Chapter 397: Clear Sky True Form, Seven Kill True Form, Tang Hao Flees, Su Ming: Quite the Bluff!

Tang Hao wasn't surprised when his attack was blocked; after all, he had merely struck casually.

If Sword Douluo hadn't been able to block it, he wouldn't be worthy of the title "Sword Dao Chenxin."

As for Dugu Bo, Tang Hao didn't take him seriously. Known as the weakest Title Douluo, and one who relied on poison, Dugu Bo would only need a single hit from his hammer to be defeated.

What Tang Hao didn't know was that Dugu Bo had undergone a complete transformation, and his strength now far exceeded what it had been.

Unfortunately, Tang Hao's perception wasn't as sharp as Chenxin's. Even though he could sense Dugu Bo's aura was stronger than before, Dugu Bo had deliberately restrained his power, preventing Tang Hao from gauging his exact strength.

"Clear Sky Douluo, it's best if you retreat. If you leave now, we'll pretend this never happened. But if word of this reaches Emperor Xue Ye, your son might lose his chance to compete," Dugu Bo warned, his gaze sharp.

"Hahaha, and what if Emperor Xue Ye finds out? I'm just here to borrow the academy's healing spirit master!"

Yes, Tang Hao would never admit that he intended to capture Ye Lingling. He'd only "invited" her for assistance since she'd happened to be alone while training.

Chenxin snorted coldly, "You know your real intent. If you refuse to leave, then…fight!"

Dugu Bo added calmly, "Tang Hao, do you really think you can handle the two of us together?"

"Hahaha, and why not? When I first became a Title Douluo, I single-handedly repelled three Title Douluos, along with several Spirit Douluos and Spirit Sages. Tell me, why wouldn't I be able to handle you both?"

Ning Fengzhi frowned. He knew of that incident well—Tang Hao had indeed singlehandedly defeated Wuhun Hall's Yue Guan and Gui Mei, as well as seriously injuring former Pope Qian Xunji.

However, Tang Hao's arrogance was grating. He seemed to forget that Ning Fengzhi, the continent's greatest support spirit master, was also here.

Tang Hao's remark made the hidden Gui Mei's mouth twitch. He couldn't deny he still harbored fear from that encounter. Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer was formidable, and even with his and Yue Guan's combined ninth spirit abilities, they hadn't been able to withstand it.

Still, Tang Hao didn't want to create too big a commotion, as it could affect Tang San's upcoming matches. "Let's make a deal. Let Ye Lingling accompany me to the healing room at the Great Spirit Arena to treat the injured Thunder Academy members, and I won't make any trouble."

Though he said this, Tang Hao had already made up his mind. Once the tournament concluded, he'd capture both Ye Lingling and Su Ming.

Ye Lingling could heal his internal injuries, and Su Ming was a sworn enemy of his son.

Tang Hao hadn't connected the sudden chest pain earlier to Ye Lingling's doing, assuming it was simply a flare-up of his old injury as she treated him.

It made sense, considering his wound hadn't healed all these years. The injury was caused by Qian Xunji's divine power and was difficult to recover from.

"Tang Hao, you want me to hand over Lingling? Impossible! And to think you're Tang San's father! If this is at his request, then we were right about you all along—a pack of hypocrites and petty villains!"

Su Ming shielded Ye Lingling and glared at Tang Hao defiantly.

With Dugu Bo and Chenxin on his side, Su Ming felt confident enough to speak freely. Even without them, he wouldn't back down from Tang Hao.

However, he wasn't planning on showing all his cards just yet. Though he'd briefly revealed some of his abilities in the past, it had only been against a Spirit Douluo, and Tang Hao likely hadn't paid it much mind.

"You little brat! What did you just say?" Tang Hao roared. How dare Su Ming, a mere junior, speak to him this way!

"Well, well, you've got guts! I'll keep it short: if you can withstand my blow, I'll leave immediately!"

Without further ado, Tang Hao lifted his Clear Sky Hammer, shattering his first and second spirit rings. The explosive force merged into his hammer.

"Seventh Spirit Ability, True Form of the Tool Spirit!"

"Great Sumeru Hammer!"

Even with just two shattered hundred-year spirit rings, Tang Hao's aura surged immensely.

Dugu Bo's expression changed, realizing that his own physique wouldn't withstand Tang Hao's attack head-on. Although he believed he could defeat Tang Hao, it would require a hit-and-run strategy relying on his speed; a direct confrontation wouldn't work.

Chenxin noticed Dugu Bo's hesitation and reassured him, "Dugu Bo, just protect Su Ming and the others. I'll handle Tang Hao's strike."

"Seventh Spirit Ability, Seven Kill True Form!"

"Heavenly Sword Draw Technique! Chain Slash!"

In the past, as fellow level-96 Title Douluos, Chenxin had admitted that in a life-or-death fight, he wasn't Tang Hao's match.

But now, with this newly developed self-created spirit ability capable of stacking damage instantly, Chenxin could take on Tang Hao's full-strength Great Sumeru Hammer. And with Tang Hao only shattering two hundred-year spirit rings, Chenxin was more than prepared.

Boom!

The Clear Sky Hammer collided with the Seven Kill Sword's energy. If not for Dugu Bo's protection, the academy's buildings would have been completely destroyed!

The clash of two Title Doulo's true forms combined with self-created techniques generated an overwhelming force.

Having activated his true form and shattered two spirit rings, Tang Hao's old injury flared up, and he sensed something was wrong. Chenxin's strength had grown—he was at level 97 now!

With his current, weakened body, Tang Hao couldn't withstand the explosive power of his nine-ring burst. Without his peak strength and free from injury, he might not have feared Chenxin. But in his current state, he knew he couldn't take him on.

Unable to win, Tang Hao launched a powerful strike with the Clear Sky Hammer before fleeing.

Su Ming shook his head in amusement. This was identical to Tang Hao's original appearance in the finals—arriving, striking once, and retreating. Back then, everyone had been intimidated by Tang Hao's Killing God Domain and aura, never realizing how fragile his body truly was.

If Su Ming recalled correctly, Tang Hao possessed a full set of spirit bones. Hopefully, Tang San would make it to the finals. If Tang Hao appeared again, Su Ming intended to make sure Tang Hao left behind at least two spirit bones this time!