đ If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon! I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
A few days had passed in Heaven Dou City, but the heavy and tense feeling from that terrifying Titled Douluo battle still hung in the air. The people walking on the streets moved quickly, and there were many more soldiers on patrol than usual.
These guards watched everyone closely, looking for anyone who seemed suspicious. On one of these quiet, moody streets, two people stood out from the crowd. They were wrapped in large gray robes with hoods pulled down low to hide their faces.
One of them was very tall and had a bulky frame that the heavy cloth could not hide. The other person was thinner, but a cold and scary aura came from him.
It felt as if he had just stepped out of a place filled with death. These two people were Tang Hao and his son, Little San.
Dad, Little San said in a rough voice from under his hood. He sounded very impatient. Where exactly are we going? The killing intent around him was so strong that even though he tried to hide it, people walking past felt a sudden, strange chill.
You will know when we get there, Tang Hao replied in a deep voice while looking around to make sure no one was watching them too closely.
Just then, they heard people talking loudly in a nearby tea house. The voices reached their ears clearly. One man said that it was too tragic and that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which was one of the famous Upper Three Sects, had disappeared in a single night. Another person added that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan suffered the same fate.
Their whole family was wiped out, and the mountain was covered in blood. Everyone agreed that Spirit Hall must be behind it because no one else had that kind of power. They talked about how the world was changing and even guessed that the Clear Sky Sect would be next to fall.
Those words hit Tang Hao like a bolt of lightning. His tall body went stiff, and he stopped walking immediately. Under his robe, his face turned pale and angry. His hands balled into tight fists, making a small noise.
He was shocked to hear that two great sects on the same level as his own Clear Sky Sect had been destroyed. Even though he had been away from his sect for a long time, he felt a mix of anger and fear for what might happen next.
Little San, Tang Hao said as he turned to his son with urgency in his eyes. Walk faster. The world is changing quickly, and we must move.
Before he could finish, Little San asked if he thought Spirit Hall would attack the Clear Sky Sect next. Even though Little San was struggling with dark thoughts from his time in Slaughter City, he was still smart enough to understand the situation. He knew the Clear Sky Sect was the leader of the Upper Three Sects and a major problem for Spirit Hall's plans to take over everything.
Tang Hao nodded slowly, his eyes becoming sharp and fierce under his hat. You are right. Spirit Hall wants to rule everything. Their plan is clear now, and we must act.
Stop right there! A loud voice interrupted them.
A group of Royal Knights in bright silver armor surrounded them quickly. They held long spears and were led by a captain. The captain looked closely at the two hooded figures. He could tell they were not normal people. He felt a sense of dread coming from the shorter one, who had a cold and bloody aura.
You two look very suspicious, the captain said while pointing his spear at them. Tell me who you are. Are you spies for Spirit Hall? Take off those hoods right now and come with us for questioning.
The attack by Spirit Hall at Tianxing Academy a few days ago had made everyone in Heaven Dou City very nervous. The guards were not taking any chances. The air between the two groups became very tense. Little San's body tightened under his robe.
His eyes turned blood-red, and a wave of killing intent rose inside him. In Slaughter City, he would have killed anyone who stood in his way. Being threatened by these soldiers made his anger almost impossible to control.
Tang Hao felt his son's anger and knew things were getting dangerous. If Little San started a fight here, they would be in big trouble. They would become enemies of the Heaven Dou Empire and be hunted by Spirit Hall. He stepped in front of Little San to hide him. He let out a heavy aura that made the captain struggle to breathe, though he didn't show his full power.
Sir, Tang Hao said in a gravelly voice. We are just normal people passing through. We are not with Spirit Hall. We have very important things to do and cannot wait. Please let us go. As he spoke, he started to gather his spirit power just in case they had to fight their way out.
The captain did not believe him. His eyes got even sharper, and he moved his spear closer. Stop lying! We will find out the truth at the station. If you try to fight, we will kill you!
The soldiers behind him stepped forward. The spirit rings of the Spirit Masters in the group began to glow. People nearby saw the trouble and started to run away in fear.
Surrender now! the captain shouted.
Those words were the final straw. The dark energy Little San had picked up in Slaughter City combined with the whispers of the Rakshasa God in his mind. The last bit of his self-control snapped.
You are looking for death! Little San growled in a voice that didn't even sound human.
He looked up, and his hood fell back to show his terrifying red eyes. He used his first spirit ability, Blue Silver Entanglement. But the plants that grew were not normal Blue Silver Grass. They were pitch-black vines covered in strange red patterns. They shot out from the ground like snakes, moving much faster than the soldiers could react.
The black vines wrapped around every Royal Knight. It wasn't just holding them; the red patterns began to glow brightly. The soldiers started to scream, but the noise stopped almost instantly.
Their bodies began to dry up as the vines sucked away their blood and spirit power. In just a few seconds, the brave soldiers were nothing but shriveled corpses inside their armor. They fell to the ground with a loud clatter.
The smell of blood filled the street. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, the people watching started to scream in terror. They yelled about Evil Soul Masters being in the city and ran away as fast as they could.
Little San! What have you done? Tang Hao was both shocked and very angry. He couldn't believe his son would use such a dark method to kill soldiers in the middle of the day. But he didn't have time to stay and argue. He heard the sound of many boots hitting the ground. The noise from the fight had called more guards and Spirit Masters to the area.
We have to go! Tang Hao decided. He knew they couldn't explain this. If they stayed, they would be trapped. He grabbed Little San, whose aura was getting wilder after absorbing the energy from the soldiers. Tang Hao slammed his foot onto the ground, cracking the stone.
The two of them turned into a blur of light. They didn't care about the buildings or the crowds in their way. They headed straight for a tall, beautiful building in the center of the city called the Moon Pavilion. Tang Hao remembered it as a place where they might be able to hide for a little while.
In a few moments, they reached the Moon Pavilion. This was a place for nobles to learn about music and manners, and it was usually very peaceful. Today, that peace ended.
With a loud crash, Tang Hao and Little San smashed through a fancy window on the top floor. They landed inside a room, surrounded by broken glass. The room was decorated beautifully and smelled like sweet incense.
A stunning woman in a silver dress was sitting in front of a mirror. she was combing her long black hair with a jade comb.
She looked young and very elegant, like a noble lady. The sound of the window breaking made her stop what she was doing. She turned to look at the two strangers who had just crashed into her room.