[Soul Bone Ability: Blazing Frost Venom Sting!
Fusing the extreme Ice of the Ice Jade Scorpion Tail with the extreme Fire of Nine Yang Divine Art, this technique creates a powerful propulsion force to launch the Scorpion Tail Sting, penetrating defenses with pinpoint accuracy!
Upon piercing the target, the chaotic clash of extreme Ice and Fire detonates inside the enemy—
One-hit kill!]
—End of patch notes.
—
Chaos in the Cafeteria: Ning Rongrong Goes Wild!
When Tang Lan arrived at the cafeteria, it was already lively.
From a distance, he could hear Ning Rongrong screaming.
"Let go of me!"
"I'm gonna kill that bastard!"
"How dare he hit me?! Who the hell does Dai Mubai think he is?!"
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
"First Soul Skill—White Tiger Body Barrier!"
—Oh ho?
So Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai actually got into a fight?
Tang Lan quickened his pace.
—
Inside, he saw Ning Rongrong dual-wielding Anaconda Revolvers, firing wildly at Dai Mubai.
His White Tiger Body Barrier rippled under the relentless impact, his eyes bloodshot as he charged at her.
Ning Rongrong reached into her storage ring—
Pulled out a Uzi—
And was about to unleash suppressive fire when—
"SWOOSH—"
Xiao Wu teleported beside Ning Rongrong, pressing down her gun barrel.
At the same time, she spun and kicked Dai Mubai back.
"Have you two had enough?!" Xiao Wu scolded. "All this over a verbal argument?! Trying to kill each other?!"
Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong glared at each other, both unwilling to back down.
Meanwhile—
Zhu Zhuqing calmly carried her meal tray to the dishwashing area, completely uninterested in the commotion.
However—
When she spotted Tang Lan, her gaze subtly flickered away.
—
"Yo!" Tang Lan greeted. "Little Princess, what's got you so fired up this early in the morning?"
Upon seeing Tang Lan, Ning Rongrong's eyes turned red.
"Uncle Tang! You have to stand up for your niece!"
"I only said that he deserved to be dumped for running away like a coward, and he actually attacked me with his Martial Soul!"
"If it weren't for Sister Xiao Wu pulling me back, I'd be dead right now!"
—Uncle… Tang?
Both Zhu Zhuqing, who was about to leave, and Dai Mubai, who was still fuming, turned to stare at Tang Lan.
—
"Huh?" Xiao Wu looked confused. "Brother, when did you become Rongrong's uncle?"
Tang Lan shrugged.
"Ning Fengzhi suggested we become sworn brothers, so I agreed."
"But he also made it clear—we do things our own way, so Ning Rongrong, don't go claiming fake family ties."
—In an instant—
Ning Rongrong, who had just thought she found her backer, suddenly looked like she had swallowed a lemon.
Tang Lan's blunt honesty left her completely stranded.
—
Dai Mubai Speaks: The Engagement Is Over
"Sect Leader."
Dai Mubai stepped forward, his voice cold.
"Last night, I admitted my mistake to Zhu Zhuqing. I intended to end this arranged marriage—since, ultimately, I was the one at fault."
"She brought up the engagement dissolution first, and I agreed."
"But Ning Rongrong somehow caught wind of it and started mocking me first thing in the morning, saying—"
At that moment, Dai Mubai's expression twitched.
Clearly—
Being dumped had still dealt a heavy blow to his pride.
But he had no choice but to accept it.
After all, he had brought it upon himself.
And with Zhu Zhuqing now clearly entangled with Tang Lan, he could only move forward.
But Ning Rongrong just had to rub salt in the wound.
No man could tolerate that!
—
Just as the situation settled,
Tang San entered, supporting Oscar, who looked completely drained.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Tang San hesitated at the doorway.
But the moment Ning Rongrong spotted him—her eyes lit up!
She instantly recalled Tang San's insane battle record—
—He had shatteredChen Xin's protective soul power!
If he stepped in, wouldn't he be able to kill Dai Mubai for her?
She was just about to speak when—
Her gaze shifted to Tang Lan, who was watching her with an amused smirk.
—And she immediately remembered that night.
—This man was truly ruthless when he wanted to be!
Her brain instantly sobered up.
Tang San, herself, and Dai Mubai were all Tang Sect members now.
Hiring one sect member to kill another—right in front of the sect leader?!
That was suicidal!
—
Now that she had calmed down, she realized—
Maybe… possibly… perhaps…
It was her own fault for running her mouth and poking Dai Mubai's sore spot?
—What do you do when you realize mid-argument that you were actually wrong?
Ning Rongrong chose the "turn away and pretend it never happened" strategy.
She tried to quietly slip away.
But—
"Ning Rongrong."
Tang Lan's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"You started this. You think you can just walk away?"
Ning Rongrong froze.
She knew she was in the wrong, but she refused to back down.
"I just said a few words! Did he really have to go that far and try to kill me?"
—Oh ho!
This "feminist logic" nearly made Dai Mubai explode on the spot!
Tang Lan, meanwhile, found it downright hilarious.
"Oh, so just a few words are no big deal?"
"Then, tell me—"
"What exactly were you doing sneaking into my dorm in the middle of the night two days ago?"
"SWOOSH—"
"SWOOSH—"
Both Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu instantly locked eyes onto Ning Rongrong!
Xiao Wu even let go of her hand, her brow furrowing.
—Yet another rival trying to steal her brother?!
—
Ning Rongrong panicked.
"No! It's not what you think!"
"I was just… I was just—"
She choked.
How was she supposed to explain this?
That she had sneaked in to steal bullets and ended up playing Russian Roulette under duress?!
How could she possibly say that out loud?!
At that moment—
She fully understood Dai Mubai's earlier frustration.
—This was so unfair!
—
"Why so quiet?" Tang Lan smirked.
"I only said a few words. You're not mad, are you? No way, right?"
His mocking tone made Dai Mubai's heart sing with joy.
—The Sect Leader really knew how to put this brat in her place!
But—
Dai Mubai also glanced subtly at Tang Lan.
He already had Xiao Wu, was flirting with Zhu Zhuqing—
And now Ning Rongrong was sneaking into his room at night?
—This Sect Leader was truly something else!
—
Ning Rongrong's Forced Apology
Feeling the weight of her own words, Ning Rongrong reluctantly apologized to Dai Mubai.
"…Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I hit a sore spot."
Dai Mubai scoffed and turned away, originally intending to just walk off.
But with Tang Lan still watching—
He reluctantly responded.
"Whatever. Let's leave it at that."
Then, he strode out of the cafeteria.
—
Zhu Zhuqing, who had intended to leave, now lingered at the sink, taking extra time to wash her dishes—
But her gaze kept drifting toward Tang Lan.
—
Xiao Wu's Suspicion
"Brother!" Xiao Wu pouted. "What's this about nighttime visits?! Why didn't I know?!"
Tang Lan glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was now awkwardly escaping the cafeteria.
Then, he casually recounted that night's events.
Hearing the full story, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing both subtly relaxed.
—So it wasn't that kind of "night visit."
—
Tang San's Weird Priorities
However—
Tang San's focus was completely different.
"Brother, the first batch of bullets didn't have any anti-theft measures. That's a security risk."
—Oh!
Tang Lan had completely overlooked that!
Fortunately—
The only ones who had the old bullets were Zhu Zhuqing, himself, Tang San, and Xiao Wu.
All trusted allies.
"Alright, Xiao San, recall the old bullets and swap them for the new batch." Tang Lan instructed.
"Got it, Brother."
With that, the topic was dropped.
Zhu Zhuqing also finished washing her dishes, gracefully stepping away.
—
Tang Lan continued enjoying his meal while his gaze drifted toward Oscar.
Ma Hongjun was lazy, gluttonous, and lecherous—he hated training.
Oscar, however, was the complete opposite.
Resolute, goal-driven—
Just last night, he was wrecked, barely functional—
And today, he was already walking.
But—
He was still on the brink of collapse.
—
On the Training Grounds
As expected.
Oscar's body was in terrible shape.
He was still swinging his hammer, but the streaks of blood on the handle showed how much he was suffering.
Yet he continued as if he felt nothing, gritting his teeth and pushing through.
Whenever he reached his limit, he'd take a bite of sausage—
Then keep swinging.
Again and again.
—
Watching this, everyone couldn't help but sigh—
"If only Oscar and Ma Hongjun could swap Martial Souls!"
A food-type Spirit Master who was lazy and indulgent, and a power-type Spirit Master who was hardworking and persistent—
Now that would make sense!
Instead—
—
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun's Hellish Training
Flender's roars echoed across the training grounds.
"MA HONGJUN!"
"ADD ANOTHER 150 POUNDS TO YOUR WEIGHTS!"
"Even running laps, you're slacking off?! DROP AND GIVE ME PUSH-UPS!"
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT POSITION?! TRYING TO DRILL THROUGH THE FLOOR?!"
"STRAIGHTEN YOUR BACK!"
Flender stood right in front of Ma Hongjun, watching him like a hawk.
Everyone else was self-disciplined—he only needed to check on them occasionally.
But Ma Hongjun?
He had to be supervised at all times.
—
By this point, Fatty was nearly mentally broken—
"If I had known it'd be this bad, I would've just swung hammers with Oscar!"
—
Tang Lan's Decision
Throughout all this, Tang Lan had been keeping a close eye on Oscar.
—This guy was a beast.
Because both he and Ning Rongrong were support-type Soul Masters, Ning Fengzhi never truly acknowledged him.
So he spent five years training alone on the continent—
Creating the "Mirror Image Sausage", capable of replicating 80% of another's strength, effectively turning himself into a power-type fighter.
And in the future—
He would become the first-ever Food-Type Titled Douluo.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, Oscar was the only one with zero flaws.
So—
Tang Lan decided to give him a little push.
—
Hands-On Training: Passing Down the Nine Yang Divine Art
Tang Lan dispersed his Thunderflame Clear Sky Hammer and walked up to Oscar.
The guy was still mechanically swinging, so focused that he barely registered a living person standing in front of him.
—He was running purely on willpower.
But his body was already at its limit—
He would collapse within the next two days.
—
Tang Lan extended his hand—
A single strand of his Blue Silver Emperor shot out, forming a link between them—
And he infused him with Nine Yang Divine Art's internal energy.
As Oscar's injuries rapidly healed, Tang Lan also guided his soul power through the first layer of Nine Yang Divine Art.
Oscar instinctively followed.
Under Tang Lan's step-by-step guidance, he quickly mastered the first layer—
His once-scattered soul power now condensed into hazy violet energy.
His physical state—rejuvenated by the energy—improved by over half.
—
Oscar Regains Clarity
As his mind finally returned, Oscar's eyes flashed with realization.
—This was the technique Flender mentioned—the one that could cure Fatty's "Evil Fire"?!
But—
"…Why?"
Oscar hesitated, then asked:
"Thank you."
"But… why teach me?"
—
"Because I feel like it." Tang Lan answered casually.
Then, without another word—
He turned and walked away.
—
Leaving Oscar stunned.
—
So… geniuses could be this unpredictable?
—
Oscar's Breakthrough: The First Step to True Power
With his mind cleared, Oscar quickened his hammer swings.
And then—
He discovered something even more incredible!
By running Nine Yang Divine Art's first layerwhile forging,
His sore muscles recovered faster.
And—
The hazy violet energy from Nine Yang Divine Art even enhanced his soul skills!
His Recovery Sausage was now 10% stronger.
With this balance of gain and loss,
He could just barely sustain himself through training.
Still—his body remained at its absolute limit.
Only sheer willpower kept him going.
But at least now, success was within reach.
—
Tang San Notices the Change
Tang San, of course, noticed all of this.
His gaze drifted toward Tang Lan, filled with silent accusation.
"Brother… what are you doing?"
After all—
He had set the training goal with full confidence that neither Ma Hongjun nor Oscar could complete it.
But now?
Tang San was seriously considering whether he needed to adjust the conditions.
—
Night Falls: The Cost of Growth
As dusk settled—
Oscar, his body covered in cuts and bruises, barely managed to stumble back to his dorm after eating a few of Shao Xin's sugar beans.
His progress was visible to the naked eye—
All from just a partial martial art.
And given his unwavering resolve,
His success was practically guaranteed.
Tang San couldn't hold it in anymore.
He walked straight up to Tang Lan.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
—
Tang Lan's Response: A New Vision for the Future
Tang Lan calmly finished chewing before glancing around the cafeteria.
—
Zhu Zhuqing, sensing something serious, silently picked up her half-eaten tray and left.
Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong followed suit.
Xiao Wu stayed right next to Tang Lan, watching like an excited gossip fan.
Only then did Tang Lan finally swallow his food and respond—
"Xiao San, all these years—have I ever been jealous of your hidden weapons or self-created soul skills?"
Tang San's initial confrontation immediately lost its momentum.
—Because he knew he was in the wrong.
"Then, what are you trying to say?"
—
"Oscar is a great person."
"He can push his body forward purely through willpower. Even I can't do that. So I admire him."
Tang San nodded in agreement.
—
But—
He still couldn't fully accept it.
He was struggling with his emotions when—
Tang Lan suddenly changed the topic.
"Xiao San, what do you want to be in the future?"
Tang San froze.
He had never seriously thought about it.
—
Become a Titled Douluo?
With Tang Sect techniques, he was confident he could achieve it.
But then what?
Live alone in peace?
Find a woman, settle down, and retire?
—Wouldn't that mean the Tang Sect's legacy would die with him?
An uneasy feeling crept into his heart—
A faint realization of something more.
—
"You don't want your self-created soul skills to disappear, do you?"
Tang Lan's words hit directly at his core.
"That's why I created the Tang Sect—to let them shine across Douluo Continent!"
"Anyone who joins Tang Sect is Tang Sect for life. Alive, they are Tang Sect disciples. Dead, they are Tang Sect's fallen."
"Our techniques will never be lost."
"So why not use them to create a new era?"
"An era…"
"That belongs to the two of us, as brothers."
—
Tang San's Awakening: A Path Set in Stone
Tang San's spirit trembled!
At that moment—
He thought about everything.
And all his thoughts merged into a single realization—
—
"If I was born as Tang San in this world…"
"If I still carry the Tang name…"
"Then isn't it destiny that I am meant to rebuild the Tang Sect?"
—
But then—
A new hesitation crept in.
This Tang Sect wasn't his.
It was Tang Lan's.
If he gave away his Tang Sect techniques,
Would they still be his?
—
Tang Lan's Final Push: The Ultimate Test
Tang Lan, as if seeing directly into his thoughts, let out a deep sigh.
"Xiao San, ever since we were kids, have I ever denied you anything you truly wanted?"
"If your only concern is that the Tang Sect isn't yours…"
"Then I can give you the position of Sect Master. I'll step back and just be the Second Elder."
—
That move was devastating.
A perfect trap.
—
The current Tang Sect was a rising force.
All of its success—
Recruiting talented disciples,
Forging an alliance with Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect,
Gaining Heaven Dou Empire's recognition,
Creating firearm-based Soul Tools to generate funds,
Establishing communication Soul Tools as a foundation,
—ALL of it was Tang Lan's work.
Tang San had contributed nothing.
Yet now, he was being offered the leadership.
—
It felt wrong.
But at the same time—
Tang San had to admit—
He wanted it.
—
So why not…
Just accept his brother's offer?
—
(End of Chapter)