However, obtaining the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone would not be so simple.
Although Lin Hao knew that Tang San and his father, Tang Hao, were in Holy Soul Village.
He clearly could not report Tang Hao's whereabouts directly right now.
Without a reasonable source for that information, he would have no way to explain it!
He did remember that, in the future, Tang Hao would hide that soul bone in a secret chamber behind a waterfall, in a valley encircled by mountains and lush with countless living things.
In his previous life, quite a few novels had claimed that this valley was on Holy Soul Mountain.
But the original work had never said so.
That was merely speculation.
Besides, that was something that happened in the future. Perhaps Tang Hao still kept the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone in the Storage Soul Tool he carried.
Perhaps he would wait until Tang San went to enroll at Nuoding Academy.
Only then would Tang Hao move Ah Yin elsewhere and hide the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone in that secret chamber?
The thought gave Lin Hao something of a headache.
But after thinking it over, Lin Hao formed a plan.
Whatever the case, I'll give it a try first!
If that doesn't work, I'll use my connection with Senior Dugu to make a deal with the Nine Heart Begonia Family.
Having Ye Lingling transfer to Spirit City should work too!
After successfully hunting down his third soul ring.
Lin Hao followed Dugu Bo back to Dugu Manor in Heaven Dou Imperial City.
Dugu Yan was not at the manor that day; she had gone to attend classes at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
After returning to Heaven Dou Imperial City.
Lin Hao prepared to bid Dugu Bo farewell and hire a carriage back to Spirit City.
"Senior Dugu, I'll take my leave now!"
"I've been in seclusion for over half a year. My teacher and the others must be worried sick, so I'll head back to Spirit City first!"
Before leaving, Lin Hao cupped his fist in salute.
"Mm, go on back, then!"
Dugu Bo gently stroked the beard beneath his chin as he spoke.
"We'll keep in touch by letter!"
"Of course!"
Lin Hao grinned, turned, and boarded the hired carriage.
After crossing mountains and rivers and enduring nearly half a month of jolting travel, the carriage finally passed through Spirit City's gates.
Lin Hao paid the fare, hopped down, and headed straight toward the Chrysanthemum Residence.
He pushed open the gates of the Chrysanthemum Residence, and the familiar courtyard came into view.
Lin Hao could not help grinning as he shouted.
"Teacher! I'm back!"
The moment his voice rang out, a figure hurried out of the main hall to greet him.
Dressed in splendid golden robes, Chrysanthemum Douluo strode up to Lin Hao, his delicately handsome face brimming with excitement. He looked Lin Hao up and down for a good while, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming that he was unharmed.
"Little Hao, you're finally back!"
"Do you know how worried your teacher has been these past six months?"
"Even I wouldn't dare touch the water in that Ice and Fire Pool."
"You soaked in it for over half a year! I couldn't even sleep soundly at night!"
"That wouldn't happen! I always plan before I act. I won't do anything unless I'm confident!"
Lin Hao grinned and patted his chest.
"Look, Teacher. Aren't I perfectly fine?"
"And I gained quite a lot, too!"
Seeing Lin Hao so full of vigor, with an aura far stronger than before he left, Chrysanthemum Douluo finally set his mind at ease and asked curiously.
"Little Hao, what's your cultivation level now? Have you obtained your third soul ring?"
"I've already obtained my third soul ring and broken through to Soul Elder!"
"But I haven't tested my exact level yet."
Lin Hao grinned as he spoke.
Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo took a crystal ball for testing soul power out of his Storage Soul Tool and held it out to Lin Hao.
"This Soul Power Crystal Ball tests the Soul Elder realm. Put your hand on it and try channeling your soul power into it."
Lin Hao took the crystal ball and pressed his right hand against it.
The next instant, the crystal ball burst into dazzling light.
At the sight of that brilliant glow, Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes widened. Utterly stunned, he sucked in a breath of cold air, his voice trembling slightly.
"A level thirty-nine Soul Elder?!"
"Little Hao, you... you're defying the heavens!"
"You were only level twenty-six when you left, and you've shot up thirteen levels in just over half a year?"
"This cultivation speed is simply unheard of!"
Lin Hao was not surprised.
He knew that in the original story, when the Shrek Seven Devils took immortal herbs at the Soul Elder level, they had generally gained six or seven levels.
Although he had been a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster when he took the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum.
Rising from level twenty-six to at least level thirty-four should certainly have been no problem.
On top of that, his third soul ring had been a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, and he had spent over half a year cultivating through Ice and Fire Body Tempering.
Breaking through to level thirty-nine was perfectly normal!
And if his next plan went smoothly, his cultivation could continue to soar. He might even charge straight into the Soul King realm!
At that thought, excitement burned within Lin Hao.
Over the following days, Lin Hao did not return to the academy.
He had long since learned everything the junior academy had to teach. Going back would only waste time, so he simply stayed at the residence and began compressing his soul power.
Thanks to the exceptional control over his body gained through prolonged body tempering, coupled with the mental power he had obtained after taking the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.
Lin Hao's soul power compression went very smoothly.
After repeatedly compressing the soul power within his body, again and again.
Although his level remained at thirty-nine, the quality of Lin Hao's soul power underwent a fundamental transformation.
With the same level of soul power reserves.
The improved quality meant that his actual total soul power had increased to more than three times its original amount!
Now, creating a Titan Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum required less than ten percent of his soul power!
News of Lin Hao's return soon reached Hu Liena and the other two as well.
One evening.
After classes ended at Spirit City Intermediate Soul Master Academy.
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan went straight to the Chrysanthemum Residence.
Hu Liena walked at the front.
She wore a fitted golden dress with a knee-length hem, and a silver jade belt cinched her waist, perfectly outlining her slender waist and shapely curves.
Her long golden hair spilled like a waterfall over her shoulders and down her back.
On her exquisitely beautiful, alluring face, with brows and eyes as lovely as a painting, the faintest hint of a smile lingered at the corners of her lips.
She radiated a natural charm that made one's heart race with a single glance.
Xie Yue followed close behind, his silver-white fitted outfit neat and crisp, his figure tall and well-proportioned.
His face was cool and stern, his features sharply defined. His short silver hair was meticulously groomed, and a touch of red marked his forehead.
He exuded an icy air, like a sword drawn from its sheath, its sharp edge fully exposed yet without ostentation.
Yan walked at the rear, wearing a dark red fitted outfit. Tall and powerfully built, with a ruggedly handsome face, thick brows, and large eyes, he was unmistakably a strength-oriented power attack system soul master.
After the three arrived at the Chrysanthemum Residence.
A servant led them to the hall to wait.
Then hurried off to inform Lin Hao.
After receiving word that Hu Liena and the other two had come to visit.
Lin Hao stopped cultivating, left the Quiet Chamber, and followed the servant across the courtyard to the main hall.
Inside, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan sat waiting.
When she saw Lin Hao enter, Hu Liena immediately rose, concern filling her beautiful eyes as she hurried over to him.
"Little brother Lin Hao, where on earth have you been these past six months? Why wasn't there any news from you?"
"We were worried sick!"
Xie Yue nodded as well. Although he said nothing, his eyes held the same concern.
Yan folded his arms and sat down casually in a chair to one side as he spoke.
"Exactly! You vanished for over half a year without a word. We thought something had happened to you!"
Lin Hao smiled, waved a hand, and explained.
"I'm fine!"
"I just went on a trip with Teacher and Uncle Ghost and happened upon an opportunity, so I spent some time cultivating in seclusion nearby."
"See? As soon as I finished, I hurried right back!"
"An opportunity?"
Yan raised an eyebrow, leaned forward slightly, and asked curiously.
"What kind of opportunity took over half a year to digest?"
"So how much has your cultivation improved?"
Lin Hao grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, and spoke casually, yet with an unmistakable air of swagger.
"Not much. I only broke through to level thirty-nine Soul Elder, that's all!"
"What?! Level thirty-nine Soul Elder?!"
The instant those words left his mouth, the hall fell silent.
Hu Liena's beautiful eyes went round, her lips parting slightly in utter disbelief.
Even Xie Yue's normally stern face showed a rare look of shock, his pupils contracting slightly.
Yan sprang straight out of his chair and stared at Lin Hao with wide eyes and a face full of disbelief. After struggling for words for a long moment, he finally blurted out.
"You... you're messing with us, right?"
"You jumped from level twenty-six to level thirty-nine in just over half a year?"
"Even if you ate ten thousand year ginseng kings as snacks, it couldn't be this ridiculous!"
Before you continue