Douluo Dalu: Transforming Soul Rings into Soul Veins

Tang Hao's head hung limply like a deflated ball, his once-mighty soul power reduced to less than a tenth of its former glory.

His broken body, missing its right arm and left leg, continued to bleed profusely. Seemingly unsatisfied, Qian Renxue raised her right hand again, her newly acquired fifth soul skill - Sacred Sword - materializing over her palm.

With a swift slash, the fingers of Tang Hao's left hand were severed cleanly by the soul power-dissolving effect of her skill. The agony of losing fingers combined with his existing wounds and the burning of sacred flames actually jolted the once-feared Clear Sky Douluo back to consciousness.

A guttural scream tore from his throat as his right shoulder twitched involuntarily, his body instinctively trying to reach for the now-fingerless left hand that flailed uncontrollably from the unbearable pain. After all, his soul power had plummeted to level 50 and was still dropping.

His bloodshot eyes glared wildly beneath matted, unkempt hair, his face twisted into a terrifying mask of pain and hatred. With a final spurt of blood, Tang Hao's consciousness began fading, yet his hate-filled gaze remained locked on his tormentors until the very last moment when his eyes closed forcibly.

In his final moment of awareness, Tang Hao cast one last glance toward a distant mountain peak. Confirming Tang San wasn't there, he closed his eyes in resignation, praying they wouldn't discover Ah Yin's hidden cave behind the waterfall - that dark, sunless cavern where only a single beam of sunlight penetrated at midday.

For four long years, Tang Hao had never considered returning Ah Yin to their ancestral lands. Not even her soul bone, which as a product of a 100,000-year soul beast's sacrifice, contained source energy that should have accelerated Ah Yin's recovery, was placed near her main body. Instead, it remained locked in a box embedded in the stone wall.

As a Title Douluo, could he truly be unaware of these things? The Blue Silver Emperor possessed an indestructible nature - even after sacrifice, it couldn't truly die. What thoughts lay behind burying her in such a place? Perhaps only he knew.

Qian Renxue exhaled deeply, finally releasing some of her pent-up resentment. "Just wait," she sneered. "When we return to Spirit Hall, you'll suffer far more. Did you think death would come so easily?"

Lin Feng and Ling Yuan moved to comfort her, wrapping their arms around her shoulders. "We're here for you, Xiao Xue," Lin Feng murmured.

Truth be told, Qian Renxue's life had been too smooth thus far. Had this been the original timeline's Qian Renxue, unsoftened by Lin Feng and Ling Yuan's influence, she likely would have executed Tang Hao immediately, her judgment clouded by vengeance.

Yet this current approach - capturing and torturing him - might actually be more disturbing when considered objectively. Lin Feng pondered this paradox. Such calculated cruelty seemed more in character for Bibi Dong than Qian Renxue. Shaking his head, he resolved to later counsel Qian Renxue that a swift execution would be more merciful.

Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward, clasping his fists. "High Priest, should we investigate Tang Hao's dwelling for any remaining threats to eliminate?"

Qian Daoliu shook his head. He knew Tang Hao had a child with that 100,000-year soul beast in human form, but whether the boy survived that battle between Title Douluo remained unknown. Even if he had, Qian Daoliu had no intention of pursuing him.

"Enough. We return to Spirit Hall." This was quintessential Qian Daoliu - righteous and principled. To him, this matter didn't concern the then-infant Tang San. He would never harm an uninvolved child, just as he'd intentionally let Tang Hao escape years before.

"But..." Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo exchanged puzzled glances.

Sighing, Qian Daoliu - kind but not naive - understood their concerns. "Ghost Douluo, investigate whether the child knows his father's identity. If his awakened Martial Soul is the Clear Sky Hammer, bring him to Spirit Hall for judgment. If not, let him live quietly as an ordinary soul master."

"As you command, High Priest."

Lin Feng rubbed his chin, contemplating when to retrieve Ah Yin. The Blue Silver Forest's tremendous vitality and the clan's soul power condensation technique were temptations he couldn't resist.

As for Tang San, dealing with him wasn't urgent. Lin Feng still needed to understand the nature of Tang San's transmigration - was it an accident like his own, or orchestrated by deities? After all, Tang San's later power-ups reeked of divine favoritism - the combined intervention of the Asura God and Sea God, even forcing the God of Food and Nine-Colored Goddess to bestow their godhoods to Oscar and Ning Rongrong to enable resurrection.

So much for gods not interfering in the mortal realm. The Asura God, as divine law enforcer, broke his own rules repeatedly. Lin Feng suspected the original Asura God simply wanted to retire urgently, with Tang San being a convenient successor.

But before acting against Tang San, Lin Feng wanted to verify certain theories. For instance, he longed to subject Tang San to the same torturous "Yin Yang Love Querying Valley" trials that Tang San later inflicted on Huo Yuhao.

As Ghost Douluo departed on his investigation, the group prepared to return to Spirit Hall.

---

The morning's last violet energy dissipated as Tang San concluded his meditation, circulating his internal energy. The Mysterious Heaven Skill seemed nearing a breakthrough, filling him with excitement.

This life was his perfect second chance - able to practice the Mysterious Heaven Skill since infancy, with all the Tang Sect's secret techniques engraved in his mind. What an ideal starting hand!

This world differed little from his previous one, save for the existence of Martial Souls. Yet judging by the villagers, they weren't particularly powerful. With the Tang Sect's techniques, he would rebuild the sect in this world, becoming its glorious founder. What an honor!

"Elders," Tang San murmured to the sky, "you should understand now. Even if I stole the secret manuals, I've brought no dishonor to our sect. Here, I'll establish the Tang Sect's greatness anew."

Rising refreshed, Tang San inhaled the mountain air deeply before surveying Holy Soul Village below. His gaze suddenly caught on distant, disturbed birds fleeing some forest disturbance. Too far to matter, he decided, descending toward the blacksmith shop he shared with his father.

The rusty hinges screeched as Tang San pushed open the door, the familiar scents of iron and charcoal greeting him. But the wooden bed by the furnace lay conspicuously empty.

"Out drinking again?" Tang San wondered aloud, moving to light the stove for breakfast. Then his peripheral vision caught the letter on the worktable.

Abandoning his task, Tang San approached and unfolded the paper. As he read, his expression transformed to one of utter devastation.

"Father..." his voice trembled, "are you abandoning me?"