While Yu Tianming was fusing his soul bones, Tang San was carrying Tang Hao on his back, making their way toward the Blue Silver Forest.
Although the Spirit Hall hadn't issued a bounty for the two, Tang San, a lifelong assassin, understood too well: now that his soul beast bloodline had been exposed, traveling openly on the main roads would surely invite attacks. And so, father and son began trudging through the treacherous paths of Star Dou Forest.
The dense forest was nothing like the open plains. Even an elite force capable of traveling a hundred miles a day would find it difficult to traverse twenty miles in such terrain. Let alone Tang San, who was carrying the unconscious and legless Tang Hao on his back.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the trees in a warm golden hue under the twilight sky.
Tang San gently set Tang Hao down beneath a tree and used his Dark Blue Silver Grass to gather firewood. This was his rare moment of rest. Although Tang Hao had lost his legs, his body—honed through years of physical cultivation—remained incredibly heavy. Even with Tang San's mastery of the Xuan Tian Technique and the Random Cloak Hammer Technique, carrying Tang Hao through Star Dou Forest was no easy feat.
As darkness settled in and the stars emerged, an eerie stillness fell over the forest. The rustle of wind-blown leaves was soon joined by chilling wolf howls in the distance.
Sitting beside the fire, Tang San remained unfazed. Though Star Dou Forest was filled with soul beasts, the outer regions only contained thousand-year-level threats. These held no danger for him.
Roasting on the fire was a plump, golden-brown rabbit.
Soft-boned rabbits, as the most common herbivore in the forest, were Tang San's easiest source of food. He had no seasoning—not even salt—but after a day of arduous trekking, a simply roasted rabbit was a gourmet delicacy in his eyes.
Just as he prepared to dig in, a pack of Gale Demon Wolves caught scent of the roast, their eyes glowing green in the darkness behind him.
Tang San paused for a moment, then, paying no attention to the encroaching wolves, tore off a rabbit leg and stuffed it into his mouth. Behind him, sharp, thorn-covered vines surged forth, drowning the wolves like a tide.
He had absorbed the vitality of countless soul beasts during his trek and now sat at the peak of rank 50. These thousand-year-level wolves meant nothing to him.
By the time he finished eating, the pack had been reduced to withered corpses, and the Blue Silver Grass had gained a deeper luster from their drained essence.
Suddenly, a cracking sound snapped Tang San to alertness. He sprang up with Tang Hao in his arms and retreated into the trees, his eyes fixed on the ground where Tang Hao had just been lying.
There, a pool of fresh blood stained the earth.
The ground trembled. With a violent crack, a black centipede as thick as a water bucket erupted from beneath the soil, swallowing the blood-soaked ground in one gulp.
'Ironback Millipede? And that size—it's definitely reached the ten-thousand-year level!' Tang San narrowed his eyes, studying the grotesque creature with caution.
Ironback Millipedes were known for their strong defense and venomous attacks. Due to their aggressive nature, they rarely survived past a thousand years, making this one an anomaly. Its size and aura made it worthy of the title: Ironback Millipede King.
It circled briefly in the air, then, catching the scent of blood from Tang Hao, began to climb the tree trunk rapidly.
Soul beasts could grow stronger by devouring humans, and Tang Hao, a former Title Douluo, was a prime tonic. Swallowing him would be a massive leap forward for the beast.
The creature moved swiftly. In a blink, it was right in front of Tang San.
'So fast! So this is the power of a ten-thousand-year beast!' Tang San clenched his jaw and leapt down with Tang Hao in tow, but even with his Movement Technique, the gap between them quickly closed.
Seeing no alternative, Tang San made a grim decision—he grabbed Tang Hao's freshly healed stump and tore it open again. Blood sprayed across the ground, soaking the forest floor.
The millipede immediately halted its pursuit, turning instead to feast on the fresh blood. Its mandibles tore through the soil, gorging eagerly.
'Not very bright, are you? Or maybe it thinks it's already won?' Tang San smirked coldly. He reached into his waist pouch and pulled out a golden marble, jamming it into Tang Hao's stump to coat it in blood. Then he tossed the blood-drenched orb toward the creature's mouth.
The beast gulped it down without hesitation.
A moment later, the orb exploded into countless golden needles, piercing through the millipede's skull from within.
With a screech of agony, the massive insect stiffened, then collapsed.
'Youth Edition Buddha Fury Tang Lotus. Back at the tournament, I couldn't afford high-grade materials, so I made this from Dragon Beard Needles. It's crude, but deadly enough.'
He dropped Tang Hao beside the corpse and strolled over, expression cold.
"I've lingered at rank 50 for half a month. Time to claim my fifth ring."
Tang San sat cross-legged and began to absorb the ring. Tang Hao was still bleeding, but Tang San wasn't worried. A Title Douluo's blood was so potent that most soul beasts wouldn't dare approach. The Ironback Millipede's boldness had been an exception.
As the pain of his stump returned, Tang Hao slowly regained consciousness, blinking up at Tang San who sat nearby absorbing the soul ring. When Tang San finished, Tang Hao's weak but proud voice rang out.
"Xiao San, you've grown. A Soul King at just fifteen… You're already stronger than I was."
Two lifetimes deprived of fatherly love made Tang San's heart flutter with joy. He beamed and said in a soft, unnaturally sharp voice, "Dad, you're awake! I have some rations here, do you want to eat?"
Hearing that strange, effeminate voice, Tang Hao's warmth vanished. His eyes turned sharp. "Xiao San, what's wrong with your voice?"
Even though he was maimed, the pressure of the former Slaughter God remained. Tang San, overwhelmed by the murderous aura, stumbled and fell to the ground.
"I… I don't know…"
Tang San's eyes welled up with tears. The bitterness in his heart surged again. He took a deep breath and confessed everything.
"I was ambushed during the qualifiers. I barely escaped with my life, but I lost that… function. Later I tried to seek out the Nine-Heart Begonia to heal myself. I… cut it off… But the Begonia heir wasn't strong enough to heal me fully. That's why my voice became like this…"
As if unburdened, Tang San exhaled deeply and looked at Tang Hao.
Tang Hao's expression remained grim. "Take off your pants. I need to see how bad the damage is."
Tang San didn't hesitate. He undid his waistband, letting his trousers fall. Below his navel, a jagged scar stretched across, and where a man's pride once was, there remained only a grotesque lump of flesh.
"Xiao San… Where is your… How did you become a girl?!"
The sight hit Tang Hao like a bolt from the blue. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and almost passed out again. With fury in his eyes, he punched the earth, then the nearby tree, unable to contain his rage.
Tang San curled into a ball beside him, quietly crying.
After venting, Tang Hao crawled over with gritted teeth. "Xiao San, what was your fifth soul skill?"
"Blue Silver Blood Armor…"
Tang Hao's eyes lit up. "An armor-type skill?"
"No. It's more like a blood-red shell on the Blue Silver Grass. It strengthens their defense and indirectly boosts attack."
"Hmph, not useless then…" Tang Hao looked away, eyes dimming. "Back then, thinking I'd die, I gave you a map to the Blue Silver Forest where your mother once lived. But since I've awakened, let's visit Holy Spirit Village first. I want to give you something your mother left behind."
"My mother left something for me? Father… Is she really a soul beast?" Tang San's voice trembled with hope.
Tang Hao suppressed the nausea brought on by that strange voice and said coldly, "I told you before, I'm from the Clear Sky Sect. Your mother, Ah Yin, was a ten-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor soul beast. We met during my journey with your uncle. She was the youngest of us three, so we called her Sanmei, and your name, Xiao San, comes from that."
As he spoke of the Blue Silver Grass, a nostalgic smile spread across his face.
"Later your uncle returned to the sect, but Ah Yin chose to stay with me. After she bore you, the Spirit Hall came hunting for her soul ring and bone. To save me, she sacrificed herself…"
"Did she leave something in Holy Spirit Village?"
Tang Hao nodded. "She left her soul bone. My own set was complete, so I hid hers in the mountains behind the village. Her element is life—it might help with your recovery."
'A ten-thousand-year soul bone!'
Tang San's breathing hitched. That was one of the rarest treasures on the continent, granting immense power and even two enhanced soul skills.
To someone at the end of his rope, it was like a beggar suddenly inheriting millions. But then Tang Hao dropped a bombshell.
"Xiao San, your rabbit friend is also a ten-thousand-year soul beast. I knew all along. If you love her, I'll support it. If not, I'll help you take her ring and bone. It's just…"
"No! Xiao Wu is so gentle and kind… I'd never…" Just hearing her name made Tang San ache.
Tang Hao snorted. "You love her. But does she love you? After you all reached Heaven Dou City, she learned to fully suppress her soul beast aura. Yet Yu Tianming still found her out. You think that's coincidence?"
His words stabbed straight into Tang San's heart.
He had endured humiliation, self-mutilation, rejection, hardship—none had broken him. But the thought of Xiao Wu choosing another? That shattered him.
"No… She's not like that! Yu Tianming must have threatened her! She'd never choose him willingly… It's his fault! All his fault!!"
Tang San's eyes grew bloodshot, his voice shrill and unhinged.
Tang Hao could only sigh heavily.
'Fine. Let him vent.'
"Xiao San, you're a twin-spirited soul master. When you become a Title Douluo, you can take your revenge. For now… let's rest. We have a long road ahead tomorrow."
(End of Chapter)
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