The reason he had sought out Xia Ran was Tang San. During the battle that day, Xia Ran had said that the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul shouldn't have a paralysis attribute. In the end, he had come tonight for the sake of Tang San's future cultivation.
"Divine Envoy, what... exactly is wrong with Xiao San?"
"An Outer Realm Demon!"
"Your son died long ago in the aftermath of that battle. The soul residing in his body now belongs to an Outer Realm Demon."
Although he'd been mentally prepared, Tang Hao still couldn't accept hearing that he and Ah Yin's son was dead.
He still clung to a sliver of hope. Perhaps because Ah Yin was a Soul Beast, their child would be different. Perhaps...
"How is that possible?"
Ah Yin, Rest Easy and Follow Xia Ran
Tang Hao had already been a mess, but the moment he heard this so-called truth, he seemed even more dejected.
There wasn't a trace of steel left in his eyes. They were filled with despair and despondency.
After saying that, he simply knelt there, dazed.
Seeing this, Xia Ran twisted the knife again!
"Fool!"
"How do you explain his behavior as a child?"
"This..."
Tang Hao recalled all sorts of things, his gaze unfocused.
Ever since Tang San had been able to walk, he had taken care of his father, wandering between the village and the Back Mountain every morning.
His movements were strange, and purple light would occasionally appear in his eyes. As a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao couldn't have failed to notice.
And ever since becoming a Soul Master, Tang San had killed more than ten people using that sinister weapon of his. Tang Hao had seen it all while secretly protecting him.
Now, he'd even turned murderous toward Xia Ran over a single sentence.
If Tang San hadn't awakened the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, Tang Hao would have strangled him long ago!
"Tang Hao! I have no interest in your past transgressions. But this Outer Realm Demon is a calamity to the continent. If you dare protect him, I won't hesitate to bring down Divine Punishment ahead of schedule."
"Ahead of schedule? Could it be..."
"Don't ask about things you have no business knowing!"
"Yes!"
Xia Ran hovered in the air, looking down at Tang Hao with a haughty gaze and bearing down on him with an overwhelming presence.
"Since you know of my existence, I shall grant you a chance."
"If you wish to make amends for your past mistakes, bring me that Blue Silver Emperor and its Soul Bone. I may be able to help it recover its cultivation sooner and take human form again."
"Thank you, Divine Envoy!"
He had planned to rely on Tang San's cultivation talent to avenge Ah Yin. To do that, he had to stop Ah Yin from reviving too soon; otherwise, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass would never evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor.
But Xia Ran had said he would bring down Divine Punishment and kill Tang San.
Although he didn't know when that would happen, he figured Xia Ran wouldn't let Tang San cause too much trouble on the continent.
In that case, he might as well revive Ah Yin early and make up for the guilt he'd carried toward his beloved all these years.
"Such a great kindness—I have no way to repay you. Please accept my bow."
As he spoke, Tang Hao, well over six feet tall and nearly seven, bowed his head hard against the ground before Xia Ran.
The Back Mountain was covered in dead leaves, so normally, no matter how hard he bowed, it shouldn't have made a sound. But, by sheer chance, Tang Hao struck his head against a rock.
A Titled Douluo's physique smashed the rock to pieces, leaving a little stone dust stuck to his forehead.
"Let me offer you a word of advice: there's no use running from the mistakes you've made. Unless you want to live with guilt for the rest of your life."
"Divine Envoy, my grandfather..."
"I shouldn't tell you about him, but in light of your sincerity, I'll say this much: he's still alive."
Xia Ran's honesty moved Tang Hao deeply. Having the secret he'd kept bottled up for years exposed filled him with shame, but it was also a kind of release.
His greed had led him to commit a terrible mistake. He'd not only lost the woman he loved but also brought disaster upon his clan.
Even the child Ah Yin had left behind had been parasitized by an Outer Realm Demon.
It was laughable that he'd once wanted to use Tang San to take revenge on Spirit Hall. He had no idea that if he hadn't personally schemed to force Ah Yin to sacrifice herself and grievously wound Qian Xunji, the Clear Sky Sect would now be thriving in a very different way.
"Thank you, Divine Envoy. I'll go bring Ah Yin and her Soul Bone here right away."
With that, he turned and limped away into the night, his expression resolute, leaving Xia Ran alone in the woods.
Elsewhere, Flender and Zhao Wuji had felt the presence of a Titled Douluo. Ignoring Xia Ran's instructions, they hurried toward the Back Mountain.
They arrived just after Tang Hao had left.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. It's taken care of."
"Didn't I tell you two not to come?"
Xia Ran had seen straight through Flender's little schemes. The two of them had clearly waited for Tang Hao to leave before coming out, but Xia Ran couldn't be bothered to call them on it.
"Was that really Tang Hao?"
Zhao Wuji was still shaken. He and Flender had hidden in the distance and seen that scarlet Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Even from far away, they could feel its terrifying aura. They had no idea how Xia Ran had managed to withstand it.
"He'll be back soon. Why not stay and see for yourselves?"
"You brat, we were only worried about you!"
Flender looked a little awkward. After all, they were his elders, and it wouldn't look good if they let someone come looking for trouble while they hid in the shadows.
But if they had to face Tang Hao, the God of Slaughter, then that was a different story!
"Enough. I'll wait for him here. It's nothing serious, so you two can go get some sleep."
Xia Ran couldn't be bothered to hold it against them. Flender had been his teacher for years, and he'd never denied him the resources he was owed.
Flender had even helped him hunt the Soul Beasts for his first three Soul Rings.
After knowing him for so long, Xia Ran had realized that Flender was a little stingy and a little timid, but he didn't have any other bad habits.
The other old hands at the academy had treated him pretty well, too.
As for Tang Hao, it took him less than half an hour to return to the stone cave where Ah Yin was hidden.
It was already night, and the cave was dark and sealed off, leaving it pitch-black inside.
Only a small blue plant gave off a faint glow.
All these years, Tang Hao had never visited Ah Yin, weighed down by the guilt he'd felt from the beginning.
The little plant sensed the presence of a living person and swayed excitedly. Flecks of golden light appeared along its roots and stem.
"Brother Hao, is that you?"
"You finally came to see me!"
Tang Hao possessed Ah Yin's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, so even without any cultivation, she could still communicate simply through her soul power.
"Ah Yin, I'm sorry!"
"You've had a hard time all these years."
Tang Hao flashed over to the little plant and stroked its leaves with his rough hands.
The tears in his eyes caught its faint glow, sparkling like stars in the cave.
"Brother Hao!"
Ah Yin didn't understand why her Brother Hao had left her in this sunless cave. For years, even sunlight had been beyond her reach.
If not for the vitality of the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline and the stubborn hope she clung to, Ah Yin would have given up long ago.
"I met a Divine Envoy. He can bring you back to life."
"For years, I was too ashamed to come see you. But now that I've come to my senses, I won't run away anymore."
"Ah Yin, go with the Divine Envoy without worry. He can help you grow faster. When you take human form again, I'll come for you."
Tang Hao told Ah Yin everything that had just happened, and urged her to follow Xia Ran and cultivate diligently.
Before Ah Yin could continue talking to him, Tang Hao tapped the stone wall twice. A heavy lead box fell into his hands.
And so, with a little plant cradled in one arm and the lead box strapped to his chest, he returned to the Back Mountain of Shrek Academy...
Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone
Xia Ran didn't have to wait long. Tang Hao was a Titled Douluo, after all, and it had taken him less than half an hour to make the round trip.
When Tang Hao reappeared at the Back Mountain of Shrek Academy, his eyes were noticeably brighter. He no longer seemed so lifeless.
"Divine Envoy, I've brought Ah Yin and the Soul Bone."
Seeing the little blue plant with golden patterns wrapped around Tang Hao's arm, Xia Ran was a little surprised.
He hadn't expected the Blue Silver Emperor to still be conscious. Judging by how affectionately she clung to Tang Hao, she probably didn't know what had happened back then.
Would interacting with Ah Yin trigger a system quest?
And that lead box—there was probably a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone inside.
The dream of every Soul Master on the continent, a supreme treasure: the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone!
As he considered this, Xia Ran kept his expression cool and showed no hint of emotion.
"Good! We made too much noise just now. If you don't want to be discovered, leave at once."
"Ah Yin! Stay with the Divine Envoy and follow him without worry. Once I've gone to the Clear Sky Sect to confess my sins, we'll never be separated again."
The little blue plant clung tightly to Tang Hao's forearm, as if saying its final goodbye.
Before you continue