"Since Tang Hao is in the city right now, why didn't you keep him here, Fifth Grandpa? With your abilities, dealing with a badly wounded Tang Hao should be a piece of cake."
Su Zhen questioned Guang Ling, his voice rising several notches. The man who had slaughtered the village chief was within a kilometer of him, and a powerful expert capable of capturing him stood right beside him—yet that expert did nothing.
Recalling the carnage from six years ago, Su Zhen clenched his fists until they creaked.
"Xiao Zhen, it's not time yet. Tang Hao can't die."
Looking at Su Zhen, whose heart was consumed by hatred, Guang Ling spoke calmly.
"Then when can we kill him? If we miss this chance, where are we supposed to go to find him again?"
Su Zhen ignored Guang Ling's advice. His eyes bloodshot, he shouted at him again, the flames of vengeance roaring in his heart.
Bang—
Guang Ling flashed to Su Zhen's side and brought his palm down hard on his shoulder. His calm voice sounded in Su Zhen's ears again.
"I said, it's not time yet."
"I... I understand, Fifth Grandpa. I got carried away."
Guang Ling's slap shattered the anger in Su Zhen's heart. He lowered his head and stared at his toes.
Before we set out, Big Brother sent me a message. If we run into Tang Hao this time, avoid him if possible. There's a terrifying presence protecting him.
Guang Ling's voice rang in Su Zhen's mind, dousing the flames of his vengeance. Su Zhen looked up at him and saw encouragement beneath his calm expression.
Su Zhen gave a slight nod to show he understood. The only one Qian Daoliu would call terrifying was that person. It really wasn't the time to hunt Tang Hao yet.
Calming the anger surging inside him, Su Zhen turned to the others.
"Everyone, our next destination is Holy Soul Village."
Yang Fan pulled out a detailed map of the nearby cities that he had obtained from the Martial Soul Branch Hall in Nuoding City. Following the route marked on it, he drove the carriage toward the spot labeled "Holy Soul Village."
Two hours later, a carriage rolled to a slow stop in front of Holy Soul Village.
Su Zhen climbed down and surveyed the childhood home of the future Sea God.
"Yang Fan, Li Hao."
"Your subordinates are here. What are your orders, Young Master?"
Both accompanying Soul Douluo answered at once.
"Search every inch within a twenty-li radius of this village. Find a waterfall."
"Yes, sir!"
The two vanished in an instant, beginning their search for the waterfall Su Zhen had mentioned.
"Brother Zhen, why are you looking for a waterfall? Are you in a bad mood and want to enjoy the scenery?"
Oscar stepped forward to ask. He couldn't understand why Su Zhen was searching for a waterfall and assumed he wanted to clear his head.
"I'm fine now, Little Ao. You'll find out why once we get there."
Su Zhen smiled and patted Little Ao's head.
Before long, Yang Fan and Li Hao returned one after the other and reported what they had found.
"Young Master, there's a waterfall one kilometer from the back mountain of Holy Soul Village."
That was Yang Fan's report.
"Young Master, I found one too, in front of Rice Field Village, five li from Holy Soul Village."
Li Hao had found a waterfall farther away.
"Go to the back mountain. What I'm looking for is there."
Su Zhen quickly made his decision. No matter how stupid Tang Hao was, he wouldn't hide something so important in front of another village.
With Yang Fan leading the way, the group soon arrived before a waterfall.
"Brother Zhen, there's nothing special about this waterfall. The one behind Spirit Hall is much prettier."
Oscar stared at the utterly ordinary waterfall, his little face full of confusion.
"Don't rush, Little Ao. The good part's still ahead. Fifth Grandpa, could you check whether there's a cave behind the waterfall?"
Su Zhen reassured the somewhat weary Oscar, then turned to Guang Ling.
Guang Ling swept the space behind the waterfall with his enormous spiritual power. His probe lasted only an instant, but his face filled with shock. Then he gave Su Zhen a long look.
"Fifth Grandpa, what did you find?"
Su Zhen asked softly, a slight smile on his lips.
Guang Ling said nothing. He turned and flew into the waterfall. When he emerged again, he was holding a lead box and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass.
He returned to the group, handed both items to Su Zhen to put away, then wrapped everyone in Soul Power and flew dozens of li away, stopping in a dense forest.
"Little ones, I'm going to check the nearby area again. Wait here."
As Guang Ling finished speaking, he disappeared into the woods.
"Brother Zhen, what did my teacher give you? How did you know there was something inside the waterfall?"
Only then did Oscar get a chance to voice his confusion.
"This contains the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone."
Su Zhen took out the lead box and explained.
"What? The Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor! Is it the one Uncle Xunji failed to hunt six years ago?"
Oscar looked as if he'd just heard earth-shattering news. As a disciple of Guangling Douluo of the Worship Hall, he knew Spirit Hall's history by heart. The Blue Silver Emperor had been one of Spirit Hall's main targets in recent years—how could he not know about it?
"Yes. The other stalk of Blue Silver Grass is the Blue Silver Emperor from six years ago. After sacrificing herself for Tang Hao, she was hidden in that lightless cave along with this Soul Bone."
Before Oscar could react, Su Zhen dropped another bombshell on him.
"Why would Tang Hao do that? Wasn't the Blue Silver Emperor his lover?"
Even an eight-year-old like Oscar thought Tang Hao had to be an idiot. With the Blue Silver Emperor's regenerative abilities, she could have recovered if he'd simply buried her in the grass outside and waited a few decades.
"Who knows? Maybe he had some other purpose."
Su Zhen smirked and shrugged.
"All right, little ones. Enough chatting. We should discuss who gets these Soul Beasts and Soul Bones."
Guang Ling had returned. He had searched the area for several li, and for now, the place was safe.
At his words, Su Zhen took Xiao Wu and the Blue Silver Emperor sapling out of the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch. The three gathered together while Yang Fan and Li Hao moved aside to keep watch.
"We'll keep this rabbit. I'll take her back to Spirit Hall."
Guang Ling spoke first, pointing at Xiao Wu on the ground.
The other two immediately agreed. They knew that from the moment this transformed Soul Beast had been captured, she had belonged only to the apple of the Worship Hall's eye—the true young mistress of Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue.
"Xiao Zhen, you can have this Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone. Xiao Xue's Soul Bones have already been set."
Su Zhen nodded, accepting it. Although this Soul Beast's attributes didn't suit him, and its flight ability would only be useful until he reached the Titled Douluo level, its terrifying regenerative power and the rapid increase in Soul Power after absorption would still help him considerably.
"Fifth Grandpa, let's keep this Blue Silver Emperor sapling for now. We can plant it beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring. After a few years, when its age has increased enough, Little Ao can absorb it."
Su Zhen explained his plans for the Blue Silver Grass sapling.
"That's a good idea. Little Ao, do you agree?"
Guang Ling considered Su Zhen's suggestion and approved it, then turned to ask the person in question.
"Teacher, Brother Zhen, of course I'm fine with that. Absorbing this Blue Silver Emperor will surely give me a Soul Skill with an extremely powerful healing effect."
Oscar agreed with delight. As a support-type Soul Master, he spent most of his time studying theory. Well-read as he was, he knew that Blue Silver Grass had powerful vitality—especially a hundred-thousand-year-old Blue Silver Emperor seed.
"Xiao Zhen, absorb this Soul Bone now. I'll protect you."
"All right, Fifth Grandpa."
Su Zhen sat cross-legged and placed the Soul Bone against his right leg, beginning the absorption.
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