Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Su Mo Considers Leaving Shrek
Chapter 84: Su Mo Considers Leaving Shrek
"Haha, boy, do you even know who you're talking to?"
Poison Douluo laughed uproariously upon seeing Tang San step forward.
In truth, Poison Douluo felt a twinge of regret. He shouldn't have impulsively called out to the Shrek group after recognizing Xiao Wu's true identity. He should have waited and secretly captured her later.
However, what was said was said. Now that Shrek had openly defied him, admitting Xiao Wu's identity became a matter of pride. Furthermore, Poison Douluo didn't believe anyone present could stop him, so revealing the truth didn't matter much.
Boom—
With a word, Poison Douluo unleashed his soul pressure, bearing down heavily on Tang San.
He had no intention of showing leniency. After all, if a mere kid could defy him without consequence, how could he maintain his authority? While not aiming to kill, he didn't hold back much either.
Pfft—
Under the crushing pressure of a Titled Douluo, Tang San paled instantly, spitting blood as he was sent flying into Xiao Wu's arms.
"Brother!"
Xiao Wu held Tang San as she wept, hastily checking his injuries.
"Tang San!"
"Third Brother!"
Yu Xiaogang and the others cried out in alarm upon seeing Tang San hurt.
"I… I'm fine…"
Tang San reassured them as he struggled to stand, pushing himself out of Xiao Wu's embrace.
Despite his injuries, he forced himself to shield Xiao Wu, his eyes fixed on Poison Douluo, his mind racing to find a way out.
He considered using the hidden weapons he had crafted over the past two months, but he knew their effectiveness against a Titled Douluo would be minimal.
Buzz—
Still, Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eye, preparing to use his hidden weapons as a last resort. He wouldn't let Xiao Wu be taken, no matter her identity as a transformed 100,000-year soul beast.
"What's this…"
As Tang San observed Poison Douluo with his Purple Demon Eye, he noticed something peculiar: Poison Douluo appeared to be suffering from severe poisoning. The green hue in his eyes was identical to what Tang San had seen in Dugu Yan before.
"I have an idea…"
Tang San's thoughts whirled. If Poison Douluo and Dugu Yan were both afflicted, he might be able to negotiate by offering to help them detoxify.
A 100,000-year soul beast was valuable, but if Poison Douluo and his granddaughter's lives were at stake, Tang San believed there was a chance for a trade.
"That was just a lesson," Poison Douluo sneered. "If any of you dare to stop me again, it won't just be injuries next time!"
Surprised to see Tang San still standing, Poison Douluo raised an eyebrow but then unleashed his soul pressure once more, this time over the entire group.
Pfft—
Tang San spat blood again, unable to withstand the pressure.
"Brother!"
"Little San!"
"Damn it…"
Xiao Wu cried out in distress, while Yu Xiaogang and the others were at a loss.
Yu Xiaogang wanted to tell Tang San to step down but knew he wouldn't listen. He glanced at Flender, silently pleading for a solution.
Flender sighed, knowing there was no chance of victory but feeling compelled to intervene. At the very least, they couldn't let Poison Douluo harm Tang San further.
"Elder, please allow me to speak—"
Tang San wiped the blood from his lips, determined to rely on himself. He prepared to propose his deal to Poison Douluo.
"Annoying brat, do you have a death wish?"
Boom—
Before Tang San could speak, Poison Douluo's sharp gaze locked onto him. He intensified the soul pressure, daring Tang San to withstand it before continuing.
Boom—
However, just as Poison Douluo prepared to crush Tang San completely, a colossal soul pressure descended from above, silencing the scene.
"Hmph! A mere snake dares to touch my prey?"
Crash—
The roof of the deans' building shattered as a massive Clear Sky Hammer plummeted toward Poison Douluo.
It was Tang Hao.
Su Mo, recognizing the commotion, immediately pulled Ning Rongrong back to a safe distance, his suspicions confirmed: Tang Hao had been lurking nearby all along.
"Who is it?"
Poison Douluo's expression changed as he sensed the threat. He activated a defensive soul skill, but—
Crash—
The Clear Sky Hammer obliterated his defenses, slamming into his chest and sending him flying.
Pfft—
Poison Douluo spat blood mid-air, his injuries visibly severe, even worse than Tang San's earlier.
"So powerful…"
Su Mo shivered inwardly. Poison Douluo had already felt insurmountable, yet Tang Hao had defeated him with a single strike, despite his lingering injuries.
"This is Clear Sky Douluo. A small fry like Poison Douluo is no match for Tang Hao," Bibi Dong's consciousness remarked, appearing beside Su Mo. She seemed slightly regretful.
"If Tang Hao hadn't shown up, Tang San would've fought to the death for Xiao Wu. Poison Douluo might've killed him. That would've been ideal," she mused.
The crowd was in stunned silence.
"Was that the Clear Sky Hammer?"
"Is it him?"
The deans exchanged glances but remained silent, knowing they couldn't interfere in a Titled Douluo confrontation.
"Clear Sky Douluo!"
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Yu Xiaogang were overjoyed. With Tang Hao's arrival, Tang San was safe.
However, they weren't sure about Xiao Wu's fate.
Suddenly, Tang Hao appeared before Xiao Wu, his face hidden beneath a hat. His aura was unmistakable, though none dared to approach.
Tang Hao's ninth soul ring—a crimson 100,000-year soul ring—silenced any challengers.
"This little rabbit is mine. A mere snake like you dares lay claim?"
"I'll spare you this time, but the rabbit is coming with me."
With that, Tang Hao grabbed Xiao Wu and disappeared in a flash, leaving the rest stunned.
No one dared to stop Tang Hao, nor did anyone have the courage to voice objections.
Tang Hao's appearance was simply too overwhelming—crippling Poison Douluo with a single blow.
Even Tang San, who had been standing firm against Poison Douluo moments earlier, could only watch in a daze as Xiao Wu was taken away.
Tang Hao's arrival was swift, and his departure even swifter.
If not for the shattered rooftop, Poison Douluo lying injured and coughing blood, and Xiao Wu's absence, it might have felt like an illusion.
"Damn it!"
"So, it was Clear Sky Douluo…"
Poison Douluo's face was ashen. Not only had he been humiliated by being injured in a single strike, but he also recognized the assailant.
A Clear Sky Hammer paired with a 100,000-year soul ring could belong to no one but Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo, who had vanished from the world for over a decade.
The Clear Sky Clan had long since sealed itself away, leaving few of its members active.
What frustrated Poison Douluo even more was that his prized target—Xiao Wu—had been taken right in front of him, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Pfft—
Overcome with anger and humiliation, Poison Douluo coughed up another mouthful of blood, tinged with a dark, purplish hue.
"This is bad…"
Poison Douluo's face grew even more somber as he noticed the color of his blood and assessed his condition.
The poison from his martial spirit, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, which he had been suppressing, had now flared up alongside his injuries from Tang Hao's attack. The toxic backlash was coursing through his body, threatening to consume him.
"The task I promised has been completed. Farewell!"
Anxious, Poison Douluo addressed Prince Xue Xing before vanishing in a flash.
He needed to return to his sanctuary immediately, where he could suppress the poison. His only hope lay in using the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's unique properties to counteract the serpent poison. Otherwise, he would die from his own venom.
Of course, Poison Douluo only knew the miraculous effects of his sanctuary, unaware of its true name—Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Su Mo, who had been observing closely, caught the moment when Poison Douluo's expression changed after noticing his own blood.
This revelation gave Su Mo an idea.
"Is Poison Douluo going to die from his own poison?"
Su Mo was well aware of Poison Douluo's condition, as the original story had shown Tang San earning Poison Douluo's friendship by curing him.
But under the current circumstances, it seemed unlikely that Poison Douluo would return to capture Tang San. Tang San hadn't demonstrated any detoxification skills in front of him, and Poison Douluo's deteriorating health would keep him occupied.
"It's a shame. Even though I figured out Poison Douluo's weakness, I don't have the strength to venture into Sunset Forest yet. I'll have to wait until I reach level 30 and become a Soul Elder."
"Still, whether Poison Douluo dies from this or not, I've prevented him from taking Tang San. That's enough."
"And now… I can leave Shrek with Ning Rongrong."
With his thoughts settled, Su Mo regained his calm and dismissed concerns about Poison Douluo. He had achieved his primary goal of stopping Poison Douluo from capturing Tang San.
"Little San, are you okay?"
The group finally snapped out of their shock. Yu Xiaogang rushed to Tang San, checking his condition.
"Don't worry, teacher. I'm fine."
Tang San wiped the blood from his mouth and shook his head, his expression dazed but not panicked.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang realized Tang San must have recognized Tang Hao as the one who took Xiao Wu, or Tang Hao had secretly communicated with him.
"The student in question was a soul beast, something we were unaware of," Yu Xiaogang explained to the deans of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. "The Titled Douluo who appeared resolved this issue for us."
This clarification was necessary to avoid the stigma of harboring a soul beast. Given Shrek's lack of Titled Douluo, their ignorance of Xiao Wu's identity was plausible.
Tang San clenched his fists but restrained himself, knowing Yu Xiaogang had a reason for phrasing it that way. Still, hearing Xiao Wu's capture described as "clearing the academy's name" made his blood boil.
"We'll take our leave now," Yu Xiaogang said, turning to go.
Staying any longer was pointless. With Poison Douluo's support, Prince Xue Xing wouldn't allow them to join the academy.
"Alas, it seems this 100,000-year soul beast situation wasn't your fault," Baibaoshan sighed. "We were inhospitable—please forgive us. Farewell, Shrek Academy."
With no other options, Shrek Academy left Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, much like the original storyline, dejected and defeated.
As they walked away, Oscar and Ma Hongjun finally broke the silence.
"I can't believe Xiao Wu is a 100,000-year soul beast… She didn't seem like it at all!"
"Yeah, she never acted like a bad person."
"Exactly!"
"But she's been taken by a Titled Douluo. I wonder if she's okay…"
The group stopped, casting worried glances at Tang San.
Sensing their concern, Tang San felt a warmth in his heart. He knew they cared deeply but couldn't reveal that Xiao Wu was safe. Instead, he forced a smile and said, "Thank you for your concern. I'm fine."
"Xiao Wu is a soul beast, after all. I've come to terms with it."
Tang San's calm demeanor reassured them.
"Well, that's a relief!"
Dai Mubai said with a hearty laugh. "It's great you're okay, Third Brother."
Tang San nodded lightly, eager to change the subject. "Teacher, since Heaven Dou Imperial Academy has rejected us, what's our next move?"
Yu Xiaogang hesitated, unsure how to respond.
At that moment, Su Mo stepped forward.
"Dean Flender, teachers, before you decide on our next step, I have something to say."
Yu Xiaogang turned to Su Mo in confusion.
"What is it, Su Mo?"
"I want to leave Shrek Academy."
BOOM!!!
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