Meanwhile—
After gently closing the door behind him, Tang San moved like a shadow in the night, silent and swift. With the grace of a swallow, he slipped into the house.
His gaze fell upon the sleeping Duke and his wife, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
With a tap of his fingers, Tang San reinforced their sleep using a soul technique that deepened their unconsciousness.
Then, with a wave of his hand, three strands of Blue Silver Grass shot from his palm. They coiled around Duke's body like living chains, silently lifting and carrying him into the nearby forest.
Unbeknownst to him, a tall figure stood in the shadows, brow furrowed as moonlight bathed his silhouette.
It was none other than Tang Hao.
His eyes remained closed, both lids sealed with thick scabs. He was completely blind.
Over the past year, Tang Hao had tried everything. He'd sought out healing-type Soul Masters—even going so far as to threaten a Healing Soul Douluo into attempting a cure—but the venom left by Bibi Dong's martial soul was too insidious, too terrifying. In the end, all efforts were futile.
Helpless, he returned to Nuoding City, accepting his blindness.
He had nearly lost Tang San during that ordeal. Were it not for the Grandmaster's ties with Bibi Dong, his son might not have survived at all.
Even though Bibi Dong never came after Tang San again, the experience had shaken Tang Hao deeply. From then on, he decided to protect his son from the shadows—until the day Tang San could stand on his own.
And now, that day was slowly approaching.
Tang San had proven himself worthy of the Clear Sky bloodline. In just one year, he had cultivated his Blue Silver Grass to the seventeenth rank.
Though he still lagged behind his peers—Xiao Wu and Qi Lin—it was nothing short of remarkable.
Especially that boy, Qi Lin.
His martial soul was a mutated Blue Silver Grass, yet his cultivation speed was absurd. If he weren't a support-type Soul Master, Tang Hao might have eliminated him already. There was only room for one true genius—Tang San.
But since Qi Lin was support-type, he could be... useful.
As for Xiao Wu—though her spirit was merely the Soft Bone Rabbit—her natural talent was astonishing. In time, she might be a good match for Tang San.
Just a girl, after all. Wasn't she destined to marry someday?
A boy with twin martial souls—the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer—born with full innate soul power... How could he not be worthy of her?
Such were Tang Hao's thoughts as he quietly planned Tang San's future.
He had been thoroughly satisfied with his son—until now.
Tonight, he noticed Tang San sneak into Duke's home and abduct him.
Tang Hao's eyes may have been blind, but his other senses remained razor-sharp. As a Title Douluo, his perception extended far beyond mere sight.
He had sensed every movement, every breath.
And when Tang San began binding Duke to a tree, preparing for whatever came next, Tang Hao finally stepped out of the darkness.
"Xiao San."
The familiar voice stunned Tang San, who froze, thinking he'd imagined it.
But when the voice called again, he turned around, disbelief giving way to hope—and then to shock.
There, under the moonlight, stood his long-lost father.
"Father!" Tang San cried, joy and longing surging through him—until he saw Tang Hao's eyes.
"Your eyes...!"
His face contorted with grief, then rage. His fists clenched as he trembled, his voice thick with emotion.
"Who did this to you?! Who dared do this to my father?!"
But Tang Hao's face remained calm, his voice deep and steady.
"Xiao San, there are some things you're not ready to know yet," he said.
"Your only duty now is to follow the Grandmaster and cultivate. Do you understand?"
Seeing the heavy responsibility in his father's blind yet unyielding face, Tang San nodded solemnly.
"I understand, Father."
Tang Hao threw back his head and laughed, the sound bold and proud.
"Good! That's my son!"
After a few more words exchanged between father and son, Tang Hao finally asked, "Why did you kidnap Duke?"
When he heard the full story, Tang Hao chuckled coldly and turned toward Duke with disdain.
"Just a petty commoner... He thought he could threaten me?"
"If I had taken him seriously back then, I could've crushed him a hundred times over."
Tang San looked at his father with admiration.
"Father, you're truly remarkable. Even when someone like Duke offended you, you didn't strike back."
Tang Hao snorted and gave a dismissive smile.
"He's just a miser. I drank a few of his bottles of wine, and he acted like I'd ruined his life."
"In my prime, someone like him wouldn't even be qualified to offer me wine, let alone expect me to drink it."
Tang San laughed. "Those villagers are blind. If they knew you were a powerful Soul Master, they'd never have treated you that way."
Though Tang Hao hadn't spoken of it, Tang San had long suspected that his father's background wasn't simple. Hiding in Holy Spirit Village was likely a way to escape from powerful enemies.
Tang Hao was pleased with the praise. He chuckled heartily and said, "That's enough for tonight. Send Duke back. He was wrong, but he doesn't deserve death."
Tang San nodded solemnly. "Father, your generosity is unmatched. If Duke ever finds out who you really are, he'll be overwhelmed with gratitude."
"Hahahaha!"
Tang Hao laughed again, his voice echoing into the night.
---
Meanwhile, Duke—
The hell?
So the debtor's suddenly the boss now?
I try to collect what's owed, and now I'm the villain?
Fortunately, Duke was still unconscious. Otherwise, even if he didn't dare speak his mind, his heart would be cursing a storm.
---
The Next Morning—
"Ahhhh!"
"Oh my heavens! When did you get your second soul ring?!"
"Don't tell me I've been asleep for days?!"
Within Qi Lin's spiritual sea, Skydream Iceworm's voice stuttered with shock.
As Qi Lin's intelligent soul ring, Skydream could clearly sense the new ring. And that's exactly why he was so stunned.
He could've sworn he just took a little nap—and now Qi Lin had a second ring?
And what was with that golden glow?
Qi Lin answered calmly, "I had a dream last night, and when I woke up, the soul ring was just... there."
"A dream?" Skydream immediately caught the oddity. "What kind of dream?"
Qi Lin frowned. "I forgot it the moment I woke up."
Then, he described the second soul skill's effects to Skydream.
"Hsssss—"
"Sweet heavens! That's insanely overpowered!"
Skydream's eyes suddenly lit up.
A dream... A golden ring... A bizarre yet powerful skill...
Could it be... a God Bestowal Soul Ring?
What else could explain something so absurd?
And if Qi Lin truly descended from the God Realm, then it all made sense.
Clearly, someone from the higher realm had given him a help!
This is the power of connections!
It feels so good!
Skydream was practically giddy with excitement.