Chapter 27: The Cost of Medicine
"Interesting."
With just two fingers, Ye Cheng effortlessly blocked Tang Hao's powerful Grand Xu Mi Hammer attack. His expression remained calm as he evaluated the technique. "If your grandfather Tang Chen had used this move, it might have been worth watching. But you..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear kid, go home and train for a few hundred more years before trying again.
The damage from this remark wasn't physical, but the insult was devastating. Tang Hao's face turned red with rage. Unable to hold back anymore, he retracted his hammer, jumped back several steps, and activated the Grand Xu Mi Hammer's ultimate skill Ring Explosion!
BOOM!
A surge of black red flames erupted as all nine of Tang Hao's soul rings shone at once, turning completely black and red. His entire body took on the same colors.
In the next instant, all nine soul rings shattered!
The raw power of the shattered rings surged into his body.
"ROAAARRR!!"
Tang Hao's eyes turned completely black red, his face twisted into a feral, monstrous expression. Fueled by sheer rage and overwhelming power, he raised his massive hammer and charged straight at Ye Cheng!
[Wait… did he just shatter his own soul rings?!]
[Is this some kind of self destructive final attack?!]
[I've never heard of anyone breaking their soul rings to gain strength!]
[This must have some terrible side effects…]
As the barrage of comments filled the screen, the audience was shocked.
The Grand Xu Mi Hammer, especially the secret Ring Explosion technique, wasn't something ordinary soul masters knew about. Most people assumed Tang Hao was self destructing in desperation.
However, those familiar with Haotian Sect's secrets knew the truth Tang Hao wasn't destroying himself; he was unleashing the Haotian Sect's most fearsome forbidden technique!
In the real world.
Tang Hao clenched his fists as he watched the video.
"Hmph! He forced me to explode all nine rings, yet he still doesn't summon his martial soul?"
Seeing the calm expression Ye Cheng maintained even as he activated Ring Explosion, Tang Hao grew both furious and certain Ye Cheng would definitely suffer for underestimating him!
After all, Ring Explosion was Haotian Sect's ultimate forbidden technique.
Back then, Tang Hao had seriously wounded Spirit Hall's former Supreme Pontiff Qian Xunji using this very move.
He was confident even an Ultimate Douluo like Qian Daoliu would think twice before facing his Ring Explosion head on!
Only…
Tang Hao was thinking way too highly of himself.
And vastly underestimating the true power of an Ultimate Douluo.
Back in the video.
"Oh? So you break your soul rings to merge their power into your body for a temporary boost? An interesting technique."
Even as Tang Hao's energy surged several times stronger, Ye Cheng remained calm.
Even as Tang Hao charged at him like a raging beast, Ye Cheng remained calm.
He waited until Tang Hao got close
Then, finally…
He attacked.
Not a sword.
Not a punch.
Not even a soul skill.
Just a single slap.
"PA!!!"
The moment before his hammer could strike, Tang Hao felt an invisible force a massive, unseen hand slap him across the face.
BAM!
The terrifying power not only neutralized his Ring Explosion, but also sent him flying sideways like a ragdoll!
"Too flashy."
Ye Cheng slowly lowered his hand. His voice was calm, but his words cut deep
"No matter how much an ant strengthens itself… it remains an ant."
In the real world.
Tang Hao's expression twisted in fury.
"This… This is impossible!!!"
He roared in disbelief.
How could he, a Titled Douluo, after exploding all nine rings, still be so utterly powerless?!
How could this be?!
If Ye Cheng had used his martial soul and soul skills, Tang Hao might have been able to accept the loss.
But the man didn't even summon his martial soul!
Just using raw soul power, Ye Cheng had completely crushed him.
This was an insult beyond endurance!
Back in the video.
Tang Hao lay on the ground, struggling to rise.
Ye Cheng slowly approached, his steps steady and unhurried.
"Do you think that having strength means you can do whatever you want?"
"You believe that as long as you're stronger, you have the right to trample and oppress the weak?"
Tang Hao, barely clinging to consciousness, had no answer.
His face was nearly destroyed from the impact, his bones shattered in countless places.
If he were anyone other than a soul master, he'd be dead already.
Yet, even though he had survived, he had no power left to fight.
"Well then…"
"Right now, I am the strong one."
"And you are the weak one."
"So tell me… would you like to experience what it's like to be bullied?"
Ye Cheng stood over him, looking down with cold indifference.
For the first time in his life, Tang Hao felt true fear.
But before he could even respond
Ye Cheng shook his head.
"I was going to kill you…"
"But I changed my mind."
"You…"
"Are unworthy of dying by my sword."
Tang Hao's eyes widened in shock.
This… this was more humiliating than death!
Yet, deep in his heart, he felt a sliver of relief he had somehow survived.
Only…
SLASH!
A sudden pain erupted from his right arm and left leg.
In an instant they were gone.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Tang Hao screamed in agony as blood gushed from his severed limbs.
His right arm and left leg, once part of his unbreakable body, had been sliced away effortlessly!
As they fell to the ground, something strange happened.
The flesh withered and dissolved, leaving behind two gleaming pieces of bone.
Soul bones.
The audience watching immediately understood.
[Wait… did he take his soul bones?!]
[Damn! That's ruthless!]
[Tang Hao basically paid with two soul bones to buy his life!]
[HAHAHAHA! SERVES HIM RIGHT!]
[He wanted to bully others and got completely destroyed instead!]
The comments were full of schadenfreude.
Tang Hao, watching in real time, clenched his remaining fist so hard that his nails dug into his palm.
He recognized those two soul bones instantly.
They were Haotian Sect's heirloom soul bones, each nearly eighty thousand years old the most valuable pieces in his body apart from his hammer.
Thank god this was only a future possibility…
Since the event hadn't happened yet, he could now avoid this fate entirely.
As long as he never provoked Ye Cheng, this nightmare scenario would never come true.
He had lost his reputation, but he had gained foresight.
Tang Hao's emotions were complicated.
Had he actually… benefitted from this?
Back in the video.
As the two soul bones hovered into the air, following Ye Cheng, he glanced at Tang Hao one last time.
"Your death sentence is pardoned… but you must still pay the price."
"Consider these two soul bones as payment for my disciple's medicine expenses."
Then, without another word, he turned and left.
The two precious soul bones followed him, drifting further and further away.
Tang Hao, lying on the ground like a broken dog, watched them disappear…
And then, in despair, closed his eyes.
He was truly… the disgrace of Haotian Sect.
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