Douluo Dalu - Volume 12 - A Hammer Called Clear Sky

by Tang Jia San Shao

  “Oscar, you’re not only in charge of supplying everyone, at the same time you must also pay attention to replenishing the spirit beast. If by some chance everyone acts severely, putting the spirit beast on the verge of death, don’t be stingy with your big recovery sausages.”

  “Rongrong, your mission is the simplest, in an encounter directly start assisting everyone with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Zhuqing is in charge of scouting, while me, Mubai and Xiao Wu will be mainly in charge of attacking. Everyone clear?”

  “Clear.”

  Although Flender’s quartet walked in front, their ears were all along directed at the activity in the back. Now listening to Tang San’s deployment, this Shrek Academy dean’s face couldn’t help revealing a smiling expression, bumping Grandmaster at his side and saying:

  “Little San really isn’t like a child, his mind is meticulous, and he doesn’t panic in new situations. Even learning of his own background didn’t influence his cultivation. I heard he even made a profit from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Xiao Gang, how about you give him to me? Or how about having him also take on the role of teacher?”

  Grandmaster glanced across at Flender, saying:

  “Isn’t it enough for you to be his dean? No matter what you say, little San will graduate from the Shrek Academy in the future.”

  Flender nodded,

  “That’s so. Frankly, I really hope time would pass a bit faster. Thirty years, eh, no, in maybe twenty years, perhaps this world will belong to these children.”

  Grandmaster’s face showed a rare smile,

  “If we directly skipped twenty years, wouldn’t you and me already be old?”

  Flender snorted,

  “You know it! So don’t waste time.”

  While speaking, he pursed his lips in Liu Erlong’s direction.

  Grandmaster’s expression went rigid, once again resuming his original appearance, looking at Flender with a burst of heat. But these feelings were a matter for two people, and even though he was very close to the two of them, he after all couldn’t make decisions for others, and there was no way to catch Grandmaster.

  He also knew that if he forced things too urgently, there was a chance Grandmaster would go missing again, and that would be even more unbearable for Liu Erlong.

  Heaven Dou City was very close to Sunset Forest. This Sunset Forest could also be said to be the place where Spirit Masters from the majority of the heart of the Heaven Dou City’s surrounding towns hunted spirit beasts.

  Of course, not many people knew about the places like the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the core areas.

  Chapter 082: Scarlet Dragon Stepping On Giant Earth King

  Part 1 (TL by DtAndroid)

  Although Tang San lived here for the past half year, during that period he was always at the Ice and Fire Ying Yang Well, only when leaving under the guidance of Poison Douluo did he hurriedly appreciate the surroundings of Sunset Forest.

  Once again coming back to Sunset Forest, Tang San still felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

  Comparing both Sunset Forest and Star Dou Great Forest, other than their size differing by a lot, there were also many different factors. Star Dou Great Forest was situated in the central zone of the continent; it was the center zone’s biggest spirit beast forest.

  That place belonged to the tropical zone, majority of the forest was primarily tropical vegetation.

  Whereas Sunset Forest’s location was at the center of Heaven Dou Empire, although it wasn’t really considered polar climate, but its temperature was much lower than Star Dou Great Forest, this resulted in more of its plants belonging to the north’s characteristical temperate vegetation.

  Tropical vegetation gives people a sense of denseness and moistness. While temperate vegetation gives a more refreshing feeling, it does not have such a high density that of tropical vegetation. Hence, when moving about in the forest, it was much easier for Sunset Forest than for Star Dou Great Forest.

  Of course, powerful spirit beasts generally still preferred the tropical rainforest of Star Dou Great Forest. Therefore, although Sunset Forest’s spirit beasts weren’t low in numbers, there weren’t many who had managed to cultivate to ten thousand years and beyond, the majority’s cultivation remained in between one thousand years and ten thousand years. Adding in the unrestrained hunting by the spirit masters, the spirit beasts’ quality generally dropped to some extent. By now, to want to hunt a spirit beast suitable for oneself, not only did it require strength, but patience was needed at the same time.

  The official start of the Spirit Master Academy Grand Competition was half a month away, this was also the limit for Shrek Seven Devils to hunt spirit beasts. In half a month, regardless of what they gained they had to return back to the academy, participating in Heaven Dou Empire’s Heaven Dou City’s subdivision qualifiers.

  Half a day had passed after entering Sunset Forest, the number of spirit beasts encountered on the road was similar to Star Dou Great Forest, but their quality was poorer to some extent. Although they also encountered several thousand year grade spirit beasts, most of them just passed the thousand year level, clearly not what everyone wished for. Also, these spirit beasts did not come forth to provoke a large unit like theirs.

  “Let’s take a break. We will continue searching tomorrow.”

  Flender on seeing the darkened sky, shouted towards the Shrek Seven Devils who were searching about.

  Due to the spirit tools’ assistance, everyone were amply prepared. In a moment, two tents were already set up. To able to react faster in this spirit beast forest, the tents chosen by everyone were big and durable. The four teachers resided in one, and the Shrek Seven Devils resided in the other. Also, the task of keeping watch at night is naturally to be alternately carried out by the Shrek Seven Devils.

  It was by far not their first time working together, and the coordination between the Shrek Seven Devils had a tacit mutual understanding. Ma Hongjun, Oscar and Dai Mubai were in charge of setting up the tents, the girls under the leadership of Liu Erlong prepared the food, while Tang San walked one round about their surroundings, using some unusual medicinal powder of his to cordon off their camp zone. Not only did it have a certain deterring effect on spirit beasts, it could also prevent some undesirable animals[ Undesirable animals (蛇虫鼠蚁) – directly translates into “snake, worms, rats and ants”. ] from encroaching.

  When Tang San came back to the campsite after patrolling one round, the tents were already set up. Ma Hongjun was currently using his purified phoenix flame to kindle a fire. A metal pot rested on top of the fire, the water voluntarily brought over by everyone’s spirit tools is currently in the process of being heated up.

  Tang San looked towards Grandmaster with some doubt,

  “Teacher? Isn’t lighting a fire not good?”

  Without waiting for Grandmaster to speak, Flender smilingly said:

  “Relax, this isn’t Star Dou Great Forest, there are no terrifying beings similar to the Titan Giant Ape. Even if spirit masters come here to search, they won’t create any sort of trouble for us. Don’t forget, our Golden Iron Triangle is gathered here now. As long as it is not a Title Douluo, nobody can harm you all. In the entire continent, Title Douluos only number ten or so. Even if we happen to meet one, there is also nothing to clash about. With their status, why would they vie with you all over some spirit beasts. The north and the south are not the same, the nights here are very cold. With a fire and hot soup, you will all be able to be more comfortable, with a good spirit we can better search for spirit beasts tomorrow!”

  Tang San suddenly saw the light, so that is how it was. This was precisely experience. It appears that his own experience was still too lacking. The same situation would change under different circumstances. Perhaps, this was exactly the area he himself needed to develop the most.

  Dinner was very sumptuous. After eating, Flender simply briefed the Shrek Seven Devils and then entered the tent to rest.


  Although there were only four people residing in this tent, the volume of this tent was a bit smaller than Shrek Seven Devils’s.

  Long before the tents were finished setting up, Flender had already finished the sleeping arrangement. Liu Erlong was on leftmost side, followed by Grandmaster, himself, and Zhao Wuji on the rightmost side. Regarding this arrangement, even Grandmaster was unable to raise any complaints. After all, although he didn’t dare accept Liu Erlong’s affection, he absolutely wouldn’t wish for his beloved to be overly close to other men, especially in the kind of dim ambience during nighttime.

  Flender and Zhao Wuji returned to the tent to rest. Liu Erlong who was at the side of the bonfire gave Grandmaster several glances before entering the tent too. But right now Grandmaster was hesitating.

  He had attentively checked out the tent’s beds, and almost everyone were right next to each other, turning the body over one could touch the bedding across. Although he flattered himself as an upright gentleman, if the woman he had loved for so for many years lay beside him, he couldn’t be sure his heart wouldn’t waver. In that moment, Grandmaster was sitting beside the bonfire, his mind somewhat confused.

  On the Shrek Seven Devils’ side, the one in charge of keeping watch for the first half of the night was Dai Mubai, this request was by his own initiative. As the boss of the seven devils, regardless of age or spirit power, his was the greatest; naturally he had to play an exemplary role. The latter half of the night was up to Tang San, while Oscar and the girls could naturally rest with ease.

  Camping out in the wilderness and cultivating in the academy wasn’t the same.

  At the academy, one could use meditating cultivation to completely pass the night.

  However, meditating cultivation’s biggest weakness was the need to concentrate. With a night of cultivation, although the body’s condition would become better, there would be a period of mental exhaustion. Hunting spirit beasts didn’t permit the emergence of such situations, in the event that the mind was unable to focus under the attack of a spirit beast, this could possibly result in irreparable losses. So in the process of hunting spirit beasts, when resting at night everyone had to rely on sleeping to restore their condition to the very best.

  And the funny thing was that this theory was proposed up by Grandmaster.

  The rest of the Shrek Seven Devils had also entered the tent, only Dai Mubai was still beside the bonfire.

  “Grandmaster, please go and rest. Let me go patrol one round around the surroundings.”

  Grandmaster nodded his head, said:

  “You go ahead. I will sleep later.”

  Dai Mubai hesitantly said:

  “Aren’t you tired? It’s better to rest early. Tomorrow we still have to keep searching in the spirit beast forest.”

  In terms of spirit power, Grandmaster was the lowest out of everyone here. Today, from hurrying with their journey till they reached Sunset Forest as well as searching for spirit beasts afterwards, there was nearly no time to rest. Even Dai Mubai felt somewhat weary, he didn’t believe Grandmaster didn’t feel so as well.

  Regarding the matter between Liu Erlong and Grandmaster, Tang San naturally wouldn’t casually go gossipping, hence the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils weren’t too clear about it.

  Grandmaster secretly let out a sigh. Forget it, anyway he was also tired, after entering he’d just go to sleep immediately. With this in mind, Grandmaster nodded to Dai Mubai, finally entering his living quarters.

  The profoundness of bedding wasn’t only a matter in Grandmaster’s tent, inside the Shrek Seven Devil’s tent the sleeping arrangements were also decided after discussing it through.

  The girls were most unwilling to be near Ma Hongjun, directly kicking him to the berth on the leftmost side.

  And Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative to request to be on the rightmost side.

  A problem appeared. Out of the seven people within Shrek Seven Devils, three were female and four were male. This resulted in that inevitably one female and one male’s beds had to be adjacent.

  Dai Mubai was naturally willing to lean against Zhuqing and sleep in the center, but Zhuqing vehemently refused.

  Oscar is even more willing to sleep beside Ning Rongrong at the center, but was immediately rejected by Ning Rongrong.

  Thus, the female to sleep at the center of the tent was left with Xiao Wu. And sleeping next to her could also only be Tang San.

  At first Tang San is unwilling, but being unable to stand up against everyone’s excuse that they were brother and sister, the beds were arranged just like that. From left to right were: Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.

  Right now, Dai Mubai was keeping watch outside. Although everyone had tucked into bed, but for Tang San and Xiao Wu who are in close proximity, their hearts were beating furiously[ Heart beating furiously (心如鹿撞一般) – translate into heart beating like a deer’s ramming].

  Xiao Wu is slightly more natural, after all on her other side there was still Ning Rongrong, but the berth on the other side of Tang San was empty. After lying down, he immediately straightened his body, not daring to make any movement, fearing to come into contact with Xiao Wu.

  But in spite of this, that faint fragrance from Xiao Wu’s body constantly entered his nostrils.

  Last night, when brushing Xiao Wu’s hair, Tang San had already recalled why he found the fragrance from Xiao Wu’s hair to be familiar. This is because the fragrance from her long hair was very similar to the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure which could restrain a hundred poisons. Tang San vaguely remembered written in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, this sort of fragrance that appeared on one’s body was called Innate Silk Beauty Fragrance. Although it was unable to restrain a hundred poisons like the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure, it brought vast benefits to the human body. If one was able to smell it every day, not only did it have the effect of prolonging life, it could also strengthen one’s immunity and give others a sense of intoxication.

  Part 2 (TL by DtAndroid)

  Xiao Wu’s black hair in itself already made Tang San feel intoxicated, not to mention the current addition of Innate Silk Beauty Fragrance. Currently lying beside Xiao Wu, Tang San felt his whole body slightly feverish. Although he repeatedly told himself to hurry up and sleep, the more he thought like that the more awake he became, not having a wink of sleep at all.

  On the other side, Ning Rongrong leaned closely against Xiao Wu. At this time she nestled beside Xiao Wu’s ear, laughing in a low voice:

  “Xiao Wu, why do I feel that you are very nervous! What is there to be nervous about when leaning against your own big brother? If not shall we swap?”

  Xiao Wu snappily pinched Ning Rongrong’s thigh.

  “Annoying, not swapping.”

  Ning Rongrong cannot help but let out a giggle, saying:

  “I knew it that you couldn’t bear to. Hurry, don’t stick so close to me, I’m squeezed until I can’t turn over.”

  While speaking, Ning Rongrong deliberately turned her back over, using her tender buttocks to butt Xiao Wu once.

  Xiao Wu let out a soft exclamation, unable to avoid touching Tang San.

  Although separated by a blanket, Tang San was still taken aback. Hearing Ning Rongrong’s chuckling sounds on the other side, all the more he didn’t want to make a single movement. This feeling was somewhat agonizing.

  The scene of combing Xiao Wu’s hair last night repeatedly played in his mind. Although Tang San himself wasn’t clear about it, but actually after last night’s incident, the feelings he had for Xiao Wu had already started to change from the pure relationship between a brother and his sister.

  Compared to Tang San, the agony now suffered by Grandmaster was even more intense.

  After entering the tent, Grandmaster used the fastest possible speed into burrow into his bed. He was even more careful than Tang San. Lying on his side, turning his back to face towards Liu Erlong, doing so not
only allowed him to occupy a smaller area on the berth, it also made his heart somewhat steadier.

  Hearing the regular breathing sounds of Flender, Zhao Wuji and Liu Erlong, Grandmaster’s worried heart gradually settled down, his body also gradually relaxed.

  In specific settings, sometimes deep memories are evoked. Right now, although silence filled the tent, Grandmaster couldn’t help but think back about that scene a few decades ago.

  That day, was the day he and Liu Erlong married. If so many setbacks hadn’t occurred, perhaps, on the night of that day, Liu Erlong would have become his. But all this had already changed, and even though his most beloved woman lay beside him, he didn’t dare make a single movement. Let alone trying to get close, he even wanted to hide.

  Only he himself knew the pain in his heart, that indescribable pain that he had endured silently over so many years. ‘Heaven, why do you have to punish me in this way, insisting that my most beloved be my cousin, why? Why this?’

  While Grandmaster’s heart twitched, his whole body unconsciously convulsed. Hidden within the blanket his fists clenched, himself not sensing that even the nails are embedding into the skin.

  Once again meeting Liu Erlong, what kind of resolve did he use just to suppress the fire in his own heart? If not for Tang San, this disciple he had entrusted with his hopes, Grandmaster would have long ago run away again. He simply didn’t wish to stay together with Liu Erlong for too long. The human heart is made of flesh, everyone has their impulsive moments. Grandmaster was truly afraid that one day he wouldn’t be able to control himself and do something beastly. Of course, these were all his own thoughts.

  Just when Grandmaster’s mind was in a state of chaos, a cool and satiny hand suddenly wrapped around his fist. Grandmaster’s whole body instantly went stiff.

  Liu Erlong’s soft voice sounded beside his ear,

  “Xiao Gang, being together with me, does it really make you suffer so much?”

  Grandmaster didn’t dare to move, and was even more afraid to utter a sound. His whole body just stiffly lay there, trying to remove his hands from Liu Erlong’s grasp, but Liu Erlong grabbed tightly, not willing to let him run away no matter what. In terms of strength, Liu Erlong was simply much stronger than him, with a spirit energy difference of several tens of grades; escape was no easy matter for him.