Xiao Yan fully activated the Xuan Tian Skill, and his internal energy surged like a tidal wave. A black soul ring slowly rose from beneath his feet, suddenly flashing.
Countless blue-gold Blue Silver Emperor vines gathered in front of Xiao Yan, and in an instant, they condensed into a refined vine-shaped humanoid.
The Vine-Man was about 1.6 meters tall, with intelligent light flickering in its pale purple eyes. Behind its head, 3,000 blue-gold threads spread out like long flowing hair.
As the Vine-Man formed, Xiao Yan's soul ring detached from his body and swiftly merged into it.
"Soul ring separation? Is this Xiao San's first soul skill?"
Tang Hao gazed at the Vine-Man in front of Xiao Yan. Even with his years of experience in the Soul Master world, this was the first time he had seen such a soul skill.
"Come on then, if you can make me take half a step back, you win!"
This old dog Tang Hao is so arrogant!
But… he does have the right to be!
Xiao Yan clenched his fists but didn't rush to strike. Instead, he let the Vine-Man attack first.
Glowing blue specks of light appeared. The slender fingers of the Vine-Man traced a circle in the air, and as it moved, pieces of Blue Silver Emperor leaves followed, rapidly condensing into a spherical shape.
In the next second, the gathered leaves suddenly burst apart and transformed into several streaks of blue light shooting toward Tang Hao.
Tang Hao's eyesight was terrifyingly sharp.
Even through the outer layer of blue light, he spotted the leaves hidden within.
"Not a bad method of attack!"
Tang Hao couldn't help but take another look at the lifelike Vine-Man, thinking: So this is Xiao San's first soul skill? It's incredibly strange and powerful!
"Blue Silver Grass again. Mere fireflies daring to challenge the sun and moon!"
Tang Hao snorted.
As soon as his voice fell, the streaks of blue light came to a halt three meters away from him — exactly like the Blue Silver Emperor leaves Xiao Yan had released earlier.
This was something Xiao Yan had already expected.
Tang Hao's strength had reached an unimaginable level.
Not something that a couple of well-executed moves could shake.
The Vine-Man moved both hands at once, blue light shimmering on its fingers. Sometimes index fingers met, other times palms came together — the motions strange, filled with mysterious rhythm.
The flying leaves suddenly began to multiply — one became two, two became four…
In an instant, countless leaves filled Tang Hao's vision, layer upon layer.
"There's a second wave to the attack! And each leaf carries force greater than a strong bow or crossbow."
Tang Hao looked up at the dense spread of blue-gold leaves in front of him, and his expression turned serious.
Against a typical Soul Sage, this move might actually pose a significant threat.
Too bad he's up against me — the Haotian Douluo!
"Perish!"
A deep, thunderous voice echoed as immense force surged outward. Even the surrounding leaves danced wildly in the air with rustling sounds.
Under the pressure of Tang Hao's overwhelming power, the countless Blue Silver Emperor leaves instantly disintegrated into powder.
However, there were simply too many leaves. Even Tang Hao couldn't destroy them all in an instant.
In a flash, Xiao Yan thrust both thumbs forward. Internal energy shot out through the Shaoshang acupoints, unleashing a dual Shaoshang Sword technique.
The Shaoshang Sword technique was fierce and explosive, like mountains breaking and heaven-shattering power erupting forth.
Suddenly, Tang Hao sensed danger. A faint sizzling sound reached his ears. Though he couldn't see the source, he relied on his keen Titled Douluo senses to swiftly counter with a palm strike, his powerful palm force surging like a violent tide.
At the moment his palm extended, Tang Hao's pupils shrank — a long-lost pain surged through him, and he quickly increased his soul power to resist it.
In that rush, his power fell short. Though he managed to protect his hand and avoided serious injury, the formless force still pushed his body three full steps back.
Tang Hao glanced at his slightly numb palm. A thin thread of crimson blood seeped from within, and he was stunned.
"What kind of soul skill is this? Formless, invisible — if not for the faint sizzling sound and my senses as a Titled Douluo, even a Soul Sage might have been severely injured instantly without warning."
Seeing that his full-power strike only pushed Tang Hao back three steps, Xiao Yan couldn't help but take a sharp breath: Monster!
He had first used the Vine-Man's Blue Silver Emperor leaves to distract Tang Hao, then emulated the Master of Withering and Prosperity from Heavenly Dragon Sect, performing the strongest form of the Six Meridians Divine Sword, and this was all he achieved…
"Looks like I win."
Xiao Yan withdrew his soul skill and said with fake calm.
Tang Hao clenched his fist, hands behind his back, and said disdainfully:
"Petty tricks — not worth mentioning."
"Senior, your power is profound. It seems you're not a bad person. I'd like to trouble you to help cure Da Shi's snake venom."
Though polite on the surface, Xiao Yan was definitely not convinced in his heart.
An old man in his 50s or 60s — what's so impressive about that?
He was only six years old! He still had plenty of time. One day, he would catch up.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west — don't look down on the poor youth!
Tang Hao walked over to Yu Xiaogang and said solemnly:
"Go collect some dry firewood nearby. Don't come back for at least one hour."
Xiao Yan nodded and ran into the forest.
Just now, he had gone all out — especially when using the Vine-Man to confuse Tang Hao — which had consumed a lot of his internal energy. It was the perfect time to recover.
After Xiao Yan left, Tang Hao raised his right hand and said,
"That strange attack really packs a punch!"
He shook his numb hand and then squatted down, removing Yu Xiaogang's clothes. He cut a small wound on Yu Xiaogang's finger and began to draw out the poison.
With strong soul power injected, the snake venom in Yu Xiaogang's body reacted as if it had met its nemesis, surging out from the small cut in his finger.
After a minute or two, the black blood gradually turned red. The amount of red increased as the poison was expelled, and Yu Xiaogang's face twisted in pain, with groans beginning to escape his mouth.
Tang Hao propped up Yu Xiaogang's body and tapped his back several times.
With the soul power's guidance, Yu Xiaogang felt his body grow hotter, and faint white steam rose from his head. He soon regained consciousness.
"Where am I?"
Yu Xiaogang opened his eyes, dazed.
"You were poisoned by a Mandrake Snake. I've removed it, but your body is still very weak."
Yu Xiaogang turned his head and saw an old face — completely unfamiliar, not someone he remembered.
"Who are you?"
Tang Hao said flatly:
"It's been twenty years since we last met. With the way I look now, it's no wonder you don't recognize me. My name is Tang Hao."
"Tang Hao?!"
Yu Xiaogang's calm expression changed drastically. His pupils contracted almost instantly, staring intently at the man before him. His hands clenched in excitement.
"You—you're Hao..."
(End of Chapter)