"Boy, I'm going all out now!" Tai Tan roared, his voice thundering as the soul power within him surged forth. A fierce wind whipped around him, causing the sand and stones nearby to tremble violently.
Xiao Tianyang groaned, his knees buckling slightly under the pressure.
The corners of his mouth twitched as he thought to himself, 'This old man is really too narrow-minded, isn't he? I just took advantage of a loophole. Is it necessary to be so serious?'
Though Tai Tan claimed to be going all out, he had only used 70% of his strength. However, when he noticed that Xiao Tianyang's expression showed only slight discomfort, he couldn't help but feel relieved—and a little shocked.
The difference between Tai Tan and ordinary Soul Douluos was that his path was extreme.
While he might not excel in speed, accuracy, or technique, his raw strength, the quality of his soul power, and his oppressive aura surpassed others by more than 30%.
The 70% of soul power pressure he had just unleashed was equivalent to a full-force attack from an ordinary Soul Douluo.
Initially, Tai Tan had been hesitant, gradually increasing the pressure. But when he saw that Xiao Tianyang remained unharmed, he felt reassured. After all, this was just a test, not a life-or-death battle.
There was no need to harm Xiao Tianyang. Still, he couldn't help but be shocked that Xiao Tianyang could withstand such pressure.
On the other hand, Xiao Tianyang wasn't overthinking the situation. His mind was focused on how to improve his strength while adapting to the intense pressure.
'Tang San used the remaining energy from the medicinal herbs to advance his Eight Spider Lances. I can definitely use this pressure to break through my limits!' he thought. 'And on top of that, I can refine the technique I was working on earlier. But this pressure isn't enough!'
With that in mind, he looked up at Tai Tan and said, "Senior, use your full strength!" After a brief pause, he added fuel to the fire: "Otherwise, you'll lose."
"100% power!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Tai Tan was successfully provoked. His soul power erupted like a tidal wave, crashing down on Xiao Tianyang indiscriminately. He no longer cared whether the young man would be hurt.
"This kid is insane!" Zhao Wuji, who had just arrived, couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. He knew Xiao Tianyang liked to stir up trouble, but he hadn't expected him to be this reckless.
Under that level of soul power pressure, even Zhao Wuji himself, with his martial soul avatar activated, wouldn't last long.
"Teacher Zhao, aren't you going to stop them?" Ma Hongjun asked from the side. "If Tianyang gets hurt and his teacher comes back, you'll be in trouble again."
Zhao Wuji: "..."
He couldn't admit that he was powerless to intervene. That would be too embarrassing. But the reality was harsh—Tai Tan was a formidable figure in Heaven Dou Imperial City, and Zhao Wuji knew his capabilities well.
Tai Tan wasn't known for speed, but neither was Zhao Wuji. As for whether his defense could withstand Tai Tan's strength... Zhao Wuji had serious doubts.
If Flander were here, he could have taken Xiao Tianyang away and escaped unscathed, even if it meant losing face. But now, Zhao Wuji was stuck in an awkward position.
"Uncle Gu, get ready to step in," Ning Fengzhi said, frowning. "Although he can withstand 70% of the pressure, that doesn't mean he can handle 100%."
"That's right, Grandpa Gu, you should act quickly. Don't just stand there!" Ning Rongrong added, her voice filled with worry.
"Don't worry. Just look at his condition," Bone Douluo replied calmly, his experienced eyes fixed on Xiao Tianyang.
"His soul power isn't chaotic at all. Instead, it's steady and deep, and his aura is restrained." He paused before continuing, "He's likely using Tai Tan's pressure to push past his limits, break through his soul power level, and perfect his techniques!"
By the end of his explanation, the last trace of doubt in Bone Douluo's eyes had vanished.
A young man who was self-aware, daring, and capable of success was truly commendable. In fact, at his age, Xiao Tianyang was even more impressive than Bone Douluo and his peers had been.
"If this kid continues to grow without any major setbacks, he'll undoubtedly become a towering figure on the Douluo Continent!" Bone Douluo thought to himself.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong felt somewhat reassured. However, Xiao Tianyang, who was still in the midst of the pressure, wasn't as relaxed as they were.
"100% pressure is just enough!" Xiao Tianyang groaned as he released the final restraint on his body. In an instant, his aura surged, and instead of being crushed, he began to move steadily under the immense pressure.
'Let me be strong, the breeze caresses the hills; let me do as I pleases, the bright moon shines on the river...'
Every word of the mantra echoed clearly in his mind.
Xiao Tianyang seemed to understand it instinctively, without needing help from his teacher. The soul power around him began to condense, and soon, a crystalline barrier formed, isolating him from the surrounding pressure.
"It's done!" After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Tianyang let out a soft laugh, ignoring the stunned expressions of those around him. "This kind of defense can basically withstand a full-force attack from an ordinary Soul Saint!"
"Return to me!" The first part of his statement was muttered to himself, so no one heard it. But the second part was loud and clear.
What did he mean by "return"?
The onlookers understood in the next moment.
The soul power that had been crushing Xiao Tianyang like an invisible hand was suddenly repelled! The next to suffer were the bystanders, who were pushed back by the resulting shockwave.
"This kid!" Tai Tan was dumbfounded.
Faced with his full power, Xiao Tianyang hadn't been crushed. Instead, he had devised a new technique and repelled Tai Tan's soul power. Was he getting old, or was this era moving too fast?
Why was the outcome so different from what he had expected? For the first time, Tai Tan felt a pang of melancholy.
"Thank you, senior, for your guidance!" Xiao Tianyang took two steps forward, bowing respectfully with his fists clasped.
Ding!
Congratulations to the host for completing the side mission, [Trial of Strength]!
Reward obtained: Dou Zong Breaking Pill x2!
"Breakthrough?!" Tai Tan noticed the fluctuation in Xiao Tianyang's soul power and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. The feeling of melancholy grew stronger.
Not only had Xiao Tianyang comprehended a new technique, but he had also broken through to the 40th level under Tai Tan's pressure. How embarrassing was this for him!
Still, Tai Tan stepped forward, ready to say a few words to save face. Otherwise, the situation would have been too awkward.
"Senior, is there anything else you'd like to do?" Tang San suddenly stepped in front of Xiao Tianyang. "This matter started because of me. If you're still angry, then direct it at me!" With that, he revealed his second martial soul - the Clear Sky Hammer!
Before this incident, Tang San hadn't known that Tai Tan was from the Haotian Sect. His reasoning was simple: with his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, even with the support of spirit rings, he wouldn't be able to stop Tai Tan.
If Tai Tan really wanted to cause trouble, the only way to stop him would be with the Clear Sky Hammer.
…
If you'd like to support me and gain access to 60+ advanced chapters, you can follow the link:
patreon.com/DarkLord621
📖 Explore my fanfiction collections:
🔹 Douluo: Infinite Lottery System - 234+ Chapter
🔹 Douluo: Peerless Gu Master - 157+ Chapter
🔹 My Disciple Are All Dou God - 70+ Chapter
Thank you for your support!