Tang Hao Takes Xu Qianqian Hostage

The next day.

In a secluded corner outside the library.

"Did you tell your family?" The speaker was Tang Hao. He still wore his old black robe and a mask over his face, his voice seemingly deliberately lowered into a hoarse rasp.

"Yes, Senior. We'll be gone for many days if we're going to the Soul Beast Forest. I couldn't possibly not mention it to my adoptive father."

Xu Qianqian replied timidly, then suddenly shuddered.

"Rest assured, my adoptive father did not object. He even seemed to hold you in great respect."

"You must be an exceptionally formidable Soul Master too, Senior, just like my father..."

As she spoke, Xu Qianqian's tone sank once more.

"Let's go. It won't take long." Since Tang Hao had sought out Xu Qianqian, he had naturally investigated her background thoroughly.

This included the fact that she had become the adopted daughter of the Notting City Lord; he knew the general details as well.

"Senior, I brought Gold Soul Coins. Are we taking a carriage there?"

"If so..."

"No need." Tang Hao directly cut off Xu Qianqian's rambling. He lifted her with soul power, transforming into a streak of light as they flew toward the outskirts of Notting City.

At the same time.

Within the Notting City Lord's residence, Xiao Yuanshan gazed through the window at the receding streak of light, his thoughts unknown.

A Title Douluo was incredibly fast, especially Tang Hao, who had reached the terrifying rank of 95.

In barely more than ten minutes, he carried Xu Qianqian past the Spirit Hall Soul Master guards at the entrance and into the Soul Beast Forest.

In truth, Xu Qianqian had not been wholly unaware of the outside world during those ten-odd minutes.

Using the senses she projected outward, she observed everything around her and noticed familiar fluctuations of soul power.

"Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Yu Xiaogang."

The three of them had just arrived at the market outside the Soul Beast Forest. They would presumably enter the forest soon.

When her feet touched the ground, surprise appeared on Xu Qianqian's face. "Th-this... this is the Soul Beast Forest?"

"That's right." Tang Hao nodded. "Remember, do not tell anyone about what happens here today, including your adoptive father. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand, Senior." Xu Qianqian nodded earnestly.

"Senior, may I ask what Soul Beast you intend to hunt?" Xu Qianqian looked puzzled. "If it is a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, I'm afraid I won't be able to appraise it."

"Forget ten thousand years—even a thousand..."

"I need a hundred-year soul ring. You only need to help me determine its age."

"In that case, if it's a hundred-year one, I can do it." Xu Qianqian spoke carefully, as though she had breathed a sigh of relief.

As they spoke, they saw the gates outside the Soul Beast Forest slowly open.

Yu Xiaogang and the other two walked in.

"Do you see those three? You should know them." Tang Hao looked into the distance.

"That's Master Yu, Tang San, and Xiao Wu?"

"That's them." Tang Hao nodded. "The Soul Beast you need to appraise this time is related to them."

"Are you Xiao Wu's elder, Senior?" Xu Qianqian's eyes widened. "I heard Xiao Wu say that an elder helped her hunt her first soul ring."

"There aren't many powerful Soul Masters in Notting City. It must have been you, Senior!"

"So this time, Xiao Wu asked you to help Tang San hunt a Soul Beast?"

Hearing Xu Qianqian say this, Tang Hao froze. After a moment, he nodded somewhat mechanically.

"That's right. That girl Xiao Wu asked me to help her classmate hunt a Soul Beast, but she didn't want me to be seen. That's why this became so troublesome."

"So that's how it is!" Xu Qianqian patted her nearly flat chest, her voice utterly sincere.

"Rest assured, Senior. I will keep today's events absolutely secret. I won't say a single word to Tang San or Yu Xiaogang."

"That's good. Don't mention it to Xiao Wu either." Tang Hao's expression twisted with conflict, but he still nodded in satisfaction.

Tang San's group darted around the Soul Beast Forest, searching for Soul Beasts.

Tang Hao and Xu Qianqian followed behind from a considerable distance, avoiding detection.

Yet several hours passed, and they still failed to find a suitable Soul Beast.

"What kind of soul ring do you think would be best for Tang San to absorb?" Remembering the information Tang San had discussed with Yu Xiaogang, Tang Hao could not help asking Xu Qianqian.

"Mm, life and healing." Without hesitation, Xu Qianqian told Tang Hao exactly what she had previously told Tang San and Xiao Wu.

After all, Tang Hao could not possibly have learned that information while she was speaking with them.

Tang Hao's martial soul was not a stealth-type martial soul; there was no way he could have approached her without her noticing. Now, he seemed to be seeking an answer.

Most likely, after Tang San returned, he had compared notes with Yu Xiaogang, and Tang Hao, lurking somewhere unknown, happened to overhear them.

"Indeed, the Blue Silver King excels at healing and life-type soul skills."

"If soul rings were absorbed this way, the martial soul's effects could be maximized."

Tang Hao fell into thought. A Yin's figure faintly surfaced in his mind, along with the hundred-thousand-year soul bone she had left behind, brimming with vitality.

"However, Junior Tang San seems to have his own ideas." Xu Qianqian's voice pulled Tang Hao back from his thoughts.

"Senior, let me speak frankly with you."

"Blue Silver Grass can absorb soul rings from poison-type and beast-type martial souls, but due to Blue Silver Grass's innate shortcomings, accidents may occur."

"This Master Yu once taught a student into an accident."

"Senior, if possible..."

"I'm Xiao Wu's elder. What her classmate thinks is none of my concern."

Tang Hao spoke, cutting Xu Qianqian off.

Hearing the deep concern for Tang San in Xu Qianqian's voice, his tone softened involuntarily.

"Let young people decide their own affairs. Even if something does happen in the end, it will still be a form of experience."

He recalled the time when he and his elder brother Tang Xiao were known as the Clear Sky Twin Stars, when they went to Sea God Island and were captured by Bo Saixi, forcing their grandfather Tang Chen to personally retrieve them.

Even now, thinking back on it left him sighing.

Still, Tang Hao truly was not worried about Tang San.

What this little girl said made a great deal of sense. It even gave Tang Hao the urge to strangle Yu Xiaogang.

But there was one prerequisite—Tang San's martial soul was not an ordinary Blue Silver Grass.

Even if he recklessly absorbed a poison-type martial soul, it would not matter. He possessed twin martial souls and innate full soul power.

Who in the Douluo Continent could possibly rival him?

As for support abilities like those of healing Soul Masters, were they stronger than a hammer?

Relying on others was worse than relying on oneself. Before his son could cultivate the Clear Sky Hammer, having him become a battle Soul Master gave Tang Hao more peace of mind than making him a support Soul Master.

Besides, with all the strange things Tang San had created, becoming a support Soul Master would likely prevent him from bringing out their full potential.

Taking all of this into consideration, Tang Hao ultimately accepted Yu Xiaogang's goodwill.

Just as he had said, it was best to absorb a beast-type martial soul, preferably one with poison. A Mandrake Snake would be ideal.

While Tang Hao and Xu Qianqian were talking, Tang San and the others had already headed deeper inside.

Tang Hao and Xu Qianqian were about to follow.

Suddenly, yellow spots emerged from the dense forest, and a three-meter-long beast lunged out with an earth-shaking roar.

"Th-this is!" Xu Qianqian cried out. "A nearly thousand-year-old white-browed, hanging-eyed tiger."

"It's over. We're completely finished."

"How could we encounter such a terrifying soul beast? Senior, what should we do?"