"Oh, right!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan suddenly seemed to recall something as he turned his gaze back to Tang San's legs.
At this point, Tang San was in agonizing pain. His martial soul and cultivation had been destroyed, leaving him no better than an ordinary person with some residual "special" memories.
Of course, his body had once been strengthened by spirit rings, so against low-level Spirit Masters with one or two rings, he could still hold his own.
"Kid, by crippling your martial soul and cultivation, I've actually saved your life."
Yue Guan chuckled. His words, though cruel, held some truth—without this intervention, Tang San's corrupted martial soul would have consumed his life force until it killed him.
Tang San: "…"
Crippling me was a favor? What next, asking me to say thank you?
After speaking, Yue Guan raised his foot and pressed it against Tang San's knee.
"AAAH!"
Tang San couldn't hold back his scream and fainted from the pain, only to awaken moments later when Yue Guan casually crushed his other knee as well.
"There! Isn't that much better now?"
Yue Guan remarked with mock satisfaction before vanishing into thin air.
Tang San lay trembling on the ground, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. Yet he didn't dare curse aloud, knowing full well that the "devil" was likely still watching him from the shadows.
"What did I do to deserve this? Why are they treating me this way?"
Tang San's mind was a swirl of despair and bitterness. Just as he had glimpsed hope, bought with the cost of his own life force, it had been snatched away.
Now, his Blue Silver Grass martial soul was utterly destroyed, his Mysterious Heaven Technique cultivation had been crippled, and his Clear Sky Hammer was in an unrepairable state without spirit power to support it.
He was truly and completely ruined.
"What do I do now? What can I do?!"
His heart was heavy with anguish.
In the distance, Yue Guan lingered in the shadows, watching with cold detachment. Tang San's silent suffering pleased him; fewer complaints meant less effort on his part.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai was oblivious to Yue Guan's decisive actions.
At this moment, Dai Mubai was standing beneath a waterfall near Holy Spirit Village. It was here that Tang Hao had planted the Blue Silver Emperor—Ah Yin.
Amid the cascade, a golden-veined Blue Silver Grass swayed nervously, its leaves trembling as Dai Mubai approached.
As Dai Mubai drew closer, the plant stilled, as if holding its breath.
"So, this is the Blue Silver Emperor?"
At his words, the Blue Silver Emperor stopped pretending, its leaves quivering in apparent inquiry: Who are you?
Of course, Dai Mubai couldn't understand its "words." He wasn't a plant, after all.
The Blue Silver Emperor, appearing akin to a century-old spirit beast, piqued Dai Mubai's curiosity.
"Reincarnated spirit beasts do seem to grow faster with past life memories."
"My name is Dai Mubai," he said. "I'm here to fulfill a promise I made to Tang Hao—to return you to the Blue Silver Forest."
His tone was calm, whether or not the Blue Silver Emperor understood.
At his words, the Blue Silver Emperor froze. It had already sensed the dispersal of its soul ring into the world, which meant Tang Hao was likely dead.
Even so, it had refused to believe it. Tang Hao had been so powerful, so mighty, armed with its 100,000-year spirit ring. How could he fall so easily?
Now, hearing Dai Mubai's confirmation, the Blue Silver Emperor finally accepted the truth.
Its leaves drooped in silent mourning.
Dai Mubai didn't linger on explanations. Carefully, he dug up the Blue Silver Emperor, ensuring to include the surrounding soil so as not to harm its roots.
After two days of travel, Dai Mubai finally arrived at the Blue Silver Forest.
Unlike other forests teeming with bloodlust and danger, the Blue Silver Forest exuded a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere. It was home to creatures who sought tranquility rather than conflict.
Still, Dai Mubai understood the darker truth behind this serenity.
"Peace and harmony here are built upon slaughter elsewhere."
He sighed. Those who did not conform to the Blue Silver Forest's ideals had been eliminated long ago, leaving only those who shared its peaceful disposition.
As he moved deeper into the forest, a timid fawn emerged from the underbrush. Its wide eyes watched Dai Mubai warily before it wagged its tail.
"Hmm? Are you asking me to follow you?"
Dai Mubai addressed not the fawn, but the Blue Silver King he sensed controlling it from afar.
The fawn nodded, then turned and bounded deeper into the forest.
"This Blue Silver King has some tricks up its sleeve," Dai Mubai mused, smirking as he followed.
He wasn't worried. At just 85,000 years of cultivation, the Blue Silver King posed no threat to him.
Before long, the fawn led him to a towering tree—none other than the Blue Silver King, having evolved from ordinary Blue Silver Grass.
"Human, I sense my Emperor's aura on you. Can you tell me where she is?"
An elderly face materialized on the tree's bark, its voice resonating directly in Dai Mubai's mind.
Dai Mubai, unfazed, replied,
"Blue Silver King, that's exactly why I'm here."
The Blue Silver King was momentarily surprised but said nothing, waiting for Dai Mubai to continue.
Without further explanation, Dai Mubai retrieved the Blue Silver Emperor from his soul tool.
"My Emperor!!!"
The Blue Silver King's mental voice trembled with shock and joy.
It had only detected faint traces of the Emperor's aura on Dai Mubai, never expecting him to bring her back in person.
"I promised someone I'd return her here. My task is done."
Dai Mubai placed the Blue Silver Emperor gently beside the Blue Silver King and turned to leave.
"Wait, benefactor!"
The Blue Silver King's voice called out urgently.
"I don't know who you made this promise to, but our clan will never forget this kindness. Should you ever need our help, the Blue Silver Clan will serve you without hesitation. Even if you ask me to sacrifice myself, I will do so willingly!"
Dai Mubai paused briefly, then nodded without a word, leaving the Blue Silver Forest as quietly as he had arrived.
(End of Chapter)