More than four months later.
During this time, Lin Mu basically stayed at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, focusing on his own cultivation in addition to leading the Royal Fighting Team in their rigorous training.
Qian Renxue frequently visited him, leading to inevitable "clashes", both verbal and physical, that always ended with her staying the night.
After nearly five months of specialized training, the soul power of everyone in the Royal Fighting Team had significantly improved. Xiao Wu, Yu Feng, and Oslo had all broken through to Level 40.
Excluding the two weaker substitutes, the main team was now composed entirely of Soul Ancestors, achieving their initial goal. They now had a fighting chance against the Spirit Hall Golden Generation Team and a certain probability of winning the championship.
Lin Mu valued the Continental Elite Soul Master Competition so much mainly for the three soul bone rewards, especially the Spiritual Wisdom Skull of Hallucination.
This soul bone was over 50,000 years old. Although not as rare as a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, it was still an extremely precious treasure. If fused with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, it would become even stronger than a typical hundred-thousand-year soul bone and evolve into a divine artifact component.
In fact, this soul bone was not very useful to Lin Mu personally, but it was crucial for Tang San's future growth.
It was quite bizarre that Bibi Dong would rather offer three high-quality ten-thousand-year soul bones as rewards for the competition than bestow a single soul bone upon her loyal subordinates like the Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Even if it were for the sake of motivating the Spirit Hall Golden Generation Team, it seemed excessive to gamble three such treasures.
Not only that, there was an even more outrageous move in the original timeline.
After the Spirit Hall team lost the match, Bibi Dong still gave Hu Liena a head soul bone, though of lower quality than the Wisdom Skull Tang San won. This showed that Bibi Dong wasn't without resources; she simply didn't prioritize her Elders.
What was most incomprehensible was that since she had already decided to give Hu Liena a soul bone eventually, why not have her absorb it before the competition? Using any decent head soul bone to fill the gap would have greatly increased the Spirit Hall team's chances of winning, instead of risking losing both the championship and the resources.
"Master! I've already broken through to Level 45!"
On the training ground, Tang San strode up to Lin Mu, his face beaming with excitement. He hurriedly said, "You said before that you would tell me about my mother once I reached Level 45."
Hearing his disciple's voice, Lin Mu immediately snapped out of his strategic reverie.
He wasn't particularly surprised that Tang San had broken through to Level 45; in fact, given the medicinal baths and gravity training, it was almost expected.
Regardless, Tang San's soul power had reached the threshold, and it was indeed time for him to know the truth. The matter of awakening his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline also needed to be addressed soon.
Under his training, the Royal Fighting Team had become significantly stronger, but they still couldn't reliably defeat the Spirit Hall Golden Generation Team.
Only when Tang San's soul power reached Level 50 or higher, possessing combat power comparable to a Soul Emperor, would he be able to single-handedly counter Xie Yue and Hu Liena's Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Charm Demon.
Immediately, Lin Mu patted Tang San's shoulder, his tone slightly heavy. "Little San, your mother's situation is rather complicated. I can take you to see her, but you need to be mentally prepared."
Hearing this, Tang San was first taken aback, then his face lit up with surprise. He quickly asked, "Master, is my mother still alive?"
"Your mother is indeed alive, but her condition isn't good. That is why I told you to be mentally prepared."
As he said this, a hint of worry flashed in Lin Mu's eyes. He hoped the current state of Ah Yin wouldn't shock Tang San too much.
Strictly speaking, the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin, having entered maturity, was already considered a true human. But after her sacrifice, she had reverted to a small blade of grass.
Hearing these vague words, Tang San was filled with doubt.
If his mother wasn't dead, why had his father never mentioned it? Was there some unspeakable reason?
Also, his master said his mother's condition was not optimistic, possibly suffering from a serious illness. Why didn't his father take care of her, instead spending his days drinking and wallowing in misery in a remote village?
Many mysteries deeply troubled him.
After a long while, Tang San finally managed to control his emotions and said firmly, "Master, no matter what the situation is, I can accept it."
"Then let's go."
Lin Mu nodded slightly.
Next, Lin Mu handed over the supervision of the training to Qian Renxue, letting her lead the team in their drills.
Qian Renxue readily agreed to Lin Mu's request. After several months of "getting to know each other," she had become inseparable from Lin Mu, both physically and emotionally. Although she tried to conquer him each time, she always ended up exhausted and oddly content.
Lin Mu didn't give her many instructions. The trip to Holy Soul Village wouldn't take much time; at the speed of the Hurricane Armor the round trip would take about two hours. Even considering Tang San's limited speed, with Lin Mu carrying him, it would only take three or four hours at most.
Just as Lin Mu transformed into a hurricane, carrying Tang San away from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Tang Hao, clad in a gray robe, quietly appeared on a nearby rooftop, holding a gourd of wine in his hand.
"This direction... seems to lead to Nuoding City?"
Tang Hao's gaze sharpened, and he paused with the wine gourd halfway to his lips. His expression gradually became serious. 'What is Lin Mu doing taking Little San toward Nuoding?'
'Never mind. With Lin Mu around, I don't need to worry about Little San's safety.'
Thinking this, Tang Hao immediately put his doubts aside and took a swig from the gourd.
Now, he trusted Lin Mu completely. The fact that Lin Mu had attacked the Supreme Pontiff's Palace alone had sealed his fate as an enemy of Spirit Hall. With Lin Mu teaching Little San, Tang Hao felt he could finally relax his vigilance.
As for Ah Yin, who was hidden in the Holy Soul Village, he didn't even consider that possibility. After all, how could Lin Mu possibly know about the secret location of Ah Yin behind the waterfall?
Holy Soul Village.
Meanwhile, after an hour's journey, Lin Mu had brought Tang San to the outskirts of Holy Soul Village.
Looking at the familiar village before him, Tang San surveyed it for a moment, then turned to Lin Mu beside him, asking with a puzzled expression, "Master, didn't you say you were going to take me to see my mother? Why are we back here?"
"Your mother is here."
"How could that be? I lived here for six years and never saw my mother!"
"I'll take you to see her now, but brace yourself."
Lin Mu released his spiritual power. Holy Soul Village wasn't very large, and under his detection, he quickly located the unique energy signature of Ah Yin.
Immediately, Lin Mu grabbed Tang San's arm and led him toward the mountains behind the village.
Before long, the two arrived at an extremely magnificent waterfall. Water cascaded down from a height of fully two hundred meters, creating a misty spray and a thunderous roar, a truly awe-inspiring natural barrier.
This two-hundred-meter-high waterfall contained terrifying power. It was practically a perfect natural seal.
Undeniably, Tang Hao placing Ah Yin inside was safe from prying eyes, but prioritizing safety over Ah Yin's need for sunlight and growth was, in Lin Mu's opinion, somewhat cruel and short-sighted.
"Master, is my mother in here? Can people really live in this place?"
Tang San pointed at the magnificent waterfall, incredulous.
Lin Mu didn't explain. He simply patted Tang San's shoulder, grabbed him, and leaped directly into the waterfall.
Tang San used his Eight Spider Lances to stabilize himself as they broke through the water curtain and entered a hidden cave behind the falls.
The cave was cold, damp, and dark, with almost no sunlight reaching inside. Even humans couldn't adapt well to such an environment for long, let alone a plant spirit beast that needed sunlight to thrive.
After searching the small cave for a moment, Lin Mu stopped in front of a small mound of earth.
There grew a seemingly ordinary Blue Silver Grass.
However, upon closer inspection, one could see subtle golden veins running through its leaves. This Blue Silver Grass exuded a faint, gentle aura, it was clearly the Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin.
Lin Mu pointed to the somewhat weak and stunted Ah Yin and solemnly said, "Little San... this is your biological mother."
Tang San stared blankly at the plant.
"My mother... is a blade of grass?"