Dormitory Seven.
Tang Yin walked in and spotted Wang Sheng and the others crowding around Xiao Wu, heading his way.
"Hey Tang Yin, perfect timing! We're about to grab something to eat. Come with us?" Xiao Wu flashed him a grin.
Tang Yin shook his head. "Nah, I don't have any money, so I'll pass."
Wang Sheng piped up, "Don't worry about it, I'll pay this time. You can treat me when you've got cash."
"You guys go ahead," Tang Yin said, already heading for his bed. "I don't like owing people favors." He sat cross-legged and started practicing the Meditation Technique—something Yu Xiaogang had given him for free.
Wang Sheng let out a little sigh. "Man, these brothers are weird..."
Xiao Wu looked exasperated. "Whatever, I'm still going! I'm starving!" She rubbed her stomach, grimacing.
"Alright, let's eat." Wang Sheng scratched his head, and the group shuffled off toward the cafeteria.
Tang Yin glanced at Tang San. "Little San, not going?"
Tang San answered, "They insulted my teacher. I don't want to hang out with them."
That was that. Tang Yin didn't push it.
Since arriving, there'd been little changes here and there, but nothing major. Tang San took a master, got into a spat with Xiao Wu over bedding—it all happened just as expected.
Tang Yin settled into his first real meditation. Seeing this, Tang San joined in, meditating with his own Mysterious Heaven Skill.
By the time evening rolled around, Wang Sheng and the others trickled back in. They spotted Tang Yin and Tang San deep in cultivation, so they kept pretty quiet.
"They're really dedicated," Xiao Wu whispered.
...
...
Late at night.
Tang Yin's eyes snapped open. He glanced around, uneasy. Besides some snoring, everything seemed normal, but his heart was pounding.
Suddenly, the dorm door blew open and a shadow rushed in—fast, almost like it was riding the wind.
Tang Yin barely had time to react. He was snatched up, the scenery whirled past, and the city vanished before his eyes.
He looked up—his captor was wrapped in a black cloak, face hidden.
No flying tools or anything. Just straight through the air. Only a Titled Douluo could pull that off.
Whoosh—
The wind got fierce, making him squeeze his eyes shut. Whoever was carrying him wasn't gentling their grip at all.
The wind noise suddenly cut off.
Tang Yin found himself in a lonely mountain forest.
He scrambled to his feet, staring at the tall figure looming before him.
"Quite sharp-eyed," the figure said. "But unlucky. Tonight, you die." The voice was low, almost sad. "Don't blame me. If there's anyone to blame, blame yourself for awakening a Spirit you shouldn't have."
Tang Yin's head spun. It had been a suspicion, but now he knew for sure.
The man standing before him—the one planning to kill him—was Tang Hao. The voice was disguised, but seriously, who else would know about his Spirit?
"I'll make it quick," the man said, creeping closer. His hand clamped around Tang Yin's neck, getting tighter.
Tang Yin fought, but there was nothing he could do.
"I'm sorry..." whispered the black-cloaked figure. He squeezed—hard.
Crack!
Tang Yin's head lolled to the side. His eyes went blank. His body lost all strength. He stopped moving.
Thud.
The man dropped Tang Yin's corpse and revealed his face—it was Tang Hao, old and weather-worn.
"I'm sorry, Little Yin," he murmured. "As long as you're alive, Little San's Blue Silver Grass will always be just that—Blue Silver Grass. He can never awaken the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul."
"If you'd awakened twin spirits, I would never have done this."
"But you only have the Blue Silver Emperor. With you here, you'll just hold Little San back, and you're… you're not useful to anyone."
"I didn't want this. Really."
"But seeing Xiao Wu today, it pushed me to decide."
"There's only one Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast. I can only sacrifice you, Little Yin."
"Rest in peace."
As Tang Hao spoke, tears streamed down his face.
Whoosh—
Tang Hao took off, vanishing in a flash.
Silence settled over the forest. Tang Yin's corpse lay there, limp and lifeless.
Who knows how much time passed.
Hum!
A flood of Life energy gathered, pouring into Tang Yin's body.
His blue hair faded to black. His dead eyes regained their spark.
Now he stared out—calm, fierce.
Something strange radiated from him, a power that sucked the life out of any plant it touched. Everything withered, their energy rushing into him.
A white spirit ring flickered into existence.
Crack, crack—
Tang Yin twisted his neck and sat up, gasping for air, terror still lingering from his brush with death.
Hehehe—
Hahahaha!!!
"I have no clue what happened, but man, it feels good to be alive!"
A wild, twisted grin stretched across Tang Yin's handsome face.
Thunder growled overhead. Flashes of lightning lit up his face as rain poured down.
"What is this..." He glanced at the white spirit ring, his smile slipping. He saw the dead branches and frowned.
Blue Silver Domain unleashed.
The grass was gone. Every plant within a hundred meters had died.
Tang Yin held out his right hand. A stalk of Dark Blue Silver Grass shimmered, crystal-clear and laced with golden streaks. Its leaves looked sharp, almost like blades. The color was different, too.
"Why! Why!"
Tang Yin pushed forward in a daze, not looking back.
He walked over three hundred meters before finding any signs of life left.
Tang Yin flexed his Dark Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul. Several strands stretched out, wrapping around a tree and squeezing tight.
He drew in a breath, feeling life energy swirl into him.
His body was recovering, and even the red marks on his neck began vanishing.
But meanwhile—
The tree squeezed by the Dark Blue Silver Emperor shriveled up, dying instantly.
"First Spirit Ability, Blue Silver Overlord Spear!"
The white spirit ring blazed. A dark-gold spear, about a meter and a half long, formed in Tang Yin's hand, its point icy and sharp.
"Is this my innate soul ring?"
After awakening the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, a Spirit Master can get an innate soul ring that grows along with them. The ring starts out white, meaning Tang Yin's body is still weak. As he gets stronger, this white ring will turn yellow, then purple, black, even red—anything's possible.
Bang!
Tang Yin gripped the Blue Silver Overlord Spear and stabbed it through the now-dead tree.
"Tang Hao… you're heartless!" Tang Yin growled, teeth clenched as he stared at the shadowy, powerful Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul in his hand.