Return to Nuoding

A man stood draped in a black robe. Moonlight filtered through the branches, outlining his tall, burly frame. Though his face could not be seen, his presence was as deep as an abyss.

He was none other than the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao—Tang San's father!

With his eyes lowered, Tang Hao watched Tang San from not far below and murmured softly,

"Very good... not bad."

"Xiao San finally obtained his First Spirit Ring successfully..."

After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head to gaze at the heavens. Star-like ripples stirred faintly in his eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Ah Yin... do you know?"

"Our child has Twin Martial Souls."

"He is destined to walk a path unlike ordinary people... Don't worry. He will surpass me one day, then personally destroy Spirit Hall and avenge you."

"I haven't dared to visit you all these years..."

"It wasn't because I forgot, but because I felt guilty."

"Back then, I knew you were a Soul Beast in human form and had long drawn Spirit Hall's attention, yet I still insisted on bringing you back to the Clear Sky Sect. That exposed your identity, and in the end, Qian Xunji led people to hunt you down..."

"It was all my fault... I... I'm sorry!"

"Don't worry. When Xiao San's Soul Power reaches around Level Fifty, I'll bring him to see you. Then, I'll have him absorb the Spirit Bone you left behind."

By the end, Tang Hao's voice had grown softer and softer, until it was nearly inaudible.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Several hours later, the cave gradually fell silent.

The blue-gold radiance faded, and the Flowing Light on the stone walls slowly receded.

Everything seemed to return to how it had been before.

Tang Chuan slowly opened his eyes from the floor at the center of the Stone Chamber.

At that moment, a blue-gold gleam flashed through his pupils. It was as though faint sparks of lightning flickered within them, but they immediately sank into their depths, restoring calm.

Tang Chuan lowered his head to look at his hands, shock and bewilderment flashing through his eyes.

"This is..."

He closed his eyes and sent his Spiritual Power into his body.

The moment he examined himself, his mind shook violently!

He discovered that every one of his Meridians had undergone a qualitative transformation!

The outline of each Meridian clearly glowed blue-gold.

The Soul Power flowing through them was no longer the faint white it had once been. It had become a dense blue-gold color, so concentrated that it was nearly liquid!

Moreover, the density and purity of this Soul Power were no longer comparable to the thin Soul Power he had possessed at Level One.

Tang Chuan could clearly feel Soul Power coursing through his Meridians like a mountain flood rushing backward with every breath. His blood boiled, and an unprecedented surge of energy filled his limbs and bones!

What astonished him even more was that he seemed to have grown half an inch taller than the night before. His frame had become straighter, his shoulders and back broader, and the lines of his chest and arms noticeably more defined.

His boyish body, still not entirely rid of its youthful immaturity, now carried a greater sense of solidity and sharpness.

Tang Chuan muttered blankly, unable to suppress the excitement and disbelief in his voice.

"My Soul Power... rose directly from Level One... to Level Ten?"

"As expected of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. If I absorb another Soul Ring now, my Soul Power Level will definitely continue to rise substantially."

Having read the original story thoroughly, Tang Chuan naturally knew very well that once a Soul Master's Soul Power reached the current level limit, it could not continue increasing without obtaining the corresponding Soul Ring. However, Soul Power would still accumulate.

Once the Soul Ring was obtained and the Soul Master entered the next stage, that accumulated Soul Power would erupt, allowing their Soul Power to soar to the level it should have reached.

Tang Chuan briefly glanced around. The Stone Chamber had already fallen quiet, while the waterfall outside still roared. A faint Life Aura lingered in the air.

His gaze narrowed, and his eyes sharpened slightly as he muttered,

"Judging by the time, Tang San should be nearly done absorbing his First Spirit Ring."

"I need to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, if that old bastard Tang Hao suddenly comes back, I won't know how to explain this to him."

To prevent any unexpected developments, Tang Chuan quickly walked to the stone platform and carefully put away Ah Yin's Seed of Life, which rested in a Small Flowerpot. He wrapped it securely in layers against his chest.

He took one last look back at the empty Stone Chamber.

"Mother, it's time for us to leave."

With that, he turned around without further hesitation. His body flashed as he swiftly leaped through the curtain of waterfall water and entered the mountain forest, where the first light of dawn had begun to emerge.

Sunlight broke through the clouds and fell across his now-straightened back.

Half a day later, the sun gradually tilted westward, casting slanting rays over the heavy stone gates of Nuoding Academy and revealing two unsteady figures.

As soon as Tang Chuan returned to the Academy, he noticed two figures in the distance gradually becoming clearer.

One was a young man in blue with short hair and clear, handsome features. The other was a middle-aged man, pale as paper, with unsteady steps. His left arm hung limply at his side, while he dragged his right leg along the ground.

They were Tang San and Master, who was still suffering from unpurged Snake Poison.

Tang Chuan's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight, but they soon returned to normal.

He then stepped forward and took the initiative to approach them. Wearing an appropriately surprised expression, he pretended not to know anything.

"Huh? What happened to you two?" Tang Chuan asked.

Tang San looked up at Brother, a trace of exhaustion flashing across his face. After a moment, he explained softly,

"Teacher... was poisoned while helping me hunt a Hundred-Year Mandala Snake."

After speaking, he gently supported Yu Xiaogang, fine sweat faintly appearing on his forehead.

Hearing this, Tang Chuan stepped forward. His gaze swept over Master's purple, weakened face, and a faintly mocking curve formed at the corner of his lips, though he said nothing else.

He merely said indifferently, "Oh? Master, don't you usually boast about how capable and professional you are? How come, when it mattered, you couldn't even defeat a Hundred-Year Soul Beast?"

Tang San's expression immediately stiffened, and he seemed to want to speak but stopped himself.

Master, on the other hand, flushed red with anger. Panting heavily, he gritted his teeth and snapped back,

"What do you know? I was poisoned because I was protecting Xiao San!"

"A mere Hundred-Year Soul Beast—if I hadn't been concerned about his safety, would it have been a match for me?"

With that, Master waved his hand, his face dark with anger. "Xiao San, don't waste words on him. Hurry up and help me back to my room so I can rest!"

Tang San nodded lightly and hurriedly supported Master as they headed into the Academy.

A few minutes later, Tang San carefully helped Master back into the Academy. The two stopped before a door at the far end of the dormitory building.

Master coughed lightly and pushed the door open.

Tang San immediately followed, helping him over to sit by the bed.

"Teacher, rest for a while. I'll go get you some hot water." Tang San turned to leave, but Master raised a hand to stop him.

"Wait." Yu Xiaogang took a somewhat worn book from the drawer by the bed and handed it to Tang San.

"Take this book." Master's tone was serious despite his weakness. "Starting today, you must meditate and cultivate according to the methods written inside every day."