Douluo Dalu: Volume 40: Beginning of the War

by Tang Jia San Shao

  The Elephant Armored School and Sacred Dragon School spirit masters charging furthest in front of the Sacred Dragon Legion were blasted into the air by this one slash, directly flung several dozen meters high. The sharp sword energy lacerated their bodies, and even though it couldn’t kill them due to the attack range being too large, their fur and scales sprayed in all directions, producing a great cloud of blood.

  Just at this moment, grandmaster sharply waved his right hand,

  “Tang Army, loose!”

  Weng——

  Along with ear shattering sonorous clangs, a widely spread humming sound echoed for a moment. The more than ten thousand Tang Army soldiers simultaneously, and for the first time on a battlefield, loosed the devastating bolts of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.

  Black crossbow bolts formed a concentrated shadow in the air, both mounted and on foot Tang Army soldiers using the Godly Zhuge Crossbows in their hands to paint the splendor of death.

  The Elephant Armored School and Sacred Dragon School spirit masters furthest ahead were already unable to protect the spirit masters in the rear. Those agility attack type spirit masters flanking on either side were also each exposed before the Godly Zhuge Crossbows of the one thousand Tang Army soldiers led by Tang Sect Strength Hall master Tai Tan and Defense Hall master Niu Gao.

  More than twelve thousand Tang Army soldiers, each with a Godly Zhuge Crossbow spitting out sixteen refined iron tipped crossbow bolts, what kind of scene was that? Close to two hundred thousand crossbow bolts formed what seemed like a black cloud on the ground, spreading to the front line of the Sacred Dragon Army in a split second.

  In order to make the charge even more effective, in order to let the spirit masters show their strength in the first moment of engagement, the Sacred Dragon Legion’s formation was very dispersed. It was also just because of this that they met even more Godly Zhuge Crossbow attacks head on.

  In the Heaven Dou Imperial Army formation, emperor Xue Beng was already tightly clenching his fists. He had waited for this moment for far too long. As the highest ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire, of course he understood how important the meaning of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow’s effect was to this war.

  Even at several dozen li from the main battlefield, the sound of more than ten thousand Godly Zhuge Crossbows erupting at once still chilled the heart. At the same time, the instant that black cloud entered the Sacred Dragon Legion, causing a scene of a large cloud of blood shooting into the air, safety could be seen in Xue Beng’s eyes. Along with the sight, also came heart rending screams of misery.

  Where the black Godly Zhuge Crossbow bolt cloud passed, the Sacred Dragon Legions spirit masters collapsed like wheat to the scythe. That was close to two hundred thousand crossbow bolts that could pierce four ring defensive spirit abilities! The front of the Sacred Dragon Legion was still somewhat fine, they were after all mostly power attack type spirit masters with the support type spirit masters further in the back, but the agility attack type spirit masters on the wings weren’t that fortunate.

  No matter how fast the agility attack type spirit masters, it was impossible to outrun the Godly Zhuge Crossbow’s bolts. In practically a split second, close to a third of the agility attack type spirit masters with relatively weak defense on the wings collapsed. Only those with relatively high levels, or those who reacted cleverly and moved to escape were out of danger.

  Even though the Sacred Dragon Legion spirit masters were mainly power attack type spirit masters, using their raw flesh to block such a dense Godly Zhuge Crossbow attack was still an extremely terrifying event. Almost each of the ones charging furthest ahead were hit by more than a hundred crossbow bolts. Sixteen crossbow bolts could admittedly only break four ring defenses, but when facing a hundred at the same time, then even five ring level defensive abilities might not be able to block them completely. Even more, the moment the Godly Zhuge Crossbows loosed, how many Sacred Dragon Legion spirit masters had released their defensive spirit abilities?

  A full two lines, more than a thousand Sacred Dragon Legion spirit masters erupted with an abundant and gaudy mist of blood, and those heartrending screams of misery echoed within that bloodbath. Adding the losses of the two wings of agility attack type spirit masters, a single volley had reduced the entire Sacred Dragon Legion’s numbers by almost a sixth.

  Xue Beng waved his hand in excitement. The Tang Army’s first action had already had an enormously surprising result. Even though it was too distant to clearly see the numbers of the enemy losses, the rising blood mist showed the scope of their damage. Even more, this was just the beginning.

  “Wind mechanisms. Mount up.”

  Grandmaster was as cold as a block of ice. Under his orders, the Tang Army soldiers quickly wound up the mechanisms. And the Sacred Dragon Legion was already scared a bit senseless by this volley.

  Meanwhile, Sword Douluo didn’t pause after the first slash. Flipping over in midair, his spirit power abruptly emanated below his feet, and like a star chasing the moon, he shot straight for the battle of powers in the center. The Seven Kill Sword pointing forward, his target was that Black Lined Ghost Panther Douluo.

  Bibi Dong and Tang San were just intensely trading blows. When her Death Spider Emperor’s sixth spirit ability Bloodsucking Spider Thorns was just about to stab Tang San, was at the same moment as the Godly Zhuge Crossbows erupted. Bibi Dong’s movements slowed for a moment, her eyes filled with disbelief.

  How could Tang San let such a chance slip by? His right foot stomping on the floor, the Deathgod Domain fully erupted. Red and white colored light instantly covered the battlefield, forcing back Bibi Dong’s Death Domain, keeping away the Death Domain’s poison. At the same time, a ray of golden light poured into the Seagod Trident, making this divine instrument once again release its proper radiance.

  In the previous battle, because Tang San had instantly killed two powers one after another, quickly releasing his spirit abilities, Bibi Dong’s violent attack hadn’t even given him time to prompt the Seagod Trident as he strenuously endured under Bibi Dong’s suppression. Now he could finally catch a breath. The golden trident swung in a circle, relying on Unfixed Storm’s defensive power in a golden ring of light to dissolve those Bloodsucking Spider Thorns.

  After dissolving Bibi Dong’s attack, Tang San retreated rather than advance. Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, he swiftly moved back, intense golden blue light rising anew, Blue Silver Avatar launching.

  He was a control type spirit master, not a power attack type. In this kind of battle, he should place even more emphasis on control, and not on a duel to the death with Bibi Dong. Their side was undoubtedly weaker than Bibi Dong’s side in overall strength, and the more it dragged out the worse it would get. But right now they still had to stall, to fight for enough time for Grandmaster’s Heaven Dou spirit master legion and the Tang Army.

  Drawn by his presence, Bibi Dong slowly advanced towards Tang San. She already hated him to the extreme, and even with the major issues with the Sacred Dragon Legion, right now she was more anxious to deal with Tang San right in front of her. There was no telling what kind of major headache he would give her if she left this youth alone.

  Amidst a loud sound, Tang San’s face showed an intense divine light. With the Seagod Trident’s main form, it wasn’t hard for him to block Bibi Dong. The Seagod Trident produced circle after circle of golden light, spreading towards Biib Dong.

  Seeing these golden rings, Bibi Dong couldn’t keep her expression from changing. She still deeply remembered that it was because of this golden ring of light that she was forced to use her ninth spirit ability Undying Body last time in Star Dou Great Forest. And even so, she had still been severely injured.

  Consequently, seeing the Unfixed Storm unleashed from Tang San’s Seagod Trident, Bibi Dong naturally halted in the air. Waving both hands, gaudy purple and black light condensed in front of her, completely protecting her within.

  A trace of a smile appeared at the corner of Ta
ng San’s mouth. That he could trap Bibi Dong back then wasn’t with his own power, but rather the Seagod’s. And with the distance in spirit power between him and Bibi Dong, the chance of success for the Unfixed Storm was undoubtedly very small. Of course he wouldn’t do anything pointless. The moment those rings of golden light forced Bibi Dong back, they separated to either side, each moving to envelop the Title Douluo fighting Xiao Wu, as well as Dugu Bo’s opponent, Blowfish Douluo Ci Xue.

  Meanwhile, Tang San’s fourth spirit ring also brightened abruptly. Nine rays of golden light simultaneously shot out of the ground and producing a golden cage below each of Bibi Dong’s nine people, trapping them within. Even though these cages could only delay spirit masters on the Title Douluo for a bit and would be vaporized by their powerful attacks, fights between true experts would often lack just this instant. At this moment, Tang San truly displayed his power as a control type Title Douluo.

  With the opponents before them suddenly slowed, the spirit masters on Tang San’s side naturally wouldn’t let the opportunity slip them by. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were always near each other. With this moment’s chance, they simultaneously dashed toward each other, intense light abruptly condensing in midair.

  Yang Wudi’s Soulbreaking Spear released even more light. Snakelance Douluo had just broken down the Blue Silver Prison surrounding him when he was already met head on by the Soulbreaking Spear heedlessly advancing. This attack was condensed from all of Yang Wudi’s spirit power, there was no way to defend.

  Snakelance Douluo clearly felt that there was no way to dodge this spear, and he could no longer endure always being suppressed by Yang Wudi. Forcefully shifting Yang Wudi’s target on his body by ten centimeters, he wielded his Snakelance like a warsaber, directly chopping down on Yang Wudi. It seemed as if he would take Yang Wudi with him in death.

  Yang Wudi of course wouldn’t retreat. If he did, he wasn’t the Breaking Clan’s clan chief. With a soft puffing sound, the Soulbreaking Spear stabbed straight through Snakelance Douluo’s chest, and at the same time Yang Wudi dashed forward, dodging the sharp head of the Snakelance, his shoulder instead being heavily struck by its shaft.

  The two powers spit out clouds of blood almost simultaneously, their spirits also disappeared almost instantly. The instant heavy injuries made them both unable to maintain their spirits, and the spirit power erupting right in between them forcibly flung both of them back.

  Yang Wudi’s injuries were extremely serious, his entire left shoulder was smashed by the lance, so much that even four ribs were broken, his internal organs also heavily damaged. But Snakelance Douluo was even more miserable than him. Although he had avoided wounding his heart, Yang Wudi’s spear had opened a large hole in his chest, completely skewering an entire lung, and even brushing his spine. After he was flung back, Snakelance Douluo was immediately paralyzed on the ground, no longer able to get up. With such a serious injury, he had already lost the power to keep fighting.

  The battle had already grown extremely desperate from this moment. Elsewhere, Ma Hongjun incarnated as the Seven Headed Fire Phoenix suddenly grew yet another head. This was a variation he got after his spirit rings rose to eight. Intense phoenix flames instantly wrapped up the enemy in front of him, and with Tang San’s Deathgod Domain plus Ning Rongrong’s comprehensive boost, his strength was already completely Title Douluo level. The Phoenix spirit’s formidable flame attribute was undoubtedly manifested in this moment, invading the opponent’s body like bone maggots. But he himself was also lashed by the opponent’s spirit ability, and was knocked flying.

  Oscar’s circumstances weren’t any better than Xiao Wu’s. He had no way to forcibly fight the opponent, and could only use the instant bought by Tang San’s Blue Silver Prison to immediately eat another mirror image sausage, retreating fully at the same time, while pulling out a caterpillar shaped transparent little sausage from his chest pocket. This sausage released bizarre energy fluctuations. Swallowing it in one gulp, in just an instant, Oscar seemed to glow with youth again, his spirit power instantly returned to its peak. He once again produced his clone, which lunged.

  This was Oscar’s eighth spirit ability, Crystal Caterpillar Sausage. Effect: Instantly completely restores spirit power, gives the whole body like a cardiac stimulant. Also eating one Erect Gold Fly and one Stimulating Pink Sausage, an intense phoenix image erupted behind him. This was Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike. The clone mirror sausage he ate just before was made using Ma Hongjun’s blood.

  Oscar’s own strength was undeniably not particularly strong. Even using his Erect Gold Fly couldn’t more than make his abilities more efficient. But his Mirror Image Sausage gave him the power of myriad spirit abilities. Suddenly transforming from a power attack type White Tiger spirit master into a Phoenix battle spirit master, turning from melee to ranged combatant, instantly caught his opponent unprepared. Plus the Crystal Caterpillar Sausage fully restoring his spirit power, this Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike instantly blasted that Title Douluo flying.

  That Title Douluo fighting Xiao Wu had already forced her to use Invincible Golden Body twice, and Teleportation was launched without pause. Just at this instant he was trapped by the Blue Silver Prison a moment, and XIao Wu also instantly retreated. Before this Title Douluo could break that Blue Silver Prison, golden rings of light were already enveloping him. He felt his body tighten, and was already completely unable to move a finger.

  Elsewhere, equally targeted by Tang San’s Unfixed Storm, Blowfish Douluo was luckier. He felt a burst of panic, and immediately returned to his normal form. Not only did Dugu Bo’s Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor knock him away, he even used his spines to leave a few wounds on Dugu Bo.

  Unfixed Storm only had a fifty percent success rate. Even so, Tang San was already quite satisfied. After all, he was currently dealing head on with Bibi Dong’s enormous pressure. To have the leisure to stun a Title Douluo for eight seconds was already quite good.

  Xiao Wu had a bellyful of anger after being suppressed by that Blood Devil Mad Bear Spirit Mad Bear Douluo for so long. Seeing Tang San’s Unfixed Storm hit, how could she let the opportunity slip by? With one teleportation, she arrived behind Mad Bear Douluo, her scorpion braid flinging out, winding around Mad Bear Douluo’s neck. The toes of her right foot bracing against the enemy’s lower back, Waist Bow launched, immediately flinging Mad Bear Douluo into midair.

  Xiao Wu’s red sixth spirit ring instantly brightened, and she turned into a blurry shadow shooting towards Mad Bear Douluo. Her sixth spirit ring was her previous hundred thousand year spirit beast life spirit ring. When Tang San resurrected her and returned it to her body, it had incomparable affinity with her. Now that she launched the hundred thousand year spirit ability from the spirit ring fused with her, it wasn’t inferior to any Title Douluo’s ninth spirit ring. Plus her characteristics as a former hundred thousand year spirit beast, her spirit power consumption wasn’t particularly large.

  Nothingness, Burst Kill Eight Stage Drop, launched.

  In the air, Mad Bear Douluo was instantly wrapped up in red light, rapidly spinning as he smashed into the ground like a falling star.

  With Xiao Wu’s crisis temporarily resolved, Tang San also fell into his own crisis. Seeing Unfixed Storm’s golden rings move to the Title Douluo on either side, Bibi Dong’s eyes flared with dreadful light. Intense spirit power fluctuations boiled to the limit, light flashing, the purple and black light already turning a miserable green. Six black, one red and two black, nine spirit rings instantly appeared. She had already released her second spirit, Soul Eating Spider Emperor.

  Two giant dark green foreclaws instantly closed together, a heaven shaking dark green blade of light chopping straight at Tang San. Bibi Dong had focused her full strength in this one attack. That dark green light blade could be seen flickering extremely unsteadily in the air, distorted light making it basically impossible to judge where it would hit. Even with Tang San’s level of mental strength, once i
t came into range of this attack would immediately be shattered by that distorted light, all probing effects completely obliterated.

  The enormous pressure made Tang San’s heart and lungs feel like they would explode. Even holding the Seagod Trident before his chest couldn’t weaken this feeling. A few golden rings of light produced by the trident were even cut in halves by that dark jade giant blade. All they could do was slightly slow it down.

  Tang San understood that Bibi Dong was already determined to kill him, whether on the battlefield or not, she had resolved to absolutely kill him.

  Facing such a crisis, even Tang San with his innumerable abilities, deeply felt powerless before absolute strength. Even though Bibi Dong still wasn’t showing the strength of a rank ninety nine Title Douluo, with so many spirit rings, his rank ninety three spirit power still couldn’t quite hold out. Tang San understood that he was still a ways off from a true peak expert.

  The light in his eyes focused. In that instant, the Seagod Trident’s golden light rose to the extreme, the brand on Tang San’s forehead releasing Seagod’s Light as deep as the ocean. Right now, all his energy was poured into this true divine tool in his hand.

  Tyrannical energy fluctuations instantly rose to a peak, glittering golden light rendering Tang San a gaudy golden color. Turning, spinning, striking, three simple motions were done as one, and in an instant, the power of heaven and earth seemed to condense within his simple motions. The Seagod Trident shot out an illusory seeming ray of golden light, as if piercing space, distorted shadows played across it as it went straight for the dark jade light blade Bibi Dong shot.

  Bibi Dong’s eyes were already filled with an ice cold brilliance. Facing the Golden Thirteen Halberd’s third form, One Goes Without Return, she actually made a change that instantly turned Tang San pale with fright, and filled his eyes with despair.