Four hours passed, and Su Zhen was nearing the end of absorbing his Soul Bone.
Whoosh~
Su Zhen opened his eyes, slowly breathed out a mouthful of stale air, and stood up.
"Xiao Zhen, how is that hundred-thousand-year right leg bone?"
Seeing that Su Zhen had finished absorbing it, Guang Ling hurried over, his face full of anticipation. After all, only Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile in the entire Worship Hall had hundred-thousand-year Soul Bones. Now this little fellow, cherished by the whole Worship Hall, had one too. Of course he wanted to know what it could do.
"Fifth Grandpa, this Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone gave me only two auxiliary Soul Skills: flight and healing. There's no need to say much about flight. As for its healing effect, it's practically a divine skill. It passively heals injuries throughout my body, with negligible Soul Power consumption. If I use it actively, it can even regrow a severed limb. I've named this Soul Skill 'Finality, Rebirth Beyond the Boundary.'"
"Oh, that's a great Soul Skill. No wonder it's a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone. What level is your Soul Power now?"
Guang Ling's grin nearly split his face. With this Soul Skill, Su Zhen's safety would be greatly secured.
"Fifth Grandpa, I'm at level fifty-eight now. The Thunder Prison Hell Vine's sacrifice and the Immortal Herbs brought me to level fifty-four. The Soul Bone only raised me by four levels."
"How come it's so low?"
Guang Ling was puzzled. Given the abundant Soul Power contained in a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone, Su Zhen should have reached at least level fifty-nine, if not level sixty.
"Fifth Grandpa, this Soul Bone's main purpose is to give me terrifying regenerative abilities. Raising my Soul Power is secondary. Besides..."
As Su Zhen spoke, he suddenly stopped.
"Besides what?"
"The medicinal power of the Immortal Herbs inside me was fully activated and absorbed by the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone's terrifying vitality. From now on, my cultivation speed will increase at least threefold."
"What!"
Guang Ling and Oscar cried out in shock at the same time. Triple Su Zhen's already terrifying talent, and you had a talent beyond imagining. He'd probably become a Titled Douluo in his twenties.
"Since Xiao Zhen's finished here, I'll escort this rabbit back to the Worship Hall. You two go on to Heaven Dou City and wait for me."
"All right, Teacher."
"Fifth Grandpa, this is Breath Concealing Grass. It can hide the Soul Beast aura on Xiao Wu and prevent unnecessary trouble."
Su Zhen took a small green herb from the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch and handed it to Guang Ling. With Guang Ling's level-ninety-seven strength, no fool would dare ambush them on the way to steal it. But there was still Bibi Dong in Spirit Hall, itching to get her hands on a Soul Ring.
Guang Ling instantly understood what Su Zhen meant. He accepted the Breath Concealing Grass, placed it on Xiao Wu, then flew off with her.
"Brother Zhen, where are we going now? Heaven Dou City?"
Seeing that his teacher had left, Oscar came over to ask Su Zhen what he planned to do.
"Let's stop by Suotuo City first. I haven't been home in a long time."
Su Zhen and Oscar climbed into the carriage. Yang Fan and Li Hao drove it toward Suotuo City.
At that moment, in the valley where Su Zhen and the others had taken the Soul Bone, a disheveled, burly man in a black robe appeared.
"Who was it! Who dared touch something that belonged to me, Tang Hao?! You're asking for death! I'll find you, no matter what!"
Gripping his Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Hao smashed the cliff face near the waterfall in a frenzy. Then he stopped and roared at the sky.
The carriage traveled along the rugged mountain road for four days before reaching Hound Village, beside Suotuo City.
Su Zhen stepped down from the carriage and looked at the home he'd once known. A trace of sorrow showed in his eyes.
"Yang Fan, Li Hao, wait outside. Little Ao and I will go in and have a look."
"Yes, young master."
Su Zhen looked up at the village sign, its surface covered in green moss.
"Dad, Mom, big brother, I'm home."
Su Zhen murmured softly, then slowly walked into the village.
Oscar followed quietly behind Su Zhen. He could see how sad Su Zhen was, so he said nothing and simply reached out to take his hand.
Feeling the warmth in his hand, Su Zhen smiled faintly at Oscar.
The two walked slowly through the ruined village. Weeds choked the ground, and broken walls stood everywhere, each sight speaking of the tragedy that had taken place.
Qian Daoliu had once offered to have Hound Village repaired, but Su Zhen had gently refused as soon as he brought it up. He wanted this deserted village to remain here in silence. Only by remembering this place could he keep his path of revenge before him. The day he took his revenge with his own hands, the village would be reborn, and only then would it be rebuilt.
Su Zhen led Oscar to a huge grave at the center of the village. Weeds had overgrown the mound, and the gravestone in front of it was covered in cracks.
"Brother Zhen, are all the villagers buried here?"
"Yes. Dad and the villagers are all inside, waiting for me."
After speaking, Su Zhen knelt and kowtowed three times. Oscar bowed deeply beside him.
Dad, I ran into that bastard today. I'm sorry I couldn't bring him here right away, but I believe the day he kneels here and atones for what he did to you all isn't 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 just now, Su Zhen had only mentioned his father being here.
"They're waiting for me at home."
After speaking, Su Zhen led Oscar around the grave mound toward the far end of the village.
At the edge of the village stood a small grave mound.
Su Zhen stepped forward, kowtowed three times, then got up and left with Oscar.
"Brother Zhen, don't you want to stay a little longer? You haven't been back in ages."
Oscar asked in puzzlement.
"I can't let Mom see me acting weak, can I? A boy has to stay strong when he's out in the world. Strong, that's right."
As Su Zhen spoke, his eyes grew wet. He sat on a nearby rock and stared blankly at the small mound in the distance.
Oscar went up to him, hugged him gently, and patted his back.
"Don't be sad, Brother Zhen. You still have us. Grandpa and I are your family too."
If Oscar hadn't said anything, it might have been all right. But the moment he mentioned family, Su Zhen burst into tears.
His heart-wrenching sobs pained even Oscar. In his six years at Spirit Hall, Su Zhen had shed only blood and sweat. Most of the time, he kept others at arm's length and trained every day, as if he wished he could stretch each day into two. And now this cultivation maniac was leaning on Oscar's shoulder, crying bitterly.
Everyone hoped Su Zhen would grow stronger quickly, because then he could take revenge. But no one had considered that he was still only a twelve-year-old boy who had lost his family.
Su Zhen cried for a long time, until his tears ran dry and his voice went hoarse. Oscar was nearly asleep before he finally stopped.
Su Zhen wiped his tears, pulled away from Oscar's embrace, and stood up.
"Little Ao, today..."
"Brother Zhen, what about today? Didn't we fall asleep after paying our respects to our family?"
Oscar looked at Su Zhen in confusion.
"That's right, Little Ao. We fell asleep just now."
Su Zhen smiled, took Oscar's hand, and led him toward the village entrance. He didn't notice that Oscar's gaze remained fixed on the shoulder wet with Su Zhen's tears. The tear stains had already dried.
"Young masters."
Yang Fan and Li Hao greeted them with a bow as they came out.
"Let's go. We're heading to Heaven Dou City."
Su Zhen took Oscar's hand and climbed into the carriage, carrying the scent of his hometown with him as he went to meet his new family.
Before you continue