Each Side's Thoughts

At this moment, in the forest, atop a waterfall not far from the battlefield where Blade and Tang Hao had just ceased fighting, the roar of water thundered, white silk gleaming like silver as flying beads splashed like jade. Tang Hao appeared beneath the great tree. His gaze swept briefly over the Blue Silver Emperor beside it, his eyes revealing an emotion too subtle to discern. After confirming that everything was unharmed, he did not linger and turned to leave this place filled with memories.

Tang Hao quickened his pace and hurried back toward Holy Spirit Village. His heart was filled with wariness toward Blade. An opponent of merely level 20 had actually forced him into such a state! Although he still had trump cards he had not revealed, the aura of the group approaching earlier, along with Blade's earthshaking strike, forced him to reassess the situation.

He could not take risks. Whether those people who had suddenly appeared were connected to Blade or not, his Beloved Son still needed his protection. He could not gamble with his life. In Tang Hao's heart, his Beloved Son's safety had to come first.

More importantly, during their prolonged clash, Tang Hao had discovered an extremely terrifying fact—Blade had actually grown stronger and stronger as the battle continued. With every exchange, Blade's power seemed to rise without end, like a Bottomless Pit, unfathomably deep. This discovery shocked Tang Hao greatly. He realized that Blade's potential might far exceed his imagination. It was a dangerous sign, and an important reason why he chose to retreat.

Tang Hao's back gradually receded into the forest. His heart held both vigilance toward Blade and deep reflection on the road ahead. He knew this encounter would not be the end. The grudge between him and Blade might only just have begun.

As a native-born resident of the Douluo Continent, Tang Hao had never witnessed such astonishing talents. Stormy Waves surged within his heart. This existence that defied common sense left him incredulous, even somewhat panicked. In his understanding, such talents were nearly the stuff of mythical legend. He simply could not accept this reality that exceeded all convention.

If Blade had known what Tang Hao was thinking at that moment, he might have silently approved of Tang Hao's ability to recognize the situation. If Tang Hao had truly resolved to determine victory or defeat with Blade, then Blade would have to consider whether to stay or leave.

If he chose to stay, the Side Effect of being Mara-Struck would most likely erupt completely. When that happened, Blade's slaughter would not stop until Tang Hao fell. But the consequences of doing so were obvious. First, he would lose Tang Hao as a source of Portrayal Progress. After all, there was still a difference between a one-time victory and long-term accumulation. Second, after a complete outbreak, Blade would need a great deal of time to recover.

If he chose to leave, Blade would not need to consider much. With his abilities, escaping would not be difficult. But that might make Tang Hao mistakenly believe he had fled out of fear, reducing the Portrayal Progress gained through this battle.

At this moment, Tang Hao secretly felt fortunate. Although he had revealed the Clear Sky Hammer during the battle, at least he had not exposed his true face. He had deliberately deepened his voice during the fight, ensuring that Blade would not recognize him as Tang Hao from the same village.

However, he could not help but think that, because of this, the Clear Sky Sect might Take the Blame for him. If Blade truly had a hidden force behind him, they would likely turn their attention toward the Clear Sky Sect. This gave Tang Hao a familiar sense of helplessness. The Clear Sky Sect, the sect to which he belonged, might suffer an Undeserved Disaster because of his actions.

As a Strong Person of the Douluo Continent, Tang Hao knew full well the responsibilities he bore. Besides, it was not the first time he had disregarded whether his sect lived or died.

At this moment, he had no mind to care about anything else. Even the safety of his sect was less important to him than protecting and raising his son. Every ounce of his energy had to be devoted to the great cause of ensuring his son's safe growth.

He secretly resolved that he had to immediately warn his genius son to keep his distance from Blade in the short term and avoid becoming enemies with him. He had to be patient like a lurking Hunter, develop quietly, and wait for the right opportunity. In this world ruled by the Law of the Jungle, avoiding the Sharp Edge and preserving one's strength was sometimes the wisest choice.

At the same time, Tang Hao began secretly investigating Blade's background. He could no longer continue blindly guessing like this; he needed conclusive evidence. A Cold Light flashed in his eyes. If the investigation showed that this damned Kid truly was alone, without the support of any force behind him, then Tang Hao would act without hesitation and eliminate Blade, cutting off all future trouble.

Tang Hao's heart was filled with grim determination. He knew that once he chose this path, there would be no turning back. While protecting his son, he also had to Set Up layer upon layer of deception around his actions, ensuring that when necessary, he could Hit the Mark and leave Blade no chance to strike back.

His figure gradually disappeared into the forest, like a ghost in the night, silently beginning his plan. Every step Tang Hao took was filled with caution and resolve. He knew that every move to come would be crucial in deciding his and his son's future fate.

On the Other Side, after successfully avoiding the Strangers drawn over by the battle, Blade found a secluded corner and began to recuperate. The quiet place was surrounded by Towering Ancient Trees. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the treetops, scattering dappled light and shadow and adding a touch of mystery to the tranquil space.

Blade knew that he needed time to suppress the Side Effect of being Mara-Struck. Here, he had no Kafka's Spirit Speech to rely on. Everything depended on himself and the system's continuously strengthening suppression effect. That battle had unprecedentedly increased his Portrayal Progress by 6% in succession, making the system's indirect Suppression Power even stronger. At present, he felt that his condition was fairly stable.

After this battle, Blade understood the strength of his own power more deeply. It also made him more certain that he had to accelerate his Portrayal Progress in order to raise his strength more quickly.

Blade took out the potted Blue Silver Emperor from his Spatial Ring and slowly placed it beside him. During this peaceful period of recuperation, he did not want any outside disturbances. At this time, Ah Yin, who had absorbed his Abundant Blood, would serve her purpose and help him keep watch over all movement in the surroundings.

He was raising her, so he could not raise her for nothing. At critical moments, she would become his Capable Assistant, helping him avoid risks and keep watch over the surroundings. That was her task as well.

Then Blade closed his eyes and tightly held Shizun's Sword in his arms, as though the sword's cold aura could calm him further. Time slowly passed in this silent forest. Under the sunlight, Blade's figure appeared especially lonely yet resolute. His breathing gradually evened out, and his body and mind sank into deep recuperation as he waited for his next awakening.