The Soul Bones Gather, the Return from the Icefield, and the Final Horn

Every second in Heaven Dou City felt like an ordeal. The news that Tang San and Lin Ye had brought back the fourth Azure Lotus Soul Bone brought little joy. Instead, it left the entire alliance on edge-Dai Mubai's team had yet to return, there was still no word from Tang Hao or Tang Xiao, and Spirit Hall was utterly silent. The pressure lurking behind that silence was more suffocating than any raging storm.

Tang San placed the four Soul Bones in the Soul Gathering Array in the royal secret chamber. Seven-colored light flowed slowly under the array's power, resonating ever faster, as if calling out to the final fragment. He spent several hours sitting quietly there each day, using his connection to the Soul Bones to sense what was happening far away while drawing on the array's power to consolidate his cultivation. After the perilous battle at Spirit Hall's sacred ground, he had come to understand the gap between himself and Bibi Dong. His Blue Silver Grass offered powerful control, but lacked the explosive force to settle a battle in a single blow. Cultivating the Clear Sky Sect Cultivation Method had therefore become even more urgent.

Lin Ye, meanwhile, devoted more of his efforts to Heaven Dou City's defenses. The Golden Crow Fire, fused with the Azure Lotus's power, had not only grown far stronger but could also resonate with the city's defensive arrays. Every day, he patrolled the walls, injecting the fire's power into the array nodes and strengthening the entire city's defenses severalfold. In his spare time, he would stand atop the gatehouse and gaze north, toward the Star Luo Icefield. Day after day, he extended his Golden Crow Perception, but never picked up a familiar fluctuation of Soul Power.

"They'll come back." Xiao Wu came to keep him company at the gatehouse every day, always holding a Hope Sausage made by Oscar. Supposedly, eating one filled a person with fighting spirit. "Dai Mubai is so strong, and Tai Long can take so much punishment. The Clear Sky Sect elders are with them too. They'll definitely be all right."

Lin Ye smiled and took the sausage. "I know. I'm just... a little worried."

On the seventh day, that worry finally came to a head.

Early that morning, a scout hurried in to report that two figures had been spotted on the northern border, both at death's door. One was carrying the other, inching toward Heaven Dou City. Lin Ye and Xiao Wu rushed over at once and spotted a familiar figure from afar-it was Tai Long! One of his arms was twisted at an unnatural angle, and frost and blood covered his body. On his back was an unconscious Oscar.

"Tai Long!" Lin Ye covered the distance in a few leaps. Golden Crow Fire gently enveloped them both, driving away the frost. "What happened? Where's Dai Mubai? Where are the Clear Sky Sect elders?"

Tai Long's lips trembled. Only after a long while did he manage to force out the words. "Ghost... Ghost Douluo... Big Brother Dai stayed behind with the elders... to cover our escape..." He pulled a bloodstained cloth pouch from his robes. Inside was the final Azure Lotus Soul Bone. "We... got the Soul Bone... but Big Brother Dai..."

At that, the usually steadfast young man could not hold back his tears.

Xiao Wu hurriedly checked Oscar's injuries and found that he had merely exhausted his Soul Power and suffered some frostbite. His life was not in danger, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Ye helped Tai Long up, steadily channeling Golden Crow Fire into his body to mend his damaged muscles and bones. "Don't panic. Let's get back to the city first. We'll find a way to save Dai Mubai."

Back in Heaven Dou City, Oscar soon woke after receiving a physician's treatment. The first words out of his mouth were, "Big Brother Dai is still alive! I saw Ghost Douluo take him away, but he didn't kill him. It looked like he wanted to keep him as bait!"

The news brought everyone some relief-as long as he was alive, there was hope.

Ning Fengzhi immediately summoned the alliance's core members for a meeting. When the final Azure Lotus Soul Bone was placed in the Soul Gathering Array, the five fragments fused in an instant, forming a palm-sized, seven-colored Azure Lotus. It floated at the center of the array, radiating vast, pure life force. Light filled the entire chamber, and tender green shoots even sprouted from the walls, as if the stones themselves had come alive.

"So this is... the power of the Chaos Azure Lotus?" Yu Luomian murmured, his eyes full of astonishment.

The Azure Lotus swayed gently, and a soft light entered Tang San's body. He shuddered as countless pieces of information flooded his mind-about the origin of the Chaos Azure Lotus, the fall of the Angel God, and the balance between light and darkness... The Angel God had not been destroyed by someone else. Rather, when she tried to absorb the Azure Lotus's power, her impure intentions had thrown light and darkness out of balance, ultimately causing her to destroy herself. What Spirit Hall sought to resurrect was merely the remnant of the Angel God's soul, tainted by darkness.

"So that's how it was..." Tang San opened his eyes, a glimmer of understanding flashing through them. "Spirit Hall was wrong from the very beginning. What they're resurrecting isn't the Angel God, but a source of destruction."

"Then what should we do now?" Meng Zhi asked. "Dai Mubai is still in their hands."

"It's the Azure Lotus Soul Bone they want." Tang San looked at the floating lotus. "We'll give it to them."

"What?" everyone exclaimed.

"This is our only chance to save Dai Mubai and put an end to Spirit Hall once and for all." Tang San's gaze was exceptionally resolute. "I'll take the Azure Lotus Soul Bone to Spirit Hall's sacred ground and exchange it for Dai Mubai. Then, while they're holding the resurrection ritual, I'll use the Azure Lotus's true power to purify the tainted remnant of the Angel God's soul."

"It's too dangerous!" Lin Ye objected at once. "Bibi Dong must have laid a net in heaven and a snare on earth, waiting for you!"

"I'll go with you." Tang Hao's voice suddenly came from outside the door. He and Tang Xiao walked in slowly, wounded but with eyes unusually bright. "It's time we repaid what we owe you."

As it turned out, they had not been trapped by Bibi Dong. They had deliberately concealed their movements and secretly investigated the details of Spirit Hall's resurrection ritual, and had finally made it back.

"And us!" Lin Ye, Xiao Wu, Tai Long, and Oscar said in unison. After all they had been through, they had long since shared life and death, and would never let Tang San take the risk alone.

Ning Fengzhi looked at the young, determined faces before him, then at Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, and took a deep breath. "All right! The alliance's main force will stand by outside Spirit City. Once you succeed, we'll launch an all-out attack and destroy Spirit Hall once and for all!"

With that, the plan was set. Tang San drew the Chaos Azure Lotus into his body, merging it with his Life Soul Bone-only then could he unleash the Azure Lotus's full power. Lin Ye fused Golden Crow Fire with the Azure Lotus's power, creating a Lotus Fire Barrier that could both burn away darkness and protect his companions. After special training, Xiao Wu could use her Teleportation Soft Skill to transport two people with her over a short distance. Oscar developed a Disguise Sausage that could briefly mimic another person's presence, while Tai Long had trained himself to have copper skin and iron bones, ready to serve as a meat shield at the crucial moment.

On the eve of their departure, Tang San went alone to the Soul Gathering Array's secret chamber. The Chaos Azure Lotus swayed gently in his palm, as if responding to his thoughts. He remembered meeting his companions for the first time, their days in the Shrek Secret Realm, and every occasion they had fought side by side... Those memories became strength, flowing into his Soul Power.

"Dai Mubai, wait for us," Tang San said softly, the light of certain victory shining in his eyes.

Early the next morning, Tang San and his companions set out for Spirit Hall's sacred ground, disguised as Spirit Hall prisoners under Tang Hao and Tang Xiao's "escort." Before they left, Ning Fengzhi infused the core power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into Tang San's body. "This is the inherited power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It can increase your Soul Power threefold at a crucial moment. You must be careful."

Yu Luomian handed Lin Ye a jade pendant. "This is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's lightning-warding talisman. Among Bibi Dong's Twin Martial Souls is the power of a spider-type Evil Soul Master. It might come in handy."

Meng Zhi opened the city gates himself and watched their figures disappear into the distance. Then he turned to the alliance Soul Masters behind him and called out, "Brothers, prepare to move out! For peace on the continent, for our homes, we must win this battle. Defeat is not an option!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

The earthshaking cries echoed over Heaven Dou City as countless Soul Masters poured through the gates like a tide, heading toward Spirit City.

Sunlight pierced the clouds, illuminating every corner of the continent. A decisive battle that would determine the future was about to unfold at Spirit Hall's sacred ground. And within Tang San, the light of the Chaos Azure Lotus was quietly gathering, waiting for the moment it would bloom.