Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

Cinderella subtly expressed her concern and grievance, her gaze quickly sweeping over Tang Hao. She noticed that although his aura was still imposing, his complexion seemed much better than when he left.

Tang Hao didn't answer her question. His gaze swept over Cinderella as if he were assessing her condition. He went straight to the question he cared about most.

"What level is your soul power at now?"

Cinderella's heart stirred slightly, and she immediately understood Tang Hao's intention in suddenly appearing. It was for their second soul ring.

She answered honestly, "I'm already level 20. Xiao San is cultivating a bit slower than me; he just reached level 20 a few days ago."

As expected. A look of understanding and a barely perceptible urgency flashed in Tang Hao's eyes.

Based on this progress, it is indeed time for them to obtain their second soul ring.

Fortunately, he arrived not too late.

"Did Yu Xiaogang take you to hunt soul beasts?" Tang Hao continued to ask, his tone scrutinizing.

Cinderella shook her head: "Not yet. Master and I have just begun to look for a suitable soul beast for the second soul ring."

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao remained expressionless and simply said one word: "Okay."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Cinderella's puzzled face, before continuing, "This time, I will personally lead you to obtain the soul rings."

Upon hearing this, Cinderella's eyes flashed with obvious surprise. She truly hadn't expected Tang Hao to make this decision.

After all, when they obtained their first soul ring, Yu Xiaogang led them to hunt soul beasts to avoid suspicion.

Tang Hao noticed Cinderella's confusion. He raised his hand, and a simple jade box appeared in his palm.

He opened the box, and inside lay two small jade bottles side by side.

“I have found this for you, a pill that allows you to absorb soul rings at a higher level. This time, the target for your second soul ring is a thousand years.”

Cinderella was somewhat incredulous. She looked at the pills, then looked up at Tang Hao.

A pill that allows a higher-level soul ring to be absorbed? A thousand-year-old soul ring as a second soul ring?

She originally thought that Tang Hao had disappeared for so long perhaps to find a way to heal his injuries or to take care of his own affairs, but she never expected that it was for this.

Under Cinderella's shocked gaze, Tang Hao closed the jade box, handed it to her, and calmly explained the reason for his decision.

"Yu Xiaogang's strength is too poor." Tang Hao's words were direct and without any euphemism.

“I secretly observed you when you obtained your first soul ring. His two soul skills are too weak in attack.”

He recalled Luo Sanpao's soul skills, "farting like thunder" and "farting like smoke," and his brow furrowed unconsciously.

That kind of soul skill might be able to frighten and harass weak soul beasts that are only ten or a hundred years old, but it is impossible to cause fatal damage to thousand-year-old soul beasts that are thick-skinned, tough, and have strong vitality.

“He can’t kill a thousand-year-old soul beast,” Tang Hao concluded. “Therefore, this time I will personally take you there.”

He glanced at Cinderella and added the specific arrangements for the operation: "You, along with Yu Xiaogang, will go to the Star Dou Great Forest together. On the surface, I will disguise myself as a Soul Master he has found to help him hunt for Soul Rings."

Cinderella took the jade box, and could feel the cool touch of the jade on her fingertips.

The shock she felt surged like a tidal wave. Tang Hao had not only brought back the pills, but had also planned so meticulously.

Chapter 179 The Demise of Luck

Cinderella looked up at Tang Hao and asked the crucial question: "When do we set off? What do my mistress and I need to prepare?"

Tang Hao looked at Cinderella, who had quickly regained her composure, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

He replied, "After you and Yu Xiaogang find suitable soul beasts."

Tang Hao emphasized again, "Note that it must be a thousand-year-old soul beast."

He still entrusted the preliminary work of selecting the soul beast to Yu Xiaogang, after all, although Yu Xiaogang was not strong, he was still a master of theory.

"Once you find the target, prepare your own travel supplies," Tang Hao instructed. "I will appear then."

He informed Cinderella of the whole matter and asked her to convey the plan for changing the age of the elixir and the soul ring to Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

Having explained everything, Tang Hao did not intend to stay a moment longer.

He looked deeply at Cinderella, or rather, through her, he looked towards some distant place.

“I’ve been gone for so long, I should go see Ah Yin,” he said softly, his voice filled with a longing and weariness that Cinderella had never heard before.

After saying that, without waiting for Cinderella's response, Tang Hao's figure retreated like a ghost, instantly disappearing into the deeper darkness at the end of the path, as if he had never appeared.

Cinderella was left standing alone, holding the jade box containing the elixir that would change their current cultivation trajectory.

……

That evening, when Tang San returned from the blacksmith's shop to find Cinderella, he noticed that her expression was somewhat unusual, not as gentle as usual, but rather serious and thoughtful.

"Sister, what's wrong?" Tang San immediately noticed something was wrong and quickly walked to her side, his tone full of concern.

"Has someone bullied you?" His eyes instantly sharpened.

Cinderella shook her head, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Little San, Daddy's back," she said bluntly.

Tang San's body stiffened abruptly, and his face instantly turned icy.

The man who abandoned them, leaving only a note and some money before disappearing without a trace, has he returned? What is he doing back here?

Seeing Tang San's instantly cold expression, Cinderella knew what he was thinking. She immediately added, "He brought pills. Pills for absorbing soul rings beyond one's level."

The coldness in Tang San's eyes was replaced by surprise, and his brows furrowed tightly.

Cinderella recounted to Tang San her encounter with Tang Hao that evening, as well as Tang Hao's decision, in detail.

This includes all the details, such as personally leading them to obtain soul rings, setting their target as a thousand-year-old soul beast, and ostensibly disguising themselves as helpers invited by Yu Xiaogang.

Tang San listened in silence, his expression shifting from initial coldness to surprise, and then to deep thought.

He also didn't expect that Tang Hao had been away for this period of time.

The second ring of the millennium was indeed far beyond what he and Yu Xiaogang had planned.

Cinderella took the jade box out of her soul tool and handed it to Tang San.

“The elixir is here. He told us to give it to the master together and tell him the plan.”

Tang San took the jade box, opened it, and glanced inside. The pills were quietly placed inside.

He closed the lid, applying slight pressure with his fingers.

Tang San put the jade box into his Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Bright Moon and stood up.

"Let's go find Yu Xiaogang now."

This matter must be brought to Yu Xiaogang's attention as soon as possible.

……

Yu Xiaogang was in his office, writing furiously at his desk.

Before him lay a thick encyclopedia of soul beasts and several sheets of paper filled with analysis, marked with circles and dots—a record of selecting candidate soul beasts for Tang San and Cinderella's second soul ring.

Under the light, his brows were furrowed, his expression focused with a hint of suppressed excitement.

He was meticulously planning how, after finding a suitable soul beast, he could casually take out the two pills that allowed him to absorb soul rings beyond his level.

He eagerly anticipated seeing the expressions of shock, gratitude, and even admiration on Tang San and Cinderella's faces.

Yu Xiaogang could almost imagine the scene where, under that immense kindness, the two formally became disciples and addressed each other as "Master."

That will be the moment of triumph for Yu Xiaogang in his life.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

Yu Xiaogang, his thoughts interrupted, looked up somewhat displeased and pushed up his glasses.

“Master, it’s us, Tang San and Cindy.” Cinderella’s clear voice came from outside the door.

Yu Xiaogang was taken aback. What were they doing here so late?

He composed himself, trying to appear as calm as possible.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Tang San and Cinderella walked in one after the other.

Yu Xiaogang noticed that both of them looked rather serious, unlike when they were asking for advice.

"It's so late, what's the matter?" Yu Xiaogang put down his pen and asked.

Tang San didn't say anything, but just glanced at Cinderella.

Cinderella stepped forward and spoke in a calm voice, "Master, Daddy is back."

"What?" Yu Xiaogang jumped up from his chair, his calm expression instantly replaced by shock and a hint of panic.

Tang Hao is back? Why is he back at this time?

He subconsciously looked around, as if Tang Hao was hiding in some corner of the room, staring at him with those cold eyes.

"Where is His Majesty Haotian now?" Yu Xiaogang's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.

“He has already left,” Cinderella replied, “but he asked us to tell you something.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his heart was still pounding. He sat down again, trying to calm himself down. "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

Cinderella repeated Tang Hao's decision, including personally leading the team, aiming for the thousand-year soul ring, and the arrangement of disguising his identity.

As Cinderella narrated, the color drained from Yu Xiaogang's face, and his hand holding the glasses trembled slightly.

Tang Hao is going to lead the team personally? And he even brought pills for absorbing spirit rings beyond one's level? Is the target a thousand-year-old spirit beast?

Every piece of information felt like a heavy hammer blow to his heart.

He looked at Tang San in disbelief, as if seeking denial from him.

Tang San remained expressionless, simply retrieving the jade box from the Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moonlight and placing it on the table in front of Yu Xiaogang. "This contains elixirs."

Yu Xiaogang's gaze was fixed on the jade box, as if trying to see right through it. His hands trembled as he opened the lid. When he saw the familiar pills inside, his last shred of hope vanished.

This is truly a pill that allows one to absorb a soul ring beyond their level!

The aura of the pill that his father, Yu Yuanzhen, obtained from Ge Duo to help him absorb the third ring of the millennium was almost identical.

Why? Why did Tang Hao return at this time? And why did he bring elixirs?

Chapter 180 The Town

Yu Xiaogang's mind went blank; disappointment and a sense of being outmaneuvered almost overwhelmed his reason.

All his scheming, like a bubble bursting, vanished without a trace in an instant.

The pills were given to Tang Hao, so the favor should naturally be attributed to Tang Hao.

Yu Xiaogang was still just a temporary teacher, a tool to lay the foundation while Tang Hao was away.

He felt like an actor who had meticulously prepared for a long time and was finally about to step onto the stage, only to be pushed off the stage the moment the curtain was drawn, leaving him to watch helplessly as others reaped all the flowers and applause on stage.

The person who pushed him down was someone he couldn't even resist, and he didn't dare show the slightest dissatisfaction.

He lowered his head, using the act of adjusting his glasses to conceal the distorted expression on his face and the intense resentment surging in his eyes.

The office was deathly silent, with only the faint crackling of the oil lamps.

After a long while, Yu Xiaogang managed to suppress the churning emotions in his chest.

He raised his head, forcing an awkward smile, and said in a dry voice, "Since it is His Majesty Haotian's arrangement, then it is naturally the best. With His Majesty personally taking action, there will be no mistake."

He picked up the jade box, and it felt incredibly heavy.

"I will determine my target as soon as possible regarding the selection of the Millennium Soul Beast."

His plan completely failed.

……

Several days later.

A dusty carriage rolled along the bumpy dirt road and swayed into a small town on the outskirts of the Starry Sky Forest.

The carriage looked ordinary, and the horses pulling it showed signs of fatigue from their long journey.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Yu Xiaogang's face, which showed obvious signs of fatigue. He pushed up his glasses and looked around at the noisy and rough place in front of him.