Tang Hao, the Old Father, Watched from the Shadows

Tang Hao watched everything.

From Tang San entering the city, to his encounter with Yu Xiaogang, becoming his disciple, Master You Chen exposing Yu Xiaogang as a fraud, the conflict between the two sides, and their eventual parting on bad terms...

He saw it all.

By Master You Chen's classification of soul power control, Tang Hao had likewise reached the level of Great Accomplishment.

Coupled with the skills he had honed while traveling across the continent and venturing through Soul Beast Forests in his youth, as well as the various strengths and qualities of a Titled Douluo, he could clearly observe Tang San from several hundred meters away while concealing his own tracks and aura well enough to avoid detection.

The reason Master You Chen had been so cautious, taking such care even with an action that could hardly be considered harmful to Tang San, was naturally because he was wary of Tang Hao's existence.

In terms of surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques alone, Tang Hao was not particularly exceptional. The key was that the physical abilities of a Titled Douluo were practically superhuman compared to ordinary soul masters.

So Master You Chen felt that no amount of caution was excessive.

In fact, when Master You Chen arranged for the Beast Envoys to deliver messages to him, he had already prepared to abandon them as expendable pawns.

Wasn't that exactly why he had trained these dead soldiers—for use at critical moments like this?

As for avoiding contact with Tang San because of this? Master You Chen had ruled out that option long ago.

"I have to admit, that kid was quite right."

Tang Hao muttered to himself.

"Yu Xiaogang really is a mediocre fool. Even most of his so-called theories were plagiarized from the archives of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall. A fraud and a piece of trash like that has no right to teach Little San!"

At that moment, Tang Hao wore ragged black clothes and still looked unkempt, but the heavy smell of alcohol was gone. His dark eyes gleamed sharply, radiating a fierce edge.

No matter how down-and-out he was, he remained a Titled Douluo.

Even the slightest release of his aura was enough to scare an ordinary adult into wetting himself on the spot.

The next moment, that sharpness receded, and his gaze grew dim.

"But... Little San has already taken him as his master. That guy's research ability and theoretical level are both average, while his own strength is utter garbage. Even a dog, given Yu Xiaogang's resources, would have become the king of dogs by now, yet this guy is still a complete and utter waste! But his breadth of knowledge truly is beyond reproach. After all, he came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and studied at Spirit Hall. Forget it..."

Since he was unwilling to reveal the truth to Tang San for the time being, having Yu Xiaogang train Tang San during this foundational stage was already far better treatment and teaching resources than most soul masters could receive.

What more could he, a "cripple," ask for?

Unless he personally stepped in, he would not be able to find a better teacher...

No, there actually is one.

Tang Hao pondered inwardly.

From the conversation between the two sides just now, he had learned that the most formidable theorist on Douluo Continent was currently living in seclusion within Notting City.

Compared to Yu Xiaogang, who had built a false reputation through deception and fraud, Master You Chen's abilities were enough to earn even a Titled Douluo's admiration.

Back when Tang Hao had traveled the continent, it had coincided with the period when Master You Chen's name was at its peak. Unlike now, he had not vanished from sight as though hidden away by the gods.

And Tang Hao, this brute, had not even realized this until now.

Come to think of it, I haven't heard much about this theoretical master lately, have I? When I traveled through cities back then, I would often hear rumors about him while drinking in taverns. Is it because I've spent these past few years in a small village like Holy Soul Village?

Right, there's another strange point. Why would someone like him appear in a place like Notting City? It can't be that, like me, he's hiding from Spirit Hall's pursuit... Wait!

A flash of inspiration struck Tang Hao's wise brain. Could it be... that some of his research offended the interests of certain factions within Spirit Hall, so he was pushed aside and sent to a place like this?... Haha, that's probably impossible. This isn't some storybook. How could there be such a coincidence? There must be some other reason.

Yet in the end, he still failed to realize that Master You Chen had effectively been blacklisted from the theoretical world.

If this were another novel, writing a character this way would seem somewhat like forcibly lowering his intelligence.

But when it came to Tang Hao... readers might even feel that Tang Hao considering the possibility that Master You Chen had been ostracized and exiled was already an epic-level enhancement! It had surpassed Tang Hao's original level of intelligence!

However, the author could explain it away!

This time... yes, this time was also a case of shared understanding!

Just as Tang San sensed in Yu Xiaogang the aura of a kindred spirit whose talents had gone unrecognized.

Tang Hao also sensed in Master You Chen a similar plight of a once-proud genius falling into ruin!

If... this master truly has been ostracized by the core of Spirit Hall's power, then having Little San take him as his master would indeed be the best choice.

Tang Hao thought to himself.

Unlike Yu Xiaogang, who was practically a con artist, this master possessed genuine ability in Tang Hao's eyes!

They had both started with low innate soul power and poor talent, but Master You Chen had built himself up from nothing. Back when Ah Yin was still alive, Tang Hao vaguely heard that this master, whose Innate Soul Power had only been level 2, had already become a Soul Ancestor. After so many years, perhaps he had become a Soul King by now?

And Yu Xiaogang? He had relied on the resources of one of the Upper Three Sects, yet failed to rise despite consuming so many resources. He had even drawn the dissatisfaction of his own clansmen and was ultimately driven out. To this day, he was still a good-for-nothing.

As the son of another Upper Three Sects clan leader, Tang Hao truly looked down on Yu Xiaogang and was ashamed to be associated with him!

Someone with Master You Chen's talent and background had still achieved so much. If Tang San were placed under his guidance, perhaps Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline could even awaken ahead of time!

At that thought, Tang Hao grew faintly excited.

Tang San was not only the only child Ah Yin and he had together, but also his hope for revenge! Naturally, the sooner his talent could be turned into strength, the better!

But Tang Hao quickly calmed down again.

Ultimately, Master You Chen was from Spirit Hall. Even if there was a certain possibility that Master You Chen had conflicts with Spirit Hall, Tang Hao absolutely did not want to take that risk.

He... could not afford to gamble!

For now, I'll first see whether Yu Xiaogang truly gives his all for Little San.

Tang Hao came to a decision inwardly.

Then, his gaze quietly shifted toward Xiao Wu, who was happily hopping around beside Master You Chen, his expression incomparably complex.

A soul beast that has taken human form... I never thought I would encounter one again in this lifetime...

Greed, hope, nostalgia, pity...

Countless emotions churned and tangled within Tang Hao's heart.

In the end, they became a long sigh.

"Ah Yin, he truly is our child. Little San... he is so much like I was back then, so much like me!"

How could he fail to notice that there was something unusual in the way Tang San looked at Xiao Wu?

Was it the soul beast bloodline inherited from half of his child?

Or perhaps... was this simply the cycle of fate?

A child born from the love between a human and a soul beast had also fallen in love with a soul beast!

Tang Hao did not look any longer. He turned his head and watched Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's backs as they entered the Academic Affairs Office together.

Then, he vanished from the rooftop.