Chapter 203: Tang Hao's Corpse, Tang San's Fury
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Li Luochen was somewhat aware of what had happened to the Tian Dou Royal Team. He had long anticipated that Yu Xiaogang would blindly copy his training methods.
'Copying without innovation—pathetic,' Li Luochen thought. 'Even with open-book answers, he'd still fail.'
As the fifteen teams from Tian Dou Empire approached Spirit City, Li Luochen once again stood before the towering granite walls, eighty meters high and imposing.
Suddenly, his gaze locked onto something hanging above the gates. Upon closer inspection, it was Tang Hao's mutilated corpse.
A grin spread across Li Luochen's face. 'Tang San is among these fifteen teams. This will be entertaining.'
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The Other Teams
"Brother! Look at the corpse hanging above Spirit City! What's going on? Why would Spirit Hall do this?"
Huo Wu of Blazing Fire Academy tugged at her brother, shouting in shock.
Other academies soon noticed as well—Skywater, Thunder, Godwind, and the Tian Dou Imperial Team all saw it.
None of the competitors expected such a macabre display upon arriving for the finals. *What is Spirit Hall planning? It's incomprehensible!*
The participants left their carriages and gathered near the walls to investigate.
"Everyone! There's an announcement here—come take a look!" A student from Godwind Academy called out after spotting the proclamation.
"Tang Hao of the Hao Tian Sect, the Hao Tian Douluo, consorted with soul beasts and maliciously murdered the previous Pope Xunji. He has been slain by a Spirit Hall elder. His body will hang here for ten years as a warning—Spirit Hall's dignity is not to be trampled!"
"My god, it's the Hao Tian Douluo!"
"How could this happen?!"
"Which Title Douluo could've done this?"
"Yes, incredible!"
---
Amid the shocked murmurs, Tang San of the Tian Dou Imperial Team froze. His eyes narrowed, then his entire body began to tremble.
The Purple Extreme Demon Eye activated involuntarily. He couldn't believe it—the father he hadn't seen in years had been killed by Spirit Hall!
His father's corpse hung at Spirit Hall's gates, displayed for ten years. How dare they do this!
Regardless of what his father had done, Tang Hao was still his father. To target his family—Spirit Hall had signed its death warrant!
"Xiao San! Calm down!"
The Tian Dou Imperial Team's leader placed a hand on Tang San's shoulder. Sensing the teacher's presence, Tang San gradually calmed himself.
The team already knew about Tang San's origins. During their match against Godwind Academy, Tang San had revealed the Hao Tian Hammer, barely tying with Feng Xiaotian. At that moment, his identity as a disciple of the Hao Tian Sect was exposed.
The Tian Dou imperial family suspected Tang San was Tang Hao's son. After all, Tang Hao was the only known disciple of the Hao Tian Sect outside the clan. The imperial family wanted to recruit him as a future enforcer for the empire.
If Tang Hao couldn't be swayed, nurturing Tang San was the next best option. Doing so might secure the loyalty of this future powerhouse. After all, fostering ties now could yield dividends later—a dual-soul prodigy like Tang San would become a pillar of the soul master world!
The Tian Dou royals dismissed talk of "the continent's top young genius," Li Luochen. Once he reached Title Douluo, his potential would plateau. But a dual-soul user? Their sheer number of soul skills was unmatched.
This was Emperor Xue Ye's reasoning. Shrek Academy was beyond his control, and Li Luochen's group had never benefited from the royal family's favor. Now that their foundations were solid, the royals were powerless against them.
But Tang San was just beginning. The Tian Dou Royal Academy could invest heavily in his cultivation, surely earning his loyalty.
Emperor Xue Ye hoped to bind Tang San through this sense of belonging. With his talent, Tang San could one day serve as a royal enforcer, protecting the Tian Dou Empire for centuries.
Unfortunately, Xue Ye miscalculated. Tang San lived by a creed: 'An eye for an eye—even emperors must bleed.' For every drop of kindness, he repaid a flood; for every slight, vengeance.
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Back to Spirit City Gates
Tang San's eyes burned crimson, but he restrained himself. Only by staying alive could he avenge his father. He silently vowed:
'Spirit Hall! When I become a Title Douluo, I will annihilate you. Everyone in Spirit Hall will pay for my father's death! If I, Tang San, cannot avenge my father, I am unworthy of being his son!'
An aura of murderous intent radiated from him. Li Luochen, the God of Killing, sensed it clearly. He decided to have some fun.
As Tang San prepared to return to his carriage, a rasping voice echoed in his mind:
"Hahaha! So you're Tang San—Tang Hao's half-breed whelp? I'm the elder who killed him. Call me 'Qi Tian Douluo'!
'Mighty Hao Tian Sect?' Pathetic! Your father barely put up a fight. And those soul bones of his… exquisite! I snapped his limbs, drained his soul power, and peeled them off one by one. His screams were… musical. Cower, train, survive. Grow strong enough to face me—I'll enjoy crushing you myself!"
Li Luochen used soul power to mimic an elder's voice and transmit it to Tang San. He was curious how Tang San, driven by emotion, would react.
"QI TIAN DOULUO! YOU'LL DIE FOR THIS!"
Tang San snapped, roaring toward the sky and startling the other academies.
"This guy's insane."
"He's mentally unstable."
"I thought he was decent, but he's such an idiot."
Students from various academies mocked Tang San. Huo Wu's voice was the loudest—her blunt words reflected her earlier admiration for him. Though he hadn't defeated her, he'd earned her respect. That goodwill vanished with his sudden outburst. Plus, his plain appearance didn't help.
"You bastards!"
Enraged, Tang San unleashed his Blue Silver Grass, preparing to attack those who mocked him.
"THUNDER BAGUA!"
A staff slammed into Tang San's face, sending him flying. The attacker was none other than Li Luochen.
"Tian Dou Imperial Team! Control your students! Attacking other teams before the tournament even begins—what are you thinking?!"
Li Luochen's words woke the Tian Dou Imperial Team. Tang San's rash actions had already cost them the moral high ground.
"But…" The nobles, accustomed to arrogance, tried to protest.
"Hmm?" Li Luochen's gaze sharpened as he unleashed soul pressure on the Tian Dou Imperial Team's leader. "Do you have a problem?"
The leader was silenced instantly.
"Prince Qinghe has arrived!"
A voice rang out. Qian Renxue, disguised as "Xue Qinghe," appeared.
"What's going on here?" Xue Qinghe frowned.
"The situation is…" Someone explained to Qian Renxue. "This brat Tang San dared to attack others in this sacred place! Does he want to disgrace our Tian Dou Empire? Director Li of Shrek Academy, thank you for assisting. Tang San receives a formal warning. If he acts up again, he'll be disqualified!"
Qian Renxue's decree echoed in everyone's ears.
"How's that, Mr. Li?"
"Good enough. Trash belongs in the trash. Why let lunatics roam free? Dirtying my hands isn't worth it."
With that, Li Luochen turned and left.
Qian Renxue thought inwardly: 'Wow, Chen-ge was so domineering just now! I love it. I'll have him reenact that later.'
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Aftermath
The farce ended with Li Luochen's intervention, leaving the four elemental academies stunned. His age was similar to theirs—some were even older!
Yet Tang San, who had given them such trouble, was knocked unconscious with a single blow. Their peers felt both shaken and relieved. 'Thank goodness he's not competing.'
In the Skywater Academy camp, Shui Yue'er tugged at her sister Shui Bing'er. "Sister! That Li Luochen is so cool and handsome! What should I do? I think I'm falling for him!"
Shui Bing'er simply nodded aloofly, though Li Luochen's earlier actions had left a deep impression on her.
In the Blazing Fire Academy camp, Huo Wu's eyes lit up as she clutched her brother Huo Wushuang. "Brother! Now that's a real man—dominant and powerful! That's exactly the kind of man I want!"
Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy seethed inwardly. 'Another rival…'
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