Chapter 302: Tang San's Struggle for Survival
The moment the pale red arrow was released, every hair on Tang Hao's body stood on end. A chilling sense of impending death washed over him.
It was pure instinct, honed through years of slaughter in the Killing Fields. He hadn't felt such danger since facing Qian Xunji all those years ago.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Tang Hao made a decisive move he detonated all his spirit rings, except for the ninth one, fusing them into the Clear Sky Hammer.
Blood gushed uncontrollably from his mouth, but he no longer cared about his injuries. If he couldn't withstand this attack, death was inevitable.
With his spirit rings sacrificed, the once jet black Clear Sky Hammer now radiated a blood red glow, tainted by the remnants of his Slaughter God Domain it emanated an even more ominous and menacing aura. Combined with Tang Hao's disheveled hair and the wild, almost demonic look on his face, he truly resembled a wrathful deity.
Arrows were always fast especially when Han Li did not intentionally hold back their speed.
The moment of impact arrived.
Due to Han Li's Martial Soul Avatar, the pale red arrow was no longer the small projectile it once appeared to be. Now, it resembled a mighty spear descending from the heavens.
As it made contact with the Clear Sky Hammer, the forces of extreme cold and scorching heat erupted. At its tip, a miniature Taiji Ice Fire Diagram spun rapidly, devouring the hammer's force and grinding it away with the power of ice and fire.
The air trembled violently, yet not a single trace of energy leaked downward. The spectators, staring up in awe, couldn't even feel the shockwaves from the clash.
The sky itself was painted in two colors.
Han Li, however, was unsatisfied. He had to admit, Tang Hao's decisiveness caught him slightly off guard he hadn't hesitated to even detonate Ah Yin's spirit ring, forcefully using sheer energy to resist Han Li's spiritual erosion.
But it didn't matter.
After all, Han Li's Martial Soul wasn't the arrow it was the bow.
And since when did a Martial Soul Avatar fire only one shot?
The two divine dragon projections coiled around Han Li's weapon roared once more. They soared into the sky, passing through his spirit rings before diving into the center of his bow.
A new arrow materialized this one enveloped in a translucent golden dragon silhouette. It notched itself onto the bowstring before transforming into pure light and merging with the arrow currently clashing against the Clear Sky Hammer.
Perhaps because their energies were of the same origin, the new arrow seamlessly burrowed into the core of the Taiji Ice Fire Diagram.
In that instant, the small, dragon like arrow shrank down to the size of a regular projectile and, in Tang Hao's horrified gaze, slithered through the swirling diagram before plunging straight into the Clear Sky Hammer itself.
Crack.
The first fissure spread across the hammer's massive surface.
And once the first crack appeared, a chain reaction followed. The Clear Sky Hammer's entire body fractured, the breaks spider webbing across its surface, creeping toward the handle.
Then
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted.
The Clear Sky Hammer shattered into fragments.
So did Tang Hao's arms.
"Ahhh!"
A harrowing scream tore through the air.
Tang Hao's shoulders bore the aftermath of two opposing forces one side charred black, the other coated in crystalline white frost.
Two spirit bones, still floating beside him, seemed lost in confusion, as if they had yet to register the fact that their owner's arms had been obliterated.
The pale red arrow quivered slightly, hovering just before Tang Hao's heart.
Then, as if losing its purpose, it shattered, dissolving into crimson and snowy white light. The twin energies surged through the air, sweeping up the residual chaos left behind by the hammer's explosion.
It was only now after all had settled that the supplementary arrow Han Li had fired at the very beginning, infused with his fifth spirit ability, Reflective Floating Arrow, finally descended onto Tang Hao.
It didn't pierce his skin.
It didn't even leave a mark on his clothing.
Yet, it stopped Tang Hao's falling body.
And it halted the descent of the two spirit bones beside him.
The battle was over.
Tang Hao had lost utterly and completely.
His Martial Soul was destroyed. His spirit rings were shattered. His arms were gone. His power had plummeted to the level of an ordinary Spirit Douluo.
All eyes turned toward Han Li, who had dispelled his Martial Soul Avatar and was now hovering above the battlefield.
Then, following his gaze, the spectators shifted their focus downward.
A second cloaked figure had appeared.
Standing motionless, hands outstretched
His target was clear.
He was reaching for Tang San and Xiao Wu.
"Patriarch Tang Xiao, may I ask what you are attempting to do?"
Tang Xiao's hands froze in mid air.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
What he saw was his younger brother, now little more than a broken wreck, floating beside Han Li held aloft only by the continuous arrows Han Li fired at precise intervals.
Every two seconds, another arrow struck.
Every two seconds, Tang Hao remained suspended, unable to fall.
Tang Xiao's hands curled into fists, then relaxed.
This… was bad.
This was very bad.
He and his brother had a plan when Tang Hao launched his final strike, Tang Xiao would seize the opportunity to take Tang San and Xiao Wu.
As long as he succeeded, there would still be room to maneuver.
But Tang Hao had lost far too quickly.
And now, Tang Xiao had been caught red handed.
He opened his mouth to speak
But no words came out.
Because no matter what he said now, it would be the wrong answer.
After all…
By all logic, he was never supposed to be here in the first place.
"Tang Hao colluded with soul beasts and killed the former Supreme Pontiff. He has now been captured. Does anyone have any objections?"
Han Li's voice echoed through the entire arena.
"On what grounds does the Spirit Hall have the right to convict others? What crime did my father commit? From the beginning until now, everything you've said is just your one sided claim!"
The one speaking was Tang San. Having been ignored for so long, he finally erupted at this moment. His eyes had turned blood red, glaring fiercely at Han Li floating in midair.
The father he had just reunited with had his arms blown apart in front of him, and his uncle the one he had never met before was hesitating. From that hesitation, Tang San could already smell the stench of abandonment.
At this moment, he had to stand up. He refused to die.
He had only just begun his path to greatness. How could he fall here? He was unwilling!
For this, he didn't mind dragging everyone down with him.
Oh?
The corners of Han Li's mouth curved slightly. This little rat, whom he had been ignoring all along, finally couldn't hold back anymore. He had thought Tang San would endure like a true assassin, waiting until the last moment to go for mutual destruction.
It seemed that even as an assassin, he wasn't that competent.
"Go on, then. I'm willing to hear your so called 'insightful perspective.'"
In Han Li's original plan, Tang San had no role in this part. He was only meant to serve as a witness before quietly dying.
Yet, his desperation for survival was far stronger than Han Li had expected.
That was fine. Han Li didn't mind playing along for a while. Who knew? It might even bring some unexpected surprises.
"You Spirit Hall people claim my father colluded with soul beasts. Who can prove it? Where is the evidence? The only fact here is that the former Supreme Pontiff tried to steal my mother no, Ah Yin's spirit ring and spirit bone, but was driven away by my father."
"Who knows if this is just a scheme by Spirit Hall to slander the Clear Sky Sect?"
Tang San's voice was sharp, and in his hasty speech, his choice of words exposed more than he intended. Even the heavily injured Tang Hao widened his eyes in shock.
Even Han Li was momentarily stunned.
Good heavens.
He had never considered this possibility.
Now he understood Tang San's game.
It was clear that, in his desperation to survive, Tang San was speaking without thinking. He even dragged his never before seen mother, Ah Yin, into this mess.
"Hmm. You make a fair point. But have you forgotten? Your very existence is the greatest proof."
Han Li pointed at Tang San, his tone carrying a deeper meaning.
Tang San met his gaze, then spoke slowly and clearly:
"The soul beast aura on my body is merely a side effect of a secret technique my father and I developed."
"They " Tang San gestured toward Dai Mubai and the others, " have the same soul beast aura because they practiced the same technique. Dai Mubai is the prince of the Star Luo Empire. Everyone knows he isn't a soul beast. This aura alone cannot be used as proof for Spirit Hall's baseless accusations against us."
"My father told me that when he first approached… Ah Yin, it was solely for the sake of researching this secret technique. Colluding with soul beasts is nothing more than a lie fabricated by Spirit Hall. The truth is long lost, and there are no longer any witnesses to confirm it."
From the conversation between Tang Hao and Han Li earlier, Tang San had deduced the root of their predicament he and his father were mistaken for transformed soul beasts due to the aura on their bodies.
And now, he had a theory.
Perhaps it was due to the Bone Transformation Secret Art.
This was likely his only lifeline.
For this, he didn't hesitate to throw dirt on his deceased mother's name.
For my father's and my own survival, my mother's spirit should be able to understand.
Once I become powerful, I will clear her name and restore her honor.
Tang San comforted himself with these thoughts.
Clap, clap, clap.
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li started clapping, a look of admiration on his face.
Such… filial piety.
Truly admirable.
Out of the kindness of his heart, Han Li projected this scene directly into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
At this very moment, the newly awakened Ah Yin, along with the Blue Silver King and Tian Meng, were watching everything unfold.
"So then, Tang Hao, do you agree with Tang San's words?"
Han Li suddenly turned to the still floating, half destroyed Tang Hao, asking in an almost casual manner.
A long silence followed.
Finally, Tang Hao's lips trembled before he forced out a sentence:
"Tang San is right. That's the truth."
"Oh? So, it was all just a misunderstanding?"
Under the gaze of countless spectators, Han Li shook his head with a look of regret.
"Tang San, are you willing to confirm that everything you've said is true?"
His expression turned solemn, and there was a subtle shift in his demeanor as if he was reconsidering his stance. The audience started whispering among themselves.
"Of course."
Tang San, having glimpsed a sliver of hope, wasn't about to let it slip away. His response was resolute.
"Very well."
Han Li nodded and swept his gaze across the people below. His expression grew thoughtful, as if weighing the best course of action.
"In that case…"
Just as Han Li was about to speak, his eyes suddenly locked onto Xiao Wu.
His words came to an abrupt halt.
(End of Chapter)
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