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"Huh? Aunt… your power level—?"
Before Tang Yuehua could speak, Tang San suddenly realized—his aunt's strength wasn't nearly as simple as he remembered.
No matter the type of domain, soul masters experience dramatically enhanced sensory perception within the range of their own domains.
Yet now, standing within the Killing God Domain's influence, Tang San detected from Tang Yuehua an aura that was far from ordinary.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact level—but he was certain: even if she wasn't a Titled Douluo, she was perilously close. Far beyond his own five-ring Soul King status.
He'd sensed something strange before, but he'd dismissed it as the lingering, overwhelming killing intent clouding his perception.
He never imagined… her power had undergone a transformation so profound, it was almost unrecognizable.
"Hehe~" Tang Yuehua smiled gently. "Xiao San, is it only allowed for you to grow stronger? Can't your aunt improve too?"
"No, no! I didn't mean that!" Tang San hurriedly waved his hands, then couldn't help but ask, "But… Aunt, have you broken free from your martial soul's limitations?"
He recalled clearly—before he left for Slaughter City, his aunt's soul power had been permanently capped by her malignant martial soul mutation, rendering her unable to become a true soul master.
Tang Yuehua turned her gaze toward Chu Chengzhou.
"It's fine," Chu Chengzhou said with a casual wave. "Xiao San is family. Knowing about the immortal herbs won't hurt."
The last remaining immortal herb at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well was the Snow Swan Kiss. All others had been harvested—only roots or seeds remained, which would take ten thousand years to mature. Letting Tang San know that immortal herbs existed on Douluo Continent? It made no real difference.
Besides, even if he didn't tell him, Tang San wouldn't know where they came from.
But Chu Chengzhou was careful—mentioning the immortal herbs was acceptable. The hundred-thousand-year soul rings and soul bones? Those he'd keep to himself.
"Immortal herbs?!"
Tang San's eyes flew wide open.
So… the immortal herbs described in the ancient Tang Sect scripture, the Xuantian Treasure Record—they were real? Not just fantasy? Not just the wild imaginings of a previous world?
"Huh? Xiao San, you know what immortal herbs are?"
Tang Yuehua blinked, surprised.
After all, her nephew had been raised by her since age six. If not for Chu Chengzhou, she hadn't even known such things existed. How had he?
Could it be… he learned of them before his martial soul awakened? Or from Slaughter City?
"Um… I… I came across a vague reference in an ancient text," Tang San muttered, slightly uneasy.
"Is that so?"
Tang Yuehua raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, Xiao San, I consumed an immortal herb called the Aromatic Silk Beauty."
The Aromatic Silk Beauty?!
Tang San's eyes widened again—unbelievable. He'd just heard the name of one of the very herbs he'd read about in his previous life's scriptures.
Even more shocking—this world, Douluo Continent, was utterly different from the world of his past life… yet the names of these immortal herbs? Identical. Exactly the same. At least for the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
And now that he thought of it… the Aromatic Silk Beauty was perfect for his aunt.
Her innate domain purified the soul and calmed the spirit. The Aromatic Silk Beauty's fragrance was serene and elegant, subtly suppressing toxins and calming violent energies. Not identical—but uncannily complementary.
In fact, aside from the legendary Yearning Heartbroken Red, Tang San couldn't imagine a single immortal herb better suited to her.
Wait—if his aunt had access to the Aromatic Silk Beauty, why hadn't she used it sooner? That meant… this herb had only recently become available.
And if she had it… then who gave it to her?
Chu Chengzhou.
If Chu Chengzhou could gift an immortal herb to his aunt… then he must have consumed one himself.
Tang San turned sharply toward Chu Chengzhou, who was calmly eating his golden whale brain.
Chu Chengzhou sensed the look instantly. He didn't even need to be told what Tang San was thinking.
He nodded, matter-of-factly: "Xiao San, you're right. I've consumed two immortal herbs—one called the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, the other, the Infernal Delicate Apricot."
No hidden meaning. Just pure, unadulterated satisfaction—let the nephew burn with envy.
As for hatred? Chu Chengzhou didn't care. Let him hate.
For a long moment, Tang San was silent.
'Two immortal herbs… the paired ones—Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot…'
No wonder. No wonder he'd always lost to Chu Chengzhou. That bastard had already consumed two of them.
Heaven above, Earth below—what right did this man have to such fortune? How dare he?!
Tang San screamed silently inside his mind.
Tang San: Jealousy has me splitting at the cellular level!
After a long while, his emotions finally settled.
So Chu Chengzhou consumed two immortal herbs? What of it?
He, Tang San, carried the legacy of the Tang Sect. He had innate full-soul-power. He possessed twin martial souls. He would never be inferior to anyone!
Chu Chengzhou was a single-martial soul soul master. Even with two immortal herbs, his growth would inevitably slow down after Level 90. He'd hit a wall. A barrier he couldn't break through.
After all, immortal herbs had limits. They could only grant a guaranteed path to Titled Douluo—nothing more. Higher levels still demanded effort, discipline, and breakthroughs.
But Tang San? His innate full-soul-power guaranteed him a direct route to Titled Douluo.
Then, by attaching high-year soul rings to his Hao Tian Hammer—he could surge past level after level in record time.
And when he hit a bottleneck? He'd simply use his second martial soul—attach another high-year soul ring to it, and let the surge of soul power shatter the barrier.
Theoretically, if the soul rings were powerful enough, the nine rings of his second martial soul could forcefully break through nine bottlenecks.
In short—for a soul master with full innate soul-power and a dual martial soul—the path to the Level 99 Limit Titled Douluo? It was a straight highway.
Hmph. Let Chu Chengzhou gloat for now.
When that bastard finally hits his wall—stuck, helpless, unable to advance—while Tang San stands atop the pinnacle of the world… who will be the one to crush him underfoot?
And… well, considering his aunt's feelings… the man who should have died a thousand deaths… perhaps he'd only break one of Chu Chengzhou's legs.
Thankfully, Chu Chengzhou had no mind-reading ability.
Otherwise, today, Tang San would've learned the true meaning of "Tough Love".
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