"White robes like snow falling from the nine heavens, a single peach branch arrives, surpassing ten thousand years of spring in the mortal world."
"What fine swordplay, truly fine swordplay. Fengzhi, you really should have brought that old fellow Chen Xin with you this time. If he were to see such exquisite and unparalleled sword techniques, I wonder if he'd still have the face to call himself the number one Sword Spirit Master under heaven."
"But in that case, this old man wouldn't have been able to witness swordsmanship even more masterful than that old fellow's. It's for the best that I came to help."
"Clear Sky Douluo, you are, after all, a Titled Douluo of long-standing fame. After disappearing for so many years, have you learned to be a scoundrel?"
"Rongrong, step back. I will help him."
At Taoyuan Academy, lush peach trees grew within a radius of several hundred meters. A giant peach tree, thirty meters tall, shot up from the ground, and a sky full of peach blossom petals danced in the air. The scene was incomparably beautiful, with only the figure of a graceful young man in white standing within it.
The youth held a peach branch, calm and composed in the face of danger. The purple and white Epic Immortal Teacher's Diadem descended from the heavens, and streams of crimson peach qi floated from the four disciples behind him, coiling around the flourishing giant peach tree.
[Strength increased by 40%!]
[Domain: Divine Peach Heavens—The endless peach blossoms can all become swords. All plants are under my command. Under the Peach Heavens, all living beings are equal. Additional 'Immortal's Gaze' status: Possesses a suppressive force against all Martial Souls.]
[Seventh Spirit Ability—Mortal Dust True Body: Immortal-grade transformation, attributes sublimated, entering the Mortal Dust Peach Immortal state!]
[Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Buff: Strength +40%, Spirit Power +40%, Speed +40%!]
"Seven Treasures Appear as Glazed Tile, Seven Treasures Have a Name—Strength, Speed, Spirit Power, Defense, Attack."
[Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda high-level Spirit Master buff replacement: Strength +80%, Spirit Power +80%, Speed +80%, Defense +80%, Attack +80%]
Tang Hao's strength was not to be underestimated. Su Ran focused his full attention, directly activating his seventh spirit ability, Martial Soul True Body.
In his Mortal Dust True Body state, Su Ran was wreathed in crimson qi, and an immortal white mist spread around him, making him look like an immortal who had walked out of a celestial peach grove. The scene was like something out of a poem or painting, and Ning Rongrong was already completely entranced.
Just as Ning Rongrong came back to her senses and was about to apply the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda buffs to Su Ran, two voices, somewhat familiar to her, sounded from behind.
At the same time, five buffs, even stronger than the ones Ning Rongrong had just released, stacked onto Su Ran, causing his strength to undergo an absolute transformation. To be able to release five buffs from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda simultaneously was a feat that only a handful of people in the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could accomplish.
"Father!"
"And Grandpa Bone!"
"What are you doing here?"
"You've come at the perfect time! Father, Grandpa Gu, quickly help Teacher beat that unreasonable man to death!!!"
"He actually dared to bully my teacher! He's too despicable!"
Ning Rongrong saw the two men who had appeared out of thin air behind her. One had a face like jade, a straight nose, and a square mouth, with a refined and gentle appearance. The other was quite peculiar; though his frame was huge, his entire body looked as if it were supported by bones, and his voice was hoarse, like the rustling of wind through fallen leaves.
Before Ning Rongrong could even ask why they were here, her face was filled with delighted surprise. She pointed excitedly at Tang Hao, who was brandishing his Clear Sky Hammer, attempting to use his rank suppression to force Su Ran into submission.
Her father was the strongest support-type Spirit Master on the entire continent, and Grandpa Bone was a guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Those who could fight on par with Grandpa Bone could be counted on one hand in the entire continent!
"Rongrong, this teacher of yours is quite something," Ning Fengzhi said, walking over and patting her head with a faint smile. Gu Rong also looked at Su Ran with considerable appreciation.
In that very instant, Su Ran did not hesitate. He plucked a branch from the heavens—an immortal peach branch that transformed into a sword. There were nine of them in total.
[Sixth Spirit Ability—Nine Luminaries Peach Blossoms!]
The power of the nine luminaries—Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu—manifested as nine peach blossom swords, which shot out simultaneously. They clashed with the immense Clear Sky True Body, yet were not at a disadvantage. A terrifying turbulence of spirit power exploded outwards, creating a violent gust of wind and causing the ground to sink.
Aside from Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong, everyone else was pushed back several steps by the aftershock.
Just a few seconds later, the two figures shot past each other.
The wind fell silent.
Su Ran and Tang Hao landed one after another, several dozen meters apart, standing back to back.
"With that move, the victor has been decided," Gu Rong stated calmly.
"Who won?" The Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma were dumbfounded. Others said their Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent Martial Soul Fusion Skill could rival a Titled Douluo, but after witnessing this clash, they finally understood why Su Ran had told them they were no match for his opponent. If they had been the ones to face that terrifying hammer strike, they would likely be lying on the ground, unable to get up.
The next moment, with a crack, a strange sound came from the face of Su Ran, who had his back to the crowd.
"Teacher!"
That single sound made the hearts of Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and Wang Sheng leap into their throats. They rushed towards Su Ran in a panic.
"Don't worry, your teacher should be fine. Although he had my buffs, to be able to pierce the right arm of the Clear Sky Douluo, who was a dominant figure over a decade ago, with just the power of a Spirit Saint, is already a world-shocking feat," Ning Fengzhi said in a low voice. With his perspective as the continent's top support-type Spirit Master, he had originally expected the clash between Su Ran and Tang Hao to be a draw.
He hadn't expected Su Ran's Nine Luminaries Peach Blossoms to not only withstand the domineering destructive power of Tang Hao's attack, but one of the peach blossom swords had even broken through the Clear Sky Hammer amidst the turbulence, leaving a sword mark on its indestructible body before piercing through Tang Hao's right shoulder!
This young man's strength was simply unparalleled among those of the same rank.
"Pfft—"
At that moment, Tang Hao could no longer keep up the pretense. He quickly clutched his right shoulder, sealing the wound with his spirit power. But one could clearly see a bleeding hole, the size of two fingers, that went straight through his right shoulder blade and arm bone. A faint glow emanated from the arm bone—anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it was a Spirit Bone!
Weng—
"Su Ran, this seat will let you off this time. But remember, this seat is only sparing you out of reluctance to let your ultimate techniques be lost to the world. This seat has an appreciation for talent."
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I, Tang Hao, will also remember today's events. One day, you will repay this a hundredfold!"
When they looked again, Tang Hao's figure had already vanished from Taoyuan Academy. For some reason, his escape was extremely proficient and fast, as if he had a lot of experience. He didn't even forget to leave some threatening words as he fled.
"Little San."
On the outskirts of Soto City.
At this moment, Tang San's mind was still replaying Grandmaster's past teachings, while Xiao Wu chattered endlessly in his ear about the many benefits of joining Taoyuan Academy.
Just as Xiao Wu was leading him in the direction of Taoyuan Academy, from a distance of a thousand meters, the terrifying aura of a duel radiated outwards.
The two quickened their pace. When they arrived, they saw several figures gathered there. A black shadow fled from the scene in a sorry state. The familiar voice made Tang San's whole body tremble.
"You are..."
"Father!"
"Father, why is it you?!" Tang San's face was filled with astonishment.
"Don't ask any more questions for now. Come with me immediately."
"And you." Tang Hao's sharp gaze fell on Xiao Wu as he spoke in a low voice.
"No! I'm not going with you! I want to stay here!" Xiao Wu's eyes were already fixed on the distant figure at the entrance of Taoyuan Academy, unable to look away.
That figure, with his mask partially revealed, had such an exquisite profile. Although she was too far away to see his face clearly, that transcendent immortal-like aura, combined with the familiar silhouette, made it seem as if all the living things around them had come alive, causing her heart to race and a secret liquid to surge. Xiao Wu was now certain of his identity.
It's him! It's him! It has to be him!
The person she had been searching for was the dean of Taoyuan Academy—Su Ran!
"That's not up to you."
However, Tang Hao's large hand was like a pair of pliers, gripping Xiao Wu's arm tightly. He dragged her away as he fled, and she was completely unable to break free.
(End of Chapter)