Chapter 180

The next day, the news that the Spirit Hall's Pope Qianxunji was to have a grand wedding spread throughout the entire Douluo Continent.

Holy Soul Village!

Inside a blacksmith's shop.

A burly middle-aged man with unshaven stubble and an untrimmed beard was holding a hammer, striking the iron piece blow by blow, forging an iron sword.

In the corner, Tang San leaned alone against the wall.

The ground was cold, but Tang Hao paid him no heed.

Ever since Tang Hao learned that his son Tang San was a Transmigrator, he bore a grudge against him and constantly tormented him.

Boom… boom… boom…

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the blacksmith shop's main door.

"Tang Hao, you have an invitation!"

An elderly voice rang out.

Tang Hao heard it but did not answer; he set down his hammer, went to the door and opened it, where an old man with a stooped back, leaning on a cane, stood before him.

Old Jack looked at Tang Hao, whose beard was untrimmed, his brows furrowing deeper; in his view, a grown man letting himself become so sloppy, reeking of alcohol all day, was utterly decadent.

However, upon thinking of the invitation in his hand, he regarded Tang Hao a bit more highly.

Old Jack handed the invitation to Tang Hao and said:

"Tang Hao, I never imagined that the renowned Pope of the Spirit Hall's grand wedding would even send you an invitation specially; I truly don't know where you got such fortune to know such a tremendous figure."

Tang Hao did not answer, but instead looked at the names on the invitation.

Qianxunji, Gu Yue Na.

He certainly knew Qianxunji, and had interacted with him several times.

When he was young, while Tangchen was still around, Tangchen and Qian Daoliu were close friends, and under Tangchen's leadership, he met Qianxunji once.

The next time they met, Qianxunji snatched his beloved A Yin; the next time they met, Qianxunji took the hundred‑thousand‑year spirit beast Dogtail Grass, Xiao Cao, that he had come to love.

Between them, there could be said to be deep hatred and great grudge.

But Qianxunji's strength was so overwhelming that it even robbed him of the confidence to seek revenge, leaving him no choice but to specifically torment Tang San.

Tang Hao gripped the invitation tightly, his whole hand trembling violently.

Well, might as well go; perhaps I'll get to see A Yin.

Tang Hao knew that A Yin had also liked him back then.

But three months have passed; I don't know whether, living together with Qianxunji, A Yin has forgotten him through familiarity, or still loves him, Tang Hao.

Immediately, Tang Hao packed his belongings, grabbed Tang San with one hand, and strode out of Holy Soul Village.

Old Jack watched Tang Hao, reeking of alcohol, carrying his luggage, one hand holding Tang San's clothes from behind, and shouted angrily:

"Tang Hao, even if you yourself have fallen, your son Tang San is innocent—how could you treat the child like this?"

Tang San, at that moment, was being held up by Tang Hao with one hand, jostled back and forth, feeling as if his head were about to spin.

Even the rice soup he had drunk at noon was vomited up from the shaking.

Hearing Old Jack's words, Tang San felt a loosening in his heart, secretly thinking that at last he could be held by his father Tang Hao.

However, facing Old Jack's angry words, Tang Hao turned a deaf ear, lifted Tang San, and disappeared into Holy Soul Village.

Tang San: "……"

…………

Inside a forest!

Here, a thatched hut was being built.

At this moment, a man with a crew cut lay prone on a rock, his upper body bare.

Another man held a whip, lashing the crew‑cut man strike after strike.

"Ah… ah…"

"Fulan De, stop whipping me with that whip—I'm about to be whipped to death by you."

Yu Xiaogang lay on the stone, letting out a anguished scream contorted with pain.

Each lash of the whip behind him split his skin and flesh on his back, bringing excruciating, bone‑deep pain.

On his back, besides fresh welts, there were many old scars—remnants of previous whippings.

"Hmph!" Facing Yu Xiaogang's plea for mercy, Fulan De merely gave a cold snort and said coldly:

"The thirty lashes for today aren't over yet; if you keep whining, old man, I'll add ten more."

"Crack… crack…"

Fulan De spoke while lashing Yu Xiaogang's back strike after strike.

Fulan De's hatred for Yu Xiaogang stems from Liu Er Long.

At first, upon seeing Liu Er Long he fell in love at first sight, and as they got to know each other, his love deepened.

But then Qianxunji arrived and outright snatched Liu Er Long away.

At the same time, Fulan De also knew that it was because Qianxunji had been monitoring Yu Xiaogang to keep him from doing wrong; while disciplining Yu Xiaogang, he discovered Liu Er Long and thus took her away.

If it weren't for Yu Xiaogang, Fulan De believes Liu Er Long would not have been taken by Qianxunji.

Furthermore, according to Qianxunji, Yu Xiaogang is utterly shameless, actually using Liu Er Long to seek revenge against his own uncle.

For these two reasons, he came to loathe Yu Xiaogang intensely.

Therefore, ever since Qianxunji left that day, Fulan De, unable to understand and filled with anger, brought Yu Xiaogang here again, whipping him thirty lashes each day.

Moreover, Fulan De decided that, for Yu Xiaogang's transgressions, he must endure ten years of whipping.

"Who?"

Suddenly, Fulan De's owl‑like sharp eyes turned toward the forest interior.

Soon, a figure walked out of the forest and came before Fulan De and the two.

Someone from the Spirit Hall?

Fulan De looked at the person's clothing and immediately recognized them as someone from the Spirit Hall.

Thinking of Qianxunji's strength, Fulan De quickly asked respectfully:

Brother of the Spirit Hall, may I ask what brings you here?

The man took out a red invitation from his bosom and handed it to Fulan De, saying at the same time:

His Holiness the Pope of the Spirit Hall will hold a grand wedding in ten days; please attend then.

A grand wedding?

Could it be Sister Liu Er Long?

But when Fulan De looked at the name on the invitation… Gu Yue Na. It turned out not to be Liu Er Long.

Fulan De found this not strange, after all Qianxunji is the Pope of the Spirit Hall, his status is exalted; it is normal that Liu Er Long cannot become his principal wife.

However, if we go to attend Qianxunji's grand wedding, we will surely see the Liu Er Long he longs for day and night; Fulan De happily said:

Please tell His Holiness the Pope of the Spirit Hall that Fulan De will certainly attend.

Hmm.

The man gave a hum, then swiftly darted into the forest.

Fulan De put the invitation into his bosom, turned his head to look at Yu Xiaogang, and said happily:

Qianxunji's grand wedding is in ten days; if we go to the Spirit Hall, we will surely see Er Long.

I am very happy today, I decide to reward you with ten more lashes.

Ah? No, no, no! Yu Xiaogang's terrified voice rose.

Pa… pa…

Then, the sound of the whip lashing Yu Xiaogang's back rang out.

In a moment, the news of Qianxunji, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, holding his grand wedding spread almost throughout the entire continent.

Faced with the Spirit Hall, this colossal entity, many powers and Soul Masters felt apprehensive.

Thus, renowned powers on the continent, Soul Masters, and even the Tian Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire sent princes or princesses to participate.

As for why the kings did not go, it was because they feared being placed under house arrest—or even killed—by the Spirit Hall's people.

Soon, the time arrived ten days later.

(End of chapter)