Chapter 144: First Battle, Titled Douluo (Part 1)

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The Spirit hall in Tian Dou City was much more spacious inside than the one in Nuoding City. Tang San and the others searched for quite a while before finding the staircase leading to the upper floor.

After locating Ma Xi Nuo's office, Tang San raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Come in!"

A familiar voice came from inside.

Twisting the doorknob, Tang San saw the familiar figure. "Long time no see, Grandpa Ma Xi Nuo."

"Tang San!"

Ma Xi Nuo immediately stood up, put down the papers in his hand, and pulled Tang San to the side of the coffee table, pouring tea for the three of them.

"You've come to Tian Dou City? Which academy did you choose?"

"The Royal Academy of Tian Dou."

"This is the Empire's number one academy. With your talent, you can naturally enter. But the students inside are all nobles. Don't they look down on you?"

Ma Xi Nuo knew the teaching environment of the Royal Academy of Tian Dou quite well, second only to the Academy of Soul Masters, but the students inside were not that great. They were mostly spoiled children of noble birth.

It could be said that it was difficult for talented commoners to fit in, as those noble children were not easy to get along with.

Of course, if they could adapt well, after graduation, even without joining any forces, they could live well on the continent.

It could be said that the Tian Dou Royal Academy was also an opportunity for commoner soul masters to make various connections, but it might be very uncomfortable at the beginning.

"Not really, after all, I joined the Tian Dou Royal Team, so I don't need to have too much contact with those noble children." Tang San explained his situation.

"The Royal Team? That's great. They're all talented soul masters, and their temperaments are much better than those of other noble students. They'll respect talented commoner soul masters like you." Ma Xiunuo didn't know that Tang San had become the captain of the Tian Dou Royal Team. He exclaimed, "I think you'll definitely participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament in two years, right?"

"At that time, you must achieve good results."

Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Grandpa Ma Xiunuo didn't you always hope that we would join the Soul Master Academy?"

"I did hope so, but these days, I've also considered it. The Soul Master Academy really isn't suitable for you guys." Ma Xiunuo sighed, "Since the tournament started, except for the first five champions rotating among the three major empires, all the champions afterwards were taken by the Spirit hall."

"From what I know about you, Tang San, if you want to become famous, you can't join the Spirit hall Academy. Otherwise, even if you win the championship, others will only think it's because of the Spirit hall's efforts."

Soul Master Academy Tournament.

Starting from the fifth tournament, all the championships were taken by the Spirit hall, which was well known.

It could be said that winning the championship after joining the Soul Master Academy was different from winning it after joining other academies.

The former, besides being recognized for your exceptional talent, was mainly because of the Spirit hall's efforts. With the Spirit hall's training and analysis, you could defeat other academies. The latter, if you weren't trained by the Spirit hall but still defeated the Spirit hall's team, it would better showcase your talent and intelligence, gaining recognition from the entire continent.

"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo really understands me." Tang San smiled.

"Haha, I've also come to Tian Dou City recently and learned about the situation here. I've analyzed some insignificant things." Ma Xiunuo took a sip of tea and asked Tang San about his fourth soul ring, "I heard from Su Yuntuo's letter that you reached level forty after graduating from Nuoding Academy. Did you get the fourth soul ring?"

"I did, in the Death Desert." Tang San nodded. "The effect of the soul skill is not related to combat assistance or healing enhancement, but it's related to the essence of life... I can't tell you the specific effect. Otherwise, I'll be targeted by many people."

The soul skill "Nine Lives Resurrection" can revive the dead.

If this news were to spread, he would never be able to live in peace in the future.

"In that case, I won't ask. After all, soul skills are personal secrets. If others research them thoroughly, it will be easier to target you." Ma Xiunuo shrugged it off.

For the next hour, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, and Ma Xiunuo chatted about some trivial matters before preparing to take their leave.

However, just as they left the Spirit hall, Tang San suddenly felt a spiritual force land on him, prompting Xiao Wu and Guang Ling to go back first while he followed the spiritual force.

Outside Tian Dou City, ten kilometres away.

Two figures stopped, one in front of the other.

"Senior, you brought me out. What's the matter?" Tang San looked at the tall figure in a black robe and instantly recognized him as Tang Hao, but he pretended not to know.

"I heard that the Royal Academy of Tian Dou has produced a genius with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul, so I wanted to test your abilities." Tang Hao deliberately lowered his voice and turned his head, wearing a black mask that only revealed two eye holes.

Testing?

It seemed that Tang Hao had noticed his increasing spiritual power speed.

"Senior is too domineering, isn't he?" Tang San said in a deep voice.

"If you say so, then yes." Tang Hao released the Haotian Hammer, with two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red soul rings appearing, exerting a powerful aura that made Tang San's heart sink slightly.

Is he really going all out!?

Seeing Tang Hao acting resolutely, determined to bully the weak, Tang San could only grit his teeth and release his martial soul—two yellow, two purple, one black, and four rings in total. Tang Hao's eyes twitched slightly at the colors of Tang San's soul rings.

"Two rings at a thousand years, four rings at ten thousand years, truly extraordinary." Tang Hao chuckled, his voice showing a hint of delight. "Come at me, I won't use any soul skills."

Tang San took a deep breath and controlled his four soul rings to merge.

Even in a match against a Titled Douluo, even if the opponent didn't use soul skills, he had to give it his all, or else he would lose miserably.

And, Tang San also wanted to see how big the gap was between him and a Titled Douluo now.

"Soul ring fusion?"

Watching Tang San's movements, Tang Hao's eyes showed a hint of disdain. He felt that this method was far inferior to the Exploding Ring of Haotian Sect, but he didn't stop him, just watching Tang San prepare.

Under Tang San's control, the four soul rings approached each other, and peculiar patterns appeared on their surfaces—the traces of the soul skill running.

Boom!

The first soul ring merged with the second one, rotating, with some of the patterns inside interlocking.

From the outside, it looked like the first yellow soul ring was embedded into the inner circle of the second purple soul ring, with plant-like patterns appearing and rotating in opposite directions.

"It seems like it's not a common fusion. Did Xiao San improve it? What are those patterns on the soul rings?" Tang Hao was a bit puzzled, but he didn't ask. By this time, Tang San's spiritual power fluctuation had already reached level fifty!

(End of Chapter)