Tang San: Big Brother's Kindness Can Never Be Repaid! (Happy New Year, May You Prosper)

Xiao Wu held the flower in her hands and exclaimed:

"Ge, this flower is so beautiful!"

Lu Duzhou said with a smile:

"This is an immortal-grade herb. Eating it would be enough to raise your Soul Power by ten levels."

"But what matters more right now is completing its recognition of master, so it can help conceal your aura."

"This flower is rather special. To pick it, you need to let a drop of blood fall onto it while wholeheartedly thinking of the person you love. The slightest distraction could cause a backlash."

"Xiao Wu, I know this is difficult, but I believe you can do it."

Feeling Lu Duzhou's gaze, Xiao Wu's face flushed crimson. Still, she nodded seriously, then unhesitatingly sliced open her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the flower.

In an instant, red light flared brilliantly. Without the slightest pause, Xiao Wu easily plucked the flower.

Lu Duzhou was genuinely surprised.

"Xiao Wu, you...?"

Before he could say anything, Xiao Wu threw herself into his arms and leaned against his chest.

"Ge, there's only you in my heart."

Setting everything else aside, Xiao Wu was absolutely beyond reproach when it came to devotion.

Lu Duzhou rubbed her head.

"You silly rabbit."

"There's one more thing. I'll only be staying in Notting City for one day. Tomorrow, I'll set off for Vast Sea City."

"I'll be heading out to sea with Dugu Bo, Dean Ailin, and the others to obtain high-year Whale Rubber."

Xiao Wu immediately hugged Lu Duzhou tightly.

"I'm going with you! Now that I have the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, I'm not afraid of my identity being exposed."

Lu Duzhou said softly:

"Be good. You need to stay here and cultivate properly."

"Your Soul Power Level needs to rise as soon as possible. The environment at sea isn't suitable for you."

"After consuming the immortal herb, my Soul Power has already reached Level Twenty-Seven. By the time I return from the sea, I'll definitely have reached Level Thirty. Then, after absorbing another high-year Soul Ring, I'll be at least Level Thirty-Two."

"Xiao Wu, with your talent, if you cultivate with all your strength, you'll definitely become stronger than you are now."

"You said you wanted to protect me, your brother. How can you protect me without strength?"

"Be good. You and Tang San stay behind and cultivate diligently until I return, all right?"

Xiao Wu was already crying, looking at Lu Duzhou with her watery eyes.

"Ge, I'll listen to you. How long will you be gone this time?"

Lu Duzhou thought for a moment before answering:

"I promise I'll return within half a year."

Xiao Wu held out her little finger.

"Make a deal! You can't lie to me! Otherwise, when you come back, I'll bite you!"

"When rabbits get desperate, they really do bite!"

As she spoke, she put on a fierce expression.

But with tears still on her face, she was not intimidating in the slightest.

Lu Duzhou wiped away her tears and nodded.

"Fine. If I come back late, you can gnaw on me like I'm a Big Radish!"

Xiao Wu widened her eyes and said indignantly:

"Ge! You're making fun of my big front teeth!"

"I'm not."

Lu Duzhou flatly denied it.

"You are too!"

The two bickered for a long while. After Tang San returned, Lu Duzhou brought him alone into a room.

"Xiao San, I'm leaving tomorrow for Vast Sea City. I'll be going out to sea with Dean Ailin and the others to search for high-year Whale Rubber."

"My experiment succeeded. I obtained the Thousand-Year Second Ring."

"Next, I'll acquire a large amount of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, so you can also Absorb Soul Rings Beyond Theoretical Limit."

"High-year Soul Rings can strengthen the origin of your Martial Soul, making your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul more powerful."

Tang San said worriedly:

"Big Brother, isn't going out to sea too dangerous? Dean Ailin is, after all, a Plant Soul Master. Out at sea, when facing Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, she might not be able to protect you."

"How about I go with you?"

Lu Duzhou smiled.

"You're a Plant Soul Master too!"

Tang San extended his right hand, and the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his palm.

"I still have a hammer!"

Lu Duzhou said seriously:

"This Martial Soul must absolutely not be revealed before you reach Level Sixty."

"Don't worry. Your teacher will also be going out to sea with me this time."

Tang San was stunned.

"My teacher?"

Lu Duzhou immediately gave him a rough account of what had happened. Naturally, he did not tell Tang San about certain private matters.

But Tang San could understand the general situation.

"Big Brother! You gave me an opportunity like becoming a Title Douluo's student!"

"If you became his disciple yourself, your status and position would soar in a single step!"

Lu Duzhou shook his head.

"Dugu Bo specializes in poison, and you enjoy researching poison. He's the most suitable teacher for you."

"Besides, you have Twin Martial Souls. Such a huge secret requires a backer with enough influence."

"If one day I'm no longer around, as a Title Douluo's student, you'll still receive protection."

Tang San began to cry.

He had been an Orphan in his previous life. In this life, although he had grown up in a single-parent family, he had effectively been an orphan as well.

He had never felt the warmth and affection of a family.

This was the main reason his worldview later became warped.

And now, Lu Duzhou, this big brother unrelated to him by either blood or family, had first offended Master Yu Xiaogang of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan because of him, then used his own Land Martial Soul to help him grow. Now, Lu Duzhou was even using Whale Rubber and a favor from a Title Douluo to exchange for the status of a Title Douluo's student for him, giving him protection.

He called him Big Brother, but what Lu Duzhou gave Tang San felt more like the care a father showed his son.

Big Brother was simply too good to him!

If they had not been only a year apart in age, Tang San would have wanted to kneel immediately and shout—

"If Brother does not disdain me, this younger brother is willing to take you as his adoptive father!"

At that moment, Lu Duzhou smiled and patted his head.

"Xiao San, stop crying. I'm still alive, aren't I?"

"There's another piece of good news. Look at this."

As he spoke, Lu Duzhou took out a stalk of bamboo.

Its bamboo stalk was dark green and had nine sections. Four bamboo leaves grew at its tip, their blades pale red. Overall, it seemed to contain golden patterns within.

Tang San's eyes widened, and he even forgot to cry.

"Th-this is an immortal herb?"

Lu Duzhou asked with feigned surprise:

"Xiao San, you know about immortal herbs too? That's right, this is one kind of immortal herb, called Ink Jade Divine Bamboo."

"It can significantly strengthen a Soul Master's attack power and improve the toughness of their Martial Soul. It's perfectly suited to your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul!"

Tang San looked at the bamboo before him, his breathing turning hurried.

This was one of the legendary heavenly treasures recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, capable of completely remaking a person's physique and turning them into a genius.

The Ink Jade Divine Bamboo was also recorded there. Though the details were sparse, Tang San could be certain that this was indeed an immortal herb.

Big Brother had not only found him a Title Douluo as a teacher, but had also found him an immortal herb!

Next, in order to let him absorb Soul Rings beyond his level, Big Brother was going to brave the dangerous sea to obtain Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber.

Big Brother's kindness could never be repaid!

Tang San looked at Lu Duzhou with a resolute gaze.

"Big Brother, if anyone ever wants to harm you, they'll have to kill me first!"

Lu Duzhou smiled and rubbed his head.

"My silly younger brother, how could I bear to let you die?"

"However, as a man, I hope you'll protect your Second Sister Xiao Wu and Fourth Sister Aimi."

"When I return this time, I'll introduce Aimi to you. She also has a Plant-type Martial Soul. You'll definitely get along well."

Tang San nodded forcefully.

"Alright, Big Brother. Whatever you ask me to do, I'll do it!"

Tang San began absorbing the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo. At the same time, Dai Mubai, who had reached Level Thirty, was absorbing a Soul Ring from a Plant-type Soul Beast at Yu Xiaogang's request.