"I plan to stay with Xiao San for a while, then track down Ye Ritian. This debt must be repaid!"
Tang Hao's gaze was resolute, and the weariness in his eyes seemed to dissipate as determination took hold.
"Grandmaster, I Need Answers"
The Grandmaster sighed. "I understand. I'll stay with Xiao San as well during this time. It's such a pity... If only Xiao San still had his external soul bone…"
Mentioning the lost soul bone made Grandmaster shake his head in regret. "An external soul bone is so rare—barely one or two soul masters in the entire continent have one. To lose it like this…"
Tang Hao's eyes glinted with a knowing light. His lips curled slightly as he glanced at Grandmaster. "Grandmaster, there's something I want to ask you."
The Grandmaster frowned. "Go ahead."
Tang Hao leaned forward slightly, his tone low and deliberate. "This Ye Hao... the one who was once Xiao San's schoolmate. What is his true identity?"
The Grandmaster froze, his brows furrowing in surprise.
Tang Hao's expression grew sharper. "So my suspicion was correct. Ye Hao is connected to Spirit Hall, isn't he?"
Hearing this, the Grandmaster hesitated but finally nodded.
Tang Hao's expression turned cold and fierce, his hatred for Spirit Hall flaring. "You're probably wondering why I haven't acted against him all these years."
The Grandmaster remained silent, meeting Tang Hao's gaze steadily.
Tang Hao's voice grew darker. "The reason is simple. Ye Hao may be her son, but he is still innocent. He's just a child."
The Grandmaster let out a heavy sigh. "Your Excellency Haotian, if you had acted earlier, you and Xiao San might not be here today. Spirit Hall's reach is too vast, and their power is far greater than ours."
Tang Hao's fists clenched at the mention of Spirit Hall. The tragedies they had wrought upon his family were wounds that would never heal.
As the night deepened, far from the chaos at Shrek Academy, the Emperor Team rested in the wilderness.
A campfire crackled softly as the team slept soundly, save for a few members tasked with keeping watch.
Near the fire, Ye Hao lay on his back, staring at the glittering stars above. Six or seven years had passed since he arrived in this world. From a helpless orphan to a proud member of the Emperor Team, the journey had been anything but smooth.
"Tonight's the night."
With the team fast asleep, Ye Hao saw his chance. He quietly got to his feet, careful not to make a sound.
He had no intention of staying put. His destination: Tang Hao's home.
"Where Do You Think You're Going?"
Just as Ye Hao thought he was in the clear, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"You little rascal, sneaking off in the middle of the night?"
Ye Hao turned to see Qin Ming, arms crossed and looking unimpressed.
"Teacher Qin!" Ye Hao scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "You're still awake?"
"Don't play coy with me," Qin Ming snapped. "Where do you think you're going?"
Ye Hao's eyes lit up. "Does that mean you're letting me go?"
Qin Ming sighed, shaking his head. "If I didn't let you go, you'd sneak off anyway. So, out with it. What's your excuse this time?"
"I'm going to visit an old friend in Nuoding City," Ye Hao replied without hesitation.
Qin Ming frowned. "An old friend? You're an orphan. What old friend could you possibly have?"
Ye Hao nodded seriously. "I am an orphan, but I went to school at Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy. It's been so long since I've been there. I just want to see the place again."
Qin Ming studied him skeptically. "Is that the whole truth?"
"Absolutely!" Ye Hao replied, his tone resolute.
After a moment of thought, Qin Ming relented. "Fine. How many days do you need?"
"Seven."
Qin Ming nodded. "Alright, seven days. But I want you back at the academy on the eighth day without fail."
Ye Hao grinned. "Deal! Teacher Qin, see you in seven days!"
With that, Ye Hao unfurled his Six Winged Purple Light Wings and soared into the sky, leaving behind a streak of purple light.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Qin Ming shook his head with a weary smile. "That boy…"
Flying at full speed under the night sky, Ye Hao had only one goal in mind: "Time to raid the house."
The 100,000 Year Soul Bone was practically calling his name.
"Tang San, you've wronged me first. Don't blame me for being ruthless in return."
By dawn, Ye Hao estimated he'd reach Nuoding City.
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City
Within the opulent halls of the Heaven Dou Palace, Xue Qinghe—better known as Qian Renxue—sat at her desk, the disguise of the crown prince removed.
A shadowy figure knelt before her, delivering a report.
"Tang Hao… he's appeared at Shrek Academy."
Qian Renxue's expression shifted. "Tang Hao? Are you certain?"
Her voice betrayed a rare hint of emotion. The name Tang Hao carried a weight that struck a nerve deep within her.
Tang Hao, the man who killed her father.
"How reliable is this information?"
The shadowy figure nodded. "It's accurate. I saw him with my own eyes. He destroyed half a mountain with a single strike using the Clear Sky Hammer."
Qian Renxue's brows furrowed. "What angered him so much?"
The figure hesitated before replying. "It has something to do with Ye Hao."
Qian Renxue's eyes widened. "Ye Hao? What happened to him?"