The twin springs, one red and one blue, occupied the natural pool like Yin and Yang.
The unique spiritual energy environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well allowed the spirit plants, once harvested by Tang San down to their seeds, to sprout and grow anew. Eight years had passed in the blink of an eye. The once barren basin was now overgrown with various spirit plants, maturing into heavenly treasures that only needed time to ripen.
At the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well intersection, a colossal Blue Silver Emperor plant covered an area of several dozen square meters, its blades spreading out across the ground, each over two feet wide.
Thin sunlight filtered down from above, illuminating the golden patterns etched onto the leaves and stems, making them gleam like gold.
A tall and sturdy figure leaped from a smaller stone peak on the other side of the valley. In his left hand, he held a large green leaf, which contained a few freshly picked wild fruits.
The Blue Silver Emperor vines, which had been lazily basking in the sun, began to rustle and move. Its main body, rooted in the fertile soil, lifted its hanging branches slightly, swaying gently towards the approaching figure as if in greeting.
The person who landed on the ground slowly approached the Blue Silver Emperor, but he only had one leg and one foot. His other hand and leg were solidified by soul power into illusory forms.
Yet, he paid it no mind.
These past four years spent in the valley had made him accustomed to the changes in his limbs.
Even though they were merely soul power imitations, they obeyed his will as if they were his own.
"Ah Yin, I'm back," Tang Hao greeted his wife in a gentle voice.
The moment his words fell, the Blue Silver Emperor本体, which had been swaying in the breeze, lit up with a faint fluorescence. Immediately, a blue-gold light bloomed from every leaf bearing golden patterns, condensing above into the spectral image of a woman in an indigo dress.
Her form was semi-transparent, but when Tang Hao extended his right hand, materialized from soul power, towards her, it was met with touch.
Being able to truly touch his wife's soul form, Tang Hao's eyes held even more warmth. A faint smile appeared on his rugged face, and he said with a sigh of contentment, "Coming to the Sunset Forest was indeed the right decision. I never expected the environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to be so exceptionally gifted. If Sui Sui and Xiao San knew you could already manifest in a soul state, they would be overjoyed."
Mentioning their children, Ah Yin's smile faded slightly, and her brow furrowed with worry.
"It's been almost five years... I wonder how Sui Sui and Xiao San are doing... especially..." More than half a year ago, her bloodline connection was suddenly severed, leaving her frantic.
Tang Hao's smile also dimmed. He sighed and clasped his wife's semi-transparent hand, his steady voice carrying a unique sense of reassurance. "They are very clever. With Sui Sui and Xiao San's abilities, they will be fine."
More than half a year ago, the sudden severing of their bloodline connection had plunged Ah Yin into anxiety.
However, at that time, she was unable to manifest her soul. Without the ability to communicate through the spiritual space, she was extremely anxious, which led her to prematurely condense her soul form. Crying, she told him that Tang Sui's bloodline connection was broken. Tang Hao's expression changed. While comforting his wife, he summoned the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python, asking them to help guard his wife, while he set off for Shrek Academy to investigate.
It was only later that Tang Hao received a personal letter delivered by a swift swallow from the Tang Sect. The letter stated that all nine of their children were together on Sea God Island and were currently safe, which finally eased their anxiety and worry, though their hearts still ached with concern.
Ah Yin hummed in response and squeezed her husband's hand. Her gaze fell on the green leaf package in his arms. She let out a soft breath, about to change the subject, when a strange and powerful aura suddenly intruded upon their senses.
Sensing the uninvited guest's presence in the wind, the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves rustled. The gentle look in Ah Yin's eyes was replaced by vigilance. Tang Hao's aura shifted abruptly. The green leaf package was instantly stowed away in a soul tool. His enormous, dark Haotian Hammer was held firmly in one hand, and his sharp, powerful pressure, accompanied by a chilling killing intent, carefully avoided Ah Yin's soul and本体 as it spread out into the air.
"Who's there?!" Tang Hao roared, a white light shooting from his eyes. His solidified killing intent instantly condensed into sharp ice spikes that shot upwards.
Mid-air, a figure cloaked in black keenly sensed the attack and agilely somersaulted in the air, evading the ice spikes. Su Dan Novel Network.
Tang Hao's brow furrowed sharply. His body's center of gravity shifted forward. With a flash of movement, like a projectile from a cannon, he swung his enormous, dark Haotian Hammer, smashing it down towards the black-robed figure's landing spot.
As if anticipating the move and unable to dodge, the black-robed figure slightly raised its head, and a strand of black hair playfully escaped from beneath the half-open veil.
"Ding—!"
A black and red barrier rose, like an impenetrable fortress, protecting the black-robed figure within. It met Tang Hao's hammer strike head-on, sending the figure back several meters like a heavy bowling ball, and gouging a long streak in the ground.
Not soul power? A strange thought flashed through Tang Hao's mind.
And the aura emanating from the barrier made Ah Yin's expression instantly change:
"This aura... Be careful, Hao! They are not human!"
Ah Yin, more sensitive to racial auras, looked at the black-robed figure, which had a human shape but was not human, with disbelief and trepidation.
Tang Hao was momentarily stunned, then his face turned cold as he looked at the intruder and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
The black-robed figure paused, seemingly about to speak. In the next second, a threatening bull's roar and another ape's cry simultaneously shook the heavens.
The air in the wind suddenly turned sharp. As a massive black shadow enveloped the black-robed figure, the figure flickered and distorted within the black and red barrier, dodging another enormous beast silhouette that descended from the sky, making the entire valley seem to tremble twice, standing tall like a mountain.
"Er Ming!" Ah Yin cried out joyfully upon seeing the arriving beast.
The Titan Giant Ape nodded slightly towards Ah Yin, then turned its wary gaze to the uninvited guest.
The moment their auras were exposed, it and its elder brother, who had relocated to the center of the Sunset Forest, had sensed it.
Upon discovering the intruder's location, it and its elder brother immediately rushed over.
Then, a slender and massive bull's head, shimmering with blue light, snaked down from above. Looking down at the black-robed figure, who had been forced into a corner by them, it exhaled a puff of white mist from its nostrils and spoke in a human voice:
"Are you... a primordial ancient beast?"
Primordial ancient beast? Hearing the words, a flash of insight struck Tang Hao's mind.
This time, he caught that flash of insight.
Tang Hao, holding the Haotian Hammer, had his thoughts short-circuited for two seconds. Recalling something, his gaze towards the black-robed figure before him became tinged with excitement.
Could it be that...
Facing the gazes of everyone, the black-robed figure extended a fair hand from beneath its wide black sleeve, slowly raising it to grasp the edge of the veil and gently pull it down.
The shadow cast by the falling black veil receded, revealing another exquisite face under Tang Hao's and the others' scrutiny.
A lock of black hair, pressed down by the brim of the hat, playfully curled upwards like Tang Sui's trembling, upturned eyelashes. It slowly lifted, revealing clear blue pupils.
"Dad, Mom, and Da Ming, Er Ming, long time no see. I'm back."