Douluo Dalu: The Legend of The Spider Emperor

"I will crush your bones and scatter your ashes!" Dugu Bo snarled fiercely. With a flash, his figure disappeared, vanishing from sight in an instant.

As he watched Dugu Bo depart, Tang San's lips curled into a sly smile. You expect me to stay put just because you said so? Staying completely still—that's for turtles.

Tang San had just been about to take a step when he reconsidered.

"I can't leave from the front. If I run into that old monster again, it'll spell trouble."

The voice he had just heard—Tang San recognized it—it was his teacher's.

For now, Tang San was out of immediate danger. The Grandmaster had drawn Dugu Bo's attention away from him.

Hearing this, Tang San heaved a long sigh of relief. "Teacher, thank you."

Without looking back, Tang San turned and fled in the opposite direction.

After all, he was merely a Soul Grandmaster, while Dugu Bo was a Titled Douluo. What help could he possibly provide? Going there would only mean throwing his life away.

The Grandmaster: Did I say I was here to save anyone?

Outside the valley, the nighttime forest was silent. Flender and the other two stood back-to-back, forming a triangular defensive formation. They remained on high alert, wary of Dugu Bo's sudden appearance.

After all, their opponent was a Titled Douluo…

After a long while with no sign of movement, the Grandmaster grew puzzled.

"Strange. Why hasn't Dugu Bo shown up yet?"

Flender rolled his eyes. "Do you actually want him to show up?"

"Can you two stop bickering?" Liu Erlong snapped. "Stay sharp! Dugu Bo is ruthless, and if—"

"Hahaha…"

A chilling laugh interrupted her. Out of the poisonous mist, Dugu Bo clapped his hands as he slowly emerged from the shadows.

"That's right, I am ruthless."

"So it's you three. Let me see… a worthless Soul Grandmaster, a dean who got slapped around, and you… someone I haven't met before. Boldly trespassing on my turf and insulting me? Are you tired of living?" Dugu Bo sneered coldly.

To Dugu Bo, the three before him—a pair of Soul Sages and a Soul Grandmaster—were hardly worth his time. Crushing them would be no different than killing chickens.

...

High above, Ye Hao hovered quietly in midair, completely masking his presence with the Death God's Heart. No one had noticed him.

Using the flight of his Six-Winged Purple Light Wings, Ye Hao observed the scene below with precision.

That old poison really is squaring off against them. Strange… where's Tang Hao? I saw him fly by earlier. Could it be he's already rescued Tang San? Typical move for someone who abandons their teammates.

Given Dugu Bo's temperament, those three below were as good as dead. Killing them would be no different than swatting flies to him.

"Ye Hao," a voice sounded in his mind. It was Xiao Hong. "I sense a powerful presence near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. That person's strength surpasses the old poison. Could the Tang Hao you mentioned be there?"

Hearing this, Ye Hao glanced in the direction of the well.

Interesting. Tang Hao isn't as clueless as I thought. He's pulled a feint, stealing from Dugu Bo's home instead of engaging head-on.

The three below had no chance of survival against Dugu Bo. Turning his attention away, Ye Hao flew toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. If his memory served, this should also be where Tang San was heading.

...

Tang San stood in awe, marveling at the sight before him. Like a country bumpkin visiting the big city, he couldn't help but exclaim as he walked.

"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! It's really the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!"

At this moment, Tang San was filled with exhilaration. A treasure trove like this—it could only belong to him. He was brimming with confidence. Once he consumed the immortal herbs growing here, people like "Ye Hao" or "Ye Ritian" would be no match for him.

"Such a heaven-sent opportunity should belong to me alone."

Dugu Bo might have been ruthless, but to Tang San, his possession of this sacred land without recognizing its value was nothing short of a crime. The fact that Dugu Bo had managed to achieve Titled Douluo was likely due to the influence of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Soon, the humiliation he'd suffered would be wiped away. Unable to contain his excitement, Tang San moved closer to inspect the area—only to find…

The immortal herbs that should have been there were completely gone. The ground bore clear signs of being dug up, with petals mixed into the soil—evidence that someone had beaten him to it.

The once-bright hope in Tang San's eyes faded. His excitement turned to dejection as realization dawned. He remembered the two immortal herbs Ye Hao had flaunted earlier at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—the Beautiful Silk Tulip and Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone. Tang San was certain he hadn't been mistaken.

Ye Hao has already been here! Otherwise, there's no way all the herbs would be gone.

All that remained were some immature plants and a few chewed-up remnants with neat rows of bite marks, likely left by some unknown creature.

"Ye Hao!"

Tang San gritted his teeth in frustration. The opportunity he'd just grasped was snatched away, leaving him with nothing. Destroying someone's fortune was as good as taking their life.

Why had Ye Hao taken all the valuable herbs, leaving behind only the unwanted scraps? Even the remnants bore bite marks—insult upon injury. The marks clearly weren't human; they likely belonged to a soul beast.

Left with no other choice, Tang San reluctantly gathered the chewed-up herbs into a tattered bag. He figured they could at least be useful for Fatty and the others.

"Ugh…"

"That Tang San is really something. He even picked up the ones I bit into!" Xiao Hong's laughter rang out.

Ye Hao shrugged. "Something is better than nothing. But next time, don't waste any immortal herbs. Even if you eat them, don't leave any for Tang San."

Xiao Hong rolled her eyes. "I wasn't even interested in those herbs. Sure, I took a bite, but they still retained 20-30% of their potency. That much should still be there."

Tang San carefully stashed away the chewed herbs, plucking a few immature ones for himself and Xiao Wu. The best, of course, was reserved for himself.

As the saying goes, if one doesn't look out for themselves, the heavens will destroy them.

Despite the setbacks, Tang San consoled himself. He hadn't come away empty-handed. He'd taken what Ye Hao discarded and what Xiao Hong had bitten, making it a somewhat fruitful trip.

On the cliffs above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang Hao stood shrouded in a black robe. The valley wind tugged at his robes, making them flap noisily.

Watching from above, Tang Hao confirmed that Tang San was safe. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

However, his gaze shifted toward the Grandmaster and Dugu Bo's location. Should he intervene?

For now, Tang Hao couldn't reveal his identity to Tang San. If it hadn't been for the danger his son was in earlier, he wouldn't have risked exposing himself at all.