By sunrise, the doors of Tang Sect Inn finally opened.
Zhu Zhuqing clung to Tang Lan's arm, her usually cold and aloof face tinged with a rosy hue. Her gaze toward Tang Lan was filled with undeniable charm.
As she walked, her graceful cat-like steps became even more enchanting.
"Ha—"
Tang Lan exhaled deeply.
Finally!
Finally, he could ride freely and unleash his full strength!
If it weren't for the four people still lying in the Blue King's domain…
Tang Lan would have loved to "retaliate" with three days and three nights of vigorous activity!
—Having a strong physique really does allow for such indulgence.
Feeling refreshed, he led Zhu Zhuqing toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The wonders they encountered along the way made Zhu Zhuqing's gaze even softer.
—No wonder Dai Mubai and the others had to be locked away.
At first, she thought Tang Lan was just too eager, but it turned out there was a much bigger secret.
And she, Zhu Zhuqing, was Tang Lan's woman!
There was no need to hide it.
Tang Hao, seeing the two approaching, sat up from beside Ah Yin.
"I thought you all had already—hmm?"
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing's radiant expression and immediately understood what had transpired.
This made Zhu Zhuqing feel somewhat shy.
Tang Hao smiled in satisfaction—his pig had finally learned to root out great cabbages.
Tang Lan chuckled.
A sliver of Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor extended from his palm, and crystalline red blood dripped from it.
Four strands of Blue Silver Grass intertwined, forming a bowl that caught the blood.
There was no scent of blood at all; instead, it carried a fresh herbal fragrance.
Tang Hao's brows lifted slightly, as if he had already guessed something.
Zhu Zhuqing felt a pang in her heart but said nothing.
After filling four bowls, Tang Lan took out a wineskin, filled it, and tossed it to Tang Hao.
Then, with a wave of his hand—
Dai Mubai and the other three were released, their Seagod's Soul Sealing lifted.
The four slowly regained consciousness.
One look at their surroundings, and they immediately understood.
Tang Lan pointed to the four bowls of blood.
"Drink it."
"Men in the red pool, women in the blue pool."
"This is a one-time opportunity—whether you can seize it depends on you."
The four had no doubts. They picked up the bowls and downed them in one gulp.
"Ugh—"
"Huff—"
"Mmm—"
"Oh—"
A glow of intertwined red and blue light shimmered over their skin.
It was the lingering medicinal power of the Fiery Apricot Inferno and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.
Without the balance of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, experiencing both extreme elements at once was no pleasant feeling.
Zhao Wuji, possessing the strongest physique, adapted first.
With a deep breath, he plunged into the fiery pool.
A satisfied sigh escaped him.
The other three gritted their teeth, got up, and jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Under the protection of the two divine herbs' energy, they were now in direct contact with the diluted divine power of the Water Dragon King and Fire Dragon King.
Shui Bing'er, almost instantly, began absorbing the Water Dragon King's diluted divine power.
The extreme energy surging into her body brought an even more bone-chilling frost, yet she was not frightened—rather, she rejoiced.
She summoned her Condensing Water Luan and absorbed even more, quickly freezing herself into an ice sculpture.
However, a look of blissful satisfaction remained on her face.
—She saw the possibility of evolution!
Tang Lan nodded approvingly.
Shui Bing'er was guaranteed to evolve her martial soul—no worries there.
As for the others…
Dai Mubai was only slightly slower but still managed to absorb the Fire Dragon King's diluted divine power.
The scorching flames turned his entire body crimson, and his golden hair burned to ashes.
"Roar—"
His White Tiger Martial Soul manifested, and he activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation to enhance himself.
Only then was he barely able to withstand the circulation of the diluted divine power.
"Well, at least he managed to grasp this opportunity," Tang Lan commented, raising a brow. "That Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower really pairs well with Nine Yang Divine Art—securing a divine position is practically guaranteed now."
As for Zhao Wuji and Shui Yue'er…
There wasn't much of a reaction.
They were merely absorbing the remnants of the two divine herbs' medicinal power, refining their physical constitution under the stimulation of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
At best, they were achieving a simplified version of the Ice and Fire Tempered Body.
Their physique would improve somewhat, but that was about it.
—Their foundation was still too weak. Even when fortune was handed to them, they couldn't fully seize it.
Tang Lan withdrew his gaze.
Tang Lan turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing, who was waiting expectantly.
"You don't need to suffer through this. Your attributes don't match."
He pointed toward Ah Yin.
"Go absorb the soul bone over there. Your fourth soul ring will be stronger too."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded obediently and walked toward Ah Yin.
Both Tang Hao and Tang Lan watched as Ah Yin extended her branches, gently brushing Zhu Zhuqing's head.
Zhu Zhuqing found it a bit strange but didn't overthink it.
She sat down cross-legged and began absorbing the soul bone.
Ah Yin unfurled all her branches, wrapping Zhu Zhuqing within them. Strands of Blue Silver energy flowed out, easing her pain during the soul bone absorption.
It was clear that Ah Yin was quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law.
Tang Hao lifted the wineskin and shook it at Tang Lan.
"So, are you telling me I should take a dip too?"
"Yeah." Tang Lan nodded. "The diluted divine power of the Fire Dragon King is excellent for tempering Nine Yang Divine Art and Vajra Indestructible Body."
"Then this little pouch won't be enough." Tang Hao smirked. "Why don't you pour some more? I'll go get a whole jar."
Tang Lan shot him a sideways glance and ignored him.
—Now that his wife's resurrection seemed possible, was this old guy returning to his true nature?
Smack—
Ah Yin's branch suddenly whipped the back of Tang Hao's head, making him stagger and nearly fall into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He was yanked back by the same branch but quickly released, as if being scolded for speaking without a filter.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong!"
Tang Hao raised both hands in surrender.
"After finishing this wineskin, my Nine Yang Divine Art should reach the third level."
"With my rank-96 spirit power, I'll be able to stay in the fire pool comfortably."
"I'm right, aren't I, son?"
Tang Lan rolled his eyes.
"Keep an eye on them. Make sure no one dies."
"I'll be back soon."
Tang Lan turned and flew out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, landing atop the mountain.
Unfolding Blue Silver Domain, he used the Blue Silver Grass throughout Sunset Forest to search for a suitable spirit beast for Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing's innate soul ring had already evolved to 12,000 years.
The foundation was there.
The Ghost Nether Cat Left Leg Bone she was absorbing now was 64,000 years old, which would add around 5,000 years to her next ring.
That made it 17,000 years.
According to Tang Lan's "physical limit theory", her fourth soul ring would ultimately reach about 25,000 years.
As for soul shock?
With Seagod's Soul Sealing, unless the remnant soul within the ring was ten times stronger than him, it wouldn't break through.
With just the leftover will of a spirit ring?
That wasn't even strong enough to scratch an itch.
"Found it!"
Tang Lan activated Undying Indestructible and merged into his Soul Spirit Domain.
Combining the Soul Spirit Domain with Blue Silver Domain, he used the Blue Silver Grass as a relay, silently traveling several kilometers away.
From a God's-eye view, he looked down at a spirit beast.
It was entirely black, with only a white "王" (king) symbol on its forehead. It was over ten meters long and stood more than four meters tall at the shoulder.
Ghost Tiger!
Its age was 25,200 years—only 200 years over the ideal range, still within control.
In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing's fifth soul ring came from this beast.
She inherited the Ghost Tiger's innate ability—Shadow Clone.
She could create multiple physical clones, each with real attack power.
And these clones could…
Use soul skills!
Right now, Zhu Zhuqing's core ability was undoubtedly her third soul skill—Shadow Step.
If she could summon three or four clones…
That would be very exciting.
Speaking of which…
"Physical clones, huh?"
"That's like four or five times the fun, isn't it?"
This beast had to be taken down!
Tang Lan's figure materialized.
Under the cover of Blue Silver Domain, the Ghost Tiger remained oblivious.
Only when he summoned his martial soul did the Ghost Tiger snap its head around!
But it was too late.
With Dustheart's "Ring Condensation" technique, the Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor gleamed with a black gemstone, unleashing his first soul skill.
The Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor surged forth, entangling the Ghost Tiger's lower half.
As Extreme Life Attribute Drain activated—
The Ghost Tiger's soul power plummeted like a floodgate had opened, its legs going limp as it collapsed.
And then—
There was no "then."
The Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor wrapped it up into a ball, sprouting barbs that burrowed into its body, twisting and rotating like a washing machine.
His mental power transformed into needles, stabbing the beast intermittently.
Inflicting both physical and mental torture.
Tang Lan wasn't doing this out of cruelty.
After all, absorbing a 25,000-year spirit beast was no easy feat.
Tormenting it now would make Zhu Zhuqing's absorption smoother later.
And…
It would increase the odds of dropping a spirit bone.
—Because he was a man who pampered his wife.
He didn't return to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well immediately.
Near the poison fog barrier, Tang Lan tossed the bound Ghost Tiger aside and turned to leave.
For most people, soul skills lost effect when their user moved too far away.
But Tang Lan was an exception.
Thanks to his fourth soul skill—Soul Seed, he could remotely control the Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor, making it sustain itself by draining the Ghost Tiger's soul power.
The resilience of the Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor had already been acknowledged by Tang Hao.
A mere 25,200-year-old Ghost Tiger was equivalent to a six-ring Soul Emperor.
Its innate ability was Shadow Clone, lacking direct offensive power.
If it wanted to escape this prison, it could only wait until it was completely drained, at which point the Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor would lose power and dissipate.
But by then, even breathing would be a struggle.
A deadlock with no solution.
This—
This was the current Tang Lan.
A 59th-rank Soul King who could defeat Haotian Douluo.
Returning to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang Lan found Zhao Wuji and Shui Yue'er had already been pulled out.
They looked at Dai Mubai and Shui Bing'er, still within the well, filled with envy.
Yet they had no complaints.
Tang Lan had given them the opportunity—they simply couldn't seize it.
Seeing Tang Lan return, they even looked a bit guilty.
"Sect Master, I've let down your expectations." Zhao Wuji admitted, ashamed.
"My talent is just too poor…" Shui Yue'er lowered her head, looking as though she had committed a crime.
Tang Lan waved it off, unconcerned.
"I only brought you here to try it out."
"Whether it worked or not doesn't matter."
"I mainly wanted you to witness the wonders of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
He gave them a brief explanation of its effects.
In an instant, they understood—
So this was where those immortal herbs had come from!
"I will become a god sooner or later," Tang Lan stated. "Old Zhao, once I ascend, you'll be in charge of managing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Zhao Wuji's eyes turned red.
Him? Given such an important task? How was he worthy of this trust?
Seeing his thoughts, Tang Lan clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Old Zhao, back when I left Shrek, you were the only teacher willing to follow me."
"I'm a sentimental person—when I promised to make you a Titled Douluo, I meant it."
"In the future, the mortal realm will be in your hands."
"Stop acting like a sentimental fool."
Zhao Wuji took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
"Rest assured, Sect Master! I may not be the strongest, but I can keep my mouth shut!"
"I will guard this secret with my life!"
Tang Lan patted his shoulder again before moving to Shui Yue'er.
He glanced at Shui Bing'er in the Ice Well—
The Condensing Water Luan behind her flickered, its form slowly shifting.
Her Martial Soul Evolution had already begun.
Tang Lan felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
Compared to the original Shrek Seven Devils, who only needed step-by-step cultivation to reach godhood—
Shui Bing'er was someone Tang Lan had cultivated from scratch!
It was like the difference between copying a masterpiece and creating an original work.
The feeling was incomparable.
Tang Lan pondered—
He needed to add a little more "fuel" to Shui Bing'er!
That way, she would secure a first-class godhood and become a true asset.
Time passed.
Half a day later, Zhu Zhuqing was the first to finish absorbing her soul bone.
She walked over to Tang Lan.
Tang Lan reached out and tapped her.
"Not bad, you increased your upper limit by 6,000 years."
Then, he took out a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Silkworm and handed it to her.
"There's a wounded Ghost Tiger at the entrance, 25,200 years old."
"Feeding it this Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Silkworm will increase its age by about 1,000 years, but it will also restore some of its strength."
"I won't interfere—you have to capture it yourself."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate.
—If she was going to do it, she'd do it perfectly!
She tiptoed, kissed Tang Lan on the cheek, and vanished into the shadows with Shadow Step.
Tang Lan remained by the spring, making no move to follow.
"Will Zhuqing be in danger?" Zhao Wuji asked, worried. "A 25,200-year-old Ghost Tiger—even in a weakened state, a normal six-ring Soul Emperor would struggle. Zhuqing is only—should I go check?"
"You said it yourself—a normal one." Tang Lan's tone was calm. "She has an External Spirit Bone, three Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Bones, and a Ten-Thousand-Year Third Soul Ring. If she can't win with that, how can she talk about becoming a god?"
Zhao Wuji scratched his head.
Uh…
Zhu Zhuqing was actually this powerful already?
Come to think of it…
Yeah, she definitely had a fighting chance.
But little did he know—
Tang Lan was only acting relaxed.
In reality—
He had already activated Blue Silver Domain, observing the fight remotely.
As Zhu Zhuqing approached, Tang Lan controlled Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor—
And threw the Ghost Tiger into the sky.
It was impossible to miss.
Mid-air, the Ghost Tiger suddenly split into three figures.
The moment they landed, they sprinted off in three different directions.
Innate Ability: Shadow Clone!
The distance was too far—even Tang Lan couldn't tell which was the real body.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't waste time guessing.
She chose a target, emerging from its shadow.
Her Shadow Claw, enhanced by Stealth Attack, tore it open on the spot.
But—
No blood flowed.
The Ghost Tiger's body twisted and dissipated.
A shadow clone.
Zhu Zhuqing remained emotionless.
She slipped back into the shadows.
Then, she ambushed the second one.
Another shadow clone.
Her luck was a little off.
And then—
The resilience of the Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor had already earned Tang Hao's approval.
A mere 25,200-year-old Ghost Tiger, equivalent to a six-ring Soul Emperor, had no means of escaping.
Its innate ability was Shadow Clone, but it lacked powerful offensive techniques.
If it wanted to break free, its only chance was to wait until the Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor exhausted itself and dissipated.
But by that point, it would be too weak to even breathe.
An inescapable predicament.
This—
This was Tang Lan now.
A 59th-rank Soul King who could defeat Haotian Douluo.
Upon returning to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang Lan saw that Zhao Wuji and Shui Yue'er had already been pulled out.
They looked enviously at Dai Mubai and Shui Bing'er, still within the well.
Yet they had no complaints.
Tang Lan had given them a chance, but they couldn't seize it.
When they saw Tang Lan return, their faces were full of guilt.
"Sect Master, I've let down your expectations." Zhao Wuji admitted, ashamed.
"My talent is just too weak…" Shui Yue'er lowered her head, looking like she had committed a crime.
Tang Lan waved it off dismissively.
"I only brought you here to try it out."
"Whether you succeeded or not doesn't matter."
"My main goal was to let you witness the wonders of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
After a brief explanation of its effects,
They immediately understood—
So this was where those immortal herbs came from!
"I will become a god sooner or later," Tang Lan declared. "Old Zhao, once I ascend, I'll leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well under your care."
Zhao Wuji's eyes turned red.
Him? Entrusted with such a major responsibility? Was he even worthy?
Noticing his thoughts, Tang Lan clapped him on the shoulder.
"Old Zhao, back when I left Shrek, you were the only teacher willing to follow me."
"I'm a sentimental guy—when I promised to make you a Titled Douluo, I meant it."
"In the future, the mortal realm will be in your hands."
"Stop acting like a sentimental fool."
Zhao Wuji took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
"Rest assured, Sect Master! I may not be the strongest, but I know how to keep a secret!"
"I will guard this place with my life!"
Tang Lan patted his shoulder again and turned to Shui Yue'er.
His gaze fell on Shui Bing'er in the Ice Well—
Her Condensing Water Luan flickered unsteadily, its form slowly shifting.
Her Martial Soul Evolution had already begun.
Tang Lan felt a strong sense of accomplishment.
Unlike the original Shrek Seven Devils, who only needed proper training to reach godhood—
Shui Bing'er was someone he had cultivated from scratch!
It was the difference between copying a masterpiece and creating an original work.
The feeling was completely different.
Tang Lan pondered—
He needed to give Shui Bing'er an extra "boost"!
That way, she would secure a first-class godhood and become a true asset.
Half a day passed.
Zhu Zhuqing was the first to finish absorbing her soul bone.
She walked up to Tang Lan.
Tang Lan reached out and tapped her lightly.
"Not bad—you increased your soul ring limit by 6,000 years."
Then, he took out a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Silkworm and handed it to her.
"There's a wounded Ghost Tiger at the entrance—25,200 years old."
"Feeding it this Snow Silkworm will increase its age by 1,000 years, but it will also restore some of its strength."
"I won't interfere—you have to capture it yourself."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate.
—If she was going to do something, she'd do it perfectly!
She tiptoed, kissed Tang Lan's cheek, and vanished into the shadows with Shadow Step.
Tang Lan remained by the spring, making no move to follow.
"Will Zhuqing be in danger?" Zhao Wuji asked, worried. "A 25,200-year-old Ghost Tiger—even in a weakened state, a six-ring Soul Emperor would struggle. Should I go check?"
"You said it yourself—a normal one." Tang Lan's voice was calm. "She has an External Spirit Bone, three Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Bones, and a Ten-Thousand-Year Third Soul Ring. If she can't win with that, how can she talk about becoming a god?"
Zhao Wuji scratched his head.
Uh…
Zhu Zhuqing was actually this strong already?
Now that he thought about it…
Yeah, she definitely had a chance.
But little did he know—
Tang Lan was only acting relaxed.
In reality—
He had already activated Blue Silver Domain, observing the battle remotely.
As Zhu Zhuqing approached, Tang Lan controlled Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor—
And threw the Ghost Tiger into the sky.
It was impossible to miss.
Mid-air, the Ghost Tiger suddenly split into three figures.
The moment they landed, they sprinted off in three different directions.
Innate Ability: Shadow Clone!
Even Tang Lan couldn't immediately tell which was the real body.
But Zhu Zhuqing didn't waste time guessing.
She chose a target, emerging from its shadow.
Her Shadow Claw, empowered by Stealth Attack, ripped it open on the spot.
But—
No blood flowed.
The Ghost Tiger's body twisted and dissolved.
A shadow clone.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained calm.
She vanished into the shadows again.
Then, she ambushed the second one.
Another shadow clone.
Her luck was a little off.
Meanwhile—
The real Ghost Tiger had already fled far away.
Given its familiarity with Sunset Forest, if she only used Shadow Step, she might lose track of it.
So—
The Tiger-Eagle Left Arm Bone glowed!
Powerful azure wings unfolded from her back, propelling her into the air.
Her cold, hawk-like gaze swept across the forest—
And immediately locked onto the Ghost Tiger weaving through the shadows.
She dove down at full speed, the sharp whistling of the wind piercing the air.
The Ghost Tiger heard the sound and reacted instantly.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing's attack landed—
"Sha—!"
A shadow clone leaped out, lunging at her viciously.
Meanwhile, the real Ghost Tiger flanked her from the side, its sharp tiger claws swiping at full force!
But—
"Shua—"
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly vanished mid-air—
As if she had made a mistake.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Silkworm dropped to the ground, its alluring scent making the Ghost Tiger hesitate slightly.
It grabbed the silkworm, sniffed it cautiously, then—
Gulp!
It devoured it whole!
Its eyes closed in satisfaction, reveling in the meal.
It never even noticed Zhu Zhuqing reappearing behind it.
But when her Shadow Claw struck—
The Ghost Tiger twisted and vanished!
—Another shadow clone.
The real Ghost Tiger, previously assumed to be a clone, had already swung its claws right at Zhu Zhuqing!
Complete Trust in Tang Lan!
Tang Lan immediately released his Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor, wrapping Zhu Zhuqing's entire body in its vines.
At the same time, he devoured the overflowing soul power and set up Seagod's Soul Sealing to protect Zhu Zhuqing's spiritual world.
"Duang—!"
The Ghost Tiger's remaining spirit violently slammed into Seagod's Soul Sealing, attempting to deliver one final lesson to this human.
Unfortunately—
This last-ditch counterattack failed to cause even the slightest ripple.
Instead, the impact shattered the Ghost Tiger's spirit, reducing it to pure soul essence that floated outside Zhu Zhuqing's spiritual world.
Tang Lan lifted Seagod's Soul Sealing.
The essence naturally flowed into Zhu Zhuqing's spiritual world, where she instinctively absorbed it, strengthening her soul.
Tang Lan watched thoughtfully.
At this moment—
All dangers had been overcome.
One Hour Later
The black soul ring had fully stabilized, obediently resting beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet.
It had become her fourth soul ring.
When Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes—
The first thing she saw was Tang Lan's outstretched hand.
She smiled, took his hand, and used his support to leap into his arms.
"I did it!"
Her rare excitement was evident—her brows arched joyfully as she declared—
"Fourth Soul Skill: Shadow Clone! I can summon four clones, each with 47% of my damage!"
"And the best part—"
"The clones can use my soul skills!"
"Also…"
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't hide her excitement, tightly hugging Tang Lan's waist.
Her voice trembled slightly—
"My level is now…"
"48!"
Tang Lan's eyebrows shot up!
48?!
That meant—she had gained a total of 16 levels!
Absorbing a 26,200-year-old Ghost Tiger should have granted 1 level.
Which meant…
Lovesick Heartbroken Red had provided 15 levels worth of internal energy?!
—And it wasn't just soul power!
Even if it was the Lingbo Weibu's internal energy, its quality was over twice that of normal soul power.
This increase—
Was absolutely insane!
Tang Lan stroked Zhu Zhuqing's long hair, subconsciously giving her some motivation—
"Keep it up—you'll catch up to me soon."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's excitement instantly vanished.
She straightened up, staring at Tang Lan in speechless disbelief.
—Are you mocking me?
Zhu Zhuqing was proud, but she wasn't delusional.
Catch up to this freak?
She'd need at least two more Lovesick Heartbroken Reds for that to even be remotely possible.
Meanwhile
Zhao Wuji and Shui Yue'er were completely stunned.
48?!
It wasn't even New Year's yet—
A 12-year-old at Rank 48?!
Shui Yue'er was 16 years old and only Rank 32!
The difference…
Even Tang Hao looked up at the sky in contemplation.
When was he Rank 48 again?
14? 15?
This girl was…
Wait!
Tang Lan was 13 years old and already Rank 59!
…
Hah!
Who even cared about "youngest Titled Douluo" anymore?
It felt like every Tang Sect disciple here was about to break his records!
—Even the food-type soul master included.
As Tang Hao questioned his life choices—
"Whoosh—!"
A baldDai Mubaileapt from the Fire Pool, hovering above the spring's center.
With his mouth wide open, he let out a mighty tiger roar!
Behind him—
The black-and-white stripes of his White Tiger Martial Soul had transformed into red-and-white stripes.
A burning red aura coated his entire White Tiger form, distorting the air with intense heat.
But the most eye-catching feature—
A pair of fiery wings sprouting from his back!
—Not only had White Tiger Martial Soul evolved with fire attributes, but it had also grown wings!
It looked absolutely badass!
—Only the Martial Soul though.
Because with Dai Mubai's pretty-boy face, a bald head simply didn't suit him.
But Dai Mubai himself was completely unaware, posing dramatically as he howled proudly.
—Did he really think he looked cool like this?
"What the hell are you yelling for?" Tang Hao scowled. "You looking for a beating?"
Dai Mubai instantly froze, as if someone had grabbed his throat.
He shut up immediately.
Can't Afford to Offend—96th-Rank Tang Hao!
Dai Mubai immediately shut up.
This was Tang Lan's father, a 96th-rank Titled Douluo!
Absolutely untouchable.
He obediently landed on the ground, though he still didn't retract his martial soul, purposefully showing off in front of Tang Lan.
"Sect Master! Did you see?!"
"My martial soul evolved!"
"Fire attribute! And wings!"
"I can fly now!"
"Hehehe—"
He was acting like an overexcited kid.
Tang Lan kicked him without hesitation.
"Look at yourself!"
"You're grinning like an idiot—yet you didn't even evolve Extreme Fire?"
"Phoenix Sunflower modification, Nine Yang Divine Art tempering, plus being fed Fire Dragon King's divine power."
"Even a pig would've evolved under those conditions!"
Dai Mubai scratched his head, stunned.
Huh?
Wait—was that how it worked?
Nearby, Shui Yue'er and Zhao Wuji quietly looked up at the sky, pretending not to hear.
—Did Sect Master really just say he's worse than a pig?!
Nine Yang Divine Art—Still Too Low!
"What level is your Nine Yang Divine Art at?" Tang Lan continued.
Dai Mubai's expression stiffened.
Uh…
"Fourth layer…"
"Just the fourth?" Tang Lan glared. "You need the eighth layer to forge an Indestructible Vajra Body—you're not even halfway! What are you so proud of?"
Dai Mubai shrunk his neck and lowered his head.
His martial soul retracted immediately.
Obedient.jpg ✅
Tang Lan hmphed. Still think I can't handle you?
He stepped forward and felt Dai Mubai's tendons and bones, then called out—
"Old Zhao, take him to hunt a soul beast."
"If it's a flying-type, the limit is 12,000 years."
"If it's a tiger-type, 15,000 years."
"Don't help him—let him hunt it himself."
"When he's ready to absorb the ring, call me."
Zhao Wuji grinned and walked over, grabbing Dai Mubai by the collar.
He also pulled out his big boxer shorts and threw them over Dai Mubai's shiny bald head—
—The fewer people who knew about this place, the better.
"Got too cocky, huh? Got scolded, didn't you?"
"Let me tell you—Zhuqing's fourth soul ring? It's 26,200 years!"
"And she's already Rank 48! Where do you stand?"
At this moment—
Dai Mubai's entire world view collapsed.
Wait, what?!
Even after evolving his martial soul, among the Tang Sect disciples, he was only second place?!
And let's not forget—
Shui Bing'er was still evolving her martial soul in the Ice Well!
The more he thought about it—
The more he realized… he wasn't as impressive as he thought.
Shui Bing'er—Ice Phoenix Evolution!
Not long after Dai Mubai left—
Shui Bing'er burst out of the Ice Well!
Her Condensing Water Luan Martial Soul had undergone a complete transformation—
Turning into pure ice crystal.
It had fully evolved into—
Ice Phoenix!
Shui Yue'er's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Sis succeeded!"
But—
Tang Lan frowned slightly.
She hadn't evolved Extreme Ice?
That… shouldn't be the case.
The Ice Phoenix itself had a high potential ceiling.
Which meant—
Tang Lan glanced back at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He recalled that his own Thunderflame Haotian Hammer also hadn't evolved into Extreme Fire.
So the issue was—
Compared to Dai Mubai's reckless, explosive personality, Shui Bing'er was far more composed.
Even at this moment, she immediately sensed something was wrong.
She descended carefully, testing the waters—
"Sect Master… is there something wrong with my evolution?"
"It's not your fault," Tang Lan shook his head.
"The diluted divine power just wasn't enough—it couldn't fully support you evolving into Extreme Ice."
Shui Bing'er exhaled in relief.
—As long as it wasn't her fault.
But then—
Her breath hitched.
Unlike Dai Mubai, who had been stuck questioning his life choices—
She immediately realized—
She still had room to evolve further!
She had seen Tang Lan's Extreme Life attribute firsthand.
The effects were unbelievable.
If she could awaken Extreme Ice—
Wouldn't that guarantee her a first-class godhood?
"Sect Master, is there any other way I can awaken Extreme Ice?" Shui Bing'er's eyes gleamed with determination.
Her unwavering ambition made Tang Lan very satisfied.
—This was the god he wanted to cultivate.
"No rush—I already have a plan."
"You're Rank 40 now, but don't obtain a soul ring just yet."
"In a little while, I'll personally take you to the Far North."
"It might work."
Shui Bing'er immediately understood the hidden meaning.
She nodded obediently.
—If Sect Master personally led her, the benefits would be unimaginable.
"Thank you, Sect Master!"
"I'll work hard!"
"I won't let down your teachings and expectations!"
Her sweet voice was practically dripping with honey.
She glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, a flicker of unwillingness in her heart.
She really wanted to pounce on Tang Lan right now!
Handsome, talented, overpowered, and ridiculously caring.
What girl wouldn't fall for him?!
She had heard—
"Zhu Zhuqing won over the Sect Master through a night raid."
"I can do that too!"
"Or even…"
Shui Bing'er's gaze shifted toward her little sister.
She suddenly smiled brilliantly.
Zhu Zhuqing might have an amazing figure, something she couldn't compete with.
But—
Two sisters together?
That was a whole different story!
(End of Chapter)