"Tang San, sometimes I really admire your shamelessness,"

Diyi Hong sighed.

"If you want the immortal herb, fine. I'll revive that child, but you will raise him."

Tang San's breath caught in his throat.

Raise a child?

Impossible!

His cultivation journey was just beginning—it was a race against time.

A child at this point would be a massive burden, something even an immortal herb couldn't compensate for.

And with Diyi Hong's track record?

He'd probably trick him into taking the herb first, then "gift" him the child—no, the price outweighed the gain.

He refused.

"You didn't say that at the start!" Tang San argued. "You promised that if we endured till the end, we'd get to choose an immortal herb! How can you change the rules halfway?"

Oh?

Diyi Hong chuckled, reclining backward as phoenix wings unfurled beneath him, propping him up.

This classic posture made Tang San's heart skip a beat.

"You want to argue logic with me?"

"Fine, let's talk logic."

"I paid for the experiment—you killing the child is the result. Naturally, I deserve a refund."

"Same offer stands—raise the child, and the herb is yours."

"Well?"

Tang San's face twisted in frustration, his expression practically feral.

Diyi Hong had reason on his side—he couldn't refute it.

But he didn't want the kid either.

What now?

The immortal herb was right there. Was he really going to miss it?

["God of Speed": Called it.]

["Nine-Colored Goddess": His mind is full of calculations. Gain and loss—that's all he sees. The child's life never even crossed his mind.]

["Rakshasa God": If he cared, he wouldn't have gone for the kill immediately.]

["God King of Destruction 002": No wonder he stirred chaos in the divine realm—ruthless indeed.]

[User "God of Emotion" sent gift: Custom Soul Skill – Complete Spirit Soul Knowledge Set ×1]

["God of Emotion": Streamer, extract that child's soul, bind it to Tang San's as a spirit soul—let it haunt him for life!]

["Phoenix God": Damn! That's savage!]

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Imagine him training alone at night, and—BAM!—a face pops up in the dark. That's instant deviation!]

["God of Speed": You're a god now, Rongrong. Scared of ghosts?]

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Not really. I have a whole staff of undead from Death God's stable. Just imagining the moment is funny.]

Even Diyi Hong shivered at that suggestion.

Turning horror into psychological horror?

That might not pass review!

"I'll do it!" Xiao Wu declared firmly. "Diyi, give the herb to my brother. I'll raise the child!"

Diyi Hong glanced her way.

Her eyes burned with resolve, earnest and unwavering.

But unfortunately…

He only made that offer because he knew Tang San wouldn't accept.

The Divine Skill: Resurrection Divine Light cost 100 strands of Nine-Colored Divine Sense!

He had no intention of actually giving it away for free.

He was just preparing to pivot toward the Emotion God's plan when—

Swoosh—

A figure suddenly appeared in the field.

A long cloak with a drawn hood concealed most of him, revealing only the lower half of his jaw.

"Father?" Tang San's eyes lit up. "Father, you're here? That's perfect!"

With his father present—a true Title Douluo!

Tang San instantly straightened, his confidence rising. He looked straight at Diyi Hong.

Now let's see how smug you can be!

Flender: "…"

Zhao Wuji: "…"

Tang Hao: "…"

Bluffing behind a tiger?

But the real tiger here… was Diyi Hong!

Swoosh—

A second streak of light tore through the air.

Chen Xin arrived atop his sword, descending to stand beside Diyi Hong—subtly shielding him.

"Clear Sky Douluo," Chen Xin said, voice calm but sharp, "let the children handle their own matters. If you raise your hand against a junior, I won't stand for it."

Tang Hao: "…"

Who's bullying who here?

Even Diyi Hong hadn't expected Chen Xin to so bluntly stand on his side—willing to go head-to-head with Tang Hao.

"No need, Uncle Sword," Diyi Hong said. "Tang Hao's just here to deliver a soul bone."

He extended his hand toward Tang Hao.

Tang Hao stiffened for a few seconds… but reluctantly pulled out a black iron box and tossed it over.

Diyi Hong caught it and eyed the intricate layers of seals.

Setting up a challenge?

Using the Mountain Dragon King's Dragon Claw, he casually tore it open.

—As a half-step Godking, the claw alone was practically divine. Unless it was an actual divine artifact, nothing would stand up to it.

Opening the box revealed a dark green soul bone, completely intact and radiating with a rich vitality.

The overwhelming life energy made Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial spirit instinctively emerge.

He wanted it.

"Father, what soul bone is that?" Tang San asked eagerly. "My martial spirit is craving it—wait a minute!"

His eyes widened.

His martial spirit was the Blue Silver Grass, inherited from his mother, the 100,000-year soul beast Blue Silver Empress.

His mother had willingly sacrificed herself for his father.

Now his father pulls out a soul bone that his martial spirit responds to so strongly?

It couldn't be…

"That's my mother's soul bone?!" Tang San's voice trembled. "Father, you're giving my mother… to him? To an outsider?!"

Holy crap!

Now that's a tiger-wolf combo of a sentence!

But quickly, everyone grasped the implication—

A 100,000-year soul bone?

No way Tang Hao would give that away…

Unless he was completely out of his mind.

Flender and Zhao Wuji—two people who knew the truth—were holding back laughter.

That's what you get for pretending to be invincible and then running into a steel-plated wall.

Naturally, Tang Hao had no intention of explaining.

He looked at Diyi Hong, wondering if maybe—just maybe—he could get something in return for that bone.

"Let's not get sentimental," Diyi Hong interrupted casually. "Too many people here. Wouldn't want you to get embarrassed."

Embarrassed how?

Oh, you know—beaten up, crushed, humiliated.

Tang Hao gritted his teeth in silence, helpless.

—The man had bigger fists. There was nothing he could do.

Resentment flared in his heart.

If he had known this kid had so many treasures, he would've swallowed his pride and brought back reinforcements from the Clear Sky Sect!

Yes! It's not too late!

That soul bone was just the start—this brat also had immortal herbs, external spirit bones, more 100,000-year bones…

Totally worth a heist!

Decision made.

Tang Hao schooled his expression and said calmly,

"Let the adults handle things. You focus on cultivating. Everything else will come in time."

He vanished in a flash, leaving no room for Tang San to protest.

Tang San was left fuming.

He stared at Diyi Hong—at the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone—his mouth moving, but no words coming out.

Diyi Hong's dominance had long been proven.

Now that the item was in his hands, there was no way it was leaving.

Weighing the bone in his hand, Diyi Hong felt a little stuck.

Absorbing the Titan Giant Ape's Left Palm soul bone had made sense—it was an external piece and could evolve.

But this one?

Even as a 100,000-year bone… it didn't impress him.

Let alone the skills—flight and healing?

Completely underwhelming.

'What do you think, everyone in the stream—any creative ideas for this soul bone?'

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