Douluo Dalu 1: The Tang Family Rebel

"Do one thing for me?"

Yunchuan frowned at Tang Hao's request and cautiously asked, "Tell me first, what exactly do you want me to do? If it's something that goes against my principles, I won't do it!"

"It's quite simple," Tang Hao replied, meeting Yunchuan's wary gaze without hesitation. After all, he'd have to explain after their duel anyway, so saying it earlier made no difference. "…I want you to guide my son in cultivating Blue Silver Grass!"

"Guide him in cultivating Blue Silver Grass?"

Yunchuan was stunned. Even Flender and Zhao Wuji, who had retreated far away, froze upon hearing those words. The implications of this statement were significant.

"Blue Silver Grass… I see. So, that boy from earlier, the one using all those unusual weapons, is your son," Yunchuan said, finally understanding. "If it's just guiding him in cultivation, that's no problem. Alright, I agree to your request."

With that, Yunchuan assumed a fighting stance, an aura of battle intent radiating from his entire being. In a loud voice, he declared, "This is perfect. I've always wanted to see how big the gap is between me and a Titled Douluo!"

Tang Hao was fundamentally different from Chrysanthemum Douluo. The latter was more support-oriented and not particularly strong in direct combat. Tang Hao, however, possessed the Clear Sky Hammer, a martial spirit renowned for its offensive prowess. Even without any spirit abilities, his overwhelming soul power and the indestructible Clear Sky Hammer were enough to dominate Chrysanthemum Douluo with ease.

Not all Titled Douluo were created equal. Tang Hao was the kind of soul master who focused on raw attack power, while Chrysanthemum Douluo leaned more towards support. Their strengths couldn't be compared across the board.

Facing a powerhouse like Tang Hao, engaging in a direct clash wasn't a wise move. The best strategy would be to keep him at bay with long-range attacks. However, Yunchuan had no intention of doing that. He rarely had the chance to spar with such a physically powerful Titled Douluo. How could he miss out on such a visceral, close-combat battle?

Yunchuan's Supreme Clear Sky Hammer had four main attributes: Strength, Thunder, Flame, and Light. Over the years, he had developed various techniques utilizing the latter three attributes, essentially creating his own unique spirit abilities in the process.

However, when it came to the Strength attribute, he hadn't created any specific techniques. All he had done was imbue himself with it, significantly enhancing his physical strength and destructive power. Now, Tang Hao provided the perfect opportunity to test this attribute's potential and refine his combat skills. Besides, since Tang Hao had a favor to ask, he would likely hold back in the fight. What could be better than such a sparring partner?

"First Spirit Ability: Source of Strength!"

Yunchuan stood still as the first yellow ring among his seven spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—lit up!

In an instant, Yunchuan's lean frame swelled, his height abruptly increasing to over two meters. His transformation was dramatic; the scholarly young man had turned into a muscular giant!

At this moment, his entire body exuded a tangible sense of power.

This so-called first spirit ability merely channeled the Strength attribute into his body, drastically improving his physique. The glowing spirit ring was just an illusion, a specialized technique he had developed to simulate the appearance of traditional spirit abilities. After all, none of his seven spirit rings granted him traditional abilities. Instead, they solely enhanced the four main attributes of his martial spirit.

Tang Hao's eyes flashed with astonishment as he watched this transformation. With his keen insight, he could easily tell that Yunchuan's physical strength alone had already reached the level of a Titled Douluo, perhaps even surpassing many within that rank.

Even so, Tang Hao remained calm. For a soul master, true power lay in their various spirit abilities. Physical strength alone wouldn't suffice to defeat a Titled Douluo unless that Douluo refrained from using their spirit abilities. Thinking otherwise would be overly naive.

"Second Spirit Ability: Thunder Body!"

The newly transformed Yunchuan roared again, and the second spirit ring lit up! Lightning arcs crackled and danced across his body, accompanied by the sound of snapping sparks. His hair stood on end, and combined with the electric effects surrounding him, he looked like a Super Saiyan.

Flender and Zhao Wuji, watching from a distance, were completely dumbfounded. Seeing the electrified muscle-bound version of Yunchuan felt utterly surreal.

"Isn't his martial spirit supposed to be Blue Silver Grass? Since when could Blue Silver Grass do this? What kind of monster is this kid?"

Yunchuan's display had completely upended conventional wisdom within the soul master community. It even made the two question their own teaching methods.

"Come! Fight me!"

With the Strength attribute enhancing his physique and destructive power, and the Thunder attribute boosting his reaction speed and agility, Yunchuan felt invincible, as though he could bulldoze through anything with sheer muscle power!

"Boom!!!"

The ground beneath him exploded, leaving a massive crater over ten meters wide.

Yunchuan launched himself like a bolt of lightning, swinging a massive, hammer-like fist toward Tang Hao.

The sheer force of the blow caused Tang Hao to narrow his eyes. Without hesitation, he swung his enormous Clear Sky Hammer to meet the attack.

Though he couldn't use spirit abilities, Tang Hao trusted his physical prowess, soul power amplification, and the inherent weight of the Clear Sky Hammer. In a contest of pure strength, he was confident he wouldn't lose to a mere Soul Sage.

Finally, the massive fist collided with the enormous hammer.

"Boom!!!"

The impact was like a thunderclap.

A terrifying shockwave spread outward.

"Whoosh!!!"

Nearby trees were uprooted and snapped in half, their debris scattered by the sheer force of the clash.

Flender and Zhao Wuji, standing at a distance, were forced to activate their martial spirits and use spirit abilities just to stabilize themselves against the gale-like shockwave.

The two were utterly stunned.

A Soul Sage capable of clashing head-to-head with a Titled Douluo without falling behind? This was a complete upheaval of their understanding of soul master capabilities.

What kind of monster was this?

Back at the battlefield, the first exchange of blows was decisive.

Tang Hao, wielding his massive hammer, felt a tremendous force reverberate through it the moment it connected with Yunchuan's fist. His hammer was pushed aside, and he involuntarily took a step back.

Yunchuan had the upper hand in raw strength.

But this didn't mean he could defeat Tang Hao. After all, Tang Hao hadn't used any spirit abilities, relying solely on his martial spirit, physical strength, and soul power amplification. If Tang Hao unleashed his full power, Yunchuan would likely be the one sent flying.

"What strength!" Tang Hao exclaimed, visibly surprised to have lost in a pure contest of strength.

"Come again!"

Encouraged by his initial success, the electrified, muscle-bound Yunchuan surged forward, unleashing a roundhouse kick toward Tang Hao's waist.

Tang Hao, quick to react, twisted his hammer and used its shaft to deflect the kick, preventing it from landing on his vulnerable flank.

Although Yunchuan had the advantage in raw power, the gap in their combat experience was vast. Every wild attack Yunchuan launched was either neutralized or countered by Tang Hao with minimal effort.

However, Yunchuan didn't get discouraged. His punches and kicks kept coming as he adapted and learned. Tang Hao, knowing his son would eventually train under Yunchuan, deliberately guided him, feeding him openings to exploit and correcting his form through their exchanges.

"Boom! Bam! Boom!"

The two clashed relentlessly, their blows leaving trails of destruction across the forest. The ground cracked, massive craters formed, and boulders were shattered into rubble.

As the battle wore on, Yunchuan's combat skills improved rapidly. From haphazard swings, his attacks became precise and methodical. The opportunity to spar with a Titled Douluo was a rare and invaluable experience.

For Yunchuan, this was more than a fight. It was a breakthrough.

By the time they finished, the forest lay in ruins. Yunchuan stood amidst the wreckage, his confidence and abilities transformed. Today's gains were incomparable to anything he had achieved before.

(End of Chapter)