A secluded valley lay hidden deep within the mountains. For the past year, Tang Hao and his son had taken refuge here, away from the rest of the world's eyes.
"Rumble…"
A deep vibration shook the ground as Tang San slowly circulated his soul power, retracting the mighty Clear Sky Hammer back into his palm. His breathing steadied, his body relaxed, and an unmistakable glow of satisfaction appeared on his face.
Over the past year, under the relentless guidance and harsh training of his father, his mastery over the Clear Sky Hammer had reached a near-perfect level. He had broken past countless thresholds, growing faster than he once thought possible. From the youth of a year ago, he had transformed into someone utterly different—one who had stepped into the rank of Soul King.
Tang Hao's stern eyes softened slightly. "Little San, up until now you've already practiced the Chaos Cloak Hammer Method and grasped the Great Sumeru Hammer. From today, I'll start teaching you something else—the true essence of battle."
Tang San blinked, excitement sparking in his heart. "Dad, what do you mean… the essence of actual combat?"
Ever since he began cultivating with burning obsession, he had thought only about one thing—revenge. Revenge on Lu Yuan, that heartless bastard who had trampled upon his dignity and treated him like a worthless insect. And beyond that, the looming danger of the Clear Sky Sect finding him was never far from his mind. Strength was his only reliance; strength was the power to live.
Tang Hao's deep voice cut into Tang San's thoughts. His gaze sharpened, his aura shifting in an instant. "Murderous intent."
The moment the words fell, Tang Hao's pupils contracted, and a bone-chilling wave of killing aura erupted outward.
"Ah—!"
Tang San's entire body stiffened. His skin tingled as every hair stood on end. He felt like cold steel pressed against the back of his neck, as though death itself were creeping closer and closer.
"This is the domain you've seen me use before..." Tang Hao explained evenly, watching his son's reaction. "Inside this domain, the wielder can exert more than their full strength—one hundred and one percent of it. Meanwhile, the enemy's power is suppressed by at least ten percent. And as your Martial Soul grows, the effect of the Killing God Domain only becomes stronger."
Tang San's eyes widened with fascination. The Killing God Domain… so this was the terrifying technique father wielded! His heart thumped with impatience and eagerness. "Dad, how can I obtain such a domain?"
Tang Hao's expression was firm, but his tone lowered into something mysterious. "Tomorrow, we'll leave this place. I'll take you to where you can claim the Killing God Domain for yourself. But before that, there's another place you need to go."
He had already made his decision. Their destination, ultimately, was the Killing City—a sanctuary hidden in shadows, a place even the Martial Soul Hall feared to tread. Not only could Tang San temper his murderous aura there and obtain the domain, but it would also serve as the best place to escape the dual pursuit of Martial Soul Hall and the Clear Sky Sect.
But first, before entering the Killing City, Tang Hao had already prepared for his son's fifth spirit ring. And more importantly, for Tang San to awaken the true potential of his first Martial Soul—Blue Silver Grass—he would need the help of a very specific being... the legendary Blue Silver King.
The Forest of Resentment
Seven days later, father and son stepped into an isolated spirit beast forest that was not marked on any maps.
From the moment Tang San crossed the treeline, a strange pulse reverberated through his heart. It was a breath that felt intimately familiar, yet filled with an undeniable sense of wrath.
"Little San," Tang Hao instructed, standing tall beside him, "release your Blue Silver Grass. Feel its resonance carefully."
Closing his eyes, Tang San slowly spread his palm, letting the strands of blue-silver vines unfurl into the air. But instead of the gentle, welcoming response he expected from kin, his heart suddenly trembled.
"Stop." Tang Hao frowned, his voice unusually sharp.
The atmosphere grew heavy, saturated with hostility. Through his own spiritual sense, Tang Hao could clearly perceive something disturbing—the entire forest seemed to be radiating hate-filled curses directed at them.
Tang San opened his eyes in shock. "Father... what's happening? Why does it feel like they're scolding me?"
Tang Hao's brows furrowed deeply. How could this be? With the blood of the Blue Silver Emperor flowing within his son, the Blue Silver Grass of the world should revere and adore him, their Emperor's heir. Yet here, they despised him.
Face-to-Face With the King
Led by that surging energy, the two finally arrived before an enormous, ancient growth of Blue Silver Grass. It wasn't just a plant—it was alive with intelligence, towering like a living monument of countless interwoven vines.
Tang San froze at the sight. He felt an odd repulsion; as though every blade and vine of Blue Silver Grass in the area recognized him but refused to acknowledge him.
Tang Hao stepped forward, his face tightening. "Blue Silver King! My son carries the bloodline of the Blue Silver Emperor. Are you blind? How dare you reject him?!"
From the depths of the enormous plant, a hoarse roar burst forth like thunder.
"Ha! You damned dog—Tang Hao!"
"You deceived and abused our Empress. You forced her… forced her to bear your half-blood seed! You have defiled her sacredness! You should die!"
At once, the surrounding vines—thick as tree trunks—lashed violently in every direction.
Tang San staggered back, dumbfounded. Dog? Bastard? They… they hated him that much?
Tang Hao's expression turned as dark as storm clouds. Fury surged as he raised the Clear Sky Hammer, smashing it forcefully against the ground. Waves of soul power erupted outward, breaking apart the encroaching vines with brutal strength.
Ah Yin's Name
"Blue Silver King!" Tang Hao's usually cold voice trembled with desperate longing. "Tell me—have you seen Ah Yin? Has she been here? Where is she?! Tell me!"
For more than a year, he had searched fruitlessly for Lu Yuan's trail, for the faintest clue of Ah Yin's fate. His heart had nearly given up hope. Yet today, from the King's furious words, he heard her name again—proof that she had been seen. His eyes flared with desperate excitement.
But the King's hatred only intensified.
"Brute! To even dare call her name! Our Empress is not for the likes of you! To ask me to betray her whereabouts? I spit on you!"
All across the forest, the simple Blue Silver Grass resonated with his rage, growing taller, gathering en masse as though readying for war.
Tang Hao's voice hardened. "So this is Lu Yuan's trick, isn't it? Did that bastard come here, poison your mind with lies? You would doubt the descendant of the Blue Silver Emperor herself?"
But the King thundered his refusal. "Better to trust in my fellow soul beasts than your foul human bloodline! I would never forsake the memory of our great Empress!"
Clash With the Blue Silver King
Tang Hao's patience shattered. Raising his hammer, his voice roared, "Enough! If you will not tell me, then don't blame me for what follows!"
"Then you'll die here with me!" The King's voice bellowed. He surged with the combined energy of countless surrounding Blue Silver Grass. Vines erupted from beneath the soil, weaving together in a massive, living cage that sought to entrap father and son.
"Little San, behind me!" Tang Hao called, his hammer striking again and again. Every impact crushed thick vines into splinters, forcing back the seemingly endless tide.
The Blue Silver King knew he was overmatched. Yet as the leader of his race, his pride and dignity left him no room to yield. If he could not win, then he would drag this man and his spawn with him into death. For Ah Yin, there was no regret in sacrifice!
"Children, lend me your power!" the King roared. A surge of green flooded toward him as tens of thousands of Blue Silver Grass offered up their lives.
With a thunderous crack, the colossal plant condensed all that energy into a horrifying self-detonation. The forest quaked, vines flaring like the sky collapsing.
Tang Hao's eyes sank with pity. "To go as far as burning both jade and stone..." He sighed. "I didn't want this to be the end."
His Clear Sky Hammer swelled into a massive form, glowing with the Great Sumeru Hammer. With one devastating swing, he crushed through the heart of the King just as the vine-cage collapsed inward.
The forest fell silent.
The Final Vine
"Let's go, Little San..." Tang Hao muttered bitterly. This ending had long been inevitable the moment the King chose self-destruction.
But just as his breath eased, the ground trembled once more. From beneath emerged one last vine, thicker than a barrel, surging rapidly and sweeping straight toward Tang San.
"Careful!" Tang Hao roared, hurling his hammer.
Tang San's figure blurred backward, his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track carrying him out of immediate danger. At the same time, his hand brushed his waist, pulling out a cylindrical object he had crafted painstakingly in secret—the hidden Yama Nail.
"Shhh—"
A flash of silent black light shot forth. It pierced the great vine cleanly. Instantly, the vine convulsed and withered into nothing but gray dust. Even the surrounding Blue Silver Grass collapsed lifelessly, drained of vitality.
Tang Hao's eyes widened slightly, then softened. "Yes. Always staying vigilant, using your tools wisely—that is the foundation of a true soul master."
The Spirit Ring
As the dust of the vine settled, Tang San froze. Floating above the ground, a pure and luminous black spirit ring slowly emerged—the essence of the Blue Silver King's soul.
"Dad... this is—?"
Tang Hao's heavy gaze lingered on it, then he nodded slowly. "This is fate, Little San. Your fifth spirit ring."
Tang San stiffened in shock. "But this... the Blue Silver King was thousands of years old. Far beyond what my body should be able to withstand—if I try to absorb it, won't it kill me?"
His father's reply was calm but firm. "For others, yes. But for you, it's different. With the bloodline of the Blue Silver Emperor awakening in your body, and with the strength you've refined this past year, you can attempt this. It will be dangerous—but it is possible."
Tang Hao's tone softened with rare gentleness. "Don't worry. I'll guard you. If anything happens, I will not let you be harmed."
Trusting those words absolutely, Tang San closed his eyes. Crossing his legs, he settled into lotus position, his hand reaching for the pulsing black halo in front of him. The enormous energy of the Blue Silver King flowed toward him as he began the process to absorb...
--
Loving the story? Read 200+ extra chapters on my Patreon — link's in the description! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: Ten Thousand Years Early System!" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!