Tang San looked at his own hands, incredulous.
"Dad, am I really this strong now?"
Tang Hao gave him a stern look.
"What do you think?"
"Some resources I had planned to give you later, I'm giving you all of them now."
"Your mother's soul bone, plus your father's simplified version of the magical skill and the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique, overseen by the powers of the world, I don't mean to look down on them, but who else could be your opponent."
"Unapologetically said, there's not a single worthy contender in this entire continental Senior Soul Master competition, it's nothing but a stage prepared solely for you to perform on, and everyone else will just be a foil for you."
"Witness the rise of the new king of Soul Land."
Tang San had just had a breakthrough, and after so much tough training had never had an opponent to spar with, so he had yet to recognize his own strength. Under Tang Hao's impassioned statements, his whole being started to boil with excitement.
He clenched his fists tightly.
"Dad, I can't wait to join the competition."
"I can already imagine how Luo Yu will panic when he sees how much I've changed, sees my twin Martial Souls, sees my five soul rings, sees my heaven-defying divine technique."
Tang Hao scolded with a smile, "You little rascal, how many times have I stressed that you shouldn't have such a narrow vision. You should be thinking bigger."
"What's he anyway? You've already left him far behind, you know. It would be quite something if he could even see your back now. What you need is to look further ahead."
"To become the true number one in the world, not to focus on someone insignificant."
Tang San shook his head, gazing into the distance, his eyes squinting tightly.
Biting down hard on his teeth, his gums almost seemed to ooze blood.
"Dad, I want to be number one in the world, and I must utterly defeat that guy as well."
"Because he took my beloved Xiaowu, this enmity is irreconcilable."
"In this competition, I'm going to stand in front of him and tell him that his past defeat means nothing, that today's me is capable of crushing him completely."
"I'm also going to tell Xiaowu that I, Tang San, have completely transformed, not only does my appearance overshadow Luo Yu's ordinary face, but I also have one more Martial Soul than him, and my overall strength can easily crush him."
"I'm going to make Xiaowu come back, back to my side. Definitely!!"
Tang San's body shook, the veins on his temples bulging, and the ground beneath his feet cracked.
Tang Hao patted his shoulder with a heavy hand.
"Don't just focus on that other guy, we still have to look for your mother!"
Tang San sighed, "With just a wheel track, it's hard for us to find her."
"Whoever stole my mom is so dastardly!"
Tang Hao said, "Rest a bit. We set off tomorrow morning, heading to your aunt's place in Tiandou City. Let's ask her to help us find some clues about your mother's disappearance."
"Alright!"
Tang San nodded vigorously.
Looking in the direction of Tiandou City, he sneered repeatedly.
"Luo Yu, don't disappoint me. You must come to the competition."
"If you don't come, abusing others with my power won't be any fun."
"I'm truly looking forward to our next encounter, heh heh."
…
Rose Hotel.
Luo Yu dressed in indigo clothes, bid farewell to Lan Ling'er, and left the hotel.
Lan Ling'er lay listless on her pillow, her cheeks flushed.
Her eyes seemed to hold droplets of water, looking tenderly as Luo Yu left.
There was a hint of reluctance in her eyes, but she did not speak to retain him, knowing sometimes one couldn't be too selfish, as this man didn't belong to her alone.
A wise woman always gives her man the space he needs.
Night had fallen; the bright moon hung high, and the stars began to twinkle.
In the back hills of Tianshui Academy, the jungle was dense, and a pond encircled the area.
The sound of flowing water mingled with the cries of insects, brimming with natural charm.
On the clearing, a huge bonfire burned.
A golden, crispy roasted whole lamb hung on the rack, its dripping fat sizzling as it fell into the bonfire, surrounded by hundreds of jars of fine wines.
Beyond the bonfire, a circle of white blankets was laid out.
Shui Yue'er and her six friends were all dressed to the nines.
Bing'er and her sisters wore dark long dresses embellished with starry diamonds, revealing black silky legs between the hems, their red high heels adding a touch of enchantment to their youthful charm.
Xue Wu wore a revealing and daring outfit, exposing her fair shoulders and adorable navel, her slender waist fully visible; her prominent figure was hard to miss, as the bandeau top and shorts failed to cover much at all.
The combination of pure white stockings and a sexy figure created an intense contrast.
Yi Na maintained her fashionable attire, but today she wore short black stockings that hugged her flawless white legs just up to her knees.
Ming Mei had her cute, tender pigtails tied up, wearing a sea-inspired blue and white sailor suit paired with a hip-length miniskirt and, as always, white stockings with a water ripple pattern.
The seven women sat on the mats in postures that each displayed their charm, whether kneeling or cross-legged.
The curvature exhibited by pairs of stocking-clad legs was astonishingly beautiful.
"Brother Luo, why isn't he here yet?"
Shui Yue'er kept glancing into the distant woods, but there was no sign of movement.
Xue Wu pursed her fiery red lips, "Brother Luo isn't going to stand us up, is he?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Sister Xue Wu, can you not curse us? What if he really doesn't show up?" Ming Mei rolled her eyes repeatedly, her adorable pigtails swinging.
"You guys, stop worrying for no reason; Brother Luo will definitely come," Bing'er chided the other girls with a glance, "When has anything Brother Luo promised ever fallen through?"
Shui Yue'er blinked and gave a sweet smile.
"That's right, hee hee, it's not the agreed time yet; we're just too anxious and came early," she said.
Xue Wu rolled her eyes, "Don't include us, it's you who came early. You came over before it was even dark."
Shui Yue'er immediately retorted, "You came just a little after me, so don't laugh at people who are in the same boat."
Just as Xue Wu was about to reply, the sound of a wheelchair rolling over leaves came from within the forest.
"He's here!"
All the girls' faces brightened at once, rising from their seated positions on the mats with their stocking-clad legs moving in unison.
Luo Yu had just emerged from the forest when the girls swished over to him.
A pair of slender stocking-clad legs came right before him.
"Am I late?"
Shui Yue'er laughed and stuck out her tender little tongue, "Not at all, we just got here too, hee hee."
"Pffft," Xue Wu secretly curled her lip. Some people just went silly the moment they saw Brother Luo.
Luo Yu took his seat among the enthusiastically inviting group of girls.
His gaze swept over the golden, crispy roasted meat and landed on rows of wine jars surrounding them.
His eyes lingered for a moment.
If he remembered correctly, none of the Shui Yue'er and her six friends drank alcohol, did they?
What was the meaning of preparing so much wine today?
They couldn't possibly just be for show, could they?
Just as Luo Yu was feeling that something was off, Xue Wu, with her prominent curves, came up close to him.
Her seductive smile on her pretty face seemed so harmless.
She was the first to start coaxing Luo Yu to drink...