The warmth dispelled the chill of the stream, and Tang Sui, feeling warm again, sat on a flat stone, looking content.
Tang Hao observed his youngest daughter's trembling body cease, added another log to the fire, and then began to ask about her post-advancement situation: "Sui Sui, what is your spirit power level now?"
Tang Sui blinked, stood up from the stone, circulated her spirit power, and three purple and one black spirit rings floated up, stunning Tang Hao.
"A ten-thousand-year spirit ring..." Tang Hao murmured, looking at the pitch-black fourth spirit ring. Tang Sui touched the fox mask that had appeared, drawing close to her. A flicker of complexity flashed in her eyes, but her cheerful tone remained undimmed:
"Thanks to the heavenly treasures cultivated by Senior Dugu, after absorbing their medicinal properties, my spirit power directly increased by 5 levels, and the excellence of the separated spirit rings far exceeded my imagination."
"Not only that, Dad. Besides the fourth spirit skill, my first three spirit skills have all been improved to varying degrees!"
Tang Sui withdrew that hint of complexity and gently stroked the side of the hard fox mask with her fingertip.
A faint green light flashed in the empty eye sockets of the fox mask. It silently allowed Tang Sui to continue stroking it, neither flinching nor making a sound.
The invisible wall between the person and the mask gradually crumbled, leaving behind a silent understanding.
She detailed the improvements and changes to her three spirit skills to Tang Hao. Astonishment, sighing, worry, relief—a mix of complex emotions crossed Tang Hao's rough, dark face, eventually coalescing into a determined expression: "Sui Sui, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Hm?"
Unaware that she was about to face training even more grueling than Master's, Tang Sui looked at Tang Hao in confusion.
Tang Hao stared at Tang Sui and said earnestly, "Since you've advanced to Spirit Elder, I think it's time you started getting accustomed to the Clear Sky Hammer."
Tang Sui's eyelids twitched.
The Clear Sky Hammer?
That hammer weighing 500 jin?!
Even during her Spirit Ancestor stage, summoning the Clear Sky Hammer was somewhat strenuous. Even now, as a Spirit Elder, but...
She looked into Tang Hao's serious and solemn eyes, and a flash of inspiration struck her: "Dad, you're planning... to teach me how to use the Clear Sky Hammer?"
Tang Hao nodded frankly: "Indeed, I have this intention. I want to see if your body can now adapt to the Clear Sky Hammer. Even if you still can't adapt, at least let me see your current limit."
"Even if I can't teach you how to use the Clear Sky Hammer, I hope that when facing enemies, you will have another trump card for self-preservation." And not repeat the tragedy of their generation being pursued and cornered...
Tang Sui, who had originally intended to find an excuse to refuse, saw the genuine look on Tang Hao's face. She opened her mouth, but swallowed her refusal and replaced it with a "Mm."
Tang Hao's tense expression softened slightly. "Then our training will begin tomorrow. You've just advanced today, so rest well for now."
When a spirit master absorbed spirit rings, the longer it took, the more dangerous it became. Not to mention that Tang Sui had stayed in the cave for nearly three days before succeeding this time.
Looking at her blood-stained body and how her legs had gone numb and immobile at the end, this advancement must have been extremely dangerous. If she hadn't been careful... she could have lost her life...
Thinking of this, a trace of heartache flashed in Tang Hao's eyes.
If the initial shock upon learning that his youngest daughter's spirit ring was a ten-thousand-year-old one was one thing, his next thought was worry.
He was truly worried about his daughter... being too conspicuous.
He knew too well the saying, "The tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
Tang Sui obediently agreed, not refusing.
She took out the sleeping bag and camping equipment necessary for outdoor adventures from her purple crystal jade bracelet, and also found one for Tang Hao.
When purchasing supplies, she had prepared several sleeping bags just in case, keeping them for emergencies.
After rolling up the bedding for Tang Hao, Tang Sui slowly snuggled into her own. Her clear blue eyes looked at Tang Hao, who was sitting by the campfire, and she said crisply, "Dad, I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight~"
Although all her personal stats had been replenished after her advancement, she was still in her annual period of excessive sleepiness. Even though her mental power was full, she was still tired.
Alas, the troubles of a cub's growth.
After bidding goodnight, Tang Sui closed her eyes. Soon, her breathing became steady and deep.
Tang Hao leaned against a tree trunk he had cut down, looking up at the dark night sky.
There was no moon tonight, and only a few stars were visible. One or two stars stubbornly flickered with faint light, almost imperceptible against the vast expanse of the night.
Tang Hao withdrew his gaze, quietly watching Tang Sui, who only showed him the back of her head. His gaze shifted between gentle, deep, and sighing, as complex and dim as the dark night sky that concealed the heavens.
How could he protect his daughter...
...
The next day, the sleepy Tang Sui woke up abruptly from her dream.
"Sui Sui, you're finally awake."
Tang Hao's relieved expression met her eyes. Tang Sui looked at him dazedly, not understanding how her danger sense had been triggered.
Tang Hao, who had intended to let his youngest daughter sleep longer until she woke up naturally, did not expect her to be such a heavy sleeper, sleeping all the way until noon the next day without any sign of waking.
Tang Hao, experiencing the act of waking a sleepy person for the first time, had no choice. Since she wouldn't wake no matter how much he shook her, he had to use a bit of a Titled Douluo's pressure to make his daughter wake up from the sense of danger.
Tang Sui was urged by Tang Hao to wash her face.
The cool stream water splashed on her tender cheeks, dispelling much of her sleepiness.
Feeling more alert, Tang Sui stood before Tang Hao. Tang Hao didn't delay and directly asked Tang Sui to summon the Clear Sky Hammer: "Sui Sui, now summon your other martial soul. Don't use your auxiliary spirit skills; just use your spirit power to try and lift it."
He wanted to see where Tang Sui's physical limit lay.
Tang Sui did as she was told.
However, as the Clear Sky Hammer was summoned and enlarged, there was a small accident while trying to lift it.
"Crack,"
A crisp sound of dislocated bone echoed in her ears. The 500-jin Clear Sky Hammer lost its support and heavily smashed a small pit into the ground.
Tang Sui, who had attempted to hold the Clear Sky Hammer with her left hand alone, looked up with a dumbfounded expression and met Tang Hao's equally stunned gaze.
The hammer was there, the person was broken.
After a few seconds of father and daughter staring at each other, Tang Hao, who had recovered, looked at Tang Sui, who was on the verge of tears, with an inexpressible expression. He let out a heavy sigh: "Sui Sui, you... you should compress the Clear Sky Hammer first, then... try to hold it with both hands."
Although the weight hadn't changed, it would appear... psychologically better.
At least Sui Sui didn't faint just by summoning the Clear Sky Hammer this time. It seemed her physique had indeed strengthened considerably.
Tang Hao began to console himself.
Tang Sui, who also knew that the hammer's weight hadn't lessened despite shrinking, silently reset her shoulder blade with her right hand and began to self-hypnotize.
The big hammer is no good, but the small hammer, you can do it!
Next time, I won't break a bone again!