As Tang Hao gazed at the towering trees around him and the countless Blue Silver Grass spread throughout the forest, his expression seemed somewhat dazed.
Long ago, he had only known of this place as the homeland where Ah Yin, before taking human form, grew up as the Blue Silver Emperor.
It was also from Ah Yin's words that he learned if the Blue Silver Grass tribe lost their king, the heir with the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline would have a chance to awaken the complete Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, guided by this forest.
However, back then, he had never come to this place.
At that time, Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and Ah Yin were training together. Both he and Tang Xiao were in their prime, rapidly improving their strength, and were naturally focused on their cultivation.
Later, when Ah Yin's identity was exposed, and the two of them had confirmed their relationship, they had to face the relentless pursuit of the Spirit Hall, leaving them constantly on the run, with little time for anything else.
During this period, Ah Yin didn't mention it much, and Tang Hao didn't think to ask further.
Otherwise, after her death, he wouldn't have overlooked bringing her seed back to this forest for restoration.
The first time he truly came here was five years ago, during the Soul Master Tournament. He had entered this forest to help Tang San awaken the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul.
But this time, Tang Hao felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Unlike the last time, he now had more information and could piece together a few clues.
The Blue Silver King had been certain that Tang San couldn't awaken the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul and had acted mysteriously. At the time, Tang Hao didn't understand its true meaning. Now it seemed that the Blue Silver King might have seen the resurrected Ah Yin.
But if that were the case, why had Ah Yin appeared in Spirit City and not chosen to retreat with him?
It was important to remember that Ah Yin had a deep hatred for the Spirit Hall. It was the previous Pope, Qian Xunji, who had forced her into sacrificing herself.
Moreover, the Spirit Hall had always been the greatest enemy of the soul beast clan. Given her previous experiences with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, Ah Yin had no reason to align with them.
All the doubts seemed to center around that sinister and mysterious Su Cheng.
How did that guy discover the location where he hid Ah Yin's seed and spirit bone? And how did he manage to resurrect her?
And the person appearing in Spirit City—was that really the Ah Yin he knew?
The closer Tang Hao got to the depths of the forest, the more uneasy he felt, as a faint shadow loomed over his heart...
In this small world enveloped by the ancient forest, Tang Hao's spiritual power couldn't extend far.
So, when he unexpectedly saw a man and a woman not far away, he froze on the spot.
A torrent of thoughts surged through his mind, and for a moment, his brain went blank.
The pair looked quite compatible.
The man was handsome, with a graceful and confident demeanor. The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, her features far surpassing those of the man beside her. However, her expression seemed somewhat unnatural.
As Tang Hao looked at their clasped hands, his face turned deathly pale, and a sharp pain pierced his heart.
It suddenly felt like a nightmare had become reality, and he even felt a dizzying sense of suffocation.
The scene before him left him at a loss, yet deep down, a small part of him seemed to understand.
There was an inexplicable feeling of "So it's like this... of course it's like this," that welled up within him.
But in the next moment, an even stronger emotion swept over him like a landslide, tearing apart his doubts, fears, pain, and most of his rationality.
It was a raging fire of anger!
No man could endure or face such a situation!
The flames of betrayal scorched every nerve in Tang Hao's body. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes turned blood-red.
"Ah... Yin?"
The low, hoarse question slowly escaped his lips.
On the familiar face in the distance, Tang Hao could not detect a trace of joy at seeing her again.
There was no imprisonment, no suffering in Spirit City.
She even looked more beautiful than before.
It wasn't her appearance that had changed, but the vast difference in her aura.
Yet, at this moment, she was avoiding his gaze.
Perhaps there was some guilt, but there was no sadness, no regret, and no excitement or emotion at seeing him again.
She just stood there, quietly holding another man's hand—a man who was about the same age as their son.
Anyone looking at them would think that Su Cheng and Ah Yin were the true couple.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao, disheveled and ragged, appeared utterly out of place next to them.
Tang Hao wasn't unattractive, of course.
In this world, appearance often correlates with talent, and the Martial Spirit bloodline could, to some extent, enhance a soul master's appearance.
Aside from some extremely special Martial Spirits, soul masters with high Martial Spirit aptitude were almost never unattractive.
In that moment, he suddenly regretted not taking the time to clean up his appearance.
Though, at this point, appearance was the least of his concerns.
"It's been a long time, Tang Hao. I spared you last time, but I didn't expect you'd dare to come here again."
Ah Yin had no intention of speaking; it was Su Cheng who broke the silence.
His voice was calm, without any emotion, as he fixed his eyes on Tang Hao.
Under Su Cheng's gaze, Tang Hao felt a chill rising from within, slightly dulling his anger and restoring some of his rationality.
Tang Hao was no weakling. Though not at the pinnacle, and with his foundation not fully recovered, he had once been among the strongest in the world. He could clearly sense Su Cheng's terrifying power.
"He's even stronger..."
Tang Hao took a deep breath, trying to calm his chaotic mind.
At this point, he could no longer deceive himself.
The woman before him was indeed Ah Yin, but she was no longer his Ah Yin.
She clearly recognized him.
The hint of guilt in her eyes couldn't be faked.
But the tenderness, admiration, and love she once had were gone. Besides guilt, what remained was determination and composure.
Clearly, she hadn't been forced. This wasn't Spirit City but the Blue Silver Grass Forest.
If she had been forced to be with Su Cheng, how could this place be so peaceful, without any signs of battle?
No matter how powerful Su Cheng was, he couldn't have subdued all the soul beasts in this forest without making a sound.
At that moment, Tang Hao's eyes suddenly focused on something unusual about Ah Yin.
Her elegant palace dress wrapped around her body.
The soft and graceful curves of her figure were perfectly accentuated by the intricate and luxurious gown.
But beyond these outward appearances, Tang Hao noticed something off—her slightly disheveled hair and the numerous kiss marks on her fair neck didn't escape his sharp eyes.
Just moments ago, with her complex emotions, Ah Yin hadn't had the time or thought to tidy up these details.
Or rather, at that moment, she only cared about Su Cheng's feelings and didn't consider how she should face the suddenly arriving Tang Hao.
"!!"
A massive wave of anger exploded in Tang Hao's heart, shattering his composure.
In the next moment, a powerful surge of energy erupted from his body.
The massive Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand, with nine soul rings of optimal configuration flickering around it.
Especially the ninth soul ring, which had reached the terrifying 100,000-year level, radiating an intense crimson light.
Despite such a powerful martial soul and soul ring combination, Su Cheng remained completely unfazed. He didn't even have the intention of summoning his martial soul.
He merely said calmly, "Are you sure you want to fight me?"
Without much movement, as his words fell, Su Cheng's entire aura suddenly shifted.
It was as if he had unleashed his Martial Soul True Body, transforming into a towering sword that reached the heavens and pierced the earth, standing majestically in front of him.
But in reality, he was still himself, neither using any domain nor summoning his martial soul.
Tang Hao's charging figure halted abruptly, his expression constantly changing.
He hesitated.
Seeing this, Su Cheng raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
There are only three types of people who are truly fearless: madmen with disturbed minds, fools with impaired intellects, and those who are already dead and can no longer think.
As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss."
Without understanding the extent of someone's power, one remains fearless in their heart.
Most people's so-called "courage" often stems from ignorance—an inability to comprehend the horrors of life and death, or the vast disparity in power between individuals.
This kind of "courage" isn't true bravery. At its core, it's just reckless impulsiveness.
Twenty years ago, Tang Hao might have swung his hammer without hesitation because, at that time, he didn't understand anything.
But now, he no longer has that impulsiveness.
Time has worn down his spirit, and the many prices he has paid have taught him how to live.
The false aura of glory bestowed upon him by his powerful clan and exceptional talent has long since shattered.
On the contrary, it was Ah Yin, standing beside Su Cheng, who, upon seeing the crimson light of the 100,000-year soul ring, slightly moved her lips and instinctively glanced at Su Cheng's expression.
This subtle movement went unnoticed by Su Cheng, but Tang Hao, who dared not act recklessly, caught it.
Tang Hao's eyes lit up as if he had thought of something, and in a trembling voice, he said, "Ah Yin, have you forgotten? The ninth soul ring on my Clear Sky Hammer—it was the power you bestowed upon me when we were being hunted by the Spirit Hall to protect our lives! This soul ring is a testament to our love! All these years, I have never forgotten that day, not even for a single moment!"
Hearing this, Ah Yin's face turned pale.
The last thing she wanted to hear right now was something like this, especially in front of Su Cheng.
It wasn't because she regretted her sacrifice or felt unwilling to part with that power, but because she feared that Su Cheng might harbor resentment because of it.
This past relationship was a knot in her heart.
When it comes to love, men and women often have different attitudes.
Most men are sentimental and hold onto feelings for a long time, whereas women can be deeply devoted but also ruthless in severing ties.
When they love someone, women often give their all. But once they've truly let go of past feelings, they can be even more decisive than men.
When Ah Yin began to accept Su Cheng's feelings, began to reflect on them repeatedly over the years, and gradually acknowledged the changes in her emotions, the core of what she cared about had already shifted completely.
She glanced at Su Cheng again.
But Su Cheng clearly wasn't concerned about any of that. He merely shook his head with a look of disappointment.
"Tang Hao, Tang Hao. Is having such a soul ring something you're proud of? If you had charged at me directly, I could have praised you for your courage. If you had turned around and left, I might have even respected your rationality for suppressing your anger and humiliation. But to bring out such things and play the emotion card—it's truly revolting."
"You don't understand! You're just a homewrecker!" Tang Hao gritted his teeth and growled softly.
"Homewrecker?" A hint of mockery flashed in Su Cheng's eyes. "That was your family, your clan, and even the soul ring from hunting spirit beasts was shared between you and your brother, increasing your own soul power. But did you ever truly care about what Ah Yin wanted?"
At this point, he paused thoughtfully and asked, "Speaking of which, let me ask you something. Knowing her identity, why did you parade her around so publicly, drawing attention? What, was your cultivation progress more important than her safety? Or had you already planned to use her as a stepping stone for your advancement?"
Upon hearing this, Ah Yin instinctively lifted her head and glanced at Tang Hao.
Although she had let go of those things, it was still something she had once given her life for.
"Shut up!"
Tang Hao's anger erupted, his eyes turning blood-red.
"We had planned to return to the Clear Sky Clan to marry, but we were ambushed by your Spirit Hall! And then your Spirit Hall issued a decree condemning the Clear Sky Clan! My father died because of that, and I didn't even get to see him one last time! I gave up everything for Ah Yin!"
"You gave up everything for Ah Yin?" Su Cheng let out a laugh, unsure whether it was in surprise or mockery.
"I don't know if you truly believe that or if you're just comforting yourself. But tell me, what did Ah Yin ever gain from you? Even though she died for you back then, what did you do for her? Spend your days drinking in her memory?
"You didn't even try to find a way to revive her, to make up for your mistakes. And you lacked the courage to avenge her?
"And in these recent years since the reappearance of Spirit City, where have you been hiding? Did you ever think about her situation?
"Don't talk to me about Tang San—I despise you for that. I'm well aware of the kind of life that boy had as a child."
When he finished, Tang Hao didn't immediately retort.
He merely glared at Su Cheng with bloodshot eyes, tightly gripping the massive Clear Sky Hammer in his hand, clearly unwilling to concede.
"Tang Hao, if you had known in advance that your actions would bring such disaster upon your clan, what choice would you have made? In your heart, between life, your clan, and Ah Yin, which one holds more weight? Can you even figure that out for yourself?"
"Everyone has their own choices and responsibilities. What you did has nothing to do with me. But when you can't bear the consequences of your words and actions, and when you can't make amends after the fact, isn't it ridiculous to continue spouting nonsense?"
"Shut up!" Tang Hao roared in rage. "You don't understand what we've been through—we even have a child!"
At this point, he turned to Ah Yin, his eyes filled with hope and a trace of pleading. "Ah Yin, Xiao San is still waiting for you. He's our son—have you forgotten?"
"Ha, what a laughable argument," Su Cheng said coldly.
"'Because you and I had a past, because we went through life and death together, because we had a child, you should love me forever!' Is that it? Are you trying to morally blackmail her?
"Why should she? Tang Hao, ask yourself if you're worthy. She should love the person, not some concept or some story!
"Let me tell you this: it was always you who owed her, but she never owed anyone anything!"
These words, while seemingly directed at Tang Hao, were actually Su Cheng's way of using the confrontation to speak to Ah Yin.
He had no interest in educating a man like Tang Hao.
Whether Tang Hao was right or wrong had nothing to do with him.