Half a month later, early one morning, the Back Mountain of Holy Soul Village was shrouded in thick mist. Dew soaked the white sea of flowers covering the hills, and the air carried the sweet, fresh scent of grass and trees.
Tang Hao walked slowly along the muddy mountain path. His coarse clothes were dusted with dirt, his unkempt hair covered most of his face, and only a rare gentleness lingered in his deep eyes.
He had just returned from Nuoding City. Tang San's performance at the academy had far exceeded his expectations, especially his innate footwork and techniques, which allowed Tang Hao to see hope for the revival of the Clear Sky Sect.
"Ah Yin, Little San has grown up..."
He murmured as he walked, his voice hoarse as though scraped by sandpaper. "He has already awakened his martial soul. Although he is currently using Blue Silver Grass, don't worry. I will teach him how to use the Clear Sky Hammer and make him the finest Soul Master on Douluo Continent..."
Out of habit, he headed deeper into the Back Mountain. That was where he had hidden his secret for years, and the only place where he could "see" Ah Yin.
As long as he saw that Blue Silver Grass, he felt that Ah Yin had never truly left.
But when he reached the waterfall, Tang Hao suddenly stopped. It felt as though the blood in his entire body had frozen in an instant.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The waterfall still roared, and mist still filled the air, but that familiar life aura belonging to Ah Yin was gone.
He remembered it perfectly. A massive boulder had sealed the cave, fitting tightly against the rock wall. Ordinary people could not move it, nor could they even discover it.