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Out of boredom, Tang Hao casually asked a question.
"Xiao San, what martial soul did you awaken?"
"It's a green vine, Father."
The wine jug in Tang Hao's hand, which he had been drinking from, immediately slipped and shattered on the ground.
He turned his bloodshot eyes toward the green vine in Tang San's hand, tears welling up in his gaze.
"The vine… it looks so much like hers," Tang Hao muttered to himself.
Seeing Tang Hao's reaction, Tang San sensed an opportunity and cautiously asked again if he could go to school.
But Tang Hao sneered disdainfully, arrogantly proclaiming, "What's the point of becoming a soul master? Whether you're an ordinary soul master or the strongest one, in the end, you're still just trash.
Listen to me and live honestly as a blacksmith to make ends meet. Being a soul master isn't as glamorous as you think.
Go prepare lunch. I'm going to take a nap—I'm exhausted. Ah~"
Unbeknownst to him, Tang Hao's attitude toward Tang San had subtly shifted. He was no longer as cold and distant as before.
However, Tang San interrupted him, asking, "Wait, Father. Can a person only have one martial soul?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Tang Hao replied instinctively, failing to notice the significance of the question.
At this moment, Tang San's mind raced with thoughts.
[The first rule of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Never let anyone you don't fully trust know your true strength.]
"But Father, I think I have another martial soul."
With that, Tang San summoned the Hao Tian Hammer. Upon seeing the delicate little hammer, Tang Hao froze in shock, then burst into tears.
Hugging Tang San tightly, he said, "Son, my good son. Remember to use the hammer in your left hand to protect the vine in your right."
Though Tang San didn't fully understand the meaning behind Tang Hao's words, he solemnly nodded in agreement. The scene that followed was one of apparent fatherly affection.
From the shadows, Ye Wen watched this display with raised eyebrows.
"For the sake of revenge, Tang Hao has completely abandoned his pride. He's even willing to claim someone who isn't his son as his own."
Beside him, Ah Yu coldly observed the scene. To her, Tang Hao's words about using the hammer to protect the vine were nothing but a joke.
What was the point of protecting an empty shell devoid of its original soul? Did he think doing so would bring the soul back to life?
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Ah Yu seemed to realize something. Suddenly, her eyes burned with intensity as she turned to Ye Wen and asked,
"Divine Lord, is my child's soul still intact? Is there any hope of resurrection?"
Ye Wen sighed inwardly at the depth of Ah Yu's maternal love. Even now, after everything, she still clung to the hope of reviving her child.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
If her child had died a natural death, the soul might have descended into the spirit world of the Douluo Continent, where it could be retrieved and revived with time.
But the Asura God was ruthless. Tang San had directly taken over the body of the fetus Ah Yu had been carrying.
In simpler terms, Ah Yu's child's soul had become nourishment for Tang San, merging with him as part of his essence.
Seeing Ye Wen shake his head silently, the glimmer of hope in Ah Yu's eyes dimmed once more. An aura of detachment and menace began to emanate from her.
With a lingering glance at her child's body and her former lover, she turned to Ye Wen and asked,
"Now, can you tell me why you revived me, Divine Lord?"
Having died once and been harshly confronted with reality, Ah Yu had shed her former naivety and romantic notions. She clearly suspected that Ye Wen's intentions weren't pure.
Ye Wen was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the once seemingly simple-minded Ah Yu to grow so perceptive.
It seemed she had grasped the truth that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Since that was the case, he might as well lay all his cards on the table.
"I do have a purpose for reviving you.
I need your help. That god manipulated you so that Tang San could inherit his divine position, allowing him to escape the constraints of the divine realm and venture into the depths of the universe.
And as you've seen, Tang San is extremely filial toward his family.
I hope that one day, you'll use your identity as his mother to prevent him from doing things I don't wish to see.
For you, it shouldn't be too difficult. As for how you choose to seek revenge afterward, I won't interfere—that's your personal matter."
Ah Yu listened silently, reflecting on Tang San's earlier behavior. It aligned with what Ye Wen had said.
Preventing Tang San from certain actions wasn't an issue. But as for revenge—unless she became a god, even reaching level 99 wouldn't be enough to challenge a divine being.
"As you wish, Divine Lord. However, I hope you can help me ascend to godhood. One day, I want to possess the power to personally kill that scoundrel.
I cannot tolerate that he has taken my child's body."
Watching Ah Yu's clenched teeth and overwhelming presence, Ye Wen couldn't help but marvel. Truly, when hatred or resentment took root in someone, they could unleash strength far greater than before.
But ascending to godhood?
"I can't guarantee your success, but I can provide you with the best cultivation environment. Whether you can ascend to godhood depends on your own destiny. As for whether the Thunder God's divine position exists, I don't know."
"That's enough. Thank you for your help, Divine Lord. If that's the case, please find me a place to cultivate as soon as possible."
A woman who had severed all emotional ties was indeed terrifying.
Still, there was work to be done. Ye Wen had Ah Yu personally rewrite the note inside the lead box and infused it with a trace of her presence.
Afterward, he brought Ah Yu back to the Tianxing Villa, bringing Tang San's matter to a temporary close.
Upon returning to the Tianxing Villa, a small incident occurred.
Ah Yu gazed at Ye Wen's three children, their delicate features evoking tears in her eyes. Then, an overwhelming sense of maternal affection washed over her, as if she had found an emotional anchor in them.
"Ah? This…"
Maternal instincts were truly remarkable.
However, Ah Yu trained with extraordinary diligence. With Ye Wen providing her with special guidance, her cultivation skyrocketed.
On another note, it seemed there had been no news of Yu Xiao Gang in recent years. Where had he gone?
Later, Ye Wen made a quick trip to Notting City. To his surprise, Yu Xiao Gang, now a Level 59 Soul King, was living in seclusion there.
"What happened? Why has Yu Xiao Gang returned here?"
Perplexed, Ye Wen tapped into the Spirit Hall's intelligence network.
One of the renowned Golden Duo retreating to such a remote town surely wasn't a trivial matter. The Spirit Hall's records must have some information on this.
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