Douluo Dalu: Volume 25: Single Category Clans

by Tang Jia San Shao

  Tian Ya also took advantage of this moment to leap up, swiftly moving in front of Bu Le, the broken blade in his hand held high, his six spirit rings simultaneously releasing dazzling light. His broken blade unexpectedly started to grow, turning four chi long in the blink of an eye. Swinging the long blade in the air, several hundred blade lights converged into a barrier in the air, blocking Ma Hongjun’s charge attack. It was Tian Ya’s sixth spirit ring, Broken Blade Hundred Chop.

  With an explosive sound, Tang San was thrown flying under the effect of the tremendous impact, his whole body spinning three times in midair before falling to the ground.

  But E Kao was equally sorry, despite Tang San’s Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method only having the force of three swings, Tang San’s spirit power was higher than his, and the Clear Sky Hammer weight eight hundred jin. Therefore, even without the amplification of spirit abilities, the attack power of Tang San’s hammerblow was considerably frightful.

  As a chief of tool spirits, what kind of might did the Clear Sky Hammer have? E Kao only felt his arms about to break, his internal organs as if on fire, his calfs already sunken into the ground.

  Tang San was also surprised, since he hadn’t expected the cowardly E Kao and Tian Ya to actually instantly erupt with such power. E Kao’s Swan Asura Blade had extremely potent attack power, even though he had the Clear Sky Hammer for blocking, the ice cold blade energy had still cut his right shoulder. Fortunately he had reacted extremely quickly, and he wasn’t seriously injured.

  This one blade was undoubtedly Tang San’s wake up call, and also made him blame himself. Clearly his strength was above the opponent’s, but he was still injured, this only pointed to one problem, that he had carelessly underestimated him. E Kao absolutely wasn’t powerful in the Spirit Emperor level, but he had still underestimated him, leading to him almost being seriously hurt.

  At the same time as Tang San and E Kao separated on their side, Ma Hongjun’s side had also reached a result. A cloud of dense flame erupted in mid air, turning into countless fiery red balls of fiery red light that blasted out, several hundred balls of flame seeming like dazzling fireworks, but each ball contained tremendous explosive force and incomparably scorching hot phoenix flame.

  Confronted with that Broken Blade Tian Ya’s sixth spirit ability, Fatty also finally used his fifth, Phoenix Meteor Shower[1].

  Even Tang San didn’t dare meet this spirit ability of Fatty’s. When the spirit ability launched, half the sky had already turned scarlet. The spirit’s own advantage became more and more clear along with spirit power rising. As one of the most formidable beast spirits, Ma Hongjun’s Fire Phoenix constantly rose to higher levels. Even though this was only a fifth spirit ability, it was still Fatty’s one ten thousand year spirit ability. Unexpectedly it was hardly at a disadvantage when it came into contact with Broken Blade Tian Ya’s sixth spirit ability.

  Tai Tan shouted to those soldiers watching the fight,

  “If you don’t want to die, run farther!”

  The soldiers were long since scared stupid by such a vast scene, but reacted once they heard Tai Tan’s lion like roar. One by one they frantically ran away while crying for their dad and shouting for their mom.

  Just at the same time as they began to escape, the two great spirit abilities also smashed together.

  A series of explosive bursts resounded in the air, one phoenix meteor after another striking into Tian Ya’s blade light. Both sides shattered simultaneously, collided again, shattered again.

  In terms of spirit power, naturally Broken Blade Tian Ya had some advantage as a Spirit Emperor, but could his spirit compare to Ma Hongjun’s? Amidst a succession of violent collisions, the broken blade in Tian Ya’s hand became extremely scalding, the tremendous pressure hitting him head on leaving him less and less able to breathe. His Broken Blade Hundred Chops were already gradually retreating, soon about to be unable to withstand the Phoenix Meteor Shower.

  That Ma Hongjun could skip a level to fight him, besides his spirit and spirit abilities, don’t forget that he still had a spirit bone. Just the overall added attribute upgrade this spirit bone gave him was already enough to make up for the not very large difference in spirit power between him and Tian Ya. Under such circumstances, how could Tian Ya block his offensive?

  Bu Le’s face had already become extremely unsightly. The Heavenly Gauze Twin Covers spread out, blocking in front of him and Tian Ya. Ma Hongjun’s tyrannical Phoenix Meteor Shower was already something he couldn’t get involved in with his strength, what he could do was only help him and Tian Ya defend as far as possible.

  Finally, along with an ear piercing shattering sound, Tian Ya blood madly spurted from Tian Ya’s mouth, his Broken Blade also finally turning back into a broken blade. The spirit being injured directly injured him.

  But right now, Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix Meteor Shower still had at least fifty or sixty balls left.

  E Kao’s qi and blood roiled. Even though he saw what was happening, it was already too late for him to save them. Unable to hold back the great anxiety in his heart, he couldn’t help spitting out a mouthful of blood.

  However, what nobody expected was that Fatty’s final several dozen phoenix meteors didn’t land, but rather suddenly changed direction, arcing towards the sky, gradually growing fainter in the air.

  The eyes of the originally standing before certain death Tian Ya and Bu Le were brimming with disbelief. On the other side, E Kao was also already stupefied.

  However, equally shocked was also Tang San. He wasn’t amazed that Fatty would hold back at the last moment, but rather because of the injury on his shoulder.

  The original wound made him feel a stab of pain, however, as he turned his head to look at the wound, he saw a layer of faint golden light flickering over it. Immediately afterward, his right leg grew warm. As that golden light disappeared, the wound on his shoulder had unexpectedly recovered completely. If not for the torn clothes on his shoulder, there wouldn’t even be a way of telling there had been any damage.

  Just in this split second, Tang San finally felt effect of the other ability of his Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone. His memories couldn’t help returning to the scene when he destroyed his right leg in order to forcefully extract the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone by suicide, the hot itch that spread throughout his body from his wounds, that seemed to be the joint effect of the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone and his blood. Just that at the time the only thing on his mind was Xiao Wu, and so he hadn’t paid attention. Now that he remembered it, he finally understood just what the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone’s second ability was.

  As the heir to the blood of the Blue Silver Emperor, after obtaining the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone, the effect of this hundred thousand year spirit bone should be even stronger than Xiao Wu’s to Tang San. Only now did Tang San finally understand where its power lay.

  The Phoenix Ascension behind Ma Hongjun’s back was still outstretched. By now he had already landed in front of Tian Ya and Bu Le, his face revealing a smile,

  “I really didn’t expect you to still have some feelings of camaraderie while looking so vulgar.”

  The big cigar at the corner of Tian Ya’s mouth was already missing. He spoke with a hoarse voice:

  “Why didn’t you kill us?”

  Ma Hongjun pursed his lips,

  “You want to die? The matter between me and Bu Le was already settled back then. He beat me, I roasted him there. There’s no hatred between us. Why would I kill him? What relation does your robbery here have with us? I don’t like killing people, alright? Just hurry up and fuck off, get out of the way so we can pass.”

  Bu Le looked somewhat lifelessly at Ma Hongjun. Clearly, he hadn’t thought that Ma Hongjun would say something like this. For a moment, even though the light of hatred in his eyes didn’t decrease, it still wasn’t as venomous as before. Looking at those Phoenix Ascension wings behind Fatty’s back, there even seemed to be something in
his eyes.

  E Kao quickly walked over next to the two, pulling their clothes, Bu Le and Tian Ya simultaneously got up. Without saying anything else, Bu Le waved to the distant soldiers,

  “Let them pass.”

  How would the soldiers dare be neglectful, that they had the courage to be impudent before was because of Bu Le and the other Spirit Masters supporting them. Seeing the ones they counted on all unable to resist, they hastily moved the barrier aside, opening the road.

  Tang San walked over to Ma Hongjun. Without saying anything further, even though the four Strength Clan members were somewhat dissatisfied, the expression in Tai Tan’s eyes still hinted they return to the carriages.

  Ma Hongjun grinned at Bu Le, saying:

  “You can find me in Heaven Dou City later. I’ll keep you company anytime.”

  Bu Le looked face to face with Tian Ya, then suddenly said to Ma Hongjun:

  “Little Fatty, I have something to say to you.”

  Ma Hongjun stared blankly,

  “If there’s something then say it.”

  Bu Le sighed, suddenly reaching out to hold the arm of Tian Ya next to him,

  “Actually, I don’t really hate you either. When you just burned my darling treasure, I was simply in such pain I wished I was dead. But later, as my injuries healed, I suddenly discovered that being a woman is quite good.”

  As he spoke, he deliberately leaned his head against Tian Ya’s shoulder, his expression charming.

  Of course, a person with such a vulgar appearance as his, exuding a charming feeling, one could imagine what kind of feeling that was.

  In particular, the expression in Bu Le’s eyes was still from time to time aimed at Ma Hongjun’s lower body, his butt twisting a few times, his tongue licking his lips, as if hungering for something.

  Bleargh—— Fatty finally couldn’t bear it, directly vomiting. Even though Tang San’s fortitude was a bit stronger, he also immediately moved back towards the carriage.

  Ma Hongjun almost fell over himself running, yelling while running back to the carriage,

  “Quick, quickly leave, I can’t stand it.”

  Watching the two carriages speed off, Bu Le then released Tian Ya’s arm, snorting,

  “Damn Fatty, if I can’t beat you, I’ll nauseate you to death. Humph humph, you’re still soft.”

  The corners of Tian Ya’s mouth twitched,

  “The problem is, you didn’t just nauseate him. I’m equally sick.”

  “Eh……”

  ……

  The carriages rushed ten kilometers without Ma Hongjun calming down, from time to time leaning out the carriage window to vomit. He vowed never to see those three people again in his life.

  Tang San was a bit better. After he and Tai Tan began to discuss hidden weapons again, the churning feeling in his stomach gradually settled.

  Rising Dragon City was situated in the north of Star Luo Empire, less than two hundred li from the common border of the two great empires, it was truly a frontier city.

  Rising Dragon City in itself wasn’t directly under the administration of the Star Luo imperial family, but rather the territory within the borders of a subordinate kingdom. Because of trade, this not at all large city was still flourishing, visitors coming and going endlessly.

  Kingdoms and duchies, on the surface these powers belonged to the two great empires, but in truth they hadn’t been under imperial control for a long time, and moreover still controlled a lot of economically strategic towns, and behind them was the secret backing of Spirit Hall, competing with the empires as equals. Even though conflicts weren’t common, along with imperial authority gradually being undermined, especially after the recent destruction of the two great sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the kingdoms and duchies had also acted increasingly aggressive. Some had even started to openly expand their territory. Even though the scope wasn’t large, it could already reveal a great many problems.

  But extraordinarily, the two great empires completely disregarded their restless stirring. Everything seemed very calm, even to the extent that there were no signs of military movement. Perhaps it was because those kingdoms and duchies lacked confidence, but the silence of the two great empires instead frightened them, and for the moment they didn’t dare be too unbridled.

  The Strength Clan’s two carriages entered Rising Dragon City after passing a simple inspection at the gate. Of course, the taxes for foreign merchants entering the city were indispensable. The people were counted accordingly, but most astonishing was that even the horses counted as people. Each person was one gold spirit coin, the carriages three spirit coins, and further adding eight healthy horses, they had to pay tens of spirit coins.

  Even though everyone were Spirit Masters, they didn’t belong to Spirit Hall, and in order to avoid trouble, they might as well pay and smoothly enter the town.

  “Elder, what are our arrangements?”

  Tang San asked Tai Tan. These days he and Tai Tan had always been talking hidden weapons, to the extent that they hadn’t even thought to talk about the four clan gathering.

  Tai Tan carefully gathered up the blueprints in the carriage and placed them in his spirit tool,

  “We’ll head directly to the Defense Clan’s place. Since they’re the hosts, naturally they’ll stand for the arrangements. Actually, each gathering is only everyone meeting again after a long time, chatting about what’s happened recently, looking out for each other. There are no fixed procedures.”

  Tang San nodded at that. Softly caressing Xiao Wu’s soft fur, his face revealed a somewhat pondering expression. Having arrived in Rising Dragon City, he should start to consider how to confront the four single attribute clans.

  Tai Tan didn’t disturb him either, he sat in the carriage resting with his eyes closed. After their exchange on this whole journey, if he only appreciated Tang San before, then now there was already a bit of admiration.

  Tai Tan thought of himself as already being a peak level character in the forging world, but when talking with Tang San he would frequently sigh in admiration because of his intricate way of thinking and those elaborate hidden weapon designs. From his point of view, Tang San not only remembered the hidden weapons plans, but moreover had an extremely deep understanding of them. When the two disagreed, after careful analysis, it would frequently be Tai Tan compromising, and not this youngster.

  In this period of exchange, Tai Tan grew increasingly convinced that his choice was correct. He understood that the Clear Sky Clan had perhaps produced another alarmingly talented genius. To the extent that he was even more talented than the one who had been called the Continent’s youngest Title Douluo, Tang Hao.

  Even if Tai Tan was rough on the outside, his mind was meticulous enough, otherwise he couldn’t have had such a deep understanding of his forging art. He could of course guess Tang San’s objective in coming along on this trip. Originally he wasn’t a bit optimistic, but through his exchange with Tan San, he discovered the unique charm of this youth. Just as expected of a control type Spirit Master, he could frequently very easily control the overall situation. He basically wasn’t like a barely twenty youth.

  The more one was polished on the grindstone, the sharper one got, perhaps this was related to his experiences. After enduring immeasurable pain and expending immeasurable effort, he had his present talent. That wasn’t something that could be obtained by just relying on talent.

  Rising Dragon City was far smaller than Heaven Dou City, and the two carriages pulled by eight horses very soon reached their destination.

  The carriages stopped outside of a large house. When Tang San stepped down from the carriage and looked towards the great gate of this courtyard, his face couldn’t help revealing a smiling expression. This unexpectedly seemed quite similar to the Strength Clan’s mansion, just that the inscribed board above the gate had the word ‘Defense’.

  Tai Tan smiled:

  “Our four cl
ans’ buildings were designed by the Defense Clan. That’s why they’re very similar. Even though the construction seems quite crude overall, inside are actually concealed a lot of mechanisms suitable for defending. The Defense Clan’s position in the construction field isn’t a bit lower than our Strength Clan in forging. It’s said that this Rising Dragon City lord’s mansion was also remodelled by them. It’s also because of that project that they could lay their foundation here.”

  When the two carriages stopped, two robust men were already running out from the great gate. Compared to the Strength Clan clansmen, they seemed a bit shorter, but gave people an even more massive impression.

  One robust man hastily saluted deferentially,

  “Hello, respected clan chief Tai Tan, the Strength Clan is welcome to our clan.”

  Tai Tan waved his hand, laughing out loud,

  “No need to be polite. Isn’t the old rhino at the clan?”

  The two Defense Clan big guys responsible for greeting smiled wryly at each other, secretly thinking, ‘perhaps nobody other than you dares nickname our clan chief ‘old rhino’.’

  Even though they silently cursed in their hearts, they didn’t dare show it on their faces, one of them saying:

  “The clan chief is here, just waiting for all the seniors to arrive. We sent someone to report as soon as we saw the Strength Clan’s carriages.”

  Before he had finished, a deep voice echoed from within the Defense Clan’s mansion,

  “You old orangutan. I could hear that loud windpipe of yours without even leaving the house. You actually dare call me names, haha.”

  Hearing this voice, Tai Tan immediately laughed heartily without restraint,

  “Dissatisfied, huh, if you’ve got the skill we’ll compare strength. After you beat me, I won’t call you old rhino. How about it?”

  Between the wide open gates, an old man half a head shorter than Tai Tan walked out. This person’s face was like a heavy date, steel needle like short hair already grizzled, his face ruddy, a pair of bell sized eyes bright and full of expression, extremely broad shoulders. Even though the robes he wore were very spacious, his build filled with incomparable power and grandeur was still visible in his movements. If Tai Tan was like a towering mountain, then he was like a wide and solid fortress.