Tang Wulin worked very hard to earn money. Every day, he went to the forging room to forge, then took the metal to the Blacksmithing Association to turn in quests. Every day, he was so exhausted that he would collapse face-down on his bed as soon as he returned to the dormitory, completely unconscious.
Was it love?
Was it responsibility?
Perhaps both. But Tang Wulin felt that the core reason was... he was poor!
"Poverty makes people progress and progress. The teacher's words in class today were really quite reasonable."
Walking on the road to the Blacksmithing Association, Tang Wulin muttered to himself. He noticed that his soul tool communicator was receiving a call — from his parents, no less. He happily answered it.
"Hello, Mom and Dad? Are you coming to Eastsea?"
On the other end, Tang Ziran and his wife exchanged a glance and chuckled softly. Tang Ziran smiled and said: "Wulin, we have a home in Eastsea now. It's just rented for now, but our family has a place to stay in Eastsea."
"Really?" Tang Wulin was overjoyed. "Where is it? I'll come find you."
Tang Ziran: "It's at..."
Hearing the location Tang Ziran mentioned, Tang Wulin realized it was a place he had been to before.
It was near the snack street he had gone to with Xie Xie!
His parents had probably chosen to settle there because they felt safe knowing a four-ring Spirit Ancestor was guarding the area, right?
Thinking this, Tang Wulin said "I'll be right there," put away his soul tool communicator, and happily ran toward the snack street.
He had a home in Eastsea now!
"That child — so impatient."
Looking at the disconnected soul tool communicator, Tang Ziran glanced at his wife and smiled helplessly.
"He misses us too."
Lang Yue smiled.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell suddenly rang for no apparent reason, startling them. They looked at the door in confusion.
Who was it? Had Wulin arrived that quickly?
Tang Ziran frowned, stood up, and walked to the door. He looked through the peephole.
Outside stood a tall, strong man in a black cloak. The cloak's hood obscured his face, revealing only a pair of deep eyes.
The moment Tang Ziran saw him, he felt his entire body go cold — as if falling into an ice cellar. The whole room seemed to become eerie as well.
Tang Ziran's pupils contracted. He quickly turned back to Lang Yue. "Quick, leave. They've come."
A flash of panic appeared in Lang Yue's eyes. But thinking of Tang Wulin, she reluctantly calmed down. "If we leave, what about Wulin? What if they go after Wulin..."
Tang Ziran's movements paused. His expression became complicated and complex as well.
Yes. If they ran away, what about Wulin?
The doorbell, like a death knell, kept ringing in their ears, throwing Tang Ziran's thoughts into chaos.
Finally, he took a deep breath and gave up on the idea of leaving. He turned around and opened the door.
"We'll go with you."
A smile appeared at the corner of the black-cloaked man's mouth. He turned to leave with them, but then his gaze suddenly condensed. He looked at a shadow in the corner. A scepter appeared in his hand, and four spirit rings gradually emerged around him.
Two yellow, two purple — with faint green smoke surrounding the outer layer of the spirit rings.
"Come out!"
Seeing that he couldn't hide any longer, Guang Long stepped out from the corner. His entire body was covered in gray scales. Four optimally proportioned spirit rings also circled around him. At the same time, a lizard and a giant python Spirit Soul also emerged, floating beside him as yellow and purple orbs of light.
"You rats from the gutter must be stupid, walking around in broad daylight wearing black cloaks. The residents nearby have been reporting you."
Looking at the black-cloaked man before him, Guang Long's words were mocking, but his gaze was very serious.
This kind of cold, eerie aura — there was no doubt about it. This wasn't an ordinary spirit master. This was an evil spirit master!
Evil spirit masters had strange methods. Even though both of them were four-ring, he couldn't guarantee a win. He would have to release his Spirit Souls to help.
This practice was not actually recommended. Under the Spirit Soul contract, if a Spirit Soul died in battle, it would need to be nourished inside the spirit master's body for a very long time before it could be revived. This would affect the power of spirit abilities and also injuries to the spirit master. The stronger the spirit master, the less likely they were to choose this method — especially mecha pilots and Battle Armor Masters.
But Guang Long was not a strong spirit master, nor was he a mecha pilot or Battle Armor Master. The combat power provided by his Spirit Souls was not weak and could significantly improve his chances of winning. He had no reason not to use them.
"Captain Guang Long?!" Tang Ziran was momentarily overjoyed to see Guang Long. But looking at the Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master beside him, who showed no sign of vacillation, he opened his mouth, not daring to say anything more. He simply pulled Lang Yue as far back as possible, far away
Stay away from the battlefield.
The Evil Soul Master didn't care about their small movements. He only sneered at Guang Long: "Iron Armored Dragon martial soul? I might be a bit wary of your brother, but what are you?"
Guang Long: "Heh. Judging by your lack of a Spirit Soul, you couldn't resist using your martial soul's abilities before your censorship, could you? You became an evil spirit master. No self-control at all — worthless!"
The Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master's eyes suddenly widened upon hearing this. He stared intently at Guang Long, his gaze extremely dark.
As Guang Long had said — he hadn't been able to resist.
Before obtaining his first Spirit Soul, he had already used his evil spirit master abilities. After that, there was no stopping. He had immersed in the pleasure of rapidly improving his cultivation. When he finally came to his senses, it was already too late to turn back. He hadn't dared to go to the Spirit Transmission Tower, and had naturally lost the opportunity for sponsorship.
From then on, he had lived a drifting life — until he joined the Holy Spirit Cult...
Realizing that he seemed to have touched a nerve, Guang Long didn't stop. He kept hitting the opponent's mentality. "Now, the only gathering places for spirit beasts where you can roam freely are the oceans. Hunting spirit beasts in the distant sea for spirit rings — it doesn't feel good, does it? Being only at four rings at your age — it must have taken you quite a while, right?"
"Heh. What do you know? The Holy Cult has its own methods."
The Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master took a deep breath and said: "You're trying to stall for time, waiting for the Mecha Brigade to arrive, aren't you? Unfortunately, you've miscalculated."
As soon as he finished speaking, a strong burst of green light erupted from his body.
The green light spread like smoke, instantly expanding and enveloping the surroundings.
"My martial soul can control plagues. How long have you been staying with me?"
Guang Long and the Tang Ziran couple's expressions changed instantly upon hearing this.
When Tang Wulin happily arrived home, what he saw was his parents lying on the ground in pain, and Guang Long captured in the Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master's grasp. His excited expression was gone. His face was filled with confusion.
What... had happened?
"What a pity. All you brought was a little brat." The Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master glanced at Tang Wulin, gave a cold laugh, and tossed the green-faced Guang Long to the ground. He turned and walked toward Tang Ziran and his wife.
If he hadn't controlled the intensity, these two ordinary people would have been dead long ago.
"Let go of my father and mother!" Tang Wulin glared angrily at the Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master. A yellow spirit ring appeared beside him, and he charged at the Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master. But as soon as he Entered the other's vicinity, he collapsed to the ground, weak all over.
"Heh." The Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master glanced at Tang Ziran and his wife. "You have a child after all. How unexpected."
"Please... let Wulin go. We'll... go with you." Lang Yue watched Tang Wulin struggling to get up, her heart aching. She spoke in a halting voice.
"That won't do. With him around, you'll work more for the Holy Cult." An evil smile appeared on the Evil Soul Master Evil Soul Master's face. He reached his hand toward Tang Wulin.
Good! Evil Soul Master—you've done well! But you've already signed your own death warrant. Now use your life to earn Wulin's trust!"
Boom!
A deafening crash echoed through the air as a black mecha descended from the sky, kicking up a storm of dust.
Both Tang San and the Evil Soul Master froze mid-smile.
Damn… that bastard.
***
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