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The end of February.
Night fell, and darkness enveloped the entire Nuoding City.
In his bedroom, after completing his nightly meditation practice, Chu Chengzhou eagerly opened his attribute panel, waiting for the white-tier Eye Exercise skill to level up.
Not long after, the eye exercise skill completed its AFK upgrade, transforming into a yellow-tier skill.
After gazing at the skill bar for three seconds, Chu Chengzhou immediately understood the effects of the upgraded yellow-tier eye exercise skill.
As he had anticipated, the upgraded yellow-tier eye exercises now possessed the ability to enhance spiritual power.
For low-level soul masters, the strength of their spiritual power might seem unimportant, as it only becomes crucial when attaching ten-thousand-year spirit rings. However, this wasn't entirely true.
Meditation consumes energy, and low-level soul masters simply can't meditate for extended periods or all day.
Why does this happen? The most critical factor is that the spiritual power of low-level soul masters is far inferior to that of high-level ones.
With a method to enhance spiritual power, he could now extend his daily morning and evening meditation sessions significantly, indirectly accelerating his soul power growth.
After some thought, Chu Chengzhou decided to rename the upgraded eye exercise skill.
[Skill: Spirit Refinement (Yellow)]
Tang San: "I'm practicing the Purple Extreme Divine Pupil. What are you practicing?"
Chu Chengzhou: "Eye exercises."
Tang San: "??? Are you mocking me? You're courting death!"
The name "eye exercises" sounded somewhat childish, so it was better to change it.
Subsequently, Chu Chengzhou removed the newly upgraded Spirit Refinement skill from the AFK slot and replaced it with the Meditation skill.
If he wanted to accelerate his soul power advancement, he still needed to rely on his martial soul and meditation.
"Four years from now, I should be able to become a one-ring Soul Master, right?"
Chu Chengzhou estimated his cultivation speed.
However, his estimation was based on his current cultivation efficiency.
The yellow-tier Meditation skill required 300 days of AFKing to reach the purple tier.
Moreover, by February of the following year, his Elemental Summoning Flag martial soul would evolve into a top-tier martial soul, further increasing his soul power cultivation speed. Reaching Level 10 wouldn't take four years—perhaps just two years would suffice.
While Chu Chengzhou was looking forward to his bright future, thousands of miles away in Tian Dou City, two figures—one large, one small—walked along the streets under the cover of night.
Recently, these were arguably the happiest days of Tang San's life.
Tang San: "WTF, my father is actually a Title Douluo?!"
After revealing the reason for their move and his own strength, Tang Hao no longer neglected his son. Although they had been constantly on the move to avoid drawing attention, Tang San's living conditions improved significantly.
They stayed in hotels, ate hearty meals, and always had meat. Over time, Tang San's previously malnourished and gaunt frame visibly filled out.
Hmm, eating well was one of Tang San's greatest dreams over the past six years.
The only thing Tang San regretted was not being able to learn anything about his mother from his father.
And whenever he asked why his father carried a pot of Golden Striped Blue Silver Grass, his father would remain silent, pretending not to hear.
However, the occasional glimmer of longing in his father's eyes made Tang San realize that his father wasn't ignoring him—he simply didn't want to talk about it.
A few days ago, Tang San noticed his father disappearing at night, and the pot of Golden Striped Blue Silver Grass was gone as well.
Though the Blue Silver Grass his father treasured so much had disappeared, Tang San didn't ask any questions. He knew that even if he did, he wouldn't get an answer.
Just yesterday, when he learned from his father that they were going to visit his aunt, Tang San was overjoyed.
So, apart from his father, there were still other family members alive!
Not long after, the father and son stopped in front of a tall building.
Under the dim streetlights, Tang San looked up and saw a five-story building.
The building's overall architectural style was slightly antiquated, and above the entrance hung a plaque inscribed with the words "Moon Pavilion."
"Dad, does Aunt live here?"
After examining the Moon Pavilion, Tang San asked.
"Mm."
His father's response was a simple grunt.
Then, Tang San saw his father's lips move slightly before standing silently, waiting.
Seeing that his father didn't speak, Tang San didn't ask further and waited alongside him.
Inside the elegant living room on the top floor of the Moon Pavilion, illuminated by the glow of soul-guidance lamps, a noble and elegant young woman lounged on the sofa, flipping through a book.
Suddenly, a voice filled with weariness reached her ears: "When the full moon wanes, familiar faces return. Yuehua, I've come."
"Brother Hao? Or am I hallucinating?"
Tang Yuehua's eyes flickered with surprise as she looked up from her book.
"It's me, Yuehua."
At that moment, the same weary voice echoed once more.
"Someone!"
Suppressing her overwhelming joy, Tang Yuehua called out toward the lower floors.
"Madam?"
A maid's voice responded from downstairs.
"A distinguished guest has arrived. Open the doors and welcome them!"
Tang Yuehua's voice trembled slightly as she gave the order.
"Yes, Madam!"
Though the maid downstairs found it strange to have a distinguished guest arrive so late at night, she didn't question it and immediately began preparations.
"Creak—!"
The sound of the door opening reverberated as the Moon Pavilion's gates slowly swung open. Bright soul-guidance lights spilled out, illuminating the dimly lit street.
Tang San watched as over a dozen beautiful young women emerged, lining up on either side of the entrance.
Following them, a young woman dressed in a silver palace gown appeared. Her presence exuded elegance and nobility.
"Is this my aunt?"
Looking at the noblewoman in the distance, Tang San's eyes were filled with uncertainty.
His appearance was rather plain, and his father's looks could even be described as ugly, so why was his aunt so stunning?
Though the towering figure beside him was unkempt and disheveled, his domineering aura was undeniable. Tang Yuehua immediately recognized him as her second brother, Tang Hao.
Hurrying to Tang Hao, Tang Yuehua ignored the young Tang San beside him, gripping Tang Hao's shoulders tightly. Her eyes brimmed with tears: "Brother Hao, you've really come. How…?"
Seeing his sister, overcome with emotion and disbelief, Tang Hao sighed softly: "It's me, Yuehua. I've come."
Her lips trembling, Tang Yuehua, in this moment, completely disregarded her image as the mistress of the Moon Pavilion. She threw herself into Tang Hao's arms and burst into tears.
After so many years, she had finally reunited with her second brother, whose fate had been unknown, his life uncertain.
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