Douluo: One man returns, Fan Tianyin smashes Tang San to death

"Want to leave? It's not that easy!"

Ghostly snorted coldly, his sword flashing like a rainbow as he emerged from the dust and smoke of the explosion, chasing straight after Tang Hao and his son.

Tang Hao gritted his teeth and blocked the attack from the side. His soul power was almost exhausted, and the wound on his chest reopened, gushing out blood.

He used his last bit of strength to repel the ghosts and disappeared into the night with Tang San.

The encirclement and suppression failed, and the Soul Masters of the Spirit Empire showed anger on their faces. Some complained in a low voice, "Lord Ghost, how are we going to explain this to His Majesty?"

Ghostly figure sheathed his sword and stood there, his expression unusually calm. He said indifferently, "Tang Hao's injuries have worsened, and he won't live for more than a few days. There's no need to pursue him any further."

After saying this, he turned around and led everyone away into the night, leaving behind a mess.

Tang Hao led Tang San to escape to a secluded valley, where mist swirled and strange rocks stood, seemingly isolated from the world.

As soon as he landed, Tang Hao could no longer hold on, vomiting blood repeatedly, and collapsed onto a protruding rock.

His face was ashen, his eyes were unfocused, and his breath was so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

Tang San hurriedly helped his father up, his eyes filled with panic and helplessness.

He trembled as he took out a crystal-clear pill from his bosom and said urgently, "Father, this is the Nine Souls Reincarnation Pill. Take it quickly, and it will definitely relieve your injuries!"

Tang Hao's gaze fell on the pills, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He then shook his head and gave a wry smile: "Third brother, I don't need such rare treasures."

My soul power has dissipated; my days are numbered.

His voice was low and weak, yet carried a sense of serene relief.

Upon hearing this, Tang San was struck dumb, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He gripped his father's hand tightly, his voice choked with emotion: "Dad, don't say that! You can pull through! We still have so much to do. I still want to take you to see Mother's grave, and..."

"Little three."

Tang Hao interrupted him, leaned back against the rock, and gazed at his son with gentle eyes.

His hand trembled as he raised it and gently ruffled Tang San's hair, just like when they were children, with endless love and reluctance.

"There are two things I am most proud of in my life—one is marrying your mother, and the other is having you as my son."

Tang San could no longer hold back his tears, which slid down his cheeks.

He gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the grief in his heart, but the heart-wrenching pain just wouldn't stop.

Tang Hao's breath grew weaker and weaker. He mustered his last ounce of strength and solemnly said, "Little San, if you have enough strength in the future to avenge your mother, Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall... cough cough..."

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his voice broken, "If you are not strong enough, then live an ordinary life, marry and have children, and live a peaceful life."

"father……"

Tang San's voice was almost broken as he gripped his father's hand tightly, tears blurring his vision.

Tang Hao's gaze gradually became unfocused, but a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

He whispered, "The sons of the Tang family must not back down; they must stand tall and move forward in the face of adversity."

But what your father hopes for most is that you live a peaceful life.

He paused, his eyes filled with affection, "Little San, you are your father's pride."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Hao's hand slowly fell to his sides, and his breath completely dissipated.

Only the howling wind remained in the valley, as if bidding farewell to this great hero.

Tang San stood there stunned, tears streaming down his face like a burst dam. He suddenly threw himself into his father's arms and let out a heart-wrenching cry.

The grief was like a knife, piercing the night and lingering for a long time.

Lu Yu stood deep in the wilderness south of the Heavenly Dou Empire, his gaze fixed on the seemingly inconspicuous crack in front of him.

The entrance to the Lieshan Trial City is here, so narrow that only one person can pass sideways. The surrounding rock walls are covered with moss, and the damp air carries a faint smell of earth.

There was no fluctuation of soul power or any special aura flowing around the crack; it was as ordinary as any other crevice in the mountains.

This corresponds to the "dangerous trial grounds" described by the remnant soul of the Qilin.

This stark contrast caused Lu Yu to furrow his brow slightly, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind.

He looked down at the jade pendant hanging at his waist, which housed the remnant soul of a Qilin. A faint fluctuation of soul power emanated from the pendant, carrying a weak yet firm voice: "This is the entrance to the Lieshan Trial City, without a doubt."

However… please be extremely careful once inside.

The voice of the remnant Qilin soul was intermittent, as if it were fragmented memories, but the solemnity in its tone made Lu Yu's heart tighten.

His purpose in coming here was clear—to seek trials and break through his own limits.

However, this seemingly ordinary entrance made him feel uneasy, as if some unknown danger was hidden deep in the crack, waiting for him to touch it.

Lu Yu took a deep breath to calm the turmoil in his heart, and took a step forward, slowly walking towards the crack.

The rock walls on both sides of the crack were cold and rough, and a faint dampness filled the air.

He had only taken a few steps forward when several intersecting white lights suddenly flashed before his eyes. The light was soft yet swift, instantly enveloping his entire body.

Lu Yu felt his body lighten, as if he were being pulled by an invisible force. The next moment, everything in front of him suddenly changed.

When he opened his eyes again, the scenery around him was completely different.

The crack disappeared, replaced by a wide open space. In the distance, towering city walls could be vaguely seen, constructed of gray-black boulders, their surfaces engraved with intricate patterns, exuding an ancient and heavy aura.

A Soul Master dressed in a gray robe stood in the open space, his aura sharp and his gaze sweeping over Lu Yu like a knife. His voice was low and questioning: "Who goes there? State your identity and purpose!"

Lu Yu was slightly taken aback and quickly sized up the other person.

This Soul Master was about thirty years old, with a thin build. His gray robe was embroidered with a flame-shaped badge, which subtly exuded a sense of authority.

His soul power fluctuations weren't particularly strong, around the Soul Saint level, but his aura carried a sharp edge born from years of experience.

Lu Yu cupped his hands in greeting and said calmly, "My name is Lu Yu. I have no family recommendation and have come here under the guidance of a senior. I wish to enter the Lieshan Trial City for training."

"Guidance from a senior?"

The gray-robed Soul Master raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. "Lieshan Trial City is no ordinary place. Most people who enter the city are recommended by their families or sects. You have no background and refuse to reveal the identity of your so-called 'senior,' so what makes you think you can enter the city?"

His tone grew increasingly stern, and a faint surge of soul power rose behind him, clearly indicating that he did not trust Lu Yu's words.

Lu Yu remained calm and met the other party's gaze with composure: "I cannot reveal your identity as a senior, but since you have guided me here, there must be a reason."

"I only ask to try. If the Trial City is truly as harsh as rumored, I will prove myself with my strength."

His voice was neither humble nor arrogant, but carried a hint of firmness, subtly revealing an undeniable aura.

The gray-robed soul master narrowed his eyes, about to speak again, when another guard approached. This guard was slightly shorter, with a kind face, and smiled as he smoothed things over: "Old Li, don't be so serious."

Being guided here by a senior means this young man might have a powerful figure backing him. Why should we make things difficult for him? Besides…”

He looked Lu Yu up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "This boy's soul power has reached level eighty-two, the Soul Douluo realm. He has such cultivation at such a young age, his talent is remarkable."

Offending a young person like that won't do us any good.

Upon hearing this, the gray-robed Soul Master's expression changed slightly, and he began to re-examine Lu Yu.

After a moment, he snorted coldly, but his tone softened a bit: "Fine, since you have a senior's recommendation, I'll let you off the hook."

But remember, the Trial City of Lieshan is fraught with danger; if you are not familiar with the rules, your life may be in danger.

He stepped aside to make way for Lu Yu.

Lu Yu nodded slightly, thanked the two, and then strode towards the gray-black city gate.

Behind him, the gray-robed soul master's voice came again, with a hint of goodwill as he reminded him: "Young man, be careful after entering the city. This place is not simple."

Lu Yu did not turn around, but nodded slightly, but a sense of vigilance arose in his heart.

As Lu Yu passed through the city gate, his view suddenly opened up.

A vast city came into view, with wide streets that could accommodate a dozen carriages side by side. The buildings on both sides of the streets were tall and ancient, mostly made of gray-black stone, exuding a somber atmosphere.

The city was bustling with people and filled with noise, but Lu Yu quickly realized that the atmosphere here was completely different from the outside world.

Among the people coming and going, Soul Masters made up the vast majority, and ordinary people were almost nowhere to be seen.

The few ordinary people you occasionally see are mostly in a hurry, heads down, as if afraid of attracting attention.

Lu Yu walked slowly forward, his eyes scanning the surroundings, and soon noticed several eye-catching figures.

At the street corner, a young man dressed in a white outfit stood tall, with a hammer-shaped badge embroidered on his clothes, clearly the symbol of the Power Clan.

Not far away, several Soul Masters wearing robes with tortoise shell patterns were talking in hushed tones; they were disciples of the Tortoise Shell Sect.

There was another person, wearing glass-like ornaments, with a gentle and refined demeanor; he was a descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

The appearance of these forces made Lu Yu's heart sink slightly.

As rumored, Lieshan Trial City is indeed an important place for various families to cultivate their younger generations, where resources and opportunities coexist, but competition and danger are also everywhere.

As night fell, Lu Yu wandered around the city before settling into a small inn.

The inn was brightly lit and filled with noise. Soul Masters gathered in small groups, some talking in hushed tones, others arguing loudly. The atmosphere was lively, yet subtly tense.

Lu Yu found a seat by the window, ordered a pot of tea, but kept his eyes on his surroundings.

He noticed that most of the Soul Masters in the inn had strong auras, with Soul Kings and Soul Emperors being commonplace, and he could even occasionally sense the auras of Soul Douluos.

As night deepened, Lu Yu heard the whispers of several Soul Masters, the contents of which sent a jolt through him.

Someone mentioned that a soul beast attack had recently occurred in the east of the city. A soul master who tried to leave alone was bitten to death, and the smell of blood permeated the entire street.

What's even more unsettling is that leaving the Trial City comes at a high cost: one must be escorted by a powerful figure, otherwise there is almost no chance of survival.

However, these dangers did not deter the Soul Masters present. On the contrary, some people sighed in a low voice: "The training effect of this place far exceeds that of the outside world. It is worth the risk."

The contrast between high risk and high reward gave Lu Yu a deeper understanding of the Trial City's positioning.

He picked up his teacup, his gaze calm, but in his mind he was analyzing the complex situation in the Trial City.

Compared to the bloody and direct violence of the Killing City, the dangers here are more insidious and complex.

Besides the threat of soul beasts, there are also unpredictable undercurrents in human nature.

He noticed that two types of people were particularly eye-catching in the inn.

One type consists of men with dark skin and an eerie aura. They gather in groups of three or five, exuding an unusually oppressive aura despite not being Soul Masters, as if they were born with a wild and untamed spirit.

The other type consists of men with fair skin and tall stature, often wielding long spears, exuding an even more terrifying aura, with undisguised indifference in their eyes.

Both of these groups showed obvious aversion to other Soul Masters, and Lu Yu was secretly on guard, realizing that the power structure within the Trial City was far more complex than he had imagined.

Just then, a clear voice interrupted Lu Yu's thoughts: "Brother, are you new to Trial City? This place is dangerous. Why don't you team up with us and look after each other?"

Lu Yu turned his head and saw a woman standing by the table. She had an ordinary appearance, a long sword at her waist, and a gentle smile that carried a hint of probing.

She introduced herself as Su Xueyan, speaking in a friendly tone, as if it were simply out of goodwill.

Lu Yu's gaze lingered on her for a moment, but a sense of wariness rose in his heart.

He smiled slightly and said calmly, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I am used to working alone and have no plans to form a team at the moment."

His refusal was decisive and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Su Xueyan's smile froze slightly, but she quickly recovered and nodded, saying, "In that case, I wish you good luck, brother."

She turned and left, but her retreating figure sent a chill down Lu Yu's spine.

Not long after, a burly man strode over, stood in front of Lu Yu's table, and said in a deep voice, "Young man, beware of that woman."

She talked about forming teams, but in reality, she only targeted newbies, harming many people.

His voice was quite loud, and the Soul Masters at the surrounding tables all turned to look, but no one made a sound.

Upon hearing this, Su Xueyan's expression changed, and she hurriedly retorted, "Don't make false accusations! I was just extending a kind invitation; I had no intention of harming anyone!"

The burly man sneered, "Is that so? Then what happened to those newcomers from the east of the city last year?"

His tone was aggressive, and although the surrounding Soul Masters frowned, no one stood up to agree, as if they were already used to such disputes.

Su Xueyan finally snorted coldly, turned around and left, her back view revealing a hint of dishevelment.

Lu Yu watched this scene quietly, gaining a deeper understanding of the atmosphere of the Trial City.

There is no absolute good or evil here, only naked self-interest and the law of survival.

He picked up his teacup and gazed at the night outside the window. The lights of the Trial City flickered in the darkness, like a lurking beast, waiting for everyone who stepped into it.

The sky above Lieshan Trial City is always shrouded in a thin layer of gray mist, as if even the sunlight is suppressed by the somber atmosphere of this ancient city.

Lu Yu stood on a wide street in the city, his gaze slowly sweeping over the surrounding scenery.

The street was lined with towering stone walls, their surfaces carved with intricate patterns, exuding an unsettling atmosphere.

Pedestrians were few and far between, and the few Soul Masters who did pass by hurried along, their faces showing wariness and alertness. (End of Chapter)