. In the Starry Sky Forest, the setting sun bleeds like blood.
The bright red spider lilies grow everywhere, their crimson hue covering the mountains and fields as if they know what is to come and are offering a tribute to those who are about to die.
Xiao Wu helped the heavily injured Tang San as they fled with all their might.
Her beautiful face was filled with worry; she had already foreseen the ending of the story. Her third brother was seriously injured, and pursuers were hot on their heels. Her own safety and her third brother's safety weighed heavily on her heart.
Tang San's blue clothes were now stained with blood, his eyes were glazed, and blood occasionally spurted from his mouth. Looking at Xiao Wu beside him, Tang San weakly urged:
"Xiao Wu, don't worry about me, just run."
Thinking of his vow, he couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself, never expecting it to come true. However, he didn't regret it. Even if it happened again, he would still stand firmly in front of Xiao Wu.
To harm Xiao Wu, one must step over his corpse.
"Brother, I'm not leaving. If we're going to die...we'll die together!"
Xiao Wu looked at Tang San's face, which she hadn't seen for many years, her eyes filled with determination. Ever since Tang San accepted her as a soul beast at the Spirit Hall, she had foreseen this moment and decided to live and die together.
"Xiao Wu, why are you doing this to yourself?"
Tang San coughed up a mouthful of blood and said helplessly. But in his heart, he had already made up his mind.
The two were already injured, which slowed them down considerably. A moment later, they were surrounded in this place filled with spider lilies.
Dozens of powerful figures occupied various positions all around them, leaving them with nowhere to retreat.
Tang San killed nearly ten powerful members of the Spirit Hall during his escape. Those were his comrades-in-arms, with whom he had known for countless years!
If it weren't for the fact that the current Holy Maiden, who is in charge, hasn't spoken yet, they would have already torn Tang San to pieces!
Surrounded by the crowd, Hu Liena slowly stepped forward, her captivating eyes filled with icy coldness. She stared intently at Tang San and said in a chilling voice:
"Running? Why did you stop running?"
Not only him, but the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall were also keeping a close eye on Tang San. In this life, although they were not defeated by Tang San, they naturally placed the shame that Tang Hao had brought to the Spirit Hall on Tang San.
Moreover, not long ago, they were tricked by Tang San in disguise as Tang Yin, resulting in the deaths of several powerful members of the Spirit Hall. Upon returning to the Spirit Hall, they will undoubtedly face punishment from the Pope.
In the woods, Dai Yao peered through the gaps in the trees at the scenes unfolding among the spider lilies, and couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
No one would have imagined that Hu Liena, who deeply loved Tang San in the original story and still harbored feelings for him even after recognizing him, would now be so hostile towards him, treating him like an irreconcilable enemy.
"Since you're willing to send a few more people down with you, why should I run?"
Tang San felt an unprecedented sense of peace at this moment and said calmly.
Looking at Xiao Wu's beautiful face beside him, her long hair cascading down her back and dancing in the wind, he felt extremely satisfied. At the same time, he was also desperately activating the Xuan Tian Gong within his body to restore his soul power.
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts sank.
On their journey to pursue Tang San, they have witnessed far too many incredible methods. Several Soul Saint-level experts in the eyes of outsiders have perished at the hands of Tang San's techniques.
This made them deeply wary.
Although Tang San was merely a Soul King, they felt an invisible pressure. While they hated Tang San to the core, each of them was willing to be the unfortunate scapegoat.
"elder brother."
Looking at the enemies around her, Xiao Wu couldn't help but feel a slight tension and grabbed Tang San's clothes.
Tang San turned around, forced a smile, and tried his best to appear gentle. He said:
"Don't worry, Xiao Wu. As long as I'm alive, I will never let them hurt you."
At this moment, the injuries within his body had brought him to the brink of collapse. Unlike the characters in the original story, he didn't have countless immortal herbs to enhance his physical strength; even his soul bone consisted only of his mother's piece.
Under safe conditions, the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone's properties could still mend his damaged body. But for the sake of his loved ones, he was determined to fight no matter what.
Just then, Hu Liena stopped the group from making their move. She looked at Tang San, hesitated for a moment, and coldly said:
"Tang San, if I'm not mistaken, you are the Asura King from the City of Slaughter."
Tang San was slightly taken aback, his mind racing. He didn't understand why Hu Liena was asking him this, but he immediately realized this was an opportunity to recover his soul power, and he sneered:
"good."
Hu Liena smiled slightly, staring intently at Tang San, and said:
"If you tell me the true identity of the Asura Emperor, I can give you a quick death and save you from torture."
The image of that domineering figure, wielding a gun with one hand, flashed through Tang San's mind. After leaving the City of Slaughter, he had tried to find it using the power of Shrek Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire.
After all, his domineering marksmanship in the killing field had amazed him. If they could form an alliance with him, their chances of overthrowing the Spirit Hall in the future would be greatly increased.
No matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find any trace of the Asura Emperor. Therefore, he strongly suspected that after leaving the City of Slaughter, the Hell Messenger Hu Liena had killed him.
He sneered:
"In the City of Slaughter, wasn't the Asura Emperor always with you? You left the City of Slaughter together, so you should know his identity better than anyone else. Why bother asking me?"
"After leaving the Killing City, I specifically searched for him, but I couldn't find any trace of him at all, as if he had vanished into thin air."
"If I'm not mistaken, he died at the hands of your Spirit Hall after leaving the City of Slaughter!"
Upon hearing this, Hu Liena felt as if she had been insulted. She had been searching for the Asura Emperor for countless years, and her love for him was deep; how could she possibly harm him! She shouted angrily in a delicate voice:
"You're talking nonsense!"
Upon hearing this, many experts from the Spirit Hall turned around in astonishment to look at Hu Liena, as it was the first time they had ever seen her so out of control.
Xie Yue and Yan stared at Hu Liena in astonishment. Hu Liena's loss of composure made Yan realize just how important the 'Asura Emperor' was to Nana.
Hu Liena was breathing heavily, her chest heaving like ocean waves. She was furious. Noticing the strange looks from those around her, she realized she had lost her composure.
He took a deep breath, calming his emotions, and said coldly:
"I searched for him desperately on the mainland, how could I possibly harm him?"
Upon hearing this, Tang San snorted coldly and said:
"Even with the full force of the Spirit Hall, you still couldn't find any trace of the 'Asura Emperor.' Don't you ever consider that with the strength of your Spirit Hall, you could find someone without difficulty?"
"The only possibility is that there is someone with more power than you who doesn't want you to find him! He must be dead by now!"
A bolt of lightning seemed to strike Hu Liena's heart, sending a shiver down her spine. She suddenly realized the truth. Yes, if even the Spirit Hall, with its strength, couldn't find the 'Asura Emperor,' then either he didn't exist, or someone was deliberately hiding him.
But she had seen the 'Asura Emperor' with her own eyes and spent two years with him day and night; the 'Asura Emperor' could not possibly not exist.
The only possibility is that someone is deliberately hiding it. Within the Spirit Hall, there are no more than a handful of people with this ability. And the most likely candidate is her teacher—Bibi Dong!
In an instant, she seemed to understand everything. All the unusual occurrences were explained.
Why would the 'Asura Emperor' wait for her to come along when he clearly has the strength to challenge the Hell Road alone? It's obviously to escort her!
She was shocked, but also incredibly conflicted.
She didn't understand why her teacher was hiding the 'Asura Emperor' from her, preventing her from seeing him.
"Let's do it!"
After a long while, Hu Liena suddenly let out a sharp shout.
She couldn't let her personal feelings interfere with her teacher's plans.
In an instant, the powerful figures who had been preparing to attack unleashed their strongest attacks. Xie Yue and Yan, a crescent moon and a blazing flame, swept towards Tang San from the left and right respectively.
Tang San had long ago found the only way to break the deadlock, but it was also a path that would inevitably lead to his death.
Tang San grabbed Xiao Wu's hand, then suddenly flung her away, sending her flying far off. At the same time, he activated his Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone, rising abruptly into the air.
Meanwhile, the attacks that had locked onto Tang San also took to the air.
At this moment, apart from the three members of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, the remaining Soul Saints were all power-attack type Soul Masters. Their strongest Soul Skills, unleashed after using their Spirit True Body, would be unbearable even for a Soul Douluo.
"No—Brother!"
Xiao Wu, who had been tumbling among the spider lilies, stopped and looked anxiously at Tang San in the sky, sobbing. She could do nothing but watch helplessly as Tang San was engulfed by those dazzling attacks.
Tang San exerted all his strength, holding the Clear Sky Hammer, and then wrapped himself in the Blue Silver Emperor, forming a sphere.
The God of Slaughter Domain and the Blue Silver Domain were fully unleashed, amplifying the weak defensive layer. However, the Blue Silver Emperor's defenses were disintegrated by the numerous attacks, as if ice and snow were melting away.
In the end, only the Haotian Hammer remained.
The Clear Sky Hammer, devoid of any spirit rings, was shattered by numerous attacks upon contact. However, Tang San used the recoil to rise slightly.
"don't want!"
Xiao Wu cried out in anguish, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Tang San, who was like a small boat adrift in a raging storm amidst the numerous attacks.
At this moment, Tang San was no longer able to offer any resistance.
He has given everything he has.
"Goodbye, Xiao Wu, my love!"
With deep longing, and to everyone's astonishment, he raised his right leg and slammed it down on the attack coming at him. In an instant, his right leg vanished.
A blue soul bone quietly appeared as flesh and blood dissolved.
Without any hesitation, Tang San grabbed the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone and threw it violently towards Xiao Wu. With his last ounce of strength, he roared in a hoarse, desperate voice:
"Xiao Wu, use your Soul Bone Skill to fly! Run!"
At this moment, even the many powerful figures from the Spirit Hall, who were on opposing sides, couldn't help but be moved by Tang San's devotion.
This was all part of Tang San's plan: to sacrifice himself so that Xiao Wu could escape.
Deep in the forest, Dai Yao watched this scene with mixed feelings. Indeed, Tang San had many flaws, but his deep affection for Xiao Wu was undeniable.
In his previous life, he was deeply moved when he first read about the scene of sacrifice.
It was only because Tang San scholars continued to dig into his past misdeeds that he no longer viewed the classic scene of the sacrifice as simply as he had when he was young.
But now, witnessing this scene with my own eyes, I still can't help but be moved.
But for the sake of his plan, he had to destroy this scene!
In Tang San's plan, Xiao Wu could use the flight skill of the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone to leave smoothly. Not to mention the time required to absorb the soul bone, and since she could escape the pursuit by using the flight skill of the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone, why didn't Tang San use it in the first place?
Dai Yao sighed inwardly, not wanting to think too much about it or speculate on Tang San's true thoughts. At this moment, all his attention was on Xiao Wu.
In Xiao Wu's eyes, the soul bones of the Blue Silver Emperor kept flying in, and she instantly understood Tang San's plan.
That is to sacrifice myself in order for her to live.
"Brother, I'm sorry, but this time, I can't let your plan succeed."
Xiao Wu's eyes turned bloodshot as she stared at Tang San's mangled body, about to be devoured by the attack. She suddenly raised her head and let out a sharp, piercing scream:
"ah--"
The entire Star Dou Great Forest trembled.
A blinding red light spread from Xiao Wu's forehead. Rings of red light dyed everything in their path blood red. Everything froze in that instant.
The Yin-Yang Stillness Domain that had been imprisoning the two divine beasts shattered instantly. The two divine beasts ignored the two Title Douluos who had bound them, and instead charged madly towards Xiao Wu's location.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Lake of Life.
Beside a massive snow silkworm with nine golden stripes covering its body, numerous powerful figures closed their eyes, absorbing the energy emanating from the snow silkworm.
Even ordinary titled Douluo would be terrified and flee at the sight of these figures.
At the center of the crowd sat a man with long, flowing black hair. His divine might was like a prison, causing even the most powerful soul beasts, capable of easily tearing apart Title Douluos, to lower their noble heads.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, his expression, unchanged for tens of thousands of years, furrowed slightly. He turned his head to look in one direction.
It was right where Xiao Wu was.
"How many years has it been? Has another soul beast been sacrificed? Can that plan really succeed?"
He was talking to himself.
His tone carried a faint sadness. The sacrifice meant the death of yet another powerful soul beast, a hundred thousand years old, their future companion.
To gamble on a future that is almost impossible.
He seemed to be asking himself, even someone as powerful as him felt a profound powerlessness before those people. All he could do was hide here, barely clinging to life...
In the center of the Starry Sky Forest, everything stood still.
The fallen leaves froze in mid-air, and all the attacks ceased. Everything that the red light touched froze in place. The only thing that could move was Xiao Wu, at the center of the red light.
Xiao Wu's entire body turned red, and her clothes were burned to ashes, revealing her perfect and translucent jade-like body. It was as crystal clear as a ruby.
No one could see her, and no one could hear her voice. Because in that instant, the consciousness of those around her also ceased.
This is the power of a 100,000-year-old soul beast.
With a wave of her hand, the blue soul bone flew into her palm, and she slowly walked towards Tang San. The expression on her face changed from initial disappointment to a faint sense of relief, and finally to joy.
Tang San sacrificed himself to obtain her bones in order to save her; she sacrificed her soul ring to save Tang San. It's perfectly normal for them to give to each other.
As she walked toward Tang San, she murmured affectionately:
"Brother, you're so foolish, so incredibly foolish. Do you think I'd survive if you died...?"
Before she could finish speaking, a thick, strong hand gripped Tang San's neck in her increasingly widened pupils.
The figure in pure white gradually appeared, with flamboyant blond hair and domineering golden eyes. It was none other than Dai Yao, who had disappeared for a long time!
Dai Yao grabbed Tang San by the neck and lifted him up like a chicken. Gazing at the naked Xiao Wu, Dai Yao felt no emotion, and coldly said:
"I will be the one sacrificed, or he will die!"
Xiao Wu was slightly taken aback, then exclaimed in utter horror:
"Why! Why are you allowed to move within the area I sacrificed!"
She couldn't understand why Dai Yao could move the domain created by a 100,000-year-old soul beast's sacrifice, a domain that even a Title Douluo couldn't move!
Dai Yao snorted lightly. His Chaotic Azure Lotus Martial Soul could even interfere with the domain of a god, let alone the domain formed when a soul beast sacrificed itself.
He said calmly:
"There's a lot you don't know! Xiao Wu, do you still remember our bet? If you make a sacrifice, then I will be your sacrifice. Do you intend to break the bet?"
Xiao Wu recalled that she had made a bet with Dai Yao in exchange for the Acacia Heartbreak Red herb, which could conceal her identity. She never expected that Dai Yao could not only appear during her sacrifice, but also move within the sacrifice area and threaten her with her third brother's life.
"But didn't you steal that magical herb?"
Xiao Wu stared at Dai Yao with hatred in her eyes.
If Dai Yao hadn't snatched the Acacia Heartbreak Red from her, her identity wouldn't have been exposed. It could be said that everything that happened today was thanks to Dai Yao!
"It seems you don't intend to keep your promise..."
Dai Yao sighed and shook his head. If Shrek Academy hadn't taken out the Zhuge Crossbow first and shown murderous intent, he wouldn't have snatched the Acacia Heartbreak Red from Xiao Wu.
There's no point in saying more now.
He gripped Tang San's neck, his hand slowly tightening. Although Tang San's consciousness had been halted, he could still feel the suffocation, and his face gradually turned pale.
As the Titan Ape and Azure Bull Python drew ever closer, his heart grew increasingly anxious. If he hadn't successfully obtained Xiao Wu's spirit ring by the time those two spirit beasts arrived, he could easily leave, but the others from the Spirit Hall wouldn't be able to!
He said in a cold voice:
"Xiao Wu, I'm giving you one last chance. If you replace me with the one you sacrifice, I can not only heal Tang San, but also give him a way out."
"But if you don't switch, then Tang San will die right before your eyes!"
"You don't need to stall for time. Wait for the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape to arrive. If you haven't made a decision within three breaths, then I will have Tang San's head separated from his body!"
At the same time, he used the azure light within his body to heal Tang San's body. Under the influence of the azure light, Tang San's missing right leg began to slowly regenerate.
The damaged body slowly began to recover.
But the hand he gripped Tang San's neck tightened even more.
Watching Tang San slowly recover, Xiao Wu felt incredibly conflicted. She was extremely reluctant to sacrifice herself to Dai Yao, but it was the only way to keep Tang San alive.
Moreover, Dai Yao only gave her three breaths.
She couldn't think, but she wanted Tang San to live. She glanced at Dai Yao with a complicated expression, then slowly spoke:
"Dai Yao, if you don't release my brother in the end, I will haunt you even as a ghost!"
After she finished speaking, the blood flames burned brighter and brighter, gradually turning from red to dark red. Xiao Wu's body also gradually faded during this transformation, like an increasingly transparent red crystal.
All the red expanded into a huge ring that slowly contracted, surrounding Xiao Wu and Dai Yao.
A blood-red spirit ring gradually condensed on Dai Yao's sixth spirit ring.
The soul power that had been suppressed within his body for so long seemed to find an outlet, surging wildly into the blood-red soul ring. At this moment, Dai Yao's soul power began to increase at an unimaginable speed.
Feeling the surging power within him, Dai Yao couldn't help but look up to the sky and sigh:
"After all my scheming and plotting, the 100,000-year soul ring is finally mine!" (End of Chapter)