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The impact was deafening. Boom! Yu Xiaogang's body flew through the air like a broken sack of grain. He hit the ground twenty meters away with a sickening thud. A thick cloud of dust, grass, and dirt exploded upward where he landed.
As the smoke settled over him, the area fell into a deathly silence. There was no groaning and no movement. The only thing left of his presence was the scattered, broken wood of his wheelchair. The violent destruction made it clear just how powerful the strike had been.
Xiaogang! Liu Erlong screamed. Her voice was filled with pure agony. Even though she was badly hurt, she began to struggle against the ground. She tried to crawl toward the smoke, her fingers digging into the dirt as she called his name.
Tang San stood nearby, completely frozen. He looked at his father in total shock. Father, you... how could you? He could barely speak, his voice trembling as he stared at the spot where his teacher had fallen.
Tang Hao did not look at the smoke. He slowly pulled back his hand and let out a cold snort. He acted as if he had just stepped on a bothersome bug. He looked at his son with a stern expression. Yu Xiaogang, a person like you, is he even worthy of being called a Grandmaster? Tang Hao asked. He didn't wait for an answer. He began to walk toward the smoke with heavy, steady steps. Each footfall sounded like a drum in the quiet forest.
He was still a few meters away when a hand suddenly appeared from the dirt. It was covered in blood and mud, shaking violently as it reached out. It looked like the hand of a drowning man grasping for a straw. A hoarse, terrified voice came from the thinning smoke. Clear Sky Douluo! Please, have mercy! Have mercy on me! Yu Xiaogang begged. He sounded like he was on the verge of death.
I am the only one! On this entire continent, I am likely the only person who can solve the problems of twin spirits! You can't kill me! If I die, Little San's twin spirits will be ruined forever! There will be no way to save him! Yu Xiaogang's voice was desperate and high-pitched. He was using his last bit of strength to plead for his life.
Tang Hao stopped. Instead of getting more angry, he actually laughed. It was a cold, mocking sound. In an instant, his figure flickered, and he appeared right at the edge of the crater. He looked down at Yu Xiaogang.
The man was a mess, slumped among broken wood and blood. He looked like he was about to take his last breath. Without saying a word, Tang Hao raised his heavy boot. He brought it down with immense force, stomping directly onto Yu Xiaogang's chest.
A loud crack echoed through the clearing as bones snapped. Pfft! Yu Xiaogang's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He sprayed a large cloud of fresh blood into the air. His body twitched and jerked like an insect pinned to a board. He couldn't even scream anymore; he could only gasp for air.
You are useless! Tang Hao roared. He pressed his foot down even harder, grinding his heel into the man's chest. You are just a talker who thinks his theories are everything. It is because of your incompetence that Little San's Clear Sky Hammer is in this disgusting state! And yet you still have the nerve to claim you can fix it? You are so arrogant! Even when you are dying, you still try to lie to me!
Yu Xiaogang's face twisted in agony. His chest was caved in, and he was suffocating under the weight. Still, his desire to live was stronger than his pain. He reached up with both hands and grabbed Tang Hao's ankle. He squeezed his fingers tight, trying to push out the words. Douluo... please... listen to me. There is a successful case. The Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall... Bibi Dong. She did it.
When Tang Hao heard the name Bibi Dong, his foot paused. The crushing pressure eased just a tiny bit. Yu Xiaogang noticed the change immediately. It was his only chance to survive, and he took it. He spoke as fast as he could, even though he was coughing up blood. I knew her when we were young! We were very close! There is an old affection between us!
I believe that if I go to Spirit City, she will help me! If I ask her because of our past, she will give me the secret! That is the only way to save Little San! It is the only hope for him to cultivate his second spirit!
He screamed those last words with every ounce of energy left in his lungs. His head fell back, and more blood leaked from his mouth. His eyes became blurry, but his chest was still moving slightly. He was barely hanging on.
Bibi Dong... Tang Hao whispered. He frowned deeply. His foot remained on the man's chest, but the killing intent around him began to fade. He started to think. Even though Little San's first ring on the Clear Sky Hammer was only a ten-year ring, there were still eight more slots.
If he killed this man now, he wouldn't gain anything. He looked at Yu Xiaogang, who was like a puddle of mud, and then looked at the Clear Sky Hammer nearby. The weapon was still covered in maggots and looked terrible.
He stayed silent for a long time. Killing Yu Xiaogang would be easy, but it wouldn't fix his son's spirit. If he kept the man alive, there might be a chance. Bibi Dong was indeed the only person who had mastered twin spirits successfully. And if what this useless man said was true about their past, maybe there was a path forward. His son's future was more important than his anger.
Tang Hao let out a cold snort and finally lifted his foot. He reached down and grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the collar. He picked him up as easily as someone would pick up a small chick. At the same time, he sent a surge of powerful spirit power into the man's body. It was a domineering energy, but it contained a spark of life. It protected Yu Xiaogang's heart and stabilized his condition so he wouldn't die right then and there.
Fine, Tang Hao said. His voice was like ice. He stared directly into Yu Xiaogang's terrified eyes. Yu Xiaogang, I will trust you this one last time. I am giving you three months. Go to Spirit City and find Bibi Dong. Get the method to fix the twin spirits. If you don't have it after three months, you know what will happen.
Yes! Yes! Thank you, Douluo! Thank you for your mercy! Yu Xiaogang cried out. He ignored the pain in his chest and began to nod his head rapidly like a bird pecking at seeds. He was so happy to be alive that he didn't care about his dignity. He was terrified that Tang Hao might change his mind if he didn't agree fast enough. I will do it! I promise!
However, the peace did not last. Liu Erlong had been watching everything from the ground. When she heard Yu Xiaogang admit he had a past with Bibi Dong and that he wanted to go see her, she couldn't take it. All the jealousy and heartbreak she had been hiding exploded out of her.
Yu Xiaogang! You scoundrel! She screamed. She struggled to sit up, her face pale and her eyes burning with tears. You told me you were done with her! You said you had no more contact with that woman! And now, just to save your own life, you are going back to her? What am I to you? What does Liu Erlong mean to you?
She began to sob uncontrollably. She had risked her life to protect him, yet he didn't hesitate to run back to an old flame the moment things got dangerous. The pain in her heart was worse than the pain in her body. She coughed up a mouthful of dark blood from the stress.
Yu Xiaogang, from this day on, I am done with you! We are finished! Liu Erlong cried out. She didn't look back. She used the last of her spirit power to scramble to her feet. She ran toward the forest, stumbling and falling, but she kept going until she disappeared into the trees.
Erlong! Erlong, wait! Listen to me! Yu Xiaogang called out. He reached a hand toward her, wanting to chase after her. But as soon as he moved, a sharp pain shot through his broken ribs. He looked at Tang Hao, who was watching him with a cold, judging gaze. He froze in fear. He could only stay where he was and watch the woman he loved run away into the darkness.