Tang San’s neither light nor heavy flattery immediately eased Niu Gao’s expression,
“Then you take my first punch.”
Niu Gao wouldn’t be polite, if he couldn’t beat down a barely twenty years old junior in three punches, he would absolutely lose face. But he would still give something in return for Tang San’s kind intentions, therefore, this first punch only used thirty percent force.
Absolutely don’t look down on thirty percent of the strength of a Spirit Douluo. Even if Niu Gao’s strength wasn’t as tyrannical as Tai Tan, as a defense type Spirit Master, his strength absolutely wasn’t weak. Further adding his spirit power, this thirty percent strength attack was still equivalent to a common sixtieth ranked Spirit Master’s full strength attack.
Tang San really didn’t dodge, nor did he use his spirit, directly accepting this punch on his chest without flinching.
With a thump, Tang San fell backwards in response.
Just then Niu Gao secretly thought this youngster really was arrogant, unable to take one of his thirty percent strength punches. Only, he shouldn’t be able to either. At his age, to be able to be a fortieth rank Spirit Master was pretty good. This method he had chosen really was disadvantageous to him.
However, before the thought had faded from Niu Gao’s mind, his eyes widened once again.
After Tang San’s upper body leaned back forty five degrees, he swung back up. Immediately afterward, his body swayed violently with his waist as axis, constantly moving up and down just like waves billowing. But he didn’t fall, he didn’t even retreat half a step.
This scene went on for the space of several breaths, before Tang San’s body stabilized, his face not even red, his breath not hurried, looking towards Niu Gao, he smiled:
“Many thanks for senior being lenient.”
“Lenient?”
Thirty percent strength really was considered being lenient, but Niu Gao still hadn’t expected Tang San to be able to keep standing. The reason he didn’t fully use spirit power to attack was out of fear he’d beat Tang San to death, provoking the Strength Clan and, more importantly, he didn’t want to embarass his old brother Tai Tan.
However, he absolutely hadn’t expected that, after enduring his thirty percent strength punch, without using spirit power, this youth before him would actually look as if nothing had happened, as if his punch just now hadn’t even hit him.
Of course Niu Gao’s punch hit the target. However, Tang San ingeniously dispersed the majority of it. Tang San’s swaying really wasn’t completely caused by the opponent’s force, but rather him using his Controlling Crane Catching Dragon skill on himself. Each time he swayed, some of the force of the opponent’s attack at his chest dispersed. In the end, he didn’t actually have to endure any violent attack. His skill in using four liang to push a thousand jin really could be called brilliant. But for the people of this world it was very difficult to understand that he had displayed this consummate skill.
Tang San spread a smile towards Niu Gao,
“Senior, junior’s second punch will come. Be careful. This time junior will use strength.”
While speaking, Tang San punched again.
Niu Gao basically didn’t plan on blocking, he didn’t believe Tang San’s attack could have any effect on him. In his eyes, Tang San’s fist was even more showy this time, striking light as a feather towards his chest. Right now, all the thoughts in his mind were on how much strength to use for the next punch in order to knock down Tang San, but not cause him too much harm.
Just when Tang San’s fist was several cun from Niu Gao’s chest, suddenly, a rich white light burst from his body. That wasn’t the release of a spirit, even less a spirit ability, but rather the blessed domain inscribed on his Clear Sky Hammer.
The white light instantly rushed from all over Tang San’s body to gather on his right hand, the Deathgod Domain’s evolved ability Deathgod Assault condensing on his fist in an instant. Just relying on these few cun of distance, Tang San’s fist abruptly accelerated, bombarding Niu Gao’s chest with speed difficult to discern with the naked eye. Strangely, as this punch struck Niu Gao’s chest, it didn’t make any sound.
The excessive modesty was only to make the opponent underestimate him. When he returned from the Clear Sky School, Tang San had already understood that this was a world where you had to speak with strength. The one with the strongest fist was the one with the loudest voice. If he didn’t reveal his strength, others would only have a low opinion of him here.
His not using any force in his first punch was naturally not for the reason he said, but rather to make Niu Gao despise him. But this second punch used his real skill. Deathgod Domain’s evolved ability Deathgod Assault, and further adding the instantly erupting short range power, already used his full strength. If anyone could see it, they would discover that after his right hand was wrapped up in the Deathgod Domain, it had completely turned a jade color. The extroverted force of the Controlling Crane Catching Dragon erupted completely. He had already warned Niu Gao when he punched the second time, as for whether Niu Gao would really listen, that wasn’t his problem.
Tang San moved very quickly, from the Deathgod Domain condensing to the short range force erupting, only an instant passed. With the single attribute of defense, Niu Gao wasn’t specialized in reaction. Suddenly feeling a chill approaching his chest, Tang San’s fist was already planted in his stomach.
When Tang San’s fist made contact, Tang San’s face flushed red, but very quickly recovered to normal.
But Niu Gao’s expression gradually changed from lifeless to groteseque. Suddenly, his face changed greatly, and immediately afterward, step, step, step, retreated three paces. Standing firm, opening his mouth, a white mist flowed out.
“Good kid.”
Niu Gao was now both alarmed and furious. He had secretly sneered at that lightning bolt like attack of Tang San’s even when it hit his chest, ‘want to use a method like that? Can you imagine this old man’s defense?’ Without even using his spirit, the durability of Niu Gao’s skin wasn’t any less than a real rhinoceros’.
However, as the fist reached him, he discovered it wasn’t that simple. First, Tang San’s punch just struck a great acupuncture point on his chest, and moreover the spirit power erupting over the short range completely condensed together. But most dreadful was still that concentrated Deathgod Assault. The instantly erupting killing intent wasn’t something that could be blocked with physical defense.
Niu Gao only felt a great force reach him, he actually blocked that force, but the chill brought within the force pierced his chest like a steel needle, immediately numbing his whole body. That cold air unexpectedly forced him to gasp for breath, and even his heart seemed agitated to the point of bursting. Fortunately his strength was tyrannical, and his defense powerful beyond powerful, with a heart far stronger than an ordinary person’s. He then straightened with difficulty, opening his mouth to spit out white mist. That was the killing intent produced by Tang San’s Deathgod Domain.
Watching Niu Gao successively retreat three steps, Tai Tan was also unable to conceal his shock. He was very clear on how powerful Niu Gao’s defense was, he himself might not be able to injure that old man at all in a frontal confrontation even going all out. But he had retreated under Tang San’s one punch. Just how had Tang San done it?
His heart still cold, a meaning from the depths of his heart made Niu Gao shiver. That ice cold and cruel killing intent had baptised him. Even though the attack power was great, he could still withstand it, but that frightful killing intent made him completely believe in Tai Tan’s previous words. Tang San really was even more outstanding than Tang Hao. He was sure that Tang Hao, at Tang San’s age, didn’t have such strength. But that icy cold overbearing killing intent was exactly the same.
After Tai Tan’s initial shock, he burst into laughter. Looking at Niu Gao’s shriveled appearance after Tang San’s attack made him indescribably happy. He hadn’t seen his bro
ther so embarrassed in a long time.
Actually, right now Tang San was also greatly startled. He had already been mentally prepared for Niu Gao’s defense, but as this punch directly bombarded Niu Gao’s chest, he still discovered that Niu Gao’s defensive power wasn’t as simple as he imagined.
First of all, his fist striking Niu Gao’s chest hadn’t felt the acupuncture point in his attack. Niu Gao’s thick skin and muscles were just as tough as bullhide, and besides being extremely tough, there was also a kind of extraordinary elasticity. Just from this one punch, the rebound force made his wrist ache. Besides the Deathgod Assault, the short range produced spirit power was completely blocked by the skin.
Even if it was only a single attribute, just how frightening this pure attribute was could only be truly understood through experience.
Niu Gao glared resolutely at Tai Tan, his face already turned red as pork liver,
“Good kid, I won’t be polite with the second punch either.”
Suddenly shouting loudly, the entire hall trembled, left foot taking one step forward, right fist directly striking at Tang San. And his original plan to use fifty percent spirit power had already turned to seventy percent. Niu Gao meant to win with this punch. Being forced to retreat three steps by a youngster several decades his junior, to a grandmaster of defense like him, this was simply an extraordinary humiliation.
Hong—— A violent blast rose at Tang San’s chest, and Tai Tan’s smiling expression immediately vanished.
Tang San’s upper body was blown back so he faced upward, his feet also staggering backward. But the instant Niu Gao’s fist struck his body, one blue and one white, two colored lights instantly erupted.
Niu Gao felt his whole body turn cold, his heart contracting once, the force of this fist immediately weakening somewhat, and the feeling of his fist striking Tang San also startled him. As a grandmaster of defense, he clearly felt Tang San’s body brimming with an elastic feeling, with a peculiar resilience contained within the elasticity. As his fist struck, even though Tang San seemed blown back and swiftly retreating, Niu Gao discovered that, in fact, his power basically didn’t completely affect this youth’s body.
His body still swaying violently, at the same time, a burst of cracking sounds could be heard from Tang San’s bones, the white light he released vanished, but the blue light held a faint golden red color.
After directly retreating more than ten steps, Tang San managed to stand firm. But he wasn’t as easy going as before, his complexion seeming somewhat pale, his chest also heaving slightly. However, he still didn’t fall. Under the seventy percent strike of a Spirit Douluo, he could still stand. This already proved a great many things.
While striking Tang San, Niu Gao regretted it a little. If Tang San really had an accident, there would be a great deal of trouble. Even if he didn’t use spirit abilities, he still had complete faith in his strength and spirit power. However, Tang San still stood after retreating more than ten steps.
Simply moving his body, that blue and gold light slowly fading, Tang San’s pale face unexpectedly turned healthy again, spreading a smile at Niu Gao,
“Senior, such powerful spirit power.”
Niu Gao stupidly looked at him,
“Kid, isn’t your spirit a cockroach? Even among my Defense Clan’s disciple, there’s none under the age of forty that can block my punch to this degree.”
Tang San’s smile didn’t change. In terms of defensive strength, how could he be lacking? He knew clearly from experience what kind of painful upgrades his defensive strength had undergone.
First of all were his six spirit rings, skipping levels to absorb already from his third spirit ring. Enduring the tremendous pain at that time was a feat of heroism. With the circumstances of skipping a level to absorb it, at the same time as his strength rose, the attributes transformed by his spirit rings were far more powerful than those of Spirit Masters of equal level.
Next, taking the two great Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot immortal herbs, forging his body in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, further adding the transformation of the Blue Silver Emperor’s second awakening, Xiao Wu’s sacrificed hundred thousand year spirit ring transforming his body, as well as the amplified attributes of those four heavenly blessed spirit bones. All these elements superimposed over each other, producing the terrifying defensive power Tang San now possessed. Among equally leveled Spirit Masters, his defense could absolutely be regarded as the strongest. Perhaps one might say that, of Spirit Masters under the seventieth rank, three wasn’t anyone who could compete with him in defensive power, not even the Defense Clan.
When he still didn’t possess Xiao Wu’s spirit ring and spirit bone, he could already endure the attacks of Spirit Sages without dying, finally when his right leg broke it was due to him taking the initiative to reduce his defense, deliberately sacrificing himself to save Xiao Wu.
Tang San shook his head to Niu Gao with a smile,
“Junior comes from the Clear Sky School. How could I possess a cockroach spirit?”
When Tai Tan saw Tang San was alright, he also loosed a long breath, laughing out loud:
“I think like this. Two punches each, if it goes on like this, friendliness will be injured. I don’t want either of you to suffer any injuries. Old rhino, you’re already so old, can’t you calm down a bit? It’s better than being that competitive.”
Niu Gao snapped:
“Bullshit. Can he injure me? I admit that this kid really is pretty good, your evaluation of him isn’t any exaggeration. However, with his present strength it’s still impossible for him to injure me.”
Tai Tan pursed his lips,
“Impossible? Before his second attack just now, could you imagine he’d push you back three steps? Didn’t you still retreat? How do you know he doesn’t have some unique skill for the third blow? To let you old brat suffer a major loss.”
Niu Gao grew angrier,
“No matter what’s said this old man is still a Spirit Douluo, if that happens, there’s no need for me to go out in public any more. Old orangutan, you still underestimate me too much. Fine, Tang San, as long as your third punch can make me retreat further than you just did, not only can you stay, but hereafter my Defense Clan won’t be your enemy any longer, the matters from those days struck.”
Tang San exulted, he had finally found a way to resolve this hatred. Hastily he said:
“Then it’s settled.”
Niu Gao spread his feet, both hands behind his back, proudly saying:
“Come.”
To the side, Tai Tan snickered inwardly,
“Niu Gao, ah, Niu Gao. For so many years, you’re still so easy to rile up. Not as steady as me. Perhaps this time you really will suffer a loss. You’ve separated from the Clear Sky School for too long, you’ve even forgotten about the Clear Sky School’s formidable ability. Tang San could make you retreat three steps just now, then, now he can just have you retreat further than he did.”
Tang San was an intelligent person, and absolutely wouldn’t let Tai Tan down. Taking a stance five steps away from Niu Gao, he drew a deep breath, spirit power swelling all over his body. Mysterious Heaven Skill accelerating made him seem to immediately flourish with imposing manner.
Niu Gao was closest to him, and naturally felt it the deepest. The spirit power Tang San released shocked him, that was spirit power over the sixtieth rank! Could it be that this youth in front of him actually already possessed strength exceeding the sixtieth rank? No, that was impossible. Absolutely impossible.
However, even if he didn’t believe it, the facts were already before his eyes.
Tang San slowly raised his right arm. This time, he didn’t use Deathgod Domain, his right fist slowly turning a lustrous jade color under the effect of Mysterious Heaven Skill. In order not to injure himself from the countershock of striking the opponent, he was already using Mysterious Jade Hand to the limit.
“Kid, what are you stalling
for? Come.”
Niu Gao shouted. This time, he wasn’t the slightest bit careless. His face concerned, spirit power covered his whole body, his defensive strength reaching a peak. This was already the most powerful defense he could muster without using his spirit and spirit abilities.
Tang San moved, toes pointing to the ground, using his calfs to generate force, he suddenly half turned, his right arm swinging out. Only, this punch of his didn’t strike Niu Gao, but rather hit empty air.
Tang San’s movements were very fast, a second punch immediately following behind the first, the imposing manner instantly superimposing over each other. Amidst the compressed spirit power, white light could already be glimpsed.
Seeing this second punch, Niu Gao’s expression had changed. In his mind he also finally thought of that name. Yes, this kid came from the Clear Sky SChool, how couldn’t he know this ability? Only, right now he didn’t use the hammer, but rather his hand, how much of its power could he display?
That’s right, what Tang San was using was the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method. Using his fist as hammer was originally seen very rarely. Since the Clear Sky Hammer was a spirit, it could be used at any time. But even though he lost the amplification of the Clear Sky Hammer when using his fist, the efficacy of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method didn’t decrease.
Tang San’s hard training under the waterfall wasn’t in vain. How many years did a person have in their lives? That was at least one percent of his lifetime he had spent completely immersed in uncomplicated hammer method. Using it again now was like driving a cart on a familiar road, without the least delay.
Tang San quickly rotated with his left foot as axis. Nobody had stated you couldn’t store strength before the attack, just that the method Tang San used to store strength made Niu Gao’s complete confidence start to show cracks.
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method was split into several levels, the simplest was nine swings, followed by eighteen swings, thirty six swings, sixty four swings and, most powerful, eighty one swings.
Douluo Dalu: Volume 25: Single Category Clans Page 7