...
Upon hearing Qin Ming's final, resolute warning, Flander fell completely silent. If he had previously harbored a sliver of hope that he could use his seniority to his advantage in dealing with Xuan Hao, that hope had now been utterly shattered.
Emotional debts are always the hardest to sever, especially for Liu Erlong, whose youth was wasted by twenty years!
Flanders shook his head with a wry smile and slumped against the wall.
It seems that Xiao Gang has really kicked a hornet's nest this time, one that is not only tough but also adheres to the principles of morality and ethics.
...
On the other side.
The exit of the one-on-one duel area in the Soto Arena.
Tang San, who had just finished tonight's solo soul battle, was walking out of the player tunnel, rubbing his slightly sore shoulders.
Although he won the match with his exquisite Ghostly Shadows and Crane Control Dragon Capture, the shadow in his heart had lingered for months since he lost Xiao Wu, and he looked depressed and lonely.
Just as he was looking down, preparing to return to the Shrek rest area.
They bumped right into Xiao Wu, who had just finished her solo battle and was on her way to meet up with Zhu Zhuqing to form a team.
"Xiao Wu..."
Tang San stopped abruptly, his gaze instantly fixed on the beautiful figure he had been longing for.
He hadn't seen Xiao Wu this close for several months.
Although he knew that Xiao Wu had been training with Xuan Hao in the woods outside Soto City all this time, he simply didn't have the courage to go outside the city to find her.
Whenever Tang San thought of Xuan Hao's unfathomable strength and domineering attitude, a strong sense of powerlessness would well up in his heart.
Upon meeting here, Tang San's heart suddenly raced.
He opened his mouth, but felt his throat go dry and his legs as heavy as lead.
He hesitated, wondering whether he should take the initiative to go up and say hello.
Just as Tang San was hesitating, Xiao Wu had already noticed him.
To Tang San's surprise, Xiao Wu did not deliberately avoid him.
Instead, she ran over with light steps, just like before, with a bright smile on her face that was free of any complicated emotions.
"Hey, what a coincidence!" Xiao Wu waved with a smile.
"Were you also playing a single-player Soul Arena just now?"
"Ah...yes, that's right."
Seeing Xiao Wu's open and honest smile, Tang San felt even more embarrassed.
He rubbed his hands awkwardly and forced a smile as he replied, "I just finished a match and am about to go back."
"How's your competition going lately?"
Xiao Wu asked casually, like an old friend.
"It went fairly smoothly," Tang San said, forcing himself to stay alert.
"Aside from a few powerful attack-type Soul Masters whose Martial Souls are quite troublesome, I was able to handle most of the other opponents."
"That's good!"
Xiao Wu gave a thumbs up without hesitation, her tone full of affirmation:
"Actually, Xiao San, you're really amazing! Although your stats aren't as outrageous as Brother Xuan Hao's, your bizarre techniques and footwork are really hard to deal with.
Especially your... those hidden weapons."
At this point, Xiao Wu lowered her voice, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes:
"If it weren't for the rules of this Great Soul Arena that prohibit the use of your hidden weapons... I dare say that among those of the same level, at least below the Soul King level, no one could be your match!"
Hearing Xiao Wu acknowledge his strength as before, Tang San's previously lifeless heart couldn't help but flutter slightly, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.
"Xiao Wu, I..."
Tang San was about to say something to continue the conversation when Xiao Wu turned her head away.
She saw Zhu Zhuqing waving at her from afar, so she smiled apologetically at Tang San and said, "Oh dear, Zhuqing is calling me.
We need to go prepare for the upcoming two-on-two Soul Battle. Tang San, I'll be going now, see you later!"
After saying that, Xiao Wu didn't even give Tang San a chance to stop her, and turned around and ran towards Zhu Zhuqing.
"..."
Watching Xiao Wu's retreating figure, Tang San's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
The smile on his lips gradually turned bitter, and his eyes dimmed once more.
He could sense that although Xiao Wu's attitude towards him was still friendly, it was only the friendliness she showed to a "friend".
That bond of once being able to talk about anything and being so close was completely severed the day Xuan Hao appeared.
In the end, Tang San said nothing, turned around dejectedly, and dragged his heavy steps toward the Shrek Academy rest area.
...
However, this scene of Tang San and Xiao Wu meeting.
This includes Tang San's depressed and even somewhat dejected state.
Every single word was read into the eyes of a man hidden in a large black cloak a hundred meters away, in a secluded corner.
"That good-for-nothing brat..."
A strong sense of disappointment and frustration flashed in the eyes of the man in the black robe, hidden beneath his cloak.
This man is none other than Tang Hao, the Haotian Douluo who secretly protects Tang San!
Tang Hao felt extremely irritated seeing his son's dejected state. He had been hoping that Yu Xiaogang, that so-called theoretical master, could properly enlighten Tang San and bring his mind back to cultivation.
But now it seems that several months have passed, and Tang San's Dao heart has not only not recovered, but has become increasingly depressed!
For the past few months, Tang Hao has been hiding in the shadows, even using some clandestine channels to investigate the background of "Xuan Hao," who suddenly appeared and forcibly took Xiao Wu away.
The results of the investigation made even the once arrogant Haotian Douluo feel a deep sense of apprehension!
Xuan Hao's background is extremely complicated!
He not only has close ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, one of the three upper sects, but even the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire calls him brother!
There are also some secret rumors that this kid actually comes from an ancient and powerful hidden family, whose background is so unfathomable that even the Spirit Hall dares not provoke him easily!
It was precisely because of this complex and terrifying intelligence that Tang Hao hesitated to rashly seek trouble with Xuan Hao.
After all, in Tang Hao's view, this kind of top genius with a terrifying background and the huge power behind him could be completely won over in the future and used as a powerful force for him and his son to take revenge on the Spirit Hall!
If he were to rashly offend such a terrifying force over a little girl's romantic entanglement, his revenge plan, which he had been scheming for over a decade, would definitely become troublesome, and he might even lose everything!
In Tang Hao's view, the best outcome would be for Tang San to be able to establish some kind of in-depth cooperative relationship with Xuan Hao through his own means!
"but..."
Tang Hao's gaze, peering through his cloak, was fixed on Xiao Wu, who was chatting and laughing with Zhu Zhuqing in the distance, and his brows furrowed tightly.
What puzzled and troubled him equally was Xiao Wu's problem.
Xiao Wu is a 100,000-year-old transformed soul beast.
He recognized this as early as six years ago when he secretly followed Tang San to Notting Academy and saw Xiao Wu for the first time.
But why would this soul beast, which should have been cultivating deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, know a noble genius like Xuan Hao?
Moreover, judging from how they get along, their relationship is quite close, and they could never have just met in Soto City!
If they already knew each other... then why did Xiaowu suddenly appear alone in the remote city of Nottingham back then?
The most crucial question—
Does Xuan Hao, with his unfathomable background, actually know Xiao Wu's true identity?!
"There are just too many variables involved."
Tang Hao clenched his fist in the shadows.
Reason told him that this pool of water was deep, and a slight misstep could draw him into a dangerous vortex.
However, looking at Tang San's increasingly despondent Dao heart, and these unsolved mysteries surrounding Xuan Hao and Xiao Wu…
Tang Hao took a deep breath.
It seems he has no choice but to personally go and make contact with that kid named Xuan Hao.
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