Chapter 297: Chapter 297: The Clear Sky Clan is Annihilated, Tang San Dies
By the time Lin Feng’s group arrived, Tang San had already put his concocted poison into the Clear Sky Clan’s water source. The poison quickly spread through the water, colorless and odorless, making it impossible to guard against. The disciples of the Clear Sky Clan, completely unaware, continued to live and cultivate as usual.
Inside the main hall, because Tang San had managed to re-condense Tang Hao’s martial soul, all the elders of the Clear Sky Clan and the Clan Master Tang Xiao had gathered once again.
"I never thought that you, Tang San, would possess such a divine object, to actually be able to re-condense Tang Hao’s crippled martial soul. It’s truly a miracle!" an elder exclaimed, his eyes filled with both pleasant surprise and doubt.
Tang San smiled faintly, but sneered endlessly in his heart. He slowly opened his mouth, "Elder, it’s not as simple as just re-condensing the martial soul. With the inner core of this Ten-headed Fierce Sun Serpent, Father’s martial soul will become even stronger, and may even have a chance to break through to a higher realm than before."
Hearing this, the elders all nodded in praise, but they did not notice the cold, sinister glint that flashed in Tang San’s eyes.
The Seventh Elder snorted coldly. He had no goodwill towards Tang Hao’s family, who had caused his son’s death. He couldn’t help but mock, "He has only just recovered his martial soul. His cultivation is not even a tenth of what it was. By the time he re-cultivates to the rank of Titled Douluo, I’m afraid his time will be up. What stronger martial soul, what higher realm? In the end, it will all just be a handful of yellow earth!"
Tang San’s gaze instantly turned hostile. This guy was the most stubborn, always finding fault with him. A mere ant in the early stages of a Titled Douluo, how dare he clamor in front of him?
Tang Hao glanced at the Seventh Elder but didn’t say much.
The other elders looked at each other, and the atmosphere in the hall became a bit awkward for a moment.
As the Clan Master, Tang Xiao coughed lightly, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. "In any case, it’s always a good thing that Tang Hao was able to recover his martial soul. Our Clear Sky Clan has gained another source of strength."
"Well said," Tang San sneered. "I am but a youth, yet I am already a Soul Emperor. Throughout history, which soul master can compare to me? If I can help my father repair his martial soul, then I naturally have ways to help him quickly return to his peak strength. How could you frogs in a well possibly understand my methods?"
Tang San’s words were full of arrogance and confidence. He swept his gaze over everyone in the hall, a trace of contempt in his eyes.
The elders were so shocked by Tang San’s arrogant words that they were speechless for a moment. Tang Xiao also frowned tightly, his heart a mixture of feelings. He knew that Tang San’s talent was extraordinary, but he never expected him to be so arrogant and domineering, completely disregarding the clan’s elders.
"Tang San, although your talent is outstanding, you cannot be so conceited," Tang Xiao said in a deep voice.
However, Tang San just smiled contemptuously, not taking Tang Xiao’s words to heart at all. He secretly calculated in his heart that once he dealt with these eyesores, the entire Clear Sky Clan would submit at his feet, and Tang Xiao would be nothing more than a stepping stone on his path to the top.
He calculated the time in his head. The poison should have taken full effect by now. Thinking of the disciples and elders of the Clear Sky Clan struggling in agony, a cruel smile couldn’t help but touch the corner of his lips.
"I brought some things back with me this time, called hidden weapons."
Tang San took out a rectangular cylinder from his robes, which looked a bit like a kaleidoscope.
"This is called Yama’s Invitation. Even a Titled Douluo would find it hard to gain any advantage against its attack," Tang San said coldly.
"Hidden weapons?" Tang Xiao stroked his chin, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Is this thing really that powerful? It doesn’t look like those soul tools from the Spirit Empire. To say that a mere contraption like this can deal with a Titled Douluo is a bit ridiculous, isn’t it? Tang San, I know your cultivation has improved rapidly during this time, and it’s inevitable that you’re a bit proud, but you must not speak nonsense and make a fool of yourself. The realm of a Titled Douluo is the pinnacle of this world. A man-made gadget can threaten a Titled Douluo?"
Tang San slowly walked to the center of the hall. "Of course, it still needs the assistance of soul power and technique. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. I can’t control you. This item is the proof of my return, consider it a gift for my return to the clan."
As he spoke, Tang San gently placed the Yama’s Invitation on a table in the hall. Its cold, metallic luster glinted strangely in the light.
Then he stepped back.
The crowd looked at each other. After witnessing Tang San’s strength that did not match his age, they were somewhat convinced by what he said. Looking at the Yama’s Invitation that Tang San had put down, they couldn’t help but feel a little curious.
Apart from the Seventh Elder, who snorted coldly at such "devious tricks" and sat in his original seat, turning his head away, too lazy to look, almost everyone else gathered around, wanting to carefully observe this so-called hidden weapon.
Just at that moment, a disciple suddenly rushed in from outside the hall, panicked and flustered. His face was pale, and he was panting heavily, as if he had just experienced something terrifying.
He ran chaotically to Tang Xiao’s side and said something.
Tang Xiao’s expression froze. And at that very moment, the Yama’s Invitation placed on the table suddenly burst with a dazzling light. Immediately after, a series of clicking sounds echoed in the hall.
The hidden weapon box opened on its own, revealing eight poison needles inside. With the sound of breaking air, the eight poison needles shot out like lightning, their targets being the elders gathered around the Yama’s Invitation.
A dark black poison mist swirled around the needles, exuding a fatal, dangerous aura.
The elders and Tang Xiao were in a panic. They hurriedly tried to mobilize the soul power in their bodies, only to find that their soul power was as if frozen, completely unable to be mobilized immediately. It was this split-second difference that allowed the poison needles to easily pierce through their bodies.
"Ah—"
Shrill screams instantly filled the hall. Several elders fell to the ground, black smoke rising from their bodies.
"What’s going on? Tang San! This is your doing!!!"
The Seventh Elder heard the noise, looked back, and saw this scene. Shock and anger intertwined in his heart. The Clear Sky Hammer had already appeared in his hand, and he was about to smash it towards Tang San.
"Hmm? My soul power..."
He subconsciously looked down. As he frowned, he saw two iron balls, one large and one small, flying towards him. Their speed was like lightning. He didn’t even have time to react before the two iron balls were in front of him. With two loud "bangs," they smashed directly into his chest.
"Swoosh—"
The iron balls shattered, and hundreds of bone-dissolving divine needles shot out from within, carrying a soul-confusing poison mist, and quickly pierced into the Seventh Elder’s body. The Seventh Elder only felt a numbness spread through his body, his bones turning as soft as cotton, and his head became groggy.
Tang Xiao and the other elders were not faring any better. The poison on the Yama’s Invitation was originally capable of killing a Titled Douluo. After being improved by Tang San, its power was even greater. Although they had circulated their soul power in time to resist, the poison had already invaded their bodies and begun to corrode their life force. They could only quickly sit cross-legged on the spot to meditate, seal the flow of soul power in their bodies, and slow the spread of the poison. But this was only a temporary solution; the poison was still raging within them.
"Tang San, Tang Hao, what are you doing!!!"
Several angry shouts echoed in the hall, but they could not hide the weakness in their voices. Tang San watched all of this coldly, a flash of pleasure in his eyes.
"What am I doing? Naturally, I am cleaning the house," Tang San slowly stepped forward, his tone full of ruthlessness. "The Clear Sky Clan has already rotted. Only under my leadership can it regain its glory."
As soon as the Yama’s Invitation had erupted, Tang San had taken Tang Hao and retreated, in order to prevent a counterattack.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Demonic Soul Devour."
Tang San’s Dark Blue Silver Grass instantly spread throughout the entire hall, like a giant black net, firmly binding everyone. Under the restraint of the Demonic Soul Devour, the struggles of the elders and disciples grew weaker and weaker, their life force being stripped away bit by bit.
"Clan... Tang Xiao! Look at the two vile spawn you brought back!!!"
An elder finally couldn’t help but roar, his eyes blood-red, full of unwillingness and anger.
Tang Xiao looked at the indifferent Tang Hao, a sharp pain in his heart. He is my brother, how could he be so ruthless?
"Why?"
Tang Hao replied coldly, "My martial soul lacks origin. You are all my food."
"Heh," Tang Xiao took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He suddenly opened them again, and his eyes were already filled with killing intent.
The next moment, Tang Xiao’s figure shot up, like an enraged lion, pouncing straight at Tang Hao. His Clear Sky Hammer drew a brilliant arc in the air and, with a deafening roar, smashed fiercely towards Tang San and Tang Hao. Black patterns had appeared on his meridians, a sign of the poison spreading in his body.
Tang San’s hands did not stop moving. Another giant circular disk was taken out by him. On it were forty-nine dark silver, half-foot-long strange silver nails, and more than ten dark silver parts of various kinds. The raw materials had been found in the King of Slaughter’s palace. In order to shape it, the blood of countless fallen soul masters had been poured onto it.
With the soft sound of springs turning, the forty-nine dark silver nails suddenly shot out from the disk, like a silver rain screen, enveloping Tang Xiao airtight. These silver nails all contained deadly poison and a strange soul power fluctuation.
"Storm Pear Flower Needles!" Tang San shouted coldly.
"Clear Sky Guardian Body!"
Tang Xiao’s soul power surged out from his body, forming a thick protective shield of Clear Sky Gang Qi that tightly wrapped around him. The silver nails of the Storm Pear Flower Needles rained down, striking the Clear Sky Gang Qi, creating a dense and crisp symphony of metal, sparks flying.
However, although the Clear Sky Gang Qi was strong, he had, after all, been hit twice by a deadly poison capable of killing a Titled Douluo. Without treatment, it was difficult for him to completely block the dense attack of the Storm Pear Flower Needles.
With the spread of the poison mist, Tang Xiao’s shield was gradually corroded and began to show cracks.
Some of the silver nails pierced through the shield. Although they were greatly weakened, they still carried residual poison and soul power and pierced into Tang Xiao’s skin.
Tang Xiao let out a muffled grunt, his figure swaying slightly. Just as he was about to fall, he hardened his heart. "Die for me!"
His eyes were blood-red. The remaining soul power in his body seemed to ignite, converging in his palm to form a giant golden Clear Sky Hammer phantom. With the force of a thunderbolt, it suddenly smashed towards Tang San and Tang Hao.
"Retreat quickly, he’s burning his life force!"
Hearing this, Tang San and Tang Hao quickly retreated. Tang San simultaneously released more Dark Blue Silver Grass, attempting to obstruct Tang Xiao’s attack. However, this attack from Tang Xiao gathered all his remaining strength, as well as the determination of burning his life force. Its power was so great that even the air seemed to be torn apart.
"Boom!"
The giant golden Clear Sky Hammer phantom smashed fiercely on the spot where Tang San and Tang Hao had just been standing. The ground instantly cracked, dust flew, and the entire hall trembled.
Due to Tang San and Tang Hao’s timely retreat, this blow did not directly hit them, but even so, the terrifying shockwave still made them feel a surge of qi and blood. Tang Hao, whose cultivation had just reached the Soul Ancestor level, was directly shaken until he bled from his seven orifices, his eyes seeing stars, the pain unbearable, almost collapsing to the ground.
"Father, hold on!" Tang San’s gaze fell on a corner of the hall. There was a mechanism he had set up earlier. With just a thought, he could activate the mechanism and release an even more deadly poison mist.
At this moment, the poison mist had already spread throughout the entire hall. The elders who were meditating and detoxifying, instead of feeling any relief, all collapsed to the ground, losing their ability to move in a short period of time.
"Hmph, without soul power, relying only on your physical bodies, you are nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs, hahaha."
"This is what happens when you don’t cultivate your physical body and spiritual power. The Titled Douluos of the first era were terrifyingly weak. But that’s good, it gave me a chance to plot."
Tang San laughed loudly, looking at the trembling Tang Xiao standing in the smoke. His hands did not stop moving, and hidden weapons continuously flew out from his sleeves, heading straight for Tang Xiao.
"Tang San, you vile spawn! You dare to attack the clan, you will die a horrible death!" Tang Xiao roared. "I was wrong, I was wrong! To believe you two scum of the clan, to make a great enemy for my Clear Sky Clan, and now, to openly betray the clan and harm your fellow clansmen! I, Tang Xiao, as the Clan Master, have failed my ancestors!"
Tang Xiao’s voice was full of regret and anger. His eyes were wide open, as if he wanted to permanently brand the figures of Tang San and Tang Hao in his eyes. He endured the injuries on his body and the corrosion of the poison, and once again raised the Clear Sky Hammer. Although his movements were already very slow, he still managed to block Tang San’s attacks with difficulty.
He looked back at the elders who had fallen one after another, and sorrow came from his heart. "Disciples of the Clear Sky Clan, it is I, Tang Xiao, who has let you down! I failed to see through the true colors of these two traitors, letting you suffer such a calamity!"
"Bang—"
His forehead was suddenly hit by a silver needle. Carrying a deadly poison and Tang San’s thick soul power, it instantly pierced through Tang Xiao’s already crumbling defense and deeply stabbed into his mind.
Tang Xiao’s body suddenly stiffened. The light in his eyes quickly dimmed. He looked down in disbelief at the black mist gradually spreading before his eyes and on his chest, a trace of blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth. He struggled to stay conscious, but the poison had already corroded his nerves, making him feel a dizzying spin.
"Why... why..." Tang Xiao’s voice was weak and trembling. Until his death, he did not understand why his own brother and nephew would be so ruthless to him.
"To become stronger, for revenge."
Tang Hao slowly walked up to him and slammed a palm on the top of his head, completely ending Tang Xiao’s life. There was not a single ripple in his eyes, as if he had just done something insignificant.
"First Soul Skill, Bind!"
"Third Soul Skill, Devour!"
"Fifth Soul Skill, Dark Resonance!"
Countless strands of Dark Blue Silver Grass, like mad tentacles, under Tang San’s control, frantically devoured all the life force and soul power that could be devoured in the hall. The elders lying on the ground, their life force and soul power were as if attracted by an invisible black hole, continuously flowing towards Tang San.
Several more strands of Blue Silver Grass connected to Tang Hao’s back, and gushing energy and martial soul origin were transferred by him into Tang Hao’s body.
"Hah—"
Tang Hao’s face quickly flushed red. This intense energy impact from devouring made him feel an unprecedented comfort. His cultivation was climbing at an astonishing speed. The soul power that had been slowly growing due to his re-cultivation was now like a bursting dam, surging.
He finally understood why his good big son had improved so quickly. So this was the wonderful feeling those fallen soul masters felt when they improved? If only my martial soul also had this ability.
Inside the main hall, the corpses of Tang Xiao and the elders slowly turned into skin and bones, then into a pile of white bones, and finally into flying ash, disappearing into the air. At this moment, only Tang San and Tang Hao were left in the entire hall.
"Father, how do you feel?" Tang San asked again.
"Good, really good," Tang Hao’s eyes shone with excitement. "This power, this feeling, it’s truly intoxicating."
"Yes, intoxicating," Tang San smiled devilishly, licking his lips.
"It’s time to deal with the guys outside. The poison’s effect should last for another half an hour," Tang San said, about to walk out.
"Mmm."
Just as the two were about to leave the hall, a cold laugh was heard. "No need. I have already taken care of the people outside. Tang San, what a good show. You’ve given me quite an eyeful."
Hearing this, Tang San and Tang Hao’s figures suddenly froze. Their gazes, as sharp as lightning, instantly turned to the direction of the voice. At the entrance of the hall, a figure slowly walked in. The person was cloaked in a black robe, their face hidden in the shadows, with only a pair of eyes shining with a cold, ghostly light.
"Who are you?" Tang San asked in a deep voice, already secretly on guard. He could feel the dangerous aura emanating from this person; they were by no means ordinary.
"Jie Jie Jie, you don’t recognize me?" The strange laughter made Tang San even more irritated.
The black-robed person slowly raised his hand and lifted the hood, revealing a handsome and elegant face.
"Ahem—" Lin Feng readjusted his tone and sneered, "You don’t recognize me now?"
Tang San and Tang Hao’s gazes were fixed on that face. For a moment, they were in disbelief.
"How can you be here!" The expressions of the two suddenly turned grim. Tang Hao, in particular, was in a panic, his whole body trembling.
"Watching a show, of course. What a great show. Internal strife in the clan, a friendly elder brother and a respectful younger brother, truly spectacular. How does it feel to devour the life force and martial soul origin of your own clansmen?"
Tang San’s heart was pounding, but he laughed. "Very good. As the steps and nourishment for my ascent to the peak, they should feel honored."
Lin Feng shook his head. "That really sounds like something you would say."
His fingertip moved slightly, and Tang Hao directly fainted. Tang San was controlled by him, floating in mid-air, unable to move.
"Die."
"You dare! I am the Asura’s..."
The throat of his destiny was forcefully squeezed. "Crack—" Tang San’s breathing became more and more difficult, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
"Asura? Hmph, even the Asura God wouldn’t dare to act so presumptuously here."
Tang San struggled desperately. "Huo... you..."
"I almost forgot," Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. A wisp of Yin qi was sent into Tang San’s sea of consciousness, releasing the spiritual brand under the Weiyu Cave Heaven.
Instantly, those sealed memories surged into Tang San’s mind.
"Remember Yu Ruyan? I arranged that. You like to play with people’s emotions, to treat others like dogs. How does it feel this time?"
Tang San’s pupils suddenly widened. "You... I... I am not reconciled..."
His life force dissipated. There was no longer a trace of light in Tang San’s eyes. His body hung limply, completely devoid of life.
"Boom—"
A scarlet light suddenly erupted from Tang San’s body. The light transformed into the Asura Demon Sword and stabbed towards Lin Feng. However, Lin Feng just smiled faintly. With a slight movement of his fingers, a golden barrier instantly appeared in front of him, firmly blocking the Asura Demon Sword.
"Insolent! How dare you kill my successor!"
From the void, a majestic and angry voice roared. The figure of the Asura God gradually condensed in the void, his fiery eyes fixed deadly on Lin Feng.
"Who are you!"