"What!"
Tang San's pupils shrank violently, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. A faint purple light instantly covered his eyes. He could not sense any soul power fluctuations around the black-clothed man.
He looked up and saw that the newcomer was tall and well-built. A black hat covered his face tightly, and his worn-out clothes revealed some bronzed skin.
Looking at this mysterious person, an inexplicable sense of familiarity surged in Tang San's heart, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
Damn it, why would such an expert appear in the academy? Tang San was secretly alarmed.
Suddenly, a thought surfaced in his mind: It's him! The black-clothed man who fought the Titan Giant Ape!
Tang San's heart jolted, and his breathing became rapid.
A Titled Douluo!
Tang San subconsciously lowered his voice and said respectfully, "Senior! I don't know what business Senior has at Shrek Academy, but if there is anything this junior can do, I will not hesitate to go through fire and water!"
At the same time, he leaned forward slightly, performing a standard bow.
The black-clothed man stood quietly, his eyes clear and deep. His gaze fell on Tang San, staring for a long time.
After a while, he slowly raised his hand and gently lifted the hat from his head.
"Little San."
A low and familiar voice entered Tang San's ears, hitting his heart like a heavy hammer.
Tang San looked up. The moment his gaze met the other person's face, he was struck dumb as if by lightning.
"Dad!" Tang San's voice trembled, carrying endless surprise.
The next moment, his tears flowed uncontrollably, blurring his vision.
"Dad!"
Tang San could no longer suppress the emotions in his heart. Tears poured down like a broken dam. His legs went weak, and he knelt directly on the ground.
Looking at his son kneeling on the ground, Tang Hao's eyes also reddened instantly. Tears swirled in his eyes but he held them back.
"Little San!" Tang Hao's voice was a bit hoarse, as if polished by wind and sand.
The two looked at each other like this. Having not seen each other for a long time, there were too many words they wanted to say, yet they didn't know where to start.
With tears still glistening in his eyes, Tang San choked out, "Dad, is it really you? Where have you been all these years?"
Tang Hao nodded slightly, helped Tang San up, and said, "Little San, all these years, I have actually always been by your side."
Hearing this, a trace of doubt flashed in Tang San's eyes. "Dad, why did you leave Holy Spirit Village back then?"
Tang Hao said indifferently, "Little San, flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand wind and rain. Only by experiencing storms can one become a true man. Little San, your performance over these years has made me very gratified."
Tang Hao looked quietly at his son before him, his eyes full of tenderness.
His son had lived alone for so many years. Gifted and diligent, how could he not make his father proud?
Tang San's heart shook violently, and his tears almost fell again.
Nothing made him happier than his father's approval.
In this instant, all the grievances he had suffered over the years turned into smoke and vanished.
Tang San took a deep breath. "Dad, was that Titled Douluo who saved me in the Star Dou Great Forest you?"
Tang Hao nodded. In an instant, terrifying soul power erupted from his body like a raging wave. The air seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, emitting sharp whistling sounds.
Waves of energy surged around him, enveloping everything nearby. Nine soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, lining up behind him. Each soul ring exuded a heavy aura, especially the last one, which was as red as fresh blood.
A hundred-thousand-year soul ring!
"Title: Haotian (Clear Sky)."
Tang Hao's voice was low and calm, yet it carried an irresistible power.
Tang San's breathing instantly quickened, his eyes shining with excitement. At this moment, countless legends and glories about the Clear Sky Douluo flashed through his mind.
The Twin Stars of the Clear Sky Clan.
The youngest Titled Douluo.
The number one Tool Martial Soul in the world...
"Dad, why did you go to Holy Spirit Village to become a blacksmith?" Tang San couldn't help but ask.
"We won't talk about that matter for now." A trace of complex emotion flashed in Tang Hao's eyes, and his voice became somewhat low.
"Is it because of Mom?" Tang San asked tentatively.
He clearly remembered that when he first crossed over, he had heard a gentle voice calling "Ah Yin," followed by the sounds of fierce battle and his father's painful cries.
Tang Hao's eyes instantly sharpened. An intense murderous aura radiated from him like frost, seemingly freezing the surrounding air.
Tang San felt as if a giant rock was pressing on his chest, making breathing extremely difficult.
"Little San, we'll talk about that later. But remember, Spirit Hall is our family's enemy." Tang Hao's voice was icy, every word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.
"Spirit Hall!" Tang San clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, flames of anger burning in his eyes.
At this moment, Tang Hao stared fixedly at Tang San and said slowly, "Little San, the Martial Soul in your left hand is the Clear Sky Hammer. There is a condition for Twin Martial Souls: only when the parents' Martial Souls are of comparable quality is it possible to awaken two Martial Souls."
Tang Hao said earnestly, "Your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was left to you by your mother. It is definitely not a trash Martial Soul."
"Is that so? Why has Teacher never told me this?" Tang San slowly raised his hand, and his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul instantly flew out.
The slender Blue Silver Grass swayed gently in the breeze. The grass on the ground also seemed to be summoned, floating slightly, like a layer of green waves full of life and vitality.
"Dad, but my Blue Silver Grass is very weak. Facing Blazing Academy, I had no power to resist." A trace of disappointment flashed in Tang San's eyes, and his voice became low.
Tang Hao shook his head gently. "What your Martial Soul is showing now is not its true face. When you cultivate to level fifty, I will take you to a place."
"Level fifty?" Tang San lowered his head, falling into deep thought.
A trace of doubt appeared in his eyes again.
"Dad, why is my soul power cultivation speed so much slower than Lu Feng's? If I remember correctly, his innate soul power was only level five."
Tang San didn't tell Tang Hao about the Immortal Herb. In his opinion, a Nine-Grade Purple Zoysia was not enough to make up for the gap in talent between him and Lu Feng.
Tang Hao's gaze sank slightly, as if he were thinking about something.
After a moment, he said slowly, "Lu Feng looks cheerful all day, but there is a murderous aura about him. I suspect his achievements today were carved out step by step from the Soul Beast Forest."
"Murderous aura?" Tang San asked doubtfully.
Tang Hao nodded. "That kid's experience is definitely not simple. He has killed at least eighty, if not a hundred people."
Immediately, Tang Hao looked at Tang San seriously. "Little San, everyone's path is different. You cannot easily deny yourself because of others' achievements."
"Talent, effort, state of mind, background, and even luck—every single one is indispensable for a Soul Master."
As he spoke, his soul power surged slightly, and a pink light slowly emerged in his hand.
Tang San looked closely, his pupils shrinking as he exclaimed, "Is this... a soul bone!"
"Correct, Little San. This is a hundred-thousand-year soul bone." Tang Hao said with a grave expression and a deep voice.
"Hundred thousand years!" Tang San looked up sharply, staring at his father, his eyes full of uncontrollable shock.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast possessed combat power no less than that of an average Titled Douluo.
At this moment, Tang San felt his heartbeat accelerate sharply, and his breathing became rapid. He deeply understood what was meant by the "Number One Tool Martial Soul in the World."
Tang San carefully extended his hands to receive the soul bone from his father. A warmth was transmitted upon touch.
This was a right arm bone. The entire body presented a crystal-clear pink color, like an exquisite work of art. Looking closely, there seemed to be countless specks of starlight flickering and jumping inside, mysterious and charming.
Most peculiarly, this soul bone seemed to have its own life, giving Tang San a vivid feeling.
"Little San, tell outsiders that this soul bone is five thousand years old. You must absolutely not let anyone know it is a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, not even your teacher," Tang Hao said solemnly.
"Mhm." Tang San nodded vigorously.
He knew the preciousness of soul bones; they were treasures worth rivers of blood.
A hundred-thousand-year soul bone was enough to drive the entire Soul Master world crazy.
"Dad, what soul beast did this soul bone come from?" Tang San was full of curiosity and couldn't help asking.
Tang Hao's eyes flashed slightly. "It came from a Soft-Boned Rabbit. To kill it, I fought a bitter battle with it in the forest for a day and a night."
He wasn't telling entirely lies, just omitting the key parts. The opponent wasn't a Soft-Boned Rabbit, but the Titan Giant Ape.
Recalling that thrilling battle, Tang Hao still felt lingering fear.
That Titan Giant Ape had gone mad, completely disregarding its own safety, pouncing on him in a mutually destructive fighting style.
Tang Hao was already injured. After that battle, he had lain in bed for half a month before gradually recovering.
"Soft-Boned Rabbit?"
Hearing this name, Xiao Wu's appearance involuntarily surfaced in Tang San's mind.
"Can this kind of soul beast also cultivate to a hundred thousand years?" he asked with a puzzled face.
Tang Hao's gaze sank, and he said seriously, "Little San, there are Rabbit Kings among Soft-Boned Rabbits too. Just like your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, advancing upwards there is the Blue Silver King, and even the Blue Silver Emperor."
Hearing this, Tang San nodded heavily, his eyes full of determination. "Dad, I understand. I will never look down on my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul again."
"Alright, this is not the place to absorb a soul bone. Follow me." With that, Tang Hao took Tang San and instantly disappeared at the end of the hillside.