Chapter 172: Public Enemy of the Soul Master World
Upon hearing the terrible news that the Azure Bull Python had become Long Chen's eighth Soul Ring, Xiao Wu's body trembled violently, as if struck by an invisible bolt of lightning, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.
Her heart ached as if being twisted by a knife, and she could barely breathe.
That was her kin in the Star Dou Great Forest, one of her most important friends!
"No... impossible... Da Ming is so powerful, how could it..."
Xiao Wu's voice trembled; she dared not continue to think about it.
Tang San gripped Xiao Wu's hand tightly.
He could feel the pain and despair in Xiao Wu's heart, and he felt a pang of sorrow himself.
"Xiao Wu, I know this is hard to accept, but it is the truth. Long Chen's strength has reached a level we cannot imagine; not only your two friends, but even my father, he also..."
Tang San could not continue.
Both of them lowered their heads, tears falling silently, hitting the floor with faint, crisp sounds.
Xiao Wu recalled the days when Da Ming and Er Ming accompanied her.
Those laughs, those beautiful times they spent together, had now all become memories.
"Brother... what should I do? Da Ming and Er Ming are both gone; it was I who caused their deaths..."
Tang San pulled Xiao Wu tightly into his embrace and comforted her softly:
"Xiao Wu, this is not your fault. Don't be afraid; no matter what happens, I will always be by your side. One day, we will avenge them!"
Just then, Flender's voice came from outside the door:
"Have you two not chatted enough yet?"
"Xiao San, open the door quickly. It's been two years; let me see if you've become more handsome."
Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at each other, composed their emotions, and opened the door.
Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong stood at the doorway. Seeing the tears in the eyes of the two and the undried tear stains on their faces, they felt an indescribable sensation in their hearts.
Flender joked:
"It's only been two years, is it really that serious? It's good you're back; you'll have plenty of time to be together in the future."
Yu Xiaogang sensed something unusual about Tang San.
He knew that Tang San was a strong-willed person and would not easily shed tears under normal circumstances.
Even if he learned of Xiao Wu's encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest, it shouldn't have made him this heartbroken.
He guessed that perhaps Tang San had experienced some deeply painful agony.
"Xiao San, what's wrong?"
"Teacher, my father, he... he might already be dead."
"?!!!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong looked at each other, too shocked to speak.
They found it hard to believe that the legendary figure of the Douluo Continent, the Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao, had actually died.
Yu Xiaogang widened his eyes and asked hurriedly:
"Xiao San, the Clear Sky Douluo is so powerful, unmatched by anyone; how could he leave so suddenly? What exactly happened? And what have you experienced in these two years? Tell us quickly."
"All of this is thanks to that damn Long Chen!"
Subsequently, Tang San told Yu Xiaogang and the others about his experiences over the past two years and his encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest.
After listening, they were all greatly shocked.
Yu Xiaogang said with a grave expression:
"I truly didn't expect that Long Chen had already reached the Spirit Douluo level, and even possessed two one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings. His growth speed is too astonishing, exceeding the scope of all the theories I know; it is unbelievable."
Flender was very unconvinced and huffed disdainfully:
"That brat Long Chen is just an evil person who gains without working, relying on devouring others' Soul Power to strengthen himself; otherwise, how could he have such a fast growth speed?! His Spirit Ability is too wicked; he should have been killed early on!"
"Damn Long Chen! Xiao Wu's two friends actually died at his hands and became his Soul Rings!"
Rage blazed in Liu Erlong's eyes.
She had heard Xiao Wu talk about Da Ming and Er Ming, knowing that those two one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts were Xiao Wu's best partners in the Star Dou Great Forest.
The three of them lived together in the forest core and had experienced long years together.
And now, both of those one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts had died at the hands of Long Chen, leaving only Xiao Wu alone, hiding in the human world.
Having lost her two most important partners, and knowing they both died protecting her, Xiao Wu felt both grief and self-reproach.
Liu Erlong took Xiao Wu's hand and comforted her:
"Xiao Wu, you rest assured, one day we will avenge your friends. That evil creature Long Chen has already become a public enemy of the Soul Master World and cannot escape death! Not only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but many other forces also want to eliminate it."
Yu Luomian and Yu Tianheng had once led people to the Star Dou Great Forest to look for Long Chen.
But that time, several Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Disciples were devoured by the phantom of a strange beast summoned by Long Chen, and Yu Luomian and Yu Tianheng were lucky enough to escape.
Although Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang had already left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, they still cared for the Clan.
The Clan Disciples being devoured by Long Chen also made them feel heartache.
Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San's shoulder and comforted him:
"Xiao San, perhaps you are overthinking it; the Clear Sky Douluo might still be alive. With his strength, it is impossible for him to die so easily at the hands of Long Chen and Dugu Bo."
"Teacher, you are unaware that my father has severe internal injuries. Moreover, when dueling with Long Chen and Dugu Bo, he used the Clear Sky Sect's unique skill, Ring Explosion. Given his physical condition at the time, he was simply unable to withstand the powerful energy generated by the Ring Explosion."
"Ring Explosion?"
Yu Xiaogang was somewhat puzzled and frowned.
Tang San explained:
"I heard my father mention it; it is the Clear Sky Sect's exclusive skill, blowing up one's own Soul Ring and fusing the energy within the Soul Ring into the attack, producing power far exceeding one's own. Only after a Sect successor reaches a certain level of strength are they qualified to learn that skill."
"So that's it. I didn't expect the Clear Sky Sect to have such a powerful unique skill; it truly deserves to be the number one Sect in the world."
Tang San's eyes became sharp again, and he said with unwillingness in his heart:
"If my father had no internal injuries, he would definitely have been able to smash Long Chen and Dugu Bo into meat paste with the Clear Sky Hammer!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded; he certainly believed in Tang Hao's strength.
"Xiao San, I'll say it again: the Clear Sky Douluo might still be alive. That you and Mubai were able to leave the Star Dou Great Forest unscathed is already a great fortune. You just returned, so rest for two days first; we will discuss this in the long term later and make a trip to the forest center."
Tang San nodded, understanding Yu Xiaogang's meaning.
See the person if alive, see the corpse if dead.
Flender was a bit worried.
"Xiaogang, if Long Chen and Dugu Bo are still there, with just the few of us, wouldn't going there be courting death?"
"Of course, it won't just be the few of us going."
Yu Xiaogang turned his gaze to Tang San and continued:
"After the Strength Clan was wiped out, the supply of Hidden Weapon to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was completely cut off. Knowing you are back, Sect Master Ning will definitely be very happy. Spirit Hall's actions have angered Emperor Xue Ye; he intends to use the Zhuge Divine Crossbow you designed to arm his army and will certainly make great use of you. Yu Tianheng also came to find me, expressing his wish to search for Immortal Herbs with you. With the help of those factions, we can safely go to the Star Dou Forest center."