Chapter 18: First Confrontation
Inside Nuoding Academy.
The Grandmaster raised his hand and ruffled Tang San's hair. "Exceptional talent, and so intelligent. It seems I must insist this time. After all, you're only the third twin spirit master in the past hundred years."
Tang San was startled. His eyes widened with disbelief as he looked at the Grandmaster. His left wrist twitched slightly, and a trace of uncertainty flickered across his face.
In the distance, Dugu Chen watched the scene unfold with a strange expression. He had just arrived and witnessed this classic moment—but was it really okay for the "Grandmaster" to reveal Tang San's twin spirits so openly?
"Twin spirits?" Dugu Yan, who had come with him, gasped. She covered her mouth with her small hand, staring in disbelief at the otherwise unremarkable Tang San.
Tang San quickly calmed himself and said firmly, "Everything has exceptions. Why can't I be one of them?"
If the Grandmaster didn't explain things properly, this could end badly.
Then, Dugu Chen watched the Grandmaster smoothly talk his way out of it, and Tang San respectfully bowed at his feet. The Grandmaster was clearly satisfied—this disciple was his last hope of regaining fame. Just as he was about to lead Tang San away to report the matter, he turned and noticed Dugu Chen and Dugu Yan nearby.
His expression stiffened slightly, though his always-poker face gave little away.
He walked over and looked at the two elegantly dressed youths standing before him. Clearly, they weren't from ordinary backgrounds.
With a hoarse voice, he asked, "Who are you? Did you hear everything we just said?"
Looking at the unimpressive Yu Xiaogang in front of him, Dugu Chen couldn't understand what Bibi Dong ever saw in this man. From head to toe, there wasn't a single quality that stood out. He could only sigh—perhaps the women of Douluo Continent were just... different.
He didn't answer Yu Xiaogang's question. Instead, he calmly examined the pair of master and disciple.
Dugu Yan leaned into Dugu Chen from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. She spoke lazily, "You were speaking so loudly, and without any cover. Of course we heard. We're not deaf."
Hearing this, both the Grandmaster and Tang San's faces changed. Tang San's left wrist rose again—he couldn't let the secret of his twin spirits be exposed.
Dugu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke in a low voice directed at Tang San:
"You'd best stop those little tricks. Otherwise, I can't guarantee the safety of you or your master."
His voice carried the imposing weight of a monarch's presence.
Tang San and the Grandmaster suddenly felt overwhelmed, as if an invisible mountain had fallen upon them. In their eyes, Dugu Chen appeared to grow impossibly tall, like a god standing high above them, unreachable and invincible.
The two of them staggered backward instinctively. Tang San barely steadied himself using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, while Yu Xiaogang stumbled and fell to the ground in shock, his face pale as he pointed at Dugu Chen.
"You..."
That one move made them realize that the young man before them was untouchable. They no longer dared to act rashly.
Dugu Chen, however, was slightly disappointed. He was simply too far ahead of Tang San now. The boy no longer posed any threat to him.
He said casually, "Your Blue Silver Grass isn't just ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Twin spirits are only possible when both martial spirits are of similar grade. Your teacher just happened to get lucky this time."
Then, Dugu Chen turned and left with Dugu Yan. Their goal for this trip had been achieved. It was time to return.
But before leaving, Dugu Chen didn't forget to plant a seed of doubt between master and disciple.
Tang San glanced suspiciously at Yu Xiaogang. The seed of doubt had been sown. What fruit it would bear remained to be seen.
---
On the way back to the hotel, Dugu Yan continued ranting about Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. She complained that Tang San was malicious despite his young age, and Yu Xiaogang—though weak—was arrogant beyond reason. In short, her junior brother was still the best: talented yet humble.
Inside the hotel, she eagerly told Dugu Bo everything they had seen and heard. Dugu Bo was also surprised to learn that a twin spirit genius had appeared in such a small city.
Still, his disciple wasn't lacking either. After listening, Dugu Bo chuckled and dismissed Tang San from his mind, looking at Dugu Chen and Dugu Yan with pride and affection.
Just then, a subtle mental fluctuation rippled through the air.
Dugu Bo's face turned serious. With a single word, he vanished from the room.
"Junior brother, where's Grandpa going?" Dugu Yan asked, puzzled.
Dugu Chen replied calmly, "Don't worry, Senior Sister. With Teacher's current cultivation, very few can harm him. He'll be back soon."
Only one person could make Dugu Bo react so seriously—Tang Hao.
But Dugu Chen wasn't worried. Tang Hao was still injured and couldn't fight at full strength. He might not even be at Level 95 anymore. At the moment, he posed no real threat to Dugu Bo.
---
In the forest outside Nuoding City.
Dugu Bo stood still, his voice cold and low. "Come out. You lured me here—what are you hiding for?"
A tall figure slowly stepped out from behind a tree, cloaked entirely in black. Even his face was hidden beneath a hood. Only his broad frame was visible.
"Who are you?" Dugu Bo asked darkly.
The man pulled back his hood, revealing a worn and weary face.
"'Clear Sky Douluo' Tang Hao..." Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed. "Then Tang San must be your son."
So that explained it—why a twin spirit genius would appear in such a place.
Tang Hao spoke calmly, "It's 'Poison Douluo' Dugu Bo, I don't want Xiao San's secret to be exposed."
Dugu Bo's expression turned icy, and his pressure surged. "Are you trying to order me around?"
"So what if I am?" Tang Hao replied without backing down. If Dugu Bo refused, he would bury all three of them here tonight. No one could be allowed to leak Tang San's secret—he was his last hope for revenge.
Dugu Bo laughed coldly. "Very well. Today, this old man will see for himself the might of the number one tool spirit."
Furious, he immediately activated his spirit.
This time, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor had undergone significant changes. Its head now bore long horns, its belly had four protrusions, and its scales had thickened. Nine spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—appeared and pulsed around him.
After purging his poison over the past three years and consuming the Nine-Grade Dragon Ganoderma, his spirit showed faint signs of dragon transformation. Though incomplete, his strength had advanced dramatically.
Tang Hao was slightly surprised, but not intimidated. He had absolute confidence in his own strength.
He raised his right hand slowly, and a black light coalesced in his palm, forming the massive Clear Sky Hammer. At the same time, nine spirit rings appeared, the ninth a sinister red.
Although its aura wasn't stronger than Dugu Bo's ninth ring, it was clearly terrifying in nature.
Dugu Bo remained calm.
Seven spirit rings lit up around him in unison. His body surged with green light, growing rapidly.
He activated his Spirit Avatar, transforming into a giant jade-green serpent over fifty meters long and as thick as a water vat.
Tang Hao narrowed his eyes, then activated his seventh spirit ring as well.
A blood-red domain instantly expanded—God of Slaughter Domain!
For a moment, it suppressed Dugu Bo. But the poison master quickly broke free.
Three of his spirit rings lit up, and with a terrifying roar, he swung his tail straight at Tang Hao's incoming hammer.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed through the forest, flattening trees in every direction.
Dugu Bo felt a numbness in his tail—Tang Hao's power was greater than expected.
I can't take that head-on again, he thought grimly.
Tang Hao also frowned slightly. His arm was numb from the recoil.
"You broke through to Level 95?" he asked in surprise.
Dugu Bo sneered. "What, you think I can't?"
With a cold snort, Tang Hao spun and unleashed a second strike—this time even stronger.
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique!
Dugu Bo grew more and more frustrated. Most of his attacks were wide-range, unsuitable for close combat without devastating the city. Though his spirit had evolved and he had a level advantage, he couldn't gain the upper hand.
"Enough! Tang Hao!"
He activated his eighth spirit ability: Time Freeze!
Two pale white beams shot from his spirit bone-empowered eyes, locking Tang Hao in place midair.
Now!
Dugu Bo's ninth spirit ring lit up—Jade Phosphorous Divine Light!
But Tang Hao didn't panic.
With a roar, his first two yellow spirit rings exploded—a dangerous but powerful skill of the Tang Clan:
Ring Detonation!
The burst of power shattered Dugu Bo's restraint. Tang Hao lifted the hammer and smashed through the incoming attack.
Boom!
The violent shock leveled everything around them.
Tang Hao coughed up blood, but swallowed it down. His injuries surged chaotically inside him. He couldn't afford to stay longer—if he kept fighting, he might not live to see another day.
He turned and vanished into the night.
Dugu Bo stood still, releasing his Spirit Avatar. He didn't pursue.
That hammer technique... I've never seen it before. He wasn't confident he could defeat Tang Hao even now.
With a cold snort, he turned and returned to the hotel.
---
Back in Nuoding City, Dugu Chen finally relaxed when Dugu Bo returned safely. He had heard the terrifying explosions in the distance and, despite his confidence in his teacher, couldn't help but worry.
Late that night, a carriage quietly departed from Nuoding City.
In the coming days, the city would become the center of a growing storm.