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After Bibi Dong cleared the Abyssal monsters outside Abyss No. 1, the air was immediately filled with the jubilant cheers of children.
Abyss No. 1 and Abyss No. 2 were designated as training grounds for the new generation of Soul Masters from the Douluo Empire. Most of these children were the descendants of those who had earned military merit, and they had awakened powerful Tool Souls through the use of "Tool Soul Devices."
Black-armored warriors were assigned to lead these children in their joint conquest of the first dungeon. Although these warriors now faced the risk of casualties against Soul Master-level Abyssal monsters, their primary role was to inspire the six-year-olds and facilitate their rapid growth.
Since nearly all of these children possessed 100,000-year Blue Silver Grass Soul Rings and Soul Bones, roughly three out of every ten possessed recovery-type soul skills. With the aid of these top-tier healing abilities, the black-armored warriors were able to achieve zero casualties even when facing formidable foes.
Li Da patted the two children in front of him with pride, laughing heartily. "As expected of the Li family! Not a single coward among you!"
Li Shan also laughed, adding, "My kid did well too—he actually awakened the Clear Sky Hammer!"
Li Da roared with laughter. "People are already saying our Li family has produced three Supremes!"
Li Zhuang, however, frowned. "Why couldn't I awaken the Seven Kill Sword? Wang Mazi and his crew always make us three brothers play the villains!"
Li Da coughed awkwardly. While the Clear Sky Hammer Tool Soul was undeniably powerful, its reputation in the Douluo Empire was currently complicated due to the history of the Clear Sky School. Still, awakening the Hammer was far better than awakening a Hoe.
He smiled and cautioned, "Zhuang'er, Yao'er, He'zi—once we enter the Abyss dungeon, stay close to me and Uncle Li. Don't go wandering off. The dungeon itself isn't exactly 'dangerous,' it's just..."
Li Da thought of the "Breeding Rooms" and found the subject difficult to broach.
Li Yao grinned. "Dad, we aren't scared! My brothers and I have the Blue Silver Grass!"
"Oh? Let me see this Blue Silver Grass," Li Shan said curiously. "What's the real difference between these man-made soul rings and the Soul Spirit system?"
In an instant, a blue-silver light flickered around the three children. Three thick strands of Blue Silver Grass slowly emerged, radiating an incredibly gentle aura.
"Dad, this is a Blue Silver Grass Soul Spirit," Li He'zi explained. "The Soul Master who helped me absorb the ring said its combat power is immense. Even a Soul Elder wouldn't be its match. And as we get stronger, their power grows with us."
Li Zhuang added, "But the Masters also said we can't rely on them forever. As our own strength improves, the Soul Spirits will eventually struggle to keep up."
Seeing the formidable combat potential of the Blue Silver Grass, Li Da's heart finally settled. He knew exactly how much stronger a Soul Elder was compared to a standard Soul Master.
He wasn't alone; many parents felt the same. Under the security provided by 100,000-year rings and bones, the once-terrifying Abyssal monsters no longer seemed so daunting.
Following the Empire's arrangements, the Li family and other talented children entered Abyss No. 1. Initially, Li Da and Li Shan were extremely cautious. However, as the Blue Silver Grass Soul Spirits began to show their might, the entire team relaxed.
It felt less like a battle and more like a vacation, as they watched the Soul Spirits perform. Even when a monster managed a successful ambush, the team's recovery skills were so potent that a minor exertion of a 100,000-year skill fully closed any wound. If they ran low on soul power, they had an abundance of herbs and pills to replenish it.
Whether it was a common Abyssal monster or a Goblin, they were instantly shredded when facing the Blue Silver Grass. While these plants didn't possess the bloodline of the Blue Silver Empress, they were comparable to the Blue Silver King.
Observing the lack of true danger, the sharp-witted Li Da ordered his sons to have their Soul Spirits merely restrain the monsters. This allowed Li Zhuang, Li Yao, and Li He'zi to use their own Clear Sky Hammers and soul skills to deliver the killing blows.
Other teams soon followed suit. Although this slowed the progress of the dungeon crawl, the children grew rapidly through the experience of actual combat and slaughter, gaining invaluable experience for their future solo attempts at Abyss No. 2.
With the help of the 100,000-year Soul Spirits, the battle remained uneventful, and another section of the Abyss was conquered. Bolstered by the Empire's treasures, these battle-hardened children were quickly pushed to Rank 29, allowing them to acquire their second 100,000-year soul ring. With such overwhelming power, Abyss No. 2 fell shortly thereafter.
---
Sea God Island
While the Douluo Empire was busy conquering the Abyss, a majestic blue-haired woman sent a black-haired man flying with a single palm strike. Instead of being upset, the man looked delighted.
"Grandmother! I did it!" Tang San exclaimed excitedly. "I lasted five incense sticks' time against you!"
At that moment, the notification for completing the Eighth Trial of the Sea God echoed in his mind, increasing his Sea God Affinity by another 5%.
Bo Saixi looked at the jubilant Tang San, her lips pressed thin, saying nothing. Had she not held back significantly, Tang San would never have passed the sixth or seventh trials. Because she had allowed him to pass so easily, he only received the minimum affinity increase.
However, she felt she had no choice. If she didn't accelerate his growth, any encounter with the Douluo Empire, Ye Lan, or the Abyssal monsters would result in a total catastrophe for him. Her only option was to help him reach godhood as quickly as possible.
The requirements for the Eighth Trial appeared in Tang San's mind: Cultivate Soul Power to Rank 99 and collect a full set of Soul Bones.
Tang San felt a headache coming on from the difficulty, but he took solace in his twin martial souls. He believed that once he added the remaining rings to his second soul, he would be very close to Rank 99, even if he didn't hit it immediately.
"Xiao San, come here," Bo Saixi said softly.
As Tang San stepped forward, Bo Saixi imprinted a Sea God Trident mark onto his palm.
"Grandmother, what is this?"
"If your life is ever in danger, simply activate this mark with your soul power," Bo Saixi explained. "It will allow me to use the spatial coordinates to teleport directly to your side."
Tang San felt a surge of warmth. In Bo Saixi, he felt a long-lost familial comfort. She was like a mother to him—different from the heavy concern of his father, Tang Hao. Her care felt selfless and pure.
"I understand! When I return to the Douluo Continent, I will follow your instructions. I will only hunt Abyssal monsters to cultivate and won't look for trouble!"
Bo Saixi nodded. "Good. I will teleport you directly to the Empire."
"Grandmother, can I take Xiao Wu with me?" Tang San asked.
Bo Saixi looked at the weary-looking Xiao Wu standing behind him. "Xiao San, I don't know what has happened between you two. But I hope you can support each other until the end. Xiao Wu is a good girl."
Hearing the praise, Xiao Wu felt a flicker of joy and quickly stepped forward to grab Tang San's arm.
Tang San remained silent for a moment before saying, "I understand, Grandmother."
"Go then!" Bo Saixi said, tearing through space and sending them to a location within the Douluo Empire.
The moment they landed, Tang San shook off Xiao Wu's hand. "Xiao Wu, didn't you say your childhood friends could sacrifice themselves for me? Where are they?"
Xiao Wu grabbed his arm again, pleading, "Third Brother, Da Ming is in the Star Dou Great Forest. We aren't far from there. I'll take you!"
Suppressing his disgust and thinking only of the 100,000-year rings and bones, Tang San followed her. In his memory, Xiao Wu's companions were the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python. Both were perfect for his Clear Sky Hammer. With his status as a dual-god candidate, he would "graciously" accept their sacrifices.
As for the "man-made soul rings" developed by Ye Lan, Tang San not only lacked access to them but was also terrified they would turn out like Yu Xiaogang's "Cursed Rings." If his Clear Sky Hammer ended up with those, it would be truly ruined.
Before long, the two slipped into the "Soul Beast Sanctuary" of the Star Dou Great Forest. They encountered no humans along the way.
"So this is the 'Sanctuary'?" Tang San sneered. "It's nothing more than a plot by Ye Lan to monopolize soul beast blood."
Xiao Wu's heart was a tangle of emotions. While the Spirit Hall did monopolize the blood, the soul beasts were no longer hunted by humans like they used to be. Her mother wouldn't have...
No! Her mother was killed by Bibi Dong! And Bibi Dong was Ye Lan's teacher. How could she possibly praise him?
Pushing these thoughts aside, she led Tang San into a cave. Their movement awakened the Sky Azure Bull Python. It opened its massive eyes and saw the pink figure it had longed for.
"Sister Xiao Wu!!!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python rushed toward her, gently nuzzling her with its face.
"Da Ming!! I'm back!!!"
Seeing her haggard appearance, Da Ming's heart ached. "Sister Xiao Wu, what happened? Why do you look so exhausted?"
"Da Ming, I'm fine!" Xiao Wu forced a smile.
Watching the beast nuzzle Xiao Wu, Tang San felt a pang of jealousy. Even though he currently loathed her, his possessiveness flared up at the sight of another male entity touching her.
"Xiao Wu, where is the other soul beast?" Tang San demanded.
"It... it..." Xiao Wu stammered.
Tang San's expression darkened, but he was interrupted by the Sky Azure Bull Python's roar: "Human! I entrusted Sister Xiao Wu to your care, and this is how you treat her? Her eyes are full of nothing but sorrow!"
With a bellow, the Bull Python's massive horns lunged toward Tang San.
"Da Ming!! No!!" Xiao Wu screamed.
The beast paused, but Tang San showed no mercy. A black light flashed in his palm as his soul rings—Black, Black, Black, Black, Red—erupted. The fifth red ring glowed intensely as the Clear Sky Hammer expanded.
"Vermin, how dare you!"
Tang San struck with overwhelming force, sending the Sky Azure Bull Python flying hundreds of meters. The cave began to collapse. Enraged, the beast charged back, and a fierce battle ensued.
Xiao Wu could only watch helplessly as Tang San battered the Bull Python. Tang San's fury grew, and eight pitch-black spider lances erupted from his back. He began to frantically drain the life force of the Sky Azure Bull Python. Within a few rounds, the beast was gasping for air, teetering on the edge of death.
"Third Brother!! Stop!!" Xiao Wu cried, her face covered in tears.
Tang San stepped onto the Bull Python's head. "Make him sacrifice himself to me!"
"Never!" the beast roared. "Even if I self-destruct, I will never give a soul ring or bone to a disgusting human like you!"
Tang San ignored the beast and turned a cold, meaningful gaze toward Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu collapsed to her knees, sobbing. "Da Ming!! I'm begging you one last time... help Third Brother!!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python went silent. Blue tears fell from its eyes as it gazed at Xiao Wu.
"Human," the beast whispered, "I only sacrifice myself because of Sister Xiao Wu's request. I can never refuse her. But I must tell you—you are not fit to be called a man! Even Ye Lan, the one who killed Er Ming... he is human, but I do not hate him! Er Ming is living well with him! Under his guidance, the soul beast race has found true freedom and protection!"
"The race will not miss one of me. As a soul beast, I will give everything, even my life, for the woman I love. I am not like you, who only knows how to bully the woman who loves him!"
"Sister Xiao Wu... goodbye!!!"
With those final words, the Sky Azure Bull Python initiated the sacrifice ritual and immediately ignited its own soul. It refused to let its consciousness linger within Tang San's soul ring; the very thought was repulsive.
"Tch. Fine. One less burden," Tang San muttered.
Hearing those final words, Xiao Wu's grief reached a breaking point. Only now did she understand what Ye Lan meant when he said Da Ming and Er Ming loved her to death, and that she didn't realize how lucky she was. She had been a happy beast, protected by the Kings of the Forest. Now, her dearest friends were gone forever.
Tang San looked at her sorrowful state, his resentment deepening. From the beast's final words, he had learned the fate of the other 100,000-year soul beast: it was with Ye Lan. That likely explained Ye Lan's 100,000-year ring, which matched the timing of his fourth ring.
For a Rank 40 to absorb a 100,000-year ring, a sacrifice was mandatory. But how could Ye Lan have convinced the Titan Giant Ape to sacrifice itself?
Tang San thought back to Zhao Wuji, Xiao Wu, and the Giant Ape. A dark, sickening suspicion began to sprout in his mind. His face gradually turned a shade of green—the color of betrayal. It was highly likely that Xiao Wu had been defiled by Ye Lan. Why else would she feel so guilty? She must have been unfaithful!
The thought of Xiao Wu groveling beneath Ye Lan while he was away cultivating made Tang San's face turn greener by the second.
(End of Chapter)