Return Home, Heading to Heaven Dou City

Four hours passed, and Su Zhen's absorption of the soul bone reached its conclusion.

Huu~

Su Zhen opened his eyes, slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and stood up.

"Little Zhen, how is this Hundred Thousand Year Right Leg Bone?"

Seeing that Su Zhen had finished absorbing it, Guang Ling leaned in, his face full of eagerness. One had to know that in the entire Worship Hall, only Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile possessed Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones. Now that this little fellow, cherished by the entire Worship Hall, had one too, he naturally had to know the effects of this soul bone.

"Fifth Grandfather, this Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone only provided me with two support-type soul skills: Flight and Healing. Flight goes without saying, but as for the healing effect, it can be called a divine skill. It passively heals all injuries on my body with negligible soul power consumption, and when used actively, it can even reach the level of regrowing severed limbs. I have named this soul skill: End, Rebirth of the Inverse Realm."

"Yo, this soul skill is truly excellent, worthy of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. What level is your soul power now?"

Guang Ling's mouth was practically split from smiling; with this soul skill, Su Zhen's safety would be greatly guaranteed.

"Fifth Grandfather, I am at level fifty-eight now. The sacrifice of the Thunder Prison Hell Vine and the Immortal Herb brought me to level fifty-four, so the soul bone only raised me by four levels."

"Why so low?"

Guang Ling expressed his confusion. Relying on the vast soul power contained within a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, it shouldn't have just reached level sixty, but level fifty-nine should have been about right.

"Fifth Grandfather, the main function of this soul bone is to grant me terrifying recovery power; the soul power increase is secondary. Furthermore,"

Su Zhen said, then suddenly paused.

"Furthermore what?"

"The medicinal power of the Immortal Herb in my body has been completely activated and absorbed under the terrifying vitality of the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone. From now on, my cultivation speed will increase by at least three times."

"What!"

Guang Ling and Oscar exclaimed in shock simultaneously. To increase Su Zhen's already terrifying talent by another three times—such talent was unthinkable. He would probably become a Titled Douluo in his twenties.

"Since things are finished here for Little Zhen, I will escort this rabbit back to the Worship Hall. You two go to Heaven Dou City and wait for me."

"Understood, Teacher."

"Fifth Grandfather, this is Breath Concealing Grass. It can mask the soul beast aura on Xiao Wu and avoid some unnecessary trouble."

Su Zhen took a small green blade of grass from his Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch and handed it to Guang Ling. With Guang Ling's level ninety-seven strength, there would naturally be no blind fools trying to rob him halfway, but there was still a restless Bibi Dong in Martial Soul Hall who needed soul rings.

Guang Ling instantly understood what Su Zhen meant. After accepting the Breath Concealing Grass and placing it on Xiao Wu, he flew away with her.

"Brother Zhen, where are we going now? Heaven Dou City?"

Seeing that his teacher had left, Oscar came over to ask about Su Zhen's plans.

"Let's go to Suotuo City first. It's been a long time since I've been home."

Su Zhen and Oscar sat inside the carriage, and Yang Fan and Li Hao drove the carriage toward Suotuo City.

At this moment, at the valley where Su Zhen and the others had taken the soul bone, a slovenly, burly man draped in a black robe appeared.

"Who! Who dares to touch my, Tang Hao's, things! You're courting death! I will definitely find you!"

Tang Hao held his Clear Sky Hammer and hammered the stone wall frantically near the waterfall, then stopped and roared at the sky.

The carriage traveled on the rugged mountain road for four days before appearing at Hound Village, located next to Suotuo City.

Su Zhen stepped down from the carriage and looked at his former home, a trace of sorrow appearing in his eyes.

"Yang Fan, Li Hao, wait outside. Little Ao and I will go in and take a look."

"Yes, Young Master."

Su Zhen looked up at the village sign covered in green moss.

"Dad, Mom, Brother, I'm back."

Su Zhen whispered softly, then slowly walked toward the village.

Oscar followed quietly behind Su Zhen. He could see Su Zhen's sadness and said nothing, simply reaching out to hold Su Zhen's hand.

Su Zhen felt the warmth coming from his hand and smiled slightly at Oscar.

The two walked slowly through this dilapidated village. The overgrown weeds and the scenes of broken walls and ruined pillars all spoke of the tragedy from back then.

It wasn't that Qian Daoliu hadn't suggested repairing Hound Village, but Su Zhen had politely declined as soon as it was brought up. He wanted to let this deserted village remain here quietly; only by thinking of this place could he find direction on his path of revenge. Only when he personally took his revenge one day would this place be reborn and rebuilt.

Su Zhen led Oscar to a huge grave in the center of the village. The mound was covered in weeds, and the tombstone standing in front was also covered in cracks.

"Brother Zhen, are all the villagers in here?"

"Yes, Dad and the villagers are all waiting for me inside."

After Su Zhen finished speaking, he knelt down and kowtowed three times. Oscar also bent down and bowed deeply from the side.

Dad, I ran into that beast today. I'm sorry I couldn't bring him here right now, but I believe the day he kneels here to atone for his sins to you all is not far off.

Su Zhen straightened up and touched his chest.

"Brother Zhen, what about your mother and brother?"

Oscar remembered Su Zhen telling him about his family, but Su Zhen had just said that only his father was here.

"Waiting for me at home."

Su Zhen finished speaking and led Oscar around the grave mounds toward the end of the village.

Arriving at the edge of the village, a small grave mound stood there.

Su Zhen stepped forward, kowtowed three times, then stood up and led Oscar away.

"Brother Zhen, aren't we staying a bit longer? You haven't been back in so long."

Oscar asked, puzzled.

"One certainly cannot show weakness in front of Mother. A boy must be tough when out in the world, yes, tougher."

As Su Zhen spoke, his eyes grew moist, and he sat on a nearby stone, staring blankly at the small mound of earth not far away.

Oscar stepped forward, gently hugged Su Zhen, and patted his back.

"Don't be sad, Brother Zhen. You still have us. Grandpa and I are your family."

It would have been fine if Oscar hadn't said anything, but the moment he mentioned family, Su Zhen burst into loud, wailing sobs.

The miserable sound of his crying made even Oscar's heart ache. One had to know that during the six years Su Zhen spent in Martial Soul Hall, he had only ever shed blood and sweat. He usually maintained a "keep away" demeanor, training diligently every day as if he wished to split one day into two. Yet, this cultivation maniac was now leaning on Oscar's shoulder, weeping bitterly.

Everyone hoped Su Zhen would grow strong quickly, believing that as long as he had the power, he could take his revenge. But no one had stopped to consider that Su Zhen was still just a twelve-year-old child who had lost his family.

Su Zhen cried for a long time, until his tears ran dry and his voice grew hoarse, only stopping when Oscar was nearly falling asleep.

Su Zhen wiped away his tears, pulled away from Oscar's embrace, and stood up.

"Little Ao, today..."

"Brother Zhen, what about today? Didn't we fall asleep right after paying our respects to your family?"

Oscar looked at Su Zhen in confusion.

"That's right, Little Ao, we just fell asleep."

Su Zhen smiled and took Oscar's hand, leading him toward the village exit. However, he did not notice that Oscar's gaze remained fixed on the shoulder dampened by Su Zhen's tears, where the stains had already dried.

"Young masters."

Yang Fan and Li Hao bowed slowly as they saw the two emerge.

"Let's go. Depart for Heaven Dou City."

Su Zhen led Oscar into the carriage, carrying the scent of his hometown as he set off to meet his new family.