Beside the pool, Tang Hao stood quietly.
However, only one leg supported his body; his entire left leg was severed cleanly.
Seen from the front, the black robe could no longer conceal his right arm, which was also cut off at the shoulder.
In just one year, Tang Hao had become a disabled elder.
Tang Sui's gaze fell on Tang Hao's disheveled hair, threads of white already appearing and unable to be concealed. Her lips moved, the urge to cry overwhelming her, blurring her vision in an instant.
"Dad—"
Tang San almost choked out the word, his body flashing forward and his trembling jaw hitting the ground before Tang Hao.
The severed ends of Tang Hao's wounds were too clean, not appearing accidental but deliberately cut.
But who could possibly harm a Titled Douluo-level expert!
"Your son is unfilial... Who, who did this to you..."
The composure Tang San had cultivated over the past year shattered before Tang Hao. A terrifying, chilling killing intent erupted from him, its sharp edge piercing the sky.
"Xiao San, besides myself, who else could it be?"
Having lost an arm and a leg, Tang Hao appeared remarkably calm. His expression was no longer stern and rigid like before; instead, a faint smile graced his face as he looked at his two proud children.
His spirit energy surged, forming a literal phantom limb before the brother and sister.
Tang Sui stepped forward, helping her distraught brother to his feet, and looked at Tang Hao in silence.
Tang Hao gazed at his younger daughter, whose demeanor had become even more serene. His eyes flashed with nostalgia, reminding him of his wife, Ah Yin.
He smiled faintly and said, "Are you curious why I did this? Haven't you always wanted to know about my past? Come with me, I'll take you somewhere."
As he spoke, Tang Hao's spirit energy-conjured right leg, with its visible pulsing energy veins, flashed with dark light. Spirit energy erupted, and he leaped forward as if springs were installed beneath his feet.
Despite losing an arm and a leg, Tang Hao's speed remained astonishing as he soared directly towards the waterfall.
Tang San took a deep breath, letting Tang Sui release him, and then pursued the direction Tang Hao had taken.
Tang Sui tapped her feet and followed.
As the siblings expected, Tang Hao indeed arrived at the side of their mother, Ah Yin.
The family of four gathered in the small valley. Tang Hao sat casually beside the Blue Silver Emperor, which had grown to two feet long, and patted the ground beside him.
"Come, sit. I will tell you everything you wish to know."
Tang Sui and Tang San sat on the ground. The Blue Silver Emperor beside Tang Hao, sensing the aura of her children, pulsed with fine light in its blue-gold veins. Two-foot-long vines grew, reaching out to caress the wrist of the daughter she had lost and found again, affectionately encircling it.
"Mom, I'm alright," Tang Sui replied softly to the agitated vines of the Blue Silver Emperor.
Another branch of the Blue Silver Emperor trembled, nodding towards Tang Sui, then slowly moved towards Tang San and Tang Hao, diligently trying to encircle the three of them.
Tang Hao watched the scene gently. When the Blue Silver Emperor's vines had encircled them all, he began to speak of his past.
Tang San listened in silence until Tang Hao produced a dark sandalwood box from his soul tool. Only then did his expression change.
"I owe the sect greatly. By detaching these two spirit bones now, I hope you can return them to the sect on my behalf," Tang Hao said gravely, looking at the two spirit bones within the wooden box.
"These two spirit bones were originally obtained from the sect. Now, with you siblings returning them for me, it serves as a form of closure. As for the impact I've had on the sect, Father is truly sorry, but I can only rely on you to mend things."
At this point, Tang Hao's face showed remorse.
He was the one who caused the trouble, yet his children would have to bear the consequences.
"Although I am now crippled, since losing my arm and leg, I have felt much lighter. Because, I can finally be with your mother without any worries. Even though my spirit power is only one-third of what it was, I still possess seventy levels of strength. It's enough for self-preservation, so you don't need to worry about me."
Tang Sui did not reach out to take them. To be honest, she didn't like the Clear Sky Sect at all.
Neither in the past nor now.
Tang San, not noticing Tang Sui's slight reservation, eagerly extended his hands and solemnly accepted the wooden box, taking a deep breath. "Father, please rest assured. Sui Sui and I will depart immediately and complete the mission."
Tang Hao nodded, his gaze falling on Tang Sui. "No rush. Sui Sui, Xiao San completed the second awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor four years ago..."
He paused, his tone laced with a hint of caution, and continued, "Although Xiao San is now the new King of the Blue Silver Emperor, you can still undergo a second awakening. Since you siblings are both back, why don't you awaken first?"
The second awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor?
Ripples spread across Tang Sui's eyes. At the same time, the system's voice, even more excited than hers, echoed in her mind—
[Agree to it.]
Tang Sui agreed.
The three wasted no time and immediately set off for another forest.
This forest appeared different from other spirit beast forests.
There were no diverse plants here, nor were there any spirit beasts residing within. However, the most abundant thing here was Blue Silver Grass.
As far as the eye could see, Blue Silver Grass swayed in the wind, like a blue ocean, beautiful, dreamy, and full of life.
All the Blue Silver Grass bowed their leaves slightly in the direction Tang San and the others walked. This was the Blue Silver Grass paying homage to their new King.
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See you tomorrow, muah~