The Seeds Sprout! Wary Tang Wulin, Is Old Tang an Evil Soul Master Trying to Possess Him? [Two-in-One]

The voice carried a strange soothing power, instantly calming the violent palpitations in Tang Wulin's heart caused by the dragon's might.

Yet the words themselves made Tang Wulin's heart leap.

"Finally, you've come?"

A wave of confusion stirred within Tang Wulin's mental form.

He had never known there was such a space inside him, much less that a terrifying golden dragon had been sealed here.

This mysterious being seemed to have been waiting for him all along?

Just as he was overcome with doubt and uncertainty,

the black-robed figure seemed to see through his confusion. Its voice remained gentle as it said, "There's no need to panic."

"You may call me 'Old Tang.'"

"I'm here to help you."

"'Old Tang'?!"

Those two words exploded through Tang Wulin's mind like a clap of thunder!

All his confusion, shock, and fear of the unknown were instantly drowned out by an even sharper, more urgent alarm!

It was as if he'd been struck by lightning!

His thoughts immediately leaped back to a scene from the bestselling novel that Yao Chuan had written not long ago.

Soul Breaking the Firmament.

The protagonist, Xiao Yan.

A useless young man at the start of the story...

An old man's remnant soul, calling himself "Old Tang," hidden inside a ring...

Kind and benevolent, patiently guiding him, claiming he'd help the protagonist defy fate and change his destiny...

And then?

Then he'd drain the protagonist's battle spirit and fatten him up before taking over his body!

This was a textbook Evil Soul Master tactic—sinister and deceitful to the extreme!

It had even been passed down to the present day.

It had become an essential warning parents gave children about Evil Soul Masters.

For example: "When a pie falls from the sky, it's either a trap or a pitfall! Especially when an old man suddenly pops out of a ring. Nine and a half times out of ten, he's up to no good!"

Tang Wulin had felt a chill crawl down his spine when he read it, and the character "Old Tang" had left a deep impression on him.

And now...

This mysterious, unfathomable black-robed big shot, hidden deep inside his body, called himself "Old Tang"...

The name... the way he'd appeared... the claim that he wanted to "help" him!

Every last detail fit!

Classic.

Too classic!

In an instant, alarm bells blared in Tang Wulin's heart, and his guard shot to the highest level!

Yao Chuan's heavily altered novel played on an endless loop in his mind!

A voice roared inside him: Watch out! This is definitely the prelude to body possession! It's the standard playbook of an Evil Soul Master's remnant soul!

His mental form nearly fell apart from sheer shock.

No!

He couldn't panic!

His opponent was unfathomably powerful and hiding inside his body. Fighting him head-on would mean certain death!

He had to act!

Oscar-level acting mode: activated!

On the surface, Tang Wulin's mental form jolted, as if he'd been struck dumb by an enormous stroke of good fortune.

He did his best to imitate Xiao Yan's "unbelieving, overjoyed, and profoundly grateful" acting when he first met "Old Tang" in the novel.

"Ol-Old Senior Tang!" Tang Wulin's mental voice trembled with excitement. "You... you've been waiting for me all this time? You're... you're going to help me?"

He put on just the right amount of dizziness, as if he'd been hit by a "pie from the heavens." His mental fluctuations rose and fell wildly, as though he were too excited to get a full sentence out. He was the perfect picture of "overcome with emotion."

Inside, he was ranting furiously: Stay calm, Tang Wulin! You're an award-winning actor right now! This old monster must be watching my reaction! Yao Chuan, please bless me—don't let me give myself away!

"Old Tang," the black-robed figure, seemed satisfied by Tang Wulin's "speechless with excitement" reaction.

A faint smile seemed to touch the corners of his mouth beneath the halo.

Good.

It seemed his son had been stunned by this sudden "fortuitous encounter."

That was exactly the effect he wanted.

The first step in guiding him had succeeded.

"Old Tang's" voice grew even warmer and more kindly, like that of the most dependable elder. "That's right, child."

"The power slumbering within you is no ordinary force. It is both an unparalleled opportunity and a deadly threat."

His gaze seemed to pierce Tang Wulin's mental form and settle on the enormous golden dragon sealed away.

"This is the essence of the Golden Dragon King, split off by the Dragon God. It contains divine power capable of destroying heaven and earth."

"However, your body is far too weak to bear such vast energy."

"If these eighteen seals of origin hadn't restrained its power layer by layer, you would have already exploded and perished, body and soul."

Every word landed on Tang Wulin's heart like a heavy hammer.

Though he was deeply suspicious, the thought that his body could explode at any moment still frightened him instinctively.

That golden dragon... the Golden Dragon King? Explode and perish?

Could some of what this old monster said... actually be true?

He forced down his fear, kept up his "excited" expression, and tried to make his eyes shine with "eagerness to learn."

"Old Tang" seemed pleased with his reaction and continued to patiently guide him. "But within every crisis lies an opportunity for survival."

"With my help, you can gradually undo these eighteen seals, then absorb and refine the Golden Dragon King's power step by step."

"With every seal you undo, your physique, potential, and strength will undergo a qualitative leap."

"One day, when you have complete control of this power, you won't just be invincible among your peers. You'll be able to suppress Yao Chuan with a mere flip of your hand."

"Yao Chuan?"

The name stirred Tang Wulin's mind once more.

Old Tang had deliberately brought up Yao Chuan?

And claimed he'd be able to suppress him with ease in the future?

This...

Why did it sound so much like dangling a carrot in front of him? And a carrot aimed precisely at his current "goal"!

When "Old Tang" in the novel had tricked Xiao Yan, hadn't he painted a grand vision and promised him unrivaled power too?

The smell of conspiracy grew stronger!

This was definitely psychological manipulation!

He knew Yao Chuan had been beating him pretty badly lately, so he was using that as bait!

Tang Wulin's mental form nodded "excitedly," putting on a show of "Senior, you're absolutely right! I can't wait to get stronger and suppress Yao Chuan." But in his mind, a little figure was already holding up a sign that read: "Stay alert! Manipulation!"

Seeing that he'd laid enough groundwork, "Old Tang" revealed the crucial information. "To break the first seal, gain preliminary control of this power, and avoid the danger of your body exploding..."

"You'll need to find three things to help you."

Here it came!

The mask was off!

"Old Tang" in the novel had started asking for things this way too! First, concern; then, promises of a bright future; finally, a demand for resources!

Tang Wulin focused every bit of his attention, his ears—if a mental form could have ears—pricked up high.

"Old Tang" said slowly:

"First, one Century Ice Crystal Fruit."

"Second, one Century Red Flame Fruit."

"Third, ten drops of blood essence from a Hundred-Year Soul Beast with a pure dragon bloodline."

"Use these three things as a catalyst, together with the method I teach you, and you'll be able to safely undo the first seal and lay the foundation."

"..."

Tang Wulin's mental form maintained the appearance of "listening attentively," while inside he frantically compared this to the story.

In Soul Breaking the Firmament, "Old Tang" had told Xiao Yan to gather ingredients for a "Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid." The names were different, but the whole routine was exactly the same!

It was always "for your own good," and it always required "precious materials."

"Old Tang" had claimed those materials were gentle and harmless too! Xiao Yan had nearly been killed as a result!

Century-old spirit fruits... dragon blood...

They sounded expensive and dangerous!

Did "Senior Old Tang" really think he was some naive, gullible protagonist?

Yao Chuan's novel was practically a book of prophecy!

"Old Tang" didn't notice the churning complaints and wariness in Tang Wulin's heart.

Seeing Tang Wulin listen so quietly and obediently, he assumed his son was already deeply captivated by the grand goal and mysterious power, immersed in shock and anticipation.

He summed things up at last. "These three things are rare, but with my guidance, you'll surely find them."

"Child, your future is limitless."

"Just do as I say, undo the seals one by one, and absorb the power..."

"This entire world will eventually lie prostrate at your feet."

From the content to the tone, this speech was practically identical to the words "Old Tang" in Yao Chuan's altered novel had used to trick Xiao Yan into going after Heavenly Flames!

Even that "I'm only doing this for your own good" and "follow me, and you'll have plenty to eat" vibe was exactly the same!

Tang Wulin's scalp prickled, and a chill ran down his back.

!

He couldn't stay here!

What if the old monster suddenly attacked while he was still here?

He had to get out, and fast!

Oscar-level acting came online once more!

Tang Wulin's mental form jolted, as if he'd only just managed to pull himself together after being "overwhelmed" by the shock and sheer amount of information.

He tried to squeeze a complicated expression onto his face, mixing "excitement, gratitude, and a hint of confusion from being overwhelmed by too much information."

"Senior Old Tang!" His voice still "trembled." "Th-Thank you for telling me all this! I, I..."

He acted so "excited" that he seemed unable to speak coherently. His mental form even began to grow unstable, its light flickering.

"My head's a little jumbled... I need... I need some time to digest all this..."

"Um... I-I'll take my leave for now?"

His tone was the spitting image of a naive little white rabbit who'd been struck by a pie from the heavens and didn't know what to do.

"Old Tang" watched Tang Wulin's "dazed" and "overexcited" appearance, understanding dawning in his heart.

He was still a child, after all.

He'd suddenly learned that such terrifying power lay within him, heard that he needed to find rare items, and been promised a bright future...

It was only natural that his thoughts would be thrown into disarray.

Even running off without thanking him was a perfectly reasonable reaction from a young man stunned by a "tremendous stroke of good fortune."

He didn't suspect a thing.

On the contrary, he felt everything was under his control.

"All right, go on," Old Tang said, his voice still gentle and forgiving, full of an elder's magnanimity. "Think it over. Once you've calmed down, come find me again."

"Remember, this concerns both your life and your future."

"Yes! Yes, Senior!" Tang Wulin replied with "gratitude," hurriedly bowing with his mental form before fleeing as if his life depended on it. His thoughts instantly withdrew!

Outta here!

This place was terrifying!

It was ten thousand times more terrifying than facing Yao Chuan's Wooden Spear! At least Yao Chuan's terrors were visible!

As Tang Wulin's thoughts withdrew, the dark space sealing the golden dragon fell silent once more.

Only the immense golden dragon remained, struggling soundlessly against its chains and radiating an ancient, oppressive force.

And the black-robed figure, "Old Tang," stood quietly nearby.

After confirming that Tang Wulin had completely left, the warmth around "Old Tang" slowly faded.

Beneath his blurred features, a complicated, inscrutable emotion seemed to flash.

"This child..." he murmured. His voice echoed through the empty space of consciousness. "His temperament seems a little too flighty... It seems the pressure isn't great enough yet."

He recalled Tang Wulin's "speechless with excitement" act, then decided it was understandable. After all, a fortuitous encounter had fallen from the heavens.

"So be it. Let him think it over on his own."

"Once he feels the pressure from the loosening seals, he'll naturally understand that I was telling the truth and come seeking my guidance."

Then his thoughts drifted to Yao Chuan.

That boy...

The aura of his Black Dragon Martial Soul was domineering beyond compare, and he was growing at an astonishing pace.

His combat talent was downright monstrous.

He'd even managed to make Wulin's Golden Scale appear early by pushing him into extreme pressure...

Stranger still, the aura of dragon-kind about him made even this wisp of my divine consciousness feel threatened. It seemed more ancient and domineering than the Golden Dragon King's?

This boy was no ordinary talent!

Could he... be connected to some of the Divine Realm's secrets?

"Humph."

A faint, icy snort.

"No matter who you are or where you come from,"

"If you dare lay a hand on my son, if you try to stop him from awakening..."

"Then you'd better be ready to face a God King's wrath."

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of Tang San's divine consciousness.

His primordial spirit had only recently awakened and was still far too weak. He could only hide here.

He needed time to recover.

"Wulin..."

"Your father will clear the road ahead for you."

"Once you've mastered the power of the Golden Dragon King, Yao Chuan... will be nothing more than a stepping-stone."

He imagined his son one day crushing Yao Chuan beneath his heel, shining with dazzling brilliance.

Only then did the turbulent emotions in Tang San's divine consciousness settle a little.

A deep exhaustion followed.

This wisp of divine consciousness was simply too weak.

Appearing today to guide Wulin and deducing a way to undo the seal had consumed a tremendous amount of energy.

"Looks like... I'll need to sleep for a while..."

The blurry figure grew more and more illusory, then finally became a faint streak of light and quietly vanished into the darkness beneath the seal binding the Golden Dragon.

The space of consciousness fell utterly silent.

Only the eternally sealed Golden Dragon remained, along with the eighteen cold, unyielding chains.

It was as if none of the conversation had ever taken place.

In the real world.

Eastsea Academy, the work-study students' dormitory.

On the hard bed.

Tang Wulin's eyes snapped open!

His pupils constricted sharply in the darkness. His chest heaved, and he gulped down breath after breath.

A fine sheen of cold sweat instantly beaded across his forehead and back.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest like a runaway sledgehammer. The thud, thud, thud rang clearly through the silent night.

"Ha... ha..."

He struggled to swallow, his throat parched and tight.

What he had experienced in the space of consciousness had left him more exhausted and shaken than any high-intensity training session.

That terrifying sealed Golden Dragon...

That mysterious, black-robed figure calling himself "Old Tang"...

That story, almost identical to the remnant Evil Soul Master "Old Tang" in Brother Yao Chuan's heavily altered novel...

And those priceless, impossibly dangerous "three treasures"...

A nightmare?

No!

It had felt far too real! The cold scales of the Golden Dragon, the crushing pressure of the runes on the chains, and the authority that pierced straight through his soul when Old Tang spoke...

There was no way it had been a dream!

There really was something terrifying hidden deep in his consciousness!

And there was also a "wise old man" who might be the remnant soul of an Evil Soul Master, with unclear motives and an extreme level of danger!

Tang Wulin abruptly sat up, moving so violently that he nearly flipped the bed over.

He instinctively touched his chest, then pinched his arm hard.

Ow—!

A sharp pain flared.

This was reality.

He was really back.

But everything in the space of consciousness had been real, too!

What should he do?

What was he supposed to do now?

Could he trust what Old Tang had said?

What if an Evil Soul Master's remnant soul really was trying to harm him?

But what if... he was telling the truth, and Wulin really would explode if he didn't undo the seal?

Century Ice Crystal Fruit, Red Flame Fruit, Dragon Blood... where was he supposed to find those things? They had to cost a fortune, right?

A flood of questions and overwhelming panic swept over him like a freezing tide.

His back turned cold, and a feeling of utter helplessness began to take root.

No!

He couldn't panic!

He couldn't just sit there and wait for disaster!

Tang Wulin forced himself to calm down and took a deep breath.

The dormitory was quiet.

In the faint moonlight coming through the window, he could just make out Zhou Changxi sprawled on the upper bunk, as well as Xie Xie sleeping on the bed beside him, facing the wall.

Yun Xiao was on the lower bunk across from him and seemed to be fast asleep, too.

The only person he could talk this over with...

Tang Wulin's gaze suddenly fixed on the other lower bunk not far away!

Brother Yao Chuan!

At a crucial moment like this, he could only count on him!