Chapter 180: The Skull of Tang Hao
Tang San had originally promised Tang Yuehua that he would take her with him to the Star Dou Forest.
But considering the possibility of encountering Long Chen and Dugu Bo in the forest center, he decided not to bring her.
After all, she only had level nine Soul Power and could not even be considered a Soul Master.
Although she possessed a special innate Domain—the Aristocratic Ring, which could suppress negative emotions, it would be extremely dangerous if she really encountered Long Chen.
Tang San and his group arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiao Wu led them and quickly headed toward the forest center.
As the team went deeper, the dense trees gradually became sparse, and an open area came into view, dotted with a clear small lake in the center.
The water shimmered, reflecting the broken scene all around.
This small lake was once the territory of the Azure Bull Python and was also the shared home of Xiao Wu and the other two.
But at this moment, the air was no longer filled with the tranquility and harmony of the past, but with the murderous and desolate atmosphere left behind by the battle.
Looking at the scene before her, Xiao Wu felt immense grief in her heart.
This place was once filled with laughter from her, the Titan Giant Ape, and the Azure Bull Python, but now it had become devastated.
"Teacher, Sect Master Ning, we encountered Long Chen and Dugu Bo right here."
Tang San's gaze searched the surroundings, trying to find a trace of his father in the ruined scene, but only a deathly silence responded to him.
Everyone looked around, shocked by the scenes of destruction caused by that great battle.
Yu Xiaogang said:
"Let us search the surroundings; do not spread out too much, and be careful."
Everyone nodded, understanding what Yu Xiaogang meant.
If Tang Hao had exploded and died, perhaps they could still find fragments of his body.
They began to split up and cautiously searched the lakeside for possible clues.
"I found something!"
Suddenly, an exclamation broke the silence.
A Soul Master discovered something in the grass not far away and quickly called Tang San to come and check.
Tang San stepped forward quickly, and the sight before him made his heart tighten.
It was a skull of white bone, lying alone in the weeds, and it seemed to still retain a hint of a familiar aura.
Seeing the shape and size of the skull, Tang San's heart sank to the bottom.
"Father..."
Tang San's voice was low and hoarse, his eyes reddened.
He could not believe that this was truly his father's skull.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu gently held Tang San's hand, offering him silent comfort.
Yu Xiaogang, Ning Fengzhi, and the others also rushed over.
The thing they least wanted to happen had happened; Tang Hao had truly exploded and died, leaving no remains.
This cruel reality plunged everyone into silence and sorrow.
Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San on the shoulder and comforted him:
"Xiao San, it has come to this, please restrain your grief."
Tang San took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.
Although he had long expected this result, seeing his father reduced to just a skull was still hard to accept.
However, he also knew that now was not the time to wallow in grief; he had to be strong, for his father and for everyone who cared about him.
Ning Fengzhi said:
"Xiao San, let us search around more to see if there are any other discoveries."
Tang San nodded, fantasizing about finding more of his father's remaining bones.
He still held a glimmer of hope, thinking that the six Soul Bones on his father's body might have been scattered to various corners of the forest due to the explosion.
The group continued searching.
Several hours passed, but they found nothing except for the skull discovered at the very beginning.
Tang San also did not find any Soul Bones, nor did he feel even a trace of Soul Power fluctuation.
This could not help but make him feel frustrated.
His father was once a legendary figure on the Douluo Continent, yet he died at the hands of Long Chen and Dugu Bo, and without even a whole body, only a skull remained.
Things having reached this point meant that the six Soul Bones on his father's body had very likely fallen into the hands of Long Chen and Dugu Bo.
Thinking of this, Tang San felt resentful and his anger flared up again.
He silently swore that he must avenge his father and tear Long Chen into pieces.
Tang San carefully put the skull into his Soul Guidance Device, intending to find an opportunity to bring it back to the Clear Sky Sect to incite Sect Master Tang Xiao and the members of the Clear Sky Sect to help him take revenge.
The sky was getting dark.
Ning Fengzhi looked around and said slowly:
"Xiao San, we did not encounter Long Chen and Dugu Bo this time; they might not be in the forest center. Even so, we cannot let our guard down. It is getting dark, so let us rest here for the night and leave tomorrow morning. After returning to Heaven Dou City and reporting to His Majesty, we will deliberate further."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement.
Tang San suddenly frowned, seeming to have a different idea.
"Sect Master Ning, Teacher, I suspect that Long Chen and Dugu Bo are not in the Star Dou Great Forest. Dugu Bo setting up the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Venom Array in the forest might just be a ruse to induce us."
Ning Fengzhi and Yu Xiaogang looked at each other, somewhat puzzled.
"Xiao San, if you have something to say, just say it."
Tang San continued his analysis:
"If I am not mistaken, Long Chen and Dugu Bo might be hiding in the Sunset Forest. Those Immortal Herbs that helped them evolve their Martial Souls and rapidly increase their Soul Power might also have been found in the Sunset Forest."
"Sunset Forest?"
Mentioning Immortal Herbs, Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up.
As the number one Auxiliary Type Soul Master in the world, Ning Fengzhi was also unable to break through the limitations of his Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, his Soul Power stuck at the bottleneck of level seventy-nine.
He knew that Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul had evolved into a more comprehensive and powerful Martial Soul precisely because of the assistance of an Immortal Herb, even threatening the status of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul.
If he could obtain a suitable Immortal Herb, perhaps he could break through the limitations of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul and take his strength a step further.
Ning Fengzhi also thought of his daughter, Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong was still young; if she could be fortunate enough to obtain an Immortal Herb, perhaps her Martial Soul could also evolve like Ye Lingling's, and her Soul Power could increase rapidly.
Yu Xiaogang appeared calm on the surface, but his inner heart was surging with undercurrents.
As a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he should have awakened the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, but he had accidentally awakened the mutated Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao.
For many years, even though he had made many efforts, his Soul Power had always been unable to break through level thirty.
Tang San had once told him that if there were a suitable Immortal Herb, it could help him achieve a breakthrough.
He also did not want to carry the reputation of "trash" and longed to prove himself.
If he could break through level thirty, the Golden Iron Triangle formed with Flender and Liu Erlong could join forces to unleash the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Golden Sacred Dragon, and unleash even greater power.
Ning Fengzhi said:
"Xiao San, the Sunset Forest is not far from Heaven Dou City; why don't we go and take a look after dawn?"
"Okay."
Tang San smiled and nodded.
He believed that with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo present, even if they encountered Long Chen and Dugu Bo, there would be no need to worry.