"Yes." This time, even Tang San could sense the shift in his father's mood. Though he was still instructing him, the faint, barely perceptible smile on his father's face did not escape his notice.
Fifty levels at sixteen, and in possession of two Soul Bones. At this point, even a Soul Master at the sixty level might not necessarily be able to defeat Tang San.
"Xiao San, at the final moment of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament finals, when you threw those fragments of the Eight Spiders Lance — was that a self-created Soul Skill?" Tang Hao suddenly asked.
Tang San blinked, scratching his head. "You could say that." He couldn't exactly explain that it was a technique that didn't belong to this world. In a sense, once the secret arts of the Tang Sect had been brought to this world, they could all be considered his self-created Soul Skills.
Tang Hao nodded. "Those techniques of yours are quite impressive. Don't let them go to waste. Starting today, you'll practice the Clear Sky Hammer under the waterfall at night, and you can arrange your own schedule during the day."
Tang San couldn't help but say, "Father, I'm already at the fifty level. Shouldn't I go find a suitable Soul Ring?"
Tang Hao replied evenly, "Have you forgotten the Great Master's teachings? One of his ten core theories states that after a Soul Master reaches a bottleneck, even without obtaining a Soul Ring, their Soul Power will continue to accumulate — and once they do acquire one, that stored power will be revealed. You have no need to fight right now, so why rush to obtain a Soul Ring?"
Tang San nodded. "I'll follow your lead."
Reaching the fifty level of Soul Power was equivalent to pushing the Mysterious Heaven Skill to the threshold of its fifth layer. With his internal energy strengthened, some of the Hidden Weapons techniques he had previously been unable to practice were now within his grasp. Tang San had never forgotten the Hidden Weapons to which he had devoted his entire previous life. From that day on, following Tang Hao's instructions, he spent his days cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill and practicing Hidden Weapons, and his nights training with the Clear Sky Hammer. The process of cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill itself served as rest.
At this point, Tang San was like a wound-up machine — one that would never seem to stop.
……
Papal Hall.
"Have you truly made up your mind?" The Pope gazed quietly at Hu Liena, who knelt before her on the ground.
Hu Liena nodded firmly. "Your Majesty, if I cannot make another breakthrough, I'm afraid Tang San will inevitably catch up to me before long. For the sake of Spirit Hall, I am willing to take the risk."
Pope Bibi Dong's expression softened considerably. "In truth, you don't need to do this. You are already outstanding. Going to that place to train — even for someone like you, there's a very real chance you might not return. Wouldn't it be fine to train in the Valley of Death, like Xie Yue and Yan?"
Hu Liena shook her head. "No, Your Majesty. The Valley of Death is dangerous, true, but it can't truly give me the feeling of death. I know that Lord Chrysanthemum has always been secretly protecting us. Without truly experiencing the scent of death, I'm afraid that with my talent alone, I'll never be able to compare to Tang San."
Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "It's been two years, and you still haven't forgotten that defeat."
Hu Liena met the Pope's eyes. "Teacher, didn't you once say that failure is the mother of success? If I forget my failure, if I forget my humiliation — how could I be worthy of your teachings? I hope that when I go there this time, you won't send anyone to protect me. I will come back alive."
At that moment, there was not a trace of seductiveness on her face — only an unparalleled resolve.
Bibi Dong reached out and pulled Hu Liena to her feet. "Child, in you I see the future hope of Spirit Hall. Very well, I will allow you to go. But you must remember — you must come back alive. Whether as the Pope of Spirit Hall or as your teacher, this is the task I give you, and the requirement I set. Do you understand?"
Meeting Bibi Dong's transcendent eyes, something deepened in Hu Liena's gaze, and she nodded with all her strength. "Teacher, I will."
Pope Bibi Dong raised her hand, a ring on her finger gleaming with light, and when she turned her palm over, a white skull bone had appeared in her hand.
"Absorb this before you leave."
Hu Liena started in shock. "Teacher, this is far too precious."
Bibi Dong's expression darkened. "Even the most precious thing must be used to fulfill its value. That Spirit-Condensed Wisdom Skull Bone was originally more suited to you — but it ended up going to Tang San and his allies instead. The loss of three Soul Bones dealt a severe blow to Spirit Hall. However, in my heart, the three of you are more important than any Soul Bone. This skull bone is equally suited to you — no less fitting than that Wisdom Skull Bone. Take it."
Hu Liena wasted no more time in modesty. She accepted the Pope's gift with the utmost reverence, her eyes already glistening with tears.
The Pope spoke gravely, "There is one more thing I must warn you about. If you encounter Tang San alone, you must not engage him in combat. Your strength surpasses his, yes — but through some unknown method, he happens to counter your abilities. You have no chance against him. And you need not consider him your rival. I will deal with him sooner or later. Just like his father. Until we eliminate that great threat of Tang Hao's, our plans will inevitably encounter trouble."
"Yes, Teacher." Hu Liena lowered her head, answering respectfully. Yet in those bewitching eyes of hers, an unwillingness flickered.
She could never forget the final moment — Tang San wearing that smile on his face, just before he collapsed, hurling the shattered fragments of the Eight Spiders Lance. That single strike had cost them their Soul Bones, cost them the championship, and turned them into sinners in the eyes of Spirit Hall.