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According to intelligence from the Spirit Hall, Yu Xiaogang had left Suotuo City alone. Meanwhile, Tang San and Xiao Wu had earned a Golden Battle Spirit badge in Suotuo City through their teamwork.
They were currently resting in Suotuo City. Tang San was working as a blacksmith in a local forge, while Xiao Wu accompanied him.
Based on Tang San and Xiao Wu's movements, it was possible to infer Tang Hao's location. After all, Tang Hao would undoubtedly be nearby to protect Tang San's safety and keep an eye on Xiao Wu, the hundred-thousand-year-old Bone Rabbit.
When Li Luochen and You Tianshang entered Soto City, their presence would surely be detected by Tang Hao, allowing them to pinpoint his location.
As for the elders following behind, they didn't need to intervene unless necessary—just stay out of the fight.
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Behind them—
"Old Poison, why are you stopping us? Miss specifically ordered us to protect Little Chenzi," asked the Jiang Mo Douluo.
"Hehe, Seventh Elder, Little Chen doesn't need protection. This time, he wants to make a breakthrough in his cultivation. And don't you know how strong he is now? Or do you think you can beat this little monster in a one-on-one fight?"
Dugu Bo chuckled. He was well aware of Li Luochen's strength. After Li Luochen became a Soul Douluo, Dugu Bo had sparred with him once.
Li Luochen's power was astonishing—the sheer force of his staff was terrifying, and Dugu Bo dared not face it head-on. Moreover, Li Luochen had his own self-created ultimate techniques as trump cards.
Just thinking about that dangerous aura made Dugu Bo shiver. Why did this kid have such incredible insight?
The other elders thought for a moment. Indeed, there was no need to worry about Li Luochen anymore. With four black and four red soul rings, plus fully equipped premium soul bones, he was already a force to be reckoned with.
"Fine, since we're already here, let's see what he's up to. I have a feeling this kid is going to surprise us again," said the Qian Jun Douluo, deciding to follow along.
Four Super Douluos trailed behind Li Luochen and You Tianshang, concealing their presence. Their mission this time was to provide covert protection.
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Barak Kingdom, Suotuo City
A certain blacksmith shop
"Haha, finally finished! Phew, now my set of hidden weapons is complete."
Tang San looked at the pile of hidden weapons before him. There were various needles for hand techniques and mechanical hidden weapons like the Zhuge Crossbow.
"Brother, you're finally done! Is there anything for me?" Xiao Wu complained. She had been bored these past few days as Tang San spent all his time forging weapons and didn't have time to take her shopping.
After finally completing Yu Xiaogang's training tasks, they had a month-long break. But Tang San had been spending all his time forging weapons and hadn't taken her out to play.
"Of course, Xiao Wu. These are the new hidden weapons I've forged. I'll teach you how to use them later."
Tang San smiled warmly. Xiao Wu had been by his side every day, and it made him feel deeply comforted.
After Yu Xiaogang's training, both Tang San and Xiao Wu's soul power had reached level 35.
Although Tang San's three soul rings weren't compatible with his Blue Silver Grass, his cultivation still progressed rapidly thanks to the advantages of the Xuan Tian Technique.
However, once he reached level 50, he would understand the consequences of absorbing mismatched soul rings.
No one paid attention to Tang San and Xiao Wu's warm moments. Not far from the blacksmith shop, there was a bar.
Inside the bar, a scruffy man dressed in a black robe was drinking. Suddenly, he sensed something.
One moment he was drinking, and the next he was gone, leaving behind a golden soul coin on the table.
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Outside Suotuo City
"Little Li, are you sure Tang Hao is really here? I find it hard to believe. But I did notice something interesting."
You Tianshang and Li Luochen had just flown over Soto City without concealing their presence, allowing Tang Hao to sense their auras.
"Of course he's here—I've already sensed him. He'll arrive soon. Old You, here's the plan: I'll start by provoking him until he gets enraged, then you step in and toy with him.
Play with him, torment him, and make him lose control. Once he's blinded by rage, leave him to me. Oh, and one more thing—if he uses his Exploding Rings, make sure to dodge. Don't try to block it directly."
Li Luochen laid out the plan. You Tianshang didn't fully understand it, but he trusted Li Luochen and would follow his instructions. He knew about the Great Sumeru Hammer technique but had never seen it in action, so he needed to be careful not to mess up.
Moments later, a middle-aged man in a black robe suddenly appeared.
He looked to be around fifty years old, tall and muscular, but his appearance was unkempt. His tattered robe hung loosely on his body, without even patches to mend it.
Upon seeing the newcomers, Tang Hao immediately released his spirit and soul rings: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—a perfect configuration of nine soul rings.
The imposing aura of a level 95 Super Douluo radiated outward.
"What brings you two here?" Tang Hao truly didn't want to fight. After being injured by Dugu Bo and forcing himself to use the Exploding Rings technique, his body had worsened. He still had some lingering toxins in his system, reducing his current strength to that of an ordinary Title Douluo.
However, his intimidating presence remained. With his aura, he believed he could deter other Title Douluos. He could sense that the green-robed Title Douluo's soul power wasn't particularly high, and the young man beside him seemed vaguely familiar but unrecognizable, with soul fluctuations at the Soul Douluo level.
(Tang Hao indeed wanted to kill Li Luochen, but he had only seen him a few times and never his face, so he didn't recognize him.)
"Hehe, the proud Hao Tian Douluo of the mighty Hao Tian Sect. How pitiful that the heir of the once-number-one sect has fallen so low. Tsk tsk tsk, how embarrassing. Why hasn't the Hao Tian Sect taken you back? Are they all cowards?"
Li Luochen began his sarcastic taunts.
"Watch your words, boy. Though the Hao Tian Sect has retreated from the world, it's not something you can insult," Tang Hao snapped, visibly irritated.
"Oh ho ho, did I hit a sore spot? It's true, isn't it? Ever since Tang Chen disappeared, the Hao Tian Sect has been like a turtle hiding in its shell. Even when the Spirit Hall attacked their mountain gate, they abandoned the single-attribute Four Sects, bowed their heads in apology, and sealed themselves away. What kind of number-one sect is this? I'd call it the number-one coward sect."
Upon hearing these insults, Tang Hao laughed bitterly in anger.
"Hahahaha! It seems I've been too low-key. The Hao Tian Sect has been too low-key. Now even a mere Soul Douluo brat dares to mock the once-greatest sect.
What a pity that my Hao Tian Hammer must now crush you, you insignificant worm! Hahahaha!"
Tang Hao held his Hao Tian Hammer and burst into laughter.
"Tang Hao! Did your brain get damaged from those beatings? Laughing like a madman? What he said was pretty funny, and now even you're laughing? It seems the Hao Tian Sect isn't just full of cowards and brutes—they've got lunatics too!"
You Tianshang couldn't understand why Tang Hao was laughing after being insulted like that. Did Tang Hao think he had the upper hand?
"If that's the case, then you can both die!"
Tang Hao unleashed a powerful hammer strike.
"Tsk tsk tsk, how barbaric. Can't win an argument, so you resort to violence—and even a sneak attack? This is just like the Hao Tian Sect's style. Fourth soul skill: Jade Phoenix Wind Whirlpool!"
You Tianshang immediately activated his fourth soul skill, releasing multiple wind pillars that deflected Tang Hao's Hao Tian Hammer.
At the same time, You Tianshang summoned his spirit, revealing his soul ring configuration: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.
It looked similar to Tang Hao's, but there was a difference in their eighth soul rings. Tang Hao's eighth soul ring was pure deep black, while You Tianshang's eighth soul ring was black with a reddish hue.
Roughly six parts black and four parts red, it was clear that You Tianshang's eighth soul ring was around 94,000 years old.
Tang Hao was astonished. He hadn't expected this to be no ordinary Title Douluo—this person also possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. That meant he must have a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. If Tang Hao could defeat him and claim that soul bone…
It would smooth the path for Tang San's future.
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