Standing up, Tang Xiao met the awe-filled gazes of the two elders and the unmistakable questioning look in the eyes of his younger brother, Tang Hao.
"Haha… didn't I tell you, Brother Hao?" Tang Xiao laughed lightly. "I researched the Great Sumeru Hammer for weeks. In the end, I realized that unlike all of you, I can replace the lastly added soul ring without damaging my martial soul's origin."
"I was afraid you would worry if I told you earlier, so I hid my intentions until the very last moment."
Tang Xiao knew he had to explain things to these people.
It wouldn't matter much even if Tang Hao tried the ring-detonation technique and damaged his martial soul origin. But he absolutely did not wish for these two elders to attempt anything reckless.
Although they were old, all seven elders possessed the potential to become Titled Douluo within twenty years. Some—like the First Elder and Second Elder—could even break through within five years, having already reached level eighty-nine long ago with deep and solid accumulation.
In this world, survival and dominance were never about reaching the peak alone.
Even if one day his battle power reached a level where he could simultaneously contend against Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi, if he truly wished to establish himself and feel completely unthreatened beneath the colossal shadow of Spirit Hall—with its numerous Titled Douluo—he would still need capable people standing behind him.
And who could be more loyal than these people?
They were of the same clan, shared the same bloodline. There was no need for further explanation. With bloodline suppression alone, Tang Xiao could keep all seven elders firmly under control.
If possible, Tang Xiao also hoped that Tang Hao would obediently become one of his own.
Even if Tang Hao harbored some minor thoughts, it didn't matter. Tang Xiao was magnanimous—he was willing to give him time, and a chance.
After all, Tang Hao's potential far surpassed that of the seven elders. Now that Tang Xiao had become the Sect Leader, such talent was something he valued deeply.
But alas…
Who made Tang Hao take a soul beast as his wife?
Because he was eyeing Ah Yin, it was inevitable that the two of them would someday walk the path of hatred.
…
Hearing Tang Xiao's explanation, both the elders and Tang Hao nodded slowly, understanding dawning in their eyes.
"How is the harvest, big brother?" Tang Hao asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
The two elders were equally eager. After all, this was their first time witnessing someone absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Even Tang Chen had never possessed one.
Seeing their expressions, Tang Xiao smiled calmly and spoke.
"The harvest… is plentiful. I obtained two powerful soul skills—both are extremely strong attack-type abilities."
Within the soul master world, revealing one's soul ring abilities was taboo. Tang Xiao naturally spoke in vague terms.
"Other than that, the greatest change lies in my martial soul. Its weight has increased severalfold and has now reached nearly seventy thousand jin. How is that?"
As he spoke, Tang Xiao smiled brightly at each of them, confidence and ease radiating from him.
"Big brother… what did you say?" Tang Hao froze, suspecting he had misheard.
"Seventy… seventy thousand jin?" The Second Elder's voice trembled, catching in his throat.
"That's… more than five times the weight of our hammers…"
Seeing their stunned expressions, Tang Xiao patiently explained.
"You all should know that my Clear Sky Hammer is two and a half times heavier than yours to begin with. If it were any of you who absorbed this hundred-thousand-year soul ring, the improvement would only be around twenty thousand jin."
"Only because it was me did its weight increase by nearly fifty thousand jin."
As he spoke, Tang Xiao subconsciously verified the numbers in his mind, comparing them to Tang San's hammer from the original novel—which, with four red soul rings and four black soul rings, exceeded one hundred thousand jin in weight.
Each black soul ring of around seventy thousand years increased the hammer's weight by roughly five thousand jin, while each red soul ring increased it by about twenty thousand jin.
His calculations were precise.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul ring brings such a terrifying improvement to the Clear Sky Hammer?" Tang Hao felt his blood surge violently.
For those who understood the Great Sumeru Hammer technique, an increase in hammer weight meant an explosive rise in strength.
With his twelve-thousand-jin hammer, he had once shattered a Titled Douluo's leg.
If it were a thirty-two-thousand-jin hammer…
Wouldn't that send someone flying like a shooting star?
The elders' breathing also grew heavy, their chests rising and falling sharply.
Even if they didn't cultivate the Great Sumeru Hammer like Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, hammer weight was equally vital to those practicing the Disorder Wind Splitting Hammer Technique.
In fact, this applied to all Clear Sky Hammer users.
"Don't worry," Tang Xiao said calmly. "Since you accompanied me on this hunt, when you reach level ninety, if you truly encounter a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, I don't mind helping you obtain one."
This promise struck deeply into their hearts.
In the future, whether to complete his own soul bone slots or Ning Ruoyan's, Tang Xiao would inevitably hunt many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Since some soul rings would go unused, giving them to these people was only natural.
If they obtained hundred-thousand-year soul rings, even if they couldn't match him, they would still be able to fight one or two levels above their cultivation.
With bright and intoxicating thoughts swirling in their minds, the elders began excavating a new cave for rest. Night had already fallen, and they needed to recover their soul power for the next journey.
…
Spirit City.
Spirit Hall Orphanage.
It was a grand and dignified complex, its area comparable to Tang Xiao's own mansion. As one of Spirit Hall's three main orphanages, its architecture was orderly, its grounds clean and expansive, with complete and well-maintained facilities.
Around one thousand orphans under the age of six lived here.
Although the care provided wasn't extravagant, as one of Spirit Hall's methods of winning hearts, the children at least lived comfortably—never lacking food, warmth, or clean clothing.
At this moment, a delicate-looking woman in her late thirties appeared at the entrance.
She wore a luxurious yet understated light-green dress that flowed elegantly around her figure. Her features were gentle yet sharp, her bearing noble. As she deliberately released her aura, an invisible pressure swept across the orphanage grounds.
Almost instantly, the orphanage director rushed out.
He was a Soul Ancestor, yet sweat poured down his forehead like rain.
"Show me around," the woman said calmly. "I want to adopt a child."
"Yes, yes—this way, please. I'll lead you personally."
The director bowed slightly, his face full of deference as he hurried ahead.
This is just a small orphanage… why do people like you insist on releasing your aura and terrifying us little folk…
The director felt like crying inside, but he didn't dare voice a single complaint.
Judging from her aura, this woman was at least a Soul Saint—and judging by her presence, she was clearly not someone to offend. He didn't dare delay and personally guided her through the buildings, introducing each child one by one.
"Introduce their names and ages as well," the beautiful woman said, her gaze sweeping carefully over each child, attentive and focused, as if searching for something important.
"Yes, yes. This child is Bai Yu, three years old…"
At her command, the director gestured for an assistant to bring the register and began introducing them meticulously.
…
An hour later, the woman exited the orphanage gates with graceful, unhurried steps.
Behind her followed three children—one girl and two boys—around three or four years old. Their small hands clenched tightly as nervous anticipation flickered across their faces.
Inside a luxurious, soft-cushioned carriage that rolled swiftly out of Spirit City toward the Star Luo Empire—
"You three must engrave one thing deeply into your hearts," the woman said softly, her voice carrying unquestionable authority.
"From today onward, you belong to the Clear Sky Sect. The life you will live from now on is bestowed by the grace of my lord."
The woman was Ya Fei—a level seventy-five Soul Saint and one of the two personal guards who had followed Ning Ruoyan to the Clear Sky Sect after her marriage.
Having grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and trained since childhood, she was fiercely loyal to Ning Ruoyan and absolutely trustworthy.
Receiving an incomprehensible mission to search for three children who hadn't even awakened their martial souls, she had arrived in Spirit City a month ago without asking a single question.
With only three names and vague clues regarding their whereabouts, she searched orphanage after orphanage.
Finally—after a full month—she found them.
Although many doubts stirred within her heart about how her lord had come into contact with these children, she suppressed them completely and devoted herself to fulfilling the task.
Yes.
The three children seated before her were none other than Spirit Hall's future golden generation—Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan.
Sitting obediently before Ya Fei, their small backs straight and eyes wide, they listened intently and nodded repeatedly, engraving every word deeply into their hearts.
Seeing this, Ya Fei smiled faintly and began instilling more… ahem… ideology into their young minds.
Having grown up under the highest standards of education in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, even if she wasn't outstanding in many areas, when it came to this—she was exceptionally proficient.