Chapter 65: Tang Hao

That night, the bright moon hung high.

Inside a room of Shilake Xueyuan, the immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji, severely wounded during the day, was resting when a clear, powerful voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Zhao Wuji, get out!"

Zhao Wuji's face changed abruptly; this booming voice could directly enter his ears, as if exploding beside his ear—what level of cultivation could achieve that!

His first reaction was to flee, but he thought that the academy still had many teachers; even if he were outmatched in a fight, Fland and the others could follow the sound of the battle and arrive.

So he walked toward the direction of the voice, arriving at a small forest on the academy's back hill, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, and he shouted in a deep voice, "Who's there? I'm here, get out quickly!"

These arrogant words infuriated the hidden Tang Hao, who let out a cold snort, stepped through the air, fixed his icy gaze on Zhao Wuji, and said in a deep voice:

"Zhao Wuji, you dare the big to bully the small; then I need not be courteous. After striking the junior, the senior will naturally come to demand an explanation!"

Zhao Wuji was completely stunned; when he saw Tang Hao in a black robe stepping through the air, a terrifying thought instantly flashed in his mind—the opponent was Title Douluo! The arrogance and swagger in Zhao Wuji's earlier words vanished in an instant, and his lips began to tremble uncontrollably:

"Your Majesty, you—are you—are you looking for the wrong person? When did I ever bully the small? Could it be those three little guys from the daytime?"

Tang Hao saw him seem to recall something, pressed harder, slowly raised his right hand, a black aura coalesced in his palm, forming a massive hammer; at the same time, nine Soul Rings silently rose one by one beneath his feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!!!

Tang Hao instantly exuded a terrifying aura, making the surrounding air thick and oppressive.

Zhao Wuji stared at the nine Soul Rings on the black‑robed figure before him, especially the final blood‑red one; he felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, his body shivered uncontrollably, his legs trembled, and he was on the verge of collapsing to his knees.

"Zhao Wuji, can you recognize the hammer in my hand?"

Tang Hao asked arrogantly.

Zhao Wuji's eyes widened, and he instantly understood: the ruthless Tang San who struck him earlier had also drawn a similarly jet‑black small hammer, which was practically identical to the massive hammer wielded by the Title Douluo before him.

"F F. F Lao Da, help!"

Zhao Wuji cried out in panic for help.

Fland, who had been hiding in the shadows, heard Zhao Wuji's plea and was forced to steel himself and appear.

In a flash, Fland appeared beside Zhao Wuji; an unseen pressure forced him to unleash his martial soul, a pair of massive wings sprouting from his back, his body covered in feathers, his orange‑yellow eyes becoming slit‑pupiled, and seven Soul Rings matching Zhao Wuji's color pulsed on his body.

Fland bowed respectfully to Tang Hao and said, "Your Majesty Hao Tian, Zhao Wuji is a teacher at our academy. Today he was merely assessing the students; although his strike was heavy, he truly harbored no malice. Moreover, he has already suffered a great deal today, so we hope Your Majesty will spare him this time!"

Tang Hao said coldly, "Enough idle talk, stand aside. If you speak any more, I'll beat you together with you! Zhao Wuji, I'll give you a chance: I won't use my martial soul. If you can endure on my hand for the length of an incense stick, I'll leave immediately; otherwise, you must do something for me."

As he spoke, Tang Hao truly withdrew his martial soul, and the nine terrifying Soul Rings instantly merged back into his body.

Fland, standing beside Zhao Wuji, sincerely stepped aside and gave Zhao Wuji an encouraging glance!

Sweat droplets the size of beans formed on Zhao Wuji's forehead; his face was mournful, his expression as grim as if a close relative had died.

He knew this beating was unavoidable, deeply regretting why his hand had itched today, and his hatred toward the ruthless student Tang San grew further! With his martial soul retracted, Tang Hao gave him no time to stall; in the next instant he was already before him.

He swung a sandbag‑sized fist at the rugged face.

Bang! —

Boom! — Ah! —

The sounds of blows, impacts, and screams rose and fell in the small forest, terrifying and chilling.

Fland turned his head, unwilling to watch Zhao Wuji; although he often says that not daring to cause trouble is the mark of a coward, Fland admitted that it depends on the situation.

Meeting someone weaker makes you a coward for not causing trouble; meeting someone stronger makes you a fool for causing trouble at will! Facing Title Douluo, even dying in battle is a waste—when the heart says act, you must act! Zhao Wuji's beating lasted not even the time of a single incense stick, only about ten breaths.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji's head and feet were swollen in a ring, his eyes turned black, blood stained his mouth and nose, and he lay on the ground gasping heavily.

At that point, Tang Hao assumed the demeanor of a senior master and said calmly:

"Zhao Wuji, do you understand?"

Zhao Wuji nodded as if pounding garlic and said:

"Understood, understood."

In fact he didn't know what he understood, but he didn't dare to ask foolishly.

After being taught, the hatred he held toward Tang San was shattered by Tang Hao's iron fist, and he thought to himself:

"Tang San, you're practically my own father; I'll never provoke you again. The junior is not to be messed with, the senior even more so! Why am I so reckless!"

Seeing Zhao Wuji had understood, Tang Hao again reminded the two, then vaulted upward fiercely and flew toward the distance.

He now could hardly wait to rush back to the waterfall and valley, to the cave behind the waterfall, as an uneasy premonition lingered in his heart.

After Tang Hao departed, Zhao Wuji slurred his words to the side, complaining to Fland:

"Fland, you're truly not a brother; after all these years I called you 'F Lao Da', you're so ungrateful! You really took my life!"

"Then what can I do?"

Fland replied helplessly:

"Even if the two of us combine, we still lack the qualification to awaken a martial soul under Your Majesty!"

"Of course I know; I just wanted to vent, can't I relieve my anger?"

Just as Zhao Wuji finished speaking, intense pain struck instantly, making him grit his teeth.

Then Fland helped Zhao Wuji, and the two walked side by side back to Shilake Xueyuan, with Zhao Wuji's complaints about Fland echoing all the way.

Tang Hao returned to the valley and waterfall, and rushed into the cave without delay.

He immediately spotted the lead box lying on the ground and the empty mound of earth.

In that instant, Tang Hao's eyes turned blood‑red, a terrifying killing aura erupted from him, and the nine Soul Rings all manifested simultaneously.

"Boom~" Accompanied by a Shock‑deafening roar, the entire waterfall valley was instantly shrouded in swirling dust.

Then, from within the dust came an uncontainable roar: "the Spirit Hall! You damned mongrels!"

As the dust gradually cleared, the former waterfall and valley had vanished, replaced by a massive bottomless pit.

(End of Chapter)