"Not long after, I received news that the Pope who had returned to Spirit Hall died from his injuries. That debt was not only placed on my head, but also on the Clear Sky School. The Pope's death undoubtedly brought enormous trouble to the sect. To protect the sect, your uncle had to announce my complete expulsion. To avoid Spirit Hall's retaliation, the sect was sealed. It was from that moment that our Clear Sky School, though still bearing the title of the number one sect in the world, was in reality left as a hollow shell. All the forces that had originally been allied with us quietly dispersed. Only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family maintained a shred of connection."
"The rest, you already know. I carefully planted your mother here and took you to live in Sacred Soul Village, not far away. I drifted through life in a daze. Your feeling was correct; my old wounds were very severe. Originally, I had planned to end my life that way. With a home I couldn't return to, having failed to protect my own wife, what kind of man was I? The Pope was dead, so I could consider myself to have partially avenged Ah Yin. As for Spirit Hall, although I wished for revenge, I was unwilling to cause any more trouble for the Clear Sky School. So, the father you saw was a blacksmith, a drunkard. A drunkard drowning himself in cheap liquor all day long."
"Until you told me that your awakened Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, and the Clear Sky Hammer. Twin Martial Souls. In that moment, I became a little more clear-headed. You've been sensible since you were young. Instead of me taking good care of you, you were the one looking after me. I knew that with my condition, turning the tide for the sect or avenging your mother completely was impossible. However, I saw hope in you. So, from that time on, I sent you to Nuoding Academy, secretly watching your growth. You were even more outstanding than I imagined, and you had a good teacher. In just over a decade, your strength had already begun to take shape. Although I never said it, when I saw you lead your Shrek Seven Devils to crush the Spirit Hall Academy team, son, I was proud of you."
The Tang Hao of the past would never have praised Tang San like this, but hearing it now, in these circumstances, Tang San, kneeling there, was so overcome with emotion that he could barely contain himself. He threw his arms around his father's battered body, trembling as he wept bitterly.
His lone arm rose, gently patting his son's back. "Silly boy, stop crying. A real man shouldn't always be crying. I think your mother, within your Blue Silver Domain, might have regained a flicker of consciousness. Seeing you as you are now, she must be very, very happy. Don't be sad for me. I've survived far worse times. I wasn't lying to you. I did cut off my own arm and leg. That was something I had to do. Because I wanted to live a few more years, to see how you would lead the sect back to glory, how you would avenge me and your mother."
Lifting his head to look at his father, although Tang San's eyes were blurred with tears, the determination in his gaze was more resolute than ever before. "I will. I definitely will."
Tang Hao sighed. "You should be able to sense that the old injuries within my body are gone. I used my own Soul Power to force the stagnant, congested blood into my severed arm and leg, completely freeing myself from the torment of those wounds. Although my Soul Power is only a third of what it was, I feel a sense of liberation. I did this after bringing you back to your aunt. If I had waited until you returned, I knew that no matter what, you wouldn't have let me harm my own body. So, I only had this chance to do it while you were away."
"Father, why did you have to go this far? Didn't I tell you? Perhaps I had a way to heal your old injuries," Tang San couldn't help but say.
Tang Hao silently shook his head. "When you make a mistake, you must bear the consequences yourself. I failed the sect. After all these years, I owed them an explanation. The two Soul Bones I obtained from the sect were originally embedded in my severed arm and leg. Returning them is a form of atonement. As for the damage I caused the sect, only you can remedy that now. Although I've become disabled, ever since severing my limbs, I've felt much lighter. Because I can finally let go of everything and accompany your mother. Even though my Soul Power is only a third, I still have the strength of a level seventy Soul Master. Protecting myself is sufficient. You don't need to worry about me. From now on, I will never leave your mother's side again. I will grow old here with her."
Tang San stared blankly at his father. "But isn't it said that once a Soul Bone fuses with the body, it cannot be separated? Only upon death does it detach?"
Tang Hao smiled wryly. "That is only true for ordinary Soul Masters. For a Titled Douluo, if one is willing, a Soul Bone can be removed. But the price is equally heavy. Naturally, no one would choose to do it. Among the six types of Soul Bones, the skull and torso bones are indeed inseparable. But the limb bones can be separated by severing the limbs, at the cost of permanently losing ten levels of Soul Power. Therefore, my current Soul Power is at level seventy-five. But don't worry; the two Soul Rings I discarded were only the lowest ones. Even if my Soul Power is only thirty percent of what it used to be, in this world, it would still take at least a Titled Douluo to put me to death. The legacy of the Clear Sky Hammer must now be carried on by you."
Having poured out everything to his son, Tang Hao seemed much more at ease. He reached up to wipe the tears from Tang San's face. "I don't want to see your tears anymore. I'm fine now. I've placed my burdens on your shoulders. Perhaps this is a bit heavy for you."
"No, Father. I am your son," Tang San replied, his tone filled with unwavering resolve.
The debts of parents should be repaid by their children. By now, he had largely recovered from the pain of his father's disability, because he had also realized that the current Tang Hao was truly different from before. His entire being seemed more relaxed, and the anguish appeared to be slowly fading.
Tang Hao nodded. "Good. Once I've finished explaining everything, you should return to the sect. I can never go back. But you must go. Pay your respects to your grandfather at my behalf. Kneel before his grave for three days in my stead. Return to the sect to acknowledge your ancestors and lineage, and obey your uncle in all matters. The grudge against Spirit Hall, you must decide how to handle it yourself. After all, the primary culprit was killed by me long ago. However, the resurgence of the Clear Sky School requires your utmost effort. The sect fell because of me. I want you to help it rise again."
"Yes," Tang San agreed respectfully.
A faint smile appeared on Tang Hao's face as he looked at Tang San. "In the past, I may have been too harsh on you. From now on, you can visit me and your mother once a year. Tell me about the things happening in the outside world. I won't be leaving here again. I won't harm my own body anymore, because I still have you as my anchor, and your mother for company."
Suddenly, Tang San seemed to recall something and looked at his father. "Father, Mother lost a hundred-thousand-year cultivation base and needs to regrow. If she were influenced by external factors to grow rapidly, could that shorten her cultivation time?"
Tang Hao was stunned for a moment, then sighed. "There's no need for that. It takes ten thousand years of cultivation to possess true wisdom, and a hundred thousand years to assume human form once more. I won't live to see that in my lifetime. I can only entrust that hope to our descendants. After I die, the task of looking after your mother will fall to you."
Tang San's eyes suddenly blazed with excitement. "No, Father, listen to me. I know of a place where plants can grow hundreds of times faster. It's just that I haven't seen any plant-type Soul Beasts there, only various natural treasures and medicinal herbs. Perhaps... perhaps there's a chance Mother could recover? After all, she once cultivated to the hundred-thousand-year level. Even if she starts over, she shouldn't be like an ordinary plant, right?"
"Hundreds of times faster?" Tang Hao's hand suddenly gripped Tang San's shoulder. "Are you serious?"
Tang San nodded firmly. "That place is known as one of the three greatest treasure basins of the world. Its name is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. It's where Poison Douluo Dugu Bo used to cultivate his herbs. Ordinary people cannot survive there. But for plants, it provides immense benefit. Every plant that grows there reaches maturity in a short time. Although I've never seen any plant-type Soul Beasts there, perhaps with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's unique and exceptional conditions, Mother could..."
Tang Hao's previously calm eyes began to shine with a glimmer of hope. His wife's death had been the greatest blow of his life.
If his wife could return to life, even just to see her one last time before he died, he would have no other desires.
His eyes grew moist, his gaze turning to the thriving Blue Silver Grass. "Ah Yin, did you hear that? Our son says there might be a way to help you recover. Do you know how much I wish to hear your voice again? Ah Yin, let's go. I'll take you there."
Tang San excitedly grasped his father's hand. "Father, what are we waiting for? Let's set out now!" As he spoke, he pulled a Dragon Mushroom Leaf from his Eight Treasures Exquisite Pouch and placed it in his father's mouth. "I have a total of nine Dragon Mushroom Leaves. You've severely damaged your life essence by severing your own limbs. These leaves can fortify the fundamentals and nourish your vitality. Eat one each month. After a year, your body should recover to a healthy state. Father, for Mother's sake, you must live well. I truly hope that one day, our family of three can be reunited."
Tang Hao swallowed the Dragon Mushroom Leaf in large gulps.
His son's words had brought him immense hope.
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(End of Chapter)