"Teacher, is this the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique?" Feng Xiaotian couldn't help but ask.
His self-created soul skill had drawn inspiration from the force generation method of the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique, so there was a connection between the two.
Ke Jie nodded. "Xiaotian, with your current cultivation level, can you tell what's different about Tang San's Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique?"
Feng Xiaotian chuckled dryly. "Tang San's Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique highlights the word 'chaos.' He has only scratched the surface and hasn't fully mastered it. The essence of the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique lies in steadily stacking power, which Tang San clearly cannot do."
Ke Jie nodded slightly. "Yes, even the way he grips the hammer is wrong. If he keeps stacking power, the hammer might just slip out of his hands."
Today's match had also caught Tang Hao's attention. Hidden in the shadows, he used medicinal herbs to conceal his presence, avoiding detection by Gu Rong.
Seeing Tang San on the verge of defeat, his heart grew anxious.
How could the strength of the Hao Tian Hammer martial soul be easily replaced by the Seven Kill Sword?
Over the years, he had never taught Tang San how to cultivate the Hao Tian Hammer, and the latter's use of it was far too crude.
Thinking of this, his voice transmitted directly into Tang San's ear through sound transmission.
"Xiao San, don't act surprised, and don't let anyone know I'm talking to you."
"Dad!" Tang San, who was currently battling Ning Tianchen, felt a surge of joy in his heart.
With Tang Hao as his spiritual pillar, he immediately regained confidence.
Tang Hao continued, "Xiao San, your way of exerting force is wrong. Do you remember me telling you that power should flow from your legs, transfer to your upper body, and then use your core muscles to swing the hammer?"
Tang San understood, but the issue wasn't just that.
He simply couldn't grip the Hao Tian Hammer properly. If he kept stacking power, the hammer might fly out of his hands.
However, he couldn't transmit sound back to Tang Hao or explain his situation.
Of course, Tang Hao was quite familiar with the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique and quickly noticed another problem with Tang San.
"Don't keep your hands so close together. The Hao Tian Hammer emphasizes wide, sweeping movements. Swinging it like that makes it easy for the hammer to slip out of your hands. Your hands should be spaced apart by the width of one shoulder when gripping the handle."
At once, Tang San felt a sudden clarity.
Following Tang Hao's instructions on how to grip the hammer, he finally managed to stabilize the Hao Tian Hammer.
Ning Tianchen, who was fighting him, clearly sensed the change.
"Tang San's improving this fast?" He frowned and increased the force of his attacks.
All the high-level soul masters present noticed Tang San's transformation.
From his earlier flustered state, he was gradually becoming more adept and confident.
A Title Douluo's sound transmission could not be detected by outsiders unless they were god-level experts.
Thus, no one realized that Tang Hao was communicating with Tang San.
Gu Rong furrowed his brows. "There's something strange about Tang San. Tianchen missed an opportunity earlier, and I almost didn't notice it. How did Tang San manage to seize it? Strange, very strange."
Ning Fengzhi was puzzled. "Uncle Gu, no one below the stage reminded Tang San. Could it be a coincidence?"
Gu Rong shook his head. "One or two times could be considered a coincidence, but now it seems that whenever Tianchen shows the slightest opening, Tang San seizes it firmly."
"Under Old Sword Master's guidance, Tianchen consciously avoids giving opportunities. Such subtle openings are hard to exploit—even Soul Emperors might miss them. It seems someone offstage is advising Tang San."
He scanned the surroundings but found nothing.
Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
Such a battle among juniors, and someone still wanted to "bully the young with their seniority"—shameless indeed.
---
Ning Tianchen increasingly felt something was off and didn't dare to tangle with Tang San any longer.
After unleashing a fierce sword qi to force Tang San back, he quickly retreated.
Tang San didn't stop using the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique.
"Fifty-first strike, fifty-second strike..."
The further he went, even with Tang Hao's guidance, it became harder for him to stabilize the hammer.
After all, mastering the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique required years of accumulation—there were no shortcuts.
Below the stage, Yu Xiaogang began celebrating early. "I never expected Xiao San to suddenly burst forth and suppress Ning Tianchen. At this rate, Xiao San will definitely win this match."
Even Flender, who hadn't been optimistic about Tang San, couldn't help but change his opinion.
From afar, Tang Hao, who had been providing offstage support, remarked, "Alright, Xiao San, your grasp of the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique is still very rough. That's enough. Next, use your most powerful soul skill to amplify the power of the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique and finish the match."
Tang San understood. After stacking the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique to sixty strikes, the fourth soul ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up.
"Fourth soul skill—Hao Tian Mountain Shaker!"
After a thunderous shout, his figure leaped into the air, and he raised the Hao Tian Hammer above his head, resembling a towering mountain.
Ning Tianchen didn't retreat in the slightest.
He couldn't understand why Tang San had suddenly become so precise at exploiting his mistakes.
But when it came to raw power, Tang San had essentially given up his earlier advantage.
"Fifth soul skill—Earth-Shaking Power."
The black soul ring beneath his feet shone brightly, and the Dragon-Engraved Seven Kill Sword shot out, landing beneath Tang San's feet.
Instantly, a fierce sword aura erupted, forcing Tang San's airborne figure backward.
Simultaneously, a torrent of sword qi followed closely behind. In mid-air, Tang San was like a sitting duck, mercilessly sliced by the sword qi.
His attack instantly faltered, and countless wounds opened up across his body.
Up in the stands, Gu Rong exclaimed in satisfaction, "Whoever was giving Tang San advice must have miscalculated. Tianchen's fifth soul skill is different from Old Sword Master's."
The match ended with Tang San crashing to the ground, barely alive.
In the shadows, Tang Hao's expression darkened.
He could see that Ning Tianchen's first four soul skills were similar to Sword Dao Chen Xin's. By encouraging Tang San to go on the offensive, he had bet on the fact that Earth-Shaking Power only had a repelling effect without much lethal damage.
But he hadn't expected that Ning Tianchen's soul skill would differ entirely from Sword Dao Chen Xin's.
This time, he had truly put his son in a dire situation.
Of course, if he hadn't let Tang San proceed this way, the accumulated power of the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique would have dissipated on its own, which would have been a waste.
All in all, he had been too greedy to preserve the power of the Chaotic Wind Splitting Hammer Technique.
Now, even if he wanted to find trouble with Ning Tianchen, he couldn't. With Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect present, not to mention the Spirit Hall, which had always been eyeing him hungrily, making a move now would surely provoke Salas, and Tang San might suffer further consequences.
---
"Xiao San!" Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened, unable to recover from his shock.
Why had Tang San, who had already gained the upper hand, suddenly lost to Ning Tianchen? Was the opponent's fifth soul skill really that powerful?
If Tang San had been cautious, he could have resisted Ning Tianchen's fifth soul skill.
The key issue was that he had jumped into the air and was in the middle of charging his soul skill, leaving him no time to defend.
Caught completely off guard, who else would've fallen victim to such an attack?
------------------------------------------------------
Welcome our new Patrons: Faisal Toffaha and Kraxis93! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 324: Tang San Assassinated the Emperor – Nationwide Wanted Poster' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow