Chapter 144: Tang San's New Mother
Stepping out of the Sea God's inheritance realm, Ye Wen's face softened into a pleased smile as he looked upon his friends and loved ones, who were gazing back at him with anticipation.
"I'm back," he announced with a smile.
The days that followed were nothing short of bliss. Ye Wen enjoyed lavish days and nights with his two wives, relishing every indulgence he had missed over the past twenty years. But Ye Wen was not one to indulge for long; he knew there were still many matters left unfinished, waiting for him to address.
During this time, the core members he'd brought from Tianxing Academy had completed their individual trials, gaining significant increases in both spirit ring levels and soul power. Huo Rui now stood as an 80th level Spirit Douluo with three hundred thousand year spirit rings, while Ah Yin and Dugu Bo, both with two hundred thousand year rings each, reached Title Douluo status with a formidable seven black and two red spirit ring configuration. The other academy members, too, had each leveled up across the board.
"It's time to go back," Ye Wen murmured.
With Ye Wen now holding the Sea God's title, Tianxing Academy and Sea God Island began an exchange program. Tianxing Academy would teach the soul masters of Sea God Island to adapt to life on the continent, while its core members traveled to Sea God Island to undergo trials and enhance their abilities.
Though Ye Wen now feared no one on the continent, having spirit rings starting at ten thousand years was still far too eye catching. So, he created a batch of spirit ring simulation devices using his Space of Illusion ability, ensuring his academy's instructors appeared to have "normal" spirit rings.
Time passed. News arrived that Tang Xiao of the HaoTian Sect had returned home, parting ways with Tang Hao and his hundred thousand year soul beast companion.
"So the main story has officially started," Ye Wen mused. "Tang Hao really can't escape his fate of marrying a soul beast. I wonder if this new hundred thousand year soul beast will keep her identity a secret? Not every soul beast is as kind and pure hearted as Ah Yin. I suppose it's worth going to see for myself."
Noticing Ye Wen, who had spent so long within the depths of the Blue Silver Forest, now walking toward the academy's gates, Ah Yin's curiosity piqued, and she followed him.
"Brother, where are you going?" she asked.
Ye Wen paused, realizing he hadn't taken Ah Yin out in quite some time. He extended a hand toward her with a smile. "I'm going to see some excitement. Would you like to come along?"
Excitement? Ah Yin couldn't resist. She grinned and joined him without hesitation.
In a dimly lit section of the forest, a tall, powerfully built man and a tall, graceful woman were walking together. The man, at nearly two meters tall and rippling with muscle, had an intimidating presence. The woman, standing a striking 1.8 meters, was lithe and vibrant, exuding youthful energy.
"Brother Hao, hiding in this soul beast forest won't solve everything. Lately, more and more people from Spirit Hall have come looking for us," she said.
Tang Hao sighed, weary. Once a renowned member of the HaoTian Twin Stars, admired by all and bowing to no one, he was now hunted like a dog, and even his sect had shown no signs of support. This stark contrast left him despondent.
"Don't worry. Once I reach Title Douluo, we won't have to be so passive anymore."
"Title Douluo…" the woman murmured to herself. Tang Hao was now an 85th level Soul Douluo, but those last five levels loomed over him like an insurmountable wall. Every level past 80 was a grueling endeavor, each requiring years to attain. They would have to live like this for at least another five years.
Still, they weren't entirely defenseless. When a Spirit Hall Title Douluo came after them once, Tang Hao had unleashed his specialty, Ring Explosion, to shatter the attacker's leg and send him fleeing in a panic. This only served to deepen the feud between Tang Hao and Spirit Hall, though, and they were constantly harassed by attackers, never able to stay in one place for long.
The woman sighed. With her cultivation stuck at level 59, the life of constant running wore her down, making it difficult to progress. But neither noticed that, high above, a man and a woman were watching them.
"Brother? That woman… is she a transformed soul beast?" Ah Yin asked uncertainly.
From this distance, Ah Yin could only make an educated guess based on her instincts, as she dared not probe too deeply.
Ye Wen, however, now possessing divine power, could easily assess the two below without alerting them. With a bemused look, he replied, "Indeed, she's a hundred thousand year soul beast, and not just any soul beast she's a plant type one. If I'm sensing correctly, her true form should be the Thunderous Hell Vine, one with a trace of the Thunder God's bloodline."
Ah Yin's eyes widened in shock. Plant type soul beasts came in many varieties, and her own Blue Silver Grass was one of the most ordinary, if not the lowest. Even as a hundred thousand year soul beast, it couldn't match the exceptional qualities of some special plant soul beasts. The Thunderous Hell Vine, though, was one of the pinnacle plant type soul beasts, excelling in combat power, resilience, and other aspects, on par with the most powerful soul master spirits.
Next to the Thunderous Hell Vine, even the Blue Silver Emperor couldn't hold a candle.
Ye Wen continued, "And it's not just an ordinary Thunderous Hell Vine. This one's cultivation is at least two hundred thousand years. But that raises a question why did a plant soul beast with such potential choose to transform? With the natural resilience of a thunder attribute plant type soul beast, transcending tribulation shouldn't have been an issue."
(The soul beast transformation setup has some contradictions. After all, Snow Empress in Soul Land II transformed after reaching seven hundred thousand years.)
These words weren't meant for Ah Yin but for Ye Wen himself, pondering aloud.
The Thunderous Hell Vine was a species that either failed early or became incredibly powerful. It gained its strength through repeated lightning strikes, which gave it exceptional resistance to lightning. If it couldn't grow to the hundred thousand year mark, it might be electrocuted. But if it survived, reaching this milestone should have been easy; it would possess the talent and strength to resist even tribulations.
"God of Asura, you've given Tang San a much better mother than Ah Yin," Ye Wen thought coldly. Observing the bond between Tang Hao and this transformed soul beast woman, he concluded she must have revealed her true identity after establishing a relationship with him.
He shook his head. "These soul beasts... are they naïve or foolish? Greed can drive men to any act, especially for the treasure that is a soul ring. Even those without the need for such a ring would hunt her just for the rewards it brings."
Even Xiao Wu, naïve as she was, knew that human Soul Douluo experts could potentially sense her identity. Yet this soul beast, of nearly fearsome status, seemed oblivious. Either her power was gifted by another, or she truly was clueless.
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