Chapter 14: Delusion Takes Effect
"The talent of the Clear Sky Douluo is very strong, there is no doubt about that, but at that time he had just achieved a Breakthrough to Titled Douluo. Facing Spirit Hall, he could only manage to repel them at the cost of being heavily injured himself,"
Yu Xiaogang pointed at the archives with regret, "How could he have escaped from the pursuit of so many Douluos afterward? It says a year here, but in reality, he was captured by Spirit Hall in less than a year."
"Spirit Hall is that powerful?"
Tang San looked at the Clear Sky Douluo he had just admired, who appeared so pathetic in Spirit Hall's secret reports; he had the illusion that his World was collapsing.
"The power of Spirit Hall?" Yu Xiaogang thought for a moment, could he say this? It seemed fine; Little San didn't know his future enemies would be Spirit Hall and that woman.
"Just from what I know, there are more than three Titled Douluos, and one of them has twin spirits just like you, Little San. Now can you imagine the power of Spirit Hall?
In that situation, how could the Clear Sky Douluo, who had just achieved a Breakthrough to Titled Douluo, escape pursuit? Spirit Hall hasn't made any big moves these years; isn't it precisely because they successfully captured him?
Otherwise, what else could it be?"
Internal strife within Spirit Hall? Impossible!
"So that means..." Tang San's eyes lit up.
Yu Xiaogang rubbed Tang San's head with relief: "That's right, your father is just a blacksmith with the same name. Rest easy and don't put pressure on yourself."
"Teacher, you saw through it?"
Tang San was even more stunned, followed by eyes full of gratitude. Such secret scrolls must be very hard to obtain, yet his teacher used them and spent so much effort just because of his momentary wild thoughts.
"Who told you that you are my most favored Disciple?" Yu Xiaogang saw Tang San's emotions surging and treated him with a face full of tenderness.
"Teacher..." Tang San's eyes were filled with emotion, and he couldn't help but hug this figure who wasn't strong but was tall in his eyes and always thinking of him.
"Alright, alright," Yu Xiaogang gently patted Tang San's shoulder, "Now that you know, set your mind at ease and study hard, Little San."
"Mm, Teacher!" Tang San nodded vigorously, but then he thought of something else from the conversation and curiosity welled up, "Right, the twin spirits you mentioned just now..."
"twin spirits, sigh..."
High up by the window, Tang Hao nodded repeatedly upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's explanation. Although it wasn't perfect and his teaching methods hadn't been explained, perhaps in Little San's heart, he was still just a mysterious blacksmith.
But it was good to leave a seed of doubt.
...
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. The rumors about Tang Hao gradually faded from people's sight. Tang San also regained his former lightheartedness and diligence, moving between the dormitory, cafeteria, Yu Xiaogang's study, and the classroom in a four-point routine.
He rarely went out and had even temporarily set aside the idea of looking for purple pole grass.
Mo Bai watched Tang San leaving the senior classroom quickly and noticed the change in attitude. It seemed Yu Xiaogang or Tang Hao had exerted some effort. Not bad, not bad, truly good teammates.
That Clear Sky Douluo, I've helped you like this, shouldn't you give me some Soul Bones as a reward?
The corners of Mo Bai's mouth curled up slightly. Then, he asked a classmate he didn't know well—who was nonetheless excited to be asked by him—to tell Tang San that there was news about the purple pole grass.
Seeing 10 gold coins in hand, that classmate immediately chased after Tang San's footsteps excitedly.
Meanwhile, Mo Bai returned to the dormitory and waited quietly for a knock. Not long after, a "thud thud thud" knocking sound rang out.
As soon as Mo Bai opened the door, he saw Tang San with eyes full of joy.
"Brother Mo Bai, I heard there's news about the purple pole grass?"
Mo Bai nodded with a smile and flipped his hand, revealing several purple, jade-like seeds the size of rice grains in his palm. "Actually, it's not news of purple pole grass in the Spirit Hunting Forest, but rather the seeds left behind after the purple pole grass I used withered."
This was a lie, but it didn't stop him from using it to lure Tang San. The rice grains in his hand were just ordinary grass seeds soaked in purple pole grass juice.
"I see..." Tang San's mood was clearly disappointed. The growth cycle of such a Spiritual Plant was at least 10 years. By then, although there would be hope, it would be a bit too late.
"Do you still want them?" Mo Bai asked back.
"Yes!" Tang San accepted them decisively. He reflexively wanted to take gold coins from his storage spirit tool, but his movement paused. Looking at Mo Bai's displeased expression, he withdrew the motion.
Brother Mo Bai had been very sensitive about this before. Taking them out now would be an insult to Brother Mo Bai just like last time; after all, Brother Mo Bai didn't lack this money.
Mo Bai nodded with satisfaction:
"It's good that you understand, Little San."
A small act of building trust and character was very effective.
"But thank you anyway, Brother Mo Bai!" Since money couldn't be used, saying thank you was fine. Tang San's face was full of sincerity.
Seeing this trusting appearance, Mo Bai once again put on a teasing smile:
"I heard the Clear Sky Douluo..."
"Sigh, Brother Mo Bai, you're at it again..." Hearing this topic again, his teacher's words flashed through Tang San's mind. "My father really isn't the Clear Sky Douluo; he's just a powerful blacksmith."
"How is that impossible? You have Innate Full Spirit Power. In my view, it's very likely."
Mo Bai said, feigning disbelief.
"Innate Full Spirit Power." Tang San's expression stiffened slightly. His Innate Full Spirit Power came from his own Cultivation and didn't have much to do with his parents.
But this point could not be spoken aloud.
His twin spirits couldn't be exposed either, so he could only deceive Brother Mo Bai once more.
"It's just a Martial Soul mutation. Such cases happen often; I just had better luck," Tang San sighed.
"Is that so?" Mo Bai appeared somewhat disappointed. Glancing at Tang San's nodding face, he asked with some doubt, "Then Little San, do you really think your father is just a somewhat powerful blacksmith?"
Delusion activated!
Tang San straightened his expression slightly, carefully recalling his teacher's words that day and the hard work his teacher had put in for him; every moment stimulated him.
If he still didn't believe it, wouldn't that be letting down his teacher and his teacher's efforts for him?
As for his father being a powerful blacksmith, he had heard his teacher mention a place called the City of Metal. Perhaps his father came from there, so...
"Probably."
[Listen! Tang San has believed your lie—that his father is a powerful blacksmith. Trust level 90%, Manifestation level 100%. Successfully manifested Tang Hao's hidden injuries erupting, Ring Explosion side effects activated. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh Soul Rings are shattered, and his cultivation has regressed!]
The System's voice slowly passed, and a scream that seemed to tear through the night sky came from a distance out of nowhere.
"Eh? What happened?" Tang San turned his head in confusion. Under his careful observation, there seemed to be a dark human figure falling in the distance.
Mo Bai placed both hands on Tang San's shoulders, forcibly turning him back and changing the subject, "Forget it, that's not important. I've already given you the grass seeds; as for how to plant them, that's your business."
Speaking of this, Mo Bai's heart stirred, "Just in case, maybe in the future you'll encounter a place that can multiply plant growth. You can try the effects of planting them yourself then."
"Haha, Brother Mo Bai, what are you saying? How could such a place exist in the World..." As Tang San said this, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and other Heaven And Earth Treasure locations recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record instantly flashed through his mind.
But this was another World; how could those things exist?
"What if they do?"
Mo Bai gave a mysterious smile and then said no more, pushing Tang San, "Alright, I won't delay your studies. When we meet again, I'll have things to do as well."
Mo Bai specifically emphasized the word "things."
"Then I won't disturb you, Brother Mo Bai. Goodbye." Tang San held the purple pole grass seeds and left decisively.