Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San-Chapter 883: Blood for Blood

"You're lying! You killed all the fire-attribute nymphs there!" Jin Chengwu finally couldn't hold back.

Tang San responded calmly, "When two gods clash, there are always some aftershocks. Collateral damage is inevitable. Blame the one who attacked first."

He had the proper status; as long as he maintained the moral high ground, nothing else truly mattered.

The Adamant Nymph Emperor looked at Tang San with icy eyes, but Tang San continued, "Also, that is not the most important problem. Earlier, I repeatedly asked Deputy City Lord Jin if any of my clan members were being detained in Adamant City. He assured me there weren't any. However, under the radiance of the Ancestral Tree, I discovered more than a hundred of my clan members... or maybe I should say I discovered ten of my clansmen and the remains of another ninety. A third of them were found in the city lord's mansion. May I ask you, Your Majesty, if you were aware of this? I would also like His Majesty Soul Capturer to bear witness."

The presence of the two Emperors certainly intimidated the elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan, but to a former God King, it was nothing. He had seen far greater challenges, and in terms of presence, he was not at all inferior to the Adamant Nymph Emperor.

"Hmph!" The Adamant Nymph Emperor snorted angrily but offered no explanation. The facts were laid bare, and it had no way to explain them.

At this moment, the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor stepped forward, positioning himself between the two sides. He smiled at Tang San and said, "Clan Leader Jin, we understand your feelings, and the Ancestral Court deeply regrets and sympathizes with the tragedy that occurred. But what's done is done, and we need to find a way to resolve this. Both the Adamant Nymph clan and the Blue Gold Tree clan are important parts of our Solstice Empire and crucial members of the Ancestral Court. Skytree City and Adamant City are neighbors. Indeed, Adamant City was in the wrong this time, and the Ancestral Court held an emergency meeting because of it. You may present your demands, and we will assist in negotiating with Its Majesty the Adamant to find terms both sides can accept as compensation for the Blue Gold Tree clan. What do you think?"

Hearing the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor's words, the elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan couldn't help but relax. The Adamant Nymph Emperor's imposing intimidation earlier had truly kicked their hearts up into their throats. All beings naturally feared Emperors, the supreme beings of their world. But Tang San had held firm under the pressure, standing his ground with reason and logic and leaving the Adamant Nymph Emperor with no way to retaliate. Now, with the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor providing a way out for both sides while clearly favoring the Blue Gold Tree clan, they felt much more at ease.

Killing a god-level member of the Adamant Nymph clan and causing Adamant City's reputation to plummet, along with the exodus of numerous mineral-type nymphs, was bound to result in significant losses for Adamant City. If substantial compensation could be provided as well, this would undoubtedly be a major victory for the Blue Gold Tree clan, one that would restore their pride.

But the next moment, they were stunned to see Tang San shaking his head.

Tang San looked at the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I appreciate your mediation, but what I want to say is that... life is priceless, far more so to my clansmen than to any other being on this planet. Our Blue Gold Tree clan reveres life, and the Ancestral Tree has brought the radiance of life to the Daemon Continent, allowing plants to thrive. But now, others are using our clan members, even while they are still alive, as cultivation materials to enhance themselves. If we accepted material compensation for such heinous acts... then would we not, in effect, agree that our lives have a set price?"

Upon hearing this, even the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor was taken aback. The Ancestral Court and the Solstice Empire had ultimately decided to send him along with the Adamant Nymph Emperor to show some favor toward the Blue Gold Tree clan. But neither he nor the Adamant Nymph Emperor saw the Blue Gold Tree clan as a real threat, given that they didn't have an Emperor. If not for the alleged awakening of the Ancestral Tree, the Ancestral Court likely wouldn't have even sent him. What could the Blue Gold Trees do to the Adamant Nymphs? Were they really going to declare war? That would be suicidal.

He truly hadn't expected Tang San to take such a hard stance.

"Then what do you want?" the Adamant Nymph Emperor's cold voice echoed.

Tang San turned to him and said solemnly, "A blood debt must be repaid in blood. The blood of my clan members cannot be shed in vain. We can talk about compensation later. On behalf of the Blue Gold Tree clan, I challenge you to a life-and-death duel."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire scene fell into dead silence. Every powerhouse present, including the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor, stared at Tang San in utter disbelief.

Have you gone mad?!

The elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan, who had just started to relax, felt their hearts leap into their throats again. What was their clan leader doing? He... he was challenging an Emperor? And not just any Emperor, but one renowned for being indestructible!

How is this possible? How could this even be happening?

The Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor even thought he had misheard, that something was wrong with his ears. As for the Adamant Nymph Emperor, its face was hidden by the armor, but it was no less astonished.

No negotiations? A direct challenge? And challenging an Emperor, no less? Where did this young sapling get this courage? This wasn't Skytree City. Even if the Ancestral Tree had some power that could be borrowed, its main body wasn't here. Moreover, although it had awakened to some extent, it was clearly not fully awake, so how much could it assist him? For a Great Nymph King who wasn't even skilled in combat to challenge an Emperor—this was no different from a fool's delusion.

But regardless of what those present thought, Tang San's words had already been spoken. He stood there, gazing calmly at the Adamant Nymph Emperor, the firmness in his heart clearly visible. This was obviously not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Jin Miaosen couldn't care less about the pressure of the two Emperors anymore. She rushed over to Tang San in a few quick steps, grabbed his arm, and said anxiously, "Big Brother, have you gone mad? How... how could you challenge an Emperor?"

Tang San spoke in a deep voice, "The blood of our clan members cannot be shed in vain. Our Blue Gold Tree clan has been oppressed for so many years—do you really think it's because we're bad at fighting? We have at least twice as many King-level members as the Adamant Nymph clan. And yet, even with such strength, we never dared to resist. Why? What made our people retreat and hide?

"It's because we've lost our courage. A clan without courage, no matter how rich in resources, is doomed to perish. And today, even if I die, I will use my blood to awaken the spirit of my clan. I will show all the weaker clans that even when facing an Emperor, we must have the courage to challenge them. As the leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan, if I don't have the courage to protect my people, then who will?

"Before coming here, I had already decided that if I found any evidence of the Adamant Nymph clan abducting or imprisoning my clan members, I would not hesitate to fight them to the death. Your Majesty Soul Capturer, I will ask you to bear witness. If I die, please inform the Ancestral Court that the Blue Gold Tree clan will never cower again, least of all when it comes to our people's survival. If one Jin Miaolin falls, ten more Jin Miaolins will rise to fight for the Blue Gold Tree clan. And if ten die, a hundred will rise! Anyone who dares to capture our people will face our endless vengeance!"

Tang San's words were spoken with absolute conviction, and the elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan, who had been filled with anxiety, now found their eyes reddening. His words struck right at the heart of the problem. Despite their life force being incredibly strong and granting them a tough body, they never dared to fight back, eventually falling to the point where any clan could bully them, and they didn't even dare leave the inner city.

At this moment, as they heard the determination in Tang San's tone, even the blood of these elders started to boil.

Jin Miaosen let go of Tang San's arm, his body trembling as tears uncontrollably flowed down his face. "Big Brother, you're right. I am sorry. We've been far too cowardly. I, Jin Miaosen, swear that if my brother dies today, I will fight for the Blue Gold Tree clan at all costs, until my last breath."