Branch Defection / Gathering at Jialin Pass
Thinking of this, he subconsciously turned around and glanced in the direction he had come from, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of dense forest.
"I wonder if those traces I deliberately left behind... will be enough to lure that crazy woman, Bibi Dong, here."
A plan to use someone else to do his dirty work, to use one enemy to devour another, took shape in his mind.
If Bibi Dong manages to follow the clues and clash with Da Ming and Er Ming... regardless of which side wins, the other side will inevitably suffer heavy losses. At that time, he, the "fisherman" hiding in the shadows, will be able to reap the greatest benefits!
Concealing all his aura, Tang San's figure moved like Gui Mei, continuing his stealthy journey towards the Lake of Life.
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Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, a graceful and noble figure, yet exuding a chilling aura, was rapidly moving about. It was none other than Bibi Dong, who had come to pursue Tang San.
However, her stunningly beautiful face was now shrouded in frost, her brows tightly furrowed.
From the very beginning, this pursuit was out of Bibi Dong's control.
Because of the Spirit Hall's nation-building plan, Bibi Dong wasn't given many manpower, and the few team members with tracking Soul Skill were injured along the way due to obstruction from other enemy forces, so Bibi Dong simply continued the pursuit alone.
Although she is Titled Douluo with overwhelming strength compared to Tang San, tracking is not her specialty.
Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track is exquisite and unparalleled, making him even more adept in complex forest terrain. Coupled with his various Tang Sect techniques for concealing his aura and eliminating traces, Bibi Dong her formidable strength, has always been led by the nose, only able to barely follow some traces that cannot be completely concealed. To this day, she has not even seen Tang San's back.
This feeling of having no way to use her power and being toyed with enraged the proud and arrogant Bibi Dong.
What horrified her even more were the traces of killing left by Tang San along the way.
The corpses of Soul Beast, drained of their life essence and as withered as twigs, were everywhere. Their wounds often bore traces of purplish-black toxins, and a faint, unsettling God of Evil aura permeated the surroundings. This method of devouring life force was cruel yet highly effective.
According to the Spirit Hall's records, Tang San's innate Martial Soul were Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer. One was a standard Trash Martial Soul (before awakening), while the other was the undisputed number one weapon Martial Soul in the world. Neither of them could be associated with the word "God of Evil." Logically speaking, he should be considered Fallen Soul Master succumbed to self-destruction.
In the general understanding of the Soul Master World, Soul Master who fall into depravity later in life may experience rapid growth in strength in the short term due to their lack of restraint, but their potential is often limited. They are also susceptible to backlash from God of Evil forces, and their personalities may become bloodthirsty and insane, making it difficult for them to maintain a clear and rational mind.
But Tang San's performance completely overturned this perception.
Bibi Dong relentlessly pursued him, exerting considerable pressure. However, Tang San not only avoided a humiliating escape and exhaustion during the chase, but also managed to find time to continue hunting Soul Beast and constantly strengthen himself through their God of Evil devouring ability!
This terrifying composure—the ability to calmly plan and efficiently improve even in dire circumstances—along with his growth rate far exceeding that of ordinary Fallen Soul Master, made Bibi Dong feel a strange sense of threat.
This guy doesn't seem like a crazy person who's out of control.
The age of the Soul Beast corpses they encountered along the way kept increasing, from hundreds of years, thousands of years, to tens of thousands of years. Adding to this the intelligence about Tang San's insidious and ruthless Hidden Weapon and poisons...
"Tang San... what exactly happened to you?" Bibi Dong murmured to herself, a hint of seriousness flashing in her purple eyes.
She realized that this disciple of Yu Xiaogang was far more dangerous and troublesome than she had imagined. This pursuit was unlikely to end so easily. She had to be even more cautious and could no longer give him any time or space to grow.
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My thoughts raced through my mind, and my analysis was calm and thorough, but my resolve never wavered in the slightest.
No matter how strange Tang San becomes, how quickly he grows, or how cruel his methods, he will always be the number one target on Bibi Dong's kill list, someone who must be eliminated.
Retreat? Give up?
These two words never appeared in her options.
The gruesome sight of Yu Xiaogang's death, his withered, twisted, and unseeing corpse, burned through her soul like the deepest nightmare.
Perhaps Yu Xiaogang is no longer as perfect as he was at the beginning, but as Bibi Dong's first love and ideal woman, Yu Xiaogang's status will always be special.
Bibi Dong loved and hated him!
Tang San, the disciple whom she might have once felt a sliver of pity for and whom Yu Xiaogang had carefully taught, was utterly trampled and destroyed in the most despicable and cruel way!
If Bibi Dong doesn't personally tear Tang San to pieces, the overwhelming resentment and anger in her heart will have nowhere to go, and she will surely burn herself to ashes from the inside out!
This is no longer just about revenge; it's a kind of obsessive self-preservation.
Only Tang San's blood and wails could slightly quell the screams deep within her soul, and give her a reason to continue living... even if it was just for revenge.
Therefore, no matter if the front line is the core forbidden zone of the Star Dou Great Forest or some dangerous trap set by Tang San, she will definitely go!
Her speed increased again, and the killing intent emanating from her body almost materialized. Wherever she passed, low-level Soul Beast trembled and fled in panic. In her beautiful eyes, there was only a cold and piercing lock-on, staring intently at the faint, God of Evil trail ahead.
Chapter 248 Branch Rebellion
Meanwhile, outside, war has already broken out.
The Spirit Hall Empire's iron hooves advanced with astonishing efficiency, and nearly half of the Heaven Dou Empire's rich territory had already changed hands. Two major provinces of the Star Luo Empire, adjacent to the Spirit Hall, had also fallen.
The Spirit Hall's terrifying strength, combining an elite army of Soul Master with strong grassroots governance capabilities, was fully demonstrated in the war.
The painful reality of successive defeats was like a bucket of ice water, finally waking up the remaining nobles and major forces who were still fighting each other and even hindering one another. The instinct for survival forced them to temporarily put aside their grudges and begin to make a difficult attempt to unite and build a fragile defensive line in order to resist the army of the Spirit Hall Empire.
This trend of unity finally reached the long-closed Clear Sky Sect.
Inside the sect's main hall, the argument that had lasted for days came to an abrupt end. The grim external situation made all the elders realize that continuing to seal off the mountain was tantamount to waiting for death. Once the Spirit Hall Empire had completely consolidated its occupied territory, the next target would likely be the Upper Three Sects that refused to submit.
His departure from the mountains is now a foregone conclusion.
Tang Yuehua had been closely following the matter, felt a surge of hope and joy upon learning that the sect had finally decided to step forward. She believed that the elders would eventually need her meticulous plan for intervening in the Heaven Dou Empire and supporting Xue Ke.
However, she was soon disappointed.
The Clear Sky Sect's efficiency was on full display at this moment—or rather, it reflected their consistent "reckless" style. They had just decided to leave the mountain in the morning, and by noon the entire sect was urgently packing up equipment and supplies. By the afternoon, the vanguard had already set off down the mountain in a grand procession. Throughout the entire decision-making and action process, no one had consulted Tang Yuehua's opinion, as if she did not exist at all.
Her supposedly brilliant schemes and calculations seemed utterly insignificant in the face of the sect's absolute power and established rules of conduct.
However, the sect leader and elders of the Clear Sky Sect were not entirely fools. They knew that it was difficult for a single clan to fight against the Spirit Hall, and cooperation was the only option.
However, their partner was not the Heaven Dou Empire that Tang Yuehua had envisioned.
Although the Clear Sky Sect has closed its mountains within the Heaven Dou Empire territory, and Tang Yuehua has established Moonlight Pavilion with the protection of Xue Ye, seemingly maintaining close ties with the Heaven Dou Empire, in reality, the Clear Sky Sect's secret connections with the Star Luo Empire have never been severed.
They have always maintained an ambiguous attitude of support towards the Star Luo Empire.
Hedging your bets, reaping the benefits without completely offending either side—this is the survival wisdom of major sects in chaotic times.
When the moment finally came to make a choice, the Clear Sky Sect did not hesitate to side with the Star Luo Empire, which was stronger, had a more complete military system, and a stronger martial spirit.
In their view, cooperating with the Star Luo Empire was far more promising than getting involved in the mess that was Heaven Dou Empire.
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City, Princess Xue Ke and the Fourth Prince Xue Beng, completely unaware of all this, are still desperately waiting for possible support from various parties (including the Clear Sky Sect, which they imagine might lend a helping hand), hoping for a glimmer of hope to save the crumbling empire and their own fate.
Little did they know, they had already been ruthlessly abandoned by their potential allies after weighing the pros and cons.
To entrust one's fate to others is both laughable and tragic...
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Amidst the turbulent situation, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, after intense internal debate, ultimately made its choice—to join the coalition formed by the remaining forces of the Heaven Dou Empire.
This choice was made with a deep sense of helplessness.
In the past, in order to extend the influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to the core of the empire, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi took the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, as his disciple, thus deeply binding their interests together. The vast network of merchant guilds, industries, and resources under the sect's name were mostly concentrated within the Heaven Dou Empire, deeply rooted there, and intricately intertwined, making them impossible to sever.
If they abandon the Heaven Dou Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's wealth foundation will collapse by more than half in an instant.
However, after joining the coalition, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School found itself in a very awkward position.
Their sect leader Ning Fengzhi, the sect's two strongest guardian deities Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, and even their previously supported "legitimate" successor Xue Qinghe, have all fallen into the hands of the Spirit Hall, their fates unknown.
This made the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seem like a giant without a brain and teeth in the allied forces. It had a huge size and wealth, but lacked top-notch combat power and a clear political orientation. It was suspected and ostracized by other forces and found it difficult to gain real say.
Just as the various factions of the Heaven Dou Empire Alliance had finally put aside their disputes and gathered together, eager and confident, to discuss their grand plan for a counterattack against the Spirit Hall Empire—
An unexpected and earth-shattering event, like a bolt from the blue, struck everyone hard on the head!
A branch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... has betrayed them!
The impact of this news was far greater than the fall of any city. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, as one of the Upper Three Sects, was known for its powerful top-tier Beast Martial Soul and tough style. It was the backbone of the resistance against the Spirit Hall and an important pillar of the morale of the allied forces.
However, this family, which was considered a monolithic entity, was actually split and betrayed! And those who betrayed them were not insignificant peripheral members, but a branch that possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul!
This blow from behind shattered the little bit of confidence the allied forces had just managed to build up!
Everyone was stunned, a chill running from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
Has the Spirit Hall's infiltration and methods reached such a terrifying level? They've even managed to breach the internal workings of the Upper Three Sects?
The betrayal of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan not only means that the allied forces have lost a powerful fighting force, but also that their battle plans, troop deployments, and even the internal situation of various forces may have been leaked to the Spirit Hall through the traitor!
Panic, suspicion, and distrust spread rapidly within the coalition forces like a plague.
Many families and sects are conducting internal investigations to find potential traitors.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's camp was also demoralized. The pre-battle betrayal had dealt a heavy blow, and many of their direct descendants were seriously injured or even killed before they could react.
Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin, the two direct heirs, were also taken to the Spirit Hall by Yu Luomian, and their fate is now unknown. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was already in turmoil.
Now that this has happened, it's practically ruined.
Of course, some people don't understand why the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, being one of the Upper Three Sects, even if it's just a branch, would betray them!
What outrageous thing did the direct descendants do? Or was the temptation from the Spirit Hall too great?
Chapter 249 Gathering at Jia Lin Pass
After integrating the forces of numerous kingdoms and duchies that had submitted to the Spirit Hall, and formally establishing the Spirit Hall Empire, the Spirit Hall's iron cavalry and Soul Master legions displayed an overwhelming offensive. The continent was engulfed in war, and the hastily organized defenses of the two empires were repeatedly breached by the elite forces of the Spirit Hall Empire.
Soon, the army of the Spirit Hall Empire arrived at the Jialing Pass, a famous natural barrier on the continent.
This formidable pass was built against the treacherous terrain of the Heavenly Spirit Mountain Range, with the vast and dangerous Sunset Forest on the other side, forming a natural barrier. It is like a giant gate, firmly guarding the vital passage to the core area of the Heaven Dou Empire — the Heaven Dou Plain.
The choice facing the Spirit Hall Empire was simple, yet difficult: either spend enormous costs and time to detour around the vast Heavenly Spirit Mountain Range or the perilous Sunset Forest; or use absolute power to launch a head-on assault and flatten this formidable pass!
Once Jialing Pass is breached, the Heaven Dou Plain behind it will be indefensible. Given the formidable military strength and mobility demonstrated by the Spirit Hall Empire, they could easily advance unimpeded and strike directly at the Heaven Dou Imperial City!
This battle can be considered the decisive battle between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall.
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The cold autumn wind swept over the towering city walls of Jialing Pass, banners fluttering in the wind, yet it could not dispel the heavy and oppressive atmosphere that permeated the area within the pass.
The allied forces, composed of various factions, have all assembled here, their camps stretching as far as the eye can see. However, beneath this seemingly powerful alliance, undercurrents are surging.
After Jiujiu without receiving news of cooperation from the Clear Sky Sect Moonlight Pavilion, the owner of Tang Yuehua, the Second Prince, under pressure, made a hasty and helpless decision—to marry his younger sister, Princess Xue Ke, to a Grand Duke whose strength had reached the level of Soul Douluo and who commanded a private army.
This political marriage was held in a very hasty and simple manner, without a grand ceremony or a hall full of guests. Xue Ke, dressed in her wedding gown, had no joy on her face, only a deathly despair. Supported by her maids, she was led into the cold bridal chamber like a soulless puppet. That night, the princess's tears soaked the soft pillows, and also soaked the crumbling dignity of the Heaven Dou Empire.
At this moment, a pre-battle meeting is being held in the largest military tent inside the pass.
The second and third princes sat in the main seats, maintaining a facade of peace, but the fleeting coldness in their glances betrayed their unspoken hostility. Had it not been for the overwhelming force of the Spirit Hall Empire's army, they would have already clashed.