Five People, Three Must Pay the Price!

Just as he was reeling in shock, Tang San spoke calmly, his voice carrying a maturity and thoughtfulness far beyond his age.

"Uncle, could it be that Blade and I both have Innate Full Soul Power, and testing two of us at once made the Crystal Ball unable to withstand it, so it exploded?" Tang San's words brought Su Yuntao back to his senses somewhat, and he began to consider the possibility.

"Oh, right. Was Blade hurt?" Tang San continued, turning his gaze toward Blade with an utterly harmless expression, as though he were genuinely very concerned about him.

Tang San's question made Su Yuntao realize the seriousness of the issue as well. He quickly looked at Blade, only to find that Blade was still expressionless, his blood-red eyes as calm as water. It seemed that everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial matter to him.

Blade responded with indifference. He was merely wearing the skin of a six-year-old child.

At that moment, seeing that Blade did not seem injured by the Crystal Ball's explosion, along with Tang San's reasonable explanation, Su Yuntao could not help but rest his chin on his hand and fall into thought. After a moment, he nodded, seeming to accept the explanation.

"You two are in a very unusual situation." Su Yuntao's voice carried a trace of disbelief, as well as helplessness toward this strange phenomenon.

"Innate Full Soul Power is a genius seen only once in a hundred years, yet two appeared at once! What a pity, such a pity." His tone was full of regret, as though he had witnessed the tragedy of two geniuses being buried.

"One is a shattered, misshapen broken sword, and the other is Blue Silver Grass." Su Yuntao's tone carried a trace of disdain. He shook his head, clearly not optimistic about their Martial Souls.

"Even if your Martial Souls were merely complete farm tools, they would still be far stronger than those useless Martial Souls of yours." His words revealed his concern for their future paths, believing that their Martial Souls could not grant them the strength they deserved.

"Then I could also..." Su Yuntao stopped before finishing. A trace of confusion flashed through his eyes, as though he were considering what their futures might have been if their Martial Souls had been different.

"Alas." Su Yuntao let out a long sigh, like the North Wind in winter, carrying endless chill and regret. He shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked past the two of them with a regretful expression, slowly heading for the door.

His figure gradually disappeared beyond the doorway, leaving Tang San and Blade standing silently across from one another in the room. An indescribable feeling hung in the air.

The moment Blind Douluo Su Yuntao's figure disappeared from the room, Blade stopped pretending. He shed his indifferent mask, and suddenly, a soft laugh escaped his throat. It carried teasing and relief as it echoed through the empty room.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, the Shattered Sword appeared in his hand.

He gripped the hilt with one hand, and the blade drew a blood-red Cold Light through the air, pointing directly at Tang San's head.

The sword tip gleamed with icy light, as though it could fall at any moment and deliver a fatal blow to Tang San.

Seeing this, Tang San immediately felt a powerful sense of danger rise within him. His eyes widened, and his body instinctively took half a step back. In an instant, he entered a state of utmost vigilance.

He swiftly recalled the formulas of the Mysterious Heaven Skill and the mysteries of the Purple Demon Eye, preparing every Trump Card he possessed for anything that might happen.

"Blade! What are you doing?" Tang San demanded in a low voice, his tone tense and wary!

A mocking curve formed at Blade's lips. His blood-red gaze was like an arrow, fixed firmly upon Tang San's purple demon eyes, as though it could pierce through that purple haze and see straight into Tang San's heart.

That gaze was like an icy blade, making a chill instantly crawl up Tang San's spine. Cold sweat involuntarily slid down his forehead.

Tang San's heartbeat quickened. He felt pressure unlike anything he had ever experienced!!

Ding! The Protagonist was so frightened that cold sweat streamed down his face. Portrayal Progress increased by 0.1%!

Current Portrayal Progress: 5.51%

Soon, after that voice rang out in his mind, Blade's low voice, brimming with killing intent, slowly followed.

"There are five people, and three must pay the price." Blade's voice sounded as though he were reciting some mysterious prophecy.

"Tang San." Blade's voice became even colder, each word seeming to scrape across an icy stone slab.

"You are one of them!" Those words were like a verdict, making Tang San's heart sink sharply.

Tang San clenched his teeth. Confusion and anger flashed in his eyes. He could not understand what Blade, this madman, wanted to do. He had clearly never provoked him. Nor did he believe Blade could read minds and see through his thoughts.

"What exactly do you mean? What price? Why am I one of them?!" Tang San asked sternly, his voice firm and forceful as he tried to get an answer from Blade.

Blade merely sneered, his laugh filled with mockery and contempt. "Heh heh~ You don't need to know."

"One week from now, at the North Village Clearing. Fight me with that so-called full soul power of yours." Blade's voice carried an order that could not be refused.

"I'll let you know the gap between us." As Blade finished speaking, he directly put away Shizun's Sword. With a flash of sword light, the shattered sword vanished from his hand.

Blade's lips curled into a sneer again. His blood-red eyes gave Tang San one last amused look before he turned and left without hesitation, leaving behind a cold, aloof silhouette.

Tang San stood frozen in place, utterly bewildered and terrified. In that brief moment just now, he had nearly exposed all his Trump Cards before Blade. Yet even so, he still felt pressure as overwhelming as collapsing mountains and raging seas.

Blade's strength exceeded his imagination. Tang San began to realize that he was facing an incomparably difficult challenge.

He was not like Tang San, merely at level ten Innate Full Soul Power!!

He was definitely stronger than Tang San!! And he seemed to harbor great hostility toward him!

At that moment, Blade's voice still echoed in Tang San's mind. It was low and full of killing intent, as though it had risen from an abyss, enough to send shivers down one's spine.

Tang San's face darkened like still water in an instant. His Purple Gold Demon Eye flickered wildly within his eyes like lightning streaking across the night sky. Though his outward appearance had already regained its calm, the turmoil in his heart was like a sea amid a raging storm, surging violently and impossible to quell.

He really is a madman! Tang San thought through gritted teeth, his brow tightly furrowed as a trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. If I can avoid keeping this man around, then I will. If not, I must stay far away from him!

His thoughts raced, as though searching for a clue to solve this problem.

Heh heh, but then again, I have two Martial Souls. Although Blue Silver Grass's potential is unknown, I still have a hammer. With the aid of Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, if I can make a move somewhere deserted in the clearing, perhaps killing him would not be too difficult?

A Cold Light flashed in Tang San's eyes as he began to weigh the pros and cons, considering the worst-case scenario.

Blade, you brought this upon yourself. You can't blame me!

His voice echoed low in his heart, like a volcano about to erupt, containing immense power.

He stared fixedly at Blade's aloof back, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

There was both wariness of Blade's unknown strength and unwavering confidence in his own plan.

He had already begun devising how to use his advantages in the coming battle, how to deliver Blade a fatal strike when he least expected it.

Tang San clenched his fists. He could feel his heart racing and his blood boiling.

He knew that this coming battle would be the greatest test of his wisdom and strength.

He had to be prepared, because in this dangerous world, only the Strong Person could survive.

Ding! The Protagonist has developed killing intent toward the host! Portrayal Progress increased by 0.5%!

Current Portrayal Progress: 6.01%

Blade walked with his arms folded across his chest, his eyes narrowed slightly. His mood improved further, and the pain throughout his body lessened considerably as well.

He finally took the bait.

"Heh heh~ It's better that he has killing intent. Otherwise, the other shore is so far away. It would be painful if he could not reach it."

Ding! Congratulations to the host. Portrayal Progress has advanced by 1%. You have received one Lottery Draw Count and a Ten-Year Spirit Ring!

Ding! Would you like to equip the Ten-Year Spirit Ring now?

However, soon afterward, System's voice rang out in Blade's mind again.

It was a reward. For a moment, he was somewhat confused. So increasing progress by 1% could earn him a lottery draw and a Soul Ring reward?

But wasn't this reward far too little? Just ten years?

Blade shook his head, then remembered that the Soul Ring could increase along with his Portrayal Degree. He just did not know how much his current 6.01% could increase this Ten-Year Spirit Ring.

Soon, Blade grew somewhat expectant and immediately chose to equip it in his mind.

At once, the system displayed that the Ten-Year Spirit Ring had been equipped successfully!

Ding! Ten-Year Spirit Ring upgrading!

Current Portrayal Progress: 6.01%. Soul Ring upgraded to 60,100 years, successfully upgraded into a Sixty Thousand Year Spirit Ring!

Blade: "?!"