Hiding His Information

Inside the Spirit Hall Branch at Xiling Harbor, Bishop Huo Yang was staring blankly at a file.

Ink spread across the paper, yet Huo Yang had not written a word for a long time.

This was already the third time he had lost focus today.

Ever since his husband, Xia Shi, had taken their son Xia Yang out to sea to hunt a spirit beast, Huo Yang's heart seemed to have drifted across the ocean alongside the Mystic Tortoise.

"Bishop Huo?"

Lin Deacon, dressed in white, stood before the desk and gently set down the stack of Files that needed to be handled today.

Seeing no response from Huo Yang, he raised his voice and called again, "Bishop Huo?"

"Ah, Lin Deacon."

Huo Yang suddenly came back to his senses, and the tip of his pen dragged a streak of ink across the file.

He hurriedly asked, "What is it?"

"Bishop Huo, these are the files that require your review today."

Lin Deacon pushed the Files forward, concern in his eyes as he asked, "Are you worried about Mister Xia and the others again?"

Huo Yang rubbed his Eyebrow Center and forced a smile. "Sorry you had to see that."

"I'll handle these files. Go on and get back to work."

After bowing, Lin Deacon turned to leave. Yet when he reached the doorway, he stopped and said, "Bishop, Mister Xia has sailed the seas for so many years. Hunting a First Soul Ring is no difficult task for him."

"By my count, the Mystic Tortoise has been at sea for nearly half a month. They should be returning within the next day or two."

"I hope so."

Huo Yang let out a soft sigh, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the vast blue horizon beyond the window.

Just then, an energetic voice came from outside the hall.

"Mom, we're back!"

Huo Yang's eyes lit up. He immediately rose and headed outside, the gloom on his face vanishing completely.

"Lin Deacon, you were right after all."

Huo Yang said with a smile to Lin Deacon, who followed behind him, while unconsciously quickening his pace.

Inside Spirit Hall's main hall, the travel-worn Xia Yang was looking around excitedly, while Xia Shi stood beside him with a gentle smile on his face.

Upon seeing his husband, Xia Shi was just about to speak when Huo Yang strode over and pulled their son into his arms.

"Let Mom take a look. Did everything go smoothly? Were you hurt?"

He carefully examined his son, gently pressing his hands against Xia Yang's shoulders.

Cough cough.

Xia Shi gave a timely cough, his gaze sweeping over the staff members who had stopped to watch.

Only then did Huo Yang realize he had lost his composure. He quickly straightened up and resumed his imposing stance as Bishop. "The journey must have been exhausting. I'll arrange for you to rest first."

He turned toward the onlookers and called out, "Everyone, disperse. Get back to what you should be doing."

Once the crowd had dispersed, Huo Yang led the father and son through the corridor to the guest room where they usually stayed at Spirit Hall.

The moment the door closed, Huo Yang impatiently asked, "Quick, tell Mom. How did the spirit hunt go?"

"See for yourself."

Xia Yang circulated his Soul Power, and a faint purple glow immediately spread All over the body.

A strange skeletal pattern flickered across his body. Compared to before he had gone to sea, the bones had changed from interwoven red and blue into a uniform deep purple.

"Level Fifteen Soul Power!"

Huo Yang covered his mouth in surprise and said softly, "And your martial soul, too..."

He excitedly hugged his son, only to hear Xia Yang suck in a sharp breath.

"Mom, easy! You know how strong you are..."

The family of three looked at each other and smiled, and the room filled with long-missed warmth.

After laughing, Xia Yang suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, Mom, I'm officially a One-Ring Soul Master now. Shouldn't I report it to Spirit Hall and collect the monthly allowance?"

That question immediately made the atmosphere in the room turn solemn.

Huo Yang frowned slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the table.

Xia Shi took over. "I don't think now is the right time."

"If the High-Level members of Spirit Hall learn that Yang'er absorbed a Spirit Ring beyond his level, especially if word gets out that Whale Rubber can improve a Soul Master's Physical Quality, it will become difficult for us to obtain Whale Rubber in the future."

"By then, the price of Whale Rubber throughout Douluo Continent will soar."

"I understand your concern."

Huo Yang pondered for a moment. "But quite a few people already know that Yang'er obtained his First Soul Ring."

"With his current Cultivation Speed, he will likely reach Level Twenty within a few years."

"A Soul Master with Innate Half-Level Soul Power progressing this quickly will draw attention sooner or later."

"I have a temporary solution."

Xia Shi stroked the stubble on his chin and said, "For the next few years, I can take Yang'er to cultivate at sea."

"That way, the only people he regularly comes into contact with will be the old crew aboard the Mystic Tortoise."

"We can delay the time before Yang'er is exposed as much as possible. Even if the secret of Whale Rubber cannot be kept in the future, by then Yang'er should no longer need it."

Huo Yang's eyes brightened. "That's a good idea! I can also use my authority as Bishop to make slight changes to certain records concerning Yang'er within Spirit Hall."

"With both measures in place, we should be able to protect his secret to the greatest extent possible."

He gently stroked his son's hair, his eyes filled with heartache as he asked with concern, "But if we do that, you'll have to live at sea for a long time..."

"Mom, don't worry."

Xia Yang rolled up his sleeves and showed off his clearly defined muscles. "I can handle this much hardship."

"Good child."

Huo Yang smiled with relief, then recalled something and asked, "By the way, I still haven't properly learned about the changes to your martial soul."

"Other than its color, has anything else changed?"

Xia Yang activated his martial soul again, and the bones All over the body shone with a brighter Purple Light. "The ice and fire attributes within my martial soul used to conflict with each other. Now, after absorbing the Spirit Ring, they have fused perfectly."

"Look, this purple is the best proof."

"That isn't what Mom wants to ask."

Huo Yang carefully observed his son's martial soul and asked, "I want to know what the Bone Martial Soul can do in Actual Combat now."

"For example, can its defensive and offensive power compare to my Blazing Flame Tiger or your Dad's North Mystic Black Tortoise?"

Xia Yang withdrew his martial soul and thought seriously for a moment.

"Martial soul: Bones, Body Attachment."

This time, the Purple Light became extremely restrained, almost impossible to notice without looking closely.

Xia Yang threw a few punches in the room, then moved his body around. In the end, he shook his head and said, "For now, my Bone Martial Soul mainly enhances my Physical Quality."

"The boosts to attack and defense aren't very obvious. Compared to your Beast Martial Souls, it still falls somewhat short."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Huo Yang's eyes, but he quickly recovered and said, "It's alright. This is only your first Spirit Ring."

Xia Shi wrapped an arm around his husband's shoulders and comforted him softly. "That's right. Our son's martial soul has already shown the potential to evolve."

"As he gains more Spirit Rings, it will definitely grow stronger and stronger."

"You're right."

Huo Yang smiled again. "Look at me, asking this and that. I forgot that you just got back."

"I'll have the kitchen prepare something delicious. You two should take a good bath and get some rest."

He pushed open the door, and sunlight spilled in through the corridor window, casting golden shadows across the floor.

Turning back to look at his son, who was excitedly gesturing as he recounted his experiences at sea, Huo Yang's lips unconsciously curled upward.

Perhaps the ocean was the best place for this child to cultivate—far from worldly clamor, yet capable of tempering his character.

That afternoon, even the Sea Breeze of Xiling Harbor seemed to carry the scent of hope.