Chapter 259: Tang San's Astonishing Encounter with Xiao Wu, Eighth Test of the Twin Gods
"Good! As expected of the son of the Clear Sky Douluo, truly a tiger father without a dog son!" Emperor Xue Ye clapped his hands in praise, his words overflowing with admiration for Tang San.
He had already learned through other sources that passing the seventh test and pulling out the divine weapon meant truly gaining the recognition of the gods!
"Your Majesty, although Tang San has successfully passed the tests of both gods, we must not let our guard down," Ning Fengzhi, seated at a lower position, said softly.
"Our Three Upper Sects have received news that after the Spirit Empire occupied the Star Luo Empire, they have assimilated many of its original imperial soldiers. Currently, the strength of the Spirit Empire surpasses that of our Heaven Dou Empire by thirty percent."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he snorted, "Are the soldiers of the Star Luo Empire so easily swayed?"
At these words, many seated below didn't know how to respond.
After all, many soldiers of the Star Luo Empire, upon seeing the generous conditions offered by the Spirit Empire, could easily compare and see which rule was more favorable.
Even though the Star Luo Empire had been one that valued military merit on the battlefield, in reality, it was no different from the Heaven Dou Empire.
The only difference was that one had more nobles and the other fewer.
"Master Tang, do you know where young friend Tang San is now?" Emperor Xue Ye turned to Tang Xiao and asked.
Tang Xiao bowed slightly to the emperor and replied, "Your Majesty, my nephew Tang San has his own plans, and even we seldom interfere. However, if he returns, I will certainly inform the royal family."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded slightly, "That's good."
"Tap, tap, tap—"
During the conversation, a series of urgent footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall, drawing everyone's attention. They saw a court servant hurriedly running in, gasping, "Your Majesty, Tang San requests an audience."
Tang San had returned!
Everyone present immediately felt a surge of excitement.
Especially Emperor Xue Ye, who, upon hearing the news of Tang San's return, could barely contain his joy and beamed, "Summon him."
Under the servant's announcement, Tang San finally appeared before everyone.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Uncle. Greetings, two sect masters."
"Rise."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Emperor Xue Ye asked, "Tang San, do you have any plans upon your return?"
Tang San nodded, "Of course, Your Majesty. I have four tasks to accomplish upon my return."
"What are these tasks?" Emperor Xue Ye inquired.
Tang San spoke directly, "First, I wish to rescue my teacher, Yu Xiaogang."
Yu Xiaogang.
Hearing this name, everyone present, except for Tang Xiao, couldn't help but frown, especially Yu Yuanzhen, who was well aware of his son's deeds over the years.
If it weren't for the fact that his useless son had luckily taken Tang San as his disciple, he would have long since severed all ties with him.
"Tang San, I understand your eagerness to save your teacher, but you must know that Yu Xiaogang's fate is unknown. No one knows if he is dead or still imprisoned by the Spirit Empire," Emperor Xue Ye tried to dissuade Tang San from this idea.
"Moreover, a figure like Yu Xiaogang is known throughout the continent as your teacher. If he were still alive, the Spirit Empire would certainly guard him closely. The likelihood of you rescuing him is very slim."
"I understand this, but I also know that almost all the titled Douluo of the Spirit Empire are stationed at the border of our Heaven Dou Empire. This means that the headquarters in Spirit City is essentially empty," Tang San explained his viewpoint.
"My purpose this time is not only to rescue my teacher but also to strike at the heart of the Spirit Empire and destroy their holy city."
"Regarding whether my teacher is alive, Your Majesty, you also mentioned that the Spirit Empire understands his value, so they wouldn't kill him so easily."
"Since the Spirit Empire launched a blitzkrieg to seize territories, this time, I will use the same method to deliver a severe blow to them!"
"And rest assured, I will go alone to rescue him."
As soon as he finished speaking, two completely different forces, Sea God and Asura God, erupted from Tang San, and these two powers were perfectly integrated.
The people present, feeling Tang San's aura, immediately understood why he was so confident in making such a statement.
This also made those, like Tang Xiao, who originally wanted to dissuade Tang San, swallow their words.
"In that case, I won't stop you," Emperor Xue Ye said again, then asked, "Tang San, what is your second task?"
Tang San replied, "I hope that after this war is won, Your Majesty and the elders can help my good brother, Dai Mubai, restore the Star Luo Empire."
As soon as Tang San said this, the expressions of everyone present changed.
Emperor Xue Ye frowned slightly and said, "Tang San, you must know that it was because Dai Mubai acted recklessly against the Spirit Empire that many of our original plans had to be abandoned. During your absence from the empire, we spent considerable resources to save him; otherwise, how could he have escaped from the hands of the Spirit Empire several times?"
Tang Xiao also nodded and said, "Xiao San, although Dai Mubai was once your classmate and your teacher's student, his refusal to follow our commands is a major flaw. This time, several of our scouts from the Clear Sky School died because of him. Now you want us to help him restore his kingdom, but even if we agree, do you think others will?"
Ning Fengzhi echoed, "That's right, Xiao San. Instead of wasting our efforts on helping Dai Mubai restore his kingdom, it would be better to incorporate the Star Luo Empire's territory into the Heaven Dou Empire and allow our Three Upper Sects to expand our sects."
Ning Fengzhi's suggestion reflected the thoughts of everyone present.
The Star Luo Empire was destroyed because it was weak. Since it was defeated, its land should naturally belong to them.
Tang San knew that after defeating the Spirit Empire, it would be almost impossible to ask everyone to relinquish territory. So he could only sigh inwardly, thinking that once he became a god, he would carve out a piece of land from the Star Luo Empire for Dai Mubai as compensation.
"Xiao San, what is your third task?" Tang Xiao asked.
Tang San said softly, "I am only one step away from becoming a Title Douluo."
"What?!"
Tang San's words immediately shocked everyone present!
"Xiao San, could it be that you..." Tang Xiao looked Tang San up and down in surprise.
"Yes."
Tang San looked at everyone and said, "This time, I have returned to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts."
"My eighth test of the Asura God and the eighth test of the Sea God both require my ninth soul ring to be a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Moreover, both martial souls must have nine soul rings, and finally, I must go to the ocean to kill the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and the Bloodwing Serpent King of the Slaughter City."
Ning Fengzhi asked, "Do you need us to accompany you?"
Tang San shook his head, "Having too many people would attract the attention of the Spirit Empire. It is enough for my uncle to accompany me. With my current strength, I can handle hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Bringing my uncle along is just for insurance."
Tang Xiao nodded.
Then, Tang San looked at Emperor Xue Ye and said, "Your Majesty, my fourth task is to seek the support of Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo. We desperately need his help in this war."
Upon receiving information about the Heaven Dou Empire's situation from his uncle on Sea God Island, Tang San judged that Dugu Bo was an extremely important factor in their victory against the Spirit Empire.
"Difficult, Tang San."
Emperor Xue Ye shook his head and said, "We have considered this before, but the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall, Su Yun, once saved Dugu Bo and his grandson's lives."
"And this time, Dugu Bo has told our people that once he releases his poison on the battlefield, it will cause massive casualties among civilians. Therefore, he is reluctant to act, fearing harm to innocent lives."
"Given this reason, how can we force him to take action?"
"The fact that he hasn't sided with the Spirit Empire is already a blessing for us."
Upon hearing this, Tang San narrowed his eyes and said, "I will find a way to handle this."
In no time, Tang San and the others left the palace.
"Xiao San, where are we heading first?" Tang Xiao asked.
"First, to the Star Dou Forest," Tang San replied, looking at his uncle Tang Xiao. "Whether it's rescuing my teacher or enlisting Dugu Bo's help, my own strength is the most crucial."
"Alright, as you say."
Without further words, the two rested for a night in the capital and then set off for the Star Dou Forest.
With Tang San and Tang Xiao's formidable strength, the soul beasts in the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest couldn't pose any threat to them.
Deep within the Star Dou Forest.
"Sister Xiao Wu, two troublesome fellows are coming from outside." The Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, learned from his subordinate soul beasts that two soul masters wielding hammer martial souls were sweeping through the Star Dou Forest with overwhelming force, and it wouldn't be long before they reached the center of the forest.
"One of the soul masters seems to be a Soul Douluo, but he's only a step away from the ninetieth level."
Wearing a white dress, Xiao Wu sat by the lake, a hint of coldness in her eyes as she looked in the direction of the approaching soul power fluctuations. "It seems they're here for a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone."
"These humans really are despicable!" Er Ming cursed, but recalling someone Xiao Wu missed day and night, he quickly fell silent.
Xiao Wu glanced at Er Ming and softly instructed the soul beast at her feet, "Have the Ant Emperor Brothers hold them off. We'll be there soon."
The soul beast at her feet, an Earthworm Soul Beast, was extremely fast at burrowing underground and served as a messenger among the various soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest.
Upon receiving the order, the Earthworm immediately burrowed into the ground and sped away.
"Sister Xiao Wu, the Spirit Empire is waging widespread war outside, and now a soul master is suddenly invading the depths of our Star Dou Forest. Could it be..." The Sky Blue Bull Python, Da Ming, began to mention Su Yun's name.
"It's not him," Xiao Wu said decisively.
Before Da Ming could ask why, Xiao Wu continued, "If it were him, there wouldn't be such a commotion."
Hearing this, both the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python sighed in relief. It was good news that it wasn't Su Yun.
They didn't want to confront him, given his relationship with Xiao Wu.
"Alright, let's not waste time. Whoever the intruders are, they must die!" With these chilling words, Xiao Wu leapt towards the direction of the battle.
Da Ming and Er Ming quickly followed, the ground shaking with their every step.
...
"Boom!"
With a heavy strike from Tang San's hammer, the last of the Ant Emperor Brothers died under his hammer.
"What a pity. This soul beast was just a step away from becoming a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. If I had come a few years later, it might have reached that level," Tang San remarked with some regret.
"Xiao San, you don't have the time to wait for a soul beast to reach that level," Tang Xiao said, shaking his head, his face grim. "We've come so deep into the forest, and there are still no hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Could they all have gone extinct?"
If there were no hundred-thousand-year soul beasts for his nephew to complete the divine test, they would all be slaughtered by the Spirit Empire. This was the scenario Tang Xiao least wanted to see. He had promised Tang Chen to lead the Clear Sky School to become the top sect on the continent.
"Don't worry, Uncle. My teacher told me that there must be hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest." As Tang San finished speaking, he suddenly stopped talking and closed his mouth.
Then, he turned his head towards a certain direction and smiled lightly, "They're here."
Here!
Upon hearing that his nephew had sensed the arrival of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, Tang Xiao immediately became vigilant.
After all, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, though seemingly only one year stronger than a ninety-nine-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine-year soul beast, represented an insurmountable gap in strength!
"Swish swish swish!"
When a figure appeared before Tang San and Tang Xiao, they were both taken aback!
It wasn't the soul beast they expected, but a young girl in a white dress. Her face was fair, her long hair flowing like a waterfall as she moved through the air, looking every bit like the princess of the forest.
Seeing the girl's face, Tang San was stunned, as if an electric current surged through his brain, bringing back memories from many years ago. He exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Wu?!"
Indeed!
The person before him was Xiao Wu, whom he had met at Notting Academy!
Tang San remembered clearly that his teacher had once told him that his father intended to capture Xiao Wu for him.
Because she was a young hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
However, judging by Xiao Wu's aura now, she was at least equivalent to a human Title Douluo level powerhouse!
(End of this chapter)
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