Chapter 290: Su Yun Takes Action, Giving You Two Choices
"Relying solely on the power here to make this lotus pedestal grow another Green Heart Blue Lotus would take at least several decades. But if it could be transplanted to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the time required might be greatly reduced."
Tang San, seeing the lotus pedestal, realized that the seed's failure to grow was likely due to the lack of a medium like this pedestal.
As long as he could obtain this protected lotus pedestal, growing a new Green Heart Blue Lotus would be no problem.
However, taking the lotus pedestal without being detected by the two hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts was a huge challenge.
"With such strong protection, even I would need some time."
Tang San looked at the rippling protective shield around the pedestal and thought to himself, "I fear that as soon as I make a move, those two soul beasts will sense my actions."
"Once they restrict me, even if I manage to escape, the cost would be significant."
Tang San's main concern was the combination of the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape's domains.
In such a domain, even with divine protection, the situation would deteriorate, especially in the soul beasts' territory.
If surrounded by other soul beasts, the consequences would be dire.
"But no matter what, I have to try." Tang San's eyes flashed with greed as he stared at the Green Heart Blue Lotus within the protective shield.
With the lotus pedestal, he could grow Green Heart Blue Lotus indefinitely, ensuring the Tang Sect and Clear Sky Sect's longevity even after he became a god and left Douluo Continent.
With that thought, Tang San steeled his resolve.
Great wealth comes from taking risks; being overly cautious would never achieve great things.
Without further hesitation, Tang San wrapped his hands in divine power and reached for the protective shield around the lotus pedestal!
"Zzz—"
As expected, as soon as he touched it, a harsh sound mixed with two opposing soul power fluctuations erupted over the lake, spreading outwards.
"Just as I thought!" Tang San's expression changed, confirming his prediction.
This energy fluctuation not only alerted its releasers but also notified the surrounding guardian soul beasts.
As the energy wave spread, Tang San sensed the surrounding Ghost Vine Clan springing into action.
Countless vines, as if they had eyes, locked onto his position, launching various powerful attacks from all directions!
The Ghost Vine Clan, facing an intruding human soul master, showed no mercy.
Sensing the aura of these Ghost Vines, Tang San's worries diminished significantly.
Most of them were ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts, not capable of stopping him in his current state.
With a thought, Tang San formed a protective barrier around himself and wielded the Clear Sky Hammer, intimidating his surroundings with its powerful presence.
"I don't even need to take out the Trident; these soul beasts are truly worthless." Tang San sneered at the Ghost Vines futilely attacking his shield, a slight smirk on his lips.
"If not for those two hundred-thousand-year-old beasts, taking this place would just be a matter of time." Tang San harbored a grudge against the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, resolving to eventually bring the Star Dou Forest under the Heaven Dou Empire's control.
His gaze shifted back to the lotus pedestal.
The protective shield set by the two hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts was strong, but Tang San was now much stronger with his increased divine power.
"Perhaps in another five minutes, I can take out the lotus pedestal." Tang San estimated internally.
Indeed!
Just as Tang San predicted.
Five minutes later, the barrier disappeared, and he effortlessly retrieved the lotus pedestal left by the Green Heart Blue Lotus.
"Such abundant life force, no wonder Emperor Xue Ye praised it so highly. It truly lives up to its reputation." Feeling the potent life energy within the lotus pedestal, Tang San could imagine the immense life force of a fully grown Green Heart Blue Lotus.
Carefully placing the lotus pedestal in a jade box and storing it in his soul guide, Tang San turned to the surrounding Ghost Vine Clan, coldly snorting, "You truly don't know your limits. Since you dared to obstruct me, I'll teach you a lesson."
With his current mental power, Tang San hadn't detected the presence of the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape.
Thus, he guessed that the two hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts might be in seclusion.
Otherwise, they would have arrived by now.
Since they hadn't come, he decided to vent his frustration on the nearby soul beasts, avenging the injuries those two beasts inflicted on his uncle!
Dispelling his protective shield, Tang San gripped the Clear Sky Hammer and swung it down fiercely!
Boom!
With unmatched power, the force of Tang San's strike, combined with his tyrannical soul power and divine strength, shattered the lake surface as if it were breaking apart, sending the force like lightning through the Ghost Vine Clan!
Crack! Bang!
The thunderous explosion instantly shattered the Ghost Vine soul beasts closest to the source of the power!
Countless Ghost Vines were thrown into the air, leaving them severely injured.
Seeing their kin slaughtered by Tang San, the remaining Ghost Vines were filled with grief and anger. Yet, they did not retreat; instead, they gathered more closely around Tang San, seemingly determined to surround him.
Observing the suicidal encirclement of the Ghost Vine Clan, Tang San sneered, put away the Clear Sky Hammer, and drew out the Asura Sword.
This murderous divine weapon was perfect for exterminating these soul beasts!
With the Asura Sword in hand, Tang San's eyes filled with killing intent as he activated the Killing God Domain.
"Dare to block me, your fate is sealed with one word: death!"
As he finished speaking, Tang San slashed out with his sword!
Swish!
In an instant, the sword light flashed like lightning!
The sword aura shot straight into the Ghost Vine Clan!
If hit, at least half of them would be killed or severely injured!
Just as Tang San thought he would severely wound the Ghost Vine Clan, a stronger killing intent descended from the sky, surpassing his Killing God Domain.
A gigantic hand, cloaked in armor-like wood, descended from the sky, shattering his attack into pieces in an instant!
Seeing this, Tang San's face changed drastically. He looked up to the sky!
There, he saw a figure he both hated and recognized all too well—
Su Yun!
"Su Yun?!"
"It's you again?!"
Tang San gritted his teeth, roaring internally, "Why are you always where I am?!"
Tang San became increasingly suspicious about the traitor within the Clear Sky Sect!
When he went to the Extreme North, Su Yun appeared there.
To avoid being discovered, he snuck into the Star Dou Forest without telling anyone.
Yet, Su Yun had once again appeared before him.
"I was about to say the same to you, but you beat me to it." Su Yun looked at Tang San standing before him, exasperated.
He had intended to relax, take a vacation, and spend time with Xiao Wu.
Who would have thought Tang San would also come to the Star Dou Forest by some twist of fate?
Seeing the lotus pedestal in the lake disappear, Su Yun immediately understood Tang San's purpose.
The Green Heart Blue Lotus had the ability to substitute death.
The only one on Douluo Continent was in Qian Daoliu's possession, used to help Qian Renxue endure the cost of her ninth trial.
Combining this with Tang San's recent experiences, Su Yun figured Tang San wanted to restore Yang Wudi's crippled dantian.
"Steal and hurt people and still think you can leave?" Su Yun looked down at Tang San coldly.
"Steal?"
Tang San found it laughable, "Su Yun, you're truly shameless. The Star Dou Forest is ownerless, and so is the Green Heart Blue Lotus. Ownerless items are free for the taking. How dare you accuse me of stealing?"
"Besides, I only killed a few soul beasts. You, a holy son of the Spirit Empire, pretending to be a good person here?"
Su Yun sneered, "First, I say the Star Dou Forest is my territory, so it is my territory."
"Second, since it's my territory, everything in it belongs to me, including the soul beasts."
"If you disagree…"
His voice turned cold, "Then I'll make you agree!"
Boom!
As his words fell, a giant tree titan descended from the sky, a hundred meters tall, overlooking Tang San like a god, making his heart pound in fear.
He hadn't expected Su Yun's strength to have grown so much!
"How did his strength increase so quickly?!" Tang San had heard Sword Douluo speak of his father and Qian Daoliu's strength, but compared to Su Yun now, they seemed weaker.
"How did he do it?! What did the Spirit Empire feed him?!" Tang San sensed Su Yun's soul power surging madly, filled with jealousy and envy.
He resented the Heaven Dou Empire for lacking the same resources as the Spirit Empire.
He considered himself no less talented than Su Yun.
If only his Blue Silver Emperor spirit could awaken.
If only he had the same resources and backing as the Spirit Empire.
His achievements would not be any less than Su Yun's.
"Damn it! I refuse to believe I'm that much worse than you!" Tang San's face twisted with rage. At this point, there was no retreat.
Knowing he had little chance against Su Yun, Tang San still decided to fight!
Swish!
Tang San brandished the Asura Sword in his left hand and the Trident in his right. As the two distinct divine powers flowed within him, he launched himself towards Su Yun.
"How bold!" A flash of cold light appeared in Su Yun's eyes as he manipulated the wooden giant to combat Tang San!
Although Su Yun did not possess a divine weapon, his martial spirit had been enhanced to become the Goddess of Time, granting it divine properties.
In other words, his martial spirit was already of a divine class.
Thus, although Tang San wielded two powerful divine weapons, they could not inflict significant damage on Su Yun's martial spirit.
Moreover, they were in the Star Dou Forest, Su Yun's territory.
Given these advantages, Tang San quickly fell into a disadvantageous position within a few minutes.
"I've spared you multiple times, yet you continually seek trouble." Su Yun pressed Tang San into the ground with one hand, creating a deep pit. His eyes glinted coldly as he spoke.
"Though I promised her not to kill you, I still need to teach you a lesson!"
Tang San, now bleeding from his nose and mouth, was shocked. He hadn't expected to be beaten so badly.
He had thought he could at least fight Su Yun evenly.
But now, it seemed Su Yun had been holding back all along!
And what did he mean by that last sentence?!
"Su Yun, what are you planning?!" Tang San roared.
Hearing this, Su Yun's face twisted into an evil smile, "I'm thinking of stripping you naked and parading you through the streets."
"What?!" Tang San's eyes widened in shock.
He was the heir to the Sea God and the Asura God!
Stripped and paraded through the streets?!
If that happened, his reputation would be utterly ruined!
And the three upper sects and the Heaven Dou Empire associated with him would lose face as well.
At that point, other small factions on the continent might all turn to the Spirit Empire.
"No! Su Yun, you can't do this!"
Fear crept onto Tang San's face, but he still tried to sound fierce, "You can kill a man, but you can't humiliate him!"
"Ha, do you even deserve to call yourself a man?"
Su Yun sneered, "Or I'll give you another choice: break your own legs, hand over the items, and crawl out of the Star Dou Forest."
"These are your two options."
Facing Su Yun's ultimatum, Tang San's face turned crimson.
This was pure humiliation!
Su Yun knew very well that he would never break his own legs.
Breaking his legs would drastically reduce his chances of becoming a god in the future.
But if he were stripped and paraded, his reputation, as well as that of the Heaven Dou Empire and the three upper sects, would be utterly destroyed.
He had to choose between his strength and his dignity!
Such a vicious man!
Tang San's eyes were filled with venomous hatred as he looked at Su Yun.
He swore that if their positions were ever reversed, he would make Su Yun suffer the same humiliation he was enduring today.
At the same time, he was frantically thinking of a way to escape.
"Since you don't intend to choose, I'll make the choice for you." With a sigh, Su Yun's palm descended, making Tang San spew blood and fall unconscious with a loud thud.
Seeing Tang San unconscious, Su Yun took his soul guide, removed all the valuable items, and then summoned several intelligent soul beasts, giving them instructions on a piece of paper.
"You lot, strip him naked, throw him near the closest Spirit Hall outside the forest, and hand this note to them."
The soul beasts immediately understood and began their tasks.
(End of chapter)