Give Up the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and Cultivate the Clear Sky Hammer Instead
"Your Xiao San... isn't human."
The words "not human" exploded in Tang San's ears like a thunderclap.
My eardrums are ringing.
My mind went completely blank.
"Dad, what did you say?"
Tang San's voice changed tone, becoming high-pitched and trembling.
"Your mother, Ah Yin."
Tang Hao paused for a second, then said, "She is Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor."
Tang Hao's gaze settled on the swaying Blue Silver Grass on the ground, and his expression softened, as if he were recalling something from a very, very long time ago.
"The ruler of all Blue Silver Grass on this continent."
"!!!"
Tang San's mind went blank.
Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!
His mother was actually a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!
The thought swirled in his mind, and before he could process it, another thought struck him—his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul!
Tang San subconsciously raised his right hand, a blue light flashed in his palm, and a slender Blue Silver Grass sprouted out.
The blades of grass swayed gently in the wind, making a soft rustling sound.
The leaves are slender with faint silver veins along the edges, swaying gently in the palm of your hand, as tender as a mother's hand.
"... impossible."
Tang San muttered to himself, his voice trembling.
"How could Soul Beast... how could it be with a human--"
Why not?
Tang Hao gave a bitter smile, his smile filled with bitterness.
His mouth stretched open, revealing yellowed teeth; that smile was uglier than a grimace.
"Ah Yin is Hundred-Thousand-Year Transformed Soul Beast. After transforming, she became a true human."
Tang Hao paused for a moment.
"Let's travel across the continent together, seeing all the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas."
His voice seemed to drift away, as if he were describing a dream.
Tang San listened, his vision blurred with tears.
"I thought I could spend the rest of my life with her."
Tang Hao's voice suddenly turned cold, as cold as ice shards in the dead of winter.
"Until the Spirit Hall discovered her identity."
The moment Tang Hao uttered the words "Spirit Hall," the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
Several insects in the grass stopped chirping.
Tang Hao clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.
The sound of bones rubbing together was crisp and loud.
"I fled with her, who was pregnant with your mother."
Tang Hao spoke faster, his voice filled with barely suppressed hatred.
"They fled from Spirit City to Nuoding City, and from Nuoding City to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"They sent three Titled Douluo to chase us, and they chased us for a full nine months."
Titled Douluo.
Tang San's pupils contracted.
"Shortly after your birth, the Spirit Hall found us."
Tang Hao's voice was trembling.
It was raining heavily that day; the rain was so heavy that you couldn't see anything more than three steps away.
"Your mother just gave birth to you, and she's so weak she can barely stand."
"I held you in my arms, supported her, and hid in a cave."
Tang Hao closed his eyes, a look of pain on his face.
"They found it after all."
His teeth were clenched so hard they were making a grinding sound.
"We've both exhausted our Soul Power; we can't stop them at all."
Tang Hao reached out and gently touched the leaf of a Blue Silver Grass at his feet, his fingertips trembling slightly.
"To protect you, Ah Yin chose to Sacrifice herself."
Tang San suddenly stood up.
"Sacrifice?"
Tang San gripped his father's arm, his nails digging deep into the muscle.
Tang Hao had several crescent-shaped marks on his arm.
"What does 'Sacrifice' mean? Dad, please explain!"
Tang San's voice was almost a roar, and the veins on his neck bulged.
"Soul Beast voluntarily Sacrifice, giving all its Spirit Ring and Soul Bone to a human."
Tang Hao closed his eyes tightly, his eyelids trembling violently.
"She gave me the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Ring, and also the Soul Bone in my right leg."
Tang Hao's voice grew softer and softer.
"I'll trade her life to become the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent, and I'll trade your life in return."
Tang San's hand slipped off Tang Hao's arm.
"What..."
Tang San knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
He repeatedly banged his head against the ground, his forehead hitting the grass roots and pebbles, breaking the skin and causing it to bleed.
She burst into tears.
The cries echoed through the forest, startling several birds that were roosting there.
The bird fluttered up and flew away, its wings beating against the leaves.
Tang Hao stood aside without helping.
He simply clenched his fists.
The fingernail pierced the palm, and blood dripped from between the fingers.
Some pain you have to bear yourself.
Some hatreds are best kept to yourself.
long time.
The crying gradually stopped.
Tang San got up from the ground.
The wound on his forehead was covered in dirt and grass clippings, the blood and soil mixed together, forming a dark red scab.
He raised his head, his bloodshot eyes burning with something like fire.
It was a hatred that burned to the bone.
Tang San wiped away his tears and vigorously wiped them with his sleeve.
He said, word by word, "I will cultivate diligently and become stronger. I will make the Spirit Hall pay for its blood debt."
Each word looked like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.
Tang Hao looked into his son's eyes and saw the same stubbornness he had shown himself, and nodded with satisfaction.
He reached out and patted Tang San's shoulder heavily.
The force of the hand landing was heavy; Tang San's shoulders slumped down, then straightened up again.
"Good son."
Tang Hao's lips twitched slightly.
"Dad will be with you."
Tang Hao's voice was rough, but very steady.
"One day, our family will truly be reunited."
Tang San felt a lump in his throat, but he held it back.
He nodded emphatically.
As the shadows of the trees slanted westward, the light in the forest dimmed.
Tang San calmed himself down and sat down next to his father again.
He sat on the ground.
"Dad."
"Is there a serious problem with my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul?"
"Your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul bloodline has a flaw, and perhaps only the Blue Silver Forest can solve this problem."
Tang Hao's voice deepened.
"That place... is your mother's hometown."
"Ah Yin grew up in the Blue Silver Forest. She told me that all the Blue Silver Grass there obeyed her; she was their queen."
As he spoke, Tang Hao's expression suddenly turned very ugly.
"The Blue Silver Grass in the Blue Silver Forest should sense Ah Yin's bloodline and should be loyal to her."
Tang San frowned. "But they attacked us."
"Right."
Tang Hao nodded, his voice very low.
"The one that attacked us was the Blue Silver Forest, the second strongest Blue Silver Clan Soul Beast in the Blue Silver King Forest besides Ah Yin, a plant Soul Beast that is over 80,000 years old."
Tang San gasped.
More than 80,000 years!
It was far more terrifying than all the knowledge about Soul Beast he had learned at the Nuoding Academy.
Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast are already beyond the reach of most Soul Master.
Tang Hao clenched his fists.
Something must have happened in the Blue Silver Forest.
Doubt churned within him.
The incident is likely related to the disappearance of Ah Yin's seedlings.
Her right Soul Bone was also gone.
He searched for a long time but found nothing.
He suspected that the Spirit Hall was behind it.
Tang San's face turned pale. "What do we do now? Can I still cultivate my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul?"
His voice carried a deep-seated hope.
"..."
Tang Hao remained silent for a long time.
"The Xiao San."
"Give up on Blue Silver Grass and switch to repairing the Clear Sky Hammer."
"!"
Tang San's fingers trembled, as if he had been pricked by a needle.
Give up on Blue Silver Grass!
That was the Martial Soul his mother left him; it was the last connection between him and his mother.
Tang San's right palm flashed with blue light again, and the Blue Silver Grass sprouted out, swaying gently in the wind.
Tang San looked down at it, his throat tightening.
"Is there no other way?"
"The problems of Blue Silver Forest cannot be solved in a short time."
Tang Hao coughed, and a little blood seeped out from the bandaged wound on his chest.
"Your Soul Power can't remain stagnant indefinitely. This is the only way."
"..."
Tang San remained silent.
The Blue Silver Grass swayed in my palm.
He stared at it for a long time, until his eyes reddened again.
"... good."
Tang San nodded.
"I'll listen to you."
Tang Hao patted his shoulder, this time with much less force.
"Once I recover a bit from my injuries, I'll go hunt down a suitable Soul Beast for you."
"We need to carefully select the Spirit Ring for the Clear Sky Hammer."