Under the lead of Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape and Lord of the Forest, Lu Yuan and Xiao Wu made their way into a part of the Great Star Dou Forest that neither of them had ever set foot in before.
From the moment they stepped into this territory, countless soul beasts trembled in fear. The oppressive aura of the Titan Giant Ape was overwhelming—some beasts were so terrified that they even lost control of their bladders.
After all, this was Er Ming—one of the legendary rulers of the forest. For such a being to suddenly appear in a small corner like this, how could the lesser soul beasts not be terrified?
Searching for the Blue Silver King
"Er Ming, did you take the wrong path?"
Xiao Wu pursed her lips, her face showing her doubts. They had been wandering for days now and still hadn't found the Blue Silver King that Daming had mentioned.
"Impossible!" Er Ming rumbled with certainty. "If there is someone to blame, it's Daming for giving us bad directions, not me!"
As the King of the Forest, his senses within the Star Dou Forest were sharp beyond compare. Had there truly been a Blue Silver King who had cultivated for more than eighty thousand years within this region, he absolutely would have sensed it by now.
Yet… there wasn't a single trace. Not even a thousand-year-old specimen appeared in sight.
Lu Yuan's Leisure
"Tons… tons… ha!"
Lu Yuan chuckled and took another big gulp of his wine. Unlike Xiao Wu, he wasn't worried in the slightest.
If they couldn't find it today, they'd find it tomorrow. What was the hurry? As long as he had alcohol to drink, the days were pleasant enough.
"Ah! Look! She's standing up!" Xiao Wu suddenly exclaimed.
She pointed at the Blue Silver Emperor in Lu Yuan's hands. A faint light spilled from the branches and leaves. Immediately, the surrounding Blue Silver Grass stood straight as if compelled by some unseen power.
Those ordinary grasses, once blanketed by the blue light, started growing wildly, rising over two feet in mere moments, even though there was no wind at all.
The Blue Silver King Appears
"Over there!" Er Ming bellowed suddenly. The Titan Ape's vast spiritual perception had caught onto something.
Without hesitation, his massive body crashed forward through the trees, the forest shaking beneath his steps.
Lu Yuan and Xiao Wu exchanged glances and quickly chased after him.
Everywhere they passed, countless Blue Silver Grass swayed rhythmically, as if cheering. Their movements looked like a choreographed dance, welcoming the return of their empress.
Soon, in front of Lu Yuan and the others appeared a towering sight.
A gigantic Blue Silver vine stretched upwards, spiraling toward the sky like a pillar. The vine climbed more than ten meters tall, every coil as thick as a grown man's waist. Its surface was translucent blue with a beautiful glow, as if dotted with natural light.
A weathered voice emanated from the vines. A face appeared within the coils, lined by age yet filled with vitality.
"Empress… is it truly you?!"
Shock and Anger
"You can speak human words?" Er Ming's deep voice carried astonishment.
Among soul beasts, the ability to speak human tongue represented extraordinary cultivation and status. Even he had not managed to gain that ability until extremely late in his growth. Yet this aged vine had done it. His pride felt… unsettled.
"Great Empress, what has happened to you?" The Blue Silver King trembled, gazing at the Blue Silver Emperor in Lu Yuan's possession. "Why… why have you become like this? Did this human do this to you?"
When his eyes fell upon the flowerpot where the Blue Silver Emperor was planted, fury erupted within him.
"ROAR!"
The Titan Giant Ape bellowed, his roar shaking the heavens. He unleashed his oppressive aura as though daring the Blue Silver King to insult his human companion again.
The pressure forced the Blue Silver King's soul body to tremble. Only now did he realize the terrifying presence beside him. This was no ordinary opponent—this was the titan ruler of the forest itself.
Compared to the Titan Giant Ape, even though he was the King of Blue Silver Grass, his strength fell leagues behind.
"Er Ming," Xiao Wu quickly tugged on him, shaking her head. "Don't be rude! We came here to ask for help."
The Past Revealed
Er Ming restrained his anger and explained everything: how Tang Hao had forced Ah Yin into hiding, how she had sacrificed herself, and how she had been trapped ever since.
As the King of Blue Silver listened, rage overtook him.
The countless Blue Silver Grass in the forest began lashing and whipping in unison, as if sharing his fury.
"That bastard Tang Hao!" the King bellowed. "He imprisoned our Empress, forcing her to endure endless suffering and give birth in darkness. Damn him! If I ever lay eyes on him, I will never forgive him!"
Blue tears streaked down his weathered face. "Empress, you poor pitiful one… No wonder your aura disappeared more than ten years ago. Please, accept the worship of your children and descendants!"
The sorrow in his voice resonated throughout the forest. Yet, despite his grief, he knew Er Ming hadn't lied. The Titan Ape had no reason to deceive him.
Awakening of Ah Yin
"Cry if you must. But is there a way to restore her?" Xiao Wu asked urgently.
Er Ming clenched his fists, holding back his irritation. But before he could respond, the Blue Silver King raised his arms like branches to the skies and cried out:
"Children of the forest, lend your strength to our Empress! Let her regain her glory!"
Suddenly, a tremendous reaction thundered through the forest.
All across the land, every blade of Blue Silver Grass flared with a blue aura. The entire forest became awash in glowing waves of light, as if submerged beneath a sparkling ocean.
These halos merged together, flowing toward the Blue Silver Emperor in Lu Yuan's pot.
"Crack!"
The flowerpot shattered as the Blue Silver Emperor devoured the energy endlessly, her form growing taller and stronger.
One hour later, she had grown to over five feet tall. Within the soft glow of her leaves, a phantom appeared overhead—an elegant woman with delicate features and a natural blush on her cheeks.
Ah Yin's Fragile Return
"Empress!" cried the Blue Silver King, his face trembling with awe. "Please… tell us. Tell us what happened in those years. Tell us what that bastard Tang Hao did to you!"
Countless souls wept in unison as they looked up at her.
But Ah Yin's projection swayed gently, and her lips only mumbled one sentence:
"Hehe… I'm not drunk!"
And like mist at dawn, the vision faded away.
Silence fell over the grove, broken only by Lu Yuan muttering, "Not drunk? Then you can drink more later."
Without hesitation, he reached into his Soul Guidance Device and produced an even bigger wine jar. Carefully, he replanted the Blue Silver Emperor and poured fine wine into the soil as if it were sacred water.
"Good thing I came prepared," Lu Yuan said with a cocky grin. "Otherwise, raising you would've been too troublesome."
The Blue Silver King's Protest
"No!" the Blue Silver King roared. "The Blue Silver Emperor belongs here! She must stay with us. She cannot leave this forest!"
Blue Silver Grass writhed all around them in angry protest.
Lu Yuan's expression darkened. "Old man, do you even realize what you're saying?"
"If not for me, your Empress would still be rotting in that dark cave, suffering endlessly. It was I who brought her here, and look at how much she's already recovered. Without me, you wouldn't even be able to speak with her right now!"
Er Ming's massive roar cut through the protest, silencing the King's voice instantly. The Titan Ape's dominance left no room for rejection.
"Don't worry, old man," Lu Yuan said casually, lifting his jar. "I'll take care of her. That's enough for you."
Companionship
Er Ming chuckled, his deep laugh carrying approval. "Lu Yuan, you really are different from other soul masters. You don't covet spirit rings or bones like others do. You're treating Ah Yin better than most beasts ever could. Good! From now on, you're my brother."
Lu Yuan took another sip, grinning. "No problem. As the King of the Forest, you're welcome to be my drinking buddy anytime."
"…I'm your Sister Xiao Wu! Not just anyone's buddy!" Xiao Wu interrupted with puffed cheeks, pouting adorably.
Laughter rang out among the three of them as they turned and walked deeper into the forest, leaving the furious, helpless Blue Silver King behind them.
Meanwhile, Tang San Trains
Far away, in a quiet ravine, another story was unfolding.
"Rumble…!"
Tang San's body trembled violently from the final strike of his hammer. Exhausted, he finally put the weapon down, his chest heaving.
"Dad," he panted, "I've mastered the Eighty-One Hammer. Does this mean you'll lead me to awaken the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline now?"
Since Tang Hao revealed the truth—that his Blue Silver Grass martial soul was actually the noble Blue Silver Emperor—Tang San had been restless with anticipation.
The thought of awakening his true bloodline filled him with hope. Greater power, new abilities, and the chance to one day avenge his mother—everything felt within his grasp.
He couldn't help but smile. Victory seemed so close.
"Not yet," Tang Hao rasped. "When you reach the Soul King realm, then I will take you."
Though his face remained stoic, Tang Hao's heart secretly swelled with pride. His son's progress exceeded all his expectations.
He already had Tang San's path mapped out: reach level fifty, awaken the Blue Silver Emperor, obtain the fifth spirit ability, then earn the Blue Silver Domain. Afterward, they would enter the Killing Capital, where Tang San could inherit the Killing God Domain.
By then, his son would stand among the world's future pillars.
The Arrival of Tang Xiao
Suddenly, Tang Hao froze. His instincts screamed danger. He snapped to his feet, glaring at the distance.
"Who's there?"
Before Tang San could react, a tall, powerful figure stepped from the shadows—Tang Xiao, Sect Master of the Clear Sky School.
"Big brother!" Tang Hao's face stiffened. Tang San quickly lowered his head, calling out respectfully, "Uncle."
But Tang Xiao's cold expression offered no warmth.
"Don't call me uncle," he said icily. "I have no nephew like you."
Rage boiled beneath his calm facade.
He had tolerated Tang Hao's past—slaying the Pope of Spirit Hall had been reckless, but defensible, since Spirit Hall sought to steal Ah Yin. But this… Tang San stealing the secret arts of Clear Sky Sect? That was unforgivable.
"Big brother," Tang Hao began cautiously, "you came alone?" He relaxed slightly, realizing no Elders had followed.
But Tang Xiao's reply was sharp. "Did you think that because I came alone, you could stop me from taking Tang San back? Don't fool yourself."
"Big brother, Xiao San is just a child. He didn't understand—"
"Child?" Tang Xiao's voice thundered. "At his age, I was already leading missions as an elder's aide. Fourteen years old is no excuse. Stealing is stealing. Do not insult my intelligence!"
Tang San clenched his fists and raised his voice. "Uncle! I know what I did is against the Sect's rules, but I swear on my life that I will never reveal a single word of our sect's techniques to outsiders! I do not ask for forgiveness, only that you understand I've never forgotten our Sect as my home, nor will I ever betray it!"
Tang Xiao's eyes narrowed. "Save your excuses for the Elders and the people of Clear Sky. You will return."
A Heart-Wrenching Plea
Tang Hao blocked his brother, shielding Tang San. "Big brother, give Xiao San a chance. If you take him back now, he'll be destroyed under the Elders' judgment."
Tang San stepped forward, voice firm. "Uncle, I cannot go with you yet. I still carry my father's grudges. My mother is still missing. When I avenge her and fulfill my duties, I will return to the Sect to accept punishment. That I swear."
Tang Hao lowered his voice. "For Ah Yin's sake… please, forgive him just this once. If someone must be punished, take me instead."
For the first time in years, Tang Hao humbled himself.
A long silence stretched.
Finally, Tang Xiao turned away, his voice as cold as iron.
"Get out of my sight. Today, I will act as if I never saw you. But remember—Ah Yin has already saved you once. The next time I find you… don't blame me if I light the hammer against you."
With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving father and son trembling with relief.
But dread also lingered. The next encounter… would not end so mercifully.
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