Douluo Dalu: Volume 21: Tang San’s Third Spirit Bone

by Tang Jia San Shao

  Originally, it was raised when Bibi Dong had just assumed her position, only to be forcefully suppressed by Elder Hall.

  The old business of twenty years ago was raised anew. Looking at the expression in Bibi Dong’s eyes, they understood that this time this operation might truly be carried out. Her Holiness wouldn’t shoot without aim, she should already have prepared everything in advance.

  “Quiet.”

  With a thump, Bibi Dong sharply slapped the table, formidable pressure immediately erupting from her.

  Under her accumulated might, the meeting hall immediately quieted down.

  The light of power radiated in Bibi Dong’s eyes,

  “Calling you here today isn’t to have you discuss it, but to declare orders. I have already discussed this matter with the elders of Elder Hall. The Spirit Hunting Operation will formally begin in one month. It will rely mainly on people dispatched by Supreme Pontiff Hall, each Spirit Temple and Master Hall will move strictly according to the orders issued by Supreme Pontiff Hall, there must be no mistakes. I will personally participate in the implementation process of this Spirit Hunting Operation. If there is any careless mistake, don’t blame me, Bibi Dong, for being merciless.”

  Having waited patiently for twenty years, Bibi Dong would finally begin to move. Slowly raising her head, looking at the luxurious domed ceiling of the meeting hall. ‘Teacher, in those days you died at the hand of Clear Sky School’s Tang Hao, it’s time to avenge you.’

  ‘This time, nobody can stop me again. Seven great sects, Clear Sky School, hmph, I will let you learn who the true master of this Continent is.’

  ……

  Star Dou Great Forest.

  Shaded by the trees, the vast forest was brimming with a fresh and clean atmosphere. Just at the heart of this world famous great forest, there was a not very large lake. If one didn’t actually come here, it would be very difficult to believe that there was actually such a marvel in the middle of the forest.

  The lake wasn’t very large, only a hundred meters in diameter or so, but the crystal clear mirror-like surface reflected the trees on either side.

  On the side of the water was still an even more bizarre scene.

  A young woman in a white dress sat quietly under a large tree, holding her knees. She stared foolishly at the water in front of her, her thoughts unknown.

  Her glossy black supple long hair was draped over her shoulders and scattered, scattered across the grass. The sight of her was touching.

  Her delicate features wore a gentle expression, her appearance so beautiful, so perfectly in harmony with the surrounding beautiful scenery, that she was like the crucial focus of a painting.

  Behind this gentle and beautiful young woman, quietly crouched an incomparably enormous chimpanzee. Its giant body crouched there like a mountain. By comparison, the beautiful young woman was delicate and tiny.

  The gaze of this giant chimpanzee was very soft, always focused on the young woman in front of it. It was they that formed the bizarre part of this picture.

  The young woman sitting there was Xiao Wu, and behind her was naturally the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming[1].

  In five years back at Heaven Dou Great Forest, besides dry and dull cultivating, she liked sitting by the lakeside, quietly watching the water. As for what she thought, only she herself knew.

  At this moment, suddenly, with a loud splash, an enormous head shot out of the lakewater in front of Xiao Wu.

  That was a bull head, at least four meters in diameter, two eyes the size of lanterns flickering with light. Strangely, connected behind this bull head wasn’t the body of a bull, but rather a dark cyan enormous snake body, even even thicker than a water barrel.

  Even though most of it was still soaking in the water, the part exposed above the surface was enough to shock anyone.

  Looking at this suddenly appearing bullhead, Xiao Wu didn’t feel any sense of astonishment. Sensing the deep concern in those lantern sized eyes, her charming face revealed a faint smiling expression,

  “Da Ming[2], why did you come out now?”

  The bull headed serpent bodied monster issued a low growl, unexpectedly spitting out human words,

  “Xiao Wu-jie[3], I really don’t like it when you look this lonely. It’s been five years, but you’re always like this. Don’t tell me the human world really is so good?”

  This bull headed serpent bodied monster was the Star Dou Great Forest’s emperor, the Sky Blue Bull Python. It was just like the Titan Giant Ape, its cultivation already having reached the hundred thousand year level, only they didn’t choose to take human form.

  They also very rarely revealed their true strength in the Star Dou Great Forest.

  Of course, practically no humans could come to this place. As the Star Dou Great Forest that held the most formidable spirit beasts, this central area was forbidden ground.

  Xiao Wu looked distracted a moment, lowering her head and chuckling,

  “No, I’m not thinking about the human world, but rather about my friends there. Da Ming, Er Ming, don’t worry about me. I’m alright.”

  Even though she said this, in her innermost heart, she was filled with longing, ‘Ge, are you still well right now? I don’t know how long before I can see you again. Don’t worry, I will work hard at cultivating. Once I’ve reached the mature stage, I’ll definitely go find you.’

  The Titan Giant Ape Er Ming crouching behind Xiao Wu said in a low voice:

  “Xiao Wu-jie, those humans we ran into in the forest not long ago escaped and went back. No matter how much you long to return to the world of humans, don’t leave the Star Lake for now. Here, me and big brother can protect you better.”

  The Sky Blue Bull Python snorted coldly,

  “Let them come. If we weren’t away back then, how would aunt have……”

  Hearing his words, Xiao Wu’s face suddenly became pale, and Da Ming hurriedly stopped speaking, anxiously gathering its big head in front of Xiao Wu,

  “I’m sorry, Xiao Wu-jie, I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  Xiao Wu silently shook her head,

  “It’s been so many years. It’s alright. However, I’ve already found the enemy that murdered mother. One day, I will definitely personally kill her and avenge mother.”

  The Sky Blue Bull Python’s big eyes blinked,

  “Xiao Wu-jie, tell us a story about your time in the human world. Is the human world really so interesting?”

  Even though they were the most formidable spirit beasts in this Star Dou Great Forest, they had never left the forest.

  Spending every day absorbing the essence of Heaven and earth, they were just like Xiao Wu when she had just left, their hearts like blank paper.

  Er Ming also sat down, equally expectantly looking at Xiao Wu.

  Seeing their naive appearances, Xiao Wu couldn’t keep a giggle from escaping. Who could have imagined the king of the forest and the emperor of the forest looking like this.

  Her eyes revealing fluctuations of emotions, she seemed to see in front of her the scene of the time she first met Tang San. With a faint smile, she began her tale.

  To her, the less than ten years together with Tang San were far, far more wonderful than her past hundred thousand years of cultivating.

  The two big shots of the spirit beast kingdom, the Sky Blue Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape listened quietly. They were already immersed in Xiao Wu’s story.

  ……

  Dressed in white, Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges fastened to his waist, and the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse hanging from it. This was Tang San’s complete attire.

  If not for the directions of the map his father gave him leading here, Tang San really would have found it very difficult to believe that the Spirit Master world’s number one sect, the Clear Sky School, would actually be in a place like this.

  Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)

  The distance from Heaven Dou Empire’s capital wasn’t far, roughly three hundred li east of Heaven Dou City
. Behind him was a ring of mountains, and in front of Tang San was a small village not much different from the Holy Spirit Village he once left.

  Smoke rose in spirals from chimneys all over the village, it would soon be time for lunch. At the entrance to the village, a few children were playing, and in the fields to the sides, a number of people were putting their tools in order, preparing to return to the village to eat.

  Spreading the sheepskin map in his hands, Tang San looked it over carefully. He could be sure that he hadn’t found the wrong place. Just here, illustrated by the map, the Clear Sky School was unexpectedly this little village in front of him.

  Once the number one sect under heaven, had actually degenerated to this?

  Actually, let alone him, even if Tang Hao came here he would be equally shocked. After the Clear Sky School declared itself sealed, it had moved. That map was something Tang Yue-Hua had given Tang Hao, but he had never had the chance to return, and naturally didn’t know the circumstances here.

  Thinking that since he was already here, he could only accept it, Tang San put away his map, and walked towards this seemingly unremarkable mountain village with big strides. At the same time, he also felt a kind of indescribable sadness.

  Not so long ago, the Clear Sky School had still been the Douluo Continent Spirit Master world’s number one sect.

  But now it had degenerated to hiding in a mountain village. Even if this was a very good way to hide, to a clan with such a formidable history, this was an enormous setback. This was perhaps also the cause for his father’s pain.

  Bringing disaster to the sect was admittedly his father’s mistake, but what choice did he have?

  Tang San also understood that he was Tang Hao’s son, so he would naturally be partial to his father in this. But things change, and now wasn’t the time to investigate whose fault it was, but rather how to raise the sect again, if the disgrace from those days were to be washed away.

  All kinds of thoughts spinning in his mind, Tang San had already walked up to the mountain village entrance. Just as he thought to step inside, several middle aged villagers just returned from farming blocked his way.

  “Please leave, we don’t welcome outsiders here.”

  The speaker was a thick and strong built middle aged man. He sized up Tang San as he spoke, his gaze somewhat suspicious.

  Tang San sighed inwardly, standing straight,

  “I’m no outsider, I’m only returning home.”

  The middle aged villager stared blankly,

  “Returning home? We haven’t had any noble young master like you around here. We’re all country folk. What home are you returning to?”

  Tang San didn’t need to look with his eyes to sense that the other villagers nearby began to grow apprehensive, their grip on the farming tools in their hands clearly tightening. Their feet shifted slightly, faintly with the intention of surrounding him.

  Unwilling to waste time here, Tang San slowly raised his left hand, black light surging out of his palm. With a grave and powerful aura, the Clear Sky Hammer quietly appeared. Tightening his left hand around the handle, Tang San smiled slightly,

  “Can this prove it?”

  Seeing the Clear Sky Hammer, the several middle aged people first stared blankly, but the mood very quickly relaxed a lot. As they looked at Tang San again, the only thing remaining in their gazes was respect.

  The middle aged man Tang San spoke with before probed:

  “Dare I ask which family you’re from? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

  Tang San didn’t want to get tangled up here,

  “My aunt is called Tang Yue-Hua, she had me return.”

  With these words, the villagers didn’t dare be neglectful, and hastily let Tang San into the village. What kind of status did Tang Yue-Hua have? In the entire Clear Sky School, besides the sect master, she had the highest position. She was also the sect master’s blood related little sister.

  Rather than saying that this little mountain village was the Clear Sky School, it would be more apt to call it the Clear Sky School’s outpost. Even if the Clear Sky School had fallen, it still wasn’t to this extent. The ones living in the mountain village were all the subordinate collateral relatives of the Clear Sky School, and the sect’s true strength wasn’t here.

  However, these collateral relative sentries were still fairly cautious. Even if Tang San had obtained some trust by taking out the Clear Sky Hammer, they still didn’t bring Tang San directly to see the people of the sect.

  They rather invited Tang San to rest in an empty house, while they sent people to inform the sect.

  After waiting for approximately an hour, there were sounds of urgent footsteps outside. The door opened, and a few grey clothed men appeared in the doorway.

  The man in the lead had wide shoulders and a broad back, his nose straight and jaw square, short hair like steel needles, seeming to be around thirty or so, bulging muscles hidden under his long grey jacket, he was like a lion ready to spring, brimming with a vigorous forceful feeling.

  “You’re Tang San?”

  The grey clothed big man asked. A sharp light glittered in his eyes, and after looking Tang San up and down, beside curiosity, his expression held some hostility.

  Tang San could be certain that he didn’t know this person, and also didn’t understand why he would be this hostile, but still simply nodded,

  “That’s me.”

  The grey clothed big man waved his hand to his two companions,

  “Follow us.”

  Without saying anything further, he took the lead to turn around and head outside.

  In terms of the etiquette Tang Yue-Hua had instructed Tang San in, these three people were clearly a bit rude. They didn’t even announce their names. But Tang San didn’t mind, his return was in itself to atone for his crimes. His father owed the sect too much, and it was up to him to repay it. He sensed a familiar tyrannical aura from the three grey clothed men, without need to ask, they should be directly related disciples of the Clear Sky School.

  These three were very strong, especially that thirty year old big man. Seeming to be around thirty, his spirit power was still above Tang San’s, and should already have broken through the sixtieth rank. Breaking through the sixtieth rank at this age, he should be considered fairly outstanding in the young generation of the Clear Sky School.

  And the other two whose ages seemed about the same as him should have strength somewhere between the fiftieth and sixtieth rank.

  Even if the Clear Sky School had sealed its gates, he could tell how formidable the sect’s true strength was by these three directly related disciples.

  After all, this was the number one sect under heaven!

  Following the three out of the room, those three didn’t wait for Tang San’s opinion before simultaneously extending their legs, speeding towards the back of the village.

  Even if they didn’t use their spirits, with spirit power at their level, if they fully unleashed their speed, it was still quite astonishing.

  Tang San smiled calmly, then set his feet in motion, his figure abruptly becoming illusory. After so many years of cultivation, his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Stem had long since reached perfection. Even more, his right leg still had his mother’s remains, the blue silver emperor right leg bone.

  Even if he didn’t actually use its flight capability, his speed still wouldn’t be inferior to agility attack type Spirit Masters of the same level.

  Consequently, even though the three people ahead were fast, he caught up as if strolling up to people standing still. Not only didn’t he fall behind, there wasn’t even the slightest amount of influence on his grace, not the slightest fireworks, as he constantly kept a ten meter distance to the person in front.

  The leading grey clothed person turned his head to look towards Tang San. When he discovered that Tang San had actually come close without him sensing anything, he couldn’t keep his expression from changing slightly.

  Once aga
in increasing his pace, he seemed to want to meticulously inspect Tang San’s speed.

  Unfortunately, the first to be unable to keep up wasn’t Tang San, but rather his two companions. After the leading grey clothed big man’s speed reached a certain degree, those two grey clothed big men already began to fall behind somewhat.

  They also knew how competitive that leading grey clothed man was, and couldn’t keep from feeling a burst of helplessness. ‘Boss, even if you want to compete with him, there’s no need to be so anxious.’

  Just as those two grey clothed men clenched their teeth to speed up, but the distance began to open up, suddenly, they simultaneously felt a gentle force pushing them from behind. The two immediately felt their bodies become a lot lighter, and their speed abruptly increased, recovering the distance they had lost in practically a few eyeblinks.

  As they turned around to look, they found Tang San smiling and nodding to them. Clearly, that force came from him.

  Amidst their feelings of gratitude, the two grey clothed men were simultaneously shocked. How old was he? Not only could he keep up with the boss with his physical capability alone, he could even help the two of them.

  No wonder, no wonder…...

  The party of four had very soon left the back of the village. In front was a mountain peak. The mountain wasn’t high, but extremely precipitous. The entire mountain wall was almost perpendicular to the ground, and moreover extremely smooth. There were no plants, it was actually a rock mountain.

  The leading grey clothed person didn’t show the slightest intent of slowing down. Already seeing the mountain in front, he stepped off from the ground, soaring up, leaping directly up at the mountain wall.

  Tang San was inwardly slightly shocked. No matter how you put it this mountain wall was at least five hundred meters high, did he plan to directly climb this smooth rock wall? If it was relying on jumping alone, Tang San also wouldn’t be able to do it.

  After all, he still needed some purchase to display the marvels of the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step.

  However, very soon the questions in his heart were undone. Clearly, it was impossible for that leading grey clothed man to climb it directly. As he ascended to a place about twenty meters or so, the tips of his toes poked the mountain wall, and he ascended once again.