"Could it be a spirit bone?" Tang Hao stepped forward, thrusting his hands into the cracks in the iron thorn tree's trunk. With a sudden force, he ripped the entire trunk apart.

A torso spirit bone suddenly appeared before his eyes.

"Six thousand years old torso bone!"

The spirit skills granted by the iron thorn tree's spirit bone were likely defensive. Absorbing this spirit bone would surely enhance Tang San's performance in the Spirit Master Competition.

However, this spirit bone was too young, and the torso spirit bone couldn't be removed. Once absorbed, it would be irreplaceable.

Compared to the torso bone of a hundred thousand year old golden dragon turtle, this one instantly paled in comparison.

Just as Tang Hao had taken the spirit bone, a group of figures quickly surrounded him.

Leading them was a gloomy middle-aged man, holding a dagger, which he licked periodically.

"Don't hide it! Hand over the spirit bone."

These men were the robbers who had been lurking nearby.

Seeing the impoverished appearance of Tang Hao and his son, they initially showed no interest. But who had mentioned the soul bone?

A single six-thousand-year soul bone could fetch a whopping one million gold soul coins.

Moreover, selling it to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, they not only didn't question its origin but also commanded a higher price than others.

"I'll give you a moment to get out!" Tang Hao said coldly.

He could

n't be bothered to take action against these worthless people. However, the leader was clearly undeterred by Tang Hao's words.

Highway robbers possessed the most courage.

The leader gave a look, and the minions behind him quickly advanced on Tang San.

Tang San was Tang Hao's Achilles' heel; any contact would be fatal!

"Since you're so determined to die, then die!" Tang Hao said without further ado, daring to swerve behind the leader.

He grabbed the man with both hands and, with a slight push, tore him in half.

The remaining men, horrified by the horrific death of their leader, abandoned their weapons and fled in all directions.

Unfortunately, having angered Tang Hao, they were already dead. Each one was slain in the most brutal manner by Tang Hao.

After this, Tang Hao returned to Tang San's side. Seeing the corpse of the leader was a bit of an eyesore, he kicked it back with both left and right kicks, sending it flying.

"My Tang family's possessions are not for you scumbags to covet!"

Organs were scattered on the ground, and Tang Hao, not wanting Tang San to see them, simply buried them.

However, he spotted a map lying nearby.

Picking it up and examining the terrain along the way, Tang Hao quickly determined their location on the map.

To their north, an area was marked.

This map bore a striking resemblance to a treasure map Tang Hao had seen during his earlier trips to the seaside.

"Consider these your compensation to my Tang family for the interest you paid."

He put the map away. Now, they only had to wait for Tang San to absorb his spirit rings before they set out.

...

It was late at night, and Tang San, who had absorbed the spirit rings, had reached a crucial stage.

To prevent anyone else from appearing, Tang Hao deliberately set up a spirit barrier around him.

"Xiao San, you are my son, Tang Hao. You must hold on!"

Tang San's mask had long since fallen. Half of his face, burned, looked particularly hideous.

Seeing this, Tang Hao couldn't help but sweat for Tang San.

Fortunately, Xiao Wu loved Tang San's heart; otherwise, given Tang San's current state, she would have left long ago.

It wasn't until the following morning that Tang San finally completed the absorption of his spirit ring.

"Ha~ha~"

After waking up, Tang San panted heavily.

Such inhuman torture was truly unbearable for a human.

Thankfully, Tang San succeeded, and his spirit power broke through forty-two.

"Hahaha, Xiao San, you are worthy of being my son, Tang Hao."

Tang Hao held out the six-thousand-year spirit bone. "Xiao San, this is from the same source as your fourth spirit ring. If you absorb it, the power you can unleash will likely surpass that of an ordinary ten-thousand-year spirit ring. However, I don't recommend it. The one hundred-thousand-year-old golden dragon turtle torso bone is clearly more suitable for you."

"Ba Ba, don't we only want Mom's spirit bone?" Tang San asked puzzled.

Tang Hao snorted coldly, "Your companions aren't worthy of a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring. How about this? Keep this six-thousand-year spirit bone for now. After the competition, compensate Yu Tianheng or Dai Mubai."

That's right, Baba is a Titled Douluo. Why should I share spirit bones with them?

If one doesn't work for oneself, heaven and earth will punish him.

Tang San is no saint. Spirit bones are always given to those with ability. Once his strength increases and opportunities arise in the future, he can compensate them.

Taking the spirit bone, Tang San nodded heavily, "Baba, I understand what you mean."

"Haha, Xiao San, remember, a general's success is built on the sacrifices of thousands of soldiers. You're destined to reach the pinnacle of the spirit master path. As for those who curry favor with the powerful, after the Spirit Master Competition, it's time to cut ties. Lest they use our Tang family's name to cause trouble outside."

He didn't mention Ma Hongjun, but his words were all about him.

After this lecture, Tang San wholeheartedly agreed with Tang Hao's reasoning.

It now seemed that the only truly civilian spirit masters in Shrek Academy were Ma Hongjun and Oscar.

Everyone knew Oscar's relationship with Ning Rongrong, and becoming the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's son-in-law was practically a foregone conclusion.

Only Ma Hongjun was a complete civilian.

There's an old Chinese saying that nobles who emerged from the common people are more hostile to the common people than those who were born nobles.

Ever since learning of Tang Hao's identity, Tang San's mindset had quietly shifted.

"Xiao San, do you think this is a treasure map?"

Taking the map and glancing at it, Tang San's breathing quickened. "Ba Ba, the area marked on the map, my teacher and I have passed by before. Now that I think about it, I feel like it's a treasure land, with a high probability of finding immortal herbs."

"Xiao San, are you telling the truth?" Tang Hao confirmed.

Tang San shook his head. "Baba, after all, we never went there before. And Dean Flanders said there were powerful spirit beasts there. I think even if it's not the immortal grass, there must be other things of greater value."

"In that case, let's go explore it, father and son!" Tang Hao said with a smile. "The things there were discovered by father and son first, so they naturally belong to us."

"Unowned things on the continent always belong to those who are destined to own them. Since we have a connection to that place, it should be ours," Tang San agreed with a smile.

Fortunately, Dugu Bo didn't believe Tang San's nonsense. The immortal grass treasure land was the property of the entire continent. If it really fell into Tang San's hands, it would be the private property of the Tang family.

Tang Hao and his son walked towards the depths of the forest, talking and laughing.

During the rain, Tang San even put his clothes on Tang Hao's head. Such a heartwarming scene, truly a loving father and a filial son!

(End of this chapter)

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