Douro Continent

Chapter 437 Haotian's Triumph, A New Beginning (Part 2)

"Soul beasts begin their cultivation from birth, which is divided into five levels: ten years, one hundred years, one thousand years, ten thousand years, and one hundred thousand years. Each level represents a qualitative change for a soul beast. When a soul beast's cultivation breaks through ten thousand years, its intelligence will increase rapidly, and at a certain level, it will be no less than that of a human."

"In a sense, soul beasts are similar to the martial souls of our soul masters. While the years of cultivation determine their strength, their innate talent is equally important. For example, if you are a soul master with full innate soul power, you will be stronger than an ordinary level 10 soul master at that time. The types of soul beasts are like the quality of martial souls. However, this is not absolute."

"When a soul beast cultivates to the 100,000-year level, it will reach a wondrous level. At this level, the strength of soul beasts is almost equal. Take your Xiao Wu, for example. She was originally just a Soft Bone Rabbit, but when she cultivated to the 100,000-year level, she was by no means inferior to a Titan Giant Ape of the same level. However, at the 100,000-year level, soul beasts also have to face a choice."

Tang San listened intently; Tang Hao's description of the 100,000-year-old soul beast was something even the Grandmaster had never mentioned.

For him, this was like a completely new field.

"A 100,000-year-old soul beast holds a position among soul beasts similar to that of a titled Douluo among soul masters. It has reached the pinnacle. At this point, their strength is extremely powerful; in a one-on-one situation, even a titled Douluo would find it difficult to defeat them, and might even be killed by them. However, being no less intelligent than humans, they now face a choice between two paths."

"One path is to maintain one's existing strength and live a muddled life until reaching the 100,000-year level, which is already an existence defying the heavens. Even the strongest 100,000-year-old soul beast can only live for another 1,000 years at most. After 1,000 years, they will inevitably die. The other path, however, is a risky one. That is to transform into human form."

"Transformation?" Tang San looked at Tang Hao in surprise.

Tang Hao nodded and said, "That's right, it's about transformation. Transforming into a human. Because, among all living beings, humans are the race with the greatest potential."

"Soul beasts that transform into human form need to cultivate again. If they can cultivate to the level of a Title Douluo and then successfully break through the level 100 barrier, they will be free from the limitations of lifespan and live forever, becoming god-like beings."

Tang San said, "Wouldn't all soul beasts make the same choice? Immortality, I think that's what every creature desires."

Tang Hao said calmly, "Do you know how many of the few hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts choose this second path?"

Tang San shook his head.

Tang Hao said, "According to the records of our Clear Sky Sect, among the known 100,000-year-old soul beasts, less than one-tenth chose the second path."

Tang San asked in surprise, "Why? Wasn't it said that choosing the first path only guarantees a thousand years of life, while the second path offers the chance for immortality? Why didn't they take that chance?"

Tang Hao sneered, "It's not that easy. Soul beasts face far greater difficulties in cultivation than humans. Once they choose to transform, it's irreversible. In other words, a 100,000-year-old soul beast that has transformed cannot revert to its beast form unless it is killed. Its true form will become its martial soul after transforming into a human. All its previous abilities will disappear. It will need to rebuild its soul power bit by bit. Although it cultivates much faster than ordinary humans and can obtain soul rings without hunting soul beasts, it still needs to interact with humans and sense their aura during the cultivation process; otherwise, it cannot progress."

"Furthermore, by choosing this path, their lifespan will become the same as that of humans. If they fail to break through level 100 within the human age limit, they will only live for 100 years. You should understand how most 100,000-year-old soul beasts would choose between a thousand years and a hundred years."

"Moreover, while ordinary Soul Masters can't tell the difference when a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast has transformed, those at the Soul Douluo level or above can still detect it if they look closely. Especially in front of a Title Douluo, they have nowhere to hide. The reason Xiao Wu wasn't discovered by others until now is because of the flower on her body. That strange flower concealed her aura, which allowed her to stay safely with you all. Today, it was because that flower left her side that her identity was exposed in front of the Pope and the others."

"Think about it, facing a 100,000-year-old soul beast, and a weak one at that after transforming into human form, do you think those people from the Spirit Hall would let her go?"

"The cultivation of a 100,000-year-old soul beast after transformation is divided into three stages. Before its soul power reaches level 60, it is called the juvenile stage. During this stage, soul masters of the Soul Douluo level and above can detect them. After level 60, they become much safer, but they still need closer contact with humans. This stage is called the mature stage. Even titled Douluo cannot tell their soul beast identity after they have cultivated their soul power to level 60. Therefore, a 100,000-year-old soul beast that has passed level 60 can be said to have truly become human. At that time, they are no different from humans."

"After reaching level ninety, a 100,000-year-old soul beast will enter the final Nascent Soul stage of cultivation, just like our human Title Douluo, striving to achieve immortality."

"Immortality is eternity." Tang San repeated Tang Hao's words, but to him, this statement didn't hold much meaning. Immortality? Can a person truly be immortal?

He didn't want to think about these things too much. At this moment, his mood had gradually recovered from the excitement of seeing his father and the disappointment of Xiao Wu's departure.

At least, the situation that was originally certain to end in death was resolved because of his father's appearance, and both he and Xiao Wu were safe. This was already a good result, or rather, a new beginning.

"So, Xiao Wu chose to transform into human form, and she's a 100,000-year-old soul beast in her juvenile stage?"

Tang Hao nodded. "That's right. Although she's a 100,000-year-old soul beast, from observation, it's clear that before she chose to transform into human form, she had never left her cultivation place, her mind was like a blank sheet of paper. So, she's actually no different from an ordinary girl, except that if she died, a soul ring and a soul bone would appear."

Tang San nodded silently. Back then, after he realized that Xiao Wu was a soul beast, he had struggled with his feelings. But just as Tang Hao said, in his heart, whether Xiao Wu was human or beast, she was his sister, and he also had a hazy love for her.

Tang Hao said in a deep voice, "I've told you what you wanted to know. From now on, until you gain my approval, I will subject you to a series of special training sessions. Having chosen the path of a Soul Master and made a high-profile appearance before the Spirit Hall, you have no way out but to become stronger. Otherwise, you will forever live in the shadows like a rat. Rest. Recover as soon as possible, and then I will take you somewhere."

After saying this, Tang Hao slowly closed his eyes.

"Dad," Tang San suddenly called out.

"Hmm?" Tang Hao didn't open his eyes.

Tang San gritted his teeth, but still asked the question he most wanted to know: "Was my mother killed by the Spirit Hall?"

Tang Hao's whole body trembled, and his eyes suddenly opened, his sharp gaze like two bolts of lightning appearing in the night.

Tang San even felt a stinging pain when his father's gaze fell upon him.

A fleeting surge of intense emotion crossed Tang Hao's face. "I told you, there are many things you don't need to know right now. If you want to know everything, then make yourself stronger as soon as possible and meet my requirements."

These were the last words Tang Hao spoke to Tang San that night. Tang San didn't ask anything further, and the father and son simply sat around the fire and entered a meditative state.

The next morning, after a simple meal of dry rations, Tang Hao set off with Tang San. After a night's rest, Tang San's strong body had mostly recovered, except for the more intense tingling and itching sensation in his back. He knew that the Eight Spider Lances were still healing.

Tang Hao reverted to his usual taciturn self, remaining silent and striding ahead. Tang San followed behind, barely managing to keep up by mustering his soul power.

Tang Hao was heading towards the Heaven Dou Empire. Along the way, he didn't take the main roads, but instead sought out complex terrain. For the first few days, Tang Hao's pace wasn't too fast.

However, as Tang San's body recovered, Tang Hao's speed increased. Once Tang San and his physical condition were fully restored, he would need to gather all his soul power to catch up with his father.

Because he was moving too fast, Tang San no longer had time to figure out his direction. By the seventh day, he had no idea where he was, but he could roughly sense that he was within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Tang Hao only allowed two hours of rest each day, spending the rest of his time traveling, pushing Tang San's body to its limits almost every day.

However, having undergone rigorous training by a master, he was able to barely keep up as his body fully recovered.

Two weeks later, Tang Hao finally stopped.

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(End of this chapter)