There was not the slightest flaw on them, and the explosive energy contained within seemed ready to burst forth.
Their quality was so high that it even surpassed the three Soul Bones Spirit Hall had displayed as prizes before the finals began.
Qian Chenming naturally knew these were the two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones passed down through generations of the Clear Sky Sect, now lying quietly in his palm.
"Not bad, but there's still one missing."
Qian Chenming smiled faintly, having already decided to fetch the last one.
"Wait, could Tang Hao have been a Soul Beast too? He actually dropped Soul Bones."
"Are you trying to be funny? He was a Titled Douluo. Of course he would have some high-quality Soul Bones."
Discussions buzzed all around.
His expression unchanged, Qian Chenming left all the affairs to the two Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo.
Then his six wings unfurled, and with a beat of them, he soared straight into the clouds, streaking across the sky like a beam of light under the gazes of everyone at the Pope's Palace.
He flew westward all the way from Spirit City, heading toward Holy Soul Village.
Before long.
Only when he reached the skies above the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital did Qian Chenming slow slightly and look down at the activity below.
The bustling streets teemed with people, and towering palaces stood in imposing ranks, all briefly freezing at the sudden appearance of that figure.
"What's that?"
"Such powerful Soul Power fluctuations. Is that a Titled Douluo?"
"No, that aura is even more terrifying than a Titled Douluo's!"
On the streets, some looked up while others whispered among themselves, their pupils abruptly contracting.
"Six wings. Could that be an Angel Martial Soul?"
"No, an Angel Martial Soul is white. Those six wings have golden markings. I've never seen anything like them."
After a few glances, Qian Chenming continued without stopping.
In his eyes, the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital was nothing more than a signpost.
Half a day later, Nuoding City.
At the city gates, several guards leaned lazily against the foot of the wall, basking in the sun.
Suddenly, an invisible pressure descended from the sky.
Buzz!
The air seemed to tear apart as a streak of golden light swept overhead, whipping up a fierce wind.
"Holy shit! What just flew past?"
"Looked like a person?"
"Have you ever fucking seen a person with wings?"
"A Martial Soul, idiot! That was a powerful Soul Master!"
The guard captain rushed out of the building, his face pale. "Shut up, all of you! Stop pointing! Someone that powerful could wipe out our entire city with a single glance!"
Inside Nuoding City's Spirit Hall Branch, the elderly bishop in charge abruptly rose from his chair.
"A Six-Winged Angel? This aura..."
His voice held utter reverence. "Could it be an important figure from our Spirit Hall? But why would someone like that come to a little place like ours?"
Outside the window, that golden light had already vanished beyond the horizon.
As Qian Chenming passed over Nuoding City, his gaze shifted slightly.
Of course he knew this place.
Tang San had once lived here for six years.
That good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang had also holed up here for half his life.
This was where everything had begun.
A little while later, the sky began to darken.
An unremarkable little village appeared among the mountains.
Holy Soul Village.
Qian Chenming folded his six wings and landed soundlessly in the rear mountains.
He did not want to alert anyone.
In the rear mountains, a waterfall roared.
This was a valley-or, more precisely, a pool.
Its waters were crystal clear, tranquil and deep, like an enormous sapphire.
Mist filled the air, carrying the damp scent of grass and trees.
On one side of the valley, a waterfall some twenty meters wide stretched like a ribbon of jade across a cliff nearly two hundred meters high,
Qian Chenming stood before the waterfall, his gaze settling behind its curtain of water.
There was a concealed fissure there that an ordinary person would never notice.
He raised his hand and waved it gently.
An invisible force parted the waterfall, exposing the rock face.
Inside a cave within the rock, a dim green light flickered faintly.
It was a thumb-sized seed, emerald green all over, seemingly containing some ancient vitality.
Beneath the seed, a dark golden leg bone lay quietly.
Qian Chenming reached the spot the instant his gaze fell upon it, taking both the seed and the Soul Bone into his palm.
The instant the seed touched his hand, a warm sensation spread along his fingertips, the sleeping life within pulsing faintly.
He lowered his head for a glance, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Ah Yin, the seed of the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor. Still alive. You can stay with me for now."
After a pause, Qian Chenming added to himself, "Planting a blade of grass desperately in need of life's nourishment inside a cave that never sees daylight? Tang Hao, you really are a genius."
The seed trembled slightly, as though responding.
Qian Chenming said nothing more. He put away the seed and Soul Bone, turned, and left.
The waterfall fell back into place, its waters roaring as before.
As though nothing had happened.
Qian Chenming took to the air again, his six wings spreading as he became a streak of golden light and vanished into the night.
Two days later.
Inside a room at an inn in Spirit City.
The Shrek group crowded into the room, no one speaking.
Ma Hongjun leaned in a corner with his head lowered.
Xiao Wu was absent. Ning Rongrong sat by the window with damp eyes, her gaze resting on her clasped hands.
Oscar stood behind her, wanting to comfort her, but in the end, he could not get a single comforting word out.
Dai Mubai leaned against a pillar with his arms folded across his chest, his eyes closed and his brows tightly knitted.
The door to the inner room stood ajar.
Yu Xiaogang sat beside the bed, staring at Tang San's face, so pale it was almost translucent.
Tang San's breathing was shallow, and his brows occasionally furrowed, as though he were struggling in a nightmare.
Two days.
It had already been two days since he had been carried back from Spirit Hall.
Yu Xiaogang reached out to feel Tang San's forehead. It was not hot, and now it was no longer particularly cold either.
This meant Tang San's injuries had mostly healed.
"Mm..."
Just then, an extremely faint groan came from the bed.
Yu Xiaogang abruptly raised his head.
Tang San's eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened.
"...Teacher."
His voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes grew hot, and he hurriedly leaned forward. "San, you're awake! Don't move. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet."
Tang San tried to push himself up, but his arms gave way, and he fell back down.
For some reason, he felt a wave of pain in his lower body.
He gritted his teeth and took two panting breaths before asking quietly, "Teacher, where's Xiao Wu?"
He knew his father was already gone, so all his attention was on Xiao Wu now.
At those words, Yu Xiaogang froze.
Tang San looked at him, and the last faint glimmer of hope in his eyes abruptly dimmed.
"Xiao Wu... she was taken by Spirit Hall," Yu Xiaogang finally said, grief in his voice.
At that moment.
The rest of the Shrek group streamed into the inner room, looking at Tang San with concern.
Tang San closed his eyes briefly, utterly devastated.
His father was dead, and Xiao Wu was gone too. He felt as though more than half the light in his life had suddenly disappeared.
Yu Xiaogang's shoulders trembled. Seeing him like this, he felt as though a knife were gouging out his heart.
He hesitated for a long time before finally gritting his teeth, coming up with a way to comfort him, and saying:
Before you continue