As he spoke, the black-robed man slowly raised his right hand. Instantly, a black light condensed in his palm, forming a massive object.
Nine Spirit Rings—two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—quietly appeared around the man's body, flashing at various points, his aura incredibly powerful.
"Nine Spirit Rings, and one of them is red!"
"He's a Titled Douluo!"
"Teacher!"
Seeing the man reveal his Spirit Rings, Ning Rongrong nervously tugged on Su Ran's sleeve, not wanting him to fight this man. Her teacher was strong, but he was only a seven-ring Spirit Saint. How could he fight a nine-ring Titled Douluo?
"Why should my teacher have to spar with you?"
"This is the territory of our Taoyuan Academy. Please leave immediately."
Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran's expressions hardened, and they too entered a "protect the teacher" mode.
Wang Sheng had already activated his Battle King Tiger possession, assumed his Tiger Subduing Fist stance, and stood in front of Su Ran.
To be honest, Su Ran was a little moved. Wang Sheng might have poor aptitude, but when trouble came, this simple-minded fellow was truly ready to step up. The man opposite them wasn't Dai Mubai or Tang San, but the nine-ring Titled Douluo—Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao. And you, a three-ring Spirit Elder, dare to fight him? This disciple was truly worth it.
"Your Excellency is being a bit too arrogant and domineering. Teacher Su has no grievances with your Clear Sky School. Why have you come to provoke him? Even if you are a Titled Douluo, you shouldn't be so tyrannical."
Just at that moment, two other auras flared up from behind Su Ran. It was the Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma, who had come to offer their congratulations with gifts they had bought after learning of Taoyuan Academy's victory.
Without a moment's hesitation, the old couple released their auras. Eight and six Spirit Rings respectively appeared around their Dragon Staff and Snake Staff Martial Souls, confronting the black-robed man.
"Clear Sky School?"
"Is that the Clear Sky Hammer?!"
"The inherited Martial Soul of one of the former three upper sects, the Clear Sky Hammer!"
With the reminder from the Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma, Ning Rongrong recognized the origin of the massive object in the man's hand. The Clear Sky School had been in seclusion for many years, and many people her age were unfamiliar with it. But as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which was also one of the three upper sects, she had heard the elders of her family mention the Clear Sky School when she was a child. The Clear Sky Hammer was said to be the Martial Soul with the strongest destructive power on the entire continent.
At this thought, Ning Rongrong's grip on Su Ran's sleeve tightened. Teacher, you absolutely must not be impulsive. Winning or losing doesn't matter, but if you get seriously injured because of this, my heart will ache.
"Dragon Duke Meng Shu."
"Snake Grandma Chao Tianxiang."
"You two, the Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent, have some fame in the Spirit Master world. It is said that when you use your Martial Soul Fusion Skill, you can contend with a Titled Douluo."
"But in front of me, what can you two little snakes possibly do?"
"If you want to come at me together, I don't mind beating you both up at the same time," the black-robed man snorted, showing the elderly couple no respect at all.
The Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma's expressions turned very ugly. "Since Your Excellency is determined to make a move against Teacher Su, then we, husband and wife, will definitely protect him."
"Teacher Su, we'll hold this person off. You go to the Spirit Hall branch and find the Bishop. They have a deep-seated grudge with the Clear Sky School. If the Spirit Hall finds out a Titled Douluo from the Clear Sky School has appeared here, they will certainly send experts to capture him."
The old couple moved in front of them, their auras merging, managing to hold a sliver of ground against Tang Hao's pressure.
"Dragon Duke, Senior Snake Grandma, you are no match for him. Leaving you to face the Clear Sky Douluo alone is not my style," Su Ran said calmly. A peach blossom-scented wind emanated from him, actually carving a path of life through Tang Hao's domineering Clear Sky pressure.
"Teacher Su..." The old couple looked back at Su Ran, still worried. There was, after all, a two-rank difference between a Spirit Saint and a Titled Douluo.
"Good. Very good. In my life, I most admire those who dare to act and take responsibility. Since you dare to stand up and face me, I won't bully you. You are only at the seventieth rank. I will not use my spirit power or spirit abilities to fight you. If you win, I will leave without another word. Otherwise, you must do one thing for me," Tang Hao said, his focus sharpening.
"Let's begin." Su Ran already knew why Tang Hao had come. It was nothing more than the classic case of the younger one getting beaten, so the older one steps in. This was all within his expectations.
"Come on. I'll let you have the first three moves," Tang Hao said with extreme confidence. If it were any other Spirit Saint, he wouldn't even deign to use his Martial Soul, just beating them with his bare hands. The fact that he was holding his Clear Sky Hammer was a sign of respect for Su Ran.
"Since you say you won't use spirit power or spirit abilities, then if I don't defeat you within three moves, I lose," Su Ran stated calmly.
"Such an arrogant kid. No one has ever dared to say that to me. Forget three moves; if you can beat me at all, I'll take your surname from now on," Tang Hao's eye twitched. To think he had met someone even more arrogant than himself today.
"Rongrong, Zhuqing, Yiran, Wang Sheng, do you remember the sword form I often practiced with you during morning exercises in front of the classroom?"
"Watch these next three moves closely. The importance of this sword form lies in its intent. If you can grasp its secrets and learn its essence, your strength will rise to another level." At this moment, Su Ran's aura changed as he spoke to his disciples.
The four of them immediately focused their full attention. The sword form Teacher practices in front of the classroom? They had seen it many times. If they had to praise it, they could only say it was as graceful as a swimming dragon, as elegant as a startled swan—incredibly beautiful to watch. But they had found it difficult to see its power and had assumed it was just an ornamental sword form with no combat ability.
"First move, Sky-Breaking Form."
Countless peach blossom petals fell from the sky. A Divine Peach Blossom Branch descended from the blooming celestial tree and landed in Su Ran's hand.
Wielding the branch, Su Ran shot through the air, his movements exceptionally graceful and agile. The simple, finger-thick peach branch, wrapped in a faint layer of spirit power, was able to weave between the heavy and domineering strikes of the Clear Sky Hammer without being at a disadvantage, without suffering the slightest damage.
And amidst Tang Hao's every move, he found his opponent's weakness with incredible speed. Su Ran's body was like a coiling dragon wrapped around the Clear Sky Hammer. Following Tang Hao's momentum, the peach branch in his hand was already thrusting toward his chest.
Just as Tang Hao's expression changed, sensing something was wrong and preparing to retreat, Su Ran's peach branch changed its trajectory again, this time aiming for his palm. "Second move, Saber-Breaking Form."
Although the move was named "Saber-Breaking," in reality, it could be used to skillfully dismantle any heavy or domineering weapon.
"Not good!"
The Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Hao's hand was sent flying.
"Third move, Qi-Breaking Form!"
This move channeled internal energy into the sword's edge, capable of breaking through powerful waves of qi. It was grand and circular, yet revealed a sharp edge.
With this third move, the peach branch directly broke through Tang Hao's defenses and pierced his chest. The scent of blood slowly began to spread.
"You lose," Su Ran said calmly.
His peach branch could not pierce any further, because Tang Hao had already broken his promise. A powerful surge of spirit power had blocked it.
"Teacher... won."
"Teacher is so amazing!"
"It was really just three moves! Teacher defeated a Titled Douluo in just three moves!"
"What kind of moves were those! So profound!"
Behind him, Ning Rongrong and Meng Yiran were already screaming with excitement. This was a Titled Douluo! Even Zhu Zhuqing's usually cold face was filled with joyful surprise. They had still underestimated their teacher's strength!
The Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma exchanged a look. If the shock of Su Ran's teaching transforming his students was S-rank, this was SS-rank shock. This was a Titled Douluo, and not just any, but the one from the Clear Sky School...
"How is this possible."
"You must lose." A powerful fluctuation of spirit power erupted, and nine Spirit Rings flashed around Tang Hao, forcing Su Ran back several steps.
The Clear Sky Hammer, which had been sent flying, now returned to his hand. He found it difficult to accept that he had lost so carelessly.
Su Ran's eyes narrowed. Seven Spirit Rings materialized beneath him, seven rings that surpassed the standard configuration: purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, and black.
What was surprising was that his seventh Spirit Ring was black with a hint of red, clearly indicating it was around 90,000 years old! A seventh Spirit Ring of 90,000 years? And all his Spirit Rings are over a thousand years?!Tang Hao was astonished.
"You have to lose. This request, you must agree to it whether you like it or not," Tang Hao said, his aura condensing as he pressed down on Su Ran.
His request was actually very simple: Su Ran had to teach Little San all the ultimate techniques he had taught those girls. The Dao heart that had been shattered, Su Ran had to restore it for him!
"Su Hao, it seems you have no intention of honoring your promise?" Su Ran said coolly, his eyes narrowed.
"Su Hao???" Hearing this name, Tang Hao's nose was practically bent out of shape with anger.
"My name is Tang Hao!"
"You said it yourself. If I could beat you, you would take my surname," Su Ran stated calmly.
"You're courting death!"
"Clear Sky Hammer—Thunder Defines the Universe!"
BOOM—
(End of Chapter)