Flender

Could it have been that there was some unknown problem with Xiao San's Martial Soul?

Or perhaps it was because Xiao San had a half-human, half-beast bloodline?

No, that couldn't be right. A Soul Beast that cultivated again became a true human, and Ah Yin had already reached maturity when she gave birth to Xiao San.

Tang Hao couldn't make sense of it, no matter how hard he tried.

Yu Xiaogang didn't even dare breathe too loudly, afraid Tang Hao would take his anger out on him.

At the same time, he carefully watched Tang Hao's expression.

Suddenly, Tang Hao looked up. Their eyes met.

The savagery in Tang Hao's eyes left Yu Xiaogang terrified and ice-cold, and his heart seemed to miss a beat.

Just as he was overcome with dread, thinking disaster was about to strike, Tang Hao left.

That was right—he left without saying a word.

Although Tang Hao was furious, he knew that Yu Xiaogang couldn't be blamed for what had happened.

He wanted to kill Yu Xiaogang to vent his anger, but the deed was already done. Killing him wouldn't change anything.

Besides, Yu Xiaogang had a powerful family behind him. His father was Yu Yuanzhen, the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan. Yu Yuanzhen was a veteran Titled Douluo, and his strength was probably no weaker than Tang Hao's.

What was more, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan, the Clear Sky Sect, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were known as the Upper Three Sects, and had always stood together.

To avoid damaging their friendship, Tang Hao couldn't actually kill Yu Yuanzhen's son.

After Tang Hao left, Yu Xiaogang slumped to the ground and gasped for breath. Sweat had soaked his back.

He had managed to get through the encounter with Tang Hao, and the weight in Yu Xiaogang's heart finally lifted.

Next was Xiao San. It was obvious that Xiao San had been growing more and more distant from him lately.

At its root, the problem was the First Soul Ring. Tang San believed Yu Xiaogang's theories had harmed him, since a Plant-type Martial Soul couldn't absorb an animal Soul Ring.

What Yu Xiaogang needed now was to prove that his theory was correct.

He already had a plan: find another volunteer with a Plant-type Martial Soul and have them absorb an animal-type Soul Ring.

If the volunteer's Soul Ring didn't lose years after being absorbed, that would prove Yu Xiaogang's theory was right.

It would also show that Tang San's situation was entirely his own fault, and no one else could be blamed.

Then Tang San wouldn't resent him, his teacher, anymore.

Three years later.

The Balak Kingdom lay south of the Heaven Dou Empire, bordering Fasinuo Province. It was called a kingdom, but its territory was only three-quarters the size of Fasinuo Province.

The Lima Plain had fertile soil and produced abundant grain.

That was why Suotuo City, built in the middle of the Lima Plain, was known as the Balak Kingdom's granary.

It was midday. The weather was hot, and the sun blazed overhead.

Four figures descended from the sky outside Suotuo City's west gate, landing lightly on the ground.

Three years had passed, and Lin Ye was now 1.7 meters tall. His short black hair was neat and crisp, and his red eyes, like jewels, adorned his handsome face.

Lin Qiu'er looked around from his shoulder.

Beside them were two powerful figures, one tall and one short.

The Snow Empress was unchanged after a thousand years, wearing a white dress as pristine as snow. Her bearing was cool and noble.

The Ice Empress wore twin ponytails and a black-and-white maid outfit, with white stockings and little black shoes beneath her skirt.

Six years had passed, and the Ice Empress had learned about human society. She also knew what a maid outfit meant. But that hadn't made her give it up. It looked good, and that was all that mattered.

As she put it, she dressed for herself. What other people thought was none of her damn business.

Xiao Wu's smooth black hair was combed into a neat scorpion braid that hung past her calves. She wore a pink top that closely hugged her figure, which was beginning to develop.

Her eyes curved gently, and her pair of large, watery eyes complemented her slightly round face. She was not only beautiful, but also had a sweet, adorable charm.

With Lin Ye at the head, the group passed through the gate and entered Suotuo City amid the bustling crowds.

Compared to Notting City, Suotuo City was much larger and livelier.

Shops lined the streets, and the crowds jostled together in a scene of prosperity.

With nothing particular to do, the group wandered around the city.

Aside from the capital, Suotuo City was the largest city in the Balak Kingdom and had reached the level of a main city. It was very prosperous, with all sorts of shops lining their route, their wares dazzling to the eye.

Xiao Wu, with her sharp eyes, pointed at one shop. "That place seems to have something to do with Soul Masters."

Following her finger, they saw a shop not far away. Its storefront was small and unremarkable, but its sign was unusual.

It showed a sword, a hammer, and a dragon.

These three symbols represented the Upper Three Sects. The Spirit Hall's insignia bore the same symbols.

Lin Ye's heart stirred. Could this be the shop owned by that swindler, Flender?

"Come on, let's take a look inside." Lin Ye led the others toward the shop.

As soon as Lin Ye entered, he sensed a special fluctuation of Soul Power. With his broad experience, he quickly recognized it as the aura of Soul Tools.

Every Soul Tool had its own Soul Power fluctuation. Only after it had acknowledged its owner would that fluctuation be concealed. Otherwise, it would continue radiating outward, allowing Soul Masters to sense it.

Following the fluctuation, he looked toward a wall covered with objects that seemed very old.

So many Soul Tools?

Lin Ye was astonished. The technology for making Soul Tools had already been lost by this era.

The Soul Tools circulating on the market were all relics from ancient times—antiques, by any measure.

For this shop to have so many antiques was an impressive show of wealth.

Impressed by the shopkeeper's resources, Lin Ye wanted to see what kind of person owned the place. The man must be rolling in money.

Inside the shop, a middle-aged man lay on a rocking chair, dozing with his eyes closed. The chair rocked gently beneath him.

He looked to be in his fifties and was burly.

His face was distinctive. His chin jutted forward, his cheekbones were broad, and his face was flat, with a slight hook to his nose.

If Lin Ye had to compare it to something, he could only say the man's face looked a bit like the sole of a shoe. His eyes were closed, but he still looked somewhat shifty.

He wore black-framed crystal glasses with stiff, square frames.

Well, what were the odds? Was the world really this small?

Had they just happened to find Flender's shop?

After seeing the man's face, Lin Ye was certain this was Flender. After all, not many people could be this ugly.

And even fewer could be ugly in such a distinctive way.

Leaving Flender's appearance aside, Lin Ye's gaze swept around the shop.

At last, his eyes settled on a spot near the entrance, where a yellow crystal hung.

Unlike most crystals on the market, which were clear and sparkling, this one was full of dark-yellow impurities and had no luster.

Judging by its appearance alone, this crystal was practically worthless.

But Lin Ye saw it differently. If he wasn't mistaken, this was the very one Tang San had bought in the original story, later turning it into the Hidden Weapon Board Crystal Dragon Whisker Needle.