"Splash—!"
Amidst a piercing roar, a massive water curtain surged into the sky.
Beneath the waterfall, the figure that soared into the air was bathed in a bronze glow, shimmering like gold under the sunlight.
Eighty-one hammers. Tang San had lost count of how many sets of eighty-one hammers he had completed.
He plunged into the pool again, feeling the cool embrace of the water around him, and relaxed his body as much as possible.
He knew that for him, this was only a brief moment of relaxation. Next, he didn't know what kind of training method his father would devise for him.
In his hands, it was no longer a small forging hammer, but a colossal wooden hammer with a striking head two meters in diameter.
Yet, behind such a massive hammerhead, the handle was only as thick as a human arm.
If one were to simply lift this wooden hammer normally, the handle would likely snap under its weight. But Tang San, with his ingenious control of strength, had used it to complete the eighty-one hammers under the waterfall.
Nine months of honing had brought the Chaotic Wind Hammering Technique to its peak. Even Tang Sui, who had already swung it more than thirty times, likely couldn't endure the relentless strikes under the waterfall as Tang San did.
Wearing only loose black trousers, Tang San walked slowly out of the pool, water droplets rolling off his defined, wheat-colored muscles.
"Xiao San."
A broad, thick palm entered Tang San's vision. He looked up, pausing in surprise. He hadn't expected Tang Hao to be waiting for him by the shore this time, nor to extend a hand.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Tang San recovered, extending his right hand to grasp his father's. With a slight pull, he easily stepped out of the water weeds and onto the bank.
Just as Tang San had anticipated, his father was indeed waiting for him by the shore. But unlike before, as he was about to come ashore, his father's rough hand appeared before him.
It had been exactly one year since Tang Hao brought him to this deep valley.
Over this past year, Tang San had changed significantly. Besides growing taller, almost reaching Tang Hao's height, his skin had also taken on a wheat-colored hue from constant exposure to sun and wind.
His features were refined, shedding the immaturity of youth and gaining a touch of adult composure and resilience.
Even though he was not yet an adult, just shy of sixteen, he was already a composed young man, no longer a "boy."
In just one year, Tang San's spirit power had leaped from level forty-two to fifty. This rapid and formidable progress was likely unparalleled in the spirit master world.
However, when he thought of his sister, who had entered the Spirit King rank even earlier, Tang San felt that his own path was still a long way off.
Thinking of his sister brought a trace of worry to Tang San's brow. He looked at Tang Hao, who still lived a rough life, and asked in a clear voice, "Dad, have you heard from Sui Sui recently?"
Over the past year, it wasn't just Tang Hao who had been trying to obtain information about Tang Sui. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Shrek Academy had also been actively seeking any news of her.
However, to their surprise, despite offering bounties and monitoring the Spirit Hall's activities, there was no news of Tang Sui.
Tang Hao remained silent for a moment. His slightly chapped lips moved, and he uttered a hoarse, low reply: "...No."
Tang San's clear eyes dimmed slightly. "Is that so..."
Father and son looked at each other in silence.
Finally, Tang Hao, lost in thought, glanced at Tang San and asked a question that surprised him: "Xiao San, do you think you are strong now?"
Tang San paused. Another small, delicate figure suddenly appeared in his mind, her cold eyes seeming to hold a half-smile. He tightened his grip on the colossal wooden hammer and replied softly, shaking his head, "Not at all. I am still very far from it."
Even though he had mastered the Chaotic Wind Hammering Technique and his spirit power had reached the Spirit King rank, Tang San knew he still had many shortcomings.
Especially compared to Sui Sui, he felt he was still far from sufficient.
Over the past year, Tang Hao had also gained a deeper understanding of his elder son's character. He was not surprised by Tang San's answer and immediately countered, "Since you believe you are not strong enough, do you know where you are still lacking?"
Tang San pondered for a moment and gave an answer that somewhat surprised Tang Hao: "I think what I lack is life-and-death combat experience against strong opponents."
A flicker of admiration crossed Tang Hao's eyes. He continued from Tang San's statement, "Correct, but you've only spoken half the truth. What you truly lack is something even more important in actual combat."
"More important?" Tang San stared at Tang Hao, bewildered.
Tang Hao said gravely, "While life and death are indeed one of the elements of true combat, there is something more crucial: pure killing intent!"
The moment he finished speaking, Tang San's pupils constricted, as if he had glimpsed something terrifying.
As Tang Hao's final syllable faded, an intensely cold aura suddenly emanated from him.
This aura seemed to lack any explosive power, but as it enveloped Tang San, he felt as if he had plunged into an ice cellar. Every hair on his body stood on end, like a startled tiger cub. His eyes widened, and he almost instinctively growled at his father.
Cold, sinister, evil, terrifying.
A powerful, trembling killing intent, like a fearsome beast, loomed over him, the minuscule him.
That chilling aura was exactly like the one Tang San had felt from Tang Sui, a terrifying malevolence that could only be acquired by enduring countless battles and stepping over countless skeletons.
Tang San clearly felt that everything about him seemed to be slowing down under this immense killing intent. Even his Purple Demon Eyes, empowered by the Purple Extreme Divine Light, dared not meet Tang Hao's gaze. He had already lost the battle of aura.
What surprised Tang San even more was that the water droplets running down his body seemed to slow.
Centered around Tang Hao, the surging cold air, upon touching his skin, rapidly invaded his body. The water droplets on his skin gradually froze into tiny ice beads.
"Do you feel it? This is the pure killing intent you lack."
The terrifying killing intent receded like a tide. Tang Hao looked at Tang San, whose eyes gradually lit up as he recovered.