Demon Eye Demon Tree

Seeing this, Tang Hao's eyes were split with rage, and his Martial Soul was released in an instant. Nine spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red—circled the massive Clear Sky Hammer, though they did not pulse like those of other spirit masters.

"Xiao Liu!"

He roared, releasing the full pressure of a Titled Douluo without reservation; the surrounding trees seemed to tremble under this crushing weight.

At the same time, the air before him twisted violently under the force of Tang Hao's pressure, then shattered like a mirror.

A nauseating stench suddenly assailed his nostrils, though it had no effect on Tang Hao, who was desperate to save his son.

Not far away stood a tree, its entire form colored only in a sickening shade of green and a terrifying black. The trunk was over five meters in diameter, and most eerily, it was covered in countless green eyes.

Its roots were incredibly thick and gnarled, with the white bones of unknown species—perhaps human, perhaps spirit beast—vaguely visible between them.

That nauseating odor emanated from its very body.

Its drooping branches were vines like giant pythons, serving as its most convenient weapons. They were covered in tiny, sharp thorns that injected corrosive sap into its prey.

But its most powerful and proficient weapon remained its elusive, imperceptible, inescapable, and omnipresent mental power.

This was a very rare species of tree found within the Star Dou Great Forest.

The kings of their kind were even ranked among the Great Beasts.

It was called a Demon Eye Demon Tree, and its king, known as the King of Ten Thousand Demons, ranked fifth among the ten Great Beasts.

At this moment, Tang Liu was tightly bound by one of its vines, and the thorns on the vine were continuously injecting corrosive sap into his body.

The unbearable stench it emitted not only repelled spirit beasts but also possessed a paralyzing effect.

Tang Liu, having been captured by it, was naturally already in a state of unconsciousness.

However, a faint blue-black light radiated from his body, blocking the Demon Eye Demon Tree's thorns from piercing his skin, which was the only reason he remained unharmed for the time being.

It was his Martial Soul, the Haolan Spell, protecting its master automatically.

But this was better than nothing, as Tang Liu's spirit power would eventually run dry.

Previously, because Tang Liu had been maintaining his Ethereal Blue Emperor Domain, his aura had been concealed. Thus, the Demon Eye Demon Tree, not far away, had mistaken him for a plant.

But when Tang Liu deactivated his domain, his aura was instantly exposed, and the Demon Eye Demon Tree in the shadows struck without hesitation, capturing this prey that had delivered itself to its doorstep.

At such close range, with no defenses and Tang Liu being too weak, the Demon Eye Demon Tree could have killed him in an instant.

Yet, what the Demon Eye Demon Tree had not expected was that Tang Liu would emit a blue-black light to block its thorns. Even more unexpected was that a Titled Douluo would come chasing after him immediately!

Yes, no matter how bizarre the Demon Eye Demon Tree was, it could not defeat a Titled Douluo!

Consequently, it was struck by Tang Hao's furious hammer blow and driven into a near-death state. Most of the tree was pulverized into dust under the Clear Sky Hammer, leaving only a final bit of root and a single green eye upon it.

If not for the fear of hurting Tang Liu, that single strike from Tang Hao would have ended its life entirely.

After swinging his hammer, Tang Hao flashed to Tang Liu's side, scooped him up, and retreated from the territory of the Demon Eye Demon Tree.

He injected spirit power into Tang Liu to rouse him from his unconscious state.

"Xiao Liu, Xiao Liu? Are you alright?" he called out softly, his tone filled with anxiety and self-reproach.

Why had he stood there in a daze? If he had stayed with Tang Liu, the incident just now would never have happened.

Roused by Tang Hao's spirit power, Tang Liu opened his eyes, though they were filled with confusion.

After a long moment, he recalled what had happened and deduced the current situation.

"Dad, is that tree dead?" Tang Liu's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

Thinking he was still in shock, Tang Hao replied, "It has one breath left. I will go kill it now."

Watching Tang Hao, who was filled with killing intent and ready to release his Clear Sky Hammer to deliver the final blow just to vent his anger, Tang Liu felt a warmth he had never experienced before slowly flowing through his heart.

He grabbed the man, who had become somewhat irritable due to anxiety and guilt, and spoke weakly once more, "Dad, that tree's spirit ring... it's suitable for me."

That was right; the Demon Eye Demon Tree was one of the targets suggested to Tang Liu by the system.

Moreover, the age of that tree, now on its last breath, was just right for him—there was no reason to let it go.

"You want its spirit ring? Fine, I won't kill it. I'll leave it for you; you recover first." Tang Hao stared at him intently, as if afraid he might be snatched away by another spirit beast the next moment.

Tang Liu didn't know what to say; he only felt a warmth in his heart that made him want to smile uncontrollably.

But he was still under the influence of the Demon Eye Demon Tree's paralyzing toxin and was truly very weak.

"Dad, help me sit cross-legged..."

After saying this, Tang Liu exhausted the strength provided by Tang Hao's injection of spirit power and could no longer speak.

His head felt heavy and dizzy, as if he would fall asleep the next moment.

Hearing this, Tang Hao hurriedly helped him sit cross-legged, supporting him from behind to prevent him from falling backward due to his lack of strength.

Tang Liu hung his head listlessly, then released his Third Martial Soul, and three blue-black spirit rings began to pulse around him.

Immediately following, the first spirit ring flashed, and the next moment, the remaining root of the Demon Eye Demon Tree exploded with a "boom."

This was naturally the effect of the Hao-Lan Mark, which Tang Liu had placed on it the moment he was captured.

A purple light of spirit power swept toward Tang Liu and Tang Hao, but Tang Hao merely waved his hand casually, and the purple light parted to both sides like a river meeting a reef.

As the purple light dissipated, a bright purple spirit ring remained in its place, and then, as if drawn by some unseen force, it slowly drifted toward Tang Liu.

As the spirit ring was gradually absorbed by Tang Liu, he finally no longer needed Tang Hao to support him.

The Ethereal Blue Silver Emperor grew within his palm, continuously receiving the wisps of spirit power emanating from the purple spirit ring.

Tang Hao stood guard nearby, his pressure as a Titled Douluo radiating far into the distance to prevent any spirit beasts from approaching.

If it weren't for the fact that plant-type spirit beasts possess no intelligence and act only on instinct before reaching ten thousand years of cultivation, the Demon Eye Demon Tree would certainly have regretted capturing Tang Liu.

Because a furious parent is a lethal force.