Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 196: Tang San, I'll Defeat You with Your Own Spirit Bone

The Clear Sky Hammer had left an indelible mark on the history of Douluo Continent. Among all spirits, it stood proudly at the top.

Tang Chen, a peerless Douluo and one of the highest figures in the Spirit Master world, held the Clear Sky Hammer spirit, which made him a peer who even rivaled Qian Daoliu and his god-level Seraphim spirit. Recently, two younger brothers, the Haotian Twins, had also roamed the continent, gaining immense fame solely through the sheer power of the Clear Sky Hammer.

The younger of these twins, Tang Hao, had shattered records, becoming the youngest Titled Douluo in centuries and famously acquiring a blood-red 100,000-year spirit ring as his ninth ring. Rumor had it that when Tang Hao first achieved the Titled Douluo rank, he single-handedly repelled three mysterious Titled Douluo attackers using the overwhelming force of the Clear Sky Hammer.

Following the disappearance of the Clear Sky Clan from the public eye a decade ago, the mighty Clear Sky Hammer spirit faded into legend, leaving only speculation and yearning among those who still remembered it. Now, under the spotlight of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Tournament, the Clear Sky Hammer once again appeared, sparking an uproar among the crowd.

"What is that weapon? Is Tang San breaking the rules?" one of the younger spectators asked, their confusion evident.

"Fool! That's the Clear Sky Hammer!" replied an older Spirit Master beside him, his gaze fixed intently on the weapon, his voice trembling.

"The Clear Sky Hammer? Isn't that just a legend?" others whispered in amazement, shocked by the sight of a supposedly mythical spirit.

With the Clear Sky Hammer revealed, the VIP box fell into a stunned silence. Emperor Xue Ye's gaze froze, Platinum Bishop Salas's expression turned icy, and the distinguished nobles, typically careful to maintain their decorum, all stared wide-eyed, speechless.

"That… that is the Clear Sky Hammer!" Emperor Xue Ye's voice quivered as he looked sharply at Prince Xue Xing, rage bubbling in his eyes. He felt a profound regret, cursing his brother inwardly for letting go of such talent! The disciples of the Clear Sky Clan had not been seen in ages. Finally, a chance to connect with one emerged—a connection that could potentially bring the entire Clear Sky Clan to the Heaven Dou Empire's side.

The Heaven Dou Empire, already backed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the neutral Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, would secure an undeniable advantage over the Star Luo Empire if it could sway the Clear Sky Clan's support. Xue Ye's vision of unifying the continent had never felt so close—until it was jeopardized by Prince Xue Xing's actions.

"You fool! Do you realize what you've done?!" Emperor Xue Ye hissed, glaring at his brother with barely contained fury.

Prince Xue Xing opened his mouth to defend himself but, after a brief hesitation, merely sighed, unable to reveal his true motives. His decision to dismiss Shrek Academy had been a necessary precaution to protect the empire's future, yet he couldn't confess this to Emperor Xue Ye.

Beside them, Platinum Bishop Salas's shock quickly shifted to a cold glare. "Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer, a twin spirit user? The Clear Sky Clan has produced another prodigy! Tang Hao alone caused enough trouble for us. If we allow this wretch to grow, he'll be a severe threat to us!"

Salas continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "This boy's primary spirit may be Blue Silver Grass, but if he reaches Titled Douluo, his Clear Sky Hammer could rival even Tang Chen's. We absolutely cannot allow him to grow."

Meanwhile, back in the arena, Tang San's teacher, Yu Xiaogang, clenched his fists tightly, his expression torn. He had mixed feelings about Tang San's use of the Clear Sky Hammer: he both wanted Tang San to wield it to save the situation and feared the dangers such a display could bring.

From the nobility to the common folk, all were struck by the sight of the small black hammer in Tang San's hand.

Dai Yao lifted Xiao Wu's head from the ground slowly. She was bleeding from her nose and mouth, gasping for breath, her body scorched in several places by the relentless thunder attack.

As the golden glow around her faded, Dai Yao gave a cold snort. "Hmph. Invincible Golden Body, is it? Without even a fourth ring, and yet you can unleash part of the Invincible Golden Body's power. You truly are a protagonist, always defying expectations."

Although he hadn't intended to kill Xiao Wu, Dai Yao had aimed to seriously injure her. He knew that if he killed anyone in the tournament, Oakland would face immediate disqualification, jeopardizing their chances in the finals.

"Let her go!" a cold, deadly voice called out, sounding like it echoed from the deepest pits of the underworld.

The Shrek team's Cosmic Sky tactic, weakened by the Clear Sky Hammer's tremendous weight, had already forced them to descend. Dai Yao turned in the direction of the voice, meeting Tang San's bloodshot eyes. Behind him, the rest of Shrek's Seven Devils glared at Dai Yao with burning hatred, and even Ning Rongrong looked conflicted.

Dai Yao ignored them, his attention instead drawn to the hammer in Tang San's hand. "A twin spirit user, are you? The Clear Sky Hammer?" Dai Yao asked with a hint of mockery, pretending ignorance.

Tang San didn't answer. His eyes cold and resolute, he glanced down at the bruised and battered Xiao Wu. His voice, low and chilling, reverberated across the arena. "Today, no matter the cost, I will make you pay for what you've done to Xiao Wu!"

"Then show me what you're capable of!" Dai Yao retorted, grinning.

Pushing Xiao Wu to the edge had indeed been Dai Yao's intention, baiting Tang San to expose his Clear Sky Hammer sooner than in the original story, where he'd kept it secret until the final rounds. By forcing Tang San's hand now, Dai Yao knew Tang San would have a much harder time navigating the competition.

Dai Yao's wariness was not without reason. The Clear Sky Hammer was a weapon spirit unmatched in the Douluo Continent. In the original story, Tang Hao, armed with the Clear Sky Hammer, had once driven back three Titled Douluo alone and grievously wounded Qian Xunji. Later, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer would allow him to hold his own against the god-level Qian Renxue and even break her Spirit Sage-level domain.

Even with his own divine Holy Tiger spirit, Dai Yao couldn't be certain he could defeat Tang San. "Looks like I'll need to reveal more of my cards," he thought, his gaze steely.

Turning to Dugu Yan, Dai Yao gave her a slight nod. She sighed, her voice soft and sultry but tinged with resignation. "So that's why you asked me to prepare, huh? I see now. Tang San has a twin spirit… But he's hardly worth all this attention if he hasn't grown into it yet."

Tang San felt a sudden shiver run down his spine. Could it be that Dai Yao still had a hidden trump card?

Dai Yao tossed Xiao Wu aside, locking eyes with Tang San. "Come. Let's end this!" he challenged, lightning flashing in his dark gaze as his fourth spirit ring glowed once more.

At this point, no one in the arena could believe their eyes. This marked Dai Yao's fourth time using his formidable fourth spirit skill—a feat unheard of. It left even the most experienced onlookers speechless.

What the others didn't know was that Dai Yao's spirit power was in a liquid state, which made it several times denser than the power of other Spirit Masters at the same level—this was the secret behind his ability to use his fourth spirit skill repeatedly.

Dai Yao's treatment of Xiao Wu drove Tang San to the brink, his entire body trembling with rage as he spat, "Fine!"

Under the surge of his spirit power, the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's grip began to expand. He held its handle tightly, dragging the hammer's head across the ground as he charged at Dai Yao, leaving a deep groove in his wake—a testament to the hammer's terrifying weight.

"No, Xiao San is no match for Dai Yao. We need to help him!" Dai Mubai said, his tone thick with worry.

Without hesitation, he took the lead, charging at Dai Yao, and Zhu Zhuqing and the others quickly followed suit.

"You want to help Tang San? Have you asked for my permission?" Dugu Yan's cold voice interrupted, her third spirit ring glowing as she activated her skill.

"Third Spirit Skill: Jade Phosphor Violet Poison!"

A dense purple fog quickly spread across the battlefield, forming a large circle that encompassed only Dai Yao and Tang San, effectively creating a no-go zone for anyone trying to interfere.

Just as Dai Mubai and the others were about to break through, Dugu Yan's mocking voice reminded them, "This is Jade Phosphor Violet Poison. I assume you know what that means?"

Hearing this, the six Shrek members recoiled in shock, instinctively taking a few steps back. They knew that this poison could dissolve flesh into sludge within moments.

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and activated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda again, sending a radiant rainbow beam through the purple fog, enveloping Tang San.

Watching from a safe distance, Dai Mubai exhaled in relief, though his gaze remained glued to the haze where he thought he could make out Tang San's figure.

"Xiao San, hang in there!" he muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, Oakland's Spirit Masters, encircling the area delineated by the purple fog, resumed their assault on the remaining Shrek members, intending to settle the score while Dai Yao and Tang San faced off.

In the VIP box, Dugu Bo let out a sigh as he watched Dugu Yan finally make her move, only to use her poison to isolate the battle. "My dear Yan, for Dai Yao, you've hidden your own brilliance. My Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison wasn't meant for this…"

He then shifted his gaze toward Dai Yao, his eyes momentarily dark. "You brat, Yan Yan treats you so well. If you dare betray her, I won't let you off!"

Inside the isolated purple fog zone, Tang San's face was grim as he stared at the noxious haze that surrounded him and Dai Yao. His gaze held a sense of profound realization as it settled on Dai Yao.

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it? So that's why Dugu Yan held back…" he murmured.

After observing Dugu Yan's actions throughout the match, Tang San understood that the entire purpose was to create this enclosed duel between him and Dai Yao.

"Maybe so," Dai Yao replied, smirking as he withheld confirmation. Admitting as much would mean he'd known Shrek wouldn't be so easily defeated—and that he knew Tang San's secret of being a twin spirit wielder. Without confirmation, his motives remained ambiguous.

"In that case, as you wish!" Tang San shouted.

Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, the blue-purple lightning of Dai Yao's power clashed violently with the obsidian darkness of the Clear Sky Hammer, creating an earth-shattering explosion.

Boom!

Lightning burst forth, and under the Clear Sky Hammer's fierce strike, Dai Yao's solid lightning energy showed faint signs of dissipating.

"What an impressive Clear Sky Hammer!" Dai Yao muttered, his expression briefly awestruck.

Tang San, however, was more astonished. Although Dai Yao hadn't retreated even a step, the force of the impact sent Tang San flying backward, forcing him back ten steps even with the boost from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"What terrifying power! If not for the Clear Sky Hammer being a tool spirit with unmatched durability, any beast spirit user would have been gravely injured trying to withstand Dai Yao's attack," Tang San gasped, wiping blood from his mouth, though his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer was steady, his gaze unwavering.

"But for Xiao Wu, you will pay for this!" he declared, his voice resolute.

Ignoring the pain wracking his body, he turned and swung the Clear Sky Hammer, redirecting the force of his last strike into an even stronger blow.

Recognizing the stance, many knowledgeable spectators cried out in astonishment. They knew this was none other than the fabled Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique—a legendary skill.

Watching Tang San's movements, Dai Yao felt a surge of tension. He hadn't expected Tang San to retain his balance well enough to use this technique. If Tang San's Disorder Splitting Wind Technique continued to build momentum, Dai Yao might genuinely face defeat if he didn't use his second spirit.

"He really is a born protagonist—this move alone can't break his Disorder Splitting Wind Technique," Dai Yao thought. "Tang San likely has the strength now to execute the technique up to the forty-eighth hammer, but my Eight Extremes Collapse can only compress sixfold, equivalent to thirty-six times a regular attack."

"Even with my external spirit bone, the maximum increase is only sevenfold, barely reaching forty-seven times. Disorder Splitting Wind would still overpower it."

Dai Yao realized he was in a bind. "Tang San's hammers won't allow me time to charge my White Tiger Thunder Strike or my fourth skill," he acknowledged.

A rare sense of unease crept over him, and the audience buzzed as they sensed Dai Yao's sudden disadvantage.

"Is it possible…? Could Dai Yao actually lose?" some wondered aloud.

"He fought undefeated all the way to the final match of the qualifiers, only to be bested now?" others murmured in awe.

"Such words are shortsighted," a seasoned spectator countered. "To lose against the Clear Sky Hammer is no disgrace."

The Oakland team members couldn't see through the poisonous fog, so they remained oblivious to the events within, while the crowd, watching from above, had a full view. In the VIP box, Salas's brow knitted together in a tight furrow, his expression grim.

Meanwhile, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a knowing smile.

"I wonder what trump card the boy will reveal now?" Ning Fengzhi mused, intrigued.

After all, Chen Xin had once tested Dai Yao's strength himself, noting his external spirit bone and his compressed Eight Extremes Collapse. He looked forward to seeing how Dai Yao's Eight Extremes would fare against Tang San's hammer technique.

Within the purple circle, Dai Yao eyed Tang San as he prepared to spin and strike again, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Just as expected from the future Tang Godking. Even though my power rivals that of a Spirit King, you're still proving a challenge. Since that's the case, I'll just have to use another trump card."

"Tang San, I'll use the spirit bone that once belonged to you… to defeat you."

Before the astonished eyes of the spectators, Dai Yao retracted his spirit rings, a move that left most onlookers puzzled and murmuring. Some even suspected he had run out of options and was preparing to concede.

But as everyone watched with bated breath, the sound of fabric tearing filled the arena, and a pair of wings unfurled from Dai Yao's back…

Tang San's eyes widened in shock, even as he swung his hammer mid-air.

(End of Chapter)

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