Chapter 184: Tang San’s First Meeting with "Ah Yin" in a Symbolic Sense

Inside the Supreme Pontiff Hall.

"How is the arrangement of the Evil Demon Orca herd?" Bibi Dong asked.

"Your Holiness, everything has been properly arranged. After counting, there are exactly 139 Evil Demon Orcas above 50,000 years in age. The rest are a mix of 10,000-year, 1,000-year, and a small number of 100-year soul beasts." Chrysanthemum Douluo reported excitedly.

Such a massive soul beast group—looking across the entire continent, only the Spirit Hall possessed such a force.

"Hmm." Bibi Dong nodded calmly. "And what about the Evil Demon Orca King?"

"The Evil Demon Orca King has taken the title 'Evil Demon Douluo' and has officially joined the Spirit Hall, taking residence in the Elder Hall." Ghost Douluo added.

"Very good." Bibi Dong was satisfied. The Spirit Hall had gained a tremendous advantage. Ever since she had acknowledged Ye Hao as her son, the Spirit Hall's development had skyrocketed, growing at a pace several times faster than before. And Ye Hao's contributions were far from over.

"Now… what about the dog?" Bibi Dong suddenly asked.

"Dog?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances, immediately understanding who Bibi Dong was referring to.

"Your Holiness, that dog is currently residing in the Elder Hall, having an in-depth conversation with the Worship Elder. I assume…"

Bibi Dong cut him off and instructed, "Enough, I understand. Go prepare. Once the ranking tournament ends, you will lead the Soul Masters to ambush Tang San along the Heaven Dou Empire's route. If you don't have absolute certainty of success, withdraw immediately. We will have plenty of chances later."

"Yes, Your Holiness."

With that, the two bowed respectfully before vanishing into shadows.

At the same time inside the Elder Hall.

A red-furred dog stood in front of the towering Angel God Statue, looking up in awe.

"The Angel God, huh? So, the Spirit Hall worships the Angel God."

Qian Daoliu nodded. "I heard you are the divine beast under the Death God?"

"That's right!" The red-furred dog grinned. "My name is Xiao Hong. I am the divine beast of the Death God and currently serve as the partner and examiner for your grandson, Ye Hao."

"For generations, the Angel Clan has failed to produce a successor. How do you explain that?" Xiao Hong suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu let out a long sigh.

"Perhaps the time has not yet come. I underwent the Angel's Eight Trials, and after completing them, my soul power reached Rank 99, making me the Angel God's representative. However, I lost my chance to break through to Rank 100 in this lifetime."

"Once Xiaoxue completes her mission in Heaven Dou City, it will be time for her to accept her fate. I only hope…"

Qian Daoliu's expression turned melancholic as he sighed again.

"You mentioned earlier that my grandson is the successor of the Death God, and now, Xiaoxue's mother, the current Supreme Pontiff, is also a successor of a god. With two divine successors in one lineage, the Spirit Hall has truly reached its peak under my leadership."

Xiao Hong smirked, "Your granddaughter is quite something. The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul surpasses any other martial soul on this continent. Not everyone is born with innate full soul power at Rank 20."

"But here's what I don't understand—why would someone as privileged as the Spirit Hall's heir choose to become a spy in Heaven Dou City?" Xiao Hong looked puzzled.

"If she had simply followed the normal path, she should be approaching 30 years old by now and would have much higher soul power than just Rank 70."

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu bitterly smiled and shook his head.

"This matter is far more complicated than you think. But soon, once the tournament is over, Xiaoxue will begin her mission and return to the Spirit Hall."

"Tell me about my grandson, whom I have never met." Qian Daoliu sat beside Xiao Hong with great interest. For the first time, he did not have the demeanor of the Worship Elder but rather that of a curious grandfather.

Xiao Hong's dog eyes twinkled mischievously. "Oh, he's doing just fine. Ever since the Death God's Heart recognized him as its master, I've been by his side. I have a good grasp of everything that's happened recently."

Then, Xiao Hong suddenly asked, "Old Qian, does your Angel Clan need some new blood?"

"???" Qian Daoliu was puzzled.

"What do you mean? Ever since Xiaoxue's father passed away, only Xiaoxue and I remain in the Angel Clan. Now, we finally have a grandson, and even though Ye Hao's martial soul isn't a Six-Winged Angel, he is still part of the Spirit Hall. Technically, he is a member of the Angel Clan."

"So, what are you implying…?"

"Could it be… Xiaoxue has someone she likes?" Qian Daoliu was an experienced man. He immediately saw through Xiao Hong's words.

Xiao Hong's grin stretched from ear to ear.

"Old Qian, do you want a son-in-law? Just say the word, and I'll send him right over!"

Qian Daoliu was momentarily stunned, then his brows furrowed. "Explain yourself clearly. Does Xiaoxue have someone she likes?"

Xiao Hong raised an eyebrow, pretending to be mysterious. "You'll find out when your granddaughter returns to the Spirit Hall. I'll keep it a secret for now."

"After running around all day, I'm exhausted. If only Zhuzhu were here. Damn it! I'm never being a tool dog again!"

With that, Xiao Hong took off running, leaving Qian Daoliu no chance to ask further questions.

"Sigh…"

Qian Daoliu sighed, shaking his head. This dog has such a strange temperament. Always speaking in riddles and only revealing half the truth.

But if Xiao Hong was right…

Did Xiaoxue really have someone she liked?

Who could it be?

Qian Daoliu fell into deep thought…

Evening – Royal Hunting Grounds

After much convincing and reassurance, Tang San finally calmed down Xiao Wu.

He even made a solemn vow:

"If I ever eat rabbit meat again, may I die a terrible death!"

The moment the words left his lips, Xiao Wu immediately covered his mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

She was deeply moved.

Inside Master Yu Xiaogang's tent,

"Xiao San, the tournament is already more than halfway done. Once it ends, you'll be able to graduate from the academy."

Master lay face down on the bed, unable to move due to the pain in his rear.

"Graduate?" Tang San was momentarily stunned.

He had never thought about graduation before.

"Yes, graduate." Master forced a bitter smile. "Regular soul master academies allow students to graduate upon reaching Rank 30. Our Shrek Academy is different—you must reach Rank 40 before the age of 20 to graduate. That applies even more strictly to you all."

"Now that you have reached Soul King, the chances of the Shrek Seven Devils winning the championship are very high. I have also looked into the three soul bones being awarded in this tournament—one is a head soul bone, another a right arm bone, and the last a right leg bone. Among them, the head soul bone is undoubtedly the most valuable."

"Xiao San, your goal is simple—you must obtain that soul bone. Only by acquiring it can you take your strength to the next level."

Yu Xiaogang's voice was filled with confidence, his hopes for his disciple set sky-high.

"Understood, Teacher. Please focus on recovering."

With that, Tang San left the dormitory, stepping outside.

At that moment, the hunting troops returned from their mission.

The soldiers were laughing and chatting, boasting about their hunting feats for the day. Some carried a pile of lifeless Soft Bone Rabbits, while others had them slung over their shoulders, blood staining their armor—a gruesome sight.

Tang San looked around but noticed that Xiao Wu was nowhere to be found.

He could already guess why.

Her mental endurance was too weak, and the scene had clearly shaken her.

As the sunset painted the sky in fiery hues, campfires were already burning throughout the camp.

A group of students huddled together, using the heat of the fire to warm themselves. The Soft Bone Rabbits the soldiers had hunted were now skinned and deboned, skewered onto wooden sticks, and roasting over the flames.

The aroma of grilled meat filled the entire camp, a delightful feast for the students.

But for Xiao Wu, it was pure torture—worse than death.

Inside a tent, Xiao Wu sat alone, staring through the window at the group of people devouring rabbit meat.

Her eyes burned with rage, and deep in her heart, an overwhelming killing intent stirred.

Inside Xue Qinghe's Tent.

Ye Hao and Xue Qinghe sat facing each other, deep in conversation.

"I see, so according to you, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is actually the Sea God's Heart? The artifact the Sea God left behind to choose his successor?" Xue Qinghe murmured in realization.

Ye Hao nodded with a smile. "Exactly. Sea God's Heart is part of the Sea God's trident and its most crucial component. Similarly, my Death God's Heart follows the same principle."

Just as he finished speaking, a streak of violet light tore across the sky, hurtling straight toward Xue Qinghe's tent.

"What the—?!"

Ye Hao's eyes widened in disbelief.

"The Death God's Heart?! You actually came back this quickly?!"

Reaching out, Ye Hao caught the violet object in his hand—the Death God's Heart, the very item he had given to Xiao Hong and Evil Tiger last night.

"The Death God's Heart returning should be a good thing. Why do you look so shocked?" Qian Renxue asked, puzzled.

Ye Hao tied the Death God's Heart back onto his hairpiece, his expression filled with suspicion.

"I sent Xiao Hong and Evil Tiger out only last night. It hasn't even been a full day, yet the Death God's Heart has already returned."

"Brother Xue, how far apart are Heaven Dou City and the Spirit Hall? Even if Evil Tiger Orca is a Titled Douluo with incredible speed, they couldn't possibly reach the Spirit Hall and return in just one day!"

Ye Hao was deeply skeptical.

After all, when he had traveled overseas from Heaven Dou City, it had taken him a full month just to reach his destination.

But now?

That whale and dog completed a round trip in less than a day?

That speed was insane.

Could it be… that Xiao Hong was hiding something from him?

"Forget it. Let's go out for a walk." Xue Qinghe stood up, stretching.

Ye Hao was about to follow, but as his eyes landed on a potted Blue Silver Emperor in the corner of the tent, a mischievous idea crossed his mind.

He suddenly wanted to mess with Tang San.

With a wicked grin, Ye Hao picked up the potted Blue Silver Emperor, cradling it in his arms.

The plant trembled violently, its leaves curling inward as if it had sensed its fate.

-----

As Tang San sat with the others, he suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.

Something was wrong.

Instinctively, he stood up and walked behind the tent, opening his right hand.

A delicate strand of Blue Silver Grass sprouted from his palm.

To his surprise, the Blue Silver Grass began to glow with golden specks, appearing nobler than ever before.

Then, as if possessed by its own will, the vine twisted and pointed in a specific direction.

Tang San, puzzled by this sudden phenomenon, decided to follow its guidance.

As he walked, the camp's boundaries faded into the distance, and soon, he found himself in a remote valley.

"Strange… why did the feeling disappear here?"

Just as Tang San was mulling over the situation, a figure he despised appeared before him.

"Ye Hao!"

Tang San's expression darkened, and five soul rings rose beneath his feet.

Although they were in the middle of a tournament, Tang San knew he couldn't recklessly attack Ye Hao.

Not only that, but Ye Hao's backing was leagues beyond his own—Tang San simply couldn't afford to provoke him.

The moment Ye Hao appeared, Tang San realized that something was amiss.

"Ye Hao, did you lead me here on purpose?" Tang San questioned coldly.

Ye Hao simply shrugged, feigning innocence.

"I was just tending to my plants. You came here on your own. What does that have to do with me?"

With that, Ye Hao patted the Blue Silver Emperor in his arms, a wicked smile creeping across his lips.

The Blue Silver Emperor trembled uncontrollably, its golden leaves shivering in fear…

"This… this is…"

Tang San stared in disbelief.

The object in Ye Hao's hands felt strangely familiar—so much so that his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was desperately trying to approach it, as if instinctively drawn to it.

Looking down, Tang San noticed his Martial Soul behaving abnormally, moving out of his control, reaching toward Ye Hao.

"Ye Hao, what exactly are you holding?"

Tang San's voice was filled with suspicion.

Yet, Ye Hao had no intention of answering.

"You have no right to know. But before anything else, let me tell you a story."

"A story?"

Tang San narrowed his eyes. Numerous Blue Silver Grass vines sprouted from the ground, forming a protective barrier around him, ready to react at any moment.

"Ye Hao, we have nothing to talk about. I have no interest in hearing your stories!"

"Just tell me—what are you holding?!"

Despite Tang San's angry demand, Ye Hao simply smiled faintly.

"Even if we are sworn enemies, you should at least have some respect."

Pausing for a moment, Ye Hao continued:

"More than ten years ago, a woman who was the incarnation of Blue Silver Grass fell in love with a man. Not long after, they were together."

Tang San remained silent, but he was clearly listening.

His eyes never left Ye Hao, wary of any tricks.

However, what concerned him even more was his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul's reaction—

It was becoming more restless, as if desperately trying to return to its mother's embrace.

Tang San forcefully suppressed it, managing to calm it down, but his unease only grew.

This was the first time he had witnessed such an anomaly.

He was desperate to know—what exactly was Ye Hao holding?

"One day, that woman was targeted."

Ye Hao's voice grew colder.

"As a soul master, you should understand what a 100,000-year soul beast means to people."

At this moment, Tang San's expression changed drastically.

His gaze instinctively locked onto the Blue Silver Emperor in Ye Hao's hands.

To his surprise, the Blue Silver Emperor began twisting violently, its leaves trembling, as if pleading with Tang San to run away.

Yet, Tang San stood firm, eager to hear what came next.

"And then?" Tang San pressed.

Ye Hao smirked secretly.

"That's the spirit. You want to know what happened next, don't you?"

"That woman ultimately sacrificed herself, transforming into a seed. The heartbroken man took that seed with him. But he didn't leave alone."

"Along with the seed, he carried an infant."

"Yes… the illegitimate child of that man and the soul beast."

The moment Ye Hao paused, Tang San felt his heart tighten.

"Why did you stop?!" Tang San demanded, his voice urgent.

Ye Hao merely shrugged.

"What else is there to say? The child grew up, but his father never truly loved him. When he awakened his martial soul, it was nothing but trash."

After speaking, Ye Hao turned to leave.

But at that moment—

Vines of Blue Silver Grass descended from the sky, weaving into a giant net, attempting to trap Ye Hao in place.

Yet, at the crucial moment, Ye Hao vanished in a flash, effortlessly avoiding the trap.

"Tang San, attacking someone without warning? That's not very honorable of you."

Ye Hao sneered mockingly.

Tang San's eyes burned with intensity.

"I have my own principles. Ye Hao, put down the Blue Silver Grass in your hands!"

Tang San's killing intent surged.

From everything he had witnessed, it was clear—the Blue Silver Grass Ye Hao was holding was no ordinary plant.

If he could take it from Ye Hao, perhaps he could unlock some hidden truth.

"You want me to put it down? Just because you say so?"

Ye Hao grinned wickedly, before casually placing the Blue Silver Emperor behind his head.

In the next instant, the potted plant vanished into thin air.

Tang San's eyes widened in shock.

"Impossible…!"

"Tang San, this story is for your ears alone. Go back and think carefully about what I've told you. When you finally understand its meaning, come find me."

With those words, Ye Hao turned away and walked back toward his tent.

Just before disappearing, he left behind one last warning:

"Oh, and one more thing—don't act recklessly."

"The tournament is still ongoing. If you lay a hand on me, you'll be immediately disqualified."

"And once you lose your qualification, you know exactly what will happen next."

With that, Ye Hao vanished into the shadows.

Tang San stood frozen, his fists clenched tightly.

"Damn it…!"

His mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

Why did that Blue Silver Grass feel so familiar?

It was as if he had met it before—but how could that be possible?

What was Ye Hao truly hiding?

Frustration boiled inside him, but there was nothing he could do.

As Ye Hao had pointed out, the tournament's rules bound his hands.

If he attacked Ye Hao, he would immediately be disqualified.

Not only would that shatter Grandmaster's expectations, but it would also endanger his very life.

A reckless move now would be suicide.

-----

As Tang San made his way back to the Shrek Academy tent, his mind kept replaying Ye Hao's story.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

Ye Hao's tale matched someone's life perfectly.

Was it just a coincidence?

Or was there something deeper beneath the surface?

One thing was certain—things were far from simple.