At noon.
While Xiao Lin was cultivating, Dugu Bo came to visit.
"Xiao Lin, the situation is urgent. You and Tang San will come with me."
"Come with you? What's going on?"
Seeing the anxious look on Dugu Bo's otherwise vigorous face, Xiao Lin frowned slightly.
He did want to go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to cultivate, but seeing Dugu Bo like this—could it be something serious?
At this time, is that even possible?
"You call yourself Master Xiao Yan's grandson, yet you don't realize Master Xiao Yan's published paper makes you a target?"
Too lazy to explain, Dugu Bo grabbed Xiao Lin and flew toward the mimicry training area filled with Blue Silver Grass.
So that's it.
Hearing his words, Xiao Lin finally understood.
He had been too high-profile, and now his life was in danger.
Other factions might try to kidnap him, just like Dugu Bo once attempted.
But unlike Dugu Bo, those factions wouldn't be half-good and half-evil—most would be truly malicious.
It wasn't exactly Xiao Lin's fault; he thought that after his Huangdou Battle Team members ate immortal herbs and swore on their martial souls, nothing would leak.
But looking back, he realized he had underestimated the intelligence of people in Douluo Continent.
Someone would definitely look deeper into it.
"Tang San, you're coming too."
Arriving at Tang San's cultivation site, Dugu Bo didn't waste a word and reached to take him away.
But Xiao Wu, who was always by Tang San's side, wasn't having it.
She thought Dugu Bo was losing his mind again.
"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, you should both come with me and Senior Dugu Bo. Oh, and bring Tang Ni too."
With Xiao Lin's reassurance, Tang San and Xiao Wu no longer resisted and agreed.
Soon, the four—Xiao Lin, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Tang Ni—left Heaven Dou Imperial Academy under Dugu Bo's protection.
Xiao Lin only left a leave note at the Huangdou Team's quarters.
Thanks to Dugu Bo, they slipped out of Heaven Dou City in a carriage.
The four hid inside while Dugu Bo acted as coachman, keeping watch for them.
To guarantee their safety, Dugu Bo went to great lengths.
Having a Title Douluo as your driver—right now, only Xiao Lin's group could manage that.
But Dugu Bo didn't mind. He always acted according to his mood. Driving a carriage was nothing to him.
Inside, Xiao Wu and Tang Ni were quiet, unfamiliar with Dugu Bo.
Restless Xiao Wu wanted to speak several times but ended up leaning her head on Tang San's shoulder.
"Third brother, where are we going?" she whispered.
"We're going somewhere good."
Seeing her expression for the first time, Tang San deliberately kept it a secret.
"Ahh! Third brother, you're bad!"
Xiao Wu pouted, acting spoiled, making the other two in the carriage speechless.
Then, Xiao Lin suddenly got the idea to stir things up a little.
"By the way, Xiao San, once we're there, I can finally focus on my research."
"That's right, I can fully devote myself to forging hidden weapons there too."
Hearing this, Tang San's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.
At the Imperial Academy, he didn't dare use the Clear Sky Hammer for forging, afraid of being discovered.
And with his current cultivation, swinging a 500kg hammer did nothing to temper his body—frustrating him greatly.
But at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, he could freely use the Clear Sky Hammer.
After all, the hammer grew heavier as his spirit power advanced, making it ideal for his craft.
Talking about his passion, Tang San ignored Xiao Wu's sulking completely.
"Brother Lin, I've recently realized soul tools can be crafted like this…"
Once on his topic, Tang San spoke endlessly.
Listening, Xiao Lin was shocked—Tang San had already reached such a level?
Since Tang San had exchanged ideas with Ning Fengzhi, he promised to make a soul tool for Nine Treasure Glazed Sect disciples.
And the design that popped into his mind was the Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
But this time, with knowledge of soul tools, Tang San enhanced it.
He added a spirit power array to strengthen its lethality.
And for inspiration, he borrowed from Xiao Lin's first soul skill, Heaven-and-Earth Throw.
That 400% attack amplification was unforgettable to anyone who had heard of it.
Through his efforts, Tang San succeeded partially—though not at 400%, he achieved a 40% increase.
He also added 10% hardness reinforcement, imitating Xiao Lin's skill.
The making of this Zhuge Divine Crossbow soul tool had cost Tang San no small effort.
Inside the carriage, he showed it to Xiao Lin.
"Brother Lin, this thing is super hard to make. Every mechanism has to be strengthened with soul arrays, or it breaks easily.
But, striving for perfection, I guarantee this crossbow can kill even a Soul King if caught off guard."
At that, Xiao Wu and Tang Ni gasped.
Something this small could kill a Soul King?
Xiao Wu had been with Tang San for so long, yet it was the first time she learned about such a deadly hidden weapon.
Tang Ni was even more shocked—no wonder she sensed Tang San's inventions would impact soul beasts' fate.
If every soul master had one, what would happen?
But Xiao Lin's next words gave her a little "comfort."
"But then how will you mass-produce them for Nine Treasure Glazed Sect disciples? You should remove the reinforcement arrays.
That way, they can use it without spirit power—wouldn't that be better?"
Examining the weapon, Xiao Lin couldn't help admiring Tang San's work.
"You're right, Brother Lin. I can't waste all my time making these for others."
Tang San nodded in agreement.
"You're really something, Xiao San. Not only did you master reinforcement-type arrays, you completed a whole soul tool."
After his Purple Demon Eye advanced, Tang San's soul tool research skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, Xiao Lin still relied heavily on the guidance of the two Dragon Kings in soul bone and soul core studies.
Tang San, however, was on track to someday build armor.
And truth be told, Xiao Lin had always wanted to wear Emperor's Armor.
Martial Soul Data Panel:
Oslo
Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard
Destructive Power: B+
Speed: A
Range: B-
Endurance: A (enhanced after absorbing Polygonatum Root)
Action Precision: B+ (as an agility-attack soul master, slightly above Yu Feng)
Growth Potential: B-
Special Ability: B+ (Fourth soul skill Ghost Shadow Doppelgänger sharpens combat technique and assists attacks)
End of Chapter