Tang Sui was embraced by a scent of freshness, like grass and trees, mixed with a hint of earthy musk.
Tang Hao's hands, which were around his younger daughter's back, tightened slightly. His back, facing his children, was reddened, and a sheen of moisture welled up in his eyes.
"Good... good... it's good you're back!"
He stammered.
Tang Sui returned the embrace of her doting, anxious father and met her brother's somewhat disheveled gaze.
Tang San, struggling to suppress the killing intent radiating from his entire being, failed again when he met Tang Sui's eyes. A palpable, chilling aura surged outwards, but Tang Sui acted as if nothing had happened, smiling at him, "Brother, it seems your control over killing intent still needs training."
She said it half-jokingly, and her words managed to break the somber atmosphere, gradually easing the tension.
The lack of sunlight for over two years had made Tang San's skin significantly paler. Compared to Tang Sui's healthy, porcelain-like skin, it seemed as though their roles regarding frailty had been reversed.
A somewhat stiff smile played on Tang San's pale, handsome face. For the past two years, he had grown accustomed to presenting a cold facade, compounded by endless battles. He had almost forgotten how to smile.
"It really does need some training."
Meanwhile, the heavy stone that had been weighing on Tang Hao's heart finally lifted. Touching his younger daughter and confirming she wasn't an illusion, Tang Hao finally let go of Tang Sui. He placed his large hand on her shoulder and turned her around, "Quick, let me see if you're injured anywhere! It was my fault just now, I thought someone else had found their way here and didn't realize it was you. Let me see if you've suffered any frostbite."
He hadn't known it was Sui Sui, and had released such powerful killing intent.
He also wondered if Sui Sui had been frostbitten.
Tang Sui obediently allowed Tang Hao to examine her.
"Coming out of the Slaughter City, you must have suffered a lot these past three years?"
Even through her clothes, Tang Hao felt his younger daughter was thin. His eyes reddened as he said this.
Recalling that these past three years had mostly involved exploiting others for labor while she lived a rather comfortable life, Tang Sui: "..."
She offered an awkward yet polite smile, "No, I was doing quite well in the Slaughter City. I didn't suffer much, Dad."
After speaking, Tang Sui subtly winked at Tang San. This unspoken understanding still existed between them, and Tang San, catching her cue, conveniently changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, Sui Sui, we've only been apart for a few days, but why do I feel like you're even stronger now than when I saw you on Hell's Road?"
Tang Hao also stopped turning her and frowned, "Sui Sui, what's your spirit power level now?"
Even though it was just for a moment, the spirit power aura he had just sensed suggested—
Tang Sui smiled slyly and nimbly broke free from her father's grasp, stepping back three paces.
"Buzzing—"
Six spirit rings, shimmering with radiance, emerged from beneath Tang Sui's feet. The sixth, a scarlet ring, stung the eyes of both father and son.
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring!?"
Father and son exclaimed in unison, their faces revealing deep shock.
"Sui Sui, you encountered a Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit beast in the Slaughter City!?" After the shock, Tang Hao's heart was filled with a profound sense of dread, his expression becoming tense, devoid of any joy.
Even Tang San watched Tang Sui anxiously, his eyes tinged with a purplish-gold hue, fearing that Tang Sui was hiding injuries.
But—
"Whoosh—!"
A burning pain shot through his eyes. Tang San was forced to close them, no longer daring to use his Purple Demon Eyes on Tang Sui.
"Why are there only four masks?!"
Tang Hao's startled exclamation rang out. Tang San opened his still-burning eyes and then noticed that Tang Sui now had an additional mask behind her, resembling an old man's face!
"Dad, Brother, this is the God of Fortune. It is because of its existence that I was able to obtain a Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit ring. Of course, the greatest credit goes to the Slaughter King and Snake Uncle. Before they left, they gave me a... spirit bone. I absorbed the energy from the spirit bone, my spirit power level increased, reaching level 60." Su Dan Novel Network.
Tang Sui raised her hand, and the God of Fortune obediently floated closer. "When I condensed my sixth spirit ring, the God of Fortune's inherent luck attribute influenced me, allowing me to break through three levels directly. My current spirit power has reached level 63!"
Tang Hao trembled, a brilliant light appearing in his eyes. "63?! You're less than 20 years old and you've already reached the Spirit Emperor level! Combined with you obtaining the Slaughter God Domain like Xiao San, this talent is simply..."
"Dad, I don't have the Slaughter God Domain." Tang Sui soothed her excited father. Her brother Tang San's gaze narrowed, and he pursed his lips. The agitated Tang Hao also felt as though a basin of cold water had been thrown on him. His rising flame rapidly cooled, his surprise even greater than when he had seen Tang Sui's four masks.
"You don't have the Slaughter God Domain?! Didn't you come out of Hell's Road?"
Tang Sui, however, remained calm, even responding with acceptance, "Perhaps it's because the bloodline I inherited is rather special."
She vaguely alluded to her bloodline. Tang Hao, who only knew that his wife Ah Yin was a Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit beast, froze. The joy of Tang Sui's rapid increase in spirit power completely vanished, replaced by worry and anxiety.
"This... Ah Yin once said that spirit beasts are in their juvenile stage before reaching level 60. During this stage, spirit masters above the Spirit Douluo rank can detect them. But after level 60, they become much safer, entering maturity, and even Titled Douluo cannot discern them."
"Generally speaking, Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit beasts, after transforming or becoming human, will develop towards a complete human form. But your situation, Sui Sui... why does it feel completely reversed?"
Considering his younger daughter's growth trajectory, Tang Hao began to feel a sense of unease.
— Author's Notes —
I've saved some drafts in advance~ I'll update earlier today~ See you tomorrow~