Early the next morning, inside the Royal Heaven Dou Academy's mimetic training environment for the Emperor Team.
Tang San and the others were going through their daily training, while Xiao Lin was studying the treasures he had recently obtained.
Every single one of those treasures had great research value—Xiao Lin wasn't planning to let even one slip by.
Right now, Xiao Lin was lying on a patch of Blue Silver Grass, examining the healing crystal given to him by Ye Lingling.
Research had to go from simple to difficult. Xiao Lin already understood the basic principles behind the healing crystal from the beginning.
But creating a new healing-type soul tool? That was much harder.
Just as Xiao Lin was pondering how to manufacture such a soul tool, Qin Ming arrived limping toward them.
"Xiao Lin, were you all alright yesterday?"Qin Ming looked at the completely unharmed group and couldn't help but laugh. They were all much healthier than he was.
But as their teacher, he still had to ask.
"We're fine. The old man escorted us back."
Xiao Lin immediately sat up from the grassy patch and asked with concern, "Teacher Qin Ming, are you alright?"
Xiao Lin's brows furrowed slightly, and flames flickered in his eyes as he activated Fiery Golden Eyes.
"I'm fine." Qin Ming waved it off. Then he looked around, spotted Tang San, and his eyes lit up.
He really seemed unharmed—Xiao Lin's Fiery Golden Eyes hadn't detected any issues, so he was relieved.
"Xiao Lin, the teaching council wants you in their office. Someone's looking for you. Oh—bring Tang San as well."
After speaking, Qin Ming limped toward the other members. He planned to strictly supervise their training today.
He also wanted to reassess Tang Ni and Xiao Wu's strength, then divide everyone into two balanced teams for group combat practice.
Hearing that the council wanted to see them, Xiao Lin immediately called Tang San over.
Perfect timing—he could return the Windchaser Soul Bone.
Royal Heaven Dou Academy, Teaching Council Office
Inside the spacious office, the three chief instructors sat upright, their gazes fixed on a cloaked, black-robed middle-aged man.
It was Tang Hao.
His appearance shocked the three instructors. They had promised the Clear Sky Douluo to protect Tang San and the others.
Yet yesterday there had already been an assassination attempt.
They thought Tang Hao had come to settle accounts.
But Tang Hao didn't blame them—after all, Tang San and the others were unharmed.
And their strength was already enough to handle most soul masters. That reassured Tang Hao.
"Your Majesty Haotian," Meng Shenji asked respectfully, "aside from meeting Xiao Lin and Tang San, is there anything else you require? Whatever it is, we will comply."
"Nothing. It's unrelated to you. I just came to see them."
Tang Hao took a sip of hot tea, voice calm—but the recent actions of the Xu family came to mind, souring his expression.
"By the way, strengthen your security. I saw someone kidnapping a person in Heaven Dou City yesterday."
With that, Meng Shenji and the others immediately recalled the soul master found dead on the street the night before.
So it had been the Clear Sky Douluo who acted.
If not for him, that Oscar fellow would have been taken away.
This matter had to remain confidential, but security absolutely needed reinforcement.
"Rest assured, Lord Haotian, we will increase the academy's security," Meng Shenji said.
Satisfied, Tang Hao said no more.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
"Chief Meng Shenji, may we come in?"
"Come in."
Xiao Lin's voice had barely finished when Meng Shenji responded immediately.
As Xiao Lin and Tang San entered the room, they both instantly noticed a familiar figure.
The moment the door closed, they spoke in unison:
"Uncle Hao?"
"Dad?"
"Hm. Sorry, Little San, Little Lin—I broke my promise."
Tang Hao nodded.
"I came because there's an extremely important matter."
He glanced at the three chief instructors.
Sensing his meaning, they spoke tactfully:"Since you've reunited, we'll leave you to talk. We still have matters to attend to."
They were about to leave, but Xiao Lin pulled out the Windchaser Soul Bone.
"Chief Meng, this is yours. It's too valuable—we can't accept it."
Before he finished speaking, the soul bone was already in Meng Shenji's hands.
"Ah? Xiao Lin, this was a gift from us. We hope you'll continue contributing to the academy. Please keep it."
"Chiefs, to be honest—we don't care for this soul bone."
Xiao Lin's words made Tang Hao nod in agreement.
A mere ten-thousand-year soul bone simply wasn't worthy of Xiao Lin or Tang San.
"Enough, you three may go."
Tang Hao's voice left the chief instructors speechless. They looked at the soul bone, then finally decided to use it as a reward for whichever team won the Advanced Academy Tournament championship.
They believed in the Emperor Team.
After the three left, Tang San immediately set up a sound-isolating formation within the office.
Tang Hao stared, stunned.
"Little San… what was that?" he asked curiously.
"A sound barrier. Brother Lin taught me."
Tang San answered modestly.
"Alright, Uncle Hao—didn't you have something to tell us? Is it about Auntie?" Xiao Lin asked.
The moment Tang Hao appeared, Xiao Lin suspected it involved Ah Yin.
Aside from Ah Yin, Tang Hao barely cared about anything—not even Tang San, whom he practically free-ranged.
"You noticed as expected. You really are clever, Little Lin."
Tang Hao wasn't surprised. Then he described what had happened in recent days.
Hearing that Ah Yin had regained some consciousness, Xiao Lin nodded thoughtfully.
"Really? Mother regained consciousness?"
Tang San suddenly became excited, his eyes full of happiness.
"Dad, can I see Mom now?"
"Not yet. I came to ask whether Little Lin knows a way to help Ah Yin awaken more quickly."
"Only having brief moments of consciousness each day… it's not enough."
Tang Hao said softly, a trace of longing in his voice.
"Dad, I know a place absolutely perfect for Mother's recovery."
Tang San then described the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, but Tang Hao still wanted to hear Xiao Lin's opinion.
"So that's how it is… Uncle Hao, I know exactly why Auntie awakened. It must be because Little San's Blue Silver Emperor martial soul has begun evolving."
Xiao Lin explained Tang San's recent martial soul changes, then offered a solution.
"Uncle Hao, the Blue Silver Emperor has extremely strong life force. If Little San fully evolves his martial soul into the true Blue Silver Emperor, Auntie will recover very quickly."
"And with Little San's life force used for healing, her recovery will be even faster."
Tang Hao and Tang San's eyes lit up instantly.
"I almost forgot… but Brother Lin, how do I evolve quickly? I can't rely on soul bones, and soul rings can't evolve a martial soul, right?"
Tang San desperately wanted his mother to recover, even if it meant sacrificing potential.
But could a single soul ring really do it?
His question was also Tang Hao's—both looked at Xiao Lin with hopeful eyes.
"I already gave the answer earlier. Little San's life force can nourish Auntie, so naturally other Blue Silver King soul beasts can give their life force to Little San, helping his martial soul evolve."
Xiao Lin's words instantly reminded Tang Hao of something Ah Yin once told him—to find the tribe of Blue Silver Kings?
But would that really work? Tang Hao still couldn't be sure.
"Speaking of this… ever since I learned Little San is the child of a human and a soul beast, I wondered—can humans even awaken a soul beast martial soul for him?"
"Then I thought of Xiao Wu. Everything makes sense. Soul beasts can awaken a martial soul for a human."
"Little San, Uncle Hao, go find the Blue Silver Kings. Don't worry."
"I've studied Blue Silver Grass social structures. They are heavily influenced by bloodlines and will be absolutely loyal to Little San."
"And Little San's martial soul will guide them, granting them new life."
"This is mutually beneficial. The Blue Silver Kings have no reason not to help. They might even help Little San reach the Soul King realm and let him condense his own soul ring."
Hearing that, Tang Hao and Tang San didn't doubt him for a second.
Tang San, in particular, was fascinated by the idea of self-condensed soul rings.
If his body could withstand it… couldn't his fifth soul ring also be a hundred-thousand-year ring, just like Xiao Lin?
End of Chapter