"Could it be Tang San and Yu Xiaogang?"
The thought suddenly popped into Yu Tianling's head. The more he considered it, the more certain he became, so he decided to take a look.
"Grandpa, let's go take a look."
"All right."
Lin Qingze naturally would not object to his grandson's suggestion, so he tucked Yu Tianling under his arm and headed toward the sounds of fighting.
Why was he flying with him tucked under his arm, you ask?
Actually, Yu Tianling's Martial Souls could all fly, but he had yet to master flying. Lin Qingze thought he was too slow, so he had tucked him under his arm and flown off without further discussion.
"Whoosh..."
The two had just reached their destination and landed behind some bushes when they heard something whistle through the air. The Mandala Snake fell to the ground at the sound.
"This!"
Lin Qingze stared at the scene before him in utter surprise.
In the clearing before them, a seven- or eight-year-old child had raised his arm slightly and fired a single arrow, killing a Mandala Snake over four hundred years old.
It really is Tang San!
Yu Tianling's expression remained unchanged at the sight.
Then this must be that scumbag Yu Xiaogang?!
The Sleeve Arrow left Yu Tianling quite certain of the two people's identities. After briefly looking Tang San over, he carefully studied the middle-aged man lying on the ground. He was unremarkable in looks and dress, of medium build but slightly thin, and appeared to be in his forties or fifties. His short black hair was parted three-to-seven, and his features were very ordinary. His face was especially pale from the poison.
"Who's there!"
Meanwhile, just as Tang San saw the Mandala Snake die and was about to check on Yu Xiaogang, he suddenly heard movement in the bushes to one side. He hurriedly summoned his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and stared at them warily.
"Hehe, little brother, there's no need to be nervous."
Seeing that they had been discovered, Lin Qingze stopped hiding and walked out with Yu Tianling.
"My grandson and I just happened to be passing through. We mean no harm."
"Are you Tang San from Holy Soul Village?"
Looking at the little boy surrounded by Blue Silver Grass, Lin Qingze asked.
"I am indeed from Holy Soul Village. May I ask who you are, senior?"
Tang San watched the two people before him without fully letting down his guard, secretly raising his left arm. At the slightest sign of trouble, he would strike without hesitation.
"I'm Lin Qingze, the chief of Swift Village. Old Jack should have told you about me."
Lin Qingze did not mind Tang San's wariness. Instead, he found it rather interesting, because Tang San's actions did not resemble a child's, but rather an assassin's.
Fortunately, Yu Tianling did not know what his grandfather was thinking, or he would certainly have voiced his agreement.
Weren't members of the Tang Sect much like assassins?
"So you're Senior Lin!"
When Lin Qingze mentioned Swift Village, Tang San understood at once. Old Jack often compared Holy Soul Village to Swift Village. When Tang San had awakened with innate full Soul Power, Old Jack had said he would go show off to Lin Qingze.
That readily explained how the other man had recognized him. After all, there probably wasn't a second person nearby with both innate full Soul Power and a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
"And this is?"
Lin Qingze looked at Yu Xiaogang lying on the ground and asked in puzzlement.
"This is my teacher, Grandmaster!"
Tang San answered firmly, then quickened his steps toward him. His teacher had been poisoned for a while already; he hoped nothing would happen to him.
Though Grandmaster was very weak, his theoretical knowledge of Soul Beasts was precisely what Tang San needed most right now.
"Grandmaster!"
At Tang San's words, Lin Qingze's smiling face instantly stiffened, and his Soul Power abruptly began circulating.
"Smack."
Before his grandfather could do anything, Yu Tianling caught his hand and discreetly shook his head.
He knew who the two before them were. Did he not want to kill them right now? He wanted to all too much, but the time was not yet ripe.
Because Yu Tianling was certain that coward Tang Hao was hiding in the shadows. If Lin Qingze attacked, there was a very good chance both of them would meet their end here.
Noticing his grandson's actions, Lin Qingze decided not to strike, though he did not understand why.
"Are you going to absorb the Soul Ring? You'd better hurry, or it'll dissipate soon."
After stopping his grandfather, Yu Tianling spoke up to remind Tang San.
With that, he left first.
Tang San looked up at the departing pair, a thought stirring in his mind, though what he had thought of was unknown.
After he mentioned Grandmaster just now, he had sensed a trace of killing intent. Though it was faint and vanished in an instant, he was certain his senses had not been mistaken.
He lowered his head to check, and once he finally confirmed that Grandmaster was all right, Tang San rose and went over to the Mandala Snake's corpse. A pale yellow Soul Ring was hovering above it.
After briefly regulating his breathing, he drew on it with his mind, and the Soul Ring came to hover above his head.
Outside the Soul Hunting Forest
"Xiao Ling, do you know who that man lying there was?"
With a gloomy expression, Lin Qingze questioned his grandson beside him.
"Grandpa, you want to ask why I stopped you from attacking, don't you?"
Yu Tianling's expression did not change, and his tone was calm as he spoke while walking.
Lin Qingze did not deny it.
"Grandpa, there was an expert near us just now, someone beyond even a Seven-Ring Soul Sage like you."
"What!"
Lin Qingze's expression changed sharply at his grandson's words.
Beyond seven rings? Wouldn't that mean a Soul Douluo or a Titled Douluo!
At that thought, he could not help muttering inwardly.
As though he had heard Lin Qingze's thoughts, Yu Tianling continued, "A Titled Douluo!"
"My Martial Soul can sense threats nearby. Ever since we came into contact with Tang San, I've been sensing a threat at the Titled Douluo level."
To make his grandfather believe him, Yu Tianling tied it to his Martial Soul's ability. It was not as though that could be tested, anyway.
"So that's how it is."
Only after hearing his grandson's words did Lin Qingze set aside his earlier thoughts, though he remained half doubtful.
Spirit Hall, Nuoding City
After leaving the Soul Hunting Forest, Lin Qingze and Yu Tianling came here. Yu Tianling intended to complete his Soul Master registration.
The two entered the first-floor hall and immediately spotted Han Qinhu chatting with another young man.
"Oh, Chief Lin, Xiao Ling, what brings you here?"
Han Qinhu glanced over and was instantly overjoyed. He hurried over to Yu Tianling in a few quick strides and greeted him.
"Uncle Han, I'm here to register as a Soul Master."
"You've already obtained your Soul Ring? You really are a genius."
At Yu Tianling's words, Han Qinhu could not help feeling both envious and impressed.
He himself had only obtained his Soul Ring and become a One-Ring Soul Master at ten.
"Soul Master registration is on the second floor. Come on, I'll take you there."
Not forgetting the reason Yu Tianling had come to Spirit Hall, Han Qinhu hurriedly led the two upstairs.
"Bang, bang, bang."
As soon as Han Qinhu reached the second floor, he began pounding hard on the door.
"You tiger, have you got nothing better to do? Pound any harder and this door will break again."
A somewhat elderly voice, tinged with helplessness, came from inside the room.
"Creak."
The door opened with a slight wobble.
"Old man, you can't blame me for that. You can only blame the poor quality of your door."
Seeing the old man who appeared, Han Qinhu smiled as he spoke.
"Out with it. What are you here for?"
"Hello, Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo. Uncle Han brought me here to register as a Soul Master."
Hearing this, Ma Xiunuo looked at the child who had spoken with a hint of surprise. "Child, you've obtained your first Soul Ring at such a young age. That really is a surprise. Come along, I'll take you for your Soul Master assessment right now."
With that, Ma Xiunuo led them away toward the Soul Master assessment room.