The three walked deeper into the forest, where a two-meter-tall Blue Silver Grass tree was stationed.
"Your Highness, you have returned."
The Blue Silver Grass tree, sensing the approach of the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, revealed a wrinkled human face among its leaves. The elder, whose form was an energy manifestation, bowed slightly to the trio.
More precisely, he bowed to Tang San and Tang Sui, who were behind Tang Hao.
Even without a second awakening, or being a Blue Silver Emperor, the bloodline aura on Tang Sui could still be perceived by the elder.
"Grandfather Blue Silver King, hello." Tang San smiled slightly at the elder and then revealed Tang Sui behind him, stating his purpose directly: "I want to help my sister undergo her martial soul's second awakening. Can you and I jointly protect her? Is that possible?"
The Blue Silver King, who had unhesitatingly helped the mixed-blood Tang San awaken last time, now showed hesitation. "Your Highness, I can sense the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline aura in this young lady, which originates from the same lineage as yours. However, as you know, there has always been only one Blue Silver Emperor. Even if she completes her second awakening, it might..."
The unspoken words were understood by everyone present.
Tang San's expression darkened as he looked at Tang Sui. However, she seemed unfazed and smiled dismissively. "It's okay, Grandpa. My martial soul didn't inherit my mother's Blue Silver Grass anyway. Even if I become the Blue Silver Emperor, I don't think I'd feel comfortable. I just need to complete the second awakening."
Honestly, if someone whose martial soul was not Blue Silver Grass at all, but only possessed the shape of Blue Silver Grass on the Hammer of Haotian, were to inherit the position of the Blue Silver Emperor, she herself would feel extremely uncomfortable.
Moreover, this was originally her brother's opportunity, which played a significant role later on.
Seeing this, the Blue Silver King nodded and gently said to Tang Sui, "Then, please step forward, young lady."
Tang San looked at Tang Sui, who gave her brother a shallow nod and stepped forward.
Tang Hao, meanwhile, consciously retreated over ten meters, quietly guarding the perimeter.
"Sui Sui, just relax your mind for a moment. Don't think about anything and just feel the Blue Silver Grass in this forest," Tang San, an experienced veteran, instructed Tang Sui.
Tang Sui nodded, sat down cross-legged, closed her eyes, exhaled, and emptied her mind. Her spiritual power and another fluctuation of demonic energy, centered around her, silently spread out.
The leaves on the Blue Silver King Tree gently swayed, as if signaling. All the Blue Silver Grass in the forest began to sway and stretch, rapidly growing taller.
As the leaves swayed, small blue light spots flew up from the Blue Silver Grass throughout the forest and converged towards Tang Sui, who was meditating cross-legged, forming a blue light shield around her.
"Blue Silver Domain."
At the same time, Tang San also unleashed his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, activating the domain obtained from his second awakening. Azure and golden vines surged from the ground, amplifying the Blue Silver Grass present and providing ample energy for Tang Sui.
"Buzz—"
A mysterious sensation spread with the intensification of the Blue Silver Grass energy.
Her nostrils were filled with the refreshing scent of grass and trees, refreshing and invigorating, making one involuntarily immerse in the intense natural atmosphere.
The energy within her body began to rise at an exaggerated speed. Tang Sui, completely engrossed in her enlightenment, naturally did not hear another system notification chime.
[Ding—Demonic energy concentration has reached the critical point!]
The semi-transparent blue energy became increasingly vibrant, a deep azure. Tang San's furrowed brow relaxed as the color of the energy shield gradually turned purer. He said with a smile, "The awakening is proceeding smoothly."
The Blue Silver King also nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. Your sister's comprehension is very high. Once she completely absorbs this energy, she will be able to complete her transformation."
The smile in Tang San's eyes flickered. Just as he was about to agree, his gaze froze.
"Buzz buzz—!"
Within the blue energy shield, black and red demonic energy overflowed from Tang Sui's body, instantly eroding the outer energy shield. Even the Blue Silver Grass around her was affected. Their life force seemed to be absorbed by those thick, black and red light masses. In the blink of an eye, they drooped their leaves listlessly.
[Ding—The juvenile stage awakening has begun.]
The system's suppressed excited voice rang out. Tang Sui, immersed in enlightenment, seemed to hear this dissonant sound. Her calm state of mind was slightly affected, and her brow furrowed.
Sensing Tang Sui's change, the system paused for a few seconds, its tone tinged with complexity, and the whistle signaling the start sounded—
[...Host, please be prepared.]
"Boom—!"
Terrifying and boundless demonic energy poured out like a dam breaking. The cold, violent, and fearful negative emotions, diametrically opposed to the refreshing and pure aura of the Blue Silver Grass, surged like a tide, overwhelming and engulfing the original Blue Silver Grass energy shield. To everyone's horrified gaze, it transformed into pure pitch blackness, like a celestial dog devouring the moon!
"Xiao San! What's going on?!"
Tang Hao's expression changed, and he quickly stepped forward, wanting to check the situation.
The last time, he had brought Xiao San for a martial soul awakening, and it wasn't like this!
Tang San was unaware, and Tang San was also bewildered and anxious.
The moment the black energy ball appeared, an intense sense of threat swept over all living beings present. Coldness and trembling, as if an unseen eye, an eye not of a human, was watching them, making them stiffen and shiver involuntarily.
"Sui Sui!"
Tang San was both shocked and enraged, never expecting his sister to get into trouble under the watchful eyes of him and their father!
A surge of angry helplessness and self-reproach filled his heart. He also took a step forward, wanting to rush over, but was blocked by the Blue Silver King, whose expression was one of horror, with vines of Blue Silver Grass.
"Your Highness, don't go over! This young lady... this young lady is still awakening!" The Blue Silver King's tone was filled with disbelief, looking at the black energy ball before him as if it were an inconceivable existence, his voice trembling slightly.
"Grandfather Blue Silver King, what do you mean by that?!"
Tang San looked over sharply. His martial soul awakening was not like this at all!
"Blue Silver King, what is going on?!"
Tang Hao's stern and oppressive gaze swept over, but the Blue Silver King's attention was entirely on the black energy ball before him.
Hearing the father and son's questions, his lips moved, and he uttered in a hoarse voice:
"Inside her... there is not only the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline... but also another... another... terrifying bloodline..."
What?
Tang San and Tang Hao both froze, never expecting such an answer.