Chapter 52: Soul Rings, Sacred Beasts, and the Supreme Snitch
**CLANG.**
The 10,000th hammer strike echoed through the forge yard, a sharp exclamation point marking three days of hard work, sparks flying, and bruised palms.
Tang San let out a deep breath and placed his hammer down, his posture impeccable.
Tang Yan flopped backward with exaggerated flair. "I have achieved… enlightenment. And wrist pain."
Tang Hao raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed despite himself. "Three days. Faster than I anticipated."
**System:** "Faster than anticipated? Father of the Year, meet 'Two Divine Brats and the Meltdown of Iron.'"
**1. Rings of Power: Tang San Learns the Truth**
Later that evening, the twins sat cross-legged next to the forge, the air thick with warmth and quiet tension.
Finally, Tang San broke the silence. "Father… what is a soul ring, exactly?"
Tang Hao's expression turned serious, as if the question stirred memories long buried. "Soul rings are the external manifestation of a soul beast's life force. They grant us abilities and enhance our cultivation."
He raised his hand and conjured an illusion displaying the colors of the rings:
- White: 10-year
- Yellow: 100-year
- Purple: 1,000-year
- Black: 10,000-year
- Red: 100,000-year
"Each higher tier brings greater power but also more danger. Absorbing a ring above your limit can cripple your body or shatter your spirit."
Tang San's eyes widened. "So the soul ring dictates our path?"
Tang Hao nodded. "And your survival."
Tang Yan leaned back, whispering to the system, "So it's like Pokémon evolution… but with fatal consequences."
**System:** "Exactly, except there's no reset button here. Just a reboot in the Spirit Realm."
**2. The Arrival of Legends**
Suddenly, the air cracked with tension.
A divine pressure swept over the village. Trees bowed, and birds disappeared.
From the forest's edge, Bi Ji burst in, her robes flapping and her expression frantic. "T-They're here!"
**System:** "Boss battle loading: 96%. Please check your dignity."
In a radiant cascade, Gu Yuena and Di Tian descended.
Gu Yuena exuded an ethereal calm, while Di Tian radiated absolute dominance. Soul beasts for miles likely dropped to their knees.
Bi Ji rushed to Di Tian's side, pointing furiously. "Him! Tang Yan! He downgraded me from Aunt Bi Ji to just Bi Ji!"
Di Tian's golden eyes narrowed. "Is that true?"
Bi Ji added dramatically, "And he called you by name!"
Unfazed, Tang Yan lunged at Gu Yuena, wrapping around her like an enthusiastic koala.
"Mama Yuena! Everyone's picking on me!"
Gu Yuena blinked, then sighed, gently patting his hair. "Such a troublesome child."
**System:** "Host: +100 to Shameless. Skill unlocked: Koala Dodge Lv1."
Di Tian's brow twitched. "You cling to the Silver Dragon King and call this defense?"
"Emotional defense," Tang Yan replied, still buried in Gu Yuena's sleeve.
**3. The Reason Behind the Visit**
After the initial chaos settled, the group gathered beneath a starlit sky.
Di Tian's tone grew serious. "We didn't come just for a visit. Over the last six years, there's been a surge in soul beast evolution. They're stronger, yes, but also corrupted."
Tang San frowned. "Corrupted?"
"Evil soul beasts," Bi Ji added, her voice darkening. "Warped by unnatural energy."
Di Tian continued, "Da Ming and Er Ming now patrol the Star Dou continuously. At 170,000 years, they are regarded as kings by other soul beasts."
Tang Hao crossed his arms, nodding. "That's why I kept you from contacting them. Not out of secrecy, but for your protection."
Tang San blinked. "Who are Da Ming and Er Ming?"
Gu Yuena smiled softly. "You've met them before. Briefly."
Tang San tilted his head. "We have?"
Gu Yuena regarded him tenderly. "We raised you two for your first two years. Before your memories fully formed. We, along with Da Ming and Er Ming, fed, bathed, and protected you."
Tang Hao added, "They're the ones who brought you soul beast meat and herbs."
Tang San's eyes widened in realization. "You… really did that?"
He turned to Gu Yuena and bowed deeply. "Thank you."
She waved it off gently. "No need for thanks. In fact, you can consider us family. Your mother and I go way back."
**4. Tang Yan: The Secret Listener**
Everyone assumed Tang Yan hadn't been paying attention.
After all, he was still clinging to Gu Yuena's waist like an overzealous scarf.
But then he looked up and asked, "How's that little fox from the thunder tribulation? Is she okay?"
Suddenly, everyone froze.
Di Tian turned slowly. "You remember?"
Tang Yan grinned broadly. "Of course! I remember everything. Who protected us, who bled that night, even the one who took the second strike."
Gu Yuena blinked, taken aback. "I thought you'd forgotten…"
He shrugged. "Just pretending to be oblivious. It's my defense mechanism."
**System:** "Host: +1,000 Emotional Intelligence. Hidden Passive Skill unlocked — 'Touch the Dragon, Dodge the Claw.'"
**5. Two-Month Stay Begins**
Gu Yuena smiled warmly. "We'll stay for two months. Think of this as… family bonding."
Tang Hao sighed. "That long, huh?"
Tang Yan slipped off her and walked past Bi Ji, flashing a toothy grin. "Hey there, Bi Ji."
Bi Ji scowled. "Still no 'Aunt'?"
Tang Yan tapped her head playfully. "You're still too young for that."
**System:** "And that's how the host manages to make enemies while collecting affection—simultaneously."
As the courtyard quieted for the night, Tang Yan gazed at the stars shining above.
Two divine beasts by his side.
A brother at his elbow.
A system whispering in his ear.
And chaos, undoubtedly, on the horizon.