The Emperor Battle Team left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Oslo used the Heavenly Qilin's Invisibility Talisman to hide their forms, strutting openly as they left.
This made many who saw them sigh inwardly. In those days, the Heaven Dou Empire's number one battle team dominated the land, but now, suddenly missing a member, the remaining ones must feel sorrowful.
"Finally going after that Tang San, huh? Sigh, fate is hard to defy!" Inside the Holy Spirit Pearl, the descendant of Nuwa sighed. "Xiao Tian originally wanted to befriend him, but alas, the will of the world has destined that they cannot coexist. Of them, only one is the chosen of this world."
"What do you mean, big sis? You knew all along they would clash?" Skydream Ice Silkworm asked curiously.
The Nuwa descendant nodded. "Actually, if Xiao Tian had killed Tang San the first time they met, he would already be a Titled Douluo or even a Super Douluo by now."
"What?!" Skydream Ice Silkworm was shocked. "Killing Tang San would benefit Xiao Tian so much? Why didn't you say so earlier? If you'd told me, I'd have reminded him to chop Tang San into chips in no time!"
"They had no grievances at the time. How could I let Xiao Tian kill for power alone?" The Nuwa descendant said righteously.
Skydream Ice Silkworm twitched its mouth. It wanted to curse. It had always heard from Tianlin about how merciful the Nuwa of the Immortal Sword world was. Now it had seen with its own eyes—truly a saintly heart.
If it had known sooner, Tang San would have been dead for years.
"Xiao Tian, can you tell us your plan now?" After leaving the sect, Dugu Yan pressed. "You want to notify Spirit Hall after Tang San goes to Star Dou, do you intend to use them to kill him?"
Tianlin shook his head. "No need for such trouble to deal with Tang San. My true goal is to help Oslo acquire his sixth soul ring."
"Remember the Soft Bone Rabbit at the academy tournament? That hundred-thousand-year spirit ring mustn't go cheaply to Tang San."
Though Oslo's matter had nothing to do with Xiao Wu, Tianlin was no longer the soft-hearted person he once was.
Because of Oslo's situation, Tianlin had completely torn face with the Tang family. Tang San was now his enemy. He had decided to make both Tang San and his father exit early. Since that's so, he needed to cut the grass and remove the roots. Xiao Wu was destined to be his enemy, and she had Sky Blue Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape beside her—no small threats.
If Xiao Wu learned Tang San died by his hand, she would certainly seek revenge. As a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, with the two kings of the forest, she could even start a beast tide. Such a big problem—better to solve it together with Tang San.
He had Bai Chenxiang track Tang San's whereabouts, and as soon as he headed for Star Dou Forest, they would accidentally leak Xiao Wu's presence in Star Dou to a branch hall of Spirit Hall.
For Spirit Hall these years, finding Xiao Wu was top priority. Bibi Dong needed to get her second spirit to nine rings as soon as possible, to fully unleash her combat power—then even the three Ultimate Douluos might not be a match.
According to the original, Spirit Hall would need almost two more years to learn of Xiao Wu. Tianlin couldn't wait that long. Tang San, though he hadn't gone to Slaughter City for the Deathgod Domain, had instead spent those two years cultivating soul power. Last time Tianlin fought him, he noticed Tang San had already reached level 60 two years ahead of the original, just lacking a sixth ring.
So Tianlin deduced that soon, Tang San would go to Star Dou for his sixth ring, and bring Xiao Wu back.
"A hundred-thousand years!" Oslo was shocked. "Wait, Xiao Tian, even if we could kill a soul beast that old, I just got revived—my body couldn't take it, I don't want to die again!"
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you can handle it. After this, your level will be second only to me in Emperor Battle Team." Tianlin said confidently.
Now his only worry was running into Di Tian. That guy had appeared before to hunt Tang Hao. If they met, he would not be a match.
Normally, unless it was a massacre like Tang Hao's, Di Tian wouldn't interfere. Also, Xiao Wu was already human-shaped; in Di Tian's eyes, she was no longer a true soul beast. Whether the little bunny lived or died had nothing to do with him. Still, caution was needed, and Tianlin had to plan ahead.
That's why he intended to follow the original, letting Spirit Hall clash with Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python, while Emperor Battle Team hid in the shadows.
Once both sides fought at Lake of Life, the commotion would surely draw Di Tian's attention. If he appeared, the Emperor Battle Team would retreat; if not, they would intercept the hundred-thousand-year ring and bone.
This plan might seem cowardly, but faced with the Beast God Di Tian, Tianlin was nowhere near a match. In such circumstances, being cautious was wise—let someone else test the waters first.
Soon, everyone arrived at Star Dou Great Forest, all applying Tianlin's stealth talisman. Under his guidance, they reached the cave where the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear used to live.
It was close to Lake of Life; all movements could be heard, and it was safe. Except for Di Tian, the wild soul beasts didn't know that the Behemoth and Dreadclaw Bear had been made into soul rings by Tianlin, so they still dared not approach.
…
Meanwhile, Tang San, coming to retrieve Xiao Wu, and Spirit Hall who received the news, also started gathering here. A great battle was inevitable.
Entering Star Dou, Tang San headed straight for the center. Though he didn't know where Xiao Wu was, it was common knowledge—stronger soul beasts lived deeper in the forest.
Though Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Rabbit wasn't the strongest, having reached hundred-thousand years, she should have a territory in the center.
Currently, Tang San hadn't become the Blue Silver Emperor, so he couldn't sense the emotions of Blue Silver Grass like in the original. The grass here had no reason to warn him—a mere ordinary Blue Silver Grass. So he could only carefully advance.
"Xiao Wu, I'm here!"
Soon, Tang San passed the outer areas of century and millennium soul beasts, entering the ten-thousand-year inner zone. Here, he had to be extra careful. With his current power, he could barely deal with anything below twenty-thousand years; above that, he would have to run, or die.
He'd thought about bringing a Soul Douluo-level guard, but in matters concerning Xiao Wu, he couldn't trust anyone. What Soul Douluo wouldn't covet a hundred-thousand-year shape-shifting soul beast?
Even Tai Tan, he didn't fully trust, due to Tianlin's past interference. In fact, Tang San hadn't known Tai Tan that long.
Tai Tan had long heard of Tang San from Tai Long, but in recent years, Tang San had been training in seclusion with Tang Hao. If not for Tang Hao bringing him and collaborating with Emperor Xue Beng, Tai Tan might never have met him.
Such a short time—how could Tang San fully trust Tai Tan?
Even if he found Xiao Wu, he didn't plan to take her directly to the palace but to hide and cultivate together for a while.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form had to cultivate with a human to advance fastest. With no humans at her side these years, Xiao Wu's progress must have been slow. Tang San had to help her reach maturity fast, to return to the human world.
The plan was beautiful, the reality harsh.
At this point, Tang San lacked the powerful mental strength, Blue Silver Domain, and Deathgod Domain of the original. He couldn't sense distant danger at all.
Unbeknownst to him, he had already entered Spirit Hall's ambush.
About 1,500 meters away, a group of twenty or thirty people were stationed. Leading them were Spirit Hall's two Titled Douluo elders—Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
Also present were Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena—the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong took the hundred-thousand-year soul beast extremely seriously, sending only her most trusted subordinates.
"Hm, someone is approaching?" Ghost Douluo's ears twitched. With his Titled Douluo senses, he could hear footsteps even a kilometer away.
And they had to be human. In the depths of Star Dou Great Forest, humans were rare.
Now, at this critical time for Spirit Hall, he couldn't be careless.