Tang Hao Heard His Son's Thoughts

Flender stood a dozen paces away. His gaze fell on the nine Spirit Rings, and his pupils contracted sharply.

The man had hidden his face, but Flender recognized him at once.

Clear Sky Douluo. Tang Hao!

To run into Clear Sky Douluo here—what incredible luck!

Tang San stood behind the figure and looked up at that familiar back.

In his heart, he called out hoarsely,

Dad, I knew it.

For these past six years, you've been here. You've been by my side all along.

I'm sorry, Dad. I never told you I'd been reborn.

But I have a plan. I'll take the Blue Silver Emperor down a support path and the Clear Sky Hammer down an assault path. Together, they'll make me stronger than I was in my previous life. I'll claim every opportunity I had back then, too, and have Xiao Wu sacrifice herself for me.

Then, once I become a Titled Douluo, I'll resurrect her. I can use that chance to replace all my low-level Spirit Rings with higher-level ones and become an even stronger god.

I destroyed Spirit Hall in my last life, but I still had regrets. This time, I'll set everything right!

Tang Hao stood before Tang San, his black cloak stirring gently in the night breeze.

Hearing Tang San's thoughts, he froze.

What?

Little San was reborn?

How did I not know?

Reborn?

His brows shifted slightly beneath the shadow of his hood.

Nothing unusual showed on his face.

So that's it.

No wonder Tang San had known so many inexplicable things over the past six years: that strange eye technique, those exquisite hand and leg techniques, and all those iron contraptions he'd tinkered with on his own.

Tang Hao had thought the boy was simply gifted.

Only now did he understand that it had all come from Tang San's previous life.

He had never cared what path the Blue Silver Grass took. He had thought it was useless anyway, though it had turned out not to be quite so worthless.

The only thing he cared about was whether Tang San could safely reach level fifty.

At level fifty, Tang San could start adding Spirit Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer.

When that day came, the Clear Sky Hammer would possess nine Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.

Perhaps even stronger rings. That was what Tang Hao's son deserved.

He did not care what became of the Blue Silver Emperor.

Back when Tang San's Martial Soul first awakened,

if Tang Hao had not known he also possessed the Clear Sky Hammer, he would never have let him become a Soul Master.

His thoughts turned to Xiao Wu.

He had had his eye on that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for a long time.

All these years, he had protected not only Tang San but Xiao Wu as well, making sure no other Titled Douluo discovered her.

He had to ensure she became Tang San's Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone when Tang San reached Titled Douluo. Hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was extremely difficult, especially while Tang Hao was so badly wounded. He had only so many chances left to fight.

That single attack on the Titan Giant Ape had already worsened his injuries.

But killing Xiao Wu would take almost no effort.

As for Xiao Wu's feelings for Ye Lin? What were those worth? Did they matter?

That Soul Beast would die sooner or later. She would sacrifice herself sooner or later. Who she was close to meant nothing to him.

I didn't expect Little San to think so far ahead. That Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can be used that way, too. Excellent.

He's lived before, after all. Of course he knows more.

Little San said he destroyed Spirit Hall in his last life. Now that he knows what's coming, bringing it down again will be even easier. That's my son!

Tang Hao had no idea why he could hear Tang San's thoughts. He chalked it up to the bond between father and son.

The Titan Giant Ape slowly rose from the broken stone and splintered trees.

It shook its massive head, scattering wood fragments and dust from its shoulders. Then it straightened, stared at the man holding the hammer, and let out a low growl.

Its eyes flicked to the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Hao's hand, then to the ninth Spirit Ring at his feet. Its gaze lingered on the red ring for a moment before it slowly took one step back, then another.

If I didn't have to protect Sister Xiao Wu, I'd make this human pay today!

It withdrew its gaze, turned its enormous body toward the depths of the forest, and walked away.

Tang Hao saw the Titan Giant Ape leave and breathed a sigh of relief.

If they had truly fought, he would not have been its match in his current condition.

Whether the Titan Giant Ape would have been hurt was uncertain. Tang Hao, on the other hand, would certainly have died when his injuries flared up.

Seeing the Titan Giant Ape depart,

Flender hurriedly bowed to Tang Hao.

"Thank you for your help, Your Excellency."

Tang Hao's figure vanished with a whoosh.

Only his rough voice carried back from deep in the forest.

"I happened to be passing by on business. When I saw that beast attacking people, I stepped in to stop it. Take care of yourselves."

Flender lowered his hand, straightened, and let out a breath.

He glanced at Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji relaxed his shoulders and slowly unclenched his fists.

Dai Mubai stood a short distance away, his voice lower than usual.

"So that's the power of a Titled Douluo..."

"Terrifying. Just standing there was enough to scare off the Titan Giant Ape."

"If he hadn't shown up, we might all have died here today."

Ye Lin stood at the edge of the group, his gaze fixed on the direction in which the Titan Giant Ape had disappeared.

At Dai Mubai's words, he nodded slightly. "Good thing he was here. We're all safe."

Halfway through, his voice abruptly faltered.

He looked away from the shattered tree stumps and back toward the direction the Titan Giant Ape had gone, as if something had suddenly occurred to him.

"Where's Xiao Wu?"

He turned to look around. That familiar figure was nowhere in the group, nor was she by the campfire.

"Xiao Wu!"

"Xiao Wu's gone!"

"I remember now. When the Titan Giant Ape knocked us away, it grabbed Xiao Wu!"

Ning Rongrong stepped forward and gently placed a hand on his arm.

"Ye Lin, don't panic. She'll be all right."

Her tone was softer than usual.

Zhu Zhuqing stood beside her and offered comfort as well.

"I'm sure Xiao Wu's fine."

They had all heard Tang San's thoughts. They knew the Titan Giant Ape was Xiao Wu's younger brother.

So Xiao Wu was surely safe.

But they could not tell Ye Lin.

How they had learned that secret was itself a secret.

They looked upset on the surface.

But now that they thought about Ye Lin being completely in the dark, they almost wanted to laugh.

"Is she really all right?" Ye Lin murmured.

Ye Lin knew the Titan Giant Ape was Xiao Wu's younger brother, but how he knew was also a secret. He could not tell anyone else.

So he still had to act heartbroken.

Tang San also knew Xiao Wu was safe, but how he knew was a secret he could not share. Besides, he needed this chance to seek out the opportunity awaiting him: the Eight Spider Lances!

So now it was his turn to perform—to act devastated, to show the depth of his feelings.

He had to make Xiao Wu believe he would die for her.

Then, when the time came, Xiao Wu would have no choice but to sacrifice herself for him!