The Wind Rises, the Clouds Soar

"What... what are you going to do?!"

Tang San's voice trembled uncontrollably.

The next moment, he gritted his teeth.

"If you have the guts, just kill me!"

"Otherwise, if I ever get the chance to leave, I'll tear you to pieces!"

Tang San's gaze was icy.

At that moment, he recalled the scene of jumping off a cliff in his previous life.

Death was nothing more than death.

But dying at the hands of a commoner like this was simply an insult to him.

"Hmph! You're young, but your mouth sure is stubborn!"

The Jailer snorted coldly.

"Crack!"

The cell door opened.

The Jailer clenched his fist, aimed at Tang San's eye, and prepared to smash down hard!

However—

The next moment.

Before Tang San's astonished eyes, the Jailer's body suddenly fell.

Only then did Tang San notice a burly Man in Black standing at the doorway.

He wore a Coarse Cloth Tunic, with a piece of rough cloth covering his face and revealing only his eyes.

"Y-you... who are you?"

Tang San's voice was hoarse.

Tang Hao's gaze fell upon his son's dirt-stained face, and something flickered deep in his eyes.

He lowered his voice. "I've taken care of all the guards. You can take your teacher and leave now."

Leave?

They could leave!

Overwhelming joy surged into Tang San's heart, leaving him briefly dazed.

"Y-you're a friend of Teacher's?!"

Tang San's eyes suddenly lit up.

This mysterious Man in Black before him had to be the person his teacher had found to rescue them!

That was right. Although his teacher's Soul Power was not high, he was immensely knowledgeable. It was hardly strange that he knew some extraordinary people!

Tang Hao did not answer.

His gaze shifted toward Yu Xiaogang, who was still curled up on the floor in the neighboring cell.

In an instant, a nameless fury rose in Tang Hao's heart.

This useless wretch!

If Yu Xiaogang had not been fairly devoted to Tang San, Tang Hao would have wanted to rush over and give him a few more kicks.

"The people from the City Lord's Mansion, including Xiao Dachuan, have also been dealt with. Once you leave, you won't have anything else to worry about."

Those words were like another heavy hammer striking Tang San's heart.

Dealt with?

What did that mean?

Could it be...

Tang San did not dare think further.

At that moment, Tang San looked at the Man in Black before him, his emotions surging wildly.

His knees bent, and without the slightest hesitation, he respectfully knelt before the Man in Black!

"Thud!"

His forehead struck the cold stone floor with a dull sound.

"I will never forget your life-saving grace, Senior!"

Tang San's voice choked with emotion, yet it was incomparably resolute. "I beg you, Senior, please tell me your honored name! If the opportunity arises someday, Tang San will surely repay you!"

At the sight, Tang Hao could not help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

His heart was filled with mixed emotions—comfort, and bitterness. Of course, he could not reveal his identity.

Tang Hao fell silent for a moment before speaking in a deep voice:

"Killing God."

The next day.

All of Nuoding City was in an uproar.

The City Lord's Mansion had been reduced to ruins overnight. City Lord Xiao Dachuan and several Soul Master commanders had all disappeared.

Rumors sprang up everywhere, and panic spread through the city.

Library.

Yu Cheng closed his book and looked out the window.

The academy was far from peaceful as well.

Students gathered in small groups, excitedly discussing the upheaval at the City Lord's Mansion.

"Looks like your plan has gone quite well."

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng spoke.

"Kill Xiao Chenyu, frame Tang San, provoke the City Lord's Mansion into retaliating, and finally force Tang Hao to act."

"What a brilliant plan of killing with a borrowed knife!"

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng paused, a hint of self-mockery in his voice. "Why didn't I know how to adapt back then?"

Yu Cheng's lips curled slightly at his words.

Receiving the approval of his future self was clearly not a bad thing.

"The Xiao Family has already fallen. Yu Xiaogang is next," Yu Cheng said calmly.

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng frowned. "Yu Xiaogang won't be easy to deal with. His identity as a descendant of the Upper Three Sects is an obstacle we can't get around."

In truth, whether it was Xiao Dachuan or Yu Xiaogang, he could deal with either of them with his current abilities.

It was merely a matter of the cost.

Killing Xiao Dachuan and that group of City Guard Commanders would place a burden on Yu Cheng's body.

As for dealing with Yu Xiaogang, even the slightest oversight would draw the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's investigation.

It might even send Yu Cheng down the same road of no return as him.

Yu Cheng stroked his chin, his eyes flickering. "When it comes to Yu Xiaogang, don't you think simply killing him would be letting him off too easily?"

"Oh?"

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng was intrigued.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Torture his body? Devour his soul? I'm rather good at those."

There was a note of excitement in his voice.

Yu Cheng gently shook his head. "For someone like Yu Xiaogang, some things may be more important than his life."

"For instance, his theories. Or Tang San, whom he treats like his own son."

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng thought for a moment. "You mean... ruin his reputation? Turn master and disciple against each other?"

Yu Cheng said, "The First Soul Ring you planned for me is over six hundred years old. That alone is enough to shatter Yu Xiaogang's theories."

"You intend to make that public?" Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng was somewhat surprised.

If he did that, wouldn't Yu Cheng be thrust into the eye of the storm?

A genius whose First Soul Ring surpassed the limit—countless forces would swarm toward him like sharks that had smelled blood.

"No, of course not."

Yu Cheng smiled. "One person surpassing the limit only counts as an isolated case. It won't be much of a blow to Yu Xiaogang. What I want is to let everyone break through the limit!"

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng pondered for a while before finally understanding Yu Cheng's plan.

"You want to reveal the secret of Whale Rubber?"

Yu Cheng nodded. "Whale Rubber is useful, but its boosting effect is actually limited. Even Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber can only increase it by five or six hundred years at most."

"Besides, I want my Second Soul Ring to absorb a thousand-year soul beast. But I can't keep hiding in the deep mountains forever, too afraid to reveal my soul rings, can I?"

Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng laughed.

"Interesting. Once the principle behind Whale Rubber is revealed, everyone will be able to absorb soul rings beyond their level, so there'll be no need to fear exposure."

"What will they call you then?"

"Master Yu?"

Yu Cheng's mouth twitched at that.

Why did that title sound so awkward coming from his future self?

The turmoil gradually subsided.

Fasnuo City sent an Investigation Team, but they found nothing.

In the end, they could only classify it as the work of an Evil Soul Master.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang quietly returned to the academy. However, for a long time afterward, Yu Xiaogang remained in his room and never went out.

Tang San became even more withdrawn, always keeping to himself.

He rose early every morning to cultivate and did not return until very late.

Yu Cheng's life also gradually became busy—cultivating, reading, beating up Xiao Wu...

Two and a half years passed in the blink of an eye.

Yu Cheng had grown much taller, and years of cultivation had gradually given him a steady, composed air.

Whenever others saw him, they could not help but praise him: What a refined young gentleman.

One day, Yu Cheng went alone to the back mountain behind the academy.

The area was shaded by lush trees and tranquil in atmosphere, making it ideal for cultivating the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

Yu Cheng found a flat bluish-gray rock and sat down cross-legged.

He quickly entered a meditative state.

After two and a half years of cultivation, his soul power had finally reached the peak of Level Nine.

With Innate Level Two Soul Power, reaching Level Ten at the age of nine made the teachers call him a genius!

And this time, Yu Cheng could sense that the soul power within his body had reached its critical point.

A great wind rose, and the clouds soared!

Breaking through to Level Ten would happen today!