"Tang Hao actually came. How unexpected." Ning Rongrong lowered her telescope, her face showing surprise.
From the beginning, she had anticipated that Tang Hao might make a "divine intervention."
But seeing Tang Hao rushing to Shrek Academy in such haste without the slightest pause made Ning Rongrong feel something was off.
For Tang Hao to act this way, there could only be two possibilities.
The first possibility: Tang Hao's sixth sense remotely sensed that Tang San was in mortal danger, prompting him to rush to Shrek Academy at full speed.
Even in a world without supernatural abilities, people occasionally sense when their loved ones are in danger from thousands of miles away.
The second possibility: The Asura God secretly informed Tang Hao. Bound by divine rules, the god couldn't intervene directly and could only urge Tang Hao to hurry back and protect his son otherwise, their grand plan would fall apart.
Between the two, Ning Rongrong leaned toward the latter, but this possibility was also more dangerous. It meant the Asura God was likely keeping a close eye on Tang Hao and his son.
"This is troublesome."
She couldn't be completely certain yet. She would have to observe how things unfolded before drawing conclusions.
After all, many factions were involved.
With Tang Hao's half-crippled body, breaking through this situation wouldn't be as easy as it was in the original story against the Spirit Hall.
"Let's keep watching."
She sighed silently in her heart.
She wondered just how far the Asura God could interfere.
Shrek Academy Training Grounds
Tang Hao and Yu Yuanzhen stood in a tense standoff.
Yu Yuanzhen's face was dark. That earlier attack from Tang Hao had clearly been meant to kill him!
Looking at the Clear Sky Hammer, now bearing only five spirit rings four black and one red Yu Yuanzhen realized just how ruthless Tang Hao was.
First, he detonated two excess hundred-year spirit rings to force Yu Yuanzhen back. Then, he sacrificed two thousand-year purple rings to block his eighth spirit ability.
Truly, the Clear Sky Clan was full of madmen.
And this man, who had dared to kill the former Pope Qian Xunji, was the maddest of them all.
"Tang Hao, what is the meaning of this?" Yu Yuanzhen demanded coldly.
"Hand over that rabbit girl and Tang San's external spirit bone, or none of you will leave this academy alive."
Tang Hao wore an arrogant expression.
Seeing Yu Tianheng turned into a pincushion, he knew there was no peaceful resolution with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
This wasn't like his previous dealings with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. This time, they had killed the other side's most promising heir this was a feud of the highest order.
But Yu Yuanzhen, a mere 95th-ranked Title Douluo, wasn't someone Tang Hao feared.
"Good, very good!" Yu Yuanzhen's veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot. "My grandson was murdered, and now you, Tang Hao, have the gall to turn this around on me?"
Originally, he had considered taking the 100,000-year spirit beast and the external spirit bone as compensation. If Tang Hao offered sufficient reparations, he might have let it go.
After all, the Spirit Hall loomed over them all. The Top Three Clans should stand united.
There was no need to fight to mutual destruction, especially since his own side hadn't acted honorably either.
Moreover, Tang Hao had indeed killed Qian Xunji a feat that spoke volumes of his strength. Who knew how much stronger he had become over the years?
Through the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's affinity with nature, Yu Yuanzhen sensed that Tang Hao likely bore old injuries probably from his battle with Qian Xunji.
But Yu Yuanzhen wasn't confident. Qian Xunji's Seraphim was a god-level spirit, and even with reinforcements, he had been killed. Could Yu Yuanzhen defeat Tang Hao? That remained unknown.
"Yu Yuanzhen, you tried to steal what belongs to my son. Whoever died by his hand deserved it."
Tang Hao glanced at Tang San, signaling for him and the others to retreat.
After a moment of silence, Tang San said, "Father, please be careful. If possible... save Xiao Wu."
"Hmph! There may be those in this world I cannot defeat, but Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan isn't one of them."
"Xiao Wu is only being held temporarily. She will return to you soon."
Seeing Tang San retreat to Yu Xiaogang's side, Tang Hao continued,
"Don't worry, I'll spare your father's life. The Top Three Clans should stand together no need to let the Spirit Hall profit from our conflict."
Tang Hao wasn't a complete brute. He knew that unless he defeated Yu Yuanzhen, the man wouldn't listen.
In situations like this, only the victor had the right to speak.
Once he subdued Yu Yuanzhen, they could discuss compensation.
"Tang Hao, no wonder the Spirit Hall calls you a madman."
"Fighting me in your condition, even with the Clear Sky Clan's secret techniques do you really think you can win?"
"One last time: since you're here, I'll make an offer. The external spirit bone and the 100,000-year spirit beast must be handed over. This is the price for Tianheng's death."
"Impossible!" Tang Hao refused outright. "No one takes what belongs to my son."
Yu Yuanzhen finally snapped.
If not for years of self-restraint and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's current weakened state, he would have fought Tang Hao to the death.
"Erlong, take Tianheng's body and the spirit beast away. Staying here risks further accidents." Yu Yuanzhen issued the order to Liu Erlong and tossed her Tang San's external spirit bone.
"Understood." Liu Erlong stored the spirit bone, glanced at Yu Xiaogang who seemed to side with Tang Hao and sighed inwardly before grabbing Yu Tianheng's corpse and fleeing the academy.
"A mere Soul Sage dares?!" Tang Hao roared upon seeing Liu Erlong attempt to leave with Xiao Wu. He swung his Clear Sky Hammer to stop her.
"Tang Hao, today I'll see just what makes you worthy of the title 'Clear Sky Douluo'!" Yu Yuanzhen transformed again, his body crackling with terrifying lightning. A powerful thunderstorm sent Tang Hao flying skyward.
Seizing the opportunity, Liu Erlong accelerated her escape.
"Erlong, no! That's Xiao San's spirit beast and bone!" Yu Xiaogang shouted instinctively.
"You traitor!"
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes burned with rage. Even in his draconic form, his massive body trembled with fury.
Damn you, siding with outsiders over your own clan!
"Yu Xiaogang, don't forget which clan's blood flows in your veins!" Seeing Flender and Tang San's group preparing to pursue Liu Erlong, Yu Yuanzhen summoned spheres of lightning and hurled them at the ground.
Zhao Wuji and the others had no choice but to abandon the chase and protect the other students and teachers.
After all, Shrek Academy wasn't just about Tang San.
Moreover, even in his enraged state, Yu Yuanzhen wasn't indiscriminately killing. His attacks were only at the Soul Douluo level something the group could withstand with combined effort.
"Flender, take me with you. I might be able to persuade Erlong to return the spirit bone." Yu Xiaogang spoke with inexplicable confidence.
Tang San was his hope for redemption, his chance to make a name across the continent. He had to pick a side.
"This..." Flender hesitated.
"I trust my teacher," Tang San interjected. "But please be careful, Teacher. If it's truly impossible... at least bring Xiao Wu back. If the clan wants the external spirit bone, let them have it. I might have gone too far earlier..."
His voice trailed off in regret.
If only they had arrived sooner, things might not have escalated this far.
Had Yu Tianheng survived, there might still have been room for negotiation.
Xiao Wu, as a 100,000-year spirit beast, surely knew the whereabouts of others. That knowledge could have been traded to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
But now... everything was a mess.