Chapter 281: Qian Daoliu's Threat, Bo Saixi's Compromise
"Oh?"
Upon hearing Tang San's transmission, Su Yun raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Tang San to propose exchanging Dugu Bo for Ah Yin.
In an instant, Su Yun realized Tang San wanted to evolve his Blue Silver Grass martial spirit into the Blue Silver Emperor martial spirit. Without Ah Yin's permission, who was the current Blue Silver Emperor, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass couldn't undergo a second awakening.
If Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Grass both evolved into top-tier martial spirits, once he reached the demigod stage, few on the continent could stop him.
Such a deal was certainly not one Su Yun would agree to. He wouldn't hand over Ah Yin so easily.
"Su Yun, I know you imprisoned my mother for the Blue Silver Emperor's martial spirit, but compared to Dugu Bo, I think you should choose the latter."
Tang San said righteously, "I keep my word. As long as you release my mother, you can take Dugu Bo back."
Hearing this, Su Yun suddenly smiled, "Alright, release Dugu Bo first, and I guarantee your mother will return within three days."
"No way!"
Tang San refused, staring at Su Yun, "I need to see my mother first."
"Both parties exchange at the same time!"
Su Yun knew exactly what Tang San was thinking. How could either side release their person first? Whoever did would be a fool.
Tang San certainly didn't want Dugu Bo to live, as he would pose a huge threat to the war between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Empire.
Similarly, Su Yun wouldn't let Ah Yin return to Tang San.
As they stood in a standoff in the air, a voice suddenly reached Su Yun's ears, and he smiled.
Seeing the familiar smile on Su Yun's face, Tang San felt a chill for no reason.
Why is he smiling?
Just as Tang San was puzzled, a voice rang in his ear.
The next second, his eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Su Yun!
"Su Yun, you!"
Tang San was furious. He hadn't expected that despite his efforts to conceal Dugu Yan by sending her away and creating confusion, Su Yun had still managed to rescue her!
How was this possible?
Could there be a traitor within the Clear Sky Sect?!
"Your people ran pretty fast, but it still took my men some effort."
Su Yun had remained in this standoff partly to wait until Dugu Yan was rescued before proceeding.
He looked down at Dugu Bo and shouted, "Senior Dugu, I've already rescued Dugu Yan. You can rest easy."
Hearing that his granddaughter had been rescued by Su Yun once again, Dugu Bo felt indescribable gratitude towards him.
"Su Yun, thank you!" Dugu Bo shouted.
Many spectators, upon hearing that even Dugu Yan had been captured by Tang San and the others, felt disdain for the latter.
"They even captured Dugu Yan? I didn't expect the Heaven Dou royal family to be like this."
"This is called collective punishment. Since Dugu Yan benefited from the Spirit Hall, she must be cautious."
"But now, it seems a battle between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Empire is imminent."
Soul masters from small city-states between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Empire, feeling the rising soul power in the sky, grew increasingly excited.
A battle involving dozens of Titled Douluo was a once-in-a-century event!
"Su Yun, it seems I was right about you. You're two-faced," Tang San glared at Su Yun.
"Hehe, likewise," Su Yun laughed.
"Today, you won't leave!" Tang San shouted, "Everyone, reveal yourselves!"
In an instant, the surrounding water-attributed soul power surged!
Many soul masters noticed the scent of the sea in the air.
"Are those... sea soul masters?!" someone who knew about the Sea God Island soul masters shouted.
"Could the Titled Douluo from Sea God Island really be here?"
Sea God Island was a place many land-based soul masters on the Douluo Continent dared not approach.
They had only heard that the Spirit Hall had once attempted to take Sea God Island but retreated after losing Titled Douluo, highlighting Sea God Island's terror.
After that, the Spirit Hall had almost never dared to provoke Sea God Island.
Even the Spirit Hall dared not touch Sea God Island, and now its soul masters were here in Heaven Dou City?
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Under everyone's gaze, seven soul masters suddenly leaped from the sea!
Seven distinct powers, each bearing a trace of the Sea God's power!
These were the Titled Douluo of Sea God Island!
When these seven sea Douluo were near the sea, their powers received a significant boost!
This was why Tang San had chosen this execution site.
"Are they really the Titled Douluo of Sea God Island?!"
Although the people present had never seen the Titled Douluo of Sea God Island, the powerful soul power and unique sea soul power attributes they possessed signified their identity!
"Tang San, as the inheritor of the Sea God, naturally has the authority to summon the Titled Douluo of Sea God Island."
"What powerful forces! Sea God Island's strength is truly terrifying! A single island has seven Titled Douluo!"
"No! You might be forgetting someone..."
In the air.
Tang San saw the seven Titled Douluo appear and a glint flashed in his eyes as he muttered, "The Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo, all present!"
"Holy Son, these seven must be the Titled Douluo of Sea God Island!"
"If they are here, then Bo Saixi must also be here!"
As this person finished speaking, a voice suddenly echoed in the air, followed by an overwhelming pressure of a rank 99 Titled Douluo enveloping the area.
If not for the soul tools provided by Lou Gao, Prince Xue Beng and Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou royal family might not have been able to remain calm under such immense pressure.
As royalty, they had to appear fearless.
Even with the presence of Spirit Empire's Titled Douluo, they had to maintain an unwavering attitude.
"Bo Saixi..." Seeing the elegant woman, flanked by the seven sea Douluo, holding a staff and walking out slowly, the atmosphere at the scene instantly dropped to freezing point.
A peak rank 99 Titled Douluo, who also had the right to use the Sea God's power.
Bo Saixi's strength was almost unquestionable.
She was one of the top three powerhouses of her time and the only woman among them.
Although she hadn't become a god, her power had reached a terrifying level through years of cultivation on Sea God Island.
"Su Yun, we have already investigated. Bibi Dong is in seclusion, and Qian Daoliu is guarding Qian Renxue's Angel God trial, unable to intervene. Today, you are bound to lose!" Tang San looked at Su Yun, his heart full of confidence in his well-placed spies.
Had it not been for the information confirming that Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu couldn't appear, Tang San wouldn't have decided to use Dugu Bo as bait to lure Su Yun.
"Su Yun, Holy Son of the Spirit Empire, I didn't expect you to come for a rank 92 Titled Douluo. Truly surprising," Bo Saixi glanced at Dugu Bo, then at Su Yun, with a meaningful expression.
For Bo Saixi, Dugu Bo's poison wasn't frightening. On Sea God Island, she could easily neutralize it with the power of the sea. In a one-on-one fight, not even ten Dugu Bo's would be her match.
"I didn't expect to see Lady Bo Saixi in action. It's truly an honor. However, if I wish to leave, none of you can stop me," Su Yun said calmly, showing no fear of the outcome.
Seeing Su Yun's indifferent expression, Bo Saixi felt something amiss.
She decided not to waste time and shouted, "Tang San, do it!"
"Alright!"
Tang San activated his domain, and Bo Saixi was about to strike.
As Bo Saixi expected, the moment Tang San's domain expanded, a domain symbolizing light simultaneously spread in the air!
Angel Domain!
"Bo Saixi, I didn't expect you to really come. What a surprise," Qian Daoliu's voice echoed, drawing countless gazes.
"Is that... Qian Daoliu of the Spirit Hall?! A top-tier powerhouse who was once on par with Bo Saixi and Tang Chen!"
"A rank 99 Titled Douluo?!"
"He came too!"
Many soul masters who had intended to leave decided to stay upon seeing Qian Daoliu. Such a powerful clash was a once-in-a-lifetime event!
"Qian Daoliu?!" Tang San's eyes widened in disbelief at his appearance.
Impossible!
His intelligence network had assured him that Qian Daoliu was with Qian Renxue for the Angel God trial. How could he be here?
"Qian Daoliu, you truly came."
Seeing Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi sighed, not wanting to fight him.
"If we fight, we'll destroy the entire imperial city," Bo Saixi transmitted to Tang San, "Tang San, are you sure about this?"
"If we truly clash, the consequences will be unbearable for both sides."
"Perhaps we could kill Su Yun here, but your chances of survival are almost zero."
Qian Daoliu's presence turned the tables on Tang San and Bo Saixi. Without him, they had at least a sixty percent chance of winning. But with Qian Daoliu, even a victory would come at a great cost.
This wasn't what Tang San wanted. He aspired to become a god, not die here.
Realizing his intelligence might have been compromised by Su Yun, Tang San resolved to retrain his intelligence network. But now, the priority was dealing with Dugu Bo and Su Yun.
Sensing Bo Saixi's thoughts, Qian Daoliu said, "Bo Saixi, I don't want to kill you or create conflict. But our positions force us to."
"Today, it all depends on you. Release Dugu Bo, and we can part peacefully."
He then directed his sharp gaze at Tang San, "If you refuse, the Spirit Empire will have no choice but to act. The casualties..."
Qian Daoliu left his threat hanging, but the meaning was clear. If they didn't release Dugu Bo, he would attack, and everyone would bear the consequences.
Tang San understood Qian Daoliu's implication. Initially, he thought Su Yun, as a god's inheritor, wouldn't let Dugu Bo die. But he quickly realized Qian Daoliu's plan.
In the Heaven Dou Empire, Tang San was the only one qualified to become a god, holding dual god positions. The Spirit Empire, however, had Su Yun, Qian Renxue, and Empress Bibi Dong—three potential gods.
Even without Su Yun, the Spirit Empire's advantage wouldn't diminish. Sacrificing an outsider like Su Yun to kill Tang San, the Heaven Dou Empire's only hope, was a worthwhile trade.
Tang San decided not to engage. Dying to further Qian Daoliu's plan and letting the Spirit Empire crush the Heaven Dou Empire was unacceptable.
He still had vengeance to fulfill, his mother to find, and his clan's reputation to restore.
"Lady Bo Saixi, are we really going to let this go?" Tang San transmitted to Bo Saixi.
Bo Saixi sighed, "Your intelligence was slightly off, reversing the battlefield's situation."
"Without Qian Daoliu, we could manage. But with him here, we can't overpower the Spirit Empire."
"You understand his message. Trading Su Yun's life for yours would be a huge gain for the Spirit Empire."
"This isn't a deal we can make."
Bo Saixi's explanation left Tang San with two words in his mind.
"Release him!"
An immense humiliation washed over him. They had come with such confidence, only to be cornered by a self-destructing tactic.
Being forced to surrender in the Heaven Dou Empire, before soul masters from across the continent, was intolerable.
Tang San clenched his fists tightly. (End of chapter)