"Brother Hao..."
A heartfelt call snapped Tang Hao back to reality.
He looked up.
Not far away stood a broad-shouldered, burly figure. Who else could it be but his elder brother Tang Xiao?
"Brother Hao, I knew you hadn't left yet. Is A Yin really gone?" Tang Xiao asked, his voice trembling.
"Big brother!" Tang Hao cried out sorrowfully, his eyes rapidly reddening.
This mountain forest wasn't far from the Clear Sky Sect, a place where the two brothers had shared many memories.
Tang Hao had unconsciously found his way here.
Tang Xiao quickly approached and embraced Tang Hao.
"Big brother, I've lost A Yin! The Soul Bone meant for Xiao San is gone too!" Tang Hao lamented with grief.
Seeing his elder brother, Tang Hao could no longer contain his sorrow. Tears streamed from his bloodshot eyes.
Tang Xiao sighed deeply.
Over the years, he and Tang Hao had met only once.
That was about six years ago.
When Tang Hao returned to the sect to find him.
At that time, Brother Hao had come to him with excitement, bearing good news.
That Tang Hao and A Yin's son, Tang San, had awakened Twin Soul Spirits.
The Blue Silver Grass Soul Spirit and the Clear Sky Hammer Spirit.
That night, the two brothers had drunk heavily, feasted on meat, and spent the night alternating between laughter and tears in this very forest.
They had thought that with Tang San's birth, once he grew strong enough, they could seek revenge. But unexpected changes had occurred in between.
"Brother Hao, what exactly happened? Tell me everything in detail!" Tang Xiao felt something was amiss. From the exposure of the Clear Sky Sect's strength to the loss of A Yin and the Soul Bone—it was all connected. This couldn't be coincidence.
Tang Hao spoke heavily: "Xiao San became Grandmaster's disciple. After graduating from the Elementary Soul Master Academy, Grandmaster sent him to study at Shrek Academy in Suotuo City."
"Shrek Academy was founded by Flender, one of the Golden Iron Triangle."
"This was Xiao San's first time leaving Notting City, so I secretly protected him along the way."
"Only after ensuring Xiao San was settled at Shrek Academy did I return to where A Yin and the Soul Bone were hidden."
"But both A Yin and the Soul Bone were gone."
"Only these words remained on the ground:"
"'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—I'll be waiting for your Clear Sky Sect's seven Titled Douluos!'"
"In that moment, I lost all reason. That's why I destroyed nine Spirit Hall branches."
"Afterward, fearing the Spirit Hall might retaliate against our sect, I hurried here..."
Tang Xiao's heart sank: "Taking the Soul Bone yet leaving a message—this is clearly meant to provoke!"
"After destroying the Notting City Spirit Hall branch, I realized it too. But who else besides the Spirit Hall has been tracking me all this time?" Tang Hao shook his head.
Tang Xiao's expression grew increasingly grave.
"This is bad! Xiao San is in danger!"
"Brother Hao, you've been careless!" Tang Xiao exclaimed angrily.
Tang Hao's Killing Intent surged violently, teetering on the edge of complete fury.
"Let's go! To Suotuo City!"
Not daring to delay, Tang Xiao grabbed Tang Hao and they took off at top speed toward Suotuo City.
"The timing matches perfectly—they took A Yin's Soul Bone precisely when you were escorting Xiao San to Suotuo City."
"This means they knew your every move."
And they were fully aware of Xiao San's identity.
With such intense hostility from the other party..."
The two flew through the air, cold wind brushing against their faces.
But that wasn't the coldest thing—the coldest were their hearts.
Both their hearts were sinking.
Tang Xiao didn't dare continue speaking.
He feared Tang Hao would collapse.
Tang Xiao understood his younger brother all too well.
Outwardly strong, domineering, and unyielding, but inwardly fragile.
From childhood, his younger brother had been heaven's favored child, the top genius of the world's number one sect.
Doted on by the entire sect, never facing any setbacks.
This nurtured his prideful, domineering, and self-centered personality.
These traits led to the series of events that followed.
At the time, when sudden catastrophe struck, his younger brother couldn't bear it.
He simply crumbled and disappeared.
It wasn't until six years ago when he came to see me—because he saw a glimmer of hope, and Tang San reignited his pride.
Now, if something were to happen to Xiao San...
Tang Xiao feared his younger brother might completely break down.
The two sped like the wind, soon arriving above Shrek Academy.
Following Tang Hao's spiritual sense, they immediately located Tang San.
Tang Xiao let out a sigh of relief—Tang San was still here.
But the next moment, he sensed something was wrong.
Tang San was sitting cross-legged in his dormitory, cultivating, but his posture was clearly weak, his face pale as if he'd suffered a serious illness.
"Hao, calm down! Xiao San is fine!"
Beside him, Tang Hao looked ready to explode, so Tang Xiao quickly grabbed hold of him.
"Flender, Zhao Wuji—I told them to take good care of Xiao San! After I even gave them pointers! Damn them..."
Tang Hao was furious.
If not for Tang Xiao restraining him, he might have already summoned the Clear Sky Hammer and smashed it down.
Turning Flender and Zhao Wuji into pulp.
"Hao, given your status, and Flender's relationship with the Grandmaster, they wouldn't dare neglect Tang San's safety. Something unexpected must have happened."
Tang Xiao remained composed.
Though Tang San looked weak, he was still cultivating, meaning there was no major issue—better than expected.
The two steadied themselves and flashed into Flender's office.
Flender, hunched over his desk calculating expenses, was filled with tension and distress.
Ever since Yu Xiaogang arrived, the academy's funds had visibly dwindled.
Preoccupied with financial woes, Flender had temporarily forgotten about Tang San.
The sudden appearance of two towering figures startled him badly.
His face turned deathly pale.
"Clear Sky Crown, Howling Sky Crown, let me explain!"
Seeing Tang Hao's icy expression, he immediately realized what this was about.
"This is what happened... Xiao San's mutation drew everyone's attention. Even I had never seen someone grow eight spider legs.
Just then, that Evil Soul Master struck, abducting Xiao San.
That Evil Soul Master had the Earth Escape Soul Skill—Zhao Wuji and I couldn't track him down..."
Flender spoke with a bitter expression.
"Then how was Xiao San rescued?!" Tang Hao demanded uncontrollably.
"It was Xiao Wu. She left briefly and brought Tang San back. As for how she rescued him, I didn't ask!"
Flender answered honestly.
Tang Hao froze momentarily—he hadn't expected it to be Xiao Wu.
"An External Soul Bone... an External Soul Bone! It's actually an External Soul Bone! This... this..."
"Brother Hao, Xiao San has suffered a great loss!" Tang Xiao's face was filled with sorrow.
He no longer cared about anything else—the image of those eight spider legs Flender had described was all that occupied his mind.
"After Grandmaster's examination, it was determined that Xiao San had part of his life force devoured by an Evil Soul Master.
But his Blue Silver Grass Soul Spirit has strong regenerative abilities. He'll fully recover in just a few months!"
Flender quickly added, genuinely worried that Tang Hao might lose his temper.
(End of Chapter)