"Grandmaster, I want a reasonable explanation."
Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer shrank to its regular size, its head slamming into the ground with a thud that seemed to echo for miles. His overwhelming aura made everyone present feel insignificant.
"Dean Flender, who is this?"
Qin Ming, standing a few steps back, couldn't help but ask, his voice trembling.
Flender sighed deeply. With resignation, he introduced, "This is His Excellency, the Clear Sky Douluo. He is also Tang San's father."
"His Excellency… Clear Sky?" Qin Ming's pupils contracted sharply.
A Title Douluo!
And that hammer in his hand—could it be the legendary Clear Sky Hammer?
"Your Excellency, this is one of my former students, Qin Ming. He's one of us," Flender said with a forced smile, trying to ease the tension.
Tang Hao's intense gaze remained fixed on Grandmaster, his overwhelming aura causing the onlookers to feel suffocated.
Grandmaster took a deep breath and straightened his posture, meeting Tang Hao's stare head-on.
Tang Hao's voice was low and heavy. "You've been watching all along, haven't you?"
Grandmaster nodded slightly, his expression bitter. "I have."
"Then give me an explanation!" Tang Hao demanded, his voice like thunder.
Grandmaster let out a long sigh. "Last night…"
He recounted the events of Tang San's ambush in painstaking detail, describing how his external soul bone had been forcibly removed, leaving him gravely injured.
Tang Hao's fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his arms. Hearing how his son's Eight Spider Lances were brutally taken and how Tang San had been left lying in a pool of blood ignited an uncontrollable rage.
"Ye Ritian…" Tang Hao growled, his killing intent saturating the air.
With a deafening roar, Tang Hao leapt into the sky. His Clear Sky Hammer expanded several times its size, and with a single swing, he brought it crashing down onto the back mountain.
Boom—
The ground quaked violently, sending shockwaves rippling through the academy. Half the forest behind Shrek Academy was instantly reduced to rubble, as if a natural disaster had struck.
"Where is Ye Ritian?"
Hovering in mid-air, Tang Hao's eyes burned with fury. "Tell me where Ye Ritian is!"
Grandmaster shook his head helplessly. "We don't know. All we know is that he's a powerful tool soul master. Beyond that, we have no leads."
Tang Hao landed, his massive hammer returning to its normal size as he approached Zhao Wuji.
The usually fearsome Zhao Wuji was trembling uncontrollably, his legs shaking so violently they could barely hold him upright.
"Zhao Wuji, this time, I owe you."
Zhao Wuji nearly collapsed in relief. "Don't mention it, Your Excellency. It's my duty."
He was in no position to object. Against a Title Douluo, even someone of his level would be crushed like an ant.
"Let's Talk"
Tang Hao turned back to Grandmaster. "We haven't seen each other in a long time. Let's have a word."
With that, he gestured for Grandmaster to follow him, and the two disappeared into the ruins of the forest.
Watching their retreating figures, Flender finally exhaled deeply. "He's gone… finally."
The destruction left behind was catastrophic. Half the mountain was gone, but at least the academy was still standing—for now.
"Qin Ming, you understand what just happened here, don't you?" Flender asked, his tone grave.
Qin Ming nodded emphatically. "You have my word, Dean Flender. Not a word of this will leave my lips."
"Good." Flender patted him on the shoulder. "Now, help me carry Zhao Wuji. That man could stand to lose some weight."
"Dean, are you calling me fat?" Zhao Wuji grumbled weakly, barely clinging to consciousness.
Back at the academy grounds, the shockwaves from Tang Hao's earlier attack still lingered in the minds of everyone present.
Tang San stared out at the ruined mountain, his heart pounding. The sheer destructive power of that hammer…
Elsewhere, Ye Hao's expression darkened. He knew exactly who had arrived: Tang Hao, the infamous Clear Sky Douluo.
Qin Ming, realizing the danger, quickly rallied his team.
"Let's go. We're heading back to Heaven Dou Academy."
His tone left no room for discussion.
The Emperor Team exchanged confused glances but obeyed without question.
They hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation, but Qin Ming's urgency was enough to tell them that staying any longer would be unwise.
As the group boarded their carriage and began their journey, Ye Hao glanced back at the now-distant Shrek Academy.
Tang Hao is here…
He was certain of it.
"Teacher Qin, I'd like to request leave," Ye Hao said suddenly.
Qin Ming's eyebrow twitched. "Leave? Leave for what? Are you planning to cause more trouble?"
"I just need a little time to—"
"No." Qin Ming cut him off, his expression stern. "Only those who are useless in the soul master world would ask for leave. Sit down, stay put, and focus on your training."
Ye Hao's jaw tightened in frustration. "Why not?"
Qin Ming didn't answer. Instead, he signaled Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. "Hold him down if you have to."
The two girls grabbed Ye Hao's arms, pinning him in place.
"Teacher Qin, this is unnecessary!" Ye Hao protested.
"Unnecessary?" Qin Ming shot him a glare. "Do you even understand the kind of danger we're dealing with? If you step one foot back into Shrek's territory and that man decides to take out his anger on you, we're all doomed. For your sake—and mine—you're staying right here."
As Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan restrained him, Ye Hao's frustration boiled over. Despite his current predicament, a devious idea began to form in his mind.
"Maybe I'll sneak out tonight..."
Meanwhile, in a simple cave formed from the rubble, Tang Hao and Grandmaster sat face to face, deep in conversation.
Tang Hao's expression was grim. "Grandmaster, don't blame yourself for what happened. It's not your fault."
Grandmaster sighed, his face filled with regret. "The damage is done. As long as Tang San recovers, that's all that matters. But what about you? What will you do next?"