Douluo Dalu: The Legend of The Spider Emperor

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The atmosphere at the scene became incredibly awkward.

Tang San stood frozen in place, completely dumbfounded. Four soul rings revolved slowly beneath him, yet his Blue Silver Grass remained unchanged—nothing unexpected happened.

For some reason, he couldn't sense any transformation in his Blue Silver Grass. It remained exactly as it had always been.

The only thing he could feel was… embarrassment.

"Father, are you sure this is the place?" Tang San asked with a hint of doubt.

Faced with his son's skepticism, Tang Hao was momentarily puzzled. He was certain—this was the exact location. In the past, Ah Yin had brought him here.

However, today was different. To uncover the truth, Tang Hao decided to step closer to examine the forest.

Yet, before he could even take a step, his expression changed drastically, his body tensing as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Father, what is—" Tang San seemed to have sensed something as well and hurried to Tang Hao's side.

"Shh..."

Tang Hao spoke in a low voice, "I sense the aura of the one who stole your soul bone that day."

Hearing this, Tang San instantly froze.

The soul bone that was almost his had been stolen—this had remained a deep scar in his heart.

Shrek Academy was already on the edge of collapse, and he'd hoped that the soul bone from Shi Nian could turn the tide of battle.

But now...

"Father, let's go into the forest and kill that person right now!" Tang San's eyes turned red with fury.

Seeing this, Tang Hao slowly shook his head. "No need. That person has long since left—this is merely a trace of their lingering aura."

With that, Tang Hao, still harboring doubts, stepped into the forest.

Tang San: "..."

For the sake of evolving his Blue Silver Grass, and for the sake of avenging his loss, Tang San followed closely behind his father, stepping deeper into the forest.

The forest path was winding and eerie. As the father and son entered, an unsettling silence surrounded them. A faint purple mist lingered in the air, and the ground was littered with signs of plant decay. Each step sank into the muddy earth, sending a chill down their spines.

Tang San crouched cautiously, picking up a withered plant. His face paled in shock.

"Father, look!"

Tang Hao turned to see the rotting plant in Tang San's hand. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Blue Silver Grass!"

At that moment, a deep sense of unease surged through Tang Hao. Ever since entering the forest, he had felt something was wrong.

Looking down, he realized that the muddy ground was filled with decayed remnants of Blue Silver Grass, mixed with the soil.

Although Blue Silver Grass was considered a useless martial soul, it was extremely resilient. Even after Ah Yin's sacrifice, she had left behind seeds that eventually sprouted again—a form of rebirth.

Now, Tang Hao was certain.

The mass decay of Blue Silver Grass was undoubtedly connected to that person from before.

If even the outer layer of the forest was in such a state, then… the Blue Silver King at the heart of the forest—could it be…?

"Xiao San, stay close to me."

With that, Tang Hao's figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, swiftly darting through the forest.

Tang San watched his father's rapidly disappearing silhouette. Though unsure of the reason, he felt an intense sense of foreboding.

Something had definitely happened in this forest.

Activating Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Tang San barely managed to keep up with Tang Hao.

As they passed through the woods, the surrounding scenery confirmed their fears—just like the forest's edge, all the Blue Silver Grass here had rotted away.

The scale of destruction was unprecedented, leaving no intact Blue Silver Grass in sight.

Throughout the journey, Tang Hao remained silent, only speeding forward with grim determination. He had already prepared for the worst, hoping it wasn't too late.

After half an hour, father and son arrived at the resting place of the Blue Silver King.

The sight before them was one of utter devastation.

Deep gashes scarred the earth, and fragments of plant life, neatly severed like tree trunks, lay scattered and rotting—evidence of a fierce battle that had taken place just recently.

Upon seeing this scene, Tang Hao broke down completely.

Days of relentless travel had all been for this moment—to help his son undergo transformation.

Yet now, he was forced to witness this…

He couldn't accept it.

"...Too late. It's all too late," Tang Hao muttered as he slumped to the ground, his voice filled with despair.

Tang San stood in a daze before the long-dead Blue Silver King.

This once-powerful plant-type soul beast had long perished, its body deeply wounded, almost severed in half with a single slash.

For reasons he couldn't explain, seeing so many Blue Silver Grass wither and die stirred a deep sorrow within him.

Even though he was human, he could hear the faint cries of the Blue Silver Grass, as if they were mourning.

Shaking his head violently, he tried to suppress these emotions.

He had come here to evolve his Blue Silver Grass, so why did he feel sad for these plants?

"Father, what do I need to do to make my Blue Silver Grass evolve?" Tang San asked urgently, desperate for strength.

Tang Hao was at a loss.

After a long silence, he finally stood up, let out a heavy sigh, and slowly replied:

"...It's already too late."

At those words, the hope Tang San had just ignited was instantly extinguished.

His heart sank to the very bottom.

"Father, isn't there any other way?" Tang San refused to give up and asked again.

"There's no hope." Tang Hao's voice was cold. He pointed at the fallen Blue Silver King ahead.

"This—do you know what kind of soul beast it was?"

Tang San shook his head blankly.

Although he had studied under the Grandmaster, most of his knowledge came from books and occasional practical experiences. He had never encountered a plant-type soul beast like this before.

Yet, something about it felt incredibly familiar—intimately connected to his Blue Silver Grass martial soul.

"This is an 85,000-year-old Blue Silver King—the strongest existence among all Blue Silver Grass."

"Blue Silver King?"

Tang San was stunned.

Wasn't Blue Silver Grass supposed to be a useless martial soul?

How could there be an 85,000-year-old version of it?

Moreover… the Blue Silver King was already dead.

A terrifying thought crossed Tang San's mind. His face turned pale, and his trembling hand pointed at the Blue Silver King's corpse.

With disbelief in his voice, he asked:

"Father, are you saying... this Blue Silver King was the key to my Blue Silver Grass's evolution?"

Tang Hao slowly shook his head, his eyes filled with helplessness and resentment.

"It's not just that. The Blue Silver Grass here is also crucial."

With a despondent expression, Tang Hao stood up and walked toward the outside in a daze.

"Now that the Blue Silver King is dead, your Blue Silver Grass is nothing more than ordinary grass. I advise you not to participate in this tournament—you will certainly die."

This was Tang Hao's final warning. Given Shrek's current performance, advancing to the knockout stage was already impossible.

Tang San and his companions—most of whom had already reached the Soul Ancestor level—were far beyond the standards of an ordinary advanced soul master academy, where students could graduate once they became Soul Elders. However, Shrek Academy had always gone against the norm. The Grandmaster had even discussed this issue with Tang Hao before.

After the tournament, Tang Hao planned to take Tang San away. Staying in Shrek Academy and Tian Dou City was no longer a wise choice.

Tang Hao's words were a heavy blow to Tang San. Their current situation in the preliminaries was indeed dire.

Now that the Blue Silver King was dead, his Blue Silver Grass would forever be a useless martial soul—an unchangeable fact!

Tang San was unwilling to accept this, but his father's orders were absolute.

At that moment, he instinctively glanced at the Blue Silver King's corpse and noticed something—a piece of paper wedged between the remains?

"Father, there's something here," Tang San reminded.

Following his son's guidance, Tang Hao bent down to pick up the "paper." But how could there be a piece of paper deep in this forest?

Spreading it open, Tang Hao took a look—and in an instant, his brows furrowed. A surge of powerful energy burst forth. Tang San instinctively covered his face—just what was written on that paper to make his father so furious?

With doubt in his heart, Tang San hesitantly took the paper from Tang Hao's hands.

It contained only a simple line:

"Ye Ritian: I have always been here!"

Such a short sentence, yet it made Tang San tremble with rage. His eyes burned with killing intent.

He tore the note into pieces, crushed it into a ball, and stomped on it viciously, as if "Ye Ritian" himself were beneath his feet.

"YE RITIAN!!!"

Tang San roared toward the sky, his body surging with murderous intent. His left hand suddenly summoned the Clear Sky Hammer and, in his fury, smashed the already lifeless Blue Silver King into two, sending splinters flying across his face.

Even this wasn't enough to quell his anger. He continued hammering the shattered remains, as if every piece of wood was "Ye Ritian" himself—only by obliterating him could he find peace.

"Enough, Xiao San!" Tang Hao roared.

Tang San froze slightly, then lowered the Clear Sky Hammer and collapsed to the ground, his expression full of despair.

At this moment, his mental state had completely collapsed.

The night was dark, the sky shrouded in shadows, and the entire land was engulfed in darkness.

In a dilapidated village, Tang Hao and Tang San emerged from the forest, planning to stay the night before heading back to the academy the next day.

After this failure, Tang San had completely given up on the Blue Silver Grass.

A useless martial soul—fragile, flammable. The Blue Silver Grass had become a label stuck to Tang San, one that he couldn't tear off no matter how hard he tried. Without a doubt, he despised it.

Under the night sky, Tang San opened his left hand, and the world's strongest tool martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, appeared in his palm.

His gaze burned as he stared intently at the hammer. And in that moment, a glimmer of hope ignited in his eyes.

Then, he turned to look at the distant forest—the place they had just passed through.

Tang San stood up from the ground, his steps hesitant, his left hand clenched. For a brief moment, he fell into deep thought.

But soon, his expression became incomparably resolute. Taking advantage of the night, he ventured alone into the forest.

Time passed—minute after minute, hour after hour…

The forest erupted into chaos, echoing with the pained cries of countless soul beasts.

Back in the old, broken-down house, Tang Hao remained indifferent, unable to sleep.

"Sigh—"

He let out a heavy sigh. He assumed his son was merely venting his frustration on soul beasts.

But he had no idea…

Outside the village, in the depths of the forest, devastation lay everywhere. Towering trees had collapsed in all directions, forming a chaotic wasteland.

Tang San stood before a soul beast, gripping his Clear Sky Hammer tightly. Holding his breath, he raised the hammer high above his head and charged at a Hundred-Year Gravity Ant.

Gravity Ants were known for their formidable defense and tenacious vitality, making them common sights in the forest. This particular one, being around four hundred years old, was a perfect match for the Clear Sky Hammer's first soul ring.

After becoming the Grandmaster's disciple, Tang San had once inquired about the training method for twin martial souls.

The Grandmaster had only given a vague answer. His knowledge of twin martial souls was limited.

He had even hoped that Shrek Academy would reach the knockout stage so he could personally ask her at the Spirit Hall.

After all, she was the only person on this continent who had cultivated twin martial souls to the Title Douluo level and had perfectly solved its inherent issues.

Even after multiple inquiries, the Grandmaster had only warned him: Never attach a soul ring to the second martial soul.

Tang San had also asked Tang Hao in secret, but his father had given the exact same answer. Clearly, the two had discussed this beforehand.

Neither of them knew the proper method. Tang Hao only insisted that unless the Blue Silver Grass reached nine soul rings, the second martial soul must remain untouched.

If Tang San forced it, he would be in grave danger.

But now—

Tang San swung his Clear Sky Hammer and smashed the Gravity Ant into pulp. A mere hundred-year-old soul beast was too easy for him.

"According to the teacher's Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls, this four-hundred-year-old Gravity Ant is a perfect fit for my Clear Sky Hammer's first soul ring."

Tang San smirked in satisfaction.

He sat down in front of the Gravity Ant's corpse, summoning his second martial soul—the Clear Sky Hammer. Under the guidance of his soul power, the soul ring floated above the hammer. The process was exceptionally smooth, and the absorption went quickly. None of the dangers the Grandmaster had warned about occurred.

Time ticked away.

As Tang San absorbed the soul ring, his Clear Sky Hammer now bore a hundred-year soul ring.

Slowly opening his eyes, he realized—

His soul power had increased by one level.

Now, he was at level forty-five.

With every soul ring absorbed, a soul master gained immense benefits.

Tang San was shocked to discover that after absorbing a hundred-year soul ring, his left-hand Clear Sky Hammer had become significantly heavier, now weighing around seven to eight hundred jin (350-400kg). His entire body surged with newfound power. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the small soul beast forest before him.

The corners of his lips curled up slightly—a sinister and terrifying smile.

The next moment, his figure gradually disappeared into the depths of the forest, vanishing from sight.

The Next Morning, the first ray of sunlight bathed the land, marking the arrival of a new day.

Deep in the forest, Tang San sat cross-legged before the corpse of a 4,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider. His body was covered in dark purple bloodstains, and he was currently absorbing the soul ring from the beast.

Once this soul ring was fully absorbed, he would break through to level fifty.

The entire night had not been in vain. Through relentless slaughter, he had massacred nearly all the soul beasts in this area.

To this, Tang San remained indifferent—kill them, and that was it.

The soul beasts he slaughtered were evil. They were different from the others.

Just as the absorption process continued, a sudden scream erupted from Tang San.

"AHHHH!"

An unbearable pain surged through his body, forcing him to cry out in agony.

He felt as if his entire body was on the verge of explosion.

The fourth soul ring's power was simply too immense, and after an entire night of absorbing soul rings, his body had finally reached its limit—it was about to collapse.

At the same time, inside a dilapidated house, Tang Hao, who had been resting, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

He scanned the empty house and immediately realized—Tang San was missing.

No—he hadn't even returned last night.

If that was the case, there was only one possibility.

Tang Hao's figure blurred as he shot forward like a cannonball, sprinting toward the forest at full speed, following the direction of the screams.

Along the way, the forest floor was littered with soul beast corpses.

The sheer carnage was shocking.

All kinds of gruesome deaths were present, so much so that even Tang Hao felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew his son had been suppressing his emotions for a long time, and bottling them up was not good.

Tang Hao had known all along that Tang San had gone out to hunt soul beasts last night.

Yet, he hadn't stopped him.

Sometimes, the resentment in one's heart must be released.

However, if Tang San ever truly encountered danger, he, as a father, would definitely intervene.

Now that Ah Yin was gone, Tang San was all he had left.

If anything happened to Tang San, Tang Hao would have no one left.

Before long, Tang Hao finally arrived.

But the scene before him shocked him to his core.

Right beside Tang San lay the corpse of a Man-Faced Demon Spider, its 4,000-year cultivation making it a formidable existence.

However, what truly horrified Tang Hao was Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer.

Yellow… Yellow… Purple…

PURPLE?!

"Not good!"

Tang Hao's face turned ashen as he stood there, stunned.

He never expected his son to secretly cultivate his second martial soul behind his back.

And in just one night…

Not only had Tang San massacred nearly all the soul beasts in this small forest, but he had even attached soul rings to his Clear Sky Hammer.

This realization left Tang Hao's heart ice cold.

Absolutely devastated.

Tang San was ruined. Completely ruined.

Attaching soul rings to a second martial soul too early was no different from seeking death.

Back then, the first person on the continent to awaken Twin Martial Souls had self-destructed while attempting to add a soul ring to his second martial soul.

Now, Tang San was heading down the same path.

At this moment, Tang San's entire body burned like a furnace, raw power continuously accumulating inside him, pushing him dangerously close to explosion.

He suddenly recalled both Grandmaster's and his father's warnings and deeply regretted his decision.

But it was too late for regret.

He could feel it—within the next second, his body would explode.

His heart filled with unwillingness.

At the thought of "Ye Ritian" and "Ye Hao", Tang San gritted his teeth, forcefully activating Mysterious Heaven Skill, making a final, desperate attempt to survive.

Suddenly—

A surge of gentle soul power began flowing into his body.

The overloaded body, on the verge of destruction, found a lifeline.

Harnessing this powerful energy, Tang San took a deep breath.

He had hope!

Gradually, the chaotic forces within him stabilized.

Time passed.

When the fourth soul ring of his Clear Sky Hammer was finally absorbed, Tang San opened his eyes in elation.

But the first thing he saw was—

A massive slap flying toward his face!

SMACK!!!

The impact sent Tang San flying dozens of meters through the air...