Tang San softly caressed Xiao Wu’s fur in his arms, no longer looking at these people, as if they were basically unrelated to him.
The imperial forbidden guards swiftly crawled up from the ground, encircling Xue Beng, then cautiously staring at Tang San, their expressions nervous.
Even if Tang San didn’t fully use his spirit, from the explosive punch just now, as well as that vast killing intent still making them tremble, these imperial forbidden guards accustomed to being arrogant still didn’t dare act blindly. None of them wished for the same fate as that warhorse.
Able to become imperial forbidden guards, they were all true battlefield veterans. The feeling Tang San gave them was like like someone who had crawled out from a mountain of corpses, that deathly still ice cold murderous spirit wasn’t something ordinary people could produce.
“Do it, you trash.”
Xue Beng clamored loudly, and these imperial forbidden guards unexpectedly without one Spirit Master, slowly encircled Tang San at his orders.
Tang San strolled forward, and those imperial forbidden guards surrounding him swiftly recoiled in answer to his footsteps, not one with the courage to attack Tang San. They weren’t even Spirit Masters, and after suffering the Deathgod Domain, their hearts were already filled with shadow.
Xue Beng was just about to move, launching spirit abilities at Tang San, when suddenly, a large hand fell on his shoulder, forcibly restraining his spirit power.
“Don’t do it if you don’t want to die. Leave it to me.”
A deep aged voice echoed by Xue Beng’s ear. Hearing this voice, Xue Beng’s taut body visibly relaxed.
And at this moment, Tang San’s disregarding everything footsteps suddenly paused, once again raising his head, something within his ice cold eyes.
An old man had appeared at Xue Beng’s side at some unknown time. Long green robes, disheveled grizzled hair, just standing at Xue Beng’s side, the atmosphere had become entirely different. The intense pressure gave even Tang San a feeling of being unable to breathe.
The green robed old man stared coldly at Tang San, but the astonishment within his eyes couldn’t be concealed.
The aura this youth released before was clearly a domain type of power, and the spirit power contained in that punch was also quite considerable. In his impression, this wasn’t something someone so young could possess. Even that little freak he had considered a friend couldn’t possible be so outstanding. Especially when he still held a rabbit, making a somewhat strange appearance.
Tang San placed Xiao Wu on his left shoulder, simultaneously raising both his hands.
In the heart of his right palm, glittering with blue light, a blood red and resplendent gold double veined Blue Silver Emperor quietly came out.
In his left palm black light gathered, inscribed with the lines of the Deathgod Domain, two chi[1] long, the cylindrical Clear Sky Hammer appeared from nothingness.
Without using spirit power, only simultaneously revealing two types of spirits, this was the greatest degree to which Tang San could simultaneously use his two spirits. When the two spirits appeared simultaneously, he couldn’t use any spirit abilities, even unable to bring out the might of the spirit. It was only a kind of demonstration.
When the green robed elder saw Tang San raise his hands, his surroundings erupted with green light, but as he saw the two kinds of separately appearing spirits in Tang San’s hands, the pupils of his eyes contracted violently, incredulously looking at the youth in front of him.
“Old freak, long time no see.”
Tang San sighed lightly.
Appearing at Xue Beng’s side, was precisely the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo looked at Tang San with shock on his face,
“You, you’re……”
Tang San smiled wryly:
“Is this still not enough to prove who I am?”
Suddenly, Dugu Bo’s face abruptly turned cold, the once vanished green light appearing once again. Silhouette flashing, he charged in Tang San’s direction.
As a Title Douluo, the pressure he gave Tang San was obvious. Simultaneously withdrawing the twin spirits, Tang San swiftly retreated a step. Flicking his right wrist, a golden red pearl appeared in his palm.
Others might not react to the appearance of this pearl, even the commoners in the distance didn’t. However, with the appearance of this pearl, Dugu Bo was like he had seen a ghost. Retreating like a flash of lightning, at least twice as fast as when he charged forward. The green light around him weakened substantially, and his face displayed a horrified expression.
What Tang San pulled out, was naturally that Ten Headed Ardent Yang Serpent neidan. This neidan could not only receive any snake venom, but simultaneously had an extremely powerful restraining effect on all kinds of serpents. Even if Dugu Bo’s spirit was the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, he still suffered enormous influence in front of the antedeluvian mythical beast Ten Headed Ardent Yang Serpent’s neidan. This sudden change left Dugu Bo without any choice but to retreat.
Trembling from his very soul, even as a Title Douluo he was still terrified. His gaze at Tang San immediately changed a lot.
Actually, Tang San didn’t really need to pull out the Ten Headed Ardent Yang Serpent’s neidan, even though it was still impossible for him to beat Dugu Bo with his present strength, resisting for a little while still wasn’t any problem. But he had the original form Xiao Wu on his shoulder. He didn’t want Xiao Wu to suffer any harm.
“You……”
Looking bewildered at Tang San, the expression in Dugu Bo’s eyes flickered.
Judging by the spirits, that was the Clear Sky Hammer without a doubt, and that glittering with peculiar light Blue Silver Grass also seemed to be one of the twin spirits. But Tang San’s appearance had really changed too much, and even his temperament had undergone fundamental changes. He had planned to first capture Tang San then slowly ask him afterwards.
Patting his Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse,
“Old freak, we’ll find somewhere to chat.”
While speaking, Tang San flicked his hand and withdrew the neidan.
Dugu Bo nodded, clapping Xue Beng’s shoulder,
“You deal with this place.”
Finished speaking, he walked into the distance with large strides.
Tang San’s feet slid, passing Xue Beng, he reached Dugu Bo’s side, Xiao Wu again returned to his embrace.
Dugu Bo shifted a meter sideways, keeping his distance from Tang San. That Ten Headed Ardent Yang Serpent neidan from before really left him somewhat apprehensive.
Tang San couldn’t help laughing:
“Old freak, when did you become so timid?”
Dugu Bo’s aged face reddened,
“Give me a break, even if everything points to you being little freak, how could little freak have grown into your appearance.”
Pointing to a tea house ahead, Tang San said:
“Let’s go, we’ll talk there.”
On the other side, Xue Beng’s gloomy face revealed a somewhat peculiar vigor, his brows wrinkling slightly, as if thinking of something. Waving his hand, he had the imperial forbidden guards swiftly put the scene in order, his whole aura seeming somewhat different.
Entering the tea house, Tang San asked for a private room, and poured two cups of fragrant tea.
“What’s going on? Little freak, how come you look like this?”
When Tang San pointed out the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse at his waist, Dugu Bo was already convinced to some extent, recognizing him. Twin spirits, and still knowing the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse was given by him, even the other Shrek Seven Devils might not know it clearly. He already had some trust towards Tang San.
Tang San carefully placed Xiao Wu on his thighs, glancing at Dugu Bo, he said:
“Your hair has already changed to its true color, the remaining poison within your body should also have almost dissolved. Congratulations.”
While listening, Dugu B
o’s face relaxed a lot,
“It seems, you really are little freak. However, how did you turn out so handsome? Teach me, perhaps I can still recover the spirit of my youth.”
Tang San smiled wryly:
“How would it be that easy, this is the changes caused by my spirit’s second awakening, inheriting my mother’s part of my genes.”
Immediately, he recounted everything that had happened since he left with his father almost without holding anything back, he didn’t even omit the events in Slaughter City, up until what happened in Star Dou Great Forest.
When Tang San spoke of Xiao Wu sacrificing herself to save him, his gaze was completely focused on Xiao Wu, his sorrowful expression unspeakably tender.
Dugu Bo listened dumbstruck to everything he said,
“Little freak, you really were a freak from the start. You actually have the bloodline of spirit beasts.”
Tang San’s expression sank,
“Old freak, even though my mom was born a spirit beast, when she had me, she was already human. If not for Spirit Hall, our family wouldn’t have changed to this, and mom wouldn’t have returned to a Blue Silver Emperor again. I just didn’t expect that I would encounter the same thing my parents did. Me and Spirit Hall, it absolutely won’t be left at that.”
Dugu Bo looked at Tang San in front of him, unable to hold back a burst of sorrow within his heart. Among his peers, Tang San really was an outstanding figure, possessing things countless Spirit Masters yearned for even in their dreams. But in reality, everything he had paid and endured was equally far beyond what ordinary Spirit Masters experienced!
Difficult cultivation, his parents’ tragedy, his lover’s tragic death as sacrifice, all this had fallen on these only twenty year old shoulders. That he could stand straight was already unusual. Extraordinary people had to go through extraordinary events.
“Little freak, what are your plans? Retaliating against Spirit Hall?”
Dugu Bo asked.
Tang San laughed coldly,
“Not right now. I still haven’t lost all sense of reason. With my Spirit Emperor power, how could I rock Spirit Hall’s foundations? My dad was too rushed back then. I won’t make the same mistake. I won’t stir things up. Once I move, I’ll definitely leave Spirit Hall grievously injured. Until they’re thoroughly rooted out. I’m twenty this year, I have plenty of time, when I feel I have saved up enough strength, I’ll move on Spirit hall. Old freak, what about you, why are you together with someone like Xue Beng? With your brains, it’s not like you couldn’t see Xue Beng and prince Xue Xing’s position back then in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Are people like that worthy of your protection?”
Dugu Bo looked deeply at Tang San,
“Little Freak, you’re still too young. Some things aren’t as simple as they seem on the surface. Very often you will have to look carefully to see the truth of things through the surface.”
Tang San was startled,
“You’re saying there’s some problem with Xue Qinghe?”
Dugu Bo nodded silently,
“Do you know why Xue Beng is such a dandy? That’s actually something Xue Qinghe forced him to. The present Heaven Dou Emperor Xue Ye originally had four sons. Xie Qinghe was the oldest, Xue Beng was the youngest. Originally, the most outstanding child of the imperial family wasn’t Xue Qinghe, but rather emperor Xue Ye’s second son. That was an alarmingly talented youngster. Perhaps he couldn’t compare to you in Spirit Master cultivation, but in intelligence and wisdom, he was still above you. But when he was twelve, he died prematurely. At that time, as the elder brother, Xue Qinghe was fourteen. The next year, emperor Xue Ye’s third son, a son extremely gifted in Spirit Master cultivation, died prematurely at eleven. Therefore, of emperor Xue Ye’s originally four sons, only two survive.”
A chill bubbling up in his heart, Tang San looked at Dugu Bo, unable to keep his heart from fluttering,
“Don’t tell me Xue Qinghe had something to do with the death of the two princes?”
Dugu Bo said indifferently,
“No one can be certain, because there’s no proof. Only, two days before the second prince’s death, emperor Xue Ye had just convened some ministers to discuss the position of crown prince. Almost all the ministers were inclined towards the second prince.”
Tang San’s eyes displayed a trace of introspective light,
“Wouldn’t it be the actions of someone backing Xue Qinghe?”
Dugu Bo shook his head,
“That’s impossible. At that time the four princes all lived in the inner palace, the second prince died from poison, and all the food and drink passed stringent inspections on that day. There absolutely wasn’t any chance to add poison. Only people on the inside had any opportunity. It was basically impossible for outsiders to approach. The chamberlains and maids minding the prince were all the trusted aides of emperor Xue Ye. After the event, this became a case without clues. But when the third prince died the next year, the circumstances were almost exactly the same. At that time the fourth prince Xue Beng was still only seven.”
“Due to his grief, emperor Xue Ye sent prince Xue Xing to investigate the matter. The results of prince Xue Xing’s investigation were very strange. From the clues, he discovered that the two princes were killed by exactly the same poison. But it wasn’t a poison drug, but were rather poisoned by a Spirit Master’s spirit.”
Tang San frowned:
“That still can’t prove a relation to crown prince Xue Qinghe!”
Dugu Bo gave a cold laugh,
“Without evidence, go look for who benefits the most. The second and third princes died young, the fourth prince was underage. Who obtained the most benefit? If outsiders did it to strike at the Heaven Dou imperial family, why leave behind the eldest son? In fact, even though Xue Qinghe’s innate talent wasn’t equal to the second prince, he was still quite intelligent. The reason why Xue Beng turned to this appearance was because he didn’t want to die. Back then prince Xue Xing personally instructed him in a unique skill that could save his life.”
“As the reigning monarch’s younger brother, prince Xue Xing absolutely isn’t as simple as the face you see. Originally he did me a life saving favor, that’s why I know so much behind the scenes information. Over these years, crown prince Xue Qinghe has obtained the support of more and more chancellors. Emperor Xue Ye also trusts him extremely much, leaving even more affairs for him to handle. But emperor Xue Ye’s body is steadily deteriorating. Not long ago, prince Xue Xing suddenly discovered that emperor Xue Ye is suffering from a slow acting poison, and found me to diagnose it. I discovered that what emperor Xue Ye suffered is a kind of mixed poison, the poison is ordinarily introduced through food, and comes from a kind of spice. In the imperial palace, ordinarily only one person uses this spice. That’s Xue Qinghe.”
“This mixed poison is extremely surreptitious. If it was me from before, I still wouldn’t have been able to discover it. It’s thanks to the knowledge of those mixed poisons I got from you. Through various clues I discovered, I then associated it with the events back then. Do you still believe Xue Qinghe would be clean?”
Listening to Dugu Bo, Tang San’s expression immediately grew serious. This was the first time he encountered people using something like mixed poison in this world, and it was furthermore used on the emperor. Dugu Bo’s Title was Poison. That he was unable to discover this poison with his previous abilities clearly showed how much thought the poisoner had put into it.
Recalling Xue Qinghe’s modest and respectful appearance, even though Tang San in his heart wasn’t willing to believe it, Dugu Bo’s words still made his impression of Xue Qinghe change to some extent. But as is said, take what you hear to be false, only believe it when you see it, he would still have to find the concrete details from his own later observations.
“Then why are you following Xue Beng? You’re not afraid it will make Xue Qinghe act against him? Moreover, no matter what is said, this is still the internal af
fairs of their imperial family. Don’t tell me you want to help Xue Beng take his place?”
Dugu Bo gave a cold snort,
“Xue Beng that kid isn’t simple either, he’s an extremely clever person. Only he’s always hidden himself very deep. You see that he presently has no more than forty something ranks spirit power. Actually, that isn’t because he hasn’t had the chance to cultivate even higher, but rather him deliberately not putting effort into cultivating, letting his spirit power stagnate. This matter relating Xue Qinghe and the mixed poison, I’ve only told prince Xue Xing. Right now even emperor Xue Ye is kept in the dark. Only I made him an antidote that can slowly dissolve the poison. I only told emperor Xue Ye that he had been poisoned, and had him continue acting as if he was, so don’t tell anyone about it. I don’t want to get involved with the matters of the imperial family, but if you want to deal with Spirit Hall later, then you should hope that Heaven Dou Empire has a stable ruling class. You returned from Star Dou Great Forest just now, so you still might not know of the two major things that happened.”
“What major things?”
Tang San asked doubtfully.
Dugu Bo lowered his voice:
“The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were ambushed. Because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School discovered it in time, they responded appropriately. They paid with the lives of more than two thirds of their disciples and retreated into Heaven Dou City. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has already been wiped from this world. A total massacre. Only some children not in the sect at the time managed to survive.”
“What?”
Tang San shot to his feet, involuntarily crying out in alarm. However, even when losing his self control like this, he still didn’t forget to lift Xiao Wu.
“How is that possible? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan are two of the three upper sects. Even Spirit Hall wouldn’t be able to extinguish them so easily?”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 291