Chapter 293: The Killing King's Target—Clear Sky Clan
"That aura—it's Tang Chen. Old fellow, you really are still alive. After all these years, looks like you failed."
Qian Daoliu couldn't help but grin mischievously. In the era of twin pillars in the spirit master world, Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan stood side by side, with Tang Chen always overshadowing him. But now, in power and reputation, the Clear Sky Clan couldn't even see Spirit Hall's tail lights. Both his precious grandchildren were inheritors of divine legacies. His son and grandson could casually beat Tang Chen's grandson and great-grandson in front of everyone.
Even if Tang Chen's protective nature made him come to Spirit Hall on account of Tang Hao and Tang San, Qian Daoliu wasn't concerned.
Wait a second.
Qian Daoliu's smile froze. He'd forgotten that Qian Xunji had some relationship with Tang Chen's granddaughter, Tang Yuehua. After Tang Yuehua finished teaching Qian Renchuan's Killing God Domain and completely calming it, Ah Yin let go of her hostility toward Tang Yuehua. If Tang Chen learned of it and came knocking at Spirit Hall, he might tease them all about seniority differences.
At that thought, Qian Daoliu's mood turned sour. He had a strong urge to curse that shameless, lecherous Qian Xunji a hundred times over.
Sea God Island, Sea God Hall.
Bo Saixi likewise sensed Tang Chen's aura. Tears slipped from her beautiful eyes as she trembled with excitement. "Tang Chen, I knew you weren't dead. Hurry to Sea God Island. This time, I'll tell you everything."
Because of her reserved nature, she'd spent about thirty years alone, deeply missing him. Now her role as Grand Priest had found a successor. She could accompany Tang Chen freely, satisfying the emptiness in her heart.
Extreme North, core region.
Snow Empress sat upon an ice throne, having regained her former appearance. The half of her snow-white hair Qian Xunji severed had grown back to its original length, trailing behind her to the ground. Her slender figure was flawless in a white gown.
One notable change was the deeper color in her translucent icy-blue eyes. The simple white dress bore more intricate patterns, giving her a touch of worldly air.
"A god? No, more like someone capable of divine attacks. Will Qian Xunji go investigate that place?"
Snow Empress gazed toward the Slaughter City, those serene, ice-blue eyes flashing with complexity.
During her wanderings in the human world, she learned many things. After returning to the Extreme North, she found it harder to face Ice Empress or the Ice Bear King, Little Bai.
She'd once believed humans were the most base, greedy, revolting creatures. Yet from her time wandering among them, she saw how bears preyed—devouring living creatures, tormenting them to death. The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion did the same, devouring the Ice Qilins alive, letting them die in the agony of having their flesh eaten piece by piece. They were no different from humans—perhaps even more vicious.
She'd lost her godson, lost her best friend, and spent time in the human world. Coming back to the Extreme North, Snow Empress first tasted loneliness. Deep within, she wanted to revisit Spirit Hall, to experience that unusual atmosphere. But after finalizing her deal at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with Qian Xunji, she'd declared they would be enemies next time. As the proud Snow Empress of the Extreme North, she couldn't go back on her word.
The Slaughter City, newly returned to the Douluo Continent's embrace, had stayed that way for a few days. Spirit Hall's usual work of sending criminals into the Slaughter City was at a loss: the Slaughter City was gone—only a half-dried, poisonous blood river remained. Where could they toss these degenerates now?
Not only that: using the Slaughter City as a center, the Heaven Dou Empire kept receiving reports of spirit masters causing chaos. But it wasn't the typical kind; they seemed like raging wolves or bandits, leaving only male corpses behind and savagely tormenting women to death. Each one was immensely strong. Even five Spirit Hall spirit masters of the same rank couldn't subdue a single one. Every culprit fought like a fearless monster.
Northern regions of the Heaven Dou Empire fell into deep alarm.
Qian Xunji certainly knew these were the degenerates who had escaped after the Slaughter City's destruction by Tang Chen and Bibi Dong's battle. Under normal circumstances, after Qian Renchuan unleashed the Snowy Swan Kiss, they'd all have died by poison or been killed by the Killing King to feed the blood river. Then the only survivor among tens of thousands should have been the Killing King alone. But because of Tang Chen and Bibi Dong's fight, those not yet poisoned to death fled, wreaking havoc across the continent.
Qian Xunji immediately gave orders for large numbers of high-level Spirit Hall masters to assist the Heaven Dou army in subduing the degenerates, opting for encirclement and attrition rather than direct slaughter. After all, these degenerates were heavily poisoned time bombs. At any moment, they might choose a death-lunge, striving to kill as many as possible before they died. Best to slowly wear them down.
The Slaughter City.
From that dried blood river burst a red figure, half human, half beast. Most of his body was covered in crimson scales and layered with fur. His pupils glowed blood-red, and long white hair draped over his back.
He was none other than Tang Chen, saved at the brink of death by the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King after he'd exploded five spirit rings and collapsed in the blood river.
To keep the vessel from dying to recoil—killing itself in the process—the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King seized Tang Chen's consciousness the moment he was gravely injured, then patched up Tang Chen's collapsing flesh with parts of its own body. And it devoured what little remained of the blood river as well.
In this haphazard rebuild, the King saved Tang Chen's life.
"My Slaughter City!!"
The Killing King saw the city entirely reduced to rubble and roared at the sky in rage. An utterly evil aura flared, around rank 96 Super Douluo. From merging with Tang Chen's body and lingering in the blood river, it had grown somewhat stronger.
"Who is that? What's with the winged figure?"
Some investigating spirit masters near the city glimpsed the airborne Killing King, wide-eyed.
Snorting, the Killing King's blood-red pupils locked onto that group of watchers. His eyes brimmed with murderous intent. He swooped down.
Soon, shrieks of agony resounded. Hundreds died at his claws, none surviving.
"Whoever poisoned my Slaughter City must be those so-called Killing Gods. I'll hunt them down! Kill them all!!"
At once, the Killing King used the Slaughter Domain's anti-detection advantage to pinpoint the nearest "killing god." He flew that way—and that direction led to the Clear Sky Clan.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen