Chapter 341: Escape from Sea God Island
After Tang San's discussion with Bo Saixi, she left, leaving him to ponder his next steps with a heavy heart. The information Bo Saixi provided was valuable, even explaining a method to control twin martial spirits. But it was clear that, while Bo Saixi could offer personal support, she would not violate Sea God Island's rules.
Whether Tang San wanted to escape or Yu Xiaogang's group hoped to join, both scenarios seemed impossible, with Bo Saixi herself closely monitoring Tang San. He had, however, learned that his Sea God Island assessment mark had vanished from his forehead now that he'd completed his trials, which meant that he could leave Sea God Island's region without risking soul explosion.
Through his inquiries, Tang San discovered that others had tried to escape the island before, but the outcomes were grim. Attempting to escape during a trial would cause the mark to explode, erasing the soul. For soul masters who had completed their trials but then fled, the penalty was relentless pursuit by Sea Dragon Douluo, Sea God Island's enforcer, who had hunted down many escapees over the years.
Tang San weighed his options carefully before deciding to lead his group in an escape attempt. His plan was to make it to the mainland, where he would have a better chance against Sea Dragon Douluo. The next morning, Tang San and Xiao Wu approached Bo Saixi, requesting permission to hunt for spirit rings. He claimed he wanted to add a high-level spirit ring to his Clear Sky Hammer.
The island's rules permitted soul masters to leave temporarily to hunt spirit beasts. Tang San reasoned that, since his hammer required spirit rings over 50,000 years old, they would need to travel far from Sea God Island to find such a beast. Though Bo Saixi wished to prevent his departure, she had no grounds to refuse.
Once Tang San's party had departed, Bo Saixi ordered several members of Xiao Bai's clan to follow them at a distance, ready to report any suspicious activity and, if necessary, to protect the group.
Tang San was fully aware that this might be his only chance to escape. If he failed, he would face severe punishment—or worse. Sea God Island's Seven Sacred Pillars and Bo Saixi would never tolerate his desertion.
But Tang San had not foreseen that he would soon encounter Yu Xiaogang's group, nor that the Devil Spirit Great White Sharks would be tailing him.
Tang San's group set off by boat, officially searching for sea spirit beasts but subtly steering eastward toward Hanhai City and the mainland. A few Sea God Island officials, who acted as guides, were also aboard.
On the third day of travel, instead of reaching the intended Pearl Island, their ship unexpectedly crossed paths with Yu Xiaogang and Bai He's group. Using the pretext of an accidental meeting, Tang San boarded Yu Xiaogang's vessel to discuss plans for their escape.
Reuniting with his master, both Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were overcome with emotion. Yu Xiaogang, especially, was brought to tears, seeing his only disciple and the one he had placed all his hopes in. After a lengthy discussion, both groups understood their desperate situations: neither the mainland nor the sea offered them refuge. Staying on Sea God Island would cost them their freedom forever.
More troubling was how to deal with the Sea God Island officials onboard. They wouldn't just stand by and let Tang San and his companions escape. Moreover, given the influence of Bo Saixi and Sea God's control over the sea's creatures, it would be nearly impossible to evade detection.
After extensive deliberation, they settled on a plan: a diversion strategy that would split their forces and eliminate any threats to their escape.
Since Yu Xiaogang's group wasn't from Sea God Island, they wouldn't be pursued. The real danger lay with Tang San's party. Drawing on his ruthless training from Tang Sect and his time in the Slaughter City, Tang San devised a bold strategy. He returned to his original vessel, pretending to continue his search for spirit beasts, while Yu Xiaogang's group sailed north, diverting attention.
Two days later, Tang San's group ambushed the Sea God Island officials onboard, leaving none alive. They also killed two Devil Spirit Great White Sharks that had followed them, then set the ship ablaze, destroying all evidence.
As planned, Bai He and over a dozen members of the Speed Clan rejoined Tang San's party, using their agility to fly toward Hanhai City as quickly as possible. Along the way, they moved with remarkable speed, taking turns carrying Tang San and the others in shifts, making the most of the Speed Clan's abilities.
The moment the Devil Spirit Great White Sharks perished, Bo Saixi and Xiao Bai sensed it and were furious. Bo Saixi immediately ordered Sea Dragon Douluo and Xiao Bai to lead a team of sea spirit masters to the attack site to punish the violators.
Watching them leave, Bo Saixi sighed. "Tang San, you've chosen the hardest path. From now on, you'll be an enemy of the world. Sea God Island can no longer shelter you. Why push yourself to such extremes?"
When Sea Dragon Douluo and his team reached the site, they found only charred remains of the ship—no trace of Tang San or his companions. Fortunately, Sea God Island had a wealth of sea spirit masters skilled in tracking, and they detected faint traces leading north.
Following the trail, Sea Dragon Douluo soon located Yu Xiaogang's group. But as Tang San had anticipated, Sea God Island couldn't attack mainland spirit masters unprovoked, especially as they were devoted followers of the Sea God and not brigands.
Realizing Tang San's deception, Sea Dragon Douluo guessed that Tang San's group had likely headed toward Hanhai City. If they reached the mainland, Tang San would be beyond reach; as sea spirit masters, they had limitations on land. Moreover, Hanhai City was now under Wuhun Empire's control, and Wuhun Empire was no ally of Sea God Island.
By the time Sea Dragon Douluo returned to search the area where Tang San's party had vanished, they had already flown far. The diversion had worked, giving Tang San and his group a three-day head start, and Hanhai City was now within reach.
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