Chapter 223: Di Tian's Wrath
After a frantic escape, Tang Hao finally reached a large city, collapsing in a narrow alley as his strength gave out.
Gasping for breath, Tang Hao felt the intense pain of his wounds catch up with him. The explosive power from detonating his spirit rings had faded, leaving his body weak and empty. Now, the sharp, throbbing pain from his severed leg pulsed through him, threatening to overwhelm his senses. But even in this state, Tang Hao forced himself to remain alert, using his spiritual power to cloak his presence and tighten the bandage on his left leg, trying to prevent further blood loss and avoid detection by the terrifying figure who'd nearly killed him.
When there was no sign of pursuit, he allowed himself a brief moment of relief.
"Who was that… and why did he call me 'human'? Could he not be human himself?" Tang Hao muttered, bewildered.
As exhaustion overcame him, he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep. He lay undisturbed for a day, until he was jolted awake by the sensation of hands rifling through his belongings. Instinctively, he unleashed a powerful aura, sending the intruder flying before he opened his eyes.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
He found a scruffy, disheveled beggar sprawled in a pool of blood the unfortunate victim of Tang Hao's powerful aura. Realizing it was just a homeless man, Tang Hao scowled in frustration. After confirming that his spirit bones were still secure in his storage device, he turned his attention to his own condition.
It was far worse than he had anticipated. Years of accumulated injuries had compounded with the wounds from Di Tian's attack. Not only had he lost a limb, but his spirit power had dropped by ten levels, leaving him a mere 85th ranked Spirit Douluo.
"Damn it!" Tang Hao cursed, his fist slamming into the ground as the reality of his new limitations sank in. He was a shadow of his former self, his days as a peerless Haotian Douluo seemingly over.
Yet despite his frustration, Tang Hao forced himself to refocus, his hand brushing over the spirit bones in his storage ring.
"My ruin means nothing as long as Tang San can carry on. As long as he lives, there is still hope for the HaoTian Sect," he muttered, as if trying to reassure himself. Gathering his remaining strength, he set out on the long journey back.
Meanwhile, back in Star Dou Forest, Di Tian was seething. The sight of a bloodied Tang Hao tearing through the forest had ignited his fury. Though Di Tian could have easily pursued him, he had chosen not to. A mere human like Tang Hao wasn't worth the effort of a full pursuit especially one that might lead him far from his duty to protect the Silver Dragon King.
But the massacre Tang Hao had unleashed weighed heavily on his mind. What if all human spirit masters behaved like him, slaughtering powerful spirit beasts with such impunity? If such behavior continued, Di Tian's long term plans to cultivate the spiritual power of his kin would be jeopardized. He had once reached godhood himself, and while the spirit beast path to divinity was currently blocked, he harbored ambitions of rediscovering it. After all, he had once commanded the strength of a god.
Deciding that something had to be done, Di Tian stepped out of the shadows, appearing before the Azure Bull Python for the first time.
Sensing Di Tian's immense aura, the Azure Bull Python was both awed and unnerved, instinctively lowering its head. It had heard whispers of the terrors that resided in the depths of Star Dou Forest, but this was the first time it had encountered such a being up close.
"Little one," Di Tian's voice was deep and commanding. "I have a task for you."
Despite its natural inclination for peace, the Azure Bull Python knew better than to defy such authority. Bowing its head, it replied, "Your command, mighty one."
"Rally the spirit beasts and unleash a beast tide. Humans must be reminded that spirit beasts are not prey to be slaughtered at will," Di Tian ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
Though reluctant, the Azure Bull Python knew it had no choice but to comply. It lowered its massive head and said in a low rumble, "As you command."
Thus, a brutal conflict erupted between spirit beasts and humans. With peace long established, humanity had grown complacent, but now they were forced to confront the wrath of the spirit beasts. In the battle that ensued, the Azure Bull Python's strength was revealed to the human world, marking the terror of a 100,000 year old beast. Three of Heaven Dou Empire's titled Douluo Sword, Bone, and Thunder had to join forces to hold it back.
Even so, the beast's powerful time based abilities made the fight a brutal struggle. Only with extensive use of their battle armor did they manage to hold their ground. The Azure Bull Python's might was beyond their expectations, and the appearance of a beast of such caliber sent ripples of fear through the human forces.
As the conflict spread, news reached Tianxing Academy, and under the pressure of human solidarity, the academy was compelled to lend its aid.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao returned to his son. Worn and crippled, he fulfilled his final duty, completing Tang San's training in the Haotian Hammer techniques before escorting him to the gates of the Slaughter City.
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