Chapter 295: Tang San's Strategy
Dugu Bo's speed was astonishing.
Before leaving, he had also triggered a toxin array he had prepared beforehand to hinder Tang San and his followers' pursuit.
The toxins weren't lethal but would take time to neutralize.
If they ignored the toxins to pursue him, at least a third of the people in the imperial city would suffer.
Knowing Tang San and his allies wouldn't allow the people to be harmed, Dugu Bo believed that unless Bo Saixi herself intervened, few could match his skill in escape.
Bo Saixi was likely still on Seagod Island.
"Heh heh, being able to see Tang San humiliated in person is truly delightful," Dugu Bo thought as he sped away.
He had always held a grudge against Tang San for threatening him, and Su Yun had given him the perfect opportunity to settle the score.
Dugu Bo was certain that within a day, reports of Tang San being caged and paraded across the Heaven Dou Empire would spread throughout the continent.
When that happened, the Heaven Dou Empire would be utterly humiliated.
Some neutral factions would likely submit to the Spirit Empire as well.
Dugu Bo reflected, "Su Yun's tactic, even without killing Tang San, is truly a psychological blow!"
He could already envision the devastating impact on the morale of the Heaven Dou Empire once the news spread.
Just as Dugu Bo was pondering this, he sensed multiple presences behind him.
"They've caught up?" Dugu Bo immediately realized Tang San and his group were in pursuit.
Although uncertain if Tang San himself was among them, Dugu Bo decided caution was best.
Following Su Yun's instructions, he headed towards the Star Dou Forest.
Not long after Dugu Bo vanished, several figures arrived at the scene.
It was none other than Tang San and the Titled Douluos of the Clear Sky Clan.
"This Dugu Bo is truly cunning, knowing he can't outrun us and setting up toxin arrays in advance," said the Fiery Sun Douluo of the Clear Sky Clan, looking displeased.
"Fortunately, we have enough manpower this time."
One of the Titled Douluos added, "We have left some Titled Douluos on Seagod Island. With their unique martial spirits, we can neutralize these toxins."
"Young master, what should we do now? Continue the pursuit?"
Another Titled Douluo asked, "Dugu Bo seems to be heading into the Star Dou Forest. Should we wait for reinforcements or go in first?"
No matter what, Dugu Bo had to die today!
Tang San, his eyes red with anger, looked at the Star Dou Forest and immediately ordered, "Go!"
Swish!
The Titled Douluos around him, obeying his command, turned into streaks of light and rushed into the Star Dou Forest!
Inside the Star Dou Forest.
Dugu Bo sensed the presences closing in on him.
"Can't run any further."
Muttering to himself, Dugu Bo halted and began setting up toxin arrays.
Since Su Yun had directed him here, there must be a reason.
Dugu Bo chose to trust Su Yun.
Even if Su Yun needed his death for some purpose, he would comply without hesitation.
The Poison Douluo quickly set up several linked toxin arrays.
As he finished, he sensed several presences drawing near.
He looked up and saw Tang San!
And behind him were members of the Clear Sky Clan!
Aside from Tang San, the other five elders were all Titled Douluos.
This meant the entire Clear Sky Clan had mobilized all its Titled Douluos, except for the Clan Leader Tang Xiao, just to kill Dugu Bo!
"Ha, what an honor it is for me, having the entire Clear Sky Clan mobilize against me," Dugu Bo laughed mockingly, sitting in the center of his toxin array.
"Hmph! Dugu Bo, you've poisoned our soldiers on the battlefield, incapacitated so many, and now you've poisoned our imperial city again. You deserve to die ten times over for your actions!" the second elder of the Clear Sky Clan said coldly.
"Dugu Bo, you will die today!" Tang San glared at Dugu Bo, unable to suppress his killing intent.
The thought of his identity being exposed by Dugu Bo made Tang San want to kill him even more.
Bad news travels fast.
Tang San was certain that the shining image of his dual god inheritance, maintained for so long, had been utterly tarnished by Dugu Bo's actions.
"Heh heh, boy, sooner or later you will be slain by our Spirit Empire's Holy Son Su Yun. This little humiliation is nothing," Dugu Bo now had immense confidence in Su Yun. He believed that no matter what, Tang San would never be a match for Su Yun.
"I don't know if I'll be killed by him, but today, I will definitely take your head and hang it high on the walls of Heaven Dou City!" Tang San gritted his teeth. He desperately needed Dugu Bo's head to justify himself.
As he finished speaking, he secretly commanded the Clear Sky Clan elders around him to quietly surround Dugu Bo.
"Attack!"
Tang San shouted, and the next moment, six Clear Sky Hammers, including his own, simultaneously struck!
As the world's strongest weapon martial spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer was indeed immensely powerful!
Dugu Bo's poison array didn't last even a second before it was shattered.
Even the small poison traps Dugu Bo had set up were destroyed by Tang San and the others!
"Boom!"
At the moment the poison array shattered, the explosive force sent Dugu Bo flying hundreds of meters away!
After stopping, Dugu Bo didn't hesitate for a moment and fled deeper into the Star Dou Forest at a speed that Tang San and the others couldn't anticipate.
Without special orders from Su Yun, Dugu Bo naturally didn't want to die.
Following Su Yun's instructions, he headed deeper into the Star Dou Forest, expecting someone to come to his aid.
However, from the moment he entered the Star Dou Forest, he hadn't sensed another presence.
"He can still run after taking our combined attack?!" The second elder was surprised to see Dugu Bo still moving after such a massive hit.
They were the Clear Sky Clan!
The number one clan in the world!
Once their Clear Sky Hammers struck, the force was unmatched.
A regular Titled Douluo would need time to recover after such an attack.
Yet, Dugu Bo...
"Dugu Bo has received Su Yun's favor, helping him strengthen his martial spirit. That's likely why he dared to come to our Heaven Dou City alone," Tang San said coldly.
"But no matter what, we must catch him today!"
Tang San instructed the elders beside him, "Elders, when you see Dugu Bo, don't waste words, attack immediately."
"The ten-thousand-year soul beasts here should still be in seclusion. We cannot draw their attention."
Tang San knew the terror of the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python.
He needed a swift resolution.
He couldn't let Dugu Bo escape into the depths of the Star Dou Forest.
...
Dugu Bo, while fleeing, reflected that if he hadn't used his martial spirit to protect himself, he might be in real trouble now.
"No wonder the Clear Sky Hammer is so formidable. I underestimated it."
Dugu Bo calmed his internal turmoil, "If my martial spirit hadn't evolved, I might have been done for."
Since upgrading to the Seven-Colored Snake Emperor, Dugu Bo had clearly felt a significant power boost.
But even this was insufficient against the Clear Sky Hammer.
"Hmm? Are they catching up?" Dugu Bo had pushed his speed to the limit, but he could still sense the pursuers drawing closer.
"Their soul power must be at least ninety-three."
"One of them is fastest, clearly Tang San."
Dugu Bo estimated that within a few breaths, Tang San would catch up. He prayed that Su Yun's contingency plan would work.
Though he wasn't afraid of death, he still wanted to see his granddaughter marry.
"Swish!"
As Dugu Bo had anticipated, within moments, Tang San's figure appeared, blocking his path.
Tang San's face was contorted with rage, like an enraged lion, as he growled, "Dugu Bo, I spared you once, and yet you dare to court death again."
"You think becoming Su Yun's dog means I can't kill you?"
"Let me tell you, even if Su Yun were here today, you would still die!"
With those words, Tang San summoned his trident. Weighing 108,000 jin, it descended upon Dugu Bo like a falling galaxy.
Seeing the trident, Dugu Bo's eyes widened in alarm. He immediately activated his martial spirit's true form—Seven-Colored Snake Emperor!
Head Spirit Bone Skill—Medusa's Gaze!
Swish!
Two petrifying beams struck Tang San.
In an instant, Tang San was turned to stone, frozen in place.
However, Tang San was no ordinary spirit master.
He was a god's inheritor.
And his trident was a divine weapon.
Thus, Dugu Bo's vaunted petrification skill didn't hold long against Tang San's divine power, and the petrification was soon dispelled.
"Heh, a mere spirit bone skill. If you had used this before I gained the Sea God's inheritance, you might have had a chance. But now..."
Tang San's gaze toward Dugu Bo was full of amusement. "Without Su Yun backing you, you're nothing but trash to me."
Before Dugu Bo could retort, five other Clear Sky Clan Title Douluos arrived, encircling him.
Dugu Bo was now in a tight spot, with no escape!
"Dugu Bo, die!"
The assembled Clear Sky Clan elders had no intention of giving Dugu Bo a chance and immediately launched their attack.
However, as they moved, Tang San suddenly sensed something was wrong.
Not just him, but the others and even Dugu Bo felt it too.
"This is... a domain?!"
The Blazing Sun Douluo's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Dugu Bo. "Dugu Bo, you possess a domain too?!"
Tang San, feeling his body slow down, immediately realized what was happening. His expression changed as he shouted, "It's not him; it's those two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts!"
"Run!"
Tang San could briefly resist the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape's domain with his spirit power and Killing God Domain.
But the other elders lacked such skills.
"Heh, humans, we've been waiting for you."
"Su Yun was right; you're easily provoked. If we wanted to kill you, we could have done it a thousand times already."
"I suggest you surrender before we have to take action."
In the stunned gazes of the Clear Sky Clan elders and Dugu Bo, two massive figures, towering like mountains, appeared.
"Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?!"
Dugu Bo exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the speaking beasts.
"Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?!"
It was the first time the Clear Sky Clan elders had seen hundred-thousand-year soul beasts speaking, and they were all taken aback.
The sheer size of these beasts instilled a sense of fear in them.
Coupled with the domain pressure from the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, their movements were heavily restricted.
Only Tang San managed to pull the Second Elder out of the domain's range.
"Little San, are those two soul beasts hundred-thousand-year-old?" The Second Elder looked at the distant Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape in shock.
"Yes, my uncle was injured because of them." Tang San's heart burned with a desire to flay these beasts and take their spirit bones.
"So it's them?!" The Second Elder's gaze toward the beasts turned hostile, but he quickly realized they still had others under the beasts' control.
"What do we do now?" the Second Elder asked.
Tang San calmed down, "I've already informed them to stabilize the royal city and then come after us."
"I anticipated we might encounter these two, which is why I called upon the Clear Sky Clan's best."
A cold smile crept across Tang San's face. "Su Yun thought he could cripple our clan by relying on two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts."
"But his greatest mistake was not coming himself."
"Once our reinforcements arrive, these two beasts will be ours!"