Tang San slowly regained consciousness. As soon as his mind cleared, a searing pain shot through his back like it had been torn apart.
He instantly understood his current predicament—his newly acquired spirit bone had been ripped away by Bibi Dong. His future Sea God's Eight Wings were gone.
"Bibi Dong—"
Tang San's eyes turned blood-red as he gasped furiously, "You've already chosen the path to death."
Then his thoughts turned to Yu Xiaogang.
Tang San's view of Yu Xiaogang, put politely, was that of a "protector." To be blunt—he was a chamber pot. Useful when needed, hidden under the bed when not, and discarded entirely when no longer of use.
And yet, you couldn't even be a proper chamber pot.
Damn you, Gangzi. Weren't you supposed to be the one Bibi Dong cherished with all her heart? Then why, at the crucial moment, did she completely ignore you?
It's all your fault, Gangzi!
If not for you, I wouldn't have lost the Eight Spider Lances!
At that moment, the Shrek Trio entered the room.
Seeing Tang San's miserable condition, an inexplicable sense of schadenfreude bubbled up in their hearts.
Suppressing that strange feeling, Dai Mubai explained to Tang San everything that happened while he was absorbing the spirit ring. As he finished, he looked conflicted and said:
"Tang San, it's not that we didn't want to help you... but the difference in strength was just too overwhelming. We're talking about Bibi Dong here. Her current power is likely that of an Ultimate Douluo. There's no way we could go up against that."
But from his words, Tang San caught onto several key pieces of information:
"Mubai, are you saying Bibi Dong's spirit ring configuration has surpassed that of her past self… and that she's shown up in a place she logically shouldn't even be in?"
By the end of his sentence, Tang San was already frowning.
"Tang San… could it be that Bibi Dong is a reborn person?" Ma Hongjun asked in a low voice.
As soon as the question left his mouth everyone in the room broke into a cold sweat.
If Bibi Dong had reincarnated, then their journey had just switched to hard mode.
(And that's with Yu Xiaogang still functioning as a "chamber pot." Without him? Hell difficulty.)
Tang San's mind was momentarily in chaos, but then he shook his head and said:
"That's unlikely. If Bibi Dong were reborn, she would've eliminated us already to avoid any future threats."
"Besides, even if she did reincarnate, there's no way she could've known that we obtained the Eight Spider Lances in that forest. In our previous life, the Shrek Seven Devils only became legendary after the downfall of the Spirit Hall. By then, Bibi Dong had already been buried with it."
Hearing Tang San's logical reasoning, the trio finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But then Tang San's next words brought their nerves right back:
"But one thing is certain—someone inside the Spirit Hall is a reincarnator.
This person must be one of the survivors we spared last time.
That individual influenced Bibi Dong and led her to come after my spirit bone."
"Who could that reincarnator be?" Oscar wondered aloud.
"Could it be… Qian Renxue?" Ma Hongjun speculated.
At that moment—everyone broke out into a cold sweat again.
If Qian Renxue had reincarnated, then their scenario had just upgraded to hell mode.
Among the Three Gods, Qian Renxue was the first to ascend—and that was even with her talent delayed due to the Tian Dou Empire's political struggles.
Given all the tragedies of her past life—her mother died at Tang San's hands, Spirit Hall burned to ashes, the Angel Clan's millennia-old heritage destroyed, and she herself forced to self-detonate—
if Qian Renxue were granted a second life, she'd undoubtedly become a vengeful demon.
Worse yet, unlike Bibi Dong, she didn't even have a "chamber pot" like Yu Xiaogang to manipulate.
Dai Mubai pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat pouring down his forehead.
"I don't think Qian Renxue is the one who reincarnated.
Over in the Tian Dou Empire, both Xue Luochuan and Prince Xue Haizang have suddenly died.
Meanwhile, Xue Qinghe is starting to rise in prominence and has taken Ning Fengzhi as his teacher.
Everything is following the exact same trajectory as our past life."
Hearing this, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
If events in Xue Qinghe's life were playing out the same, that meant Qian Renxue hadn't changed.
From a reverse perspective—if they were the ones who had reincarnated as Qian Renxue, the first thing they'd do is activate the Spirit Hall and wipe out all future threats.
And among Spirit Hall's ranks, Qian Renxue's authority was no less than Bibi Dong's.
Bibi Dong could only rely on Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo,
but Qian Renxue could immediately mobilize the entire Worship Hall.
"If it's neither Qian Renxue nor Bibi Dong… then who is it?" Ma Hongjun asked.
"I think it's some leftover loyalist from the Spirit Hall," Oscar analyzed.
"Someone completely loyal, but probably not very high in rank—otherwise Qian Renxue wouldn't have needed to carry out that assassination plot.
They must be leveraging their knowledge of the future to gain Bibi Dong's trust."
Tang San's eyes turned cold.
"Hmph. A leftover from Spirit Hall...
We spared their lives last time, and in this new life, they've chosen to repay us with treachery.
Still trying to resist the tide of history?
Then they've already signed their death warrants.
Looks like Spirit Hall's rot is truly ingrained.
When the time comes, we won't just destroy the organization—we'll erase every last remnant, lest they bring disaster to the world again."
"Tang San," Ma Hongjun suddenly asked, "what about the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well? Could something happen there?"
This opportunity had always been critical to Ma Hongjun.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower in that spring was tied directly to his life's future.
Even though Xiao Wu could suppress his fire when needed, the flower granted him the potential to inherit the God of Fire and rival Tang San for Xiao Wu's affection.
(If he could flip Xiao Wu to his side, Tang San would lose his position as God King and only remain as Sea God. And with both of them being 1st-level gods—Fire God vs Sea God—Ma Hongjun wasn't afraid.
If possible, he'd even try the legendary Dual-God Unity with Xiao Wu. At that point—sorry, Tang San—roles would be reversed.)
Hearing that name—Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well—the four once again broke into a cold sweat.
Oscar, despite his talent, was still uncertain whether he could reach Titled Douluo in time to inherit the God of Food.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, didn't even have a proper immortal herb.
He had no chance of becoming a god and wasn't even sure he could defeat his own brother.
Tang San took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying:
"In our previous life, even though the world knew we took immortal herbs, we never revealed the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well's location.
So it's unlikely the Spirit Hall can find it."
Tang San considered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as a private asset of the Tang family.
After the extermination of the Dugu Clan, he sealed off its exact location. Only his parents and the Shrek Seven Devils knew about it.
But even that wasn't enough—Tang San further surrounded the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with poisonous mists and illusionary barriers, all to prevent some lucky heaven-defying individual from stumbling upon his treasure trove and stealing his immortal herbs.
Therefore, he wasn't the least bit worried that future reincarnators would be able to find the well based on memories of their past lives.
"This is good. This is very good," Dai Mubai exhaled deeply in relief. As long as nothing happened to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his path to becoming the War God was virtually guaranteed.
Tang San rubbed his aching back, a pained expression crossing his face. Even if he could deduce that the reincarnator within Spirit Hall wasn't one of the two great devils—Qian Renxue or Bibi Dong—this hidden reincarnator still posed a massive threat.
Because of him, Tang San had lost the opportunity to obtain the invaluable Eight Spider Lances soul bone.
And then there was Zhao Wuji…
Bibi Dong had clearly been preparing to leave, and yet you begged her to stay?! Of course I know this is a 2,000-year-old Human-Faced Demon Spider! You think I needed you to beg Bibi Dong to guard my cultivation path?
Fine. You've chosen death.
"We must identify Spirit Hall's hidden reincarnator," Tang San said grimly. Suddenly, he realized he had completely overlooked something critical—
"Wait a second—where's Xiao Wu?!"
"About that…" said Dai Mubai. "Zhao Wuji asked us to escort you back to the hotel outside the forest. He went alone into the Star Dou Forest to find Xiao Wu."
Ma Hongjun added, "Tang San, you can probably relax a bit. Did you forget what Xiao Wu really is? She's a 100,000-year soul beast. Two of the Star Dou Forest's rulers are her little brothers. That place is basically her backyard. She should be fine."
"But I'm worried she'll run into some of the innately evil soul beasts," Tang San replied. He thought of the Human-Faced Demon Spider… the Myriad-Jin Ant Emperor… the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger…
He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain in his back, and forced himself into a sitting position—only to cry out:
"Ughh—AHHHHHHHHHH—"
With a miserable howl, Tang San collapsed back onto the bed. It was clear—he was seriously injured and completely incapable of doing anything.
Meanwhile, deep within the Star Dou Forest…
Zhao Wuji had finally found Xiao Wu.
When he did, her hair and clothes were slightly disheveled, her cheeks flushed—and next to her stood a tall, brawny young man even bigger than Zhao Wuji himself. The grass near their feet had visible impressions as if someone had… pressed it down.
Zhao Wuji chose to ignore everything he had just seen and said stiffly:
"Xiao Wu, what were you doing running so far off alone? You really made us worry. Don't you know how dangerous the Star Dou Forest is?"
Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue and replied, "Dean Zhao, I happened to run into someone I know in the forest. His name is Er Ming—he's my little brother."
Zhao Wuji looked at the enormous guy beside her, who was almost his own height and bulging with muscles. He frowned. "You're saying he's your little brother?"
"Yep!" Xiao Wu said cheerfully.
"Stretch out your hand. Let me see," Zhao Wuji said.
Xiao Wu gave Er Ming a look, and he held out his arm.
Good heavens. His arm was thicker than an adult's thigh.
Zhao Wuji gulped and squeezed his forearm. "Twelve? You're twelve and already this massive?"
"It's because of my martial soul."
"What's your martial soul?" Zhao Wuji asked casually.
"Titan Giant Ape."
"…Titan Giant Ape," Zhao Wuji repeated, then suddenly widened his eyes in shock. "DID YOU JUST SAY YOUR MARTIAL SOUL IS THE TITAN GIANT APE?!"
"Yes. Why?"
That was a huge problem.
Zhao Wuji's own martial soul, the Vigorous Vajra Bear, was already considered a powerful strength-type martial soul—but just barely classified as high-grade.
The Titan Giant Ape, on the other hand, possessed divine beast lineage and stood at the pinnacle of strength-type martial souls. It was a super martial soul.
"Show me your martial soul," Zhao Wuji said, unable to hide his excitement.
Er Ming let out a deep roar, slamming his fists against his chest. In the next moment, the massive image of a Titan Giant Ape appeared behind him, and three soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple—spun around him.
Level 31 Soul Elder. Martial Soul: Titan Giant Ape.
"Good! Good! What a monstrous talent!" Zhao Wuji was thrilled.
Wasn't Dean Flender always lamenting that Shrek only had six monsters and couldn't form a full team?
Well, here he was—a perfect new candidate!
His eyes lit up, and he immediately began trying to recruit Er Ming.
But it turned out to be unnecessary.
From the moment Er Ming had seen Xiao Wu, he'd already decided to follow her no matter what. Wherever she went, he would go.
So, Er Ming agreed to join Shrek Academy.
Zhao Wuji happily brought Xiao Wu and Er Ming back to the hotel where Tang San and the others were staying.
"Tang San, Xiao Wu's back—but…" Dai Mubai stepped into the room, looking at the dazed Tang San lying on the bed.
Tang San immediately perked up—only for Dai Mubai to finish with, "She brought a man with her."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY—?!" Tang San's eyes turned bloodshot, his breath ragged.
He tried to sit up, but the pain in his back overwhelmed him again. Another anguished scream erupted from his throat:
"Ughhh—AHHHHHHHHHHHH—"
At that moment, the door opened and Xiao Wu walked in.
Seeing Tang San in such a miserable state, her eyes welled up with tears. She rushed to his side and asked with concern:
"San-gege, what happened to you?!"
"Xiao Wu… There was a little… accident while trying to save you…"
Dai Mubai also filled her in on what had happened.
Xiao Wu's heart ached. "San-gege… it's all Xiao Wu's fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have ended up like this."
"It's fine, Xiao Wu. I did it all willingly," Tang San replied gently.
With Xiao Wu at his side, Tang San's turbulent heart finally found peace.
"Thank you, little sister Xiao Wu," Tang San said softly, looking at the freshly bandaged wounds.
Xiao Wu wiped the sweat from her forehead and replied, "Don't mention it, San-gege! This is what Xiao Wu-jie should do!"
Then Tang San noticed the towering iron-tower of a man standing silently behind her.
His heart clenched.
He forced a smile and asked, "Little sister Xiao Wu… who's this guy?"
Xiao Wu beamed brightly and introduced him:
"San-gege, this is Er Ming, my little brother. Which means—he's also your little brother! So, as the elder brother, you'll have to look after him from now on, okay?"
Er Ming?
When he heard that name, Tang San immediately understood who this towering man was—he was the human form of the hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, the Titan Giant Ape from the Star Dou Great Forest. And yes, he really was Xiao Wu's younger brother.
But what did this have to do with Tang San?!
When did he become my little brother?
Tang San had only acknowledged Xiao Wu as a sister to build toward a romantic relationship later! That "sibling bond" was supposed to be a stepping stone to eventually becoming husband and wife—to a cosmic-level love story!
Tang San's expression became a bit unnatural as he turned to look at the expressionless man built like a tower.
Deep in his soul, he was already fuming and roaring with rage:
"Er Ming, you damn dog circling around Xiao Wu all day! Why the hell aren't you staying put in the Star Dou Forest, obediently waiting for me to harvest you as my first soul ring for the Clear Sky Hammer? Why are you here screwing up everything?!"
Outwardly, however, his face bore a stiff, fake smile as he greeted,
"Hello, nice to meet you, Er Ming. I'm Tang San."
"Er Ming," the man responded stiffly.
He also felt a certain displeasure toward this so-called brother of Xiao Wu who had suddenly appeared. (After all, both of them were trying to use the sibling route to ultimately ride the "bunny"—they were rivals and love competitors.)
Er Ming extended his hand. Seeing this, Tang San also reached out to shake it.
Originally, he thought this would be an ordinary handshake…
Until their hands touched—and something felt very wrong.
Er Ming suddenly twisted hard, and Tang San's face turned beet red, like a piece of liver.
"Ah-San gege, are you okay?"
Xiao Wu asked, as if she hadn't noticed a thing.
"No—it's nothing,"
Tang San gritted his teeth through the searing pain in his arm. He clearly didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Xiao Wu.
Tang San secretly activated his Mystic Jade Hand to resist, but Er Ming's strength far surpassed his—especially since Tang San was still injured. His resistance was completely ineffective.
After holding the handshake a while longer, Er Ming finally released his grip.
Tang San's hand was already twisted into an unnatural, noodle-like shape.
"Well then, Ah-San gege, Er Ming and I will head out first,"
Xiao Wu said cheerfully.
Tang San's face was pale like wax, but he still forced a smile.
After Xiao Wu and Er Ming had been gone for some time, Tang San finally let out a bloodcurdling scream:
"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!! Hahahaha—AAAAHH!!"
Soaked in sweat, his hatred for Er Ming deepened.
Er Ming… you've just signed your own death warrant.
If it weren't for the fact that Er Ming was Xiao Wu's brother, Tang San would've already used his hidden weapons to kill him on the spot.
But now, he simply sentenced Er Ming to death in his heart.
In the future, when Er Ming "sacrificed" himself to Tang San, Tang San swore he would quietly crush Er Ming's soul, leaving him no chance of rebirth.
As for Xiao Wu—he'd just make up an excuse to brush her off.
Tang San turned toward the Shrek Trio and demanded,
"What's the deal with this Er Ming?!"
Dai Mubai quickly responded,
"Xiao San, Xiao Wu went missing this time because of Er Ming. Zhao Wuji brought him back, saying he wants Er Ming to join the Shrek Seven Devils."
"So you just… let him join Shrek Academy?"
Tang San asked, pressing further.
"That's right,"
Ma Hongjun chimed in,
"Er Ming's talent is on par with yours. And his martial soul is the Titan Giant Ape! Plus—"
"Plus what?"
Tang San narrowed his eyes.
Ma Hongjun glanced at Oscar.
Oscar said,
"He seems to have a Martial Soul Fusion Technique with Xiao Wu."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Tang San's eyes went bloodshot, his breath ragged with fury.
"You said Xiao Wu and that damn ape have a Martial Soul Fusion Technique?!"
"Tang San, calm down,"
Oscar quickly tried to comfort him.
Tang San roared at Oscar,
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN?! Mubai! Do you even know what this means?! Xiao Wu and Er Ming having a martial soul fusion means—means Xiao Wu could become his… cosmic partner!!"
Dai Mubai placed a hand on Tang San's shoulder and explained:
"Tang San, relax. Their fusion isn't like that. It's just like my Nether White Tiger—it has a primary and a secondary role. Xiao Wu is the lead. So she won't be influenced by Er Ming."
Hearing that, Tang San finally let out a breath of relief.
If Xiao Wu was the primary soul in the fusion, then she wouldn't be affected emotionally by it.
But even so, having that clingy mutt Er Ming so close to Xiao Wu still made his skin crawl.
Ma Hongjun placed a hand on Tang San's other shoulder:
"Tang San, Xiao Wu likes you. We've all seen it. She and Er Ming are just siblings, nothing more.
And besides—we were missing a seventh member. Er Ming filling that spot actually completes the Shrek Seven Devils."
Oscar followed up, also putting a hand on Tang San's shoulder:
"Yeah, and Tang San—we're still here, aren't we? To us, you and Xiao Wu are the real couple.
Who is Er Ming to pursue her? Did he even ask our permission?
No matter what, we'll always stand firmly behind you."
Hearing the three of them, Tang San was moved to tears.
"Thank you, Mubai, Fatty, Oscar. I'll never forget what you've done for me."
(Tang San conveniently overlooked the fact that Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun had completely forgotten about Zhu Zhuqing, and had naturally accepted Er Ming—who wasn't even part of the original Seven Devils—as a full member.)
At this moment, it was late autumn turning to early winter.
The weather in Heaven Dou City was chilly, and the hotel's heating wasn't enough.
Tang San shivered under the cold wind.
Dai Mubai quickly pulled out a bright green hat and placed it on Tang San's head:
"It's getting cold. Here, wear this to stay warm."
"Thank you, Mubai,"
Tang San replied.
"No problem, Tang San."
"Get some rest, Tang San. Er Ming is just a stand-in. You're the future of Shrek."
Oscar reached out and adjusted Tang San's green hat.
Ma Hongjun gave the green hat a light pat and added:
"Get some good sleep, Tang San. In our hearts, Xiao Wu will always be our sister-in-law.
Er Ming is just a younger brother."
After speaking, the three left Tang San's room.
Outside, they exchanged glances.
Although they weren't thrilled about the new rival Er Ming, the three of them all knew one thing:
Their greatest obstacle to scoring with Xiao Wu wasn't Er Ming—it was Tang San.
As long as Tang San existed, they would forever be on edge trying to get close to Xiao Wu.
Er Ming's arrival, however, presented a golden opportunity.
They could now push Er Ming to the front lines, allowing him to draw all of Tang San's fire.
Meanwhile, they would hide safely behind Tang San, hug his bunny girl, and enjoy all the divine treasures and godhood opportunities he brought them.