Titled Douluo, Breaking the Deadlock and the Mist

The instant the golden light touched the ground, Soul Power as vast as a mountain erupted. An invisible shockwave spread like a tsunami. The black-clad Soul Masters surrounding Dai Mubai were hurled away before they could even scream, crashing hard against the rock wall. Whether they lived or died was unknown.

Ling's expression changed drastically. She spun around, her pupils contracting beneath her silver mask. "A Titled Douluo?!"

The golden light faded, revealing an old man in a plain gray robe. His hair and beard were white, and his face was gaunt. He leaned on an ordinary-looking wooden staff, its head carved with a lifelike owl. Though he stood there quietly, he exuded the pressure of a deep, still abyss and a towering mountain, as though the entire forest were under his control.

"Flender? What are you doing here?" Yu Xiaogang was both shocked and delighted. He looked at the old man in disbelief.

The old man was none other than Flender, one of Shrek Academy's founders: a flight-type Titled Douluo, the holder of an Owl Martial Soul, an old friend of Bone Douluo Gu Rong, and the "old monster" Flender spoke of. He was known as Owl Douluo.

"If I'd come any later, Spirit Hall would have gnawed you youngsters down to the bone." Flender stroked his beard and looked at Ling with a hint of mockery. "Chrysanthemum Douluo's attendant? Yue Guan had some nerve sending you out to die."

Ling clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She could feel that his Soul Power was unfathomably deep, far beyond anything she could stand against. But when she thought of the Pope's orders, she dared not back down. "So what if you're a Titled Douluo? Spirit Hall's dignity cannot be challenged! Release that Soft Bone Charming Rabbit, and I can pretend nothing happened."

"Heh heh." Flender laughed, his laughter carrying an unquestionable pressure. "Spirit Hall's dignity? Before me, it's not worth mentioning."

He slowly raised his wooden staff, and the owl's eyes suddenly lit up. Ling felt a terrifying wave of mental power surge toward her. It pierced her Soul Power defenses in an instant and struck her mind!

"Ah-" Ling screamed, her silver mask shattering to reveal a face filled with terror. She staggered backward, her Soul Power in disarray, and the pink cage vanished with it.

"Xiao Wu!" Tang San and Lin Ye rushed forward at the same time, catching Xiao Wu as she nearly fell.

Xiao Wu's eyes were red as she gripped Tang San's sleeve tightly, her body still trembling slightly. For that instant just now, she had truly thought she was going to be taken away.

"Thank you for intervening, Senior." Tang San bowed to Flender, his tone respectful.

Flender waved a hand and looked at Xiao Wu, a complicated expression in his eyes. "A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Charm Rabbit... No wonder Spirit Hall has its sights on you. This girl's identity is no simple matter."

Xiao Wu stiffened and lowered her head instinctively.

Yu Xiaogang hurried to smooth things over. "Senior, let's deal with the matter at hand first."

Flender nodded and looked back at Ling. "Go back and tell Yue Guan that Shrek's people are beyond his reach. If he dares send anyone again, he can't blame me for showing no mercy."

Ling gritted her teeth and shot everyone a venomous look before turning and staggering away from Thunder Bluff. She knew that with a Titled Douluo present, continuing to fight would only lead to her death.

With the crisis over, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Tai Long had merely lost consciousness and was in no danger of dying; as soon as Oscar's chains were removed, he pulled out sausages to treat everyone's injuries; Yu Xiaogang's injuries were serious, but they too stabilized under the effects of Oscar's Recovery Sausages.

"Senior, why did you suddenly appear?" Lin Ye asked curiously. He had never heard Flender mention that the academy had a Titled Douluo guarding it.

At that, Flender sighed. "It was that old fellow Flender. He sent me word half a year ago, saying you'd gotten into trouble with Spirit Hall and asking me to keep an eye on you from the shadows. When I heard you were going to the Soul Hunting Forest this time, I guessed Spirit Hall might make a move. I didn't expect them to come so quickly."

He paused and looked at Yu Xiaogang. "Xiao Gang, honestly. You knew this girl's identity was a sensitive matter, yet you still took her running all over the place."

Yu Xiaogang smiled bitterly. "She's our companion. We couldn't possibly leave her behind."

Flender shook his head and said no more on the subject. He simply told everyone, "We shouldn't stay here long. Spirit Hall may have another move prepared. Follow me. I know a safe place."

Led by Flender, the group passed through a hidden stone forest and arrived at a cave concealed by enormous vines. The entrance was small, but inside was another world: spacious and dry, with glowing ore embedded in the walls, lighting the cave as brightly as day.

"I found this hiding place when I was young. Spirit Hall's people won't find it." Flender lit a campfire. "Rest here for now. You can leave once things have died down."

The cave fell quiet, with only the crackling of the fire to be heard. Xiao Wu leaned against Tang San, her gaze downcast; Dai Mubai cleaned his claws, lost in thought; Oscar handed out food, doing his best to liven the mood.

"Xiao Wu," Flender suddenly said, breaking the silence, "since you're a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, you should know why Spirit Hall wants to capture you, shouldn't you?"

Xiao Wu shuddered and nodded, her voice low. "They... they want my Soul Ring and Soul Bone. The Soul Ring and Soul Bone of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can raise a Soul Master by an entire major realm."

Understanding dawned on everyone, and they looked at Xiao Wu with hearts full of sympathy. She had been carrying such a danger with her all along.

"Then why did you take human form?" Lin Ye couldn't help asking.

Xiao Wu lifted her head, a trace of reminiscence flashing through her eyes. "Because I wanted to see the human world. And... my mother also took human form. She told me that although humans are complicated, there's genuine affection among them too." She looked at Tang San, her gaze gentle. "After meeting you all, I believe Mother was right."

Tang San tightened his grip on Xiao Wu's hand. "As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you," he said firmly.

Flender watched them and sighed. "It's not easy for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to take human form. Once Spirit Hall discovers one, there's only death waiting. Back then... I also knew a Soul Beast like you." His gaze grew distant, as though he were remembering something.

"You knew a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast too, Senior?" Oscar asked curiously.

Flender nodded. "She was a Blue Silver Emperor, very similar to Tang San's Martial Soul. After taking human form, she married a human Soul Master, but unfortunately... Spirit Hall found her in the end."

Tang San jerked his head up. "A Blue Silver Emperor? What was her name?"

Flender glanced at him. "I think it was Ah Yin. Why?"

Tang San's body began to shake violently, and his eyes turned red at once. Ah Yin was his mother's name! Whenever his father Tang Hao got drunk, he would call that name out to the starry sky!

"What... what happened to her in the end?" Tang San's voice trembled.

Flender fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "She was surrounded and attacked by Spirit Hall's Pope and several elders. In the end, to protect her husband, she sacrificed herself and became a Soul Ring and a Soul Bone. Her husband... I think his name was Tang Hao. He later became Clear Sky Douluo."

Boom!

Tang San's mind went completely blank. A hazy image of his mother surfaced in his mind, overlapping with the account Yu Xiaogang had given of Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao's past. So his mother was a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor! His father's dejection and strength were both because of his mother's death!

"Spirit Hall..." Towering flames of rage burned in Tang San's eyes. Blue Silver Grass erupted uncontrollably from the ground, shaking ore loose from the cave ceiling. "I swear I'll avenge Mother!"

"Little San!" Lin Ye hurriedly pressed a hand to his shoulder. Golden Crow Fire released a gentle presence as he tried to calm Tang San. "Calm down! Now isn't the time!"

Yu Xiaogang also stepped forward and patted Tang San's back. "I know you're in pain, but revenge requires strength. If you act rashly now, you'll only make your father and the people around you worry."

With everyone's persuasion, Tang San gradually calmed down, but the hatred in his eyes grew more resolute. He finally understood that between him and Spirit Hall lay not only personal grievances, but a blood feud as deep as the sea.

Flender looked at Tang San, a trace of gratification flashing through his eyes. "It's good to have fighting spirit, but you also need to learn to bide your time. That boy Tang Hao was too impulsive back then, and that's how he ended up in such a plight."

He took a black token from his robes and handed it to Tang San. "This is a token of the Clear Sky Sect. When you're strong enough, you can take it to the Clear Sky Sect and find your uncle Tang Xiao. Although the Clear Sky Sect has sealed its mountain, they'll help you as long as you have this token."

Tang San took the token. It was cold to the touch, and a ferocious-looking "Hao" was carved into it, giving off a faint pressure. He gripped it tightly, as though grasping the hope of revenge.

The atmosphere in the cave grew heavy yet resolute. Everyone realized that the burden on their shoulders had grown heavier. Tang San's path of revenge, the crisis surrounding Xiao Wu's identity, and Spirit Hall's relentless pursuit bound their fates tightly together.

"Rest for the night. Tomorrow I'll take you somewhere." Flender looked at the group. "There's something you need there. It might help you grow stronger more quickly."

"Where?" Lin Ye asked curiously.

Flender smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when we get there."

As the night deepened, everyone took turns keeping watch. Tang San leaned against the stone wall without sleeping, holding the Clear Sky Command Token, his gaze deep. Lin Ye sat beside him, Golden Crow Fire dancing at his fingertips to drive away the chill for him.

"I'm fine." Tang San noticed Lin Ye's concern and smiled. "I just feel like I was too naive before. I always thought that as long as I cultivated hard, I could protect the people I wanted to protect. Now I know that strength alone isn't enough when facing a colossus like Spirit Hall."

"But we have companions," Lin Ye said. "And the Grandmaster, the dean, Senior Flender... We're not fighting alone."

Tang San nodded and looked at Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the others, fast asleep. Light rekindled in his eyes. "You're right. We still have each other."

Early the next morning, Flender led everyone out of the cave and deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest. The farther they went, the stronger the presence of Soul Beasts became. They could even sense thousand-year Soul Beasts crouching in the distance, afraid to approach-with a Titled Douluo present, the Soul Beasts were instinctively afraid.

After traveling for about half a day, a vast lake appeared ahead. There was a small island in the center, wreathed in mist, with an ancient altar faintly visible upon it.

"That's the place." Flender pointed at the island. "The Soul Hunting Forest's sacred altar. It's said to hold the power of inheritance from ancient Soul Beasts, which can help Soul Masters break through bottlenecks."

Everyone looked at the mysterious island, their eyes full of anticipation.

Flender waved a hand and summoned several enormous waterbirds. "Get on. Remember, you can only comprehend the inheritance in the sacred altar on your own. Whether you gain anything will depend on your own opportunities."

Tang San, Lin Ye, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Oscar mounted the waterbirds one after another and flew toward the island in the middle of the lake.

Sunlight spilled across the water, making it shimmer, and the altar in the mist grew clearer and clearer. They did not know that the sacred altar concealed not only the power of inheritance, but also an enormous secret concerning their future.

After they left, Flender looked out over the lake, his expression growing grave. He took a confidential letter from his robes. It bore only one line:

"Spirit Hall has begun searching for the final Soul Bone. Target-the sacred altar."