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Shrek Academy.
In the plaza.
All the teachers and students were looking in the same direction.
There, powerful soul power fluctuations transmitted, preventing them from falling asleep.
"Such powerful soul power fluctuations, His Majesty the Thunder Emperor is truly formidable."
"With my cultivation level, if His Majesty the Thunder Emperor really got serious, I wouldn't be able to take even one hit, would I?"
Zhao Wuji, feeling the soul power fluctuations coming from afar, couldn't help but shrink his neck.
He knew Qin Xiao was strong, but he didn't expect Qin Xiao to be this strong.
"Who says you wouldn't be able to take it?"
"Didn't you endure under His Majesty the Thunder Emperor's soul skill for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn?"
A sly look flashed in Flander's eyes.
"Haha, right."
Zhao Wuji's eyes also brightened, "With such a feat, even a Soul Douluo would have to feel ashamed."
His smug look made everyone else in the plaza speechless, as he really knew how to give himself credit.
"Be careful, a tremendously strong aura is heading towards the academy!"
Suddenly, Flander's expression changed and he spoke in a grave voice.
Coming to the academy?
Everyone was shocked in their hearts.
What would such a powerful being want with the academy?
Instinctively, everyone had a bad premonition arising in their hearts.
And Zhao Wuji and Flander unhesitatingly stood in front of everyone else.
Li Yusong and Lu Qibin took positions to the left and right, protecting Dai Mubai, Tang San, and other students in the middle.
The food-class Soul Master, Shao Xin, stood in the midst of everyone.
And in that moment, a figure had already appeared before them all.
"Dean Flanders, it's been a long time."
He took the initiative to greet.
"Hao Tian... Your Highness!"
Surprise filled Flander's eyes.
No matter what, he couldn't have imagined that the one contending with Qin Xiao would be Tang Hao.
In the crowd, Tang San roared in shock, "Dad?!"
His voice was filled with disbelief.
Not just him.
People like Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and a host of teachers all found it unbelievable.
What's going on?
Tang San's father, a Titled Douluo?
"Xiaosan."
Tang Hao called out with a complicated expression, then said to Flander, "Flanders, thank you for taking care of Xiaosan these past few days, but now I have reasons I must take Xiaosan away."
"Your Highness, please do as you wish."
Flander immediately made way, allowing Tang Hao to approach Tang San.
And Tang San, even more excited, pushed through the crowd and rushed into Tang Hao's embrace.
"I know you have many questions in your heart, but now is not the time for too many words; come with me. I will tell you the truth of everything in due course."
Tang Hao said solemnly.
"Okay." Though Tang San had countless questions, he could only keep them to himself for now.
"Dad, can we bring Xiaowu with us?" He was actually asking, but there was a pleading tone in his voice.
"Do you want to?" Tang Hao looked at Xiaowu.
Instinctively, Xiaowu shrank back, filled with fear.
Her heart was also far from calm.
"Didn't Xiaosan say his father was just a down-and-out blacksmith?"
"But what's going on with this Titled Douluo thing?"
"And did he recognize my identity long ago? Then Xiaosan, he...."
Instinctively, she looked towards Tang San.
Doubt, confusion, and other emotions surged in her heart.
"What, you don't want to?"
Tang Hao's brows furrowed as he asked again.
But Xiaowu could feel an oppressive force bearing down on her.
It was as if daring to utter the word 'no' would lead to a dire conclusion...
In fact, it was exactly the case.
After all, he fought with Qin Xiao, half the reason for which was because Qin Xiao's presence could affect Tang San's development, and the other half was because of Xiaowu— a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that had taken human form, too precious to lose.
"I, I am willing..."
She kept her eyes lowered, not daring to look at Tang Hao anymore, and said in a fluster.
```
"Alright, let's go."
As Tang Hao spoke, he grabbed Xiaowu with one hand and took Tang San with the other, disappearing from the spot at an extremely fast speed.
"They've left, just like that?"
The members of Shrek were left in a state of astonishment.
Utterly baffled.
Whoosh…
Not long after, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, and Qin Xiao's figure appeared from the flash of light.
"Your Highness…"
"His Majesty the Thunder Emperor…"
"…"
Flander, Zhao Wuji, and others dared not neglect, speaking in a low voice.
In fact, they were even more respectful than before.
No one was blind; despite his young age, His Majesty commanded genuine awe.
Haven't you seen Hao Tian Douluo flee with his son?
Qin Xiao merely glanced over the area and noted Tang San and Xiaowu's absence, then suddenly smiled, "Tang Hao, oh Tang Hao, the one thing you should never have done in your lifetime is to become my enemy."
But everyone uncontrollably shuddered at his words.
A long while later.
Qin Xiao retracted his gaze.
He did not pursue them.
His series of strikes just now had also consumed a lot, and his soul power reserves were nearly depleted at the moment.
If Tang Hao were truly pushed to desperation and chose to explode one or two more Soul Rings in a last-ditch effort, the outcome could very well be uncertain.
However, he was young, with plenty of time on his side.
With his own efforts, it would take at most three to five years to overpower Tang Hao completely.
If the System didn't mess things up, that time might be further shortened significantly.
...
Elsewhere.
Tang Hao rapidly took Tang San and Xiaowu over a hundred miles away before alighting by the side of a stream.
"Cough cough."
He could no longer hold back, coughing up two mouthfuls of fresh blood.
At this moment, the injuries he had forcefully suppressed erupted, along with the backlash from the Ring Explosion and the damage inflicted by Qin Xiao's attacks, all compounding severely. That he hadn't ascended to heaven straight away was a testament to his great strength.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
Tang San immediately became anxious.
Xiaowu, frightened, hid to one side.
"I'm fine."
"Just need to rest for a bit."
Tang Hao sat down on the ground.
Spitting blood and still fine? Regardless of Tang Hao's objections, Tang San grabbed his arm and checked his pulses.
In a moment, his face turned as dark as a liver.
The blood flow was impeded, meridians obstructed, soul power chaotically rampaged like headless flies...
This was fine?
Anyone else would have probably died, right?
Without any further thought, Tang San whipped out a handful of golden needles.
He intended to use the Golden Needle Acupoint Clearing method to adjust Tang Hao's breath.
"What is this?" Tang Hao was taken aback.
"A technique taught by my teacher, it should be able to help you," Tang San said without hesitation.
"Yu Xiaogang knows this stuff too?" Tang Hao frowned but knew it wasn't the time to hesitate, so he nodded.
Seeing his approval, Tang San stepped forward and inserted the golden needles into the acupoints on Tang Hao's body.
A short while later, Tang Hao's eyes brightened, and his complexion improved significantly, "Heh, Yu Xiaogang that worthless..."
"Tsk."
"Who would have thought Yu Xiaogang had such skills? After so many years of research, he finally managed to come up with something decent."
He couldn't help but marvel.
However, Tang San did not answer his question, "Dad, who exactly injured you this badly?"
After a silence, Tang Hao said, "You should know, it's Qin Xiao."
It was indeed him!
Guessing was one thing, but having Tang Hao's confirmation was another.
At that moment, Tang San's eyes filled with hateful glare, veins on his forehead bulging, his fists clenched so tight they creaked, his teeth nearly crushed.
He really wanted to go back for revenge.
Unfortunately.
He was no match for Qin Xiao, only left with impotent fury.
"Xiaosan, don't overthink it. I will avenge this myself sooner or later,"
Tang Hao consoled.
Upon hearing this, the anger in Tang San's eyes eased a little.
Tang Hao was right. If he couldn't take revenge himself, relying on Tang San would be an endless wait.
"Dad, are there some things you can tell me now?"
Tang San looked at Tang Hao and voiced the biggest confusion in his heart.
Ever since the day he awakened his Martial Soul, he knew his Martial Soul was extraordinary. He also realized that Tang Hao was not simple, but after so many years, he still hadn't figured out his own origin on his own.
He had even asked Yu Xiaogang several times about the matter of the second Martial Soul.
But Yu Xiaogang always kept silent about it.
This made Tang San very frustrated.
"Ah..."
"Fine, fine, some things should eventually be told to you,"
Tang Hao sighed and still made a decision.
This day had come earlier than he had expected in his heart.
Even, much earlier.
"I am not a downtrodden blacksmith, you should have guessed that. Actually, I was born in the Hao Tian Clan, and our Martial Soul is the Hao Tian Hammer. Some incidents happened back then, which led us to a life of wandering homelessness..."
Tang Hao's eyes carried a reminiscent look as he slowly recounted the old stories.
"What? It was Martial Soul Hall that forced you into a dead end back then..."
"Xiaosan's mother wasn't human, but the Bluesilver Emperor..."
Tang San and Xiaowu were shocked.
They couldn't pull themselves together for a long time.
"The incidents back then were actually my fault. If I hadn't taken Ah Yin to the bustling Spirit City, she wouldn't have been targeted by a Titled Douluo from the Martial Soul Hall, and those later incidents wouldn't have happened. It's all my fault!"
"Ah Yin, I am sorry to you."
As Tang Hao spoke, he broke down in tears. His voice was filled with self-reproach and remorse.
"Dad, please, be a little calmer."
"I believe mom's spirit in heaven won't blame you,"
Tang San said dryly as he tried to console.
However, Tang Hao's gaze sharpened, and a trace of indignation flashed in his eyes, "What are you saying? What is that? Xiaosan, your mother isn't dead; she just reverted to her original form. I have always believed she can return to her original self and reunite with our family."
Ah.
This...
Tang San was somewhat speechless. The Bluesilver Emperor changing form and reconvening?
Even if he were to reincarnate dozens of times, could he wait that long?
But he also knew that Tang Hao's current state couldn't withstand the shock; he simply couldn't accept reality.
He obediently said, "Dad, I was wrong."
"Hmm," Tang Hao nodded, then looked towards Xiaowu, "You, I've told you about my origins. Now let's talk about this little girl's matter."
Xiaowu? Tang San was startled, "Dad, what's wrong with Xiaowu? You haven't been by my side for many years. I have always treated her as my sister, my family member."
Saying so, Tang San stood protectively in front of Xiaowu.
Seeing this, Tang Hao sighed and said, "Little girl, you tell him yourself."
"Ah..."
Xiaowu sighed gently, "Xiaosan, step aside. I believe Hao Tian Douluo won't harm me. Actually, just like your mother, I am also a soul beast that has taken human form after a hundred thousand years..."
What!
Tang San was struck as if by lightning.
He had never expected this outcome.
Subconsciously, he turned his head to look at Xiaowu...
He found it hard to believe that this was true.
"Is it hard to accept?"
Xiaowu smiled sadly.
"No, it's not like that, Xiaowu..."
Tang San hurriedly shook his head, "No matter what, you are my Xiaowu, my sister."
Having heard Tang San's words, a touch of emotion flickered in Xiaowu's eyes.
"Alright, I know you have a lot to say to each other, but you can talk slowly on the road," Tang Hao said slowly.
By now, he had stood up, his breath much steadier.
It was obvious that Tang San's Golden Needle Acupoint Clearing had been quite effective.
"On the road? Dad, where are we going?"
Tang San asked, puzzled.
"Not 'we,' but 'you,'" Tang Hao said gravely.
"Qin Xiao is the most talented Soul Master I have ever seen. An eighteen-year-old Titled Douluo capable of exploding with power comparable to that of a level 97 combatant.
Such talent is unparalleled, not just by me. Even the great ancestor of our Hao Tian Clan, Elder Tang Chen, couldn't compare with him. If left unchecked, he could potentially become a tremendous disaster in the future."
"Dad, are you going to fight Qin Xiao? With your current injuries, you barely have one-tenth of your fighting power, you can't possibly defeat him," Tang San panicked.
He was well aware of Tang Hao's physical condition.
Going after Qin Xiao now would be like a long-lived man hanging himself—a death wish.
And thinking about Qin Xiao's miraculous lightning-controlling techniques sent chills down Tang San's spine.
Simply put, if Tang Hao truly sought death, Tang San would suggest suicide over seeking Qin Xiao...
"Hahaha, Xiaosan, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm well aware of my own condition. Don't worry, I won't be handing over my head to Qin Xiao so easily; I have my own decisions to make."
Tang Hao said with a smile, "Have you forgotten? We have a sect backing us."
"A sect?" Tang San was startled; having been disowned by the sect, who else would care about you?
Tang Hao smiled, "Don't worry, there is a way. After all, the current Sect Master is your great uncle."
At this, Tang San fell silent.
And Tang Hao turned his gaze to Xiaowu beside Tang San, "Xiaowu, I want to ask you to take care of Xiaosan for me while I'm not around.
Take him to Aquipeia Forest, where you have home-field advantage. No matter how mighty Qin Xiao is, he won't be able to find you there."
It was then that Tang Hao finally revealed his purpose.
This was also why he had disclosed Xiaowu's identity in front of Tang San.
Next, he could only entrust Tang San to Xiaowu's care.
Although he was not very confident about this soul beast, he had no other options at this point.
"Uncle Tang, rest assured, I will definitely protect Xiaosan,"
"No one can bully Xiaosan in Aquipeia Forest, not even Qin Xiao. I will have Da Ming and Er Ming beat him until he's looking for his teeth!"
Xiaowu said, even waving her little fists around in a cocky manner.
"Good, your words put me at ease."
"You should set off now," Tang Hao said, his face showing a rare smile.
To this, Tang San and Xiaowu had no major objection.
Only, Tang San felt reluctant in his heart. After so many years apart, having just met, they had to say goodbye again.
...
Days passed and nights faded.
Three days went by in the blink of an eye.
And in these three days, Qin Xiao had finally recovered to his peak condition.
He felt like going outside for some fresh air.
When he arrived at the plaza, he found Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing ready to depart on the training field.
Zhao Wuji stood in front of them with his arms crossed.
"Are you going soul beast hunting?" Qin Xiao wondered. Soon after the start of the term at Shrek, Oscar had reached level 30, and then they all went soul hunting.
It was during this soul hunting trip that Tang San had acquired one of his strongest enhancements, the Eight-Spider Spear.
Qin Xiao was curious—without this opportunity, would Tang San still manage to get the Eight-Spider Spear?
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