"Then, Master, should I accompany you? Don't underestimate me; I can be of some help," Titan quickly suggested.
Tang Hao shook his head. "No need. You stay here or return to the clan. I'll come find you if I need anything."
With that, Tang Hao disappeared in an instant.
At the entrance of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena…
After saying goodbye to Huo Wu and the others, Su Ming saw Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo approaching.
"Uncle Ning, Grandpa Sword, hello," Su Ming greeted them with a smile.
"Father, Grandpa Sword, why are you here?" Ning Rongrong ran up to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi patted her head fondly. "We came to see our little princess. It's been too long since your Grandpa Sword and I last saw you."
At that moment, Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled as she said mysteriously, "It's a pity that our Heaven Dou Royal Academy team won't compete until the finals; otherwise, I'd love to show you the new technique I've just learned, Father and Grandpa Sword."
"Oh? A new technique?" Ning Fengzhi looked surprised and glanced at Su Ming.
Ning Rongrong teased, "Father, don't look at Brother Su Ming; you'll find out about the new technique during the matches."
Su Ming, curious, asked, "Uncle Ning, it seems like Grandpa Sword has been with you lately. Where's Grandpa Bone?"
"Haha, it's because of what you told Old Bone last time. He's back at the sect, deeply contemplating. I hope he succeeds. He has enough spirit power, but he lacks insight. Su Ming, your words inspired him to something," Ning Fengzhi explained.
"Fengzhi and I discussed it and were intrigued by the extreme idea you suggested, though Old Bone hesitates due to the risks involved," added Sword Douluo calmly.
Su Ming chuckled, "Please, Grandpa Sword, let's just treat it as idle talk. That extreme method relies heavily on luck. If it fails, I'd be responsible for bringing trouble to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—and what would happen to Rongrong?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled, "We considered that too, so we've set it aside for now."
Before he could finish, Sword Douluo's aura suddenly spiked as he turned to face the direction of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"What is it, Uncle Sword?" Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly.
Su Ming's expression grew serious. "There's a powerful aura—Title Douluo level. He's concealing it well, but we can sense it."
"It's a familiar presence," Sword Douluo said calmly.
Then Su Ming said, "It's Tang Hao!"
He had sensed Tang Hao's aura recently and recognized it immediately. But why was Tang Hao heading to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?
"Oh no!"
Su Ming quickly realized that, with Tang San severely injured, they'd need a powerful healing spirit master. Naturally, Yu Tianheng would suggest Ye Lingling!
Without another word, Su Ming activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Kamui…Teleportation!"
Using the Kamui space, Su Ming transported himself across the distance to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Uncle Sword, we need to go too. If Tang Hao's at the academy, he has a purpose, or Su Ming wouldn't be so anxious. We should help!"
Sword Douluo nodded, his Seven Kill Sword appearing beneath him as he lifted Ning Fengzhi, and they sped toward the academy.
"Rongrong, we're heading over first!" Sword Douluo's voice called back from afar.
Ning Rongrong, looking worried, said, "Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, let's hurry too!"
Xiao Wu nodded, "Zhuqing, Rongrong, I'll try taking you along with my teleportation to make things faster."
She took their hands, activating her teleportation. Her initial thousand-year spirit ring only allowed her to teleport herself, but with her third spirit ring now at ten thousand years, the ability had evolved to carry others.
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy…
Ye Lingling, training in a small grove near the back mountain, suddenly felt a surge of anxiety.
She realized she'd been locked onto by a powerful spirit energy, immobilizing her.
Fear crept in—aside from Dugu Bo, who else at the academy could possess such a formidable aura?
Then, in the distance, she saw a cloaked man wielding the Clear Sky Hammer approaching her, nine spirit rings shining on him—a Title Douluo!
She instantly guessed his identity. It must be Tang San's father, Clear Sky Douluo!
The bright red glow of his hundred-thousand-year ninth spirit ring was striking.
"Little girl, would you lend me your martial spirit? I've heard your Nine Heart Begonia is the best healing spirit on the continent. It's a waste to keep it hidden at a small academy like this."
Though his tone was calm, there was no room for negotiation. As he finished speaking, Tang Hao released a slight hint of killing intent.
Just this trace of killing intent turned Ye Lingling's face pale.
Gritting her teeth, Ye Lingling tried to divert his attention, "Your Eminence, I find Heaven Dou Royal Academy quite suitable. I have no intention of leaving, so please, seek help elsewhere."
Tang Hao laughed coldly, "Little girl, I'm not negotiating. Use your Nine Heart Begonia's healing on me first. If I find it unsatisfactory, then I'll let you go."
Ye Lingling, face ashen, replied, "Your Eminence, you're too powerful; I can't move, let alone activate my spirit abilities."
Tang Hao's voice turned cold. "Girl, don't try any tricks, and don't scream. Otherwise, you may end up dead. Now, use your strongest healing ability!"
He retracted his spirit power and killing intent.
Ye Lingling nodded cautiously, summoning her Yin-Yang Twin Lotus. Her fourth spirit ring lit up as she pretended to prepare a healing skill for Tang Hao.
Tang Hao noticed that this didn't look like the Nine Heart Begonia he knew and felt puzzled.
However, the lotus petals fell onto him, and he felt as though his internal injuries were slightly healed. It seemed effective! (This was a lie.)
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These petals indeed had healing properties under normal circumstances, but due to the unique properties of her Yin-Yang Twin Lotus, Ye Lingling had withheld some of their healing energy. Instead, she had hidden a small amount of poison in Tang Hao's body, planning to detonate it at a crucial moment. Though it might not significantly affect Tang Hao, it would at least give her an opening for her next move—her contingency plan!
As she executed her spirit ability, she also discreetly channeled spirit power into the soul storage ring on her finger, a gift from Su Ming. With more space than typical rings, it was unassuming enough to be mistaken for a simple ring, as few people would suspect it to be a soul tool. Soul storage devices were still not that advanced.
Tang San's "Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges" was an exceptional storage device with only a small cubic space, and even that was considered an extraordinary soul tool.
In an instant, a spatial teleportation talisman appeared in Ye Lingling's hand—a Level 3 spatial talisman, powerful enough to teleport her close to the academy's entrance. With plenty of people there, and Su Ming possibly returning soon, she might be saved.
Just as the talisman materialized, Tang Hao sensed something unusual. He was about to release his pressure on her when a sharp pain struck his chest. Seizing the moment, Ye Lingling activated the talisman and teleported in a burst of energy.
Boom!
In a flash, Ye Lingling had vanished from where she stood.
Tang Hao quickly channeled his spirit power to suppress the pain, his face dark with anger. What was that?
Damn it!
With his spiritual perception, Tang Hao located Ye Lingling at the academy entrance. What had that paper talisman been?
He'd intended to test her powers briefly before taking her away, planning to capture her outright. The old injury in his body had persisted for years, and with the Nine Heart Begonia's reputation as the best healing spirit in the land, he couldn't resist trying it first—but it had now ruined his plans.
As soon as she reached the academy entrance, Ye Lingling activated her martial spirit and, using the Yin-Yang Twin Lotus's "dark" side, sent out a powerful pulse of spirit energy, signaling for Dugu Bo's help per their agreement.
She was now officially Dugu Bo's last disciple.
After learning that Su Ming's celestial herb gift had enhanced her spirit, Dugu Bo became deeply interested in her potential.
He'd shared his thoughts with Su Ming and Ye Lingling, and Su Ming, naturally, had no objections. It was advantageous: she'd gain a Title Douluo as a mentor, and Dugu Bo could teach her poison techniques, especially how to use her Twin Lotus's "poison" attribute.
Dugu Bo's philosophy was to "keep resources within the family." The poison abilities of Ye Lingling's spirit intrigued him; they were unlike his Jade Phosphor Snake Venom, and he found it fascinating.
Before Dugu Bo arrived, Su Ming appeared at Ye Lingling's side, his gaze wary as he looked in a particular direction. He, too, had sensed her spirit energy surge.
Additionally, he and Ye Lingling shared spirits with a 100% compatibility rate, giving them a subtle telepathic bond. They could faintly sense when the other was in danger.
"Lingling, are you okay?" Su Ming asked, still focused on the threat ahead.
Ye Lingling shook her head and said with feigned concern, "Su Ming, the intruder is a Title Douluo. It seems he wants to capture me to heal him and his son, Tang San."
"Don't worry about Tang Hao. This is Heaven Dou City; he won't make too much noise. Besides, Grandpa Sword and Uncle Ning will be here soon. Did you send a distress signal to the old monster?"
As Su Ming finished speaking, Dugu Bo appeared by his side. "Little monster, it seems an old acquaintance has come to visit!"
Su Ming responded casually, "Old monster, are you or I handling this? Do you think you can take on Tang Hao now?"
Dugu Bo's mouth twitched. "Little monster, can you show me a little respect in front of my disciple? What do you mean, 'Can I handle Tang Hao?'"
"In normal circumstances, I certainly could. Based on what Lingling said, it seems Tang Hao has an old injury from years back. With my spirit power now at level 97 and my poison, Tang Hao wouldn't stand a chance without using his Exploding Ring and Great Sumeru Hammer techniques."
"Also, my spiritual perception picked up a powerful aura approaching from outside the academy, likely from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Tang Hao's chances don't look good, hahaha!"
Just as Dugu Bo finished speaking, Tang Hao and Sword Douluo arrived at the academy gate simultaneously.
Sword Douluo took a glance at Ye Lingling, hiding behind Su Ming, and immediately understood the situation. "Tang Hao, it's been years. I see you're a Title Douluo now. But I never thought one of the Clear Sky Twin Stars would resort to such petty actions. Where's your Title Douluo pride?"
His last words were accompanied by a disdainful snort. As a swordsman, he detested such underhanded tactics.
"Hmph, I don't need to explain myself to others!" Tang Hao retorted, disregarding everyone around him. He released a fierce killing intent, which alerted the three board members inside the academy.
Meng Shenji, the 86th-level chief of the board, spoke in a serious tone, "Clear Sky Douluo, this is Heaven Dou Royal Academy. It's not a place for causing trouble. Please leave!"
"Hmph, a mere Spirit Douluo dares to interfere? Courting death!"
With that, Tang Hao swung the Clear Sky Hammer, aiming to strike Meng Shenji.
Meng Shenji's face paled, and he prepared to activate his spirit ability for defense. Sword Douluo calmly interjected, "Stand back. Tang Hao is beyond your capacity to handle."
In a flash, Sword Douluo positioned himself in front of Meng Shenji, performing a drawing motion with his sword.
"Heavenly Sword Draw Technique!"
It was Sword Douluo's first public demonstration of his self-created spirit technique, with Tang Hao as the perfect opponent.
The Heavenly Sword Draw Technique was somewhat analogous to the Clear Sky Clan's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique, but with a key difference: the Clear Sky Hammer required more time to stack its power.
In contrast, the Heavenly Sword Draw Technique involved drawing the sword multiple times in an instant, stacking sword energy in a single moment, making it far superior to the Clear Sky Hammer.
Of course, that was partly because the Clear Sky Hammer, as a blunt weapon, couldn't match the Seven Kill Sword's agility.