Chapter 311: Tang San's Wisdom: Turning the Tide of War

After the Deep Sea Demon Whale King finished communicating with the Sea God, the two mortal enemies seemed a bit more open‑minded, no longer shouting for battle or filled with hatred as before.

Yang Xiong and Bo Saixi and the others, after some discussion, decided to leave Sea God Island again.

Now only Shui Bing'er remains on Sea God Island; she must retake the assessment, and its difficulty is extremely high, not something she can easily accomplish now.

Although everyone felt reluctant, they still decided to depart, since the continent is in a great war and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Body Sect have already become deeply involved; if they cannot return immediately, the war may become exceedingly cruel.

Especially Yang Xiong can sense that Qian Renxue is only one step away from becoming a god, and by the timeline he should already have reached Level 99.

Once Qian Renxue becomes a god, the Jialing Pass battlefield will fall into real trouble.

Of course, after absorbing the Deep Sea Demon Crystal King's Soul Ring and Soul Bone, a voice still echoed in Yang Xiong's mind.

"Yang Xiong, Asura Nine Examinations, sixth trial: you have obtained the Ninth Soul Ring and Torso Soul Bone; do not kill innocents indiscriminately, do not leave hidden dangers; assessment complete, reward Asura Affinity +10%, total affinity 70%."

Even the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was unusually surprised; after Asura Affinity reached 70%, the martial soul seemed to begin shifting toward divinity, the Asura Demon Sword became exceedingly fitting as if innate, the Asura divine inheritance sword technique grew clearer, and even the killing aura and domain became stronger.

……

Compared with Yang Xiong's party sailing out, the Jialing Pass battlefield has become even more brutal.

After seven Soul Douluo‑level experts left Jialing Pass, the impact on the Heaven Dou Empire remains considerable, especially lacking Ning Rongrong, an excellent support.

Although Tang San has begun learning the Great Sumeru Hammer, his study time is still short, so he cannot truly wield it; when battling Bibidong he still has shortcomings.

The Jialing Pass battlefield is like a huge millstone; both sides suffer countless casualties—ordinary soldiers are heavily wounded, and many Soul Douluo masters have fallen; the Heaven Dou Empire originally fielded 1.6 million troops, but after such brutal fighting about half have been lost.

The Soul Master Corps also lost more than half; even disciples of Body Sect and Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect suffered casualties near 40%—Body Sect's 1,000 disciples lost over 400, and Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's 2,000 disciples lost over 600, largely because Body Sect disciples were generally positioned at the rear.

The Spirit Empire is no better; its army has lost about 70%; Bibidong resorted to all means, conscripting heavily from within the empire just to barely maintain the situation, noting that this still reflects the advantage of battle‑technique city defense.

As for the original 40,000 Soul Grandmasters sent to the front, losses also exceeded 10,000.

However, given the current situation, both sides have begun to compare each other's depth.

Emperor Xue Ye can be said to have squeezed the nation's strength to the limit, even dispatching the guard corps of the Heaven Dou Palace, the guard troops of Heaven Dou City, and all regional order‑keeping forces to the front, allowing them to barely keep the army above one million.

But the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's Soul Master Corps suffered even heavier losses; originally the imperial family cobbled together about 5,000 Soul Grandmasters, now over 3,000 have been lost.

Even the Clear Sky Sect lost many; originally its Soul Grandmaster count was the smallest among the Three Great Sects, sending only about 500 to the front, since the whole Clear Sky Sect has only around 1,000 Soul Grandmasters.

Yet those 500 lost a full 300, mainly because Clear Sky Sect members are relatively brave, all wield the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, and all are strong‑attack type Soul Grandmasters.

Moreover, Clear Sky Sect members have long held their breath, eager to avenge the Spirit Empire, which caused their casualty ratio to become the highest among the Three Great Sects.

However, compared with the brutal battlefield, Bibidong and Tang San seem a bit excited; each of their battles is extremely fierce, and whether it's Tang San's Dark Blue Silver Grass or Bibidong's Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, they thrive on the battlefield.

Especially Tang San, after Dark Blue Silver Grass devoured many corpses and soul power, Tang San himself actually reached Level 97, only one level below Bibidong.

If not for Bibidong's flight advantage from External Soul Bone, he might not have held the upper hand against Tang San.

Moreover, the killing aura on both Bibidong and Tang San grows heavier, and the evil aura becomes increasingly fierce.

Tang San wields the Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand and the Mantis Leg External Soul Bone in his right; especially the Mantis Leg External Soul Bone, after harvesting countless lives, its original dark‑green has turned jet‑black, emitting endless evil aura; even Title Douluo dare not touch it lightly.

As for Xiao Wu and others, their performance on the battlefield is relatively average; they have not, as in the original work, dealt with various Title Douluo, and so far no Title Douluo has fallen.

Emperor Xue Ye watches the current situation with deep worry; if both sides continue this attrition, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family may lose all governing power, its depth being exhausted by the war.

It should be noted that compared with its heyday, the Heaven Dou Empire has lost at least one‑third of its territory, including former kingdoms and duchies, as well as lands of two provinces.

Among them is the famous Balak Kingdom, reputed as the grain store of the Heaven Dou Empire, of great strategic significance.

After this great war, Emperor Xue Ye still convenes everyone for a meeting, hoping the Three Great Sects will strengthen their support for the Heaven Dou Empire; after all, given the Spirit Empire's current stance, it has labeled the Three Great Sects as mortal enemies, and if the Heaven Dou Empire falls, the Three Great Sects may also be wiped out by the Spirit Hall.

When the battle reaches this level, whether Ning Fengzhi, Tang Xiao or Lin Gong, they all realize they have no retreat, yet they are unwilling to sacrifice all their sect's depth.

Thus, even though Emperor Xue Ye repeatedly asks, the three have no intention of sending more Soul Grandmasters to the front.

Moreover, everyone now knows the Spirit Empire still holds Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue as trump cards; if they gamble everything, their sect may truly be destroyed.

Rather than that, it's better to preserve depth; at worst when truly defeated, the sect could surrender directly to the Spirit Empire and perhaps retain its legacy.

Moreover, the Three Great Sects now each have a fallback: Clear Sky Sect still has the elder ancestor Tang Chen's connection with Qian Daoliu; Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Body Sect are closely watching Yang Xiong's current development; Ning Fengzhi and Lin Gong both know Yang Xiong now possesses a divine inheritance.

Tang San, having fought up to now, although his strength has improved and he has become more reckless, increasingly hopes to obtain the final two Soul Rings.

Tang San believes that if he acquires two more Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones, he will truly reach Level 99, then he can truly outmatch Bibidong and even contend with Qian Daoliu.

Unfortunately for Tang San, he has neither time nor opportunity to obtain the final two Soul Rings; if Tang San leaves the battlefield, the entire Heaven Dou Empire's situation may easily collapse.

As for seeking a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Beast, when Tang San originally followed Xiao Wu around the Star Dou Great Forest, he never found one; regarding those outside the forest, even Xiao Wu is unaware.

After all, Tang San originally earned seven Soul Rings in the Star Dou Contest, each over 70,000 years, effectively having slain almost all suitable Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Tang San also knows that whether it's his father or the Clear Sky Sect, they have long been locked in an endless conflict with the Spirit Empire; his great‑grandfather, due to severe injuries, went to Sea God Island and likely awaits death.

If he wishes to avenge, he can only rely on himself, ultimately absorbing two Soul Rings to become stronger.

What Tang San does not realize is that as the battle continues, his hatred toward the Spirit Empire deepens—whether it's the vengeance for his mother's death, the Clear Sky Sect's grudge, or even the Tang Sect's feud—making him increasingly stubborn and radical.

As the Luosha Divine Examination deepens, although soul power and Soul Ring years do not increase, Luosha Affinity does rise.

Under the boost of Luosha Affinity, Tang San's hatred seems to tilt more toward darkness, even becoming willing to use any means.

However, at this moment Tang San finally displays his wisdom; the Heaven Dou Empire's Title Douluo indeed has certain advantages—though its Soul Power Level is low, its combat power is very strong.

After Tang San's arrangements, especially by specifically requesting Bone Douluo's assistance, Bone Douluo entered the battlefield, and many Clear Sky Sect masters were assigned to protect Ning Fengzhi.

The battle situation changed in that instant.

Bone Douluo's strength is formidable, especially its defense, unrivaled in the world; Bone Douluo and Tang Hao faced Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo.

Although Bone Douluo and Tang Hao's Soul Power is much lower than Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo's, Bone Douluo's Bone Dragon martial soul has excellent flight capability; together with Tang Hao's attack‑defense coordination, they surprisingly can block Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo's attacks.

Tang Xiao was assigned to face Gold Crocodile Douluo; Tang Xiao's Soul Power Level is only one tier below Gold Crocodile Douluo, and by relying on the Clear Sky Hammer's strength and Clear Sky Sect's inherited soul technique, he can barely contend with Gold Crocodile Douluo.

Thus, the Level 98 Sword Douluo and Level 97 Tang San can together besiege Bibidong.

Although Bibidong is powerful and his Soul Devouring Spider Emperor is extremely potent on the battlefield, both Tang San and Sword Douluo are not inferior to him.

In the end the battle turned; Bibidong, under the double assault, suffered severe injuries, while Tang San and Sword Douluo pursued the victory, conducting a massive slaughter of the Spirit Empire's Soul Master Corps.

The Spirit Empire has suffered the greatest casualty loss since the war began; its Soul Master Corps was again heavily damaged.

If not for the Great Supplicants' all‑out effort, the Spirit Empire would have barely escaped disaster.

After this battle, the Spirit Empire no longer has the strength to launch offensives; it can only retreat into Jialing Pass, allowing the Heaven Dou Empire to provoke it.

Unfortunately Jialing Pass is truly towering, its geographic advantage is enormous, and the Spirit Empire's Soul Master Corps still holds the advantage; the Heaven Dou Empire's army cannot scale the lofty walls.

(End of chapter)