Tang Hao stood in front of a newly erected grave, while the people of the Strength Clan stood behind him, all with confused expressions.
"Tang Hao..." One member of the Strength Clan whispered, only to be slapped by Titan, who sternly corrected, "You must call him master, understand?"
"Yes... but why did Master erect a grave for this soul beast after killing it?" he asked in confusion.
Titan didn't understand Tang Hao's intention either, but he still forced an explanation: "This just shows that the master is kind-hearted. Unlike other soul masters who just leave the soul beast's corpse exposed to the wilderness after killing it."
Tang Hao lit incense in front of the grave, even though he repeatedly told himself that this hundred-thousand-year soul beast had nothing to do with Xiao Wu.
But that was just a way to comfort himself.
Think about it—both were hundred-thousand-year soul beasts living on the same continent. How could they not be connected?
Now, all Tang Hao could hope was that the relationship between this soul beast and Xiao Wu wasn't what he feared.
Even if they were related, Tang Hao could only...
...try not to use this soul ring's abilities in front of Xiao Wu in the future.
Tang Hao thought of the all-powerful Tang san and, once again, shamelessly pushed the sin he had committed onto Tang San. He thought to himself: Sorry, Xiao Wu. If she's really related to you, then... when Xiao San becomes a god in the future, I'll definitely have him resurrect her for you.
After everything was taken care of, Tang Hao left, weighed down by his thoughts.
"Master, if you're leaving, please take the Strength Clan with you. We are willing to follow you unto death!" Titan begged like a dog about to be abandoned.
Tang Hao comforted him: "Titan, the sect misunderstood me, and the Spirit Hall issued a wanted order for me. I have nowhere to stand on the entire Douluo Continent. How could I drag you all into this?"
Titan replied, "Master, you've been wronged. I am willing to follow you and help clear your name."
"A short separation is for a longer reunion, Titan," Tang Hao said earnestly. "I can't take you with me now, or we'll draw too much attention."
"Very well," Titan said with regret. "This old man and the Strength Clan will await your return to the Douluo Continent. When that time comes, we will offer ourselves at your service."
Tang Hao returned to Holy Soul Village with a heavy heart and brought Tang San back from Old Jack's home.
Over the following days, Tang Hao quietly observed the interactions between Tang San and Old Jack. Once he confirmed that Tang San hadn't developed any deep affection for Old Jack, he was able to let go of his lingering concern.
Following the principle of avoiding trouble when possible, Tang Hao spared Old Jack.
A year and a half passed. Tang San was finally able to walk, and once he could, he eagerly ran out of the house toward the back mountain.
Unbeknownst to him, Tang Hao was secretly watching him from behind.
Tang Hao saw Tang San sit cross-legged in the back mountain, open his eyes, and begin absorbing the first trace of the eastern purple qi using a meditative eye technique.
So my beloved son has indeed been possessed, Tang Hao confirmed again in his heart.
In his past life, how could Tang San's abnormality have escaped Tang Hao's notice? That's why, before Tang San turned six, Tang Hao had shown little interest in him.
Only when his spirit awakened and his talent was confirmed did Tang Hao begin to care. At that point, it didn't matter to Tang Hao whether the soul inside the body was really his son's—as long as he could help him get revenge, Tang San was his son.
As for his original son's soul, Tang Hao no longer cared. So what if he was biologically his? Could he become a god? Could he grant eternal life? Could he make Tang Hao the ruler of a plane? He could do none of those things.
After finally confirming his son had been possessed, Tang Hao actually felt relieved.
Too much had changed in this life—A Yin fell in love with Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Sect hunted him down, forcing him to mistakenly kill many of their disciples and bringing disaster upon the sect, which in turn was oppressed by Spirit Hall.
Not long ago, he had also killed a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit that might have been related to Xiao Wu.
But all of this wasn't a big deal. As long as Tang San was "Chosen One Of Asura," everything could be put back on track. If Tang San could eventually become a god, Tang Hao could wash away all his sins.
So Tang Hao turned and left. He didn't notice a small, unremarkable Blue Silver Grass hidden among the grass on the back mountain.
Perhaps due to the blood connection, A Yin's consciousness was awakened. She was now fully aware, though her body was still extremely fragile.
She realized she was on the back mountain, just an insignificant stalk of Blue Silver Grass among countless others.
Unless one looked very closely, no one would notice the faint golden vein on her leaves.
The call of bloodline made A Yin stretch her senses toward its source.
A young boy climbed the mountain and appeared in her view.
"That is... my child," A Yin confirmed. Though he wasn't born from her of her own will, she couldn't help but want to reach out with her leaves and touch him. After all, he was still a piece of flesh fallen from her own body.
But what met her was the boy's large foot, which stepped on her and the surrounding grass as he passed.
"Ow... that hurts..." A Yin cried out inwardly. Luckily, as the Blue Silver Emperor, her life force was strong, and she recovered quickly.
A Yin looked at Tang San's back as he sat cross-legged on the mountain, puzzled.
What is he doing?
After absorbing the eastern purple qi, Tang San said, "As long as I continue like this, my spiritual power will definitely surpass what it was in my previous life."
Previous life? A Yin was confused.
She watched as Tang San sat cross-legged and began practicing Xuan Tian Gong. Hidden in the grass, she stared at him blankly. She always felt something was strange about this son, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"What a pity that cultivating Xuan Tian Gong in this world has restrictions. Every ten levels, I need to add a soul ring to continue," Tang San sighed.
This world? A Yin grew even more puzzled.
Then, Tang San began practicing Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Mysterious Jade Hand, Controlling Crane and Capturing Dragon, and other Tang Sect secret techniques.
"Think about it—these martial arts I brought from Tang Sect are the most exquisite and unique in this world. Even after tens of thousands of years, nothing can surpass them," Tang San said smugly.
Tang Sect martial arts? A Yin's mind was filled with even more questions.
Tang San picked up stones and used them as hidden weapons, skillfully sending them flying with intricate techniques.
Is this a human's self-created soul skill? A Yin watched the young Tang San performing techniques far beyond his age, and finally, she realized—
Something's not right.
Previous life? This world? Tang Sect secret techniques?
Something's wrong—very wrong. Tang San gave Ah Yin the impression not of a newborn child, but of an adult soul inhabiting a child's body.
Thinking this through, Ah Yin dared not continue her thoughts.
No, it can't be. Little San couldn't be like that.
Ah Yin could only deceive herself with that thought.
After completing his cultivation, Tang San descended the mountain. This time, he didn't step on Ah Yin.
Ah Yin watched Tang San's back with deep contemplation.
And so, day after day, year after year, Tang San continued cultivating on the mountain, unaware that he had a special observer watching him.