Chapter 282: The Role of Dugu Bo
Was Tang San afraid of death?
To be honest, who wouldn't be afraid of death?
Moreover, if he were forced to perish alongside Su Yun by the Spirit Empire, Tang San would undoubtedly feel incredibly frustrated.
He had prepared and worked hard for so many years to defeat Su Yun and the Spirit Hall!
For himself, for his parents, for his teachers.
For the people around him!
But Su Yun had anticipated that Qian Daoliu would be willing to sacrifice Su Yun in exchange for Tang San's life!
No!
He had anticipated that Tang San absolutely wouldn't dare to die!
Realizing this, Tang San's heart skipped a beat.
At this moment, he was the only hope for the Heaven Dou Empire's victory.
Qian Daoliu had grasped this point, which gave him the audacity to threaten Tang San in front of everyone.
As expected from someone who served as the Grand Worship in the Spirit Hall… truly cunning!
Tang San looked up at Su Yun and saw him smiling calmly. Despite the immense anger burning inside him, Tang San couldn't let it explode!
He had to endure!
Endure until he passed the ninth Sea God trial!
Endure until his soul power broke through to rank 100, and he became a god!
Only then could he truly defeat the Spirit Hall!
"Well? Have you decided?"
"Will you fight?"
"Or will you release him?"
Qian Daoliu's calm gaze swept over Tang San and Bo Saixi as he posed the questions.
The countless people below, seeing Tang San and Bo Saixi's hesitation, sensed something was amiss.
"What's happening?"
"Aren't they about to fight?"
"Could it be that they won't fight?"
"How is that possible? With so many Titled Douluo gathered, on the verge of battle, would they really not fight just because of a few words from Qian Daoliu?"
The spectators below couldn't hear the conversations in the sky and thus couldn't believe that such a massive assembly of Titled Douluo would not result in a fight.
However, they were wrong.
As they watched Tang San make a move, thinking he was about to declare war, they saw him and his group descend instead.
After whispering a few words to Emperor Xue Ye, who displayed a range of emotions, the Heaven Dou Empire's powerhouses left under everyone's watchful eyes!
"What just happened?!"
"They're really not going to fight?!"
"I traveled thousands of miles for this, and this is what I get?"
"Wasn't Dugu Bo supposed to be executed? Is that it?"
Not only were the spectators below confused and surprised, but Dugu Bo himself was also bewildered when he saw Tang San and his group leave.
Am I being released?
Dugu Bo couldn't understand.
"Could it be that Su Yun and Tang San made a deal?"
The value of a Titled Douluo was immeasurable.
Without offering something truly valuable, it would be impossible to exchange for his life!
"Could it be some treasure of the Spirit Hall? Or territory conquered by the Spirit Empire?"
Dugu Bo speculated. Even though there was no battle, the Spirit Empire must have paid a high price to save him!
This made him feel even more indebted to Su Yun.
Having left safely today, he resolved to follow Su Yun's every command.
Anyone who wanted to harm Su Yun would have to get past his dead body first!
"Everyone, disperse."
"Today, the Spirit Empire doesn't want to cause unnecessary bloodshed. If anyone remains here, don't blame us for being ruthless," Qian Daoliu warned, looking down.
His words were directed not at the Heaven Dou Empire but at those who remained neutral, neither aligned with the Heaven Dou nor the Spirit Empire.
These individuals, although seemingly insignificant on their own, collectively formed a considerable force across the Douluo Continent.
However, they were scattered across various regions and often had conflicting interests, which was why the Spirit Hall hadn't bothered with them.
But dealing with them was only a matter of time.
Today, Qian Daoliu didn't want unnecessary trouble, so he issued a warning.
His words carried the unique pressure of a rank 99 Titled Douluo, causing those individuals to shiver.
Immediately, they sensibly chose to leave.
After the Heaven Dou Empire left, the vast space was left with only Dugu Bo.
When Su Yun and the others landed, they quickly untied Dugu Bo and removed the restrictions on him, restoring his strength.
"Dugu Bo thanks the Holy Son Su for his great kindness!" As soon as he regained mobility, Dugu Bo attempted to kneel before Su Yun, but Su Yun quickly supported him.
"Senior Dugu, there's no need for that," Su Yun said with a smile.
"If it weren't for the Grand Worship, we wouldn't have rescued you so easily today," Su Yun spoke sincerely, glancing at Qian Daoliu.
It was only then that Su Yun fully grasped the meaning behind Qian Daoliu's words.
Indeed, the Spirit Hall had more individuals qualified to become gods compared to the Heaven Dou Empire.
No matter how you looked at it, Tang San and the Heaven Dou Empire wouldn't dare to gamble.
If a battle ensued, and both Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi fought, both Su Yun and Tang San would surely perish.
Both were peak rank 99 Titled Douluo, each serving the Sea God and the Angel God.
Even though Su Yun and Tang San could temporarily use divine power, the odds of survival in a fight were slim.
Moreover, Su Yun was correct. If Qian Daoliu hadn't appeared, Bo Saixi could have taken down Su Yun, albeit at a cost.
Thus, Qian Daoliu was the key to the rescue plan's success.
"Dugu Bo thanks the Grand Worship," Dugu Bo said respectfully, bowing deeply but not kneeling.
"No need to thank me. If it weren't for Su Yun speaking on your behalf, so many Titled Douluo from our Spirit Hall wouldn't have come."
"So many people saving you and your granddaughter isn't free," Qian Daoliu said indifferently. "We will need your help on the battlefield."
Su Yun transmitted the conversation he had with the Spirit Hall elders to Dugu Bo.
After a brief hesitation, Dugu Bo nodded in agreement.
As long as he didn't have to harm innocents, he could accept it.
Then, Su Yun and the others, with Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, returned to the Spirit Empire's territory.
"Dammit! Su Yun and his people actually managed to rescue Dugu Bo!" Yu Yuanzhen slammed his hand on the table, feeling deeply frustrated.
They had believed today's plan was foolproof, yet it had still fallen short by a step!
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed with a hint of complexity as he shook his head, "There was no helping it. The Spirit Empire is ruthless."
"If they had truly exchanged Su Yun's life for Tang San's, our Heaven Dou Empire would be doomed!"
Even after hearing about the Spirit Empire's ruthless tactics from Tang San and Bo Saixi, Ning Fengzhi and the others felt a profound sense of unwillingness.
Currently, the Heaven Dou Empire had no shortage of troops, but they lacked potential seeds of power.
The Spirit Empire had Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Su Yun—three potential gods.
In contrast, they only had Tang San.
Thinking of this, Ning Fengzhi suddenly recalled Oscar, who had been away for some time.
He had also received a god's inheritance!
"I wonder how that kid is doing now," Ning Fengzhi sighed, remembering Oscar's parting words.
"It's a pity. If our Heaven Dou Empire had another person with a god's inheritance like Xiao San, we wouldn't have to fear the Spirit Empire today," Tang Xiao sighed as well.
What they had hoped would be a major victory had ended in failure, with Dugu Bo escaping.
...
"Xiao San, don't blame yourself for what happened today," Yu Xiaogang consoled Tang San.
Hearing his teacher's comforting words, Tang San shook his head, "No, teacher, if I had already become a god today, would I fear Qian Daoliu?"
"In the end, I'm still not strong enough!"
Tang San clenched his fists, looking at his hands as if seeing his two martial spirits.
Clear Sky Hammer, Blue Silver Grass.
"Teacher, to pass the ninth Sea God trial, I need to enhance my strength to the utmost."
"But now, if I can't evolve my Blue Silver Grass into the true Blue Silver Emperor, the chances of passing the ninth trial are very slim," Tang San said, recalling the image of his mother when Su Yun had summoned his martial spirit.
Looking at his teacher, Tang San asked, "Teacher, your theories on martial spirits are the best in the world. Is there any way to evolve my martial spirit without relying on the Blue Silver Clan's territory?"
The Blue Silver Clan's territory was now controlled by Su Yun and the Spirit Empire. Every time Tang San thought of Bibi Dong's appearance, he felt like spitting blood.
His mother must be under Su Yun's control.
Thus, rescuing his mother to enhance his Blue Silver Grass was out of the question!
He had to find another way.
"This..."
"Xiao San, give me some time."
"I will find a way to help you enhance your martial spirit," Yu Xiaogang, although unsure of how to help Tang San, felt compelled by his pride and duty as Tang San's teacher to find a solution.
Hearing his teacher's response, Tang San was delighted, "Thank you, teacher."
"I will be training in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well during this time. If you find a solution, come find me immediately."
"Alright."
...
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was taken by Tang San?" Su Yun was surprised to hear this from Dugu Bo.
"Yes, he threatened me with Yan Yan's life, and his strength has grown formidable," Dugu Bo sighed. "Strangely, his understanding of poison is no less than mine."
"Although I know the Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan of the Clear Sky Sect is proficient in poison, I have seen few who can ignore my poison formations and reach the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Despite his frustration with Tang San, Dugu Bo respected his strength.
Tang San, having been a part of the Tang Sect in his previous life, naturally had a deep understanding of poison.
This didn't surprise Su Yun.
"Luckily, I took most of the immortal herbs earlier; otherwise, Tang San would have benefited greatly," Su Yun felt relieved.
Dugu Bo continued, "Thankfully, you took nearly all the herbs. Now, even though Tang San controls the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he can only use the atmosphere for cultivation."
"Growing herbs in time for the upcoming battle is impossible."
Both Dugu Bo and Su Yun shared the same thought: time was what Tang San and the Heaven Dou Empire lacked the most.
With less than two years until the decisive battle, growing suitable immortal herbs was nearly impossible.
"No matter. As long as you can fight, a little gain for Tang San is irrelevant," Su Yun smiled. "In the upcoming battle, you must not disappoint me."
He had boasted to the elders of the Spirit Hall, and if Dugu Bo didn't make a significant impact on the battlefield, Su Yun would have to bear the responsibility.
"Rest assured, Holy Son, I can manage that," Dugu Bo, who previously refrained from fighting to avoid harming innocents, had no such reservations on the battlefield where only soldiers would be involved.
"Then we'll count on you."
"No problem."
After making arrangements for Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, Su Yun left.
In the following days, Dugu Bo and his granddaughter officially joined the Spirit Empire.
With only the two of them left in the Dugu family, they had no fear of retribution.
In subsequent battles with the Heaven Dou Empire, Dugu Bo indeed displayed the prowess of the Poison Douluo.
The name "Poison Douluo" was well-deserved.
Facing Dugu Bo's poison, which was akin to a small-scale disaster, many soldiers of the Heaven Dou Empire were incapacitated. Though not fatal, it rendered them incapable of fighting and required years to recover.
For a nation at war, the number of injured soldiers in need of treatment was more concerning than the number of deaths.
Dead soldiers were simply gone.
Injured soldiers, however, required treatment, which drained resources and affected morale if neglected.
As a result, the higher-ups of the Heaven Dou Empire debated whether to allocate large sums for the treatment of these soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Empire, with little effort, captured several cities.
However, this came at a cost for Dugu Bo, who expended considerable energy releasing such large amounts of poison.
"With Senior Dugu on our side, the Spirit Empire will significantly shorten the time needed to conquer the Heaven Dou Empire!" Su Yun exclaimed.
(End of Chapter)