"Do you even realize what you're saying? This throwing knife actually broke through my defenses, and you call that 'average'?" Gu Rong exclaimed in disbelief.
Su Ming calmly nodded. "Just a surprise, Grandpa Gu. You weren't even using your full defense; it was just your casual barrier."
Gu Rong wasn't as amused. While he had only used a casual defense, Su Ming's attack had been equally casual. This wasn't a comforting realization.
Ning Fengzhi asked, "Su Ming, if Rongrong uses these five throwing knives, will she be able to achieve the same power?"
Su Ming shook his head. "Probably not. With her current abilities, reaching even an entry-level Title Douluo's power with them would already be impressive."
"The throwing knives were so effective in my hands because I imbued them with a special attribute: the power of destruction."
Ning Fengzhi thought for a moment. "Is that the dark aura on the knives?"
"Exactly. This destructive power is an ability I've recently developed through my eyes," Su Ming replied.
Then he gave Gu Rong a mischievous look. "Grandpa Gu, how about we find a spacious place and really test it out?"
Gu Rong felt a chill run down his spine. Moments ago, he'd boldly claimed that Su Ming couldn't break his defense, insisting they give it a try. But now he was starting to feel as if "try" might turn into "die."
With a forced smile, Gu Rong tried, "Su Ming, how about we check on Rongrong first?"
Before he could protest further, Su Ming teleported him and Ning Fengzhi to the plaza outside the Pope's Palace.
In transit, Su Ming secretly handed Ning Fengzhi a protective soul tool called the "Heaven's Blessing," explaining how to activate it. By channeling spirit power into the tool, it could fend off attacks from a Title Douluo. Unless drained of power, it was nearly unbreakable.
Ning Fengzhi felt a surge of curiosity. Was this soul tool truly so remarkable? He trusted Su Ming implicitly, but the soul tool's power was hard to believe.
Over the past half hour, Ning Fengzhi's understanding of Su Ming had deepened. He admired Su Ming's vision, even if he didn't fully understand his dedication to aiding ordinary people. Su Ming envisioned a Spirit Hall nation where even commoners could live stable lives without poverty.
Facing Gu Rong, Su Ming activated his Eternal Mangekyō, and his aura changed instantly. His usual gentle demeanor was replaced by an intense, commanding presence.
"Grandpa Gu, make sure to defend with all you've got," Su Ming warned. "I'm aiming at Uncle Ning, and don't even think about using Bone Dragon's spatial abilities to dodge. Spatial skills are also my specialty, so running won't help you. Stand your ground!"
Su Ming's taunts only further riled Gu Rong. A muscle twitched in his forehead—being lectured by a youngster was infuriating.
"Su Ming! Fine, bring it on!" Gu Rong was finally done holding back.
"Seventh Spirit Skill, True Bone Dragon Form!"
"Ninth Spirit Skill, Bone Transformation Dragon God!"
Despite his bravado, Gu Rong took Su Ming seriously. Su Ming's bond with them meant he'd never seriously harm Ning Fengzhi, but he wasn't about to let his friend down by failing to defend him.
As Su Ming's eyes opened, he appeared at the center of Susanoo's forehead. His lips curved in a faint smile as he watched Gu Rong. He felt the urge to test a new move.
With that, Su Ming unleashed his technique.
"Destruction Domain!"
A dark energy spread from Su Ming's center, engulfing the entire plaza in his domain. The sudden burst of power quickly drew the attention of others, including Ning Rongrong and Bibi Dong, who rushed over.
"Su Ming! Father! Grandpa Bone! What's going on here?" Rongrong called out, worry filling her voice.
Alarmed, she worried her father and Su Ming hadn't come to an agreement. Gu Rong had even activated his True Bone Dragon form and ninth spirit skill, indicating the battle's intensity. She knew her grandfather was no match for Su Ming's strength, especially after what she'd seen of him facing Sea God's avatar.
Bibi Dong shared a tense look as she stepped in. "Su Ming, Lord Ning, what are you doing?"
Hearing Rongrong's panicked voice, Su Ming quickly transmitted to Bibi Dong, "Teacher, stop them from entering the domain. I've got it under control; Lord Ning has agreed."
Bibi Dong's eyes sparkled, relieved to hear that Ning Fengzhi had agreed. But that left her wondering what was happening now. Still, trusting Su Ming's judgment, she moved to block the others.
"You must stay back. Su Ming knows what he's doing," she said, briefly explaining the negotiations to them.
Yet Rongrong's worry persisted, finding it hard to believe this was merely a sparring match given their intense demeanor.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong, who stood within Su Ming's Destruction Domain, felt an oppressive discomfort. It was reminiscent of Tang Hao's Killing God Domain but somehow different. They realized their spirit power was rapidly depleting, instinctively pushing back against the aura. Otherwise, the destructive energy would have started to erode their bodies.
Su Ming himself was surprised by the domain's effects, as the budding Destruction Domain seemed to carry elements of his self-created techniques.
As Su Ming's destruction domain solidified, he couldn't help but wonder what potential effects it might have once fully developed. Facing the bone dragon in front of him, Su Ming carefully calculated his next move, aiming for an attack powerful enough to break Gu Rong's defenses without injuring Ning Fengzhi.
With Ning Fengzhi's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda providing amplification, Gu Rong's power temporarily reached the level of a 96th-level spirit master. Su Ming decided to keep his attack around the level of 97 for a balanced challenge.
With a deep, focused voice, Su Ming declared, "Grandpa Gu, brace yourself. If you can't withstand this, or if you don't break through, Uncle Ning could be in danger!"
Hearing this, everyone present understood what was happening. They couldn't believe Ning Fengzhi had agreed to such a high-stakes demonstration.
"Susanoo's Double Blade Cross Slash!"
Boom! Su Ming guided Susanoo to swing its twin blades down on the bone dragon.
Feeling the ominous pressure of Su Ming's attack, Gu Rong sensed a genuine threat to his life. This wasn't just a demonstration—it was life or death!
"Damn! He's serious!" Gu Rong thought, remembering Su Ming's earlier claim about defeating Yu Yuanzhen in a single blow. Now he understood why that might be true. In a rush, Gu Rong raised several bone fortresses in front of him and Ning Fengzhi, but they shattered instantly upon contact with Susanoo's blades.
Shocked, Gu Rong realized that even his strongest defenses were crumbling with ease. Seeing the blades approaching Ning Fengzhi, he acted quickly, placing himself directly in front of him and focusing all his defenses on withstanding Su Ming's assault.
As his spirit power rapidly drained, Gu Rong shouted, "Su Ming! You're incredible, I admit it, but I can't keep up this defense. Stop now, or Fengzhi will get hurt!"
Su Ming's voice was icy as he replied, "Grandpa Gu, you're really lacking resolve. Think about Sword Grandpa—he's already at level 97, while you're still at 95. If you can't break through now, you might as well fall here with Uncle Ning!"
"Oh, and if you both die, Sword Grandpa won't be far behind. Then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will be ripe for the Spirit Hall to swallow up!"
Su Ming realized Gu Rong didn't fully understand the urgency. He seemed to think this was just a routine sparring match where failure had no real consequence. But Su Ming was running out of time; Gu Rong had to reach level 96 now.
Once Gu Rong broke through, Su Ming planned to give them both a rare celestial herb to enhance their strengths even further. With their power growing, they'd be valuable allies for Spirit Hall. Then Su Ming could focus on training with his friends and leave the Spirit Hall establishment tasks in capable hands.
Su Ming's intense focus and aura shifted the mood of everyone observing. Seeing Su Ming's relentless intent, Bibi Dong watched intently, wondering if he was truly going all out.
Gu Rong, on the other hand, was incensed. "Su Ming! Were those promises just lies? If you go through with this, Rongrong will never forgive you!"
Holding the protective Heaven's Blessing that Su Ming had given him, Ning Fengzhi understood Su Ming's strategy and didn't intervene. Gu Rong needed this push—he'd lived too comfortably over the years.
Despite his rivalry with Sword Grandpa, Gu Rong had never once bested him in defense, always relying on Bone Dragon's spatial shifts to compete. This kind of leniency wouldn't cut it in a real confrontation.
Ignoring Gu Rong's words, Su Ming intensified his assault, further testing Gu Rong's limits. Cracks appeared on the surface of Gu Rong's massive bone dragon as it struggled to withstand Susanoo's force.
Gu Rong, desperate, poured every ounce of his spirit power into holding his defense. In that moment, Su Ming's past advice echoed in his mind:
"A true defender needs an indomitable spirit. Only with a strong heart can one cultivate an unbreakable resolve and summon the courage to stand firm."
This was absolute defense.
With a surge of enlightenment, Gu Rong's spirit power soared, reaching the tipping point of level 96. Understanding dawned, and his aura surged with renewed strength.
"Ha!" he roared. "Absolute Defense: Bone Dragon Domain!"
As Gu Rong unleashed his new domain, his defenses strengthened fivefold, drawing bone spurs from all directions to reinforce his guard against Su Ming's cross slash. The crowd felt the shift in Gu Rong's spirit power, and Rongrong cheered, "He did it! Grandpa Gu finally broke through!"
With his enhanced power concentrated into a singular defense, Gu Rong was now able to withstand Su Ming's attack, forcing Susanoo's blade to halt. Only by raising Susanoo's strength to levels 97 or 98 could Su Ming break through now.
Pleased with the outcome, Su Ming let his blades fade and retracted the Destruction Domain, his eyes returning to normal.
"Congratulations, Uncle Ning, Grandpa Gu. You did it!" Su Ming said with a warm smile.
Ning Fengzhi approached with a wide grin. "Su Ming, we owe you for that breakthrough. If not for your words just now, Gu Rong might never have realized his potential."
Only now did Gu Rong realize that Su Ming had intentionally provoked him.
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