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Regardless, Shi Nian's Illusory Wisdom Skull was something Shi Quan was determined to get; he'd just find some treasures to strengthen it later, so there was no need to worry about its age.
Moreover, Shi Nian, that old fellow, wasn't a good person either; killing people and seizing treasures was commonplace in the Martial Spirit Master's world.
Since he knew, he naturally wouldn't let it go.
However, the current problem was how to kill Shi Nian. If he could just pick up the spoils like Tang San did when he killed the Man Faced Demon Spider last time, Shi Quan would naturally be happy, but in the current situation, Shi Quan felt that Shi Nian would most likely not make a move on Tang San.
So he had to plan carefully now.
In the following days, Shi Quan found an excuse, saying that his swordsmanship and other aspects had reached a Bottleneck, and he was preparing to go to the preliminary rounds to witness the Genius of various academies in the Heaven Dou Empire, to observe, imitate, learn, and draw inspiration. He told Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling to Cultivate in the academy first, while he himself went to the hotel prepared by the Empire.
Every day, he would go back and forth between the hotel and the Martial Spirit Fighting Arena, a two-point, one-line routine.
From Shi Quan's observations over the past few days, Shi Nian seemed very interested in Tang San.
While watching Tang San's match from the viewing platform, a cold smile would inadvertently appear at the corner of his mouth, and there was even a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Interesting, even without a conflict as a basis, Shi Nian still seems to have developed an interest in Tang San."
A week later, Shi Quan was even more certain that Shi Nian must have discovered something about Tang San.
Shi Nian was currently staring at Tang San on the stage.
The Shrek Team's opponent today was the Ocelot Academy, which had only achieved two victories in previous matches.
Tang San and the others quickly won the match.
As Tang San and the others left the arena.
"A Quan, that Shi Nian has left." Hearing the information from Xiao Meng in his mind.
Shi Quan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he too quietly left the Martial Spirit Fighting Arena. In an deserted corner, under the flickering silver light, he immediately blended into the crowd surging with people outside the Martial Spirit Fighting Arena.
As his Spirit Sense spread out, Shi Quan quickly locked onto Tang San's figure. He soon discovered something unusual: Tang San did not return directly to the academy. Instead, after disappearing into the crowd, he turned towards the outskirts of Heaven Dou City from an unmanned corner.
"There are no mental force fluctuations around Tang San; he's clearly not being bewitched by that old fellow Shi Nian. He's leaving Heaven Dou City on his own." Shi Quan's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Could it be…" Suddenly thinking of something, a sharp glint immediately flashed in Shi Quan's eyes.
"Yin Lao, can you detect Shi Nian's Life Aura?" Shi Quan looked down at his right hand.
"Yes, he's right behind Tang San." The Blue Silver King's voice rang out in Shi Quan's mind.
Upon hearing this, a smile involuntarily appeared on Shi Quan's lips.
Yin Lao was the name Shi Quan gave to the Blue Silver King; after all, calling him 'Blue Silver King' every time felt a bit too formal.
Shi Quan continued to ask in a low voice, "Yin Lao, can you detect any powerful Aura around Tang San?"
"No." The Blue Silver King replied.
"Tang Hao isn't here?" A smile curled at the corner of Shi Quan's mouth, and a cold murderous intent appeared in his eyes. "Or is Tang Hao's method of concealing his Aura too strong for the Blue Silver King to detect? It's hard to say. That guy Tang Hao can conceal his Aura in Spirit City without being discovered. The Blue Silver King hasn't been at the hundred-thousand-year level for long, so it's possible he couldn't detect his Aura."
"Let's get Shi Nian's Spirit Bone first. If I can kill Tang San along with him, that would naturally be for the best."
Shi Quan's gaze shifted, looking towards the direction Tang San had left, and he slowly followed. Tang San took a small path, and Shi Nian also followed behind Tang San.
He, however, walked directly on the bustling main road. With the Blue Silver King locking onto Shi Nian's Aura, he wasn't afraid of losing him.
Seeing Tang San blend into the crowd and leave Heaven Dou City, Shi Nian only left Heaven Dou City after a while. Shi Quan couldn't help but think to himself, "Shi Nian must be tracking Tang San for the first time, to be so far away."
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. Tang San was the cicada in front, Shi Nian was the mantis, and Shi Quan was the oriole.
But compared to Shi Nian, Shi Quan was even more cautious, as he wasn't sure if Tang Hao was secretly present, but he felt it was worth it for this Spirit Bone.
"That direction is…" A sharp glint flashed in Shi Quan's eyes, "Sunset Forest!"
It seemed his plan had truly succeeded; after learning about the reward, Tang San really couldn't hold back and started going to the Sunset Forest to devour and absorb Spirit Beast's spirit power.
"Did Shi Nian discover Tang San's unusual behavior recently, which is why he secretly followed him, wanting to see what secrets Tang San has?" Shi Quan secretly speculated in his mind.
The truth was just as Shi Quan had guessed. Whether by fate or something else, the first time Tang San went out, he happened to be noticed by Shi Nian. However, Shi Nian didn't pay much attention, but he then coincidentally ran into Tang San returning and sensed the faint spirit power fluctuations emanating from Tang San's body, indicating a significant increase in his strength.
Thus, Shi Nian suspected that Tang San had some secret Cultivate method, which led to today's covert pursuit.
"Did Tang Hao really allow Tang San to devour Spirit Beast? Or is Tang Hao not here?" Shi Quan hid the excitement in his eyes, completely concealed his Aura, and continued to follow cautiously.
Sunset Forest.
Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit, and the Soul Devouring Eight Spider Lances extended from his back, allowing him to quickly move through the forest.
In less than a quarter of an hour, a thirty-year-level Spirit Beast appeared within Tang San's field of vision. Tang San's first spirit ring immediately lit up, and the ink-colored Blue Silver Grass directly bound the Spirit Beast.
The Soul Devouring Eight Spider Lances directly pierced into the Spirit Beast's body, unhesitatingly activating the Spirit Bone and Martial Spirit's devouring abilities.
He immediately felt spirit power, mixed with pure Life force, flow into his body like a trickling stream through the spider lances.
Tang San's eyes were filled with an uncontrollable sense of satisfaction and comfort.
The Spirit Beast struggled for only a moment before losing all movement.
Tang San skillfully tore the Spirit Beast's corpse apart with his Soul Devouring Eight Spider Lances, then continued deeper into the forest to search for other Spirit Beast.
Shi Nian, hidden in the shadows, saw this scene, and a sinister and excited glint flashed in his eyes. He instantly recognized that the Soul Devouring Eight Spider Lances on Tang San's back was a Spirit Bone.
Moreover, Tang San was now devouring Spirit Beast to Cultivate. Such a rebellious act was clearly that of a Fallen Soul Master. If he killed Tang San, it would not only be acting on behalf of Heaven but also allow him to obtain a Spirit Bone!
His spirit power fluctuations converged, and a phantom appeared behind Shi Nian.
Shi Nian's Martial Spirit was very special, named Remnant Dream. Like Shi Quan's Soul Martial Spirit, it was a special Martial Spirit that had form but no substance. However, judging by its appearance, Shi Nian's Remnant Dream Martial Spirit should belong to the Tool Spirit category, merely floating on Shi Nian's body and emitting invisible fluctuations.
Seeing this, Shi Quan also cautiously moved towards Shi Nian, taking advantage of Shi Nian dealing with Tang San.
"Yin Lao, notify me immediately if there's any slight disturbance around."
"Okay!"
Shi Quan's eyes were fixed on Shi Nian; he was not in a hurry to make a move.
After all, Tang San was not truly in mortal danger yet.
If Tang Hao was in the shadows, and Tang San encountered a Life-or-death crisis, Tang Hao would surely make a move. If Tang Hao didn't make a move, it would be best if Shi Nian could kill Tang San directly. If not, then he would, as before, directly seize the Spirit Bone and then kill Tang San.
"Ah…"
In a short while, Tang San lay on the ground, convulsing violently, and the Blue Silver Grass continuously coiled around his body.
Shi Nian watched this scene with a twisted expression, his face filled with enjoyment.
As Tang San's body convulsed within the Blue Silver Grass, it seemed to gradually weaken. His entire body was now only lightly twitching.
The coiling Blue Silver Grass gradually slid to the ground. Shi Nian could clearly see a trace of blood already flowing from the corner of Tang San's mouth, his face flushed red.
"As a Fallen Soul Master, dying in the most painful way within my Remnant Dream Martial Spirit is your destiny." The smile on Shi Nian's face became even more cruel.
In the original work, Tang San's Purple Demon Eye gained the special ability to see through illusions because of the Autumn Water Dew.
But the current Tang San had not consumed the Autumn Water Dew, which meant his Purple Demon Eye could not see through Shi Nian's illusion.
Seeing Tang San's Aura grow weaker and weaker, Shi Quan raised an eyebrow with interest, thinking to himself, "That guy Tang Hao isn't here? Unable to see through the illusion, even with the Yama Invitation, Tang San has no capital to counter-kill, since he doesn't even know where the enemy is."
"Sovereign!" Just then, the Blue Silver King's voice suddenly rang out, and Shi Quan's body abruptly stiffened, his gaze fixed intently on the distance.
Almost at the same moment the Blue Silver King's voice sounded, an extremely furious voice came from afar, "How dare you harm my son, you seek death!"
The angry voice suddenly exploded from all directions, and a terrifying Aura swept through the forest. Shi Nian's twisted expression instantly turned incomparably pale, and his entire body was sent flying like a kite with a broken string. In his horrified gaze, he only saw a black light flying diagonally from afar, moving at extreme speed.
"Yin Lao, take the bone!"
As Shi Quan gave the command, a blue light suddenly exploded behind Shi Nian. A blue beam of light slashed diagonally across, and Shi Nian was directly cut in half at the waist. The blue light coiled around his left arm and retreated rapidly.
"There are still petty villains!" Tang Hao's enraged voice came, and a black phantom emerged from behind Tang Hao. The enormous Clear Sky Hammer arrived, bringing with it overwhelming and terrifying pressure.
Then, several more blue lights slashed out, heading directly towards Tang San. Wherever they passed, grass and trees were severed, and the ground cracked open.
Tang Hao's expression changed, and he fiercely threw the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand.
Boom boom—
Two sounds exploded almost simultaneously.
The next second, with a smack, Tang San's body was sent flying, landing on the ground and rolling, leaving a scratch mark. Not far away were four bottomless, massive gouges and a large pit, where a black Clear Sky Hammer with an ethereal red glow lay.
"He ran away?"
As Tang Hao was about to give chase, the blue light had already vanished. He also realized that the seemingly astonishing attack just now was actually just a feint.
The mysterious expert's target seemed not to be his son, but rather the person who had attacked his son.
"That person's Aura just now was somewhat similar to Ah Yin's."
Looking at the injured Tang San, Tang Hao didn't have time to think further and immediately began to check Tang San's injuries.