Douluo Dalu: Starting With Tom Cat

In the vast, empty clearing, only the tree where Shen An stood remained upright. It was undeniably conspicuous, making Shen An himself stand out even more.

Shen An awkwardly glanced at Chen Xin and Tang Hao in the distance. Well, there's no hiding now. 

Chen Xin and Tang Hao were still locked in their intense confrontation, paying no attention to Shen An in the distance.

Or rather, they had noticed Shen An the moment he arrived but chose to ignore him.

The night sky was filled with the phantom images of the Seven Kill Sword, its sharp sword energy frantically slashing toward Tang Hao, showcasing the divine essence of swordsmanship.

Tang Hao, on the other hand, wielded his hammer like a black demonic sun, exuding an overwhelming dominance and devouring aura.

Endless hammer light clashed with sword light), as the two Title Douluos displayed their skills to the fullest.

They didn't unleash their domains or use additional soul skills. Instead, they relied solely on their martial souls and seemingly endless soul power collisions.

Shen An didn't dare blink, afraid of missing even a single moment. This was a battle between the strongest publicly known forces in the Douluo world. Shen An was fully focused, observing, learning, and absorbing everything to turn it into his resource.

Only Tom's presence felt out of place in this scene. A bald cat was running around, crying and holding a large clump of fur, still trying to catch more floating in the air.

How did it even manage to retrieve its fur? It was like trying to gather spilled water. Tom's ability to recover its fur was just absurd.

"Hahahahahaha!"

"What a Clear Sky Douluo! Truly formidable. Let's end it here today. I won't ask about your connection to Shrek Academy. I'll give you face and let it go."

Tang Hao's black cloak, which had once shrouded him, was now in tatters, revealing his unkempt, sallow face. However, his eyes were exceptionally bright, enough to captivate anyone.

Tang Hao gave Chen Xin a deep look before silently flashing away.

Chen Xin's figure flickered as he appeared beside Shen An. He had intended to take Shen An and leave, but when he arrived, he was completely stunned.

Within a hundred-meter radius, the ground had been cleared, leaving only the tree where Shen An stood—still lush and leafy—looking utterly bizarre.

What kind of tree is this? It had withstood the aftershocks of his battle with Tang Hao. Even a nearly ten-thousand-year tree-type soul beast wouldn't have survived.

Chen Xin stared at the bent crescent-shaped tree, lost in thought.

Forget it. I don't know how this kid followed me from so far away, but I'll take him with me first. Chen Xin thought.

"Shen An, come with me."

Shen An silently pointed to Tom, who was busy sticking his fur back on, and gave an awkward yet polite smile:

"Elder Chen Xin, wait for Tom."

Chen Xin was visibly more bewildered. What? You didn't come alone? Tom's here too? 

Following Shen An's direction, Chen Xin saw a bald cat diligently reattaching its fur.

"Phew~"

Chen Xin took a deep breath, the joy of his impending breakthrough suddenly diminished.

Despite being on the verge of reaching level 97, he still couldn't detect Tom's presence unless he saw the cat with his own eyes.

I still have a lot to learn. Chen Xin suddenly felt a sense of melancholy.

"Forget it. You two can head back on your own later. Shen An, tell Rongrong I've returned to the clan."

Shen An asked, "Elder Chen Xin, why leave in such a hurry? You could depart tomorrow and bid farewell to Rongrong properly."

"No, after that battle, I feel my breakthrough is near. I need to return to the clan and consolidate my gains."

"From now on, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Rongrong."

Chen Xin paused, glancing at Tom. Forget it. Consider this repaying the cat's favor. Without Tom, my swordsmanship might have remained stagnant for who knows how long. 

"If you have time, ask Rongrong about the Split Control technique. It will be helpful to you. But remember, if you learn it, you must not spread it."

Shen An noticed Chen Xin's glance at Tom and nodded. It seems like something extraordinary. So, once again, I'm benefiting from Tom's influence? 

Chen Xin didn't linger. Transforming into a streak of sword light, he soared into the sky, leaving behind a token that Tom caught.

"Shen An, I owe your cat a favor. If you ever need anything, come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."

Chen Xin's deep voice echoed from all directions. Shen An smiled faintly, thinking, that Elder Chen Xin was truly a man of character. 

---

Tang Hao had already fled over a hundred miles away. Seeing no one around, he spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Tang Hao's expression was grim. He knew he was in serious trouble. He had intended to negotiate with Chen Xin to keep him away from Shrek Academy, but Chen Xin had immediately resorted to battle.

It wasn't that he was weaker than Chen Xin, but his old injuries had been aggravated by the intense fight.

Moreover, Chen Xin's rising momentum during the battle suggested he had used Tang Hao as a whetstone.

While the three great clans claimed to be united, each secretly desired to be the top. Tang Hao's actions had only benefited his opponent, costing him dearly.

Tang Hao still felt a strong belonging to the Clear Sky Clan. He could only sigh, hoping his son would grow up to lead the clan back to its peak.

He never doubted Tang San's future achievements. With twin martial souls and innate full soul power, Tang San was the only one Tang Hao believed could stand against the Spirit Hall.

As for that kid with the cat, his martial soul was strong, but he would never understand the terror of twin martial souls.

"My priority now is to find a place to heal. I can't protect Xiao San for the time being, but with the people at Shrek Academy, his growth should be fine." 

Tang Hao muttered to himself. His injuries were severe, and Chen Xin's relentless sword energy had further exacerbated his hidden ailments.

Without hesitation, Tang Hao vanished into the darkness. He needed to preserve his strength to protect his son.

---

The next morning, Shen An informed Ning Rongrong about Chen Xin's departure. He had expected to comfort her, but her reaction took an unexpected turn.

"Yay yay yay! No one's here to make me train anymore!"

Shen An's lips twitched. "A few days ago, you seemed eager for Elder Chen Xin to stay. Why are you so happy now that he's gone?"

Ning Rongrong tilted her head cutely and said, "It's not like it's a life-or-death separation. We'll see each other again. When we're together, we cherish the time. When we're apart, there's no need to be sad."

Shen An looked at Ning Rongrong in surprise. This girl has a surprisingly mature outlook on life. 

Shen An continued, "Rongrong, what's this Split Control technique from your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? Can you tell me about it?"

Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes sparkled. "You even know about that? Did Grandpa Sword tell you before he left?"

Shen An nodded honestly. "Yes, Elder Chen Xin said I could learn from you. It would be very helpful."

Ning Rongrong didn't doubt him. Shen An hadn't even known what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was initially. If he was asking about their secret technique, it had to be from Chen Xin.

"Hehe, this is a secret technique of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. It allows us to control multiple soul skills simultaneously, enabling us to assist multiple soul masters at once."

"For battle soul masters like you, it's also a rare skill. It enhances multitasking, making your senses sharper and your attacks more unpredictable."

"Want to learn? I can teach you, but you have to promise me one thing." Ning Rongrong's eyes gleamed with mischief.