Having obtained the fused soul bone, Tang San did not hesitate for a second and absorbed it immediately.
After a short while, a look of joy appeared on his face.
"Fantastic! I have even more confidence in resurrecting my mother now," Tang San said excitedly to Xiao Lin.
"Little San, are you heading to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well next?" Xiao Lin asked curiously.
"Yes, I can't wait to help Mother recover as quickly as possible." Tang San naturally didn't want to waste a moment; he answered without hesitation.
"That works out perfectly. I was just thinking of heading back myself."
Over the past month, Xiao Lin had maximized his intimacy and coordination with the Heaven Dou Imperial Team. Now that team battles were running smoothly without any minor hiccups, he was ready to return. Back at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, he could focus on his research and cultivation.
"Great. Father is waiting for me; let's go together," Tang San nodded affirmatively.
"Huh? Third Brother, you're leaving again? Then I'm coming too!" Suddenly, Xiao Wu hugged Tang San and began to act spoiled, a few tears shimmering in her eyes.
"Xiao Wu... I'm not going forever. I'm just going to check on my mother, and I'll be back very soon." Tang San didn't plan on staying at the Well for long. First, he had already been on leave for quite a while and needed to train and fight with the Imperial Team to build rapport. Second, Tang Hao wouldn't allow it, feeling that Tang San might disturb Ah Yin's rest.
Although Tang Hao treated Tang San like a tool, Tang San didn't mind. He also felt that after helping his mother regain consciousness, she would need some peace and quiet to recover.
So that leaves Xiao Lin in the clear, right?
"No, no! I want to go! I don't want to be apart from you for even a single second," Xiao Wu insisted playfully. Tang San was left speechless and eventually agreed.
Truth be told, Tang San was actually quite worried about Xiao Wu's identity being discovered by Tang Hao, fearing what might happen... but he soon pushed the thought aside. After all, he himself was the son of a Blue Silver Empress soul beast.
Soon, the three of them left the Imperial Team and set off for the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Little San, take this. It records the approximate location of the Love Valley of Universe. You should go check it out in the future." Xiao Lin handed Tang San a book he had just finished reading.
Afterward, they met up with Tang Hao. Following a few brief pleasantries, they boarded a carriage and headed toward the Sunset Forest.
Inside the carriage were only Xiao Lin, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ah Yin. Tang Hao was outside driving the carriage for them.
Xiao Lin watched with curiosity as a stalk of Blue Silver Empress wrapped its leaves around Tang San's finger, swaying its body happily. It was clear that Ah Yin's consciousness had not been entirely sacrificed. In other words, part of her consciousness had entered Tang Hao's body to become a soul ring and soul bone, while a portion remained behind in this Blue Silver Empress seed, growing into its current form.
Xiao Lin also noticed that Ah Yin's appearance was worlds apart from Tang San's Blue Silver Empress martial soul. Ah Yin looked incredibly ordinary; aside from some gold threads on her leaves that looked somewhat noble, she appeared to be a common stalk of Blue Silver Grass.
Inside the carriage, Tang San wore a silly grin. He constantly channeled life force into Ah Yin, and she was recovering at a pace visible to the naked eye. While her size didn't change much, everyone could tell that the consciousness within was reviving.
"By the way, Brother Lin, thank you. Thank you for telling me to choose life-force soul rings. If you ever need anything in the future, I will..." Tang San spoke with deep gratitude, but Xiao Lin quickly cut him off.
What could possibly happen to me? Aren't you guys the only ones who ever have 'things' happen? Xiao Lin grumbled internally, hoping Tang San wouldn't accidentally jinx him.
"We're brothers; there's no need for that," Xiao Lin waved it off and changed the subject. "By the way, Little San, you should plant more Blue Silver Grass around the soil where Auntie stays. Preferably seeds of Blue Silver Grass that have the potential to become soul beasts."
Xiao Lin remembered that Blue Silver Grass functioned through a unique social relationship. This relationship allowed the ruler—the Blue Silver Empress—to have potential no weaker than other Great Beasts. For instance, the Empress herself might not have outstanding combat power, but because she had the support of all the Blue Silver Grass in the world, she was nearly impossible to kill. This was a form of extraordinary life force that even God-level martial souls didn't necessarily possess, and something even Great Beast powerhouses coveted. Because of this, the Empress becomes stronger whenever her "subjects" are nearby. It would help Ah Yin recover much faster.
Tang San quickly understood the reasoning and smiled, agreeing immediately.
"Oh, right. Regarding the tragedy involving Uncle Hao and Auntie, Qian Renxue investigated and found some clues."
"According to her, Spirit Hall has always had information on most hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Their hunt for Auntie back then had an underlying reason."
Hearing this, Tang San's expression instantly turned ferocious. "Brother Lin, tell me—who is the real culprit?"
Tang San asked urgently, and even Tang Hao, driving outside, pricked up his ears to listen. Tang Hao had always been haunted by the events of the past, feeling that what happened to him and Ah Yin was far too bizarre.
Feeling a slight tremor in the carriage, Xiao Lin spoke immediately. "According to Qian Renxue, Auntie's situation occurred because her aura leaked while giving birth to you. But the real reason goes back even further."
"When Uncle Hao and Auntie were originally returning to the Sect, they were ambushed by Spirit Hall. Her identity was exposed back then."
"As for who it was, even Qian Renxue doesn't know for sure. She only mentioned that Spirit Hall's Yue Guan has the Magnificent Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul, which can sense the aura of powerful plants."
"Furthermore, the first time they were attacked by Spirit Hall was nine years before you were born, Little San."
"And that period happened to be right around when Qian Renxue was about to be born—or rather, when the current Pope, Bibi Dong, was pregnant."
Author's Note: Tang San's birthday is Douluo Calendar Year 2631, Jan 11. Nine years prior would be any time after Jan 11, Year 2621. The encyclopedia doesn't specify Qian Renxue's birthday, only that she was born in 2620. Therefore, this novel sets her birthday in 2621, making her one year younger to fix a plot hole from the original work and explain the timeline more clearly.
"It's common knowledge that generally, the stronger the parents, the stronger the martial soul and the higher the innate soul power the child inherits."
"So, there is a strong suspicion that Chi Xunji wanted Bibi Dong to become stronger, so he began helping her hunt hundred-thousand-year soul beasts."
"The relationship between Chi Xunji and Bibi Dong involved a 'secret room'—those who know, know. Fearing that Bibi Dong might harm the unborn child, it makes sense that Chi Xunji would seek a soul ring and bone from a hundred-thousand-year soul beast with immense life force. And Bibi Dong wouldn't refuse such a prize."
The moment Xiao Lin said this, Tang San understood instantly.
"In other words, Chi Xunji was worried Bibi Dong would kill Qian Renxue, so he went looking for a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, and because of Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's martial soul, they happened to sense my mother?"
Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, his calm voice now trembling with suppressed rage.