The moment he fell into that Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well he had already lost consciousness.
The waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well churned when Tang San entered, but not long after, Tang San slowly sunk into the surging water. The surface once again recovered its tranquility, the milky white and scarlet red still clearly separated. The steam still filling the air, everything becoming quiet.
Time flowed like a river, early morning became night by the simple events of the sun rising and falling. Someone once said, ‘the eyes close and then open, and a day has gone by, the eyes close but do not open, and a lifetime has passed.’ Even time that seems to pass slowly can be so brief. Peoples’ lives are like this.
Night fell once again, darkness enshrouding the earth, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well once again entered darkness, and Tang San within still hadn’t surfaced, apparently he had completely disappeared from the spring water.
……
The sun set over a forest, a group of three was swiftly passing through the trees, constantly advancing, moving back and forth.
The trio consisted of two men and one woman, the two men both with anxious expressions. Even though that woman still had a serene face, her brows were tightly knit.
Of the two men, the one that seemed thinner and weaker was supported by the arm of the other man, borrowing strength to continue forward.
This trio had once been famous in the Spirit Master world, until they later collapsed and fell apart: the Golden Iron Triangle.
That day, after Tang San had quietly disappeared, Grandmaster had immediately returned with Flender to where Tang San had been, summoning his spirit Luo San Pao. Even if a creature like San Pao was quite weak, it still had some extraordinary features, namely its sense of smell.
Furthermore it was integrated with Grandmaster, and could remember everything Grandmaster smelled.
After a brief search, Grandmaster and San Pao immediately discerned Tang San’s whereabouts. He had unexpectedly been kidnapped by that Title Douluo Dugu Bo they met during the day.
As he recalled that toxic old freak, Grandmaster couldn’t help but panic, falling into that old poisonous thing’s hands, how could it be beneficial for Tang San? Moreover, they basically didn’t know the old freak’s whereabouts.
Flender was equally anxious. Even if Tang San wasn’t his direct disciple he was still one of the Shrek Seven Devils, he was still a student at Shrek Academy. Even more, he had never dared forget what that black clad man had explained to him, and that was an existence that terrified him even more than the Poison Douluo.
But at such a moment, Flender was still more cool headed than Grandmaster.
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
After careful consideration, Flender proposed that they return to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
Before at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, when those three board members had been ready to confront the Poison Douluo, they were clearly familiar with him. Perhaps they would know Dugu Bo’s whereabouts. And if they didn’t, they could just go look for that prince Xue Xing.
Of course, confronting an imperial prince was clearly unwise, but under pressure it wasn’t an issue.
After all, whether it was Grandmaster and Liu Erlong’s Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon school or Ning Rongrong’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, both were among the seven great schools of the present age. Even if prince Xue Xing’s status was even higher, he still wouldn’t dare offend two of the great schools of the Empire.
But in the end the trio hadn’t used their plan to corner the prince by force. The three Spirit Douluo board members were ashamed over the previous events, and when they met again at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, as they heard Tang San had been kidnapped by Dugu Bo, the three were immediately greatly shocked.
They told the Golden Iron Triangle that Dugu Bo had always been eccentric. Even if he was employed by the imperial family he didn’t live in Heaven Dou City, but in the sunset forest. Reportedly he lived on a mountain, but they didn’t know the concrete location.
The three Spirit Douluo board members expressed regret over Tang San being missing, but they also expressed their inability to help the Shrek group deal with Dugu Bo. Flender’s trio naturally knew why without explanations.
Who would want to go confront the terrifying toxins of the Poison Douluo? Even Spirit Douluo level powers would be fearful of facing such persistent poison.
The Golden Iron Triangle didn’t beg, and the trio left the Academy as swift as lightning, rushing to the Sunset Forest guided by Liu Erlong.
The Sunset Forest was about a hundred li[ 100里 = 50km] east of Heaven Dou City. One of Heaven Dou Empire’s several large spirit beast habitats, even if it wasn’t as vast as the Star Luo Great Forest it was still home to numerous high level spirit beasts.
Since entering the Sunset Forest in the morning, the trio had already spent a whole day searching, only briefly resting before continuing.
Even if Liu Erlong didn’t know much about Tang San, she still greatly admired the words he had used on Grandmaster, to say nothing of Tang San being the direct disciple of her beloved. What is called ‘love the house and its crow’[ Idiom: If you get involved with one part, you’ll have to get involved with them all. Or: Love me, love my dog.], even if she wasn’t as anxious as Grandmaster and Flender, she was still deeply concerned.
“Erlong, let’s rest a moment.”
Flender paused, gasping slightly. Rushing for a day didn’t really count for anything to a seventy plus ranked Spirit Sage like him, but he was somewhat tired mentally.
Erlong stopped in front of Flender and Grandmaster. Seeing Grandmaster’s lowered face, she consolingly said:
“Don’t worry, Xiao Gang. I think Dugu Bo might not necessarily want to kill Tang San, otherwise he would have done so immediately at our Academy. Why kidnap him?”
Grandmaster sighed, a painful light flickering in his eyes,
“No, you don’t understand. Dugu Bo kidnapping Tang San is definitely because he injured Dugu Yan, and the talent in poisons Tang San showed. If my guess is correct, then Dugu Bo is definitely interested in Tang San’s poison. Looking to see just what his poison is. And I’m certain Dugu Bo wouldn’t let Tang San live. It’s just a question of how long Tang San is of use to him. Someone like Dugu Bo is just plain evil, his reputation in the Spirit Master world is bad, always doing whatever he wants. With little San’s talent, if it was me, I wouldn’t let little San off.”
Flender laughed bitterly,
“If something really happened to little San, how could we justify it to that person?”
“That person? Who are you talking about?”
Liu Erlong asked somewhat puzzled.
Flender was just about to speak when, suddenly, a sharp hissing sound rose, surging like thunder, destroying the quiet of the night, causing a commotion among the spirit beasts in the forest.
The trio looked face to face, standing up practically simultaneously. They had naturally heard the astonishing power contained within that hissing sound, and such power was exclusive to Title Douluo. In this Sunset Forest, would there actually be a second Title Douluo?
Figures once again flashing, relying on that whistling sound for guidance, the trio leapt up, advancing swiftly.
Dugu Bo stood at the cave entrance, looking into the night sky with a jade light flickering in his eyes. Both hands at his back, spitting out a murky qi.
He had just now endured the suffering Tang San had mentioned. If it was just a matter of pain he might be able to endure, but that feeling of his heart itching wasn’t something people could take. With Dugu Bo’s strength, right now his clothes were soaked through. His long whistling sound was an expression of his depression after that pain.
Wonder if that kid has died. Dugu Bo thought to himself. He was extremely familiar with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it wasn’t a place where living creatures could survive. There where all kinds of plants there, but while plants could survive, creature’s co
uldn’t.
He had once seen a poisonous six headed bright chameleon enter the range of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and within just a few hours it had burst and died.
For some reason Dugu Bo was somewhat regretful. He actually had a bit of confidence in Tang San, and if that kid could really cure him and his granddaughter, wouldn’t he be throwing away his best chance?
Perhaps this test was too challenging for him.
While thinking of this, Dugu Bo’s mood changed somewhat. Recalling Tang San’s talent, he suddenly thought that might that child not be able to really cure him?
No good, light flashed in Dugu Bo’s eyes. He’d go have a look at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and if Tang San was still alive he’d consider it again.
As Dugu Bo prepared to ascend the hill, suddenly three long whistles echoed simultaneously, two strong and one weak, perhaps muffled, perhaps impassioned, but none lacked intense hostility. The whistling sounds rapidly approached, and judging by their positions, the owners of those whistles were apparently coming to the mountain.
Dugu Bo squinted his eyes slightly, snorting disdainfully,
“Someone actually wants to challenge me? Fine, I’ll take a look at who is so brazen.”
Abandoning his plan to climb the mountain, Dugu Bo took a step, instantly reaching the cliff precipice overhanging the cave. He spotted three silhouettes climbing the mountain towards him, leaping swiftly like shooting stars.
Looking at these three, Dugu Bo’s eyes were filled with disdain. Just two seventy plus ranked Spirit Sages and actually even a thirtieth ranked Spirit Grandmaster. Were they coming to die?
It was no wonder Dugu Bo felt this way. With his Title Douluo strength, let alone a Spirit Sage, even a Spirit Douluo would tremble to confront him. To say nothing of his poison not being something people could casually contend with.
Even equally ranked Title Douluo would be careful, with one mistake against his poison they would inevitably perish.
The Golden Iron Triangle trio leapt up simultaneously, floating towards Dugu Bo. Even if they had all along wished to be able to find him faster, actually confronting this poison titled Douluo, their hearts couldn’t help falling.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes brimming with a sinister jade light, watching them with a burning gaze, the formidable pressure making the air feel congealed. Grandmaster didn’t have the spirit power protection Flender and Liu Erlong had, and this pressure alone was enough to be fatal for him.
“Were you looking for me?”
Dugu Bo said coldly.
Grandmaster said angrily:
“Dugu Bo. Tang San. Where are you keeping him?”
Dugu Bo disdainfully said:
“What creature are you? How are you qualified to question me?”
“You……”
Grandmaster was about to speak again, but was stopped by Flender.
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
Flender knew that because of this relationship with Tang San, the otherwise cool Grandmaster’s mind was confused, making him more or less useless. Calmly looking at the Poison Douluo, he said with a slight salute:
“Senior Dugu, Tang San is of a junior generation, I don’t know how he offended you, but I ask you to be lenient. He’s after all just a thirteen year old child. As a revered Title Douluo, a magnanimous lord might let him off.”
Flender himself thought his words were exceptionally reserved, and still with a slightly mocking intent. Unfortunately, he faced a Poison Douluo who was unmoved by persuasion.
Dugu Bo lowered his eyelids,
“You’re saying I’m a bully? When striking the young, the old will appear. When striking you, I don’t know whether there’s someone even more senior that will appear? There’s nothing left of that kid. Want to avenge him? Fine, come, I wanted to exercise a bit yesterday, but those three old men didn’t dare act. Even if the three of you don’t amount to much, you might still be able to let me stretch my legs.”
Hearing Dugu Bo say not even bones remained of Tang San, Grandmaster only felt his brain go numb, his vision go black. After so many years, the feeling between him and Tang San was no longer that between master and disciple, but had entered that of father and son.
Being unmarried, Grandmaster had always regarded Tang San as his own child. Now hearing Dugu Bo say Tang San was gone, his heart wasn’t just in pain.
It was despair.
When people’s emotions become too extreme, everyone would change in some way. Some would become dumb, some would become hysterical.
But Grandmaster wasn’t like others. Right now, all the energy around him seemed to have disappeared, the heat in his surroundings fading away, he seemed to become as cold as a block of ice, looking at Dugu Bo with an equally chilly expression.
Even a power like Dugu Bo couldn’t help feel a bit apprehensive under such a deathly still gaze.
Flender’s expression dropped,
“Dugu Bo. You will definitely regret killing Tang San. Even if we can’t do it, you won’t come to a good ending.”
Dugu Bo curled his lips,
“What? You still want revenge? No, you won’t have the chance. Come, let me see just what makes you dare provoke this me. I don’t know what you believe, but I have a thousand ways to make you lose the will to live, but I won’t let you die. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something so amusing. Coming here is easy. Leaving, not so much. Nobody can just come to Dugu Bo’s abode when they want to.”
Flender and Liu Erlong simultaneously looked at each other, simultaneously grabbing Grandmaster and pulling him behind them, simultaneously each stepping forward obliquely. At once the trio had created a triangular formation.
“The sun and moon turns with dazzling gold.”
Flender shouted loudly. He didn’t release his spirit, but from his body spread a layer of intense golden light. The golden light wasn’t aimed at Dugu Bo, but rather rushed toward the sky, and at the same time spread below him.
Equally golden light burst from Grandmaster and Liu Erlong. Golden light filled the air, in an instant the three formed the corners of a golden triangle. At the center of the triangle was a golden ring, and surrounding it was all kinds of complex patterns.
Right now Flender’s trio were all covered with brilliant gold. Grandmaster and Liu Erlong slowly closed their eyes, and the light in Grandmaster’s eyes clearly brightened, staring at Dugu Bo like sharp swords.
“Yi, what kind of spirit ability is this?”
Dugu Bo looked astonished at the trio, inwardly somewhat puzzled.
As a Title Douluo, he was naturally experienced and knowledgeable, but he had never seen something like this before. He didn’t understand why that mere thirtieth ranked Spirit Grandmaster suddenly vaguely felt as if he could rival him.
Three layers of purple air was emitted under the golden light, dissipating in midair. Seeing this, Dugu Bo’s expression finally changed somewhat.
He was very familiar with this purple air, it was part of the poison formation Dugu Bo had arranged around this mountain. Everyone who entered would be infected by the poison. This wasn’t particularly ferocious, but extremely insidious. Its effects would take two hours to show, and after those two hours the poison would leach into the whole body, killing by withering the energy channels.
But the purple air streaming from Flender’s trio was clearly the toxin of his poisonous formation being expelled. The toxin in the poisonous formation wasn’t of any concern to Dugu Bo, but it would be fatal to ordinary spirit masters. Without Spirit Douluo level strength or higher, it should be impossible to expel.
This was where Dugu Bo was the most puzzled. Clearly the three were just two seventy something ranked and one thirtieth ranked. So why this moment did the three make him feel as though they were Spirit Douluo level powers.
Dugu Bo had grown strong too long ago, and afterwards hadn’t travelled the Continent much, so naturally he hadn’t heard of the Golden Iron Triangl
e.
The name ‘Golden Iron Triangle’ didn’t indicate the trio’s cooperation, but rather Flender, Grandmaster and Liu Erlong’s type of extraordinary spirit fusion ability.
The spirit fusion ability was very rarely seen in the Spirit Master world. It required the coincidence of both spirits being extremely compatible to succeed.
And Flender, Grandmaster and Liu Erlong’s spirit fusion ability required three people to use, this was practically unique in the Spirit Master world. In fact, the more Spirit Masters joined in a spirit fusion ability, the more powerful it would be. At the same time, the spirit fusion ability’s power was related to the congeniality of the participating Spirit Masters.
Like Dai Mubai’s and Zhu Zhuqing’s current congeniality was only sixty percent or so, but when fully used it allowed them to fight two opponents even stronger than them.
And Grandmaster’s trio’s Golden Iron Triangle wasn’t just a spirit fusion ability from three people, with their mutual congeniality as if one body in the Spirit Master world, they could reach over ninety nine percent.
Once used, their strength would multiply geometrically. Otherwise they wouldn’t have been so famous.
Even now, even if it was the unrivalled spirit and spirit variation theorist Grandmaster, he still didn’t understand just how his, Flender’s and Liu Erlong’s spirit compatibility could reach such a terrifying degree. In fact, apart from them, compatibility in excess of seventy percent was already extremely rare.
With their innate congeniality and their many years together, their spirit fusion ability compatibility approached one hundred percent.
Even if they had been apart for twenty years, right now using that spirit fusion ability that made them famous, still felt like the ice melting, the three becoming one, entering the rhythm of the Golden Iron Triangle.
After Dugu Bo’s brief astonishment he still didn’t move, just standing there holding his hands. With his pride, confronting three opponents so far beneath him, he naturally wouldn’t rush.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 116