That child's family was only a tiny reflection of the bigger picture.
But it also made the boy even more terrifying. Before, Long Xiaoyao had thought he was merely a genius driven by hatred. Only now did he realize that, even amid all that hatred, the boy had held on to a measure of reason and conviction.
His conviction was simple, even crude, but that was only because he was young and inexperienced, with a limited understanding of the world.
As he experienced more of life, that conviction would continue to grow, perhaps even rising to become a creed.
A genius with convictions and ideals would undoubtedly do more terrifying things, and be more likely to succeed. He would also be much harder to persuade or change.
In time, he would surely unleash a war that swept across the entire continent, one even more devastating than the one four thousand years ago.
"I'm grateful you brought this man to me, Senior. I only want revenge; I don't want to hurt the innocent. As long as they don't stand in my way, that's all that matters."
Seeing Long Xiaoyao fall silent, Yang Hao offered a promise to keep things from turning too sour between them.
With that, he picked up the unconscious Tai Jingang and carried him away.
When he returned to his lodgings, Yang Hao forced Tai Jingang to his knees in front of the portrait of his whole family.
He had examined the old man on the way back. His limb bones had been shattered, many of his meridians had been severed, and a dark Soul Power had sealed his Soul Core. He was a cripple now, ready for Yang Hao to do with as he pleased.
"If you want to watch, come on in. Why are you skulking around outside the door?"
Glancing toward the doorway, Yang Hao gestured for her to come in.
"You're the one skulking around."
Ma Xiaotao pushed the door open and retorted indignantly, though her gaze fell on the hulking old man.
"Who is he?"
She had been keeping an eye on Yang Hao. Earlier, she had seen him drag someone back and had come over out of curiosity.
Chapter 23: Scheming on the Soul Spirit
"The head of the Strength Clan, and the mastermind behind the plot that framed my parents all those years ago."
As Yang Hao spoke, he splashed a cup of cold water across Tai Jingang's face.
"He's the head of the Strength Clan!"
Ma Xiaotao stared in shock. So this was the head of the Strength Clan?
She had been thinking about that bastard's story for days. The Strength Clan was at the heart of it all—but had things really happened the way he said?
The cold water jolted Tai Jingang awake. The first thing he saw was a young man burning incense, with a family portrait hanging on the wall. He recognized the young couple in it.
"You little bastard."
Tai Jingang understood at once, glaring furiously at the boy burning incense.
Though he had grown much taller, there was no doubt it was that little bastard.
"Old bastard, when you framed my mother, killed my older brother, and stole his Soul Bone, did you ever think this day would come?"
After placing the incense in the burner, Yang Hao turned and looked down at Tai Jingang, kneeling on the floor.
"I should've killed you, you little bastard."
Tai Jingang was consumed by rage. He had left the boy alive back then just to make things look convincing and keep suspicion off himself. The affair had caused too much of a stir at the time. Who could have guessed the boy would become a problem instead?
He hated it!
Behind him, Ma Xiaotao's face went pale. Those words were as good as an admission that the bastard had been telling the truth. This old man really had framed his parents—and even used their Shrek Inspectorate to kill innocent people.
It was true!
"You can leave now. Things are going to get a little gruesome. Back then, they tore the Soul Bone from my brother. Today, I'm going to tear every bone in his body out of him."
As he spoke, Yang Hao took out protective gear and put it on, gloves and all.
He had borrowed the gear while researching the power of various firearms with those Second Senior Brothers. Now it had come in handy.
"Let's go."
Feng Ling appeared and led the ashen-faced Ma Xiaotao away.
When Long Xiaoyao brought the man back, she had already guessed what was going on. She had been watching from the shadows, and had just confirmed the truth about the boy's parents.
The Strength Clan had indeed conspired to frame them. That was good news for the Holy Spirit Cult; at least it would help keep the boy on their side for now.
It was only right for him to oppose the Strength Clan and Shrek Academy!
This was also the perfect chance to shake Ma Xiaotao's beliefs and understanding, and slowly bring her around to the Holy Spirit Cult, until she eventually became one of them.
Though they had ways to cloud her mind, those methods would damage her potential. She didn't want to use them on the girl unless absolutely necessary.
The girl's talent was astonishing, even better than Feng Ling's had been. With proper cultivation, she might one day have a chance to reach the Limit Douluo realm at level ninety-nine.
Feng Ling had high hopes for her!
After they left, Yang Hao shut the door, took out a short knife, and blinded Tai Jingang. Then he spread out his Soul-Devouring Spider Leg Bone and drove its legs into the man, devouring him. One of the legs even pierced his dantian and consumed the Soul Core sealed within.
Tai Jingang tried to struggle, but his limb bones had been shattered, and Long Xiaoyao had sealed his Soul Power and Soul Core with his own Soul Power. He was a cripple, unable to fight back. All he could do was watch as his Martial Soul and Soul Power were devoured.
The devouring of his Martial Soul was especially horrifying. It was as if his soul itself were being torn apart and swallowed. The pain was beyond words.
Before long, Tai Jingang's Martial Soul and Soul Power had been completely devoured, and his Soul Core had been consumed and refined.
The Soul-Devouring Spider Leg Bone filtered and refined the power, then infused its essence into the Soul Core within the Soul Bone. It merged with the One-Eyed Vajra Martial Soul, driving it to a whole new level.
"One-Eyed Vajra, possess me!"
With a thought, he activated the One-Eyed Vajra Martial Soul bound to the Soul-Devouring Spider Leg and let it possess him. His body swelled rapidly, and in the blink of an eye he transformed into a three-meter-tall Devil Muscle Man.
"No wonder he's a Titled Douluo."
Feeling the One-Eyed Vajra Martial Soul grow stronger once again, Yang Hao was quite pleased.
He had already improved his physical strength considerably through the blood-and-qi tempering that came from devouring and refining Soul Bones. Now he could easily bear the physical changes and enhancement brought on by the One-Eyed Vajra possession.
"Holy Son, Wan Hun requests an audience."
A voice came from outside. Yang Hao had sent for Wan Hun earlier to help deal with Tai Jingang's soul.
After all, this was a Titled Douluo. It would be a waste not to make use of him.
Wan Hun had once been an elder at a branch altar. He had earned merit by reporting Ma Xiaotao's situation last time, and had also been seriously injured in the battle against Shrek, so he was transferred to the main altar.
No one knew his old name. In the Holy Spirit Cult, he was known as Wan Hun.
"Come in."
"Holy Son!"
Wan Hun entered and bowed respectfully. He knew the Holy Son was the apple of the cult's eye, highly valued by both the Cult Leader and the Vice Cult Leader. He couldn't afford to offend him.
"This man is a Titled Douluo, and my enemy. Can you control his soul?"
Yang Hao asked. He wasn't doing this to torment Tai Jingang further; he had an idea and wanted to use Wan Hun to explore the Soul Spirit System that might exist in the future.
"I can!"
Wan Hun blinked, then promptly declared that he could, inwardly overjoyed.
This was a Titled Douluo!
His Martial Soul was the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, which needed a great many souls to fill it. The more souls he had, and the stronger they were, the better. And now he was being offered a soul at the Titled Douluo level—one powerful enough to become the main soul in his banner.
Once he refined it, not only would his own strength increase greatly, but his Martial Soul would improve as well, which would in turn speed up his cultivation. There were benefits aplenty.
"Can the souls you control use the Soul Skills they had in life?"
Yang Hao asked again. Wan Hun would have to investigate this himself; Yang Hao could only offer a few ideas.
"Your subordinate can only devour souls."
Wan Hun blinked and answered honestly.
"I've read some ancient texts. A Martial Soul is also a kind of soul, and it exists as one with the Soul Master's soul, like two souls sharing one body. Next, you can try devouring the Soul Master's Martial Soul along with his soul, then find a way to fuse the two.
"After that, there's the matter of Soul Beasts. A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can merge its lingering thought into a Soul Ring, while a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast can even merge its Martial Soul into a Soul Ring and Soul Bone. Clearly, souls and power can be fused..."
Yang Hao explained the concepts he knew. If it worked, that would be ideal; if it didn't, it didn't matter. There was nothing to lose.
Wan Hun listened intently, growing so excited that his face flushed red. He thought the idea had some promise and would need to research it in the future.
"Take him away and finish him off."
Yang Hao pointed at Tai Jingang, who was sprawled on the floor with only a breath left in him.
"Thank you, Holy Son. Your subordinate will do everything in his power to study the fusion of Martial Souls and souls. From now on, I will follow your lead."
Wan Hun thanked him respectfully and was quick to pledge his loyalty.
It was hard to get by in the Holy Spirit Cult, especially at the main altar. Choosing the right person to follow was crucial.
The Holy Son was valued by both the Cult Leader and the Vice Cult Leader. He had a bright future, and might even become the next Cult Leader. Wan Hun couldn't go wrong by following him.
Besides, Yang Hao had given him this idea. If it worked, Wan Hun's prospects would soar.
"Good. You won't regret following me. The Strength Clan of the Star Luo Empire is my enemy. When the time comes, you'll come with me.
"The Strength Clan has several Soul Douluo and more than a dozen Soul Saints. You'll need to get stronger."
"Your subordinate won't let you down, Holy Son."
"Your subordinate takes his leave!"
Wan Hun bowed respectfully and dragged Tai Jingang out.
Chapter 24: The Path to Godhood
To Yang Hao, Tai Jingang had been nothing more than a minor interruption. Afterward, he returned to his usual routine of cultivation and research, while also poring over the many texts in the Holy Spirit Cult's collection.
As one of the continent's greatest powers, the Holy Spirit Cult naturally possessed a vast and comprehensive collection of texts. Among them were the cultivation insights of many Super Douluo and even Limit Douluo.
Some covered how to condense a Soul Core and cultivate Soul Cores through resonant frequencies. There were even theories and experimental records about the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores structure.
All of this was exactly what Yang Hao needed. After merging the Soul Core in his Soul-Devouring Spider Leg Bone with the One-Eyed Vajra Martial Soul Origin and the Soul Conductor Core in the Nine-Turn Soul-Changing Instrument, he had come up with a bold idea.
He would use the Martial Soul Origin as the foundation to condense an Origin Soul Core, taking inspiration from Soul Beast Soul Cores. Then, he would cultivate using the Origin Soul Core as his base and follow the cultivation path of Soul Beasts, breaking through the bottleneck between levels.
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