After three hours, the sky gradually darkened.
The golden light slowly faded, and Zhu Shen opened his eyes.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands, then clenched his fists. A feeling of unprecedented strength surged through his entire body.
Nourished by the Immortal Herb, Zhu Shen felt that his body had been tempered.
The left arm bone had completely fused with him. He could feel that his left arm was more than twice as strong as his right.
The Evil Phoenix Torso Bone at his spine was as docile as a little sparrow, its golden-red energy flowing slowly through his backbone.
As for the Dragon God External Spirit Bone on his back, it now lay dormant near his shoulder blades, ready to unfurl at any moment like a giant dragon's wings.
[Congratulations, host. You have successfully absorbed three Soul Bones and achieved the title: Iron-Boned and Unyielding. Reward: one ten-thousand-year God-Given Soul Ring.] [Current Soul Bone configuration: Dragon God Left Arm Bone, Dragon God External Spirit Bone, Evil Phoenix Torso Bone (purified)] [Tip: Absorbing Soul Bones of the same origin can trigger a set effect. Collect all seven pieces of the Dragon God Set to unlock a hidden ability.]
Zhu Shen was delighted. Though the Evil Phoenix wasn't part of the Dragon God Set, the purified Phoenix Flame attribute unexpectedly suited the Dragon God Martial Soul.
"Grandmaster." Tang Hao's voice came from nearby, his tone complicated. "Are you... all right?"
Zhu Shen stood and stretched. His joints crackled all over. "I'm great. Better than ever."
Looking at the peerless genius before him, Zhu Shen thought, So what if you're a genius? I've got a cheat. That makes me better than you, doesn't it?
Tang Hao fell silent for a long while. He stared at Zhu Shen for ages before finally forcing out a question. "Who exactly are you?"
It was a blunt question.
Zhu Shen had expected someone to ask sooner or later. He sighed, pretending to have seen much of the world and yet been burdened by many regrets. "His Excellency Haotian, I'm Yu Xiaogang. I've simply traveled the continent these past years and had a few fortuitous encounters."
"Fortuitous encounters?" Tang Hao clearly wasn't convinced. "What kind of encounter could turn Luo Sanpao into a Golden Dragon? What kind could let a useless Soul Grandmaster absorb three Soul Bones at once?"
Zhu Shen smiled wistfully, looking as though he didn't want to recall the past, his expression clouded with sorrow.
"Nothing in this world is absolute." Zhu Shen smiled. "Just as no one could have imagined back then that the Clear Sky Douluo would marry a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."
Tang Hao's expression changed drastically. A murderous aura instantly locked onto Zhu Shen.
Zhu Shen didn't move an inch. He merely looked at Tang Hao calmly. "There's no need to be nervous, Your Excellency. I mean no harm. Xiao San is my disciple. I only want to raise him well."
The murderous aura slowly subsided, but Tang Hao's expression remained uncertain. After a long while, he exhaled a breath of stale air. "How much do you know?"
"I know what I ought to know, and a little of what I ought not to." Zhu Shen found this kind of talking in riddles exhausting.
But he couldn't exactly say, I've read the original story, so I know everything. "None of that matters, though. What matters is that I can make Xiao San stronger than anyone else."
Tang Hao fell silent.
Zhu Shen pressed his advantage. "Your Excellency, have you ever thought about what he'll do when he grows up and learns of his origins, learns how his mother died?"
Tang Hao's hand trembled slightly.
"He'll seek revenge." Zhu Shen spoke each word distinctly. "Spirit Hall, everyone who killed Ah Yin—he won't spare a single one of them."
Tang Hao clenched his fists. Ah Yin's death was a knot in his heart that he could never untie.
"But have you ever considered," Zhu Shen said, changing tack, "that the true enemy might not be all of Spirit Hall?"
Tang Hao froze. What the hell? Weren't you going to help him take revenge?
Zhu Shen liked Bibi Dong, of course, and he didn't want Tang San to end up killing her as he had in the original story.
Bibi Dong had nothing to do with Ah Yin's death. Zhu Shen didn't want Tang Hao to redirect his hatred toward her.
Besides, Zhu Shen had a frightening suspicion. This world had changed because of his arrival, and an evil Soul Master organization called the Evil God Temple had appeared.
He had a feeling that this organization was no ordinary force. It might even overturn the entire continent.
With that thought, Zhu Shen continued. "I encountered three Evil Soul Masters in the Soul Hunting Forest. They belonged to an organization called the Evil God Temple."
"The stench of blood clung to those people so thickly it wouldn't wash away. They killed without batting an eye, draining the life force of Soul Beasts and Soul Masters to cultivate. Do you think these people might have had something to do with what happened back then?"
Tang Hao furrowed his brow. He said nothing, but Zhu Shen could feel his killing intent shifting elsewhere.
"Ah Yin was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form. Who leaked that secret? Why? Was someone behind the scenes fanning the flames?" Zhu Shen looked into Tang Hao's eyes. "Spirit Hall might not be a united front on this matter."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that there are innocent people in Spirit Hall, and people who could be won over. The real enemy isn't Spirit Hall as an organization, but the Evil Soul Master forces lurking in the shadows and manipulating everything."
Zhu Shen paused. "And don't forget, Your Excellency: Spirit Hall's pope, Bibi Dong, is also a woman whose fate has been played with."
Tang Hao gave Zhu Shen a long, searching look. "You certainly know a lot about Spirit Hall."
"I've had to broaden my horizons while traveling the continent." Zhu Shen smiled. "Your Excellency, I promise you that I won't let Xiao San become blinded by hatred. The vengeance he's owed must be carried out, but hatred mustn't destroy him. The path to godhood requires a steadfast heart, not a belly full of poison."
Tang Hao was silent for a long time.
At last, he nodded. "All right. I'll leave Xiao San in your hands."
Tang Hao looked again at Tang San, who was still absorbing the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, and his gaze softened. "I'm entrusting Xiao San to you."
With that, he flashed away into the depths of the woods.
Zhu Shen watched the direction Tang Hao had disappeared in and sighed. This father clearly hurt like hell inside, yet insisted on acting like he was washing his hands of everything.
[Congratulations, host. You have completed the opportunity quest: Resolve the conflict between Tang Hao and Bibi Dong. Reward: one ten-thousand-year God-Given Soul Ring.] [How to use a God-Given Soul Ring: Crush the crystal and absorb the energy within. Based on the host's constitution and Martial Soul's characteristics, the most suitable Soul Ring age and attributes will be generated automatically.]
Without hesitation, Zhu Shen crushed the crystal in front of him with all his strength.
Golden fragments burst through the air, releasing a dazzling radiance. A warm, surging energy poured into Zhu Shen's body, rushing along his meridians.
The Dragon God Martial Soul emerged automatically, and a golden dragon's shadow appeared behind him.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash rang through Zhu Shen's mind, and his consciousness seemed to be dragged into a golden space.
A Golden Dragon coiled in the void, ancient patterns engraved upon every scale. Its eyes opened, golden pupils reflecting Zhu Shen's figure.
[God-Given Soul Ring energy detected. Generating third Soul Ring...] [Congratulations, host. You have obtained your third Soul Ring: a three-thousand-year purple Soul Ring. Soul Skill: Dragon Might Intimidation.]
Zhu Shen's consciousness returned to reality. A third Soul Ring slowly emerged around him, its black glow even deeper than that of the first two.
At the same time, a new power surged from his Martial Soul, and his Soul Power began climbing wildly.
In fifteen minutes, his Soul Power reached level 40.
Zhu Shen crushed another God-Given Soul Ring crystal. It, too, was absorbed before long.
[Congratulations, host. Your bloodline concentration has increased to 30%.]
Suddenly, Zhu Shen's vision went black. He felt the muscles and bones throughout his body reshaping.
After who knew how long, Tang San also slowly awoke.
Tang San opened his eyes. A faint, iridescent gleam flickered within them, and his pupils were deeper and brighter than before.
The effects of the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew had become apparent. Tang San's eyesight and mental power had both improved by leaps and bounds.
"Teacher." Tang San stood and bowed respectfully.
Then Tang San cried out in shock. "Y-you! Who are you?"
Tang San's voice startled Zhu Shen awake. He was puzzled. What was this about?
He glanced toward a puddle nearby and immediately understood.
He was tall and straight-backed, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even his plain gray clothes couldn't hide his dragon-like bearing.
Wonderful. Even my looks have evolved. That'll make it easier to woo Bibi Dong.
"Xiao San, a Martial Soul Evolution can slightly change your appearance. That's normal, isn't it?"
Tang San wanted to ask if this counted as a slight change at all. What the hell is normal about this? But he didn't say it aloud.
Zhu Shen changed the subject and asked, "How do you feel?"
"Great." Tang San blinked. "I can see things very far away, and everything's especially clear. My mental power has improved a lot, too."
Zhu Shen grumbled inwardly, That's obviously the Purple Demon Eye, isn't it?
Zhu Shen nodded. "Good. Your father's left. From now on, you'll train with me."
Tang San froze and looked around. Sure enough, Tang Hao was nowhere to be seen. His eyes dimmed, but he quickly recovered. "Yes, Teacher."
Zhu Shen patted him on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it. Your father has his reasons. Once you grow stronger, you'll understand everything."