Chapter 283: Tang San's Plan, the Extreme North!
In the military camp of the Spirit Empire, many soldiers were passionately praising Dugu Bo. These past few days had been the easiest in their battles with the Heaven Dou Empire.
Usually, they had to devise various plans and exhaust much energy and effort, all while ensuring the soldiers' safety during the attacks. This method of warfare, though slow and energy-consuming, had its advantages.
At the very least, the Spirit Empire's casualty rate was significantly lower than that of the Heaven Dou Empire. But now, with Dugu Bo's poison fog, they practically only needed to collect the ready-made spoils of war.
"Senior Dugu cannot participate in your actions every time. It greatly drains him, and he will only assist you in critical moments from now on," Su Yun reminded from the side.
"The Holy Son is right. If we always rely on Senior Dugu, then what use are we, the soldiers?" The leading general understood Su Yun's meaning and immediately agreed. The other soldiers also expressed their determination to contribute their strength to the empire. Su Yun nodded and then left the military tent.
…
"The treatment of the injured soldiers is still a headache," said Emperor Xue Ye in the Heaven Dou Empire's palace, looking at the numerous figures seated below. "Tang San, lords of various sects and families, what are your thoughts?"
They were prepared for Dugu Bo's betrayal, ready to accept the skyrocketing death toll on the war reports. However, to the surprise of Tang San and Emperor Xue Ye, Dugu Bo's poison did not kill anyone! Instead, it merely incapacitated their soldiers.
They immediately dispatched doctors and healing soul masters to help examine the situation. The conclusion was that Dugu Bo's poison was extremely clever, causing the poisoned soldiers and soul masters to become weak, with a hint of lingering toxicity.
Treating these poisoned soldiers to restore their combat capability would be very costly and time-consuming. Initially, the internal finances of the empire could support this. But as Dugu Bo's attacks expanded and the Spirit Empire captured more of Heaven Dou Empire's surrounding cities, the number of injured soldiers reached a terrifying level!
Tang San and others had considered sending titled Douluo to stop Dugu Bo. Unfortunately, the Spirit Empire had sent several titled Douluo to protect him secretly. Throughout the war, Dugu Bo orchestrated everything from behind the scenes, leaving the Heaven Dou Empire with no chance to retaliate.
What disgusted the high command of the Heaven Dou Empire the most was that after each battle, many of their soldiers who were too injured to retreat were left on the battlefield. They thought these soldiers would be killed by the Spirit Empire, but instead, the latter sent large troops overnight to return the injured soldiers!
This turned a small amount of condolence money into high medical expenses! Over time, who could bear such costs? Although the upper families and sects controlled substantial economic resources, they did not print money.
Moreover, many medicinal herbs used for treatment, though Heaven Dou Empire had large territories, had to be bought from outside. Leaving aside the extreme north, other regions' medicinal herbs were now monopolized by the Spirit Empire.
As a result, the number of soldiers with combat capability in the Heaven Dou Empire dropped by a full 20%! One-fifth of the soldiers lost their combat effectiveness but still consumed a massive amount of the empire's money, manpower, and resources daily, without bringing any value to the empire.
For the upper echelons, this was nothing short of a parasite. Yet, they couldn't say it outright. Anyone who dared to say it would chill the hearts of the empire's soldiers.
Hence, Emperor Xue Ye urgently needed someone to stand up and help the empire.
"Your Majesty, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can bear part of the financial burden. With the combined support of the upper three sects, we can hold on for a while," Ning Fengzhi said, standing up. "But in the long run, it's a problem. Many external sources of income are now monopolized by the Spirit Empire, and our money is not easy to come by. If we can't find a suitable solution quickly, we might trap ourselves in this cage without the Spirit Empire's army."
"Your Majesty, regarding the medicinal herbs, our families have substantial reserves. We can help sustain the empire for a while," Elder Ye of the Ye family also stood up.
Emperor Xue Ye said, "I am gratified that the sects and families are willing to help, but this can only alleviate the immediate crisis. If Dugu Bo strikes a few more times, the Heaven Dou Empire will be in grave danger."
Tang San stood up and said, "Your Majesty, from what I know, Dugu Bo's poison significantly drains him, so he shouldn't act again shortly. What we need to do now is find a way to neutralize his poison completely, making it ineffective on the battlefield. We can't stop Dugu Bo, so we must deal with his poison."
Emperor Xue Ye raised an eyebrow and looked at Tang San, "Tang San, I heard that you have a deep understanding of poisons. Do you have a solution?"
Tang San smiled faintly and clapped his hands.
The next moment, a figure walked in from outside the hall.
It was none other than Yang Wudi, the current patriarch of the Breaking Clan under the Tang Sect.
Emperor Xue Ye had already met him before.
Yang Wudi was remarkably powerful, able to contend with some Titled Douluo despite only being a Soul Douluo. He also had a profound understanding of poisons.
"Minister Yang, have you discovered something?" Emperor Xue Ye asked.
Yang Wudi noticed the gazes directed at him, glanced at Tang San, and then looked at Emperor Xue Ye with a faint smile. "Your Majesty, I have been researching with Tang San these past few days and discovered that this poison has a resistance to ice-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures."
"We invited people from Tianshui Academy to conduct experiments and found that ice-attribute martial souls do indeed have a suppressive effect on the poison."
"Oh?" Emperor Xue Ye's eyes lit up with surprise. "Does this mean the poison can be neutralized?"
If the poison could be neutralized simply by using ice-attribute soul power, it would be a significant achievement for their empire.
"Ahem," Tang San coughed with a bitter smile and explained, "Your Majesty, it's far from that simple."
"Dugu Bo is a Titled Douluo, and his martial soul has evolved once. If his poison were that easy to neutralize, it wouldn't be called the world's most potent poison."
"Hiss—indeed, I was oversimplifying things," Emperor Xue Ye conceded. "Tang San, Minister Yang, please continue."
With Emperor Xue Ye's permission, Yang Wudi continued, "To suppress Dugu Bo's poison, the ice-attribute soul power required must be of extremely high quality."
"Either it must come from exceptionally high-quality ice-attribute martial souls or from ice-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures."
"In our Heaven Dou Empire, soul masters with extreme ice-attribute martial souls are extremely rare. Even fewer can cultivate to a high soul power level."
Everyone present frowned upon hearing this.
High-quality martial souls are not easily awakened. Even in large families, it's uncertain whether the purest-blooded offspring can awaken such extreme martial souls, let alone other families.
Emperor Xue Ye clicked his tongue and said, "If relying on soul masters isn't feasible, does this mean we have to seek out ice-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures?"
Tang San and Yang Wudi both nodded.
"Your Majesty, our families do have some ice-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures, but the quantity is too limited. The only chance lies in searching the Extreme North," Tang San explained.
The implication was clear: they needed to venture into the Extreme North.
Hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye frowned again and voiced his concern.
"I have read ancient texts and know that the Extreme North indeed contains many ice-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures. But it's not easy to enter."
"Compared to Sea God Island, the Extreme North is several times more dangerous."
"It's covered in ice and snow year-round. Ordinary soul masters might not even be able to exert half their strength upon entering."
"I know you are very powerful, Tang San, but even our empire doesn't have a detailed map of the Extreme North."
"If you enter the Extreme North without any preparation, you might get lost instantly, like a headless fly."
"Even Soul Douluo-level experts have entered and never returned."
"I worry that not only will you fail to find the heavenly materials and earthly treasures, but you might also lose your life."
Emperor Xue Ye was more concerned about Tang San's safety. Tang San was the key to defeating the Spirit Empire. Anyone else could have an accident, even his own children, but if something happened to Tang San, the Heaven Dou Empire would be doomed to fall to the Spirit Empire.
"Yes, Tang San, among all of us here, few know much about the Extreme North. Entering recklessly will surely be a huge loss," a family head advised.
Tang San shook his head. "You don't need to worry too much about my safety. I have my theories on how to find the heavenly materials and earthly treasures. You need not worry."
In the Tang Sect, Tang San had once secretly perused various ancient texts and learned of a heavenly treasure with even more potent ice-attribute energy than the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, called Xuan Ice Marrow.
The energy contained within was incredibly powerful.
Tang San speculated that since this world had the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the Xuan Ice Marrow must also be hidden in the Extreme North.
Moreover, the most extreme form of this treasure was the Ten Thousand Year Xuan Ice Marrow! If he could obtain it, it wouldn't just be for detoxifying the soldiers.
Even if some was consumed, what remained would be more than enough for his own cultivation!
Seeing Tang San's determination, Emperor Xue Ye several times wanted to dissuade him, but ultimately held his tongue.
Now, Tang San was already one of the strongest in the Heaven Dou Empire, and his confidence was understandable.
Once he made up his mind, even the Emperor could not change it.
"In that case, I must trouble you, Tang San," Emperor Xue Ye said.
Tang San nodded and said, "Your Majesty, when I head to the Extreme North, I will also bring some soul masters with ice-attribute martial souls. With them, my search for the heavenly treasures will be smoother."
"I will arrange for this. When do you plan to depart?" Emperor Xue Ye asked.
Tang San thought for a moment and then said, "In seven days."
…
Hao Tian Sect.
"Xiao San, are you really going to search for that so-called Xuan Ice Marrow?" Even Tang Xiao had never heard of Xuan Ice Marrow.
This was normal. Even Dugu Bo didn't know about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, so Tang Xiao, who focused solely on combat, naturally wouldn't know either.
"Uncle, you have seen the strength of the Spirit Empire."
"If I don't do everything I can to change the situation, we will be eradicated."
"I have discussed with my teacher. Since I can't evolve the Blue Silver Grass through my mother's bloodline, I can only use another method—extreme attributes!"
"And of the extreme attributes I know, the ice in the Extreme North is our most definite target."
"So, I must try!"
"If I am lucky enough to find it and fuse it with my Blue Silver Grass martial soul, the difficulty of passing the ninth trial of the Sea God and Asura God will be greatly reduced."
Tang San looked at his uncle with determined eyes and said, "Uncle, opportunities are fleeting."
"Dugu Bo's presence has already caused us much suffering. If someone else betrays Heaven Dou in the future, we must have a way to counter them."
"And to counter others, one's own strength must first be increased!"
Tang San's words made Tang Xiao fall silent.
In the end, he stopped opposing Tang San, giving him a few words of advice before leaving.
After leaving, Tang Xiao went to Yang Wudi's room.
"Sect Master," Yang Wudi greeted respectfully as Tang Xiao arrived.
Tang Xiao waved his hand and said, "Wudi, can you estimate the success rate of your mission this time?"
Yang Wudi was silent for a moment before saying, "The Extreme North is extremely dangerous."
"We might return fully loaded, or we might be killed by the fierce beasts as soon as we enter!"
"It's several times more dangerous than the Star Dou Forest!"
Hearing this, Tang Xiao took a deep breath and said, "Wudi, remember this."
"No matter what happens, you must prevent Xiao San from taking dangerous and risky actions."
"If necessary, you must stand in front of Xiao San!"
Yang Wudi nodded. "Understood!"
...(End of chapter)