Tang Hao's body plowed a deep trench into the earth, dragging for over a hundred meters before finally coming to a stop.
Amid the overwhelming shock, he forced himself to remain calm. His seventh spirit ring lit up instantly, and the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand abruptly expanded. In the blink of an eye, it became a massive hammer a hundred meters long.
That pitch-black hammerhead looked like a small mountain, exuding a terrifying oppressive aura.
Seventh Spirit Ability: True Body of the Tool Spirit!
Scarlet patterns lit up from the hammerhead of the Clear Sky Hammer, and the red spirit ring on Tang Hao's body flickered. In an instant, the massive black hammer turned entirely crimson.
The surrounding void distorted as if unable to bear the immense pressure of the Clear Sky Hammer.
"Ancestor Long, take my final strike!" Tang Hao roared as he unleashed the 81st strike of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique using the True Body of the Clear Sky Hammer.
Although he had been sent flying a hundred meters earlier, the injuries he sustained weren't severe—he knew the opponent had held back.
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique was a spirit skill created by the founder of the Clear Sky Clan, Tang Hao's grandfather, Tang Chen. The full eighty-one strikes were considered among the top soul techniques in the world.
For various reasons, this was already the strongest move Tang Hao could currently unleash.
If even this couldn't defeat the young man, Tang Hao would have no choice but to concede defeat.
Staring at the descending crimson hammer—like a burning meteor crashing down—Ao Tian smiled slightly and raised his right hand.
The mountain-sized Clear Sky Hammer struck his palm—only to be effortlessly stopped.
The ground within a hundred-meter radius around him trembled violently and collapsed, forming a massive crater a hundred meters wide.
Dust billowed, but the snow-white figure of Ao Tian remained spotless.
He floated midair, holding up the Clear Sky Hammer with his right hand. The entire scene seemed frozen in time.
A trace of bitterness appeared at the corner of Tang Hao's mouth—he had ultimately lost. His opponent's strength was truly unfathomable, like a bottomless abyss.
A terrifying thought crept into his heart—perhaps even a Level 99 Titled Douluo might not possess such power...
"Fighting me comes at a price," Ao Tian said calmly. His right hand trembled slightly, and an overwhelming force erupted, spreading across the entire Clear Sky Hammer.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Countless fractures instantly covered the Clear Sky Hammer, and with a loud boom, the mountain-like weapon shattered—exploding like a dazzling firework.
A devastating shockwave surged across the land. Tang Hao vomited a large mouthful of blood and was hurled hundreds of meters by the blast.
Having his Martial Soul shattered and being struck by that explosive force left Tang Hao gravely wounded.
Back when he had fought Qian Xunji, he had already sustained internal injuries that never fully healed. Now, with injuries on top of injuries, his strength was almost entirely crippled.
Recovering to the state he was in before the battle with Ao Tian would take several years, if it was even possible.
His clothes were torn to shreds as he lay on the ground, a look of complete bewilderment on his face.
Ao Tian took a single step and vanished, then reappeared in front of Tang Hao.
"You lost," he said, looking at Tang Hao.
Tang Hao nodded bitterly and struggled to his feet.
"Thank you for showing mercy. I will never step foot into Notting Academy again," he said weakly.
"May I ask… have you already reached the legendary… Level 100?" he looked at Ao Tian, eyes full of anticipation, awe, and amazement.
Level 100—the realm of gods in legend.
Back then, his grandfather Tang Chen, a Level 99 peerless Douluo, had left the Clear Sky Clan in search of that mythical realm and was never heard from again.
Ao Tian looked at Tang Hao with a trace of pity in his eyes. He said nothing. With one step, he appeared a kilometer away. Another step—and the white figure vanished from Tang Hao's sight.
Ao Tian didn't kill Tang Hao. First, because Tang Hao was no threat to him. Second, because Tang Hao might still be useful in the future.
Back at the academy, Ao Tian's body rapidly shrank and reverted to that of a six- or seven-year-old.
Inside the training field, Xiao Wu still lay on a large rock, her cute little face full of complex emotions.
When the corner of her eye caught that small figure walking toward her, Xiao Wu immediately sat up and jumped off the rock, nervously looking at Ao Tian.
"Ao Tian… just now, a big brother appeared here. He said he was your brother."
Ao Tian's expression turned serious. "I know. He already met me just now."
"Ah—!" Xiao Wu screamed, quickly asking, "What did he say to you?"
Her heart pounded wildly.
Would Ao Tian's brother reveal her identity as a spirit beast?
What would Ao Tian do once he knew the truth?
Xiao Wu was incredibly anxious. Her small fists clenched tightly as she waited for Ao Tian's answer.
"My brother told me… you're not human. You're a 100,000-year-old spirit beast in human form."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu's heart panicked.
So, Ao Tian really did know her true identity.
"Is it really time to leave this place?" she thought sadly.
Notting City was the first place she had tried to integrate into human society after leaving the Star Dou Forest.
Now that her classmates knew her identity as a spirit beast, she could no longer stay.
The human world was indeed dangerous. At this moment, Xiao Wu felt a deep sense of sorrow.
"Then… is your brother planning to kill me?" she looked at Ao Tian and asked.
Ao Tian shook his head. "The Titled Douluo who wanted to harm you was already driven off by my brother. He won't dare return. My brother is already a Titled Douluo—your spirit ring is useless to him."
"But… but my spirit bone is still useful to him. And my spirit ring could be valuable to you in the future." Xiao Wu looked at Ao Tian with big, serious eyes, trying to see if he truly had no interest in her.
Seeing Xiao Wu's nervous expression, Ao Tian smiled and put his arm around her shoulders, walking with her toward the dormitory.
Xiao Wu stiffened, practically being dragged along by Ao Tian.
"My brother is so powerful, why would he care about a few bones from you? As for your spirit ring, I'm not even interested."
Hearing that Ao Tian didn't value her spirit ring, Xiao Wu felt indignant. "My spirit ring is 100,000 years old, okay?"
"One hundred thousand years—is that really so strong?" Ao Tian turned to look at her. "I've heard that there are still hidden spirit beasts on the Douluo Continent that are several hundred thousand years old… even close to a million."
"That's impossible!" Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "My home is in the Star Dou Forest, and there are only 100,000-year spirit beasts there. I've never seen anything stronger."
After speaking, Xiao Wu realized she had said too much—she had just revealed her background.
She immediately shut her mouth and refused to say another word.
Even though Ao Tian acted like he didn't care about her identity, how could she truly believe that?
Humans and spirit beasts had always been mortal enemies. No matter how indifferent Ao Tian seemed, Xiao Wu still held some doubt in her heart.
Ao Tian paid no mind to her attitude and spoke to himself, "There are many secrets hidden within the Star Dou Forest. Since you don't believe me, then I won't talk about that anymore. Let me tell you about the ocean. Not far from the Douluo Continent, there's a ruler-level spirit beast in the sea—the Deep Sea Devil Whale King. Its cultivation has already reached one million years. It's only a step away from becoming a god."
"A million-year-old spirit beast?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened, curiosity instantly piqued by Ao Tian's words.
(End of Chapter)