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"Tang San, listen. Right now you and I are both wanted by Spirit Hall. One misstep, and we'll be surrounded by countless Titled Douluo. When I fight them… one mistake, and Xiao Wu could be caught in the crossfire and die. By then, it'll be too late for regrets!" Tang Hao barked.
Tang San clutched Xiao Wu's hand, shaking his head over and over. "Father! Father!! I won't—I won't leave Xiao Wu!!"
A flicker of disappointment crossed Tang Hao's eyes. Little San was excellent in every way… except that he loved too deeply. Tearing him from Xiao Wu would hurt him more than death.
"Third Brother, go train with Father," Xiao Wu said, eyes brimming. "I'll be safe in the Star Dou Great Forest, and I'll train hard there as well. Once I reach Soul Sage, I'll be an adult in the truest sense. By then, no one will be able to discover that I'm a soul beast."
"Xiao Wu, don't leave me, all right? Father will—" Tang San didn't finish. Tang Hao knocked him out with a sharp hand-chop.
"Xiao Wu," Tang Hao said, "when Tang San finishes his training, I'll bring him to you. Be careful in the Star Dou Great Forest."
Wiping her tears, Xiao Wu nodded. "Don't worry, Father. Da Ming and Er Ming will protect me there."
Da Ming? Er Ming? Are they also hundred-thousand-year soul beasts? The thought rippled through Tang Hao's heart, but his face stayed calm. "Good. Travel safely."
With that, Tang Hao hefted Tang San onto his shoulder and sped toward a remote region of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Xiao Wu stared after Tang San's receding figure until he vanished from sight. Then, absentmindedly, she made for the Star Dou Great Forest—only to run into the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python on their way to Soto City.
"Xiao Wu!" the Titan Giant Ape boomed, elated.
"Da Ming! Er Ming!" Seeing her kin, Xiao Wu ran to the two beasts, overjoyed.
After a round of affectionate greetings, the Azure Bull Python asked in puzzlement, "Sister Xiao Wu, what brings you to the Heaven Dou Forest?"
A shadow of sorrow flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes. She didn't explain, but said, "Da Ming, Er Ming, I need to train—seriously. I have to reach Soul Sage as soon as possible!"
Sensing her sadness, the Azure Bull Python sighed inwardly. It knew Xiao Wu had likely found someone she liked. From now on, it could only be her family.
The Titan Giant Ape missed all of that, grinning broadly. "I believe in you, Sister Xiao Wu! Becoming a Soul Sage will be a breeze for you!"
"By the way, Da Ming, Er Ming, why aren't you at the Lake of Life?" Xiao Wu asked.
The Azure Bull Python's voice deepened. "Xiao Wu, the Lake of Life formed from the life essence that our Lord shed. There's a secret realm beneath it, and within that realm… there have always been ferocious beasts far more terrifying than us."
"Our Lord?!" Xiao Wu blinked.
"The Lord is the sovereign of soul beasts. Strictly speaking, all of us carry the Lord's blood. She is our common ancestor," the Azure Bull Python said.
"In that case, won't our soul beasts prosper from now on? We won't have to fear human hunters anymore!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, excited.
The Titan Giant Ape scratched its head. "I'm not going back. Over there, any soul beast that's awakened its intellect has to learn to read and write. Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts must, according to the Lord's plan, convert to human form in batches."
"Er Ming is right," the Azure Bull Python added. "Sister Xiao Wu, you've already converted to human form. If we convert as well, we can't guarantee your safety."
"Why study? I hate studying!!" Xiao Wu groaned. "At the human academy, I spent my time rallying the girls and playing boss. Studying wasn't part of the plan. Let's just find a pretty place in the Heaven Dou Forest and make it our new home!"
"All right, I'll listen to Sister Xiao Wu. The Star Dou Great Forest is huge—they'll never find us!" the Titan Giant Ape said confidently.
"Huh? These Blue Silver Grass are fun—they're twitching!" Xiao Wu marveled at the trembling fronds. Because Tang San's martial soul was also Blue Silver Grass, their quivering intrigued her.
"Maybe it's the wind. Come up, Sister Xiao Wu," the Azure Bull Python said, lowering its massive body.
Xiao Wu scrambled up onto the bull python's head, and the three—two beasts and one girl—set off to find a new home.
Elsewhere, Tang Hao carried Tang San through the skies above the Heaven Dou Empire, crossing countless mountains and wild forests.
Days later, Tang Hao brought Tang San to a vast mountain range—ridge upon ridge, range upon range, so extensive that even the outermost peaks could only be seen halfway up. The summits were veiled by layered mist.
Tang Hao noticed Tang San's heavy silence and knew the boy still longed for Xiao Wu and resented him for the separation.
"Little San, keep up," Tang Hao said, not waiting for a reply, and started swiftly climbing toward the peak.
Tang San watched his father's back and sighed. He knew his father meant well. If he didn't strengthen himself, how could he oppose Spirit Hall?
Now he was a wanted man, hated by all. Even Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage, only dared hide as a teacher at Shrek Academy. Tang San himself was only a Soul Elder; without his father's protection, how could he evade Spirit Hall's pursuit?
Resolved, Tang San unfurled his Eight Spider Lances and followed Tang Hao, using the spider spears to climb rapidly.
As Tang San neared the mountaintop, the roar grew thunderous, the air damp with the scent of spring water, the temperature dropping with elevation. At two-thirds up, his view opened suddenly to a valley.
A waterfall, dozens of meters wide, poured like a silver river down a cliff hundreds of meters tall. The deafening boom was the collision of that colossal cascade with the pool below.
Fed by such volume, the pool was vast—like a giant blue eye set into the valley. The waterfall spilled, the world flipped, and it was as if that blue eye flowed with color, shrouded in a gauze of mist.
Sunlight painted a seven-colored rainbow across the water. It was dazzling beyond words. Fine spray washed over him. Mountains encircled the valley; a hundred birds sang. The scene shocked Tang San to his core.
When he pulled his gaze back, he saw his father staring at the falls, eyes fixed, expression softened—an unguarded tenderness on that weathered, iron-hard face.
Sensing Tang San's gaze, Tang Hao tucked his memories away. "Tang San, for the next two years, this will be where you train and live. Until you finish the cultivation I assign, you will not see Xiao Wu again."
"Father! I'll complete your training as fast as I can!!" Tang San answered, firm.
Seeing his son's spirit lift, Tang Hao nodded.
"Father, do you know what the Slaughter God Domain is?" Tang San asked.
"Oh? How do you know of the Slaughter God Domain?" Tang Hao frowned.
Tang San hesitated, then told the truth. "I don't know why, but one day an extremely cold voice spoke in my mind. It told me that the Asura God's Trial has begun, and the first trial is to awaken the Slaughter God Domain!"
"What?!! What did you say?!! The Asura God's Trial!!" Tang Hao seized Tang San's shoulders, shaking with excitement.
Seeing his father's reaction, Tang San nodded. "Yes—the Asura God's Trial!"
"Good!! As expected of my son! If you complete the divine trials, you may inherit the Asura God's divinity and become a true god! When that time comes, Spirit Hall will be crushed with a turn of the hand!!" Tang Hao exulted.
"Father, why is Spirit Hall hunting you?" Tang San asked.
Tang Hao sighed. "Tang San, your mother was a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Empress in human form—my dearest wife. Because of that, I never opposed you and Xiao Wu being together. I too fell in love with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—deeply."
"My mother… like Xiao Wu, she was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast? Where is she now?" Tang San's voice shook.
Tang Hao's lips trembled before he spoke. "A Yin… when she bore you, we were being hunted by Spirit Hall. I had only just reached rank ninety and couldn't resist the three Titled Douluo they sent. To protect you, A Yin sacrificed herself and became my ninth spirit ring. Only then did we survive."
Color drained from Tang San's face. His first true memory of his mother… was her death.
"Spirit Hall!!! I'll raze you to the ground! Until Spirit Hall is destroyed, I swear I will not rest!!" Tang San roared, a blood-red killing intent bursting from him.
Seeing the hatred carved deep into his son's heart, Tang Hao felt hope for vengeance and pressed on. "Little San, right now you do only one thing: cultivate, cultivate, cultivate!"
"Follow my training plan, and you will obtain the Slaughter God Domain and complete the Asura God's first trial. Once we finish the Asura God's Trials, we will annihilate Spirit Hall!"
"Good!! Father, I'll do everything you say!" Tang San nodded.
In that moment, the plants throughout the valley trembled faintly, as if communicating. Tang Hao and Tang San, of course, could not understand their language.
Deep in the forest, Ye Lan sat cross-legged. Perceiving the positions of Xiao Wu and of the valley where Tang Hao first met A Yin, he let out a breath and withdrew his Nature Domain.
The Blue Silver Empress's valley was absurdly remote—desolate wilds, no human city for hundreds of kilometers around. No wonder, even with Spirit Hall's help, he hadn't found the waterfall's location. Fortunately, since awakening the Nature Domain, he could converse with plants and enlist them to watch Tang Hao. As he'd expected, Tang Hao brought Tang San to train at the waterfall. Through the domain, Ye Lan easily learned the Blue Silver Empress's whereabouts—just as he had planned.
If he wanted revenge on Tang Hao, the best window would be when Tang Hao took Tang San to the City of Slaughter.
(Many fanfics guess at the Blue Silver Empress's location… Checking the original, the only viable path is shadowing Tang Hao. There's no other way.)
As Ye Lan considered how to deal with the Blue Silver Empress, a voice rang out:
"Teacher, what are you doing? Why aren't you taking Rongrong to get her spirit ring!!" Ning Rongrong complained.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Why so impatient!" Ye Lan stood up.
"Hmph! The finals are about to start. Hurry up and get me my fourth spirit ring. It took me ages to reach level forty!!" Ning Rongrong huffed.
A few days later, Ye Lan helped Ning Rongrong obtain a seven-thousand-year spirit ring. The skill was Defense Amplification, and her rank rose to forty-two. All her spirit skill bonuses reached fifty percent.
Unfortunately, aside from Ning Rongrong, no one else broke level fifty; most were at forty-eight or forty-nine. Ye Lan himself reached thirty-nine—close to forty.
After helping Ning Rongrong, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy traveled with the Royal Knights to Spirit City. The moment they entered, the students and teachers alike were hit by a massive piece of gossip:
The famed Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, stood accused of plagiarism!
"I knew it! No wonder I always felt he was half-baked. His training plan is just… running and more running!!" Ning Rongrong said, suddenly enlightened.
"Can't believe we were fooled for so many years. I used to think our idol made his name by stepping over Yu Xiaogang. Turns out Yu Xiaogang was never worthy of comparison!" Dugu Yan exclaimed.
"Yan, Ye Lan is one of a kind; there's no need to compare him with anyone," Ye Leng said coolly.
"Leng is right! After training with Teacher, even without Sister Xiaoxue and Teacher himself, our Heaven Dou First Team is the strongest in history!" Zhu Zhuqing sighed with pride.
"Time for the daily Ye-God worship!" Oslo clasped his hands and shut his eyes solemnly.
Yu Tianheng thumped Oslo's shoulder. "Why so theatrical? Ye-God belongs in your heart, not in a show!"
"Praise Ye-God!" Yu Feng chimed in, playing along.
Ye Lan laughed. "Oslo, Yu Feng, what are you two up to? So sneaky you look like superstitious zealots!!"
"Superstitious about Ye-God!!"
"Superstitious about Ye-God!!"
Shi Mo said pragmatically, "Captain Ye, I wonder what terrifying opponents the Star Luo Empire will send."
"We'll meet soldiers with generals, and floodwaters with earth," Ye Lan replied evenly.
"As expected of Captain Ye! With you leading us, no matter the opponent, Heaven Dou Royal Academy will be champions!" Shi Mo declared.
Xiaoxue quietly took in the Spirit City she hadn't seen for a long time. She'd grown up here. In a few days, she would prove to that woman that she could live well—without her.
After arriving, Spirit Hall staff guided them to tour the tournament's final arena: a colossal granite platform in the very center of Spirit City, one hundred meters in diameter, over ten thousand square meters in area—six times the size of the arena in Heaven Dou City.
From the platform, one could see the Pope's Palace atop a mountain a kilometer away—more magnificent than any branch hall Ye Lan had seen, like something from myth. Each academy had its own lounge at the foot of the Pope's mountain.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy, well-treated, was lodged in one of the finest lounges. Because their second team had merged into the first, they drew a bye for the opening round.
On their free day, Ye Lan didn't go to watch other matches. Instead, Xiaoxue dragged him to the Douluo Hall to meet her family. Ye Lan's heart pounded—his first time meeting a girlfriend's elders.
Xiaoxue gripped his hand tightly as they headed toward the back mountain behind the Pope's Palace. The palace was on the southern face; the Douluo Hall lay to the north.
As they advanced, there were fewer civilians—fewer staff as well. Suddenly, Ye Lan felt his palm dampen with sweat. He blinked. He didn't think he was sweating.
Xiaoxue, then?
Before he could puzzle it out, golden spirit light flashed around Xiaoxue. The sixteen-year-old Little Angel grew ten centimeters in an instant, now only a head shorter than Ye Lan. The youthful softness of her face vanished; she became more perfect, her figure fuller.
Ye Lan stared, stunned for several seconds.
Hiss—
"Xiaoxue, you again?!" Ye Lan grit out, half-teasing.
"Hmph. What are you staring at? Do you like what you see?" Qian Renxue folded her arms, proud on the surface, secretly delighted within. She'd always thought Ye Lan might dislike her for not being as well-endowed as Leng and Yan—but his reaction was a pleasant surprise.
Ye Lan scratched his head, pulling his gaze aside to her profile. "Xiaoxue, is this your true appearance?"
Qian Renxue dared not meet his eyes, voice dropping to a whisper. "Mm… Ye Lan, will you think I'm… old…?"
"Of course!! You old demoness—preying on a younger man!" Ye Lan laughed, bolting away.
"Ye Lan!! I'll kill you!!" Qian Renxue flushed, furious and embarrassed, releasing her Angel True Body and pinning him down in an instant.
"Attempted spousal murder!!" Ye Lan yelped.
Qian Renxue clapped a hand over his mouth, face burning. They were close to the Douluo Hall; the last thing she wanted was for her grandfathers to hear.
Ye Lan stared, dazed by the sunset blush blooming on her cheeks.
So beautiful.
"No more nonsense!" Qian Renxue scolded, flustered.
"Got it. Xiaoxue, you're stunning," Ye Lan said, eyes never leaving her.
"Hmph! Didn't you just call me old? An old demoness?" Qian Renxue put her hands on her hips.
"How could I? I was joking. I'll never dislike you. And you're not old at all," Ye Lan said earnestly.
"That's more like it. Come on, I'll take you to meet Grandfather." Smiling now, Qian Renxue tugged Ye Lan toward the Douluo Hall.
Soon they entered the hall, solemn and grand. In the main chamber stood a massive statue of the Angel God—its features echoing Qian Renxue's.
After paying homage before the statue, she led Ye Lan deeper in. They had barely gone a few steps when a man in golden armor, with a domineering bearing, appeared before them.
"Xiaoxue! You're here! Oh? Bringing your little boyfriend to meet Grandfather?" the man laughed.
"Second Grandfather! He's not my boyfriend—he's 'the Scholar,' Ye Lan!!" Qian Renxue flushed.
"Young Ye Lan greets Second Grandfather," Ye Lan said, cupping his fists.
Golden Crocodile Douluo studied Ye Lan carefully, then nodded, satisfied. He and Xiaoxue were a perfect match.
"Not bad, not bad," Golden Crocodile Douluo chuckled. "Grandfather has a pair of bracelets for you—an heirloom from my great-grandmother. I have no children; today, I gift this pair, the 'Jin-Yue Twin Bonds,' to you both."
Ye Lan accepted the bracelets—warm white jade set with blood-jade pendants. The two pendants were shaped differently, convex and concave, yet fit together snugly.
He put on Jin himself and fastened Yue onto Qian Renxue's wrist. "Thank you, Second Grandfather!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at the bracelets on their wrists, pleased. "Xiao Lan, I know as much about you as my elder brother does. I want you to take good care of Xiaoxue. Leaving her in your hands puts me at ease."
"I will," Ye Lan said solemnly, squeezing Qian Renxue's delicate hand.
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded, satisfied—then spoke with domineering ease. "If you ever want a particular spirit ring, tell me. Even a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—Grandfather can hunt it for you!"
"Thank you, Grandfather. But rather than rely on others, I prefer to hunt my own rings," Ye Lan replied gratefully.
"Good ambition! Back in my day, I hunted every one of my rings myself. Fighting soul beasts hones true battle skill!" Golden Crocodile Douluo said, a touch of pride in his voice.
"Second Grandfather, you might well be the top Beast-spirit Titled Douluo on the entire continent, right?" Ye Lan asked, half in jest.
"Hahaha! A trifling reputation—hardly worth arguing over," Golden Crocodile Douluo said breezily, though delight danced in his eyes.
"You two head to the inner hall. My big brother is probably impatient already," he waved them on, striding out.
"Goodbye, Second Grandfather," Xiao Wu—no, Qian Renxue—and Ye Lan said in unison.
"Your Second Grandfather seems pretty nice," Ye Lan mused. He hadn't expected the rank-ninety-eight Golden Crocodile Douluo to be so approachable.
"That means he likes you. He keeps a stern face for everyone else," Qian Renxue giggled.
"Heh. And your Grandfather?" Ye Lan asked.
"You'll see soon enough!" She pulled him along, excited.
Before long, they entered the inner hall. A golden-haired man sat quietly at its center, eyes closed, a faint smile on his lips. Calm and serene, he wore a simple black robe; his well-groomed black hair lay neatly across his shoulders.
"Grandfather!!" Qian Renxue called.
Qian Daoliu opened his eyes, golden pupils gleaming, and saw Qian Renxue holding the hand of a golden-haired youth. A single glance was enough to etch Ye Lan into his memory. He nodded, satisfied.
"Xiaoxue, this must be the famed 'Scholar,' Ye Lan?" Qian Daoliu asked.
"Of course," Qian Renxue said proudly.
"You flatter me. In your presence, I'm hardly 'famed,'" Ye Lan said, saluting.
"Ahahaha! If you call me polite, then don't be polite yourself. No honorifics—call me Grandfather," Qian Daoliu laughed.
"Grandfather," Ye Lan said again, steadying his nerves.
Qian Daoliu nodded, content. "Xiao Lan, have you obtained a divine trial?"
(End of Chapter)