"Dean Fu, thank you for your hard work!" Yu Xiaogang said with a gratified expression.
He then turned to Liu Erlong with sincerity, "Erlong, let's go up the tree as well. If there's any danger later, immediately use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill to protect Xiao San!"
Yu Xiaogang knew Liu Erlong didn't have a favorable impression of Tang San.
It was only because Tang San had knelt and acknowledged his fatherhood last time that Liu Erlong allowed him to continue cultivating at Blue Tyrant Academy.
He had to consider Liu Erlong's feelings.
"Alright!"
Liu Erlong responded indifferently, grabbing Yu Xiaogang and landing on the giant tree.
Everything was ready, waiting only for Tang San to absorb the Spirit Ring.
Not long after, Tang San leaped onto the tree and sat cross-legged on the trunk to begin absorbing the Spirit Ring.
Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang stood nearby, while Flender positioned himself higher in the tree canopy, keeping watch over the surroundings.
Everyone was on high alert.
Not far away, Tang Hao was filled with pride. He had witnessed his son's battle with the Man-faced Demon Spider.
His son's strength had grown remarkably fast.
His combat abilities far surpassed those of his peers.
Suddenly, Tang Hao had a premonition—this fourth Spirit Ring would surely yield an External Soul Bone!
"Flender is doing well, very cautious!" Tang Xiao praised.
"Brother, have you detected any abnormalities?" Tang Hao was still uneasy.
Tang Xiao confidently replied, "Within the range of my spiritual power, there are no Soul Masters.
Hao, don't worry!
With the two of us here, no matter who comes to attack, we can hold them off.
Besides, we're so close to Heaven Dou City. Once the aura of battle spreads, the Titled Douluos from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will come to investigate quickly!"
Tang Hao relaxed his expression.
He was overthinking things!
Concern breeds confusion!
Deep underground.
Within a layer of grayish light, two figures in blue robes stood side by side.
"Clan Leader Yu, isn't it time to strike?"
One of the two figures stood at an imposing height of two and a half meters, with a muscular and rugged physique.
He was none other than the Crazy Dragon Douluo from Spirit Hall, possessing the Earth Dragon Spirit—a pure dragon-type Martial Soul.
He was also one of Spirit Hall's hidden forces.
The fact that Spirit Hall kept him concealed for critical moments spoke volumes about his strength, which had earned Bibi Dong's approval.
With a Soul Power Level of 94, his dragon-type dominance made him nearly invincible among peers of the same rank.
This time, he had been tasked with joining Yu Yuanzhen to hunt down Tang San.
The Crazy Dragon Douluo was brimming with battle intent.
People always talked about how formidable Tang Hao was!
Today, the Crazy Dragon would test Tang Hao's might!
"Not yet. Wait until Tang San finishes absorbing the Spirit Ring," Yu Yuanzhen said calmly.
After his conversation with Yu Xiaogang in Suotuo City last time, he had learned that Tang San had obtained an External Soul Bone from the Man-faced Demon Spider when absorbing his third Spirit Ring in the Star Dou Great Forest.
However, the External Soul Bone had been stolen by an Evil Soul Master.
This time, Tang San had once again chosen to absorb a Man-faced Demon Spider's Spirit Ring.
Undoubtedly, he was aiming for another External Soul Bone.
Perhaps, while hunting Tang San, they could also claim a great prize!
Yu Yuanzhen's hatred had reached its peak.
Though he was eager to avenge his grandson, the potential gains kept him rational.
The two were currently beneath the Sunset Forest, relying on the Crazy Dragon Douluo's Earth Escape Divine Power.
As the Crazy Dragon Douluo possessed the earth-attribute Earth Dragon Spirit, he naturally mastered the Earth Tunneling skill.
They cautiously refrained from using spiritual power to probe, relying only on the movements on the ground to judge Tang San and the others' actions.
This was why even Tang Xiao couldn't sense them.
Although Crazy Dragon Douluo had some doubts, he still followed Yu Yuanzhen's lead.
For Yu Yuanzhen, opposing the Clear Sky Sect meant staking the lives of his entire clan.
After this, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family would inevitably face retaliation from the Clear Sky Sect.
He could understand the need for caution.
Far in the center of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Dugu Feng, through the Core Pearls within Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's bodies, had a clear grasp of everything happening on the scene.
Tang San, relying on the Clear Sky Hammer and the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, had single-handedly slain a seven-thousand-year Man-faced Demon Spider.
It seemed he was trying to replicate the scenario where an External Soul Bone had appeared in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Meanwhile, the Emerald Dragon Snake had already detected Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.
These two snakes' concealment abilities were too formidable.
Moreover, Tang Hao and the other hadn't hidden at all, standing openly just three hundred meters away from Tang San.
Four Titled Douluos.
Dugu Feng suddenly felt a surge of anticipation—the upcoming battle was sure to be spectacular.
Time passed quietly as everyone waited for Tang San to absorb the Spirit Ring.
They were all waiting for the outcome.
Yu Xiaogang watched Tang San's trembling body with a heavy heart.
That Spirit Ring exceeded the two-thousand-year limit.
Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong all stared intently at Tang San.
If Tang San's method worked, they would surely use it to absorb Spirit Rings in the future.
Letting the Spirit Beast die with resentment to greatly increase the chances of a Soul Bone dropping—just the thought was thrilling!
Amid this tense atmosphere, the beads of blood on Tang San's skin gradually solidified, and a faint blue light condensed into a purple Spirit Ring.
This was a sign that the Spirit Ring absorption was nearing completion.
"He succeeded!"
Flender and Yu Xiaogang were overjoyed.
They knew this wasn't the end—next was the moment to verify whether an External Soul Bone would appear.
Tang San was also filled with anticipation. Feeling his power grow, his heart swelled with excitement, but what he hoped for most was the appearance of an External Soul Bone.
Tang San could perform internal observation.
His gaze fixed on his back.
Suddenly, the ribs on his back turned a deep purple-black.
The Soul Power within his body and the remaining energy from the Man-faced Demon Spider surged toward his back, tightly adhering to it.
A familiar sensation spread.
Though painful, Tang San's face was alight with joy.
"It's really appearing—an External Soul Bone!"
His upper body convulsed as eight Spider Lances burst from his back.
The familiar sight left Flender and the others both shocked and exhilarated.
"Xiao San, you are the most talented Soul Master I have ever seen. I am so proud of you.
You will undoubtedly become the strongest Titled Douluo on the continent."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes brimmed with tears, nearly fainting from excitement.
Aside from Yu Xiaogang, Tang Hao and Tang Xiao were the most thrilled.
They could no longer hold back.
They quickly moved closer to Tang San.
That was an External Soul Bone!
Even ordinary Soul Bones were rare—the entire Clear Sky Sect only possessed three.
Not to mention this was an External Soul Bone, far more precious than ordinary ones, capable of limitless growth.
They were certain Tang San's future would surpass even their own monstrous talents.
He might even rival their grandfather, Tang Chen.
Tang San would lead the Clear Sky Sect to new heights.
The two were overwhelmed with emotion.
But at that moment, their expressions abruptly changed.
"You old dragon, how dare you harm my son? I'll wipe out your entire clan!"
Tang Hao roared.
The mountainous pressure erupted instantly as a pitch-black Clear Sky Hammer adorned with crimson patterns materialized with a resounding boom.
Nine Spirit Rings manifested around Tang Hao's body, their piercing red light illuminating the entire forest with unnatural brilliance.
"Break!"
The Clear Sky Hammer shot forward unexpectedly.
It was the same hammer technique Tang San had used to kill the Man-faced Demon Spider—an all-or-nothing strike.