All Tang San felt at that moment was tension. Even he barely believed what he had just said. Surely the Titled Douluo before him would not be so easy to fool.
"All right, you've convinced me, Blue Silver Grass boy."
"I could simply throw reason aside and abduct you, but I'm not fond of such violence."
"Besides, the Pope has high expectations for you. If you perform well, she won't make things difficult for you."
Chrysanthemum Douluo withdrew his oppressive aura and spoke lightly.
"But if you ever make an enemy of Spirit Hall, don't dream of surviving in this world."
That last sentence, however, made Tang San's breath catch.
"Go ahead and accept that generous gift. Rest assured, it hasn't been tampered with. After all, no matter how strong you become, you'll never defeat Spirit Hall."
"I personally admire you too, boy. I hope you don't die before you've had a chance to grow."
With that, Chrysanthemum Douluo turned to leave.
"Wait, Your Eminence Chrysanthemum Douluo. Um, about Xiao Wu..."
Tang San called out to Chrysanthemum Douluo. Though he was not particularly fond of Xiao Wu, he still expressed concern for her.
"Ask your teacher about that little rabbit. He seems to have known for some time."
"And Grandmaster, the Pope said to leave that Strange Book with you for now. She'll take it back sooner or later."
After leaving those words behind, Chrysanthemum Douluo flew out through the window and vanished.
Once Chrysanthemum Douluo left, the air in the room finally became less oppressive.
"Teacher, it seems your luck wasn't so bad this time."
Finally able to breathe again, Tang San let out a long sigh, sat down in a chair, and spoke to Grandmaster.
"Yes, it seems the Pope does intend to spare you. Is it confidence, arrogance, or perhaps..."
When Grandmaster had seen the contents of the Storage Bracelet, he had begun to suspect what Bibi Dong was thinking.
"Grandmaster, so my father really is Clear Sky Douluo? And what exactly does the Pope mean by all this? And what's going on with Xiao Wu?"
"One thing at a time. Let's return to the academy first."
Grandmaster told Tang San to be patient.
Tang San took a deep breath and calmed down.
After returning to the academy, the two went straight to Grandmaster's office.
They drew the curtains, shut the door, and made sure no one else was there.
Only then did Grandmaster begin to explain at an unhurried pace.
"First, your background. Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo said, you are Clear Sky Douluo's son."
"As for your father, he hasn't abandoned you. He merely decided to finish what he must do as Tang Hao and Clear Sky Douluo before returning to be your father again."
Grandmaster also showed Tang San the Pope Token Tang Hao had given him.
Seeing this token was equivalent to seeing the Pope herself. The reason he had not produced it earlier was that Chrysanthemum Douluo had come on the Pope's personal orders.
To him, the token was merely an inanimate object. Bringing it out would only cost them a hidden trump card.
"Then my mother really was..."
"Yes, the legends are true. Clear Sky Douluo's wife was indeed a case of soul beast transformation."
"Xiao San, you possess the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline. That is precisely why I decided to guide you down the extreme life flow path rather than the balanced flow path."
"Xiao Wu is also a transformed soul beast. I confirmed that with your father."
"Transformed soul beasts are exceedingly rare material, and such a transformation is also a great blessing. I hoped to protect Xiao Wu as much as possible and allow her to grow up safely."
"Unfortunately, Heaven does not grant every wish. But it was also because of her that Chrysanthemum Douluo let us off so easily."
"After all, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone are far more tempting than a seven-year-old boy with a 'promising future.'"
The shocking revelations did not stop Tang San from thinking. His mind quickly raced into motion, digesting everything.
He then asked, "What will happen to Xiao Wu?"
She was a transformed soul beast, just like his mother. Tang San could not help feeling empathy for her.
"Usually, she would be imprisoned and tortured. Then, when the need arose, they would coerce Xiao Wu into sacrificing herself to the Soul Master who needed her."
Hearing this, Tang San could not help clenching his fists. Had his father failed to hold out back then, his mother might have suffered such a fate.
As for Xiao Wu, Tang San had the will but lacked the strength. On the one hand, he did not want to see a living being blessed with such great fortune tortured merely to satisfy someone's desires.
On the other hand, there was nothing he could do. Besides, Soul Masters and soul beasts were inherently opposed to each other. Even if a soul beast took human form, that remained true. At its core, it was still a soul beast.
People like his father and mother were, in the end, a rare exception.
"However, if the Pope isn't so shortsighted, Xiao Wu's fate might not be that miserable."
Grandmaster suddenly spoke.
"Xiao San, let me ask you this. If you controlled an organization, would you choose a Soul Master with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, or a genius with the potential to become a Titled Douluo-a genius who could also sacrifice herself to provide a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone when necessary?"
"Moreover, that genius possesses the ability to create self-condensing soul rings. That is a technique capable of changing the entire Douluo Continent."
Grandmaster's words brimmed with optimism. He believed the latter choice would maximize the benefits.
"I see. But is the Pope likely to think that way? And with Xiao Wu's temperament, could she really get along with people coveting her life?"
Tang San understood as well, but worry still lingered in his heart.
"I don't know, but that isn't something we should be considering."
Grandmaster stroked Tang San's head and asked, "Xiao San, I originally didn't want to tell you these things so soon. But now that it's come to this, I want to hear your thoughts."
"..."
My thoughts?
Tang San lowered his head in contemplation. He wanted to be someone who did what was right.
Then avenging Mother would be right.
Am I going to fight Spirit Hall?
But there was nothing inherently wrong with them hunting soul beasts. Everyone considered it only natural.
Yet how could I forgive them? Having never had a complete family, I simply couldn't accept it in my heart.
And just how far would I take my fight against Spirit Hall?
Destroy it?
Spirit Hall now spanned the entire continent. Though it had villains who had lost their way, like Shen Gang, it also had good people like Su Yuntao and Fa Yan.
Even if Spirit Hall was becoming increasingly overbearing, it had indeed brought benefits to ordinary people.
It awakened martial souls free of charge, formed enforcement squads, and dealt with beast tides, the Wolf Bandits, and Evil Soul Masters.
It also provided subsidies to young Soul Masters, though that money ultimately came from what the two great empires squeezed out of the common people...
The more he thought, the more there was to consider. Tang San's thoughts gradually became tangled.
"All right, take your time. As I said before, you must first become stronger. Only then can you encounter more of the world and see things more fully."
"Her Holiness the Pope thinks very highly of you."
A cold smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face as he said this.
Then he took something resembling crystal out of the Storage Bracelet.
It was a Right Arm Soul Bone!