The next day...
At the awakening ceremony in Holy Soul Village, Su Yuntao held the crystal ball and looked at the slender Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's palm, lamenting, "Sigh, another Trash Martial Soul."
He shook his head and was about to make a note when the crystal ball suddenly burst into dazzling light, so bright it made him squint.
"Innate Full Soul Power?!" Su Yuntao's eyes flew wide as he stared at Tang San in disbelief.
"Your Blue Silver Grass... actually has Innate Full Soul Power?" He had worked in the profession for years, yet this was the first time he had seen the strange combination of a Trash Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power.
Though he was full of doubts, he still issued Tang San a certificate from Spirit Hall as per the rules. After all, no matter what Martial Soul he had, someone with Innate Full Soul Power was a genius worth recording.
The village chief, Old Jack, watched from the side, tears streaming down his weathered face. He grabbed Tang San's hand with a trembling one. "Little San, you're a good boy! Holy Soul Village finally has a genius! That work-study spot at Notting Academy is yours, and yours alone!"
Beneath the crooked tree at the village entrance, Tang Hao was leaning against its trunk.
Tang San walked over and said softly, "Father, let's go to the Clear Sky Sect and find Uncle."
Tang Hao looked up at Tang San's profile, and the last trace of doubt in his heart vanished.
From Su Yuntao arriving at dawn to awaken his Martial Soul, to Jack giving Tang San the spot, everything had happened exactly as Little San had said the day before.
This truly was his son, his son reborn—and a blessing to the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Hao came over and patted Tang San on the shoulder, his voice carrying a hearty warmth he had not heard in years. "Let's go! Home!"
Half a month later, two figures hurried day and night among a range of rolling mountains.
Tang Hao was in the lead, his steps steady, each stride covering several yards.
Tang San followed close behind. His Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track made the rough mountain paths feel as easy to walk as flat ground.
At last, they reached the mountain range where the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral home stood.
The night was pitch-black. Tang Hao led Tang San up a steep cliff. He stopped in front of a secluded stone house near the summit and gently knocked on the stone door.
"Who's there?"
A loud voice rang out from inside the cave, followed by a sudden, thunderous surge of Soul Power.
"Elder brother, it's me, Tang Hao." Tang Hao pushed open the stone door and stepped aside to let Tang San enter, his tone tinged with complicated emotions.
"Hao?" Inside, a broad-shouldered, resolute-looking middle-aged man sprang to his feet. It was Tang Xiao, the current sect master of the Clear Sky Sect.
He looked at Tang Hao in the doorway, first stunned, then overcome with joy. He rushed over and pulled Tang Hao into a tight embrace, his voice choked with emotion. "Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you send a single word?"
Tang Hao stiffened in his arms. Guilt crossed his face, and he lowered his head. "Elder brother, I had no face to return to the Clear Sky Sect. I brought disaster upon the sect. I'm a sinner in its eyes."
"Nonsense!" Tang Xiao released him abruptly, eyes wide and voice raised.
"You did nothing wrong! You and Third Sister loved each other sincerely. What was wrong with that?"
"The Spirit Hall was at fault! They kept pressing us until the Clear Sky Sect was driven into this state!"
"Father... Father wouldn't blame you, either!" Tang Xiao's voice dropped at the mention of their father, pain flashing in his eyes.
Tang Hao fell silent for a moment, then gestured toward Tang San. "Elder brother, what's done is done. There's no point dwelling on it. The strong prey on the weak. The only fault is that our Clear Sky Sect wasn't strong enough."
"Now, we have our chance. This is my and Ah Yin's child, Tang San. Little San, hurry and greet your uncle."
"This junior, Tang San, pays his respects to Uncle." Tang San stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed respectfully.
Only then did Tang Xiao notice Tang San. Seeing the resemblance to Tang Hao in the boy's features, softened by a touch of Ah Yin's gentleness, warmed his heart. He hurriedly helped him up. "Good boy, get up! I never imagined Third Sister would leave the Clear Sky Sect such a fine young sapling! How old are you? Have you awakened your Martial Soul?"
"I just turned six. I awakened my Martial Soul yesterday," Tang Hao added. "Elder brother, we came this time to ask you for a favor."
"We're brothers. What need is there to ask for a favor?" Tang Xiao waved a big hand and said heartily. "If it's within my power, just say the word!"
Tang Hao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Elder brother, Little San has received a god's legacy. A divine oracle revealed a treasure land waiting for us to claim."
"A god's legacy?!" Tang Xiao's eyes flew wide, and his breathing quickened. "Hao, is this true?"
Their grandfather, Tang Chen, had gone missing while searching for a god's legacy. Now his own nephew had received a divine oracle. Could this be anything other than heaven's will?
"Of course it's true." Tang Hao nodded, then dropped an even bigger bombshell. "What's more, Little San has Twin Martial Souls and twenty levels of Innate Soul Power!"
"Twin Martial Souls? Twenty levels of Innate Soul Power?!" Tang Xiao's mind went blank with a buzz. He grabbed Tang San by the shoulders so hard that even Tang San's brow furrowed slightly.
Overjoyed, he cried, "Good! Good! Good! The Clear Sky Sect is going to rise again! Ah Yin, Father, do you see? The Clear Sky Sect is saved!" He said "good" three times, his voice trembling.
Once his excitement subsided, Tang Xiao took Tang San by the hand and headed outside. "Come, Little San, go with your uncle to the ancestral hall and claim your place in the family! Let all our ancestors see that the Clear Sky Sect has produced an unparalleled genius!"
"Elder brother, wait." Tang Hao hurriedly stopped him. "Little San has another task and can't claim his place in the family just yet. It's the god's will."
Along the way, he and Tang San had already agreed to attribute his rebirth to the divine oracle. That would explain all the unusual things without bringing them unnecessary trouble.
Tang Xiao paused, then nodded in understanding. "A divine oracle cannot be disobeyed. I got too excited. Then... what treasure land does the oracle want us to claim?"
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Tang Hao replied. "There are Immortal Herbs there that can help us grow stronger and heal my injuries. Elder brother, I need your help."
"Heal your injuries? Claim Immortal Herbs?" Tang Xiao's gaze sharpened. "Good! Give me the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. I'll leave a letter and make arrangements for the sect's affairs, then I'll go with you!"
Tang Hao watched him spring into action, a faint smile on his face. "You're still the same, elder brother."
Tang Xiao glanced back at him, though the corners of his mouth lifted despite himself. "Enough talk. Once we've claimed the Immortal Herbs and healed your injuries, you and I will have a proper drink!"
An incense stick later, Tang Xiao's gaze was sharp as an eagle's. "Let's go! We're going to claim those Immortal Herbs!"
Night had fallen over Star Luo Imperial City.
Two dark figures slipped through the shadows cast by the palace walls under cover of darkness. After a few swift leaps, they vanished into the woods beyond the city, moving so quickly and stealthily that they did not alert a single guard.
On the city wall, the Star Luo Emperor stood beside the battlements, his golden dragon robe stirring gently in the night wind.
His face was stern, his brows marked by a deep gravity, and his eyes followed the two figures as they disappeared into the distance.
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