Reunion and Rifts: The Companions' Choice

As they passed through the miasma on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest, Lin Ye, supported by Tang Hao's Soul Power, finally sensed a familiar presence again-the fluctuations of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass carried on the wind, filled with anxiety and concern.

"Just ahead." Tang Hao stopped and pointed to a hollow concealed by vines. "They should be there."

Warmth surged in Lin Ye's heart. He pulled free of Tang Hao's support and stumbled toward the hollow. As soon as he rounded a towering ancient tree, he saw familiar figures-Tang San sat on a rock, Blue Silver Grass coiling restlessly around him; Xiao Wu gripped his hand tightly, her eyes red; Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Oscar sat together, the atmosphere as heavy as the sky before rain.

"Lin Ye!" Xiao Wu spotted him first and leaped up in surprise and delight, tears instantly welling in her eyes.

Tang San jerked his head up. The moment he saw Lin Ye, an incredulous light burst from his eyes. He rushed over as though he had teleported, seized Lin Ye by the shoulders, and said in a trembling voice, "You're all right? That's wonderful! You're all right..."

"I'm fine, Little San." Lin Ye smiled. Though his face was still injured, his smile was exceptionally bright. "Sorry for making you all worry."

Dai Mubai and Tai Long gathered around as well, patting Lin Ye on the back. Though they said nothing, the excitement in their eyes spoke for itself. Oscar went a step further, pulling out his biggest sausage and handing it over. "Eat, quick! Get your strength back!"

Seeing the concern in his companions' eyes, Lin Ye felt his exhaustion and grievances vanish like smoke. He briefly recounted how Tang Hao had saved him, and only then did everyone notice Tang Hao standing nearby.

Tang San froze when he saw his father, then hurried over. His voice was complicated as he said, "Dad..."

Tang Hao nodded, his gaze settling on Tang San, his eyes much softer. "You did very well. You didn't disgrace your mother."

Tang San's eyes reddened instantly. In all his years growing up, he had never heard such affirming words from his father.

Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the others hurriedly paid their respects to Tang Hao. The legendary Clear Sky Douluo stood before them, and though his clothes were worn and shabby, he gave off an awe-inspiring presence.

"Spirit Hall's people are still searching the mountains. It isn't safe here," Tang Hao said, his voice still hoarse. "Come with me."

Led by Tang Hao, the group passed through a hidden cavern and reached a valley deep in the Soul Hunting Forest. A huge waterfall stood at its center, and behind it was a spacious stone cave. The cave was dry and tidy, clearly bearing signs that someone had lived there for a long time.

"This is where I used to cultivate." Tang Hao lit a campfire. "Spirit Hall's people won't find it."

The cave gradually warmed, and everyone sat around the fire, though the atmosphere was somewhat delicate. Tang San looked at his father's forlorn back, wanting to ask so many questions but not knowing where to begin; Lin Ye silently circulated his Soul Power to heal his injuries; Xiao Wu tried to speak several times, but Tang San stopped her with a look each time.

"How is your fusion with that Soul Bone coming along?" Tang Hao suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Tang San came back to his senses and nodded. He activated his Soul Power, and a Soul Bone shimmering with seven-colored light appeared behind him, perfectly fused with his spine. "It's completely fused. The new Soul Skill is called 'All-Encompassing Heavenly Net.' It can control every plant nearby for attack and defense, and its range is even greater than the Blue Silver Domain's."

A trace of gratification flashed in Tang Hao's eyes. "Good. With this Life Soul Bone, your Blue Silver Grass can finally bring out the Blue Silver Emperor's true potential."

"Life Soul Bone?" Lin Ye asked curiously. "What's its origin?"

Tang Hao was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Legend has it that when heaven and earth first came into being, there was a Chaos Azure Lotus. It absorbed the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth and transformed into a Soul Bone that could nourish all things and reverse life and death. Later, the Azure Lotus Soul Bone shattered and scattered in all directions. The piece you found is its very core."

He paused, his tone growing grave. "Spirit Hall has been searching for the remaining Soul Bone fragments. They want to assemble the Azure Lotus Soul Bone and resurrect someone who should not be resurrected."

"Someone who should not be resurrected?" Tang San pressed.

Tang Hao's face darkened. He did not answer, merely gazing at the campfire, his eyes distant and complicated.

Silence fell over the cave again. This time, even Tai Long, the least perceptive of them all, sensed that something was wrong. Tang Hao seemed to know many secrets about Spirit Hall and the Soul Bone, but he was unwilling to say more.

"Dad," Tang San finally asked, unable to hold back, "about Mom... did you know all along that she was the Blue Silver Emperor?"

Tang Hao's body shuddered violently. Only after a long while did he slowly nod. "I knew. I knew the first time I saw her."

"Then why did you..."

"Because I loved her." Tang Hao cut him off, his voice catching slightly. "Whether she was a Soul Beast or a human, I loved her. Back then, when Spirit Hall came for us, I couldn't protect her. That is the greatest regret of my life."

He looked at Tang San, his eyes full of guilt. "All these years, I treated you badly, not because I didn't love you, but because I was afraid... afraid Spirit Hall's people would notice you and harm you. All I could do was hide behind my drinking and make them think I'd fallen into ruin."

Tang San could no longer hold back his tears. So his father's years of despair and silence had all been to protect him.

"I don't blame you, Dad," Tang San said, choking back sobs. "We'll avenge Mom together."

Tang Hao shook his head. "There's no hurry for revenge. The most important thing now is to grow stronger. Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong, is already a Level 99 Limit Douluo. With our current strength, we're no match for her."

"A Limit Douluo?" Lin Ye drew a sharp breath. "Stronger than you?"

"Much stronger." A trace of apprehension flashed in Tang Hao's eyes. "Not only does she have Twin Martial Souls, she's also absorbed two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones. Her strength is unfathomable. If I hadn't fought back with my life on the line back then, I couldn't even have kept you safe."

Everyone's hearts grew heavy. They had thought that by defeating Yue Guan, they had gained the means to stand against Spirit Hall. They had never expected their opponent's hidden strength to be so terrifying.

"Then what should we do?" Oscar asked, unable to hold back. "Are we just going to keep hiding?"

"We can't hide forever." Tang Hao rose and walked to the cave entrance, looking out at the waterfall. "But we can unite every force willing to join us. The Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... these forces all have grudges against Spirit Hall. If we can unite them, we may yet have a chance to fight."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Lin Ye thought of Yu Xiaogang. "Does Grandmaster have a connection to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Tang Hao nodded. "Xiao Gang is a close friend of Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He's also a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, though he was later expelled from the clan. With him there, uniting these forces will be much easier."

"Then let's go find them now!" Xiao Wu said anxiously.

"No." Tang Hao shook his head. "You're still too weak. If you rush out now, you'll only become targets. I'll contact Ning Fengzhi and Yu Luomian first. Stay here and cultivate, and wait for word from me."

He took a worn book from inside his robes and handed it to Tang San. "This is the Clear Sky Sect Cultivation Method. You and Lin Ye should both read it. It may help with your cultivation."

Tang San took the book. It felt heavy in his hands, and the words "Clear Sky" on its cover were written in bold, powerful strokes.

"Dad, you're leaving?" Tang San asked, reluctant to see him go.

"Yes." Tang Hao nodded and patted Tang San's head, the first time he had made such an affectionate gesture. "Take good care of yourself and your companions. Once your Soul Power breaks through to level sixty, come find me at the Clear Sky Sect."

With that, Tang Hao's figure flashed and vanished from the cave entrance like a bat melting into the darkness.

Only the five from Shrek remained in the cave, and silence fell once more.

"Are we really going to wait?" Dai Mubai was the first to break it, a trace of resentment in his voice. "Just watch Spirit Hall do whatever it pleases?"

"What else can we do?" Tang San asked. "If we go out now, how is that any different from throwing our lives away?"

"But..."

"Dai Mubai has a point," Lin Ye suddenly said. "We can't keep waiting forever. Spirit Hall's power is growing. By the time they've assembled the Soul Bone, it'll be too late."

"Then what do you want to do?" Tang San looked at him. "The five of us can't make any waves."

"We can go to Heaven Dou City first," Lin Ye said. "Didn't Dean Yu Luomian give you a token? We can draw on the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's strength, cultivate, and gather information at the same time. That's better than sitting here waiting to die."

"Heaven Dou City must be crawling with Spirit Hall's spies right now. If we go there, we'll be walking straight into their net!" Tang San countered.

"That's still better than wasting time here!" Lin Ye's voice grew heated too. "Lin Ye was captured because he was covering our escape. I don't want anyone else getting hurt because we waited!"

"You think I want to wait?" Tang San stood up too, Blue Silver Grass dancing restlessly around him. "I want revenge more than anyone, but we have to be rational! Acting on impulse won't solve anything!"

"Rational? Is being rational standing by and doing nothing while our companions are in danger?"

"You're twisting words!"

Their argument grew fiercer, neither willing to give ground. Xiao Wu anxiously tried to make peace between them, while Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Oscar exchanged glances, unsure whom to support.

It was the first time they had argued so fiercely since they had met.

"Enough!" Xiao Wu suddenly shouted, tears falling from her eyes. "Stop arguing! Lin Ye just got back. Everyone should talk things over, not fight!"

Tang San and Lin Ye both froze. Seeing Xiao Wu crying, they finally realized they had been too impulsive.

"I'm sorry." Tang San lowered his head first.

"I was wrong too," Lin Ye apologized.

Quiet returned to the fireside, but this time, an indescribable rift hung in the air.

In the end, Oscar broke the deadlock. "Actually... we could compromise. We won't go to Heaven Dou City, but we can't stay here forever either. We could go to the Shrek Secret Realm in Suotuo City. The dean and Teacher Zhao are there, so we'll be safe, and we can keep training. Once we're stronger, we can decide what to do next."

Everyone agreed to the proposal.

Early the next morning, the five packed their belongings, left the cave behind the waterfall, and set off toward Suotuo City.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto them, but it could not dispel the gloom in their hearts. They all knew the argument had not simply been a matter of differing opinions. Facing the mighty Spirit Hall, each of them felt the pressure and uncertainty.

What path should they take in the future? Would the trust between companions gradually wear away with each disagreement?

No one knew the answer. They could only support one another and move forward step by step, hoping to find their own light in the darkness.

What they did not know was that after they left, a shadowy figure quietly appeared in the cave. Looking in the direction they had gone, the figure's lips curled into an eerie smile.

Spirit Hall's spies had long since set their sights on them. A greater crisis was quietly drawing near.