Chapter 172: The Self-Proof Trap

This is just too ridiculous...

Although both involve Exploding Ring to release powerful might, anyone with a discerning eye can see that Ning Feiliu's 【Summoning of the God of Smelting】 and 【Summoning of the God of Ice and Snow】 are completely different from the Clear Sky Sect's ultimate mystery, the Great Sumeru Hammer.

It's like one is an offensive damage skill released directly, while the other is an Enhancement skill that grants the user a massive boost; even if the method of use involves pressing the same button, how can these possibly be the same skill?

Although on the Douluo Continent, the "pre-cast" for releasing a soul skill via Exploding Ring seems to be unique to the Clear Sky Sect for now.

But that doesn't mean one can truly say only the Clear Sky Sect possesses this type of soul skill, right?

In any case, although Ning Feiliu understood why Tang Yuehua would mistake his two Blessing Skills, 【Summoning of the God of Smelting】 and 【Summoning of the God of Ice and Snow】, as possibly coming from Tang Hao, he still found it somewhat ridiculous.

He had no intention of getting involved with Tang Hao's family; there was absolutely no benefit to it, and it would only cause him trouble later if he pretended to know Tang Hao and Tang Hao came to expose him.

As for trouble, Ning Feiliu had always kept his distance.

"Sorry... I don't know who you are talking about; you have likely mistaken me for someone else," Ning Feiliu said, shaking his head directly.

"Impossible!" Tang Yuehua stared straight at him and said, "Those two soul skills of yours... only my brother on this continent possesses them!"

Suddenly, everyone present was shocked.

Ning Feiliu's face darkened even more, and he felt speechless behind his mask.

He could be certain that he was the only person on this Douluo Continent who possessed his two Blessing Skills, 【Summoning of the God of Smelting】 and 【Summoning of the God of Ice and Snow】.

Unless Tang Hao also had his abilities and had consumed the Blazing Apricot Delicate and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, it was impossible for him to possess the 【Summoning of the God of Smelting】 and 【Summoning of the God of Ice and Snow】 soul skills.

Therefore, Tang Yuehua had definitely misunderstood, mistaking them for the Clear Sky Sect's unique ultimate mystery, the Great Sumeru Hammer.

In reality, anyone with a discerning eye could see the vast difference between the two!

So, Ning Feiliu was extremely speechless at this moment.

In fact, Tang Yuehua, who had no combat ability and only level nine soul power, was truly unable to distinguish the differences at all.

After all, she could not participate in Tang Hao's battles, and Tang Hao and Tang Xiao did not take her with them when they went out to gain experience.

She had only seen Tang Hao fight at close range when she was young; once Tang Hao's cultivation reached a high level, she lacked the ability to watch from up close and could only see from afar the way his soul rings would explode and crack when he used the Great Sumeru Hammer's ultimate mystery.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao had also told her that this was the Clear Sky Sect's unique, single-lineage inherited ultimate mystery—Exploding Ring—and she had never seen another Spirit Master explode their soul rings to release soul skills.

Therefore, she believed that Exploding Ring was a soul skill only Tang Hao possessed.

As for the fact that the Great Sumeru Hammer's Exploding Ring was an Enhancement soul skill, while Ning Feiliu's was a damage-type soul skill released directly...

She didn't understand that at all.

After all, without talent for cultivation, she didn't have the mindset of Yu Xiaogang—who thought that if one couldn't become a powerful Spirit Master, one should become a powerful Spirit Master theorist—and she didn't study Spirit Masters much, usually spending her time learning about aristocratic etiquette.

Thus, Tang Yuehua's understanding of Spirit Masters and soul skills was naturally very one-sided, which was why she held such a view.

And the others also didn't know about Tang Hao's affairs; they were completely unaware that Tang Hao's Exploding Ring and Ning Feiliu's Exploding Ring were entirely different things.

They hadn't seen footage of Tang Hao's battles, and few even knew about the Great Sumeru Hammer, the unique cultivation technique Tang Hao inherited from Tang Chen as the Clear Sky Douluo.

After all, with the generational gap and no one telling them, it was very difficult for Yu Tianheng and the others to learn of this.

But when they heard what Tang Yuehua said, there was an immediate uproar.

"So... Yafei's soul skills were taught by this Lady Yue's brother? Who exactly is this Lady Yue's brother... besides the Clear Sky Sect, what other powerful family has the surname Tang..." Yu Tianheng looked at Ning Feiliu, unable to help but ponder to himself.

A bold thought suddenly occurred to him, "Could it be... is he really a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect?"

The others had some thoughts as well.

However, Ning Feiliu's face behind the mask was full of helplessness; he really wanted to tell Tang Yuehua that she was talking nonsense, and that his Exploding Ring was completely different from Tang Hao's.

But first of all, he hadn't "seen" Tang Hao's Great Sumeru Hammer ultimate mystery, so how would he know his Exploding Ring was completely different from Tang Hao's?

With Tang Yuehua asking such a question, he might be able to use his convenient teacher, Dugu Bo, as a shield, saying Dugu Bo told him.

But that still wouldn't eliminate Tang Yuehua's suspicions.

Secondly, doing so would cause him to constantly fall into a self-proving trap.

When the other party makes an unfavorable judgment against you, they have actually already seized a certain initiative, and you are on the defensive.

At this time, Ning Feiliu must never be led by the nose; if he were, he would enter the other person's rhythm and fall into their trap—you cannot follow their accusations to prove yourself.

Either make the other party prove it, since the burden of proof lies with the accuser.

Or simply...

Thus, Ning Feiliu shook his head and said, "My two soul skills actually came from a fortuitous encounter where I obtained a method to borrow from two natural Demigods. Although I say that, I definitely created them myself... If you can prove my soul skills came from that brother of yours, then have him come out later to prove it."

"I really don't know that brother of yours, but you said... he has the same surname Tang as you, right?" His voice suddenly became full of pressure.

Tang Yuehua was stunned for a moment, and then she suddenly realized that her identity was still supposed to be a secret.

Why else could she only let the rumors about her and Emperor Xue Ye circulate within Heaven Dou City?

Wasn't it because her identity as a member of the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao's sister could not be exposed?

If it were exposed, the Spirit Hall might make an issue of her identity.

Wasn't it agreed that the Clear Sky Sect would retire from the world and its direct disciples would no longer go out?

Then what was going on with Tang Yuehua?

Although Tang Yuehua had no talent for cultivation, her martial soul was still the Clear Sky Hammer, and she was still a direct disciple of the Clear Sky Sect.

As for the Four Single-Attribute Clans of the outer sect, the Spirit Hall could ignore them; once the Four Single-Attribute Clans announced their departure from the Tang Sect to go it alone, the Spirit Hall couldn't be bothered to care if they wandered outside.

So from this point, one can see... the Spirit Hall is indeed a villainous force that acts somewhat decently and isn't that ruthless.

A normal villainous force would have cut the weeds and eliminated the roots, even if the Four Single-Attribute Clans of the Clear Sky Sect's outer sect announced their departure.

As it turned out, in the original plot, the Four Single-Attribute Clans of the outer sect had been separated from the Clear Sky Sect for nearly twenty years without being bothered by the Spirit Hall, and only the Agility Clan, having no way to do business, appeared slightly down-and-out.

The others, like the Strength Clan and the Break Clan, were actually living quite prosperously.

If it were a villainous force from a neighboring story with the same two characters, if they didn't cut the weeds and eliminate the roots of their opposing forces, they would have driven them into a dead end, and if the protagonist hadn't rushed back to save the day, they would surely have been wiped out.

Although the Spirit Hall didn't dare to go up the mountain to kill everyone because of Tang Chen, they should have at least dealt with all these small fry of the Clear Sky Sect's outer sect.

However, they chose not to do so, which was merciful enough.

But if they discovered that Tang Yuehua, Tang Hao's own sister, was still in Heaven Dou City, that would no longer be a matter of mercy.

Everyone suddenly had strange expressions, looking at Tang Yuehua, as if they had also thought of the possibility of her identity as a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect.

Next... if Tang Yuehua's identity were truly leaked, it would be truly dangerous!

Moreover, Tang Yuehua looked at Ning Feiliu with some shock and suspicion in her beautiful eyes; if Ning Feiliu were truly a disciple of Tang Hao, would he choose to expose her identity like this?

Could this Yafei be an ungrateful wretch?

That's not right... if he were an ungrateful wretch, wouldn't reporting the Second Brother's identity directly to the Spirit Hall be more direct than not acknowledging her identity here, or even vaguely exposing her identity?

Could it be... that this Yafei really doesn't know her peerless Second Brother?

Was his Explosive Ring Soul Skill really self-created?

But how is that possible...

Tang Yuehua still didn't quite believe it, but given the current situation, it was time for her to jump into the trap of self-justification.

"It seems... I misunderstood." Tang Yuehua chuckled to cover up her loss of composure and said, "However... regardless, I feel you must have a connection with that brother of mine; after all, your martial souls are somewhat similar, both being long-range attack martial souls..."

Long-range attack martial soul?

Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer is a long-range attack martial soul? Are you kidding me?

Ning Feiliu scoffed, but he knew very well that this was Tang Yuehua's way of deflecting from her own identity.

Otherwise, if her true identity were exposed, she would be in danger.

Everyone also slowly dismissed the suspicion that Tang Yuehua might be a Clear Sky Sect disciple; after all, the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul is not a long-range attack martial soul.

Furthermore, the Clear Sky Sect had already announced its retirement; how could there still be a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect in Heaven Dou City, serving as the owner of the Moon Pavilion, the etiquette academy for the nobility of the Heaven Dou Empire?

This was almost equivalent to the title of honorary principal of the Heaven Dou Empire's noble academy.

"So... would you be willing to do me the honor of joining me for a banquet to talk in detail later?" Tang Yuehua said with a smile again.

She still hadn't dispelled the thought that Ning Feiliu's soul skill came from Tang Hao.

"No." Ning Feiliu shook his head, then said meaningfully, "Lady Yue, I really have nothing to do with the person you are thinking of. Although I, Yafei, am hiding my head and showing my tail, it is because I have unspeakable difficulties, but regarding other matters, I have always never told lies."

"You should just put away that suspicion of yours for now."

He really had no desire to continue talking nonsense with Tang Yuehua, and getting involved with Tang "Big Hammer" and his family really had no benefits.

On the contrary, if he got involved with them in the future, who knows if the "pure and noble, righteous-acting" San Ge would "borrow" some things from him.

He didn't want the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to end up being picked clean like it was described in the original plot.

So it was best to try to distance himself from Tang San.

Of course, if Tang San really provoked him, he wouldn't mind giving San Ge a ruthless blow.

Tang Yuehua's delicate body trembled; as she listened to what Ning Feiliu said, she understood that Ning Feiliu had already confirmed her identity and confirmed that the Second Brother she mentioned was indeed Tang Hao.

She felt a bit annoyed; she had suddenly heard news related to her Second Brother and had lost her composure, exposing herself directly.

"Is... that so..." Tang Yuehua took a deep breath and said, "I understand... but I hope you will not—"

"That has nothing to do with me." Ning Feiliu shrugged and said indifferently, "As long as you don't bring me trouble, it doesn't matter who you are..."

But just at this moment, a bit of dark humor suddenly sprouted in his heart.

Immediately, he said teasingly, "However, Lady Yue, you wouldn't want..."

Tang Yuehua widened her beautiful eyes as she looked at him; it seemed this youngest sister of Tang Hao was indeed still charming.

But Ning Feiliu quickly felt bored.

Because Tang Yuehua really looked like she understood this kind of thing too well.

It felt like this woman understood the dark humor in his words.

Actually, if this sentence hadn't been baptized by the artistic films of friends from the neighboring country who live a "good life" like he had, a normal person shouldn't have thought in that direction.

But Tang Yuehua seemed to have understood, and she couldn't possibly be a transmigrator.

Then the other possibility was... she was quite good at this, perhaps even proficient.

Thinking carefully, she was a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect, and although she was a woman, she had lived for ten or twenty years in Heaven Dou City, the capital of the decadent Heaven Dou Empire.

And there were those romantic rumors.

They say there is no smoke without fire; even if Tang Yuehua didn't have any relationship with Emperor Xue Ye, the fact that such romantic rumors could spread proved that she must have had some of those things that make people's imaginations run wild.

After all, for a woman in her thirties, without any deceased old lover to keep her will firm, did she really have no desires?

As soon as Ning Feiliu thought of this, he immediately felt a bit disgusted.

"So, stop bothering me in the future." He said indifferently.

Tang Yuehua finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she frowned; she had thought this kid had designs on her.

However... after Ning Feiliu indicated he had no such thoughts, she felt a bit dissatisfied.

Was she... really that lacking in charm?

This Yafei... although he was a bit young, he looked quite sturdy, so he should have understood that kind of thing by now.

And yet, he didn't have any thoughts about her?

It must be said that on the Douluo Continent, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun understood such things at the age of twelve or thirteen.

At the very least, it proves that Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent are definitely very precocious; of course, this is more likely a problem with the original author himself.

And if we return to reality, it is probably that soul power accelerates the growth of the Spirit Master's own body, which makes them appear very mature.

Therefore, Ning Feiliu's body, even though he was currently only thirteen, appeared exceptionally tall after absorbing multiple Soul Rings, already reaching 1.8 meters; his height after adulthood would likely approach 1.9 meters.

His whole person also appeared very sturdy... and after taking off his clothes, he had a body of smooth and beautiful muscles.

Although she couldn't see what kind of face was under Ning Feiliu's mask, just based on this young and strong body, Tang Yuehua felt it was enough.

So Tang Yuehua... if Ning Feiliu really had those thoughts, she might not have refused such a thing.

As for who would be at a loss and who would take advantage of whom... that wasn't certain.

Yet, Ning Feiliu ended up saying that.

This couldn't help but make Tang Yuehua feel a bit disappointed.

Could it be... that he really does not know about that sort of thing?

However, Tang Yuehua was still not quite ready to give up; in Heaven Dou City... where was there a man who would not fall prostrate beneath the hem of her palace gown!

But now...

"Mm, since that is the case, then I shall not disturb you all any further," Tang Yuehua said with a smile.

(End of chapter)