At this moment, Tang Hao's unleashed aura was unparalleled. Standing below, Dugu Bo felt utterly drained. The spirit power of the man before him was clearly far superior. If he had acted earlier, he might have been...
And that hammer...
This man, could he be…?
Tang Hao's sudden appearance gave Flender and the others a glimmer of hope. Yu Xiaogang straightened his back as if his confidence had returned, ready to speak with renewed vigor.
It turned out Tang Hao had been nearby all along. His presence also signaled that Tang San was likely unharmed. Otherwise, Tang Hao, with his temper, could not have stayed hidden for so long.
At the same time, Tang San was still immersed in absorbing the medicinal herbs. While he had a vague awareness of what was happening outside, he was unable to wake up just yet.
Tang Hao held the Clear Sky Hammer in one hand, his nine soul rings glowing brilliantly. He stared at the black-clad figure who had harmed his son, "Ye Ritian." Truth be told, Tang Hao had been hunting this person for three months.
Today, his goal was to rescue his son. That "Ye Ritian" would deliver himself here was an unexpected boon—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Elated, Tang Hao swung his Clear Sky Hammer with one hand. Now enhanced by soul rings, the hammer weighed no less than 10,000 catties with his current power.
With a piercing gaze, he let out a furious roar and brought the hammer crashing down from above, determined to obliterate the one who had harmed his son with a single blow.
Below, Dugu Bo felt the overwhelming pressure intensify. His eyes dulled as he noticed Tang Hao's dazzling 100,000-year soul ring—a sight that left him in utter shock.
He hadn't anticipated that these three would have someone like this "madman" behind them. His plans for dealing with the trio had to be reconsidered.
Among the three, Yu Xiaogang's expression was the most animated. He stood rigidly upright, his fists clenched as he stared intently at the airborne confrontation.
He knew Tang Hao's intent mirrored his own: to kill the "black-clad man."
The benefits were twofold:
It would avenge Tang San. It would intimidate Dugu Bo, making him reluctant to act recklessly.
In turn, they could use this leverage to negotiate with Dugu Bo and ensure their interests were protected.
Faced with Tang Hao's overwhelming strike, "Ye Ritian" remained calm. A mirror-like object appeared in his hand, which effortlessly absorbed the force of the Clear Sky Hammer. Not a single ripple of movement disturbed him.
Tang Hao's eyes widened in disbelief. His black robe billowed violently in the cold wind, its edges flapping audibly.
This was one of Tang Hao's full-power strikes. How?
How could "Ye Ritian" remain unharmed? While Tang Hao was injured and not at his peak, he was still confident he could overpower someone like Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo.
And yet, "Ye Ritian"…
As Tang Hao prepared to attack again, he suddenly realized he couldn't move. It was as if his entire body had frozen in midair.
Shocked, he barely had time to react before a wave of scorching hellfire engulfed him. This was the handiwork of Xiao Hong from the Death God's Heart.
The flames wrapped around Tang Hao, reducing him to a figure in a sea of fire. His clothes were torn to shreds, and scorch marks appeared all over his body.
Amid the flames, a small purple poison needle struck Tang Hao's shoulder. Almost immediately, his shoulder turned a pale purple, and the flesh where the needle pierced began to rot at an alarming rate.
Thanks to the Death God's Heart and its Death's Gaze, even a Title Douluo like Tang Hao could be paralyzed for three seconds.
Three seconds might seem insignificant, but for someone like "Ye Ritian," it was more than enough to do considerable damage.
In the next moment, Tang Hao's entire body was paralyzed. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand began to fade.
Seizing the opportunity, "Ye Ritian" delivered a powerful kick, sending Tang Hao flying.
Tang Hao, ever pragmatic, quickly assessed the situation. Realizing his predicament, he turned to retreat. Before leaving, however, he cast a worried glance at Tang San, fearful that "Ye Ritian" might harm his son.
To everyone's surprise, "Ye Ritian" disappeared without a trace. His departure was so silent that even Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo, failed to detect it.
Back in his original position, Ye Hao used the Death God's Heart to conceal his aura. Removing his black robe and storing it in his soul guide ring, he glanced at the people below, who were still reeling from the earlier battle. A faint smile played at his lips.
"Old poison, you owe me one. If you had acted earlier, Tang Hao's temper wouldn't have let you off so easily."
At this moment, Xiao Hong's voice echoed in Ye Hao's mind.
"Why didn't you chase him? That man has been poisoned by the Death Spider Emperor. His body is significantly weakened. If you pursued him, you could've killed him right there."
Xiao Hong's logic was sound. Tang Hao was indeed poisoned by the Death Spider Emperor's venom. However, Ye Hao had instructed the Death Spider Emperor to administer only a trace amount.
The venom wasn't fatal, but it would cause recurring bouts of pain so severe that even death might seem preferable.
Shaking his head, Ye Hao replied, "Never chase a desperate foe. I let the spider inject him with venom so Tang Hao will live a fate worse than death. Since he wanted to kill me, I couldn't just stand by."
In truth, Ye Hao bore no grudge against Tang San. The conflict stemmed entirely from Yu Xiaogang's meddling.
First, Yu Xiaogang tried to coerce Ye Hao into joining Shrek Academy. When Ye Hao refused, conflict ensued, marking the beginning of their animosity.
Then came the incident in Soto City. If Tang San hadn't left the Heaven Dou team members injured and poisoned, Ye Hao wouldn't have resorted to such drastic measures.
While Ye Hao wasn't a saint, he would never sit idly by if his survival was threatened.
This led to Tang Hao's strong animosity toward "Ye Ritian." Confronted with the possibility of death, Ye Hao had no choice but to retaliate.
Had Dugu Bo intervened earlier, Tang Hao's hammer would've fallen, recreating yet another "Spirit Hall's dramatic rescue" scene.
Dugu Bo, for his part, was indirectly saved by Ye Hao's actions.
"Let's leave," Xiao Hong suggested. "We've seen enough excitement. What happens next is Dugu Bo's business, not ours."
Nodding, Ye Hao flew toward the core of the Sunset Forest.
Back on the ground, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang were still in shock over Tang Hao's retreat.
Dugu Bo's gaze grew increasingly sinister, and the killing intent in his eyes made the trio shiver.
"What are you planning, Dugu Bo?" Flender asked nervously, his earlier arrogance completely gone. He had hoped Tang Hao's arrival would save them, but now it seemed futile.
"What am I planning?" Dugu Bo sneered. "I'm planning to crush you!"
The trio: "..."
Yu Xiaogang hurriedly said, "Dugu Bo, if you harm us, Tang Hao won't let you off!"
"Tang Hao?" Dugu Bo laughed uproariously. "That fool can barely save himself. And let's be clear—Tang San isn't dead. I only said that to deceive you."
"Then what are you after?" Flender asked, baffled.
"What I'm after?" Dugu Bo's gaze turned fierce. "I do what I want! I don't need your approval!"
Pointing at Flender and Liu Erlong, Dugu Bo said, "You two can leave, but as for him…"
He fixed his gaze on Yu Xiaogang, smiling coldly. "He's a different story."
Yu Xiaogang's legs trembled uncontrollably, and his face was pale as he teetered on the brink of collapse.
Without warning, Dugu Bo delivered another resounding slap, then stomped Yu Xiaogang into the ground, grinding him mercilessly.
"Who gave you the nerve to insult me?"
"You cowardly trash! Hiding behind women!"
After a prolonged beating, Dugu Bo kicked Yu Xiaogang toward Flender and Liu Erlong.
"Take this waste and get lost. If I see you on my territory again, the outcome won't be as merciful."
With no other choice, Flender carried the unconscious Yu Xiaogang while Liu Erlong followed. The trio left in utter disgrace.
Damn Trashgang plot armor is too thick or something? I thought he would die.