The Blue Silver Grass felt the regal aura from Tang Hao's martial soul and the royal bloodline within Tang San's martial soul. However, contrary to Tang Hao's expectations, everything about the encounter turned out differently, as the entire forest openly exuded hostility toward the two of them.
"Humans who killed the Emperor!"
"Humans who tainted the Emperor's bloodline!"
"Leave!"
"The Blue Silver does not welcome you!"
All the Blue Silver Grass emitted rejection. Whether it was the soul beast variants or the ordinary Blue Silver Grass without sentience, under a collective aura, they united as one entity, radiating malice toward Tang Hao and Tang San.
Under the overwhelming pressure of this immense aura, Tang San felt as though his brain had been struck by a giant hammer, causing him to immediately fall into dizziness. Just as he was about to faint completely, a sudden coolness spread from above his head, stabilizing his spirit.
Thanks to this stabilizing force, Tang San instinctively activated his Head Soul Bone ability, Devouring Spider Transformation. Instantly, his head partially transformed into that of the Man-Faced Demon Spider, granting him enhanced resistance to external malice.
Feeling the power bestowed by the Head Soul Bone, Tang San grew even more convinced of how valuable this Soul Bone was.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao also sensed a massive threat amidst the torrent of hostility.
Currently, Tang Hao's body still bore injuries from his last Ring Explosion, which had yet to heal. While he could easily handle average Soul Douluo-level opponents, confronting a Title Douluo-level threat would undoubtedly worsen his condition to a life-threatening degree.
Tang Hao's expression turned grim—he had never anticipated such a situation. His sharp gaze swept over Tang San, whose head was slightly tilted. Despite knowing that Tang San's soul wasn't his original son, Tang Hao confirmed that his body indeed carried his and Ah Yin's bloodline. He immediately began suspecting himself as the cause of this disaster.
Looking at the red Ninth Soul Ring on his body, Tang Hao quickly realized the problem.
"These brainless Blue Silver Grass must think I'm the one who killed Ah Yin! I should've brought Xiao San to absorb Ah Yin's Soul Bone first before coming here."
Cursing inwardly, Tang Hao could only shield Tang San behind him, releasing his Title Douluo aura to confront the Blue Silver Grass of the entire forest.
"Calm yourselves! Can't you sense Xiao San's bloodline? You should know better than anyone just how special his identity is to all of you!"
The forest's Blue Silver Grass fell silent for a moment. Then, a voice far more ancient, powerful, and noble than the rest was transmitted through the surrounding Blue Silver Grass to Tang Hao and Tang San.
"We do not deny that he carries the Emperor's bloodline, nor do we forget that you were once chosen as the Emperor's mate. But in our eyes, neither of you is worthy of the positions you were granted."
"Emperor? Emperor's mate? What does that mean?" Tang San asked in shock, staring at Tang Hao as if he were seeing his father in a new light.
"Xiao San," Tang Hao sighed, "the Emperor they're referring to is your mother. Your mother was the Blue Silver Emperor, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form. You inherited my bloodline and hers, which is why you awakened both the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer martial souls. However, your mother's death… it's partially my fault. These Blue Silver Grass blame me for not protecting her, and they're venting their anger on you as well."
Tang Hao's words were not only directed at Tang San but also the surrounding Blue Silver Grass. Though they sounded like an explanation, Tang Hao knew they were merely an excuse to cover his guilt. A guilty conscience often speaks the loudest.
As for how Ah Yin died, Tang Hao knew very well—the entire tragedy was orchestrated by none other than himself. He had thought his scheme was flawless, but now it seemed there was a chance it had been exposed to these Blue Silver Grass.
While Tang Hao contemplated the odds of breaking through the encirclement by detonating his rings again and escaping with Tang San, the response of the Blue Silver King brought him a slight sense of relief.
"We know what happened back then. Although the Emperor willingly sacrificed herself for you, the truth remains that you failed her. With her status, such a complete death should never have occurred."
"I admit, this was my mistake. But Xiao San is innocent!" Tang Hao exclaimed, pulling Tang San closer as he shouted at the surrounding Blue Silver Grass.
"No matter what, Xiao San is the only heir left by your Blue Silver Emperor. Even if you think I was an unworthy husband, you cannot deny that Xiao San carries Ah Yin's bloodline!"
"I brought him here today so that his martial soul could awaken again and reveal the true power of the Blue Silver Emperor."
"Xiao San is a twin martial soul wielder, inheriting my Clear Sky Hammer and Ah Yin's Blue Silver Grass. His future is limitless. Once he grows stronger, he will undoubtedly avenge Ah Yin. Can you sit by and do nothing?"
Hearing Tang Hao's noble-sounding speech, Ah Yin, who was listening from within the Blue Silver network, nearly lost her composure and manipulated the surrounding Blue Silver Grass to attack the two of them. It was only thanks to Chen Ming's intervention that she calmed down and refrained from personally descending to the battlefield to beat Tang Hao herself.
Meanwhile, the Blue Silver King, nearing the ninety-nine-thousand-nine-hundred-year mark of its cultivation, metaphorically wiped away nonexistent sweat.
Faith in a deity has its perks—true gods indeed reward their believers. For example, Chen Ming occasionally nurtured the Blue Silver Grass clan, enhancing their quality and intelligence. Ordinary Blue Silver Grass became more likely to evolve into soul beasts, and soul beast Blue Silver Grass was more likely to awaken sentience.
While much of this effort was to gather faith energy, it was undeniable that the Blue Silver Grass clan had benefited greatly. Those in the Blue Silver Forest, who were the earliest to worship Chen Ming, experienced the most significant changes.
The divine power and laws related to life, even when only slightly dispersed, could transform plant-type soul beasts. For inherently weak soul beasts like the Blue Silver Grass, this was like rewriting their destiny.
From the perspective of the Blue Silver Grass clan, the Blue Silver King's current quality was almost on par with that of the Blue Silver Emperor of the same age. If not for the rule that only one Emperor could exist on the continent, the Blue Silver King would have long ascended to the position of Emperor and begun preparing for its hundred-thousand-year tribulation.
Thus, the Blue Silver Grass clan's faith in Chen Ming was pure and unwavering.
As for the conflict between their faith and the remnant will of their Emperor, the Blue Silver King had no complicated thoughts. If erasing its memories of this incident wouldn't disrupt the plan, it would have gladly done so and pretended nothing had happened.