—
On the other side, under Tang San's persuasion, Xiao Wu finally agreed to attend Shrek Academy.
Over six years, Tang San had barely reached Rank 29. Most of his time had been spent serving Xiao Wu, time that could have been used to forge hidden weapons and train in Tang Sect's secret techniques.
After arriving in Soto City, Tang San followed his usual routine and went to Flender's shop, hoping to obtain that piece of hair crystal. Although he had spent most of his money on Xiao Wu and was nearly broke, Tang San was confident he could still get it—he only needed to reveal to Flender that he was Gangzi's disciple. (That's the only use Gangzi had, anyway.)
However, when Tang San entered Flender's small shop and looked around, he couldn't find the hair crystal.
A bit surprised, Tang San approached Flender and asked, "Isn't there a hair crystal in your shop?" He described the crystal in detail.
Flender, lounging on a recliner with a sly glint in his eye, said, "I've seen the kind of hair crystal you're talking about."
"Could you tell me where it is?" Tang San asked urgently.
"Ten—no, thirty coins for the consultation." Flender held up three fingers and added, "Thirty gold soul coins."
Why don't you just rob me? Tang San screamed internally in frustration. If the past six years hadn't been under a feudal society, he might've had to sell a kidney to support Xiao Wu's high-maintenance lifestyle. This lifetime had taught him more than the last how important money was—money was the foundation of his and Xiao Wu's love, after all.
But Tang San had another trick up his sleeve. He pretended to reach for money, casually raising his hand to reveal the soul tool ring on his finger.
Flender's eyes lit up. He stood from the recliner and closely examined the ring. "Where did you get that ring?"
"It was a gift from my teacher when I became his disciple," Tang San replied.
"Who's your teacher?" Flender asked.
"Yu Xiaogang," Tang San answered.
"So, you're his disciple… I didn't expect he'd even give you that." Flender was clearly surprised.
Flender returned to his recliner, rocking slowly as he said, "That piece of hair crystal you're looking for isn't here anymore. I did see one once, but it was bought by a group called the Eternal Chamber of Commerce."
"Eternal Chamber of Commerce?" Tang San frowned.
"They like to collect and resell rare metals and minerals," Flender explained.
Another variable. Although losing the hair crystal wouldn't affect him much, it was supposed to be part of his destiny, and now it was in someone else's hands. Tang San narrowed his eyes: Eternal Chamber of Commerce, very well. You've chosen the path to your own doom.
Unable to obtain the hair crystal, Tang San returned helplessly.
He and Xiao Wu went to the Rose Hotel. Seeing Xiao Wu, Tang San couldn't help but recall their past life. Back then, there had only been one couple's room available, and after defeating Dai Mubai, he had managed to book it, sharing the room with Xiao Wu.
Would this Xiao Wu make the same choice? Tang San began to feel hopeful.
Sure enough, there was only one couple's room available.
"Xiao Wu, there's only one couple's room. Do you think we should…" Tang San looked at her expectantly, just waiting for her to say: Why don't we just share it?
Xiao Wu looked troubled. "Only one room? But I really like this place. San-ge, why don't you find another hotel for the night?"
Why is this different from last time?! Tang San quickly said, "Xiao Wu, I think we can share a room—it'll save money."
"How could we do that, San-giegie? You're my giegie, and I'm your little sister. Mom said boys and girls shouldn't sleep together before marriage." Xiao Wu hesitated, then added, "Or… are you saying—"
What exactly did your mom teach you?! That never came up last time! Tang San roared inside.
Xiao Wu folded her arms and eyed him suspiciously. "Or are you saying, San-giegie, that you've always had… bad intentions toward your little sister?"
"Ah—" Tang San was stunned. He was a gentleman! He couldn't let Xiao Wu think he was a pervert! He quickly tried to explain, "No, Xiao Wu, that's not what I meant. I just thought… it'd save money."
"Still, even if you want to save money, you should respect the boundary between men and women. Are you really putting money above your sister's reputation?" Xiao Wu turned her head away. "Forget it. I won't stay at the Rose Hotel then."
Faced with such moral condemnation, Tang San surrendered instantly. He hurriedly told the hotel manager, "I'll take that room."
The manager handed the key to Xiao Wu. She accepted it with a sweet voice, "San-giegie, I knew you're the best to me."
Then she skipped into the hotel, leaving Tang San still basking in the afterglow of that voice. By the time he snapped out of it, she had already disappeared into the building.
"You new here? Don't you know I always get one room reserved for me?"
Tang San turned toward the voice—and sure enough, it was our Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai looked back at Tang San, both of them recognizing the difference in each other instantly—both were reborn.
Just like in the previous life, Dai Mubai had his demonic dual pupils. Unlike last time, though, the twin girls weren't with him. Still, his unsteady steps gave him away—Tang San instantly saw that it was due to excessive indulgence.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai looked at his golden thigh (Tang San) and noticed Xiao Wu wasn't by his side. Strange.
Neither of them acknowledged each other's identity at first—they chose to fight.
Due to his overindulgence, Dai Mubai's strength was only at level 34. However, he was surprised to see Tang San's two soul rings.
In their past life, Tang San's first ring came from a 423-year-old Datura Snake, which glowed a deep yellow-orange. But now, his first ring was so pale it was almost white. What had happened?
As they fought, Dai Mubai became even more confused.
Tang San's first soul skill was still Binding, but his Blue Silver Grass was weaker than before—Dai Mubai could tear it easily.
Still, despite the fragile spirit, Tang San managed to turn the tide using Tang Sect techniques and defeated Dai Mubai—though partly because Dai Mubai went easy on him.
After the fight, Dai Mubai yielded the Rose Hotel room. As he left, he said to Tang San, "Sea God. Asura God."
Tang San flinched, instinctively loading his sleeve dart, then calmed down once he recognized Dai Mubai. He tested, "God of War?"
They both realized the truth.
"You too, huh?" Dai Mubai asked.
"So, you've also…" Tang San replied.
After revealing their secrets, Tang San and Dai Mu Bai immediately found a small inn and began a secret conversation.
"Mu Bai, be honest with me. Besides you, are there any others who have been reincarnated?" Tang San asked seriously.
Dai Mu Bai replied, "Aside from me, Fatty (Ma Hongjun), Oscar—they've all reincarnated. As for the others, I'm not sure."
Tang San fell silent.
Dai Mu Bai asked, "Is something wrong, Tang San?"
Tang San said gravely, "Mu Bai, the reincarnated aren't just limited to us. There may be many reincarnated individuals in this era. How can we be sure that others outside of the Shrek Seven Devils haven't been reborn as well?"
Dai Mu Bai, the war god of a second life, hadn't improved much.
He was someone who habitually relied on Tang San and never thought independently about his fate. In this new life, he naturally chose the same shortcut as before. In his mind, as long as he held on to Tang San's leg, he'd already have one foot into the divine realm—becoming a winner in life.
But with Tang San's reminder, Dai Mu Bai suddenly became alert. That's right—what if their Shrek group wasn't the only one? What if someone from the Spirit Hall had also reincarnated?
It wasn't impossible. After all, this era was full of uncertainties.
"Then what should we do? What if someone else snatches the immortal herbs?" Dai Mu Bai asked anxiously. He was particularly worried: if other forces had reincarnators, could they still become gods like before? For example, what if changes occurred at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?
"Don't worry," Tang San said. "Before we ascended in our past life, the Dugu clan had already perished due to their martial spirit's toxicity. I sealed the location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well using divine power—it now exists in a poisonous and illusory space. People may know of its existence, but no one knows its exact location."
"But—" Dai Mu Bai asked, "What if the reincarnator is Dugu bo or Dugu Yan, who knew where the well was in our previous life?" He voiced his concern.
Tang San's face grew heavy, but then he said, "That possibility can't be ruled out. But Dugubo was someone who sat on a treasure trove without knowing its value.
He didn't understand how to use those herbs. Even if they're reincarnated, at most they'll just sit on the treasure and stare at it. Unless he shares the secret with Chrysanthemum Douluo of Spirit Hall—but doing so would be like asking a tiger for its skin."
"Besides, becoming a god isn't something you can do just because you want to. Don't forget, Mu Bai—in the next 20,000 years of the Douluo Continent, geniuses appeared like carp crossing a river. Many had talents equal to or beyond yours.
Take the Black and White Twin Holy Dragons from Huo Yuhao's era—they weren't inferior to any of us who used immortal herbs. But so what? Talent alone isn't enough to become a god. You also need luck—to receive the legacy of the gods from the upper realm. Don't forget who I am," Tang San said confidently.
Only then did Dai Mu Bai remember—Tang San was the chosen one of this era, selected by the Asura God himself. His becoming a god was inevitable. Even the Twin Gods of Spirit Hall only served as trials set by the Asura God to temper Tang San.
Hmph. So what if there are other reincarnators? No matter how hard they struggle, they cannot change the course of destiny. One of the Five Great God Kings of the upper realm—the Asura God—backs Tang San.
No matter how the times shift, Tang San becoming a god is the foregone conclusion. When one person ascends, all those close to him benefit. Having long integrated into the Shrek Seven Devils, they too were destined to become gods.
Thinking this, Dai Mu Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, Mu Bai, why are you three levels weaker than when we first met in the previous life?" Tang San asked.
"I was just worried that things might change this time around, so I tried to stick strictly to the old timeline. But I lost control for a bit," Dai Mu Bai deflected, then quickly changed the subject: "Anyway, Tang San, why is your first soul skill so weak?"
"I got it while trying to save Xiao Wu," Tang San said, recounting how he obtained his first soul ring.
"Seriously though, with how weak Gangzi is, you still took him as your master?" With the insight of a reincarnated Shrek Seven Devil, Dai Mu Bai naturally knew how unimpressive Yu Xiao Gang (Gangzi) was.
"He can't teach me much, but he still serves a purpose. Don't forget about the Pope of Spirit Hall," Tang San replied.
Hearing this, Dai Mu Bai suddenly understood. "That's true. If it weren't for Gangzi, we might not have made it past the Spirit Hall during the Soul Master Tournament."
Don't be fooled by how Tang Hao stormed into the Spirit Hall shouting "I'll see this through to the end." In truth, Tang Hao was bluffing. Attacking where the enemy would surely defend? Those who truly understood the Spirit Hall's foundation knew how laughable that idea was.
The Spirit Hall had seven enshrined elders, nine titled Douluo elders, and Bibi Dong herself—who was hiding her true strength. They held the moral high ground of hunting spirit beasts. If Bibi Dong had wanted to, she could have summoned all the titled Douluo and easily detained Tang Hao.
So why did they just watch him take Tang San and Xiao Wu away? And why didn't Bibi Dong arrest the rest of the Shrek Seven who were left behind?
(In the original novel, Tang Hao actually abandoned everyone at the Spirit Hall except Tang San and Xiao Wu. Bibi Dong could've dealt with the rest any way she pleased. Don't say she feared offending the two empires or the Three Upper Sects—Bibi Dong wasn't afraid of anything. She could've even used it as a pretext to strike at them and gain massive benefits. But instead, she just let them leave with dignity.)
All of this—was because of Gangzi. Bibi Dong was afraid that during a clash between high-level powerhouses, Gangzi might be killed by the aftershocks.
The Worship Hall elders didn't want to intervene either, precisely because Gangzi was present. If he was accidentally crushed by a stray attack, Bibi Dong might sacrifice the entire Spirit Hall for revenge. Even if they all held back, could Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer be expected to do the same?
You think Tang Hao was threatening Bibi Dong with Spirit Hall? Pfft—he was threatening her with Gangzi.
"Gangzi is a pretty decent shield—of course we have to make full use of him. But in this life, he'll never break through level 29. He'll be stuck there forever," Tang San said contemptuously.
Dai Mu Bai also looked smug. The thought of Yu Xiao Gang pursuing a breakthrough past level 29 all his life, only to be forever stuck, brought him a strange satisfaction.
"By the way, Tang San, aren't you going to spend time with Xiao Wu? I remember you two shared a room in the previous life," Dai Mu Bai asked.
Hearing that, a bitter expression appeared on Tang San's face. He said resentfully, "Don't bring that up. It's all Gangzi's fault. Because of him, I missed the best chance to build a romantic foundation with Xiao Wu. Right now, we're still just at the sibling stage."
"So you and Xiao Wu are actually siblings?" Dai Mubai opened his mouth, wanting to say something but didn't know what to say.
Tang San advised, "Speaking of which, Mubai, you'd better restrain yourself. Zhuqing is coming soon."
"I know. Didn't you see? I've already sent away all the women around me. If I were still like in my previous life, you'd be seeing a pair of twins at my side today," Dai Mubai said.
"Alright then, see you at the registration." Tang San replied.
At that, Dai Mubai and Tang San parted ways. Tang San spent the night alone, renting a bunk at a small inn.
The Next Day — Shrek Academy Admissions
Due to the previous money-grabbing incident, not many people came to register at Shrek Academy anymore. Still, there were a few fools rushing to give away their money.
Dai Mubai stood next to Li Yusong, like a powerful guardian, glaring fiercely at the applicants.
Pay the fee, test the talent, register—once the process was complete, Shrek gained another ten gold soul coins.
Not happy with it? If you're not happy, Dai Mubai will beat you until you howl.
From a distance, Dai Mubai saw several familiar figures in the crowd—Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Tang San had all arrived. Zhu Zhuqing, however, was not there yet.
In his previous life, Zhu Zhuqing was the last to arrive. Why hadn't she shown up yet? Dai Mubai didn't want to think too much about it.
No other reason—just tired of it. The thought that once she arrived, he'd have to settle down and devote himself to her alone made Dai Mubai feel irritated. So irritated that he didn't even want to look at Zhu Zhuqing's face anymore.
In the God Realm
Huo Yuhao activated his divine vision, observing the current admissions at Shrek Academy—this was the launching point of the academy's rise.
He recalled how, in his previous life, Tang San had reshaped his daughter to suit his own desires. A butterfly merging with an eye or a hammer merging with an eye was one thing—those were innate spirits he and Wang Dong were born with. But how the hell did a butterfly and the Clear Sky Hammer end up fusing with his second spirit, the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, which he obtained later in life? Huo Yuhao was convinced Tang San had a hand in it.
"What's next? If I picked a pile of poop as my second martial spirit, would Tang San still have his daughter's butterfly and hammer spirits merge with my poop spirit?"
Now the tables have turned. Shouldn't Huo Yuhao give Tang San a taste of his own medicine?
Still, he didn't intend to use Tang San's methods. Tang San had made his daughter bait to lure him in. Huo Yuhao's objective wasn't the same—he had no intention of letting Tang San get a bite of the bait this time.
In his hand, he conjured four glowing dots of divine power. "This should do for now. I'll keep monitoring things going forward."
As he said this, he launched the divine power into Douluo Continent. The lights fused into Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar.
"Wind may enter, rain may enter, but the Tang cannot enter.Jie Jie Jie..."
Back in the mortal world, Dai Mubai had just finished intimidating some mudfolk (peasant types) who tried to ask for their money back. Now that they were cowed, he found himself idle again.
Suddenly, Dai Mubai felt a strange stir in his heart. Familiar with his martial spirit's resonance, he quickly realized—
Zhuqing had arrived.
After all, Zhu Zhuqing was strong enough to earn a position as a second-tier god in the God Realm. Even if Dai Mubai was tired of her, he had no choice but to face her.
He followed the sense of martial spirit resonance and locked eyes on a cute little girl wearing pink, with brown hair tied in a scorpion tail braid. That adorable girl blinked and looked back at him.
Xiao Wu?
"Must be my imagination," Dai Mubai thought. He looked behind Xiao Wu—Ning Rongrong. But that was it.
Wait a minute—where was Zhu Zhuqing?
Zhu Zhuqing was nowhere to be seen, yet the martial spirit resonance remained. Dai Mubai, unwilling to believe it, looked again in the direction of the resonance—and saw Xiao Wu again. This time, she blinked at him flirtatiously.
In that moment, Dai Mubai was stunned—his mind filled with the image of Xiao Wu's cute face.
In that instant, Xiao Wu became the center of Dai Mubai's world.
The women he had played with before? All just cheap and tasteless.
So... so cute.
Wait!
Dai Mubai forced himself to calm down.
Xiao Wu was Tang San's woman—Tang San's private treasure. How could he dare even think about her? Absolutely not.
He took a deep breath to suppress the thoughts.
Still, the martial spirit resonance remained. He checked again—it still pointed to Xiao Wu.
Once, he thought it a coincidence.
Twice, a fluke.
Three times—there was no room left for doubt.
Dai Mubai reached a chilling realization:
He and Xiao Wu shared a martial spirit fusion ability.
And the strong sense of resonance meant their compatibility was high—at least as high as his compatibility with Zhu Zhuqing for their Nether White Tiger technique.
But was that a good thing?
No. That was a death sentence.
Because Dai Mubai knew very well what kind of man Tang San was.
If Tang San found out he shared a fusion ability with Xiao Wu, forget ascending to godhood together—Dai Mubai's name would go straight on Tang San's kill list.
Thinking that, cold sweat ran down his back.
No. Tang San must never find out I share a martial spirit fusion with Xiao Wu. Never.
He wiped his sweat.
Tang San, meanwhile, had noticed none of the eye contact between Xiao Wu and Dai Mubai. He walked up to Li Yusong and handed over ten gold soul coins.
"Show your martial spirit," Li Yusong said.
Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass—soul power level: 29. Li Yusong checked his bones and said, "12 years old, level 29? When did Blue Silver Grass become so easy to cultivate?"
Tang San replied, "So, would you say I'm a monster?"
Li Yusong laughed, "If you're not a monster, then monsters don't exist. You've passed. Dai Mubai, take him inside."
Dai Mubai led Tang San in, then came back out.
Xiao Wu stepped up, followed the same process, showed her Soft Bone Rabbit spirit, and revealed her own 12-year-old, level-29 cultivation. She too passed the admission.
"Dai Mubai, take her inside."
Cold sweat still dripping, Dai Mubai said to Xiao Wu, "Come with me."
Suddenly, a soft little hand grabbed him. Xiao Wu leaned in, sniffed him, and said, "You seem different somehow. Let's get to know each other—I'm Xiao Wu, the 'Wu' in dancing."
So soft. So fragrant. The scent on Xiao Wu was intoxicating, almost overpowering Dai Mubai's self-control.
But thinking of his life, his future, he forced himself to remain calm.
"D-Dai Mubai," he replied.
Luckily, Tang San was just up ahead. Xiao Wu didn't want her loyal little puppy to see her getting cozy with another man, so she let go just in time.
Dai Mubai had narrowly escaped disaster.