Father and Son Reunited

[Heaven Dou Empire] Northern Region. ׺°"˜`"°º× ׺°"˜`"°º×

Nearly a year has passed, and the ruins of the former Cold Stone Town are no longer visible; instead, a new town has been rebuilt.

Just over half a year ago, this place was suddenly designated as an extremely dangerous restricted area by the Spirit Hall, comparable to the restricted areas in the core areas of the Star Dou Great Forest and the Lost Track Grand Canyon.

However, what most people on the Douluo Continent didn't know was that this town, which should have been deserted, not only frequently saw groups of Soul Master, but also suddenly had several people of extraordinary status appear there on this day.

In the center of the town, in a spacious hall on the top floor of a three-story building, Tang Zhen looked at the handsome middle-aged man in front of him with a somewhat complicated expression.

The handsome middle-aged man also looked at Tang Zhen, his brows furrowed, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Zhen'er, how come you've gotten so old?"

Upon hearing the handsome middle-aged man's words, Tang Zhen couldn't help but smile bitterly on his slightly aged face, "Father, I have disappointed you..."

Clearly, the only person Tang Zhen would call "Wudi on Land" is the man who single-handedly led the Haotian Clear Sky Sect to the throne of the number one sect in the world—the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Chen!

Judging from their appearances, Tang Chen, the father, still had a full head of black hair, and his handsome face had skin as smooth as jade. However, Tang Zhen, the son, not only had gray hair, but also deep wrinkles around his eyes, and his overall energy and spirit were visibly depleted. If these two walked outside and didn't speak, many people would probably mistake one for the other.

"Are you injured?" Tang Chen narrowed his eyes. He hadn't noticed anything when they first met, but after taking a closer look, he immediately sensed that Tang Zhen's aura was off, and he was clearly injured.

As he spoke, Tang Chen stepped forward and patted Tang Zhen on the shoulder.

A large, warm hand pressed down on Tang Zhen's left shoulder with a force that was neither too light nor too heavy. Tang Zhen immediately felt an irresistible heat flow from his father Tang Chen's palm into his body, quickly circulating through every channel of his Soul Power, and finally reaching the area of his internal organs in his chest.

A few breaths later, Tang Chen frowned and withdrew his hand, saying in a deep voice, "The energy swirling in your chest and lungs gives me a very familiar feeling. Tell me, what exactly is it?"

"Grandfather!"

Tang Hao, who had been standing behind Tang Zhen, finally couldn't hold back any longer and answered directly, "It was a remnant of the Wu family of the Wu Family Taiyi Bell. A Titled Douluo from the Wu Family took advantage of your and Uncle's absence to challenge Father at Haoyang Cliff. The opponent was no match for Father, but unable to accept defeat, he tried to take Father down with him. Although he didn't succeed, Father suffered an incurable internal injury as a result..."

"Taiyi Bell?"

Listening to Tang Hao's narration, Tang Chen's eyes showed a look of realization. He remembered that back then, he was Wudi all over the continent with the "Clear Sky Hammer". Few people could force him to use the Ring Detonation technique of the "Great Sumeru Hammer". The head of the Wu Family was one of the few who could do so, which left a deep impression on him.

With his thoughts returning from the glorious past, Tang Chen looked back at Tang Zhen, who was gazing at him expectantly, as was his grandson Tang Hao. But then, Tang Chen realized what the father and son were hoping for.

"Well--"

Under the astonished gazes of Tang Zhen and Tang Hao, Tang Chen sighed and shook his head, saying to Tang Zhen, "If you were recently injured, or even if the injury occurred within the last month, I am confident that I can expel these foreign energies from you right now."

Upon hearing Tang Chen's words, both Tang Zhen and Tang Hao felt a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, Tang Chen continued, "However, I just examined your internal organs and found that those strange forces are entangled in your internal organs, almost to the bone marrow..."

"With my strength, although I can forcibly expel these foreign forces, your internal organs will probably be completely destroyed in the process."

Hearing these words, which were similar to what Ling Yi had said after his first treatment last year, Tang Zhen's expectant expression froze, turning into extreme bitterness.

Originally, Tang Zhen was only half-convinced by Ling Yi's words, while still hoping for the return of his father, whom he revered as a god and considered omnipotent, to the Clear Sky Sect. In Tang Zhen's view, as long as his father, Tang Chen, took action, the mere strange force would be nothing more than a minor ailment, and his Tang Zhen recovery would be imminent.

But now, hearing such a judgment from his father Tang Chen again, Tang Zhen finally had to admit that he seemed to be truly beyond saving.

No!

Wrong!

There is still hope!

Tang Zhen suddenly remembered what Ling Yi had said, and quickly mustered his spirits, looking at his father Tang Chen with hope in his eyes. "Father, about a year ago, I found a Healing System Soul Master who could be called an unparalleled genius to treat me."

"Oh?" Tang Chen had been paying close attention to his son's changing expressions the whole time. He was about to say something, but upon hearing this, he decided to listen first.

"Under his treatment, most of the foreign energy lingering in my internal organs was worn away, leaving only the deepest part, like Bone-Clinging Gangrene."

"At that time, he said something similar to what you just said, Father."

At this point, Tang Zhen took a deep breath to calm his unsteady breathing caused by his emotional fluctuations, and continued, "Master Ling said that there are three methods that can cure my stubborn ailment that has penetrated deep into my internal organs."

"Three types?" *2

Tang Chen and Tang Hao spoke at the same time; the former looked surprised, while the latter's eyes lit up.

Tang Hao truly didn't expect things to take so many turns. At first, he and his father, Tang Zhen, had high hopes for his grandfather, believing that as long as his grandfather took action, even if his father was terminally ill and barely clinging to life, he should be able to be saved.

Therefore, upon receiving a letter bearing the mark of the Tang Family Clear Sky Sect and seeing the familiar handwriting, Tang Zhen and Tang Hao almost without hesitation chose to believe it and rushed day and night to this newly designated forbidden area on the Douluo Continent.

To everyone's surprise, the father and son did indeed meet the legendary figure of the Clear Sky Sect, their father/grandfather, Tang Chen. But upon their first meeting, they received a "terminal diagnosis" from him, which was practically a death sentence for Tang Zhen.

But now, hearing from his father Tang Zhen that there were three more ways to cure him, Tang Hao was overjoyed.

But, a year ago?

While Tang Hao felt hopeful, he couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. If he remembered correctly, it seemed that Ling Yi was the one who treated his father Tang Zhen, a year ago.

Tang Hao's feelings towards Ling Yi have always been complicated.

This complexity began twelve years ago when he passed the Grandmaster Blacksmith examination in Gengxin City at the age of twenty-five.

At that time, Tang Hao was at the height of his confidence and pride, but just as he was enjoying the envy and praise of others, the name Ling Yi appeared before him for the first time.

Yes, it was just a name; Tang Hao had never even seen the person before. But that didn't stop the divine sword named "Azure Nether" from overshadowing his newly acquired Grandmaster Blacksmith skill.

Therefore, Ling Yi, this twenty-year-old Divine Craftsman, left a deep impression on Tang Hao's heart.

Of course, upon learning that the other party was only a Three-Ring Soul Elder at the age of twenty-one, Tang Hao, who was already Six-Ring Soul Emperor at the age of twenty-five, immediately felt much better.

If everything had gone according to plan, Ling Yi, who was quite talented in forging, would have only left some noteworthy marks in the field of forging, while Tang Hao would have become the new generation of "Clear Sky Douluo," a legendary powerhouse who reigns supreme over the Douluo Continent. The two were simply not on the same track.

Who knew that after Tang Hao broke through the ' Hell Road ' and returned to the [Clear Sky Sect] from the ' Slaughter City ', the name Ling Yi appeared before him once again.

Tang Yuehua's deepest desires, her renowned reputation on the mainland, the emerging power she single-handedly built, and the conflict five years ago...

But ever since he saw Ling Yi again in ' Spirit City ' last year, seeing the other party's Seven-Ring Soul Sage level strength, seeing Ling Yi still calm and talkative in front of the leaders of various forces, led by the Pope the Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, and many Soul Master who could almost represent the entire continent, Tang Hao found that his former arrogance was crumbling.

Because he suddenly realized that, apart from his background, he seemed to have no advantage over Ling Yi.

Especially after facing "Sword Douluo" Chen Xin directly and witnessing the strength of "Seven Kill Douluo" Chen Jianjun, Tang Hao had to admit that even his Clear Sky Sect, without considering his grandfather Tang Chen, no longer had any advantage against Ling Yi and his Lingyun City.

Not to mention, after the title conferment ceremony, Ling Yi was invited to Haoyang Cliff to treat his father Tang Zhen. Although he later learned that he could not be completely cured, Tang Zhen's complexion was the best in recent years during that period, a fact that even Tang Hao had to acknowledge.

So much so that when Tang Hao suddenly heard the name Ling Yi, his feelings became inexplicably complicated.

Tang Chen noticed the change in Tang Hao's expression and knew that this Healing System Soul Master named Ling Yi was probably no less talented than his own grandson. In addition, his own son Tang Zhen, as the dignified Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, actually addressed the other party as "Master," so the other party must have some real skills.

"Tell me, what are the three methods?" Tang Chen suddenly became interested in Ling Yi and asked his son Tang Zhen.

"Hmm." Tang Zhen nodded, recalling the events as he slowly spoke, "The first method is for Master Ling to break through to the Titled Douluo realm."

Tang Chen: "???"

Tang Hao: "??!!"

Noticing the change in the expressions of his father and son, Tang Zhen shook his head helplessly and explained, "Master Ling is only in his early thirties and has already reached the Seven-Ring Soul Sage realm. In terms of talent, he is no less than Hao'er."

"Although Healing System Soul Master cultivate slower than Combat System Soul Master, you must understand that Master Ling's Martial Soul is the ' Blue Silver Emperor '! Given the current coverage of ' Blue Silver Grass ' on the Douluo Continent, his speed in becoming Titled Douluo might not be slower than yours!"

"Father," Tang Zhen turned his gaze to his father Tang Chen, and continued, "If even a Titled Douluo the Healing System cannot cure my son, then it is my fate to die."

Hearing Tang Zhen say this, Tang Chen shook his head and said, "Although I have never encountered Healing System Titled Douluo, I have heard people say that Support System Soul Master, including Healing System Soul Masters, are difficult to cultivate, but once they break through to the Titled Douluo realm, their abilities will definitely undergo a qualitative leap."

"If the Ling Yi you're talking about is really that talented, then when he breaks through to the Titled Douluo realm, if he goes all out, it's hard to say whether he can save a life or not, but healing flesh and bones should be commonplace."

"Under these circumstances, even if I were to expel the foreign energy from your body, causing damage to your internal organs, there's an 80% chance that, with his abilities, he would be unaffected by our Soul Power and could heal, or even regenerate, your internal organs!"

"Really!"

Hearing Tang Chen's affirmation, Tang Zhen was greatly encouraged, and his expression brightened instantly.

Immediately afterward, Tang Zhen said impatiently, "Father, you don't know, Ling Yi's Martial Soul was originally just the most inconspicuous useless Martial Soul, ' Blue Silver Grass,' but under his planning, he planted ' Blue Silver Grass ' all over the Douluo Continent, turning the entire continent into his Mimicry Cultivation Ground!!!"

Although no one knows how he did it yet, his Martial Soul has indeed advanced step by step to its current state as the "Blue Silver Emperor," with such high quality that it even possesses Congenital Domain!

"Congenital Domain?!"

Even Tang Chen couldn't help but glance at him and nodded in affirmation. "In that case, his ' Blue Silver Emperor ' Martial Soul can indeed be called a top-grade Martial Soul. In terms of quality and potential alone, it is probably even above my Tang Family's ' Clear Sky Hammer '."

Perhaps the only beings in the world who can surpass him are Qian Daoliu's "Angel" Martial Soul and her...

Halfway through his sentence, Tang Chen suddenly stopped and abruptly changed the subject, saying, "You just said he's only in his early thirties, so he's probably only a few years younger than Hao'er. If he really turns the entire Douluo Continent into a super- Mimicry Cultivation Ground beneficial to him, then he might actually become Titled Douluo before he's fifty!"

"That's what I think too," Tang Zhen said, noticing the change in his father's tone, but too excited to dwell on it. He continued with a spirited expression, "Besides being Healing System Soul Saint, Master Ling is also a master of medicine concoction. He and the Yang Clan brothers, Yang Wudi and Yang Wudi, have jointly developed a prescription that can help suppress the corrosive effects of the foreign energy on my body. Furthermore, while Master Ling's current treatment can't cure the problem completely, it can greatly alleviate my injuries. I think I should be able to wait a decade or so!"

At this point, a light called "hope" shone in Tang Zhen's eyes.

Seeing this, Tang Chen nodded slightly and then asked, "Tell me, what are the other two methods?"

Although he hadn't seen the man in person, Tang Chen had already begun to take an interest in this young man named Ling Yi simply from his son Tang Zhen's words and the changes in his grandson Tang Hao's expression.

"The second type,"

Upon hearing his father's words, Tang Zhen's expression suddenly became somewhat awkward, but under the watchful eyes of Tang Chen and his grandson Tang Hao, he gritted his teeth and whispered, "It means that my strength has broken through and reached Level 97."

Tang Chen and Tang Hao: "..."

Well, even Tang Chen and Tang Hao, Tang Zhen's closest relatives, knew very well that if Ling Yi's success rate in becoming Titled Douluo was 90%, then Tang Zhen's success rate in breaking through to Level 97 was, if not infinitely close to zero, certainly less than 10%.

Thinking of this, Tang Chen glared at Tang Zhen, who seemed somewhat 'good-for-nothing' to him, with a hint of annoyance. "Let's just talk about the third one~"

"Uh... yes~" Tang Zhen subconsciously shrank his neck and replied, "The third method requires the assistance of another Healing System Soul Master, Jiu Xin..."

"Etc!"

Tang Chen's expression suddenly changed, and he interrupted Tang Zhen's mouth.

Before Tang Zhen and his son Tang Hao could ask anything, Tang Chen moved and disappeared from the spot in an instant. When he reappeared, he was already on the roof of the small building where they were.

Although their strength was far inferior to Tang Chen's, Tang Zhen and Tang Hao were still among the top tier of the Douluo Continent. They arrived at the rooftop just a few breaths later.

As soon as they arrived on the rooftop, the father and son saw their father/grandfather looking up at the sky in the due north-northwest direction.

Following Tang Chen's gaze, Tang Zhen and Tang Hao saw nothing but a gloomy sky and the alternating colors of gold, ice blue, and emerald green on the distant horizon.