Not long after, a heavy, suppressed gasp of pain rang out.
Tang San shuddered and suddenly opened his eyes wide. He saw Tang Hao's tightly closed eyelids tremble a few times before slowly opening. The moment his gaze opened, it landed precisely on Tang San's face.
" The Little San..." Tang Hao's voice was hoarse.
"Dad! You're awake!" Tang San almost burst into tears. He quickly leaned closer, "Don't speak, you're badly injured..."
Tang Hao shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed on his son's pale but composed face, his eyes filled with unfathomable self-blame, regret, and boundless rage.
Tang Hao took a few breaths, mustered his strength, and said haltingly:
"It's my fault, Dad. I shouldn't have let you come to Spirit City to participate in this competition."
Every word Tang Hao seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his heart, "If I hadn't come, the Clear Sky Hammer wouldn't have been exposed... and you wouldn't have suffered like this..."
Tang Hao spoke, a piercing pain flashed in his single eye, as if what had been destroyed was not his Martial Soul, but his own heart. If it weren't for what he had done back then, why would his son have needed to hide his identity, and why would he have suffered such a calamity today?
Seeing the deep guilt and pain in his father's eyes, Tang San felt an overwhelming pang of sorrow. He shook his head forcefully, grasped his father's cold, rough hand, and said in a weak but exceptionally firm voice, "Dad, it's not your fault. Who could have predicted that the Spirit Hall would be so ruthless? Don't overthink it."
Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions. Now was not the time for sorrow. "Even if... even if I only have the Blue Silver Grass as my Martial Soul, I will definitely become stronger! I will avenge the Spirit Hall for what they did today!"
Tang San's tone immediately turned anxious. "Father, your injuries are too severe, we must find a way to treat them immediately! I..."
Tang Hao laboriously raised his hand and gently pressed the back of his son's hand, signaling Tang San to calm down. "Don't worry... it's an old ailment, he won't die."
Tang Hao's gaze turned serious and profound. He said in a low voice, "The most urgent task is to recover as soon as possible. Then... we need to find a way to repair your Clear Sky Hammer."
Mentioning his son's Martial Soul, Tang Hao's eyes flashed with pain again. How easy is it to repair Martial Soul Origin? This is almost a universally acknowledged problem in the Soul Master World. But he would never give up any hope.
Tang Hao paused, looking towards the dark forest outside the cave, as if he had made up his mind. His voice was low but carried a hint of desperation. "If there's really no other way, then I'll have to take you back to the sect to seek help."
Although Tang Hao knew that he might face more than just cold stares and blame when he returned.
Tang Hao continued, "Our sect has always valued strength above all else. Before you return, you must cultivate your Blue Silver Grass to the Soul King. I will then take you to a place for secluded cultivation."
Tang San sensed the heaviness and helplessness in his father's words. Without hesitation, he nodded vigorously. "Okay, Dad. I'll do whatever you say."
Immediately, a mixture of shyness and anticipation crept onto Tang San's pale face. Tang San unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes with his fingers, a subtle movement that betrayed his inner tension.
"Dad..." Tang San's voice was softer than before, with a hint of shyness, "Um... if we leave and go somewhere else... can I... can I take Yiran with me?"
Tang San paused, seemingly feeling it was a bit abrupt, and quickly added, "She... she has also been working hard to cultivate. If we're together, we can look after each other on the journey."
Even so, the slightly reddened ears betrayed Tang San's deeper thoughts. The two had long harbored feelings for each other, and he had even passed on the Tang Sect techniques to her.
A hint of gentleness and understanding flashed across Tang Hao's face as he softly said, "Okay."
Seeing his son's eyes light up slightly, Tang Hao continued, "Once we've stabilized our injuries and regained our mobility, we'll head back to Heaven Dou City. Then we'll try to contact Miss Yiran and bring her along."
Upon hearing this, Tang San felt a weight lifted from his heart, and a warm feeling welled up inside him. Tang San nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Dad!"
Outside the dimly lit cave, the wind howled through the forest as the father and son sat in meditation, beginning to recover their physical and Soul Power.
The next day, the sun shone as usual, but it could no longer dispel the solemn atmosphere that enveloped Martial Soul Mountain. The finals were held as scheduled.
The atmosphere in the Shrek Academy's rest area was somber. Yu Xiaoshi was absent; he was devastated by the loss of his disciple Tang San, even vomiting blood and fainting. Liu Erlong stayed behind to take care of him.
The only person leading the team was Dean Flender. Flender adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses heavy and sharp. He patted each team member on the shoulder but didn't say much. With Tang San gone, Shrek had lost a key offensive player and a tactical core.
On the other side, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, led by Yu Tianheng, had solemn expressions. They had witnessed everything that happened yesterday. As fellow members of the Heaven Dou Empire, their feelings were complicated, but with the championship within reach and the three Soul Bone floating beside them, no one could give up.
"The final match begins!"
The battle unfolded in a somewhat somber yet exceptionally intense atmosphere.
Shrek lost its core player in controlling the situation. Dai Mubai roared as he stood at the forefront, bearing the greatest pressure; Meng Yiran tried to create opportunities with Tang Sect Secret Arts and the Serpent Cane Martial Soul, but her efforts were repeatedly thwarted by the tight defense; Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone brightly, pushing her support abilities to the limit.
The real offensive core, however, lies with Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing.
Oscar is no longer just a support character. He ingests his Fourth Soul Skill, " Heaven and Earth Creation Sausage," which creates the Golden Cudgel, temporarily granting him Power Attack System abilities. He fights alongside the others, employing one unexpected move after another. Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, is like a true Hell Spirit Cat, pushing her speed and assassination skills to the limit. Every flash of hers carries a deadly threat.
They fought tenaciously, even forcing the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's formation to falter at one point. However, the gap was undeniable. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy not only possessed a top-tier Power Attack System Soul Ancestor like Yu Tianheng, but also the terrifying Soul King cultivation of Dugu Yan, who could both launch powerful attacks and control the battlefield with poison, as well as Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Holy Begonia healing ability that almost made her teammates invincible.
Moreover, both Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing harbored deep concerns. The Spirit Hall's ruthless methods yesterday were still fresh in their minds, and Tang San suffered such a calamity while carrying the Clear Sky Hammer.
Oscar's astonishing talent in Food System fields, Zhu Zhuqing's three Soul Bone... Once these trump cards are fully exposed in front of the Pope's Hall, who can guarantee they won't become the next target? Especially Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Bone, which are extremely easy to covet.
This concern prevents them from going all out at the most critical moment, forcing them to keep their combat power within a "reasonable" range.
In contrast, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, backed by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and protected by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, was not easily harassed by the Spirit Hall, so it did not have many concerns.
The battle lasted for a long time. Under Flender's command, the Shrek team demonstrated their teamwork and resilience to the fullest, narrowly escaping death several times.
However, the difference in Soul Power Level was too great, and the loss of an important tactical pivot gradually revealed the gap.
When Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Purple Poison mixed with Yu Tianheng's Thunder Dragon Claw tore through the last line of defense, when Osler and Yu Feng's combined attack passed over the exhausted Dai Mubai, when Ye Lingling's Begonia Light steadily enveloped her teammates...
Shrek's formation finally collapsed.
"We... admit defeat." Flender's hoarse voice rang out, filled with deep resentment and helplessness.
The referee announced loudly, "The winner of the Continental Elite High-Level Soul Master Academy Tournament is Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
The cheers rang out from the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire, but they were not as enthusiastic and passionate as expected.
Bibi Dong reappeared and performed the ritual. The three floating Soul Bone shimmered with light, attracting everyone's attention.
There wasn't much suspense; after a brief internal discussion, and to some extent, a tacit understanding and a balance of interests, the outcome was as follows:
The Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull and was given to Dugu Yan of profound background who played a crucial role in the team's control of the field and tactics.
That agile and gleaming dark green Left Leg Bone endowed Osler, Soul Master of Agility Attack System, with incredible speed.
The Right Arm Bone, which possessed the most domineering and intense aura, resembling solidified flames, belonged to the vice-captain, Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, since there were no fire-attribute Soul Master in the team.
The three stepped forward and, amidst countless envious, greedy, and complex gazes, accepted the supreme treasure that was enough to change the fate of Soul Master.
The competition has now come to an end. The champion has been crowned, and the Soul Bone have found their rightful owners.
But the real storm did not end with the raising of the trophy.