SoulLand:Ascending to Godhood through Science

While the people present reacted in their own ways, one figure hidden in the shadows was also trembling with rage.

That person was none other than the scruffy blacksmith, Tang Hao.

Watching his prideful son with twin martial spirits being utterly powerless in the face of his opponent—so much so that he seemed on the verge of a complete mental breakdown—Tang Hao was both deeply worried and agitated.

As a member of the Haotian Sect, renowned for its arrogance, Tang Hao's inherent pride remained unshaken despite his current circumstances. He had always scoffed at ideas like "failure is the mother of success" or "adversity builds character."

To Tang Hao, the ideal path to growth was never tasting defeat, crushing everything in one's way, and becoming an unparalleled genius who towers over the world—just like his most revered grandfather, Tang Chen.

However, this wasn't like the first time Tang San was knocked out with a single punch due to being caught off guard. This time, it was obvious to everyone that Tang San had given his all, using every technique at his disposal!

And even then, he failed to pose any threat to You Xing.

Seeing Tang San lying there, his eyes empty and his spirit seemingly broken, Tang Hao's heart ached terribly.

But he couldn't reveal himself just yet.

Contrary to certain conspiracy theories from the original work, Tang Hao wasn't standing aside because he thought his son had been possessed by a soul from another world and was simply treating him as a tool for revenge.

The idea that a titled Douluo, after spending years with his son, couldn't detect such a glaring anomaly was laughable.

For others, it might have been impossible to miss. But if the person in question was Tang Hao, then it suddenly made sense.

For one, Tang Hao was not the type to entertain fantastical notions like soul reincarnation. His personality was straightforward, even somewhat reckless, making it unlikely for him to consider such possibilities.

More importantly, his care for Tang San, however flawed, was evident to anyone who observed closely. It was far from the behavior of someone treating their son as a mere tool.

Rather than suspecting possession, Tang Hao's apparent negligence was better explained by his grief-stricken state after losing his wife. This left him emotionally dead and indifferent to many things, including his son's well-being.

Readers often imposed an omniscient perspective on Tang Hao's actions, attributing them to elaborate schemes or malice. But what if the truth was simpler?

What if Tang Hao… just wasn't that bright?

Take, for instance, the way he placed Ah Yin's remains in an environment unsuited for plant growth. It wasn't because he wanted to prolong her revival out of selfishness but simply because he hadn't considered the impact of such conditions on her recovery.

As for feeding Tang San scalding-hot porridge that could have killed an ordinary child—it wasn't a deliberate act to harm him. Rather, it was a mix of his rough nature and his failure to realize that he and the yet-to-awaken Tang San had entirely different tolerances.

Even the widely debated theory about Tang Hao forcing Ah Yin to sacrifice herself doesn't hold up under scrutiny. If that had been his goal, wouldn't he have dedicated himself to cultivation afterward? Instead, he squandered his prime years in despair. It's unlikely he orchestrated such a tragedy only to regret it later—that would make him indecisive and melodramatic, more akin to Yu Xiaogang or Bibi Dong.

In truth, many of Tang Hao's questionable actions, often seen as either idiotic or conspiratorial, align perfectly with the idea of him being, well… not particularly clever.

And right now, Tang Hao was genuinely worried that his son might never recover from this setback.

The intensity of his gaze was so strong that even without the sensitivity gained from his Concealment Art, You Chen would have noticed.

You Chen's brow twitched. While it was unlikely for Tang Hao to intervene—after all, even against Zao Wou-ki's bullying, Tang Hao had only retaliated later and in secret—the thought of his presence still sent a chill down You Chen's spine.

He resolved to proceed cautiously, keeping in mind the principle of sustainable "harvesting."

More importantly, You Chen knew that Tang San would eventually realize the truth: You Xing's existence was an anomaly. This loss wasn't because of a flaw in his hidden weapons but because his opponent was simply too monstrous.

With Tang San's maturity and the psychological resilience honed by his training in the Tang Sect, it wouldn't take him more than a couple of nights to come to terms with the defeat.

Meanwhile, You Xing stepped forward, moving to stand beside the fallen Tang San.

"Hm?"

Tang Hao's brow furrowed as he heightened his vigilance.

The memory of Tang San's violent outburst and his deadly hidden weapons resurfaced. If You Xing bore any malicious intentions toward Tang San, Tang Hao felt it would be entirely justified. And if that happened, he would have no choice but to reveal himself, even if it meant killing everyone present.

However, the expected scenario did not occur.

You Xing stood still next to Tang San, speaking in his usual cold tone.

"Tang San, are you really giving up like this?"

Tang San remained silent.

The blow to his confidence was too devastating. Even his most prized hidden weapons had been completely ineffective against You Xing.

And You Xing was only a one-ring spirit master, just like him!

In that moment, a seed of doubt took root in Tang San's mind. Would he even be able to penetrate the defenses of a similarly-ranked genius spirit master if he pushed his Mysterious Heaven Skill to its peak and used techniques like Bodhi Blood or Weeping Guanyin?

If not, then what was the point of these hidden weapons?

For the first time, Tang San entertained a thought he had never allowed himself before—a thought of despair and futility.

This despair stemmed largely from the fact that You Xing was his equal in rank. It was an unshakable reality he couldn't ignore.

"So that's it?"

You Xing's voice seemed to carry a weight of disappointment.

"You're really giving up?"

For the first time, You Xing let out a soft sigh.

"Your hidden weapons are indeed extraordinary. They've shown me possibilities I hadn't considered before. If it weren't for me, even a Spirit Grandmaster… no, perhaps even a Spirit Elder, would find themselves hard-pressed to contend with you."

Hearing this, a flicker of clarity returned to Tang San's vacant eyes.

"I never imagined that a fellow spirit master of the same rank could bring me such surprises. But the more I see, the more disappointed I feel in you."

You Xing's next words made Tang San's pupils contract sharply.

Tang San hadn't realized it yet, but his thoughts and emotions had already fallen completely under You Xing's control.

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