of soul power, using both his martial soul avatar and his eighth and ninth soul skills.
Otherwise, Tang Hao might not have escaped at all.
Looking at his mangled body and missing arm, Tang Hao's face twisted with regret and fury.
Dugu Bo... you hide your strength well!
I, Tang Hao, will one day repay today's humiliation—tenfold!