Douluo Dalu - Volume 09 - Golden Iron Triangle Read online

  The Shrek Academy members naturally all knew what Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin was doing, but nobody said anything; Zhi Lin testing Tang San was like an enrollment exam. Flender had foreseen that this would happen, and also let these Heaven Dou Imperial Academy senior staff take a look at how outstanding the disciple he had fostered was.

  “Yi!”

  Zhi Lin’s originally gentle gaze gradually became astounded. With his strength he immediately determined that Tang San’s spirit power was around the thirty third rank, proving that Qin Ming hadn’t been flattering his accomplishments.

  But while his plant system spirit power also didn’t lack compatibility with his own, he just couldn’t understand how this only thirty third ranked spirit power could be so difficult to deal with.

  Zhi Lin using his spirit power to probe felt that, even though Tang San’s spirit power was far from as formidable as his own, it had a kind of endless toughness. The more pressure he used, the more flexible it became.

  Furthermore, Tang San’s body had an endurance that didn’t belong to a thirty third ranked Spirit Master. Faced with his pressure, he unexpectedly didn’t show any signs of pain.

  As a matter of fact, the pressure he used was something that a thirtieth level Spirit Master should find somewhat difficult to endure.

  What he didn’t know was that Tang San’s body constantly endured spirit ring and spirit power transformation, at the same time, unlike ordinary spirit masters he also had an external spirit bone. With the potency of the Man Faced Demon Spider’s spirit bone, to his strength, endurance and agility, it had an extremely significant effect.

  Otherwise, how could Tang San have led the Shrek Seven Devils to successive victories against powerful enemies.

  Even Dai Mubai was resigned to not being his equal. This external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances didn’t just have its effect on the outside, its imperceptible influence was equally significant.

  That symbolic black robe Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin wore didn’t shift, and although he simply sat there, Tang San still clearly felt the pressure around him increasing bit by bit.

  This Spirit Douluo was extremely conscientious, afraid that Tang San would be unable to endure a sudden increase in strength, under his accurate control, his spirit power was only gradually increasing. Once Tang San showed any signs of being unable to endure, he would also immediately withdraw the force.

  Tang San naturally also understood this control system Spirit Douluo was testing his strength. In front of Flender, Grandmaster and the other Shrek Academy members, he knew he wasn’t just representing himself, but rather the whole Shrek Academy. Therefore, even though the surrounding pressure grew greater and greater, and the Mysterious heaven skill pressure within his body also worked faster and faster, he didn’t display the slightest bit of a pained expression.

  After many years of cultivation, adding countless training and ordeals, Tang San’s willpower wasn’t something a thirteen year old possessed. Originally he endured the enormous pain produced by that Man Faced Demon Spider spirit ring, how would he easily surrender now.

  Secretly tightening both fists in his sleeves, Tang San’s complexion didn’t vary, expression neither servile nor overbearing. Along with Mysterious Heaven skill working, around his body gradually appeared a faint layer of white mist, releasing a slight fragrance.

  Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)

  As the internal strength circulated, it completely fused with the properties of Blue Silver Grass.

  As the pressure grew greater and greater, Sky Blue Vine Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin grew more and more astonished; was this really just a thirteen year old child? How couldn’t he see Tang San was using willpower combined with his physical strength to withstand the spirit power pressure, but so far he unexpectedly hadn’t been able to get this child to release his spirit. Tang San by far already surpassed his expectations.

  All people have a desire to win, and Spirit Douluo were no exception. Adding competitiveness to curiosity, when confronting this genius, Zhi Lin couldn’t help but want to see just how far this child’s limits could reach.

  Seeing Tang San nod slightly, Zhi Lin’s robe no longer fluctuated with spirit power, rather quietly recovered to normal. Seeing this, the other two Spirit Douluo at his side also couldn’t help be astonished, the three of them had been together for a very long time, naturally they understood just how much spirit power Zhi Lin was using right now.

  The two Spirit Douluo couldn’t help show a concerned expression, although they knew Zhi Lin was a person who would act appropriately, just the chance of injuring this kid was bad.

  But very quickly, the two Spirit Douluo’s concern became amazement. Tang San simply stood there like a towering mountain, even though the pressure increased yet again, he didn’t move at all, only his expression gradually tightened.

  Not even the spirit had been forced out? This was the thought the three Spirit Douluo all had at the same time.

  How was it possible? Zhi Lin inwardly trembled a moment, he was only too clear on his own spirit power output, even a thirty fifth ranked Spirit Elder would definitely have been forced to release their spirit, moreover they wouldn’t be as calm as this youngster.

  If speaking of showing an unvarying expression or firm willpower, as the pressure reached a certain degree, it wasn’t something willpower was capable of influencing.

  Generally speaking, for inferior Spirit Masters enduring the direct spirit power pressure of high level Spirit Masters, Spirit Masters able to support two thirds of their own level was already outstanding, and if they were able to support even their own degree of spirit power, then, they had extraordinarily staunch willpower. But this was also on the conditions that they had released their spirit.

  Moreover if they were Beast Spirit Masters.

  The assistance to their own body was much greater for Beast Spirit Masters than Tool Spirit Masters, the advantage of Tool Spirit Masters lay in being able to make use of weapons.

  From Qin Ming’s introduction, these three Spirit Douluo all knew Tang San certainly was a Tool Spirit Master, but a Tool Spirit Master able to support pressure exceeding his spirit power by ten percent, and moreover without even releasing his spirit? This was just too inconceivable.

  Along with the spirit power fluctuations in the air gradually growing more intense, Flender, Zhao Wuji and the others gradually also grew nervous, sitting straight, staring fixedly at Tang San for fear that any accident would occur.

  Only Grandmaster still leaned back in his chair, sipping tea, calmly observing the scene without the slightest hint of concern.

  Nobody had a better understanding of Tang San’s strength than Grandmaster. Grandmaster was perfectly capable of calculating Tang San’s limit in the current circumstances. Right now he hadn’t even released his spirit, naturally he wasn’t close to his limits.

  It could even be said that there was still a considerable distance to the limit. Grandmaster further knew that Tang San’s spirit power was exceptional, brimming with endurance just like his Blue Silver Grass. It wasn’t obvious in a fight, since endurance often increased the capability to prolong the fight. But confronting this kind of constantly growing pressure, this aspect of his spirit power had plenty of room to appear.

  The spirit power pressure Zhi Lin released had already increased past thirty fifth rank to thirty sixth rank, immediately followed by thirty seventh, thirty eighth, thirty ninth. As the power of his spirit power pressure finally increased to around the fortieth rank or so, Tang San finally revealed a trace of suffering. His face showed a slight change, and he with some effort raised his right hand.

  Blue light flickered, and Blue Silver grass burst from his palm like a blossoming flower, drifting in the air, forming an enormous cage, enveloping Tang San within. Blue purple luster flourished, all the Blue Silver Grass swaying in the air. With each swaying motion the air produced a kind of peculiar feeling, as if even the air moved along rhythmically.

  Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin felt it t
he most clearly. The moment Tang San released Blue Silver Grass, he had a kind of feeling like being relieved of a burden. Just as he prepared to withdraw his spirit power, finishing this test, Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass staged this bizarre scene before him.

  The round cage surrounded Tang San, between each strand of Blue Silver Grass was only slight cracks. Along with each of their gentle oscillations, Zhi Lin was amazed to discover that the pressure he issued seemed as if it was pushing against something elastic; along with Blue Silver Grass light movements, the pressure he put on Tang San weakened a lot.

  To be precise, it was the pressure he put on Tang San that was reduced.

  This child unexpectedly had so many surprises, the three Spirit Douluo’s amazed expressions gradually grew pleased.

  Actually, even Tang San himself didn’t know why Blue Silver Grass would act like this. On the surface he might appear exceptionally resolute, but in fact, confronted with the fortieth rank spirit power pressure he already even had difficulties breathing, only supported by his unwillingness to let Shrek Academy lose face.

  Blue Silver Grass had been released when he was completely unable to endure.

  Blue Silver Grass current shape and movements were both completely involuntary, but with those rhythmical motions, Tang San immediately felt the pressure drop considerably. In his mind immediately rose a kind of exceptionally formidable force leveraging technique: four liang pushing a thousand jin.

  Four liang pushing a thousand jin was a commonly used martial skill in Tang San’s previous world, and naturally he knew it. But he didn’t quite understand why his Blue Spirit Grass would suddenly on its own display his martial skills without his meticulous control.

  Sensing this, Tang San suddenly discovered that there were a lot of parts to his spirit that he didn’t understand.

  With the pressure eased, Tang San’s expression naturally also recovered to normal. But these circumstances made Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin withdraw his intent to stop the test. The spirit power pressure increased another step, and this time it also grew stronger at a faster pace than before.

  Four liang pushing a thousand jin was admittedly possible, but what about ten thousand jin? How would it be pushed? With the sharply increasing pressure, Tang San was conscious of how the outer edges of the energy channels within his body seemed to explode, his entire body in extreme pain, his skin gradually filling with blood. As Mysterious Heaven Skill worked faster and faster, the energy channels in his body would bring extreme pain with each collision.

  The motions of the Blue Silver Grass surrounding him also grew faster and faster, but in the end their ability to disperse spirit power was limited. However, cut off by Blue Silver Grass, everyone outside were unable to see Tang San, only thinking Tang San was still staunchly resisting.

  They didn’t know right now his face was already deep red, finally reaching a dangerous level. The current pressure had already reached the level of forty fifth ranked spirit power.

  ‘Endure, I can still endure.’ Tang San constantly told himself, straightening his back

  As the spirit power still increased, Tang San’s body also finally reached its limit. By now it was already difficult for him to move a finger.

  But at this moment, Tang San suddenly felt as if something shattered within him, immediately afterward, the originally rapidly circulating Mysterious Heaven Skill suddenly slowed, and in that moment all the pressure seemed to gush out from his back in a split second, draining away in a moment.

  Pu——, the Blue Silver Grass surrounding him scattered outward, Tang San’s whole body shivering a moment. His appearance was once again visible to everyone. However, as they saw at him, they all couldn’t help but start with alarm.

  Right now Tang San’s body had unexpectedly swollen one size, and on his back the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances already released excitedly, the purple lustrous Eight Spider Lances softly moving rhythmically behind Tang San’s back like wings, that spider web like pattern had appeared on Tang San’s forehead, and this time was especially clear.

  Tang San’s expression was relaxed, breathing in that layer of white mist around him through his nose like rivers flowing into the sea, again breathing it out through his mouth. With each repetition, the white mist seemed to increase somewhat, and Tang San’s body would also expand even more.

  “Spirit bone?”

  The three Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Spirit Douluo practically simultaneously cried out in alarm, Zhi Lin immediately stopped pressuring Tang San, they naturally saw that Tang San had now already hit his limit. Increasing the pressure might even kill him.

  The tips of Eight Spider Lances gradually turned white, this white color was seeping out from within Eight Spider Lances. Tang San’s body didn’t change at all from the disappearance of the external pressure, still constantly inhaling and exhaling that white vapor.

  “Many thanks for helping with the completion, Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin.”

  Grandmaster stood up with a smile on his face, bowing to Zhi Lin.

  Zhi Lin stared blankly,

  “Completion? What completion?”

  Even as a Spirit Douluo level formidable Spirit Master he didn’t understand what the problem was with Tang San’s body right now, and was still inwardly nervous.

  Grandmaster smiled slightly, saying:

  “Since Tang San this child obtained this external spirit bone, even though his strength has increased a lot, he has never been able to truly harmonize with it. Under Spirit Douluo Zhi Lin’s pressure, I think that this time he is finally fusing with his external spirit bone, leaving no separation, the external spirit bone becoming a part of his body, and no longer ‘external’.”

  Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)

  Hearing the words ‘external spirit bone’, the three Spirit Douluo practically simultaneously stood up from their seats, and Qin Ming leapt up as if he’d burned his buttocks.

  The three Spirit Douluo looked at each other, their insight was of course incomparable to what Qin Ming was capable of, and they had instantly realized that the Eight Spider Lances on Tang San’s back was a spirit bone instead of a spirit. But they still hadn’t expected it would actually be an external spirit bone.

  They could feel its power just from the atmosphere released by Eight Spider Lances.

  A just thirteen year old child, had not only reached beyond the thirtieth rank of spirit power, but even possessed an external spirit bone, that object ranked only second to a hundred thousand year spirit ring on the wishlists of all Spirit Masters. What did this signify? What kind of potential was this? Even though his spirit was only Blue Silver Grass?

  “This-, is this really an external spirit bone?”

  Meng Shen-Ji’s voice trembled severely.

  Grandmaster nodded, saying:

  “I’m certain. However, I’ll ask the board to keep it secret. Although the external spirit bone is already fused with Tang San’s body and won’t be released after his death like other spirit bones, but treasuring a jade ring may become a crime even for innocent men. I still don’t wish for him to face too formidable opponents as he matures.”

  “We understand, don’t worry, we swear on our spirits, we absolutely will not divulge this to anyone.”

  The expression in Meng Shen-Ji’s eyes was gratitude.

  The reason was very simple: the Shrek group hadn’t concealed the matter of Tang San’s external spirit bone from them, this point alone proved how much they valued Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

  An external spirit bone really was too precious. Should some vicious formidable Spirit Masters learn of it, they absolutely wouldn’t leave Tang San room to grow.

  In fact, how was Grandmaster such a careless person; he had long before even coming here made meticulous investigations about Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. These three Spirit Douluo were all revered in the Spirit World as kind hearted seniors, otherwise he wouldn’t so easily have exposed Tang San’s secret.

  Heat, that was all Tang San
felt right now. The uncomfortable feeling from the pressure had already completely disappeared, right now he only felt as if he was roasting in a blast furnace, somewhat similar to the feeling of absorbing the Man Faced Demon Spider’s spirit ring, but compared to that time this suffering was a lot less. Only the burning heat, and without the pain.

  Although the circulation of Mysterious Heaven Skill internal strength had slowed down considerably, with each revolution it became thicker, and seemed to constantly attack some particular energy channels.

  That shattering feeling Tang San had before seemed to be the result of an energy channel connecting.

  The moment the pressure was the greatest, Tang San hadn’t realized a black light shone in his left palm, but he still had a feeling of great strength bursting forth from within his heart. Were it not for that feeling of the energy channel connecting, perhaps his other spirit would have appeared.

  Right now Tang San didn’t have the capability to think it over, and was only enduring the shock of that flowing heat. Within him Mysterious Heaven Skill seemed to absorb it, with each revolution Tang San would feel a bit more comfortable. Therefore he could only keep going.

  After a brief moment of shock the three Spirit Douluo gradually calmed, but Qin Ming clearly lacked a bit in inner qualities, and was still extremely agitated.

  Meng Shen-Ji loosed a long breath,

  “I didn’t expect, I truly didn’t expect, that in our Spirit Master world there would be such a genius. I truly am happy to have met all of you here today.”

  Flender equally loosed a breath, shooting Grandmaster an inquisitive look. Grandmaster lightly nodded to him, hinting there would be no problems with Tang San.

  Flender then said to Meng Shen-Ji:

  “We dare not take credit for this child’s capabilities, he’s Grandmaster’s direct disciple. Moreover, his own innate talent is exceptionally outstanding. In our Shrek Academy’s history, these seven children are all the most gifted by heaven. Not only Tang San, but each of the others also have their own talent. The reason we chose to come to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy wasn’t to let their talents be buried, but in the hopes that here they would be able to fully develop their talent with the best cultivation environments. They are the last class of Shrek Academy, and as dean, I truly hope to one day see their capabilities as Title Douluo, far surpassing my own achievements.”