"First, ultimate defense!"
"The defensive power of this remnant cocoon of mine is extremely strong. Once fully activated, even the Ice Empress, a four-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast at the height of her power, wouldn't be able to break free if trapped inside."
"Second, strategic-grade control!"
"My remnant cocoon can work with mental power to create a mental prison. Once someone's trapped inside, even a being like the Ice Empress has to obediently listen to me finish what I have to say."
"Third, survival support!"
"This remnant cocoon is impervious to water and fire, and extremely resilient. Once you wear it, it can shield you from the bitter cold of the Far North and conceal your presence from Soul Beasts."
"It's practically a versatile cheat item!"
Tang An's eyes lit up.
This thing might be able to be reforged and upgraded into a divine artifact later on.
"Then transform it into a transparent, invisible glove made of icy silk and put it on my left hand."
"No problem, Master!"
Tian Meng immediately activated his source power.
The transparent ice cocoon broke apart into threads of icy silk that wound around the fingers of Tang An's left hand, eventually forming an almost invisible, thin glove that clung to his skin without causing any discomfort.
A faint groan suddenly came from the ground nearby.
The group turned to look and saw the small "boy" slowly opening his eyes.
As soon as he opened them, he met Tang An's gaze.
At the sight of him, Huo Yuhao froze.
The young man before him looked about sixteen or seventeen. He wore white, stood tall and straight, and had sharp brows and bright eyes. His gaze was as deep as the starry sky, impossible to look away from.
Huo Yuhao had never seen anyone so handsome.
It took him a long while to come back to his senses and remember what had just happened. This handsome big brother had killed the Wind Baboon with a single blow and saved his life.
"Thank you for saving me, Big Brother." Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully. "I'll definitely repay you."
Tang An looked at her, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
When he'd used Life Perception Resonance just now, Tang An had already seen through her disguise: Huo Yuhao, a girl dressed as a boy.
A favored daughter of fortune, and a pretty little beauty to boot. Just the right person to bring into his fold.
"No need to thank me. It was nothing." Tang An smiled warmly.
"I'm Tang An. What's your name? Did you come to Star Dou Forest to obtain a Soul Ring?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, looking a little downcast. "My name is Huo Yuhao. I did come for my First Soul Ring. If you hadn't stepped in, Big Brother Tang An, I probably would've..."
"What's your Martial Soul?" Tang An asked.
Huo Yuhao hesitated, but as he looked into Tang An's deep eyes, a strange feeling of trust welled up inside him.
Besides, this man had just saved his life. It would be rude not to answer.
"My Martial Soul is my eyes."
As Huo Yuhao spoke, a faint blue glow lit up his eyes. "It's a Mental Attribute Martial Soul called Spirit Eyes."
"Spirit Eyes, a Mental Attribute Body Martial Soul. That's quite rare." Tang An pretended to be surprised.
"It happens to be a perfect match for my sect's cultivation techniques. Have you joined any faction yet?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head, a trace of hatred flashing in his eyes. "No. I... just want to become stronger now."
"Then would you be willing to join the Tang Sect?"
"I'm currently rebuilding the Tang Sect. We have cultivation techniques that are especially suited to Soul Masters with a Mental Attribute. If you join, I'll make sure you grow stronger."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up at once.
Yuhao had been worrying about having nowhere to go and no way to cultivate.
Joining a sect with such a powerful big brother was like having a fortune dropped right into his lap!
"I'm willing! I'm willing to join the Tang Sect!" Huo Yuhao nodded quickly, afraid Tang An might change his mind.
Tang An smiled and was about to say that he'd take her to obtain a Soul Ring when two sets of footsteps sounded in the distance.
"Yuhao! Yuhao, are you all right?"
A clear female voice and a steady male voice rang out at the same time.
A young man and woman hurried over.
The girl wore a blue outfit and had delicate features. The young man had an elegant air about him. They were Tang Ya and Beibei.
"Sister Tang Ya! Brother Beibei!" Huo Yuhao waved happily.
"You scared us to death. We thought something had happened to you." Tang Ya breathed a sigh of relief, then warily looked at Tang An and the others.
"Sister Tang Ya, Brother Beibei, this is Big Brother Tang An. He saved me!"
Huo Yuhao hurriedly introduced them. "Big Brother Tang An, this is Sister Tang Ya and Senior Brother Beibei. They're both students at Shrek Academy."
"Shrek Academy?" Tang An raised an eyebrow.
"Just as it happens, I was planning to study at Shrek Academy too. My name is Tang An, and I'm from the Clear Sky Sect."
"The Clear Sky Sect?!"
Tang Ya and Beibei's expressions changed at the same time, their gazes turning complicated.
The Clear Sky Sect was the foremost reclusive sect, held in the highest esteem. It also had deep ties to them.
Beibei was the first to recover. He cupped his hands and said, "So you're a distinguished disciple of the Clear Sky Sect. My apologies. Thank you for saving Yuhao, Brother Tang An."
"You're welcome." Tang An waved a hand.
"Since you're both here, there's something I need to tell you."
Tang An looked at Tang Ya. "You're the current Tang Sect Master, right?"
Tang Ya froze, then nodded, looking a little downcast. "Yes... but the Tang Sect has fallen on hard times. There are only Beibei and me left."
"That's a small matter." Tang An waved a hand.
"I left the Clear Sky Sect this time on the orders of Sea God Tang San. I'm to serve as Tang Sect Master in the interim and restore the Tang Sect to its former glory."
At those words, Tang Ya and Beibei both froze.
Beibei furrowed his brows, about to ask about the Sea God, when Tang An turned his hand over and produced a token.
It was pitch-black, with the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus engraved on the front and a vigorous "Tang" on the back. A vast, righteous aura radiated from it.
The instant Tang Ya saw the token, it was as if lightning had struck her. She shuddered from head to toe.
"This... this is the First Generation Sect Master Token?!"
Tang Ya's voice trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened.
Tang Ya had grown up reading Tang Sect records. She knew the token's appearance all too well.
The Sect Master Token had been forged by Ancestor Tang San himself ten thousand years ago. It had disappeared after Tang San ascended to the Divine Realm, and every token made since had been a fake.
But the aura from the token before her was exactly like the Sea God's Light described in the records. There was no way it could be a counterfeit!
"I pay my respects to the Sect Master!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Tang Ya dropped to one knee.
Tang Ya turned and saw Beibei still standing there in a daze. She quickly tugged at his trouser leg. "Beibei, aren't you also a member of the Tang Sect? Hurry up and pay your respects to the Sect Master!"
Only then did Beibei react. That was right—he had joined the Tang Sect long ago to pursue Tang Ya.
He hurriedly dropped to one knee as well and cupped his hands. "Beibei pays his respects to the Sect Master!"
Tang An put the token away and helped them up. "You can both get up."
He looked at Tang Ya. "The Tang Sect is in ruins, and I've only just taken over. I need someone who knows the sect to help me. Tang Ya, from today on, you'll serve as acting deputy sect master and assist me in restoring the Tang Sect."
"Yes, Sect Master!" Tang Ya stood, her eyes still red but her face alight with excitement.
Beibei watched from the side, feeling shocked and conflicted.
Huo Yuhao had been listening all along and couldn't help speaking up. "Sect Master, then what about me—"
"You're already a Tang Sect disciple." Tang An smiled at her.
"Come on. First, let's get all of you your Soul Rings. We can talk on the way."
The group set off toward the depths of Star Dou Forest to look for a Soul Ring for Tang Ya.
On the way, Tang Ya explained what she needed. "My Soul Power is at level thirty. I want a poisonous plant Soul Beast, around a thousand years old, for my third Soul Ring."
At that, Tang An paused slightly.
Tang An remembered clearly that, in the original story, Tang Ya's Blue Silver Grass had an innate Dark Attribute.
But because Tang Ya didn't dare face who she was and hadn't been guided properly, and because the Tang Sect had fallen into decline, that innate Dark Attribute had always been suppressed. In the end, she had fallen and become an Evil Soul Master.
This was the perfect moment to bring Tang Ya under his wing and guide her into becoming a powerful ally in the future.
"A poisonous plant Soul Beast?" Tang An stopped and turned to look at Tang Ya, a hint of scrutiny and amusement in his gaze.
Tang Ya felt inexplicably nervous under Tang An's gaze. "Sect Master, is something wrong?"
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