Faced with Dugu Bo's fury, Ning Fengzhi was unusually silent.
The refined sect master gripped his feather fan so tightly that his knuckles had gone white.
He, too, had been reborn.
He had returned to this starting point carrying the agonizing memories of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect being wiped out in the Soul Hunting Operation, and of his two uncles, Jian and Gu, dying at Jialing Pass to protect Tang San.
Why had Spirit Hall launched its holy war early? It made no sense!
Could it be... that madwoman Bibi Dong had also been reborn with her memories?
Ning Fengzhi drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
If Bibi Dong had also been reborn, Spirit Hall's first target would not be the Tiantou Imperial Family. It would be Tang San!
"Fengzhi, what do you think?" Xue Ye asked gravely.
Ning Fengzhi rose and cupped his hands, his expression grave.
"Your Majesty, Spirit Hall has advanced in force, and its offensive is fierce. But both our empires remain strong. Though the border defenses have been breached in places, they cannot reach the imperial city anytime soon. I believe their real aim is to cover for their strongest fighters while they carry out a purge in secret!"
"Purge whom?" Xue Ye frowned.
"Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao. And... his son, Tang San!"
Ning Fengzhi spoke each word distinctly.
At the mention of Tang San, a little girl of about five trembled in the corner of the hall.
Pretty as a doll and utterly adorable, she was Ning Rongrong, the young princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
But her bright eyes now held the complicated weariness and pain of someone who had lived far longer.
She, too, had been reborn with memories of her previous life.
Tang San...
Ning Rongrong silently repeated the name to herself.
In her previous life, Tang San had been the heart of the Shrek Seven Devils, the Sea God and the Asura God, and their only hope of defeating Spirit Hall.
For her sect's sake, and to survive, she had to do everything she could to help Tang San become a god in this life.
But...
The image of a boy suddenly surfaced in Ning Rongrong's mind.
In her previous life, Ning Rongrong had been spoiled and willful. She had not met the requirements to inherit the Nine-Colored Goddess's power, and the goddess had naturally been unwilling to grant her Godhood.
But Oscar, ever the devoted lapdog, had pleaded with the Nine-Colored Goddess again and again until she finally made an exception.
Oscar had never known that Ning Rongrong had always held someone irreplaceable in her heart.
When she was six, she had run away from home in a fit of stubbornness and gotten lost in the wilderness.
Cold and frightened, on the verge of being attacked by wild beasts, she had been saved by a gentle boy.
His name was Ye Yuan.
He had not possessed a shred of Soul Power, yet he had cared for her in the forest for three days and nights. He gave her the little food he had, held her warmly until she fell asleep, and stayed with her until people from her sect found them.
From then on, Ye Yuan's gentle, unblemished image had been etched into the deepest part of Ning Rongrong's soul.
Xiao Yuan... where are you now? In this life, I'll find you. I'll repay you with everything I have... But if you're with Spirit Hall, are we destined to become enemies?
Ning Rongrong closed her eyes in pain.
"Fengzhi, are you saying Spirit Hall is after Tang Hao and his son?"
Xue Ye's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.
"That's right." Ning Fengzhi's expression was solemn.
"Tang Hao wields the Clear Sky Hammer, and his son is extraordinarily gifted. We must find them before Spirit Hall does and spare no effort to protect them! Tang San is the only key to opposing Spirit Hall in the future!"
"Dugu Bo, sorry for the trouble, but please go to Fasinuo Province with Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu yourselves!"
"Yes!"
Meanwhile.
In a cave among the barren mountains on the edge of Fasinuo Province.
Tang Hao had fallen into a deep coma. His breathing was so faint it was almost imperceptible.
The Golden Crocodile King's Soul Power clung to his severed arm like a maggot to bone, steadily devouring his life force.
Five-year-old Tang San knelt beside him, eyes red and teeth clenched.
Though he had memories of his previous two lives, this body was only five years old. He had little Soul Power and no way to help.
Step. Step. Step.
Just then, hurried, heavy footsteps sounded outside the dark cave.
Tang San's gaze sharpened. His right hand darted to his waist as he took a defensive stance.
"Who's there?"
"Young Master! Master!"
With an anxious, rough shout, a burly old man more than two meters tall charged into the cave.
When he saw Tang Hao lying in a pool of blood, he dropped to his knees with a thud, tears in his eyes. "Master! This old servant came too late!"
It was Tai Tan, chief of the Strength Clan!
Tai Tan, too, had been reborn with memories of his previous life.
Tang San had once told him that he and Tang Hao had lived in seclusion in Holy Soul Village until Tang San was five.
So when Tai Tan learned that Spirit Hall had suddenly begun a sweeping search of Fasinuo Province, his heart burned with urgency.
Without even taking time to contact the other three clans, he brought a few trusted members of the Strength Clan and followed the faint clues here, guided by memories of his previous life.
"Young Master, this place could be discovered at any moment. This old servant has a hidden estate near the provincial border. We must leave at once!"
Tai Tan picked up the gravely wounded Tang Hao and took Tang San's hand. Under cover of night, they hurried into the wilderness.
Two days later.
At a secluded estate built against the mountains on the edge of Fasinuo Province.
After Tai Tan had spent two days nourishing Tang Hao with Soul Power at the cost of his own cultivation, Tang Hao's life was finally out of danger. But he remained in a deep coma, his strength all but gone.
In the room, Tai Tan looked at five-year-old Tang San, who was keeping watch beside the bed. His expression was grave.
"Young Master, Spirit Hall's actions this time are highly unusual. This old servant has secretly sent people to contact the Defense Clan, Speed Clan, and Breaking Clan. Once our Four Great Clans reunite, we can escort you and the master to Tian Dou Imperial City. With the protection of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the two empires, you can safely awaken your Martial Soul!"
Tang San clenched his little fists, fury blazing in his eyes.
"Spirit Hall... Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue! Just you wait! Once I awaken my Twin Martial Souls and reclaim everything I had in my previous life, I'll make you pay!"
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Seated in an enormous palanquin, Ye Yuan could not help sneezing.
The eighteen-year-old transmigrator was enjoying treatment unlike anything he had ever known.
Bibi Dong, dressed in resplendent gold, sat on one side of him, while Qian Renxue, wearing a short white-and-gold dress, sat on the other.
Both women pressed much of their bodies against him, almost as if by accident. They even took turns offering peeled fruit to his lips.
"Xiao Yuan, here, open your mouth. This fruit is cool and will soothe you."
Bibi Dong's voice was so tender it seemed to drip with sweetness, and her phoenix eyes shimmered like autumn waters.
"Xiao Yuan, eat mine. This one's sweeter."
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