Douluo Continent III Haotian Wulin

Countless tiny points of light slowly converged from all directions.

This time, however, Tang Wulin felt a quiet, profound world, carrying the coolness of the night.

He sat cross-legged beside the bluestone in the small garden, his consciousness gradually sinking. The first things he sensed were the scent of the earth, the delicate breaths of the plants in the night breeze, and the barely perceptible yet remarkably determined rhythm of ants carrying their loads through the cracks in the stones. Then came the familiar feeling of power within his own body.

My soul power has reached level ten.

He had already confirmed this six months ago.

However, not all levels 10 are exactly the same.

Without a soul spirit, his soul power, though stagnant at the threshold, always felt like it was being weighed down by something, hanging heavily and unable to truly take that step forward. But tonight, with the money finally raised and the first soul spirit finally within reach, that stagnation that had lasted for half a year seemed to finally begin to loosen little by little.

In his mind, the Sinking Star Hammer hung silently.

It still looked the same—black, short, and heavy—quiet as a star pressed down at the end of the night. But unlike before, the dark gold patterns around the hammer were now clearer, like extremely fine cracks or ancient dragon scales pressed deep inside, flickering slightly with each breath.

Deeper inside, the golden heat continued to surge.

Deeper still, extremely fine blue-gold root patterns slowly disappeared, tightly binding that scorching heat to the very core.

Tang Wulin still couldn't understand these things.

But he could feel that he was quieter and more stable tonight than he had ever meditated before.

It was as if the entire small garden, the entire night, and the life force within the soil were slowly drawing closer to him in some indescribable rhythm. The energy was neither strong nor turbulent, but rather subtle and persistent, like starlight falling onto water, seeping into his body little by little.

In this stillness, the soul power became more solidified.

It's not a breakthrough.

Rather, it is stable.

Like a hammer that has been forged, polished by the last bit of cold fire and night wind, it has finally stood in the most suitable position.

In this silence, Tang Wulin vaguely "saw" another scene.

Among the blades of grass, a small group of ants were slowly and orderly crawling forward along the crack in the stone.

They are not powerful, nor are they conspicuous; they could be crushed with a mere finger. Yet they carry fragments many times their own weight, one after another, silent, resilient, and never faltering.

Tang Wulin's consciousness stirred slightly.

He couldn't explain why, but he inexplicably felt that this little thing had a kind of quality that he was very familiar with.

Shen.

stable.

It can withstand it.

Moreover, once they've identified a direction, they won't stop.

This thought flashed through his mind only for a moment, and then his meditation deepened.

Night gradually faded away.

When he slowly came to his senses from that quiet and deep state, the sky was already turning gray.

……

"Linlin!"

"Wu Lin! Where are you?"

Lang Yue's anxious shouts could be clearly heard from the path outside the small garden.

Tang Wulin jolted awake, finally snapping out of his meditation.

The dew had already soaked his trouser legs and collar, and the morning breeze was still a bit cool on his face. But he felt unusually clear-headed, as if a stone that had been pressing on his chest for a long time had finally been placed firmly, and even his limbs and bones exuded an indescribable sense of ease.

"Mom! I'm here—"

He quickly jumped up from the side of the bluestone, responded, and ran outside as fast as he could.

Whether it was a misperception or not, Tang Wulin suddenly felt as if his body had become a little lighter. It wasn't that he had become weaker, but rather that the heaviness that had been pressing down on his bones had finally come into complete harmony with him, no longer hindering him.

He ran out of the small garden and immediately saw Lang Yue, whose face was full of anxiety.

"You silly child!" As soon as Lang Yue saw him, she rushed over, grabbed his shoulders, looked him up and down, her voice trembling, "Why didn't you come back to your room all night? I was so worried!"

Tang Wulin suddenly felt a little guilty.

"Mom, I didn't mean to..." He lowered his head honestly. "I was too excited last night and couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk. Later, I sat in the garden for a while, thinking I'd meditate a bit, but who knew... it would get light."

Lang Yue was both angry and scared when she heard this, so she raised her hand and gently tapped his forehead.

"Do you know how scared Mom was when she woke up this morning and found no one in bed?"

Tang Wulin shrank back and quickly admitted his mistake.

"Mom, I was wrong."

Looking at her son's face, which was damp at the corner of his clothes but clearly full of energy, Lang Yue's words of scolding turned into a soft sigh. She knew this child too well; she knew he wasn't deliberately trying to worry her, but had genuinely encountered something that made him so happy he couldn't sleep.

"Let's go home." She took Tang Wulin's hand, her voice still carrying a hint of lingering fear. "Let's go home and have breakfast first."

"Hmm!" Tang Wulin nodded immediately, but after taking only two steps, he seemed to suddenly remember something, and his eyes lit up.

"Mom, when I meditated last night, it felt a little different than before."

"How come it's different?" Lang Yue asked subconsciously.

Tang Wulin thought for a moment, trying hard to find words that his mother could understand.

"Well... I've already reached level ten, but before, I always felt like my soul power was stuck there. After last night, it seems to be more stable." He clenched his fist as he said this. "And I feel like the Sinking Star Hammer is different from before. It's like... it's quieter, but also heavier."

Lang Yue, of course, didn't quite understand these changes in soul power.

"Go back and let your father hear it," she said softly. "He and your teacher understand these things better than your mother."

Tang Wulin nodded, but in his mind he had already begun to recall the scene he had seen in his meditation last night.

Sinking Star Hammer.

night.

grassland.

And... ants.

For some reason, those extremely tiny and insignificant little things were exceptionally clear in his mind.

……

When Tang Ziran got home, she was already up.

Upon seeing the mother and son enter together, his previously tense expression visibly relaxed a bit, but he quickly straightened up again.

"From now on, let your family know before you go out at night."

Tang Wulin immediately nodded obediently.

"Okay, Dad."

His quick apology made Tang Ziran swallow back the words she wanted to say.

Breakfast was already laid out on the table.

The porridge was still steaming, the steamed buns were neatly stacked on the plate, and the pickled vegetables and fried eggs had also been served. Na'er was sitting at the table, but unlike usual, her eyes didn't light up when she saw Tang Wulin return. Instead, she was rather quiet, as if she hadn't fully recovered from last night's events.

"Dad," Tang Wulin couldn't help but say as soon as he sat down, "I think I completely stabilized level ten when I was meditating last night."

Tang Ziran was slightly taken aback.

"Has it stabilized?"

"Hmm." Tang Wulin nodded and described as much as possible the feeling he had while meditating in the small garden last night. "I don't know how to describe it, but before, I always felt like my soul power was being suppressed by a hammer after reaching level ten. But last night, it seemed... it really came together with me."

As Tang Ziran listened, a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.

He knew his son had already reached level ten, and he also knew that although Tang Wulin hadn't fused with a soul spirit in the past six months, he had never stopped cultivating. Now it seemed that the past six months hadn't been in vain—the soul spirit hadn't arrived, but his meditation, forging, and accumulation over the past six months had clearly been solidifying his foundation layer by layer.

Thinking of this, Tang Ziran felt more at ease.

Ultimately, the more stable the first soul spirit, the better.

"In that case," he said slowly, "let's go to the school today and get the recommendation letter and all the necessary procedures done. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Spirit Pagoda."

"Really?" Tang Wulin immediately sat up straight.

"Really." Tang Ziran nodded. "We've raised enough money, and your soul power is stable now. There's no need to delay any longer."

"Long live Daddy!"

Tang Wulin was so happy he almost jumped off the stool.

This time, even Lang Yue, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh.

The couple had been planning for this day for far too long; and this child had spent three whole years waiting, enduring, and painstakingly carving out this path.

Finally, this moment has arrived, and even the adults, who are used to suppressing their excitement, can hardly contain it.

"Na'er, what's wrong?" Tang Wulin was in a good mood, but suddenly noticed that the little girl sitting next to him was unusually quiet today. "Aren't you happy for your brother?"

Na'er raised her head, a slight daze seeming in her large purple eyes. But the next moment, she gave Tang Wulin a sweet smile.

"Of course I'm happy," she whispered. "My brother is finally going to have his own soul."

Tang Wulin originally wanted to say something more, but seeing that she was smiling the same as usual, he assumed that she hadn't woken up yet and didn't think much of it.

After breakfast, he went to the college as usual.

This time, he wasn't checking if he had reached level ten; that much was already beyond doubt.

He was going to get his official recommendation letter before graduation, as well as the certificates needed to complete the fusion of souls and spirits academy.

When Lin Ximeng heard him mention that he was going to the Spirit Pagoda the next day, she was clearly happy for him.

"We've finally waited for this day." She looked at the young man in front of her, who was noticeably more composed than he had been three years ago, her tone filled with undisguised satisfaction. "You were right not to rush into fusing with spirits these past six months. The more solid your foundation, the less you'll regret taking that first step."

As she spoke, she handed him the stamped recommendation document.

"I'll ask for leave for you tomorrow. When you come back after fusing the soul spirit, remember to let me see you as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Teacher Lin."

Tang Wulin took the documents with both hands, his eyes shining with an astonishing light.

When he came out of the Soul Master class, he was still in a good mood. It wasn't the kind of superficial excitement, but a very solid joy, as if he had been moving forward step by step since the day of awakening, and now he was finally really close to touching the edge of the word "Soul Master".

But throughout the day, Na'er seemed a little off.

As usual, she waited for him at the school gate after school.

When buying lollipops, she followed along as usual. But on the way home, she was noticeably quieter than usual, and her gaze would often drift into the distance, as if she were thinking about something.

After dinner, Tang Wulin finally couldn't help but ask.

"Na'er, why are you always spacing out today?" He reached out and ruffled her silver hair, his tone softening unconsciously. "Did someone at school upset you again?"

Na'er shook her head.

"no."

"Then why are you acting so strangely?"

She was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised her head, looked into Tang Wulin's eyes, and said in a very soft voice:

"Brother, after dinner... come with me for a walk on the beach, okay?"

Tang Wulin was taken aback.

He had originally planned to go to Mangtian Studio that evening to catch up on the work he had missed that day, but looking at Na'er's eyes, which rarely held a hint of earnest pleading, he finally nodded.

"it is good."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Tang Ziran.

Tang Ziran naturally heard it and could tell that Na'er was in a bad mood today, so she just smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead," he said, "but don't stay out too late, and come back early."

Although Aolai City is small, their home is not far from the sea.

Once you step out of the courtyard and walk for about ten minutes, you can smell the saltiness of the sea breeze.

The beaches here aren't particularly beautiful; they lack the fine white sand favored by wealthy city dwellers. Instead, they're filled with pebbles, seashells, and polished stones. But for the children who grew up here, it's familiar and comforting enough.

The moonlight tonight is just as beautiful as it was last night.

The moon hung high above the sea, starlight scattered like fine silver flakes across the sky, and waves crashed against the shore, making the pebble beach gleam. The cries of seabirds drifted from afar, only to be quickly carried away by the wind into the night.

Na'er stood on the beach, looking up at the night sky.

The sea breeze ruffled her silver hair, and the moonlight fell on her profile, making her appear even more serene than usual.

"Brother," she said softly, "there are so many stars today."

Tang Wulin stood beside her, looked up at her, and couldn't help but smile.

"Yes," he said, "maybe they've all come to congratulate me on finally having a soul."

He paused here, then turned to look at her.

"Na'er, are you sad because you don't have a martial spirit?"

Na'er gently shook her head.

No.

She remained silent for a few moments before slowly turning around.

Those purple eyes reflected the moonlight and the sea, so quiet they seemed to see right into you.

"Brother," she looked at Tang Wulin, her voice suddenly becoming soft and almost ethereal, "If one day... I leave, will you miss me?"