The former sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Daochen, said with a gleeful chuckle,
"The Clear Sky Sect sure is having a rough time lately. First, their old master Tang Chen failed to become a god and got trapped in the land of divine trials. Now, their so-called future—the Clear Sky Twins—ended up killing each other over a woman. What a laughingstock."
At this time, within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, both Mad Rhino Douluo and Wild Ox Douluo, the sect's guardians, were nearing the end of their lives. Fortunately, Ning Fengzhi, Ning Daochen's son, had made impressive progress. He befriended Gu Rong Douluo and the successor of the Seven Kill Sword, Dustheart Douluo, bringing them into the sect as worship elders. Both were destined to become Titled Douluo of high rank, even Super Douluo.
When the sect eventually passed into Ning Fengzhi's hands, a more glorious era than the present seemed inevitable. As the Clear Sky Sect declined, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect rose. How could one not be delighted? The title of "Number One Sect in the World" might very well be theirs.
However, when Ning Fengzhi received the news, his brow furrowed deeply.
He stepped forward and said,
"Father, this may not be good news for us. The only real beneficiary here is the Spirit Hall."
"Oh? Explain," Ning Daochen asked.
Ning Fengzhi said,
"Back when the Spirit Hall was at its peak, it was the presence of the Clear Sky Sect's Limit Douluo Tang Chen that allowed the three upper sects to unite and resist the Spirit Hall. But now, Tang Chen is trapped, one of the Clear Sky Twins is dead from internal conflict, and the Spirit Hall remains unaffected. The balance of power will tip. The loss of the Clear Sky Sect is the loss of all three upper sects. As one weakens, the other strengthens—Spirit Hall will become increasingly rampant."
Upon hearing Ning Fengzhi's analysis, those who were earlier gloating now furrowed their brows.
"That... is a problem," Ning Daochen said, face clouded with worry. He looked at Ning Fengzhi, who had always been clever and insightful since childhood, and asked,
"In your view, what should we do?"
"Father," Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly,
"We should assist the Clear Sky Sect. Help them find Tang Hao. If necessary, we can mediate between them. As long as the Clear Sky Sect stabilizes, and Tang Hao ascends to Super Douluo status, the three upper sects can remain united. Only then can our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect remain secure."
"Very well, we'll do as you say."
Meanwhile, in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect...
"Hahaha, let them kill each other! Good riddance!"
Yu Yuanzhen was far less subtle than Ning Fengzhi.
The two major offense-type sects among the three had long been rivals, each rising as the other fell. This balance changed only with Tang Chen's appearance—he ascended to the limit rank and created the Clear Sky Secret Technique, elevating the sect to an unprecedented height.
After Tang Chen's departure, the Clear Sky Twins filled the power vacuum and the sect seemed to be thriving.
In contrast, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had been in decline.
They had hoped Yu Xiaogang would awaken extraordinary talent and restore the sect's glory, but he turned out to awaken... a pig. If not for the unexpected talent of a child from a concubine, Yu Yuanzhen dared not imagine the future of his sect.
Now, with their biggest rival in crisis, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was naturally pleased.
"Brother, even so, we're still behind the Clear Sky Sect. You're only a 93rd-rank Titled Douluo, while Tang Tian is already at rank 95. And even if Tang Xiao is finished, there's still Tang Hao,"
Yu Luomian reminded him.
Yu Yuanzhen's relaxed face tightened again.
"Enough. Let's just hope Xiaogang and the others amount to something."
A nearby elder silently complained,
Why even mention that useless man? He's consumed so many sect resources and even slowed Yu Yuanzhen's own cultivation. If not for teaching him all these years, Yu Yuanzhen would've already reached 94 and be aiming for 95 by now.
Tang Hao's actions had shaken the entire Douluo Continent. All factions were stirred. So—where was he?
That day, after ambushing Tang Xiao and kidnapping A Yin, Tang Hao dared not return to the sect.
He took A Yin into the mountains and built a small wooden hut to live a secluded life.
Outside the hut, Tang Hao sat and looked toward the direction of the Clear Sky Sect.
He knew they were now offering rewards for information on him. His attack on his brother had become known to the sect.
He felt guilty toward Tang Xiao—but not regretful.
"Tang Xiao… I'll never give Ah Yin to you. One day, when Little San becomes a god, I'll have him heal your damaged spine."
From inside the hut came Ah Yin's bitter, hateful voice:
"Tang Hao, stop pretending. You beast. You harmed your brother and stole his beloved. Do you think a simple 'I'm sorry' erases your sins?"
Though Tang Hao had taken A Yin to this remote place, he had only sealed her spirit power and kept her confined with limited freedom. Driven by his feelings for her, he hadn't gone further.
"A Yin, why can't you love me? Am I really not as good as Tang Xiao?" Tang Hao asked in sorrow.
"In my eyes, you're not even worth one strand of his hair," A Yin replied coldly.
That remark stabbed straight into Tang Hao's heart.
He had been reborn, but why did he return to this early point?
What kind of spell had his brother cast to make A Yin so deeply attached?
"A Yin, can't you at least try to love me? I was the man you loved—both in this life and the last," Tang Hao said.
"What a joke. Let's say there was a past life—I'd still never be blind enough to fall for someone like you."
Tang Hao's heart ached even more.
But he still didn't want to force A Yin—he clung to the hope that one day she might fall in love with him.
Because…
He didn't want to become Qian Xunji.
With the memories of his past life, Tang Hao knew many things.
The despicable deeds of the Spirit Hall had long since become laughingstocks after its downfall.
To keep Bibi Dong in the Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji had forced himself on her, resulting in the birth of Qian Renxue. But this only filled Bibi Dong with hatred that lasted her entire life—even after Qian Xunji's death.
That almost tangible hatred was terrifying.
Back then, Tang Hao was thankful that he and A Yin had loved each other deeply—it was impossible for them to fall to the level of Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.
But he hadn't expected such drastic changes after being reborn.
He wanted Tang San, the god-chosen child, but he also wanted A Yin's love back. Their family should have been full of love and joy, ruling over the fate of all beings on the Douluo Continent.
He absolutely didn't want A Yin to hate him the way Bibi Dong hated Qian Xunji.
In the God Realm, the God of Asura saw through Tang Hao's thoughts completely. With a cold snort, he said, "You've come this far and you're still clinging to love? Pathetic. But it suits my purposes."
With that, the God of Asura flicked his fingers, sending two beams of light into the mortal world, embedding them into Tang Hao and Ah Yin. Afterward, he concealed Tang Hao's hiding place from the world's perception.
"The divine technique of the Great Treasure hasn't been fully cultivated, and the child of destiny has not yet arrived. You two must receive my permission to procreate. If I permit it, you may give birth. If I don't, then you are nothing more than hens that lay no eggs and roosters that sire no chicks."
Tang Hao and Ah Yin were temporarily rendered infertile.
With the Asura God's concealment, even with the vast influence of the Clear Sky Sect, they searched the Douluo Continent for years without finding Tang Hao.
Sunset Forest, Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well
Anyone familiar with Douluo Dalu knows this sacred ground is a core reason the Seven Shrek Devils rose to godhood. For transmigrators, this is one of the critical opportunities they all scramble for.
The Eight Spider Lances may be optional and not affect the story much, but if a transmigrator lets even one immortal herb fall into Tang San's hands, they're considered unqualified.
How frustrating—by the time Huo Yuhao transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, it was already during Douluo Dalu II, tens of thousands of years later. The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had long been sealed by Tang San. Anyone who entered would fall into his calculations.
At the time, Huo Yuhao had already decided to give up the opportunity here. Only when he realized he couldn't escape Tang San's schemes did he return to accept the gifts of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
After backstabbing Tang San in the God Realm, Huo Yuhao arrived in the Douluo Continent forty thousand years in the past. Naturally, he wasn't about to let this opportunity go to waste.
Relying on the power of the Golden Dragon King bloodline and integrating three divine species, ordinary immortal herbs gave Huo Yuhao little benefit. But two things here caught his attention: the remnants of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King.
He directly took the soul bones of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings and absorbed their soul rings, forged from their dragon souls, creating an unparalleled foundation. However, this extraction caused the core of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to be lost. If Huo Yuhao hadn't done this, the well could've lasted another thousand years by relying on residual energy alone.
Therefore, before ascending to the God Realm, Huo Yuhao specifically left behind two soul spirits—the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings—to maintain the balance of the well.
Now, over forty thousand years had passed since anyone had stepped foot on this treasured land.
"You've arrived," said the Ice Dragon King.
Huo Yuhao (now known as Huo Qiqiang) nodded. "I've brought a few disciples to collect resources."
The Fire Dragon King replied, "Then the time must be near. About the agreement—"
"No more than a hundred years, and I'll fulfill the promise," said Huo Yuhao.
"That's good. We hope we didn't choose the wrong person all those years ago," said the Ice Dragon King.
"You followed me, and I won't let you down," Huo Qiqiang promised.
The two great soul spirits opened a special spatial portal. The space within the Sunset Forest twisted, revealing the magnificent sight of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Qian Renxue spread her wings and flew into the air. Looking down, she saw the valley below shrouded in thick mist—icy blue and flaming red in color. Beneath the mist, rare and exotic herbs glowed brightly across the landscape.
At the center of the valley lay the true wonder: a circular pool, half of which contained icy blue water radiating cold, while the other half burned red-hot with steaming heat.
In awe, Qian Renxue exclaimed:
"This is the opportunity that allowed the Shrek Seven Devils to become gods—the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. How magnificent. Tang San really had heaven's favor."
She recalled the history of the Seven Devils' rise and suddenly thought of something:
"In Tang San's time, the owner of this land was Dugu Bo. His family had only two members: him and his granddaughter Dugu Yan. Dugu Bo died from poison shortly after the war with Spirit Hall, and Dugu Yan died young not long after. With all these priceless herbs, could none of them have cured their martial soul defects?"
Huo Qiqiang replied, "There were at least dozens of herbs here that could have neutralized or even cured their poison-based martial souls. But Tang San only gave Dugu Bo a soul bone poison absorption method and took this treasure land in return."
Qian Renxue sneered, "Pathetic Dugu Bo—sold out and even helped count the money."
Huo Qiqiang turned to the three behind him and said, "You three, follow me."
With that, he entered the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, followed closely by Lu Yuan, Zhao Quan, and Xiao Zhi.
Immortal herbs are mere weeds in the God Realm, often used to make tea for guests. They only provide significant benefit to mortals.
In the lower realms, however, even one is a once-in-ten-thousand-years treasure. That's what makes the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well such a precious trove.
Huo Qiqiang picked three herbs: Eight Petal Ice Lotus, Blazing Apricot, and Radiant Light Blossom, giving each one to his top disciples from the Body Sect. He instructed them carefully:
"These three match your martial soul attributes. Once consumed, your already powerful Body Martial Souls will evolve into the Ultimate: Ultimate Fire, UltimateIce, and UltimateLight. The absorption will be painful, but if you endure it, your future path will be smooth."
"Thank you, Master!" the three replied, using their soul power to absorb and refine the herbs.
While they cultivated, Huo Qiqiang asked, "You know how to identify and harvest the herbs, yes?"
"I borrowed Elder Yue Guan's herbal compendium before we came," Qian Renxue said.
"Pick whatever you want, just leave the roots," Huo Qiqiang said casually.
"All of it?" Qian Renxue asked.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you for your generosity," she said and headed straight for her first target—the Qi Rong Tong Tian Chrysanthemum.
Several hours later, Xiao Zhi, Lu Yuan, and Zhao Quan completed their absorption. As predicted, their martial souls evolved into their respective extreme types, and their soul power broke through to the Soul Sect level (Rank 40+).
When they returned to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, they found the place had been picked clean.
"You said we could take whatever we wanted, so…" Qian Renxue stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
"I always keep my word."
To Huo Qiqiang, these herbs weren't important. The most valuable opportunities had been seized tens of thousands of years ago. The herbs would grow back from their roots, and if necessary, he could just take more from the gardens of the God Realm.
This trip was to prepare for a future where he needed a version of Spirit Hall even stronger than in the original story.
Finally, Huo Qiqiang handed two books to Qian Renxue.
"What are these?"
"The Clear Sky Sect's secret ring-explosion technique and the Great Sumeru Hammer, and Tang San's Xuan Tian Technique and associated secrets."
In this lifetime, the Shrek Seven Devils were destined to go without the blessings of celestial treasures. The origin of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had already been used for Huo Yuhao's two soul kings, and the God of Shura would never allow this place to serve as the opportunity for his most treasured one's growth.
What kind of cheat the God of Shura would give them, Huo Yuhao didn't know—but he was quite looking forward to it.
The head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanzhen, had just finished transferring soul power. He withdrew his palm, and Yu Xiaogang also came out of his meditative cultivation state.
This time, his cultivation still hadn't broken through. Anxiously, Yu Xiaogang asked:
"Father, I've been stuck at level 29 for so long. When will I finally break through to Soul Elder and be able to obtain another soul ring?"
Yu Yuanzhen replied perfunctorily:
"You're even asking your father when you will break through?"
"Isn't that how it works?" Yu Xiaogang was already used to cultivating under his father's soul power transmission. Every time he was about to break through, his father would sense it before he did.
"Who in this world knows you better than yourself?" Yu Yuanzhen countered. "Tell me, do you know when you'll break through level 29?"
Yu Xiaogang focused and tried to sense it. After a long moment, he shook his head and said:
"I don't know."
Yu Yuanzhen: "..."
"Alright, alright, go back. Don't just stand here getting in the way." Yu Yuanzhen impatiently dismissed Yu Xiaogang.
A few days later, Yu Xiaogang walked proudly along the sect's main avenue. Compared to the version of himself over a decade ago—someone with no hope of ever becoming a soul master—he was now a genuine level 29 Grand Soul Master.
"Innate soul power of just 0.5, yet I cultivated to Grand Soul Master—with two hundred-year soul rings, no less. Throughout history, I might be the only one to have accomplished this. In a way, that makes me a genius, doesn't it?" Yu Xiaogang said to himself, indulging in self-satisfaction.
"Everything I've achieved today is thanks to my strong will and proper cultivation methods. There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters. Even if my talent is inferior to others, as long as I work harder, I can still become a soul master. If one time the effort isn't enough, I'll try a hundred times. If a hundred times isn't enough, then two hundred. One day, I, Xiaogang, will stand at the very peak of the Douluo Continent."
He was filled with confidence about his future. The only fly in the ointment was this: having grown used to progressing steadily and frequently gaining levels, for the past three years—since reaching level 29—he had run into a wall, with no further progress.
Anxious, he had repeatedly asked Yu Yuanzhen when he'd break through, only to be scolded and kicked out of the cultivation room each time.
Yu Xiaogang believed the problem lay in two areas: insufficient resources and an uncooperative father.
Three times the resources of a core disciple just wasn't enough, in his opinion—it should be five times, or even ten. And his father only spent two hours a day using two layers of soul power to help him cultivate. That wasn't nearly enough! It should be four layers, and four hours daily!
Had they done that from the start, Yu Xiaogang figured he'd already be a Soul Elder—or no, even a Soul King by now.
"Unbelievable! Father is delaying my cultivation—totally unreasonable!"
What angered him even more was that lately, his father had been ghosting him—he wasn't even helping with cultivation anymore!
"Doesn't he care about the Golden Holy Dragon bloodline in my martial soul anymore? Doesn't he understand that I'm the future of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Once my martial soul evolves into the Golden Holy Dragon, I'll lead the clan to an unprecedented height!"
The more Yu Xiaogang thought, the angrier he became. He decided to confront his father and talk it out.
He confidently walked toward the Sect Leader's meeting hall, preparing to knock on the door—when he heard a conversation inside between his father Yu Yuanzhen and his uncle Yu Luomian.
"Big brother, facts have proven that your decision back then was wrong," Yu Luomian said. "The resources consumed by Yu Xiaogang each month are three times that of a core disciple. That amount could've laid the foundation for four or five future Soul Douluos."
"For over a decade, you've been using your own soul power to help him cultivate. You were a level 93 Title Douluo back then, and after all this time—you're still level 93. If you'd used that soul power to break through your own bottleneck, maybe you wouldn't be a Super Douluo yet, but I guarantee you'd be at least level 95 by now. A 95-level Super Douluo! Think of what that would mean for our clan. And yet all that has been poured into Yu Xiaogang. And what have we gained in return?"
"A level 29 Grand Soul Master. With two soul skills. Two ridiculous soul skills. It's laughable."
Yu Yuanzhen said awkwardly:
"You know, when Xiaogang awakened his martial soul, we all saw its potential mutation toward the Golden Holy Dragon. So..."
"So you hoped that through nurturing him, his martial soul would evolve into the Golden Holy Dragon, right?" Yu Luomian continued.
Yu Yuanzhen nodded.
"If we could really cultivate a soul master with the Golden Holy Dragon martial soul, then all the resources spent would have been worth it. A Title Douluo with a super martial soul like that would bring a century of glory to our clan—just like Tang Chen did for the Clear Sky Sect." Yu Luomian finished with a sneer, "But did Yu Xiaogang manage that?"
"Three years ago, he reached level 29. After all this time, despite all your help, you should know by now what's really stopping his soul power from advancing. Level 29—this is the ceiling for that useless waste."
"I remember the promise you gave him back then—you asked whether he'd choose to be a dragon or a pig. And he shamelessly chose to be a dragon, right? So what's the result now?"
Yu Luomian's words triggered Yu Yuanzhen's memories. Back then, he had given Yu Xiaogang that choice. If Xiaogang had given up, he still would've been treated well. But if he had the determination to become a dragon, Yu Yuanzhen had promised to spare no effort in helping him.
At the time, he had felt proud of his son's choice.
But all these years had passed. He hadn't raised a dragon—he had fattened a pig.
He had shouldered pressure from the whole sect, poured in massive resources, and used up decades of cultivation effort. And the result was a level 29 Grand Soul Master whose only soul skill was farting.
Was it worth it?
Was any of it worth it?
Faced with Yu Luomian's questioning, Yu Yuanzhen didn't defend his son like he once might have. But the look of disappointment on his face had already given his answer.