Tang Hao's Visit

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Everyone in the Seventh Dormitory was up. Some were cultivating, while others were reviewing theoretical knowledge they had written down in class. Yun Tian was naturally among those cultivating.

"Creak!"

As the door to the Seventh Dormitory opened, a figure slowly walked in.

Both of his arms were wrapped in bandages, with faint traces of blood seeping through them.

His face was still pale, but he looked far better than when Yun Tian had seen him the previous night. His black hair was a disheveled mess like a bird's nest, dark bags hung beneath his eyes, and he looked utterly exhausted.

"Tang San!? Why are you only getting back now?"

"I... I went to hunt a Soul Ring."

Xiao Wu stared at him, disbelief filling her eyes. Could someone really end up like this just from hunting a first Soul Ring? Who would believe that?

Whether Xiao Wu believed him or not, Tang San walked toward his bed and prepared to lie down. These past few days had been nothing short of hell, and those infernal experiences tormented him every moment.

His mind was now filled with the scene of being bitten by the Mandala Snake.

Yesterday, he had originally planned to follow his teacher's advice and absorb the Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo. But somehow, a Mandala Snake had fallen from nowhere. Since one of Tang San's arms had already been poisoned and could not be used, he was unable to smoothly chain together his hidden weapons and techniques.

That was why the second snake had succeeded.

Looking at Yun Tian, who was cultivating cross-legged nearby, Tang San could not help but feel another surge of jealousy and resentment.

If Yun Tian and the headmaster had not left first, he and his teacher would not have been so unlucky. At the time, Yu Xiaogang had kept shouting that it was impossible, saying things like how a Mandala Snake could possibly appear in the outskirts.

"Yun Tian, I'll let you off this time. Once I absorb my first Soul Ring, we can talk about our duel."

"..."

Only silence answered him. Yun Tian continued cultivating with his eyes closed. Obtaining his first Soul Ring meant that his bottleneck had been lifted.

Yun Tian had already begun advancing toward his second Soul Ring, while he had not even gotten his first one yet. Not only that, he was covered in injuries.

"Tang San, just rest. Yun Tian is working hard at cultivation. Don't disturb him for no reason."

Seeing Tang San being so oblivious, Xiao Wu immediately became displeased. Yun Tian was cultivating, yet Tang San suddenly started talking. Wasn't that just causing trouble?

"Xiao Wu, even you!"

"What do you mean, even me? I'm just telling you not to talk nonsense. You can't be casually disturbed while cultivating. You've already taken a teacher, and you still don't understand that?"

Tang San looked dejected. Did he truly have no fate with Xiao Wu? She disliked him so much. Thinking of this, he could only silently lie down on his bed and close his eyes to rest.

Meanwhile, in Yu Xiaogang's room.

Having finished his treatment, Yu Xiaogang was currently seated at his desk, reading through materials about the Soul Hunting Forest.

Unlike Tang San, only one of his arms was wrapped in bandages, and his complexion had recovered considerably. At the very least, he was not as pale as Tang San.

"Impossible. How could a Mandala Snake have appeared in yesterday's area? There may be some deeper in, but absolutely not at that distance!"

Thinking about that Mandala Snake that had suddenly fallen down, Yu Xiaogang still felt lingering fear.

"If the headmaster hadn't left and had instead accompanied this master to hunt Soul Rings, how could a mere Mandala Snake have injured Xiao San and me?"

At that moment, the window suddenly opened.

It was clearly still daytime, yet the light was unusually dim. Gusts of breeze blew in, and Yu Xiaogang instinctively frowned.

"Yu Xiaogang."

"Who!?"

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly turned around, only to see a black-robed figure standing behind him. At that instant, it felt as though the air had frozen.

The tall, burly figure was completely concealed beneath a broad black robe. The hood hung low, leaving most of his face buried in shadow, revealing only a few strands of messy gray-white stubble.

The aura and pressure emanating from him made even a Soul Grandmaster like Yu Xiaogang afraid to breathe too loudly.

"Yu Xiaogang, I am Tang San's father. My name is Tang Hao."

"Tang Hao! The Clear Sky Douluo?!"

The moment Yu Xiaogang heard him introduce himself, he became wildly excited. This was his idol! Who had not heard of the Clear Sky Douluo's legendary fame?

What he had not expected was that his guess that Tang San's father was Tang Hao had actually been correct.

He had not guessed wrong!

Seeing Gangzi so excited, Tang Hao's expression beneath his hood became slightly puzzled. Had this old fellow gone mad?

"It is only an empty title. It is unimportant compared with Xiao San's affairs."

"The reason I came to find you today is simple. Before long, I will be leaving this place. Before that, I am entrusting Xiao San to you, and I hope you will guide him well."

Afterward, Tang Hao discreetly glanced at the bandages wrapped around the other man's arm, his face expressionless.

He would never admit that he had thrown that Mandala Snake. Who would have thought that Yu Xiaogang, a Rank 29 Soul Master, could not even defeat a Mandala Snake that was only a little over four hundred years old? It was simply a disgrace beyond measure!

But the outcome was good. At the very least, his son had not absorbed the Solitary Bamboo as his first Soul Ring.

Others might regard it as a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, but how could Tang Hao not know better? This was the Blue Silver Emperor! Though it had yet to awaken, its bloodline was there. Tang San's future was destined to differ from that of the vast majority!

"Of course, Haotian Crown. Xiao San is my first disciple. I will absolutely not let either Xiao San or you down!"

Yu Xiaogang's tone brimmed with confidence. Even Tang Hao inexplicably felt that this old fellow truly had some ability.

"Mm. I am relieved that you possess such resolve. Take this."

He tossed a token to the other man, then turned to leave.

The reason for his departure was naturally to travel across the continent in search of a way to heal his hidden injuries, so that he could better protect his Xiao San in the future.

As for Yun Tian, Tang Hao's gaze turned cold, but in the end, he had no intention of teaching him a lesson.

First, the conflict between him and Tang San had only been verbal. Moreover, Yun Tian was not a member of Spirit Hall and had even rejected Spirit Hall's invitation on the day of his Martial Soul awakening.

That was also why Tang Hao chose to spare him.

Most importantly, Yun Tian possessed Innate Full Soul Power, and his Martial Soul had mutated as well. Someone like that was the perfect whetstone for his son.

In Tang Hao's eyes, Twin Martial Souls were the most monstrous talent. Once the Blue Silver Grass had been fitted with Soul Rings, having the Clear Sky Hammer absorb nine Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings would not be a problem at all.

He was even less worried about Xiao Wu. She was merely a rabbit that had only just taken human form. In his plans, she was already destined to become one of Tang San's future Soul Rings.

It would be best if they could develop feelings for each other. Then, he could find a way to trick her into sacrificing herself. But at present, she did not seem interested in Tang San at all.

So Tang Hao decided to leave things as they were for now. Xiao Wu was right there; it was not as though she could run anywhere.