The five of them circled around the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well again and again, but still couldn't find a way in.
It was as if The Rakshasa God had placed an illusion barrier around this treasure ground. Tang San grew anxious—his eyes turned red, and he panted like an enraged bull as he roared:
"Damn it! It must be the Spirit Hall! No doubt about it—it has to be them!"
"The Spirit Hall's reincarnators must have gotten here earlier and taken the treasures inside. Then they even set up an illusion to stop others from finding them." Tang San said furiously.
"Damn Spirit Hall! This place is unclaimed. Heaven-sent treasures should be shared by all who find them. You took everything and sealed the place off? How selfish can you be?"
"You're right, San. But what can we do now?" Dai Mubai asked.
"Yeah, yeah! San, what about my Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower?" Ma Hongjun pressed anxiously.
Tang San thought for a moment and then said, "At this point, we can only try to contact my father. Whoever set up this illusion from Spirit Hall likely isn't that strong. If we had a Titled Douluo, we could break this fog and miasma easily."
As for asking the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan for help? That never even crossed Tang San's mind. He knew all too well how petty Ning Fengzhi was—if they used his clan's strength to get into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and ended up seizing the treasure from Spirit Hall, Ning Fengzhi would claim the place for himself without hesitation. Then it'd be called Ning's domain, not Tang's.
So, the group returned empty-handed.
On the way back, everyone was weighed down with thoughts. The upcoming Continental Soul Master Tournament loomed large. In their previous life, just three Soul Kings from Spirit Hall's team had overwhelmed them. It was only with the help of celestial herbs that they managed to close the gap with Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.
But in this life, the celestial herbs had been snatched by Spirit Hall. With that power boost, Spirit Hall's team would become terrifying. Without celestial herbs on their side, even making it to the finals was uncertain.
When they returned to school, they found that Blue Tyrant Academy had already been renamed Shrek Academy.
Later, Tang San ran into Ning Fengzhi at an auction house, drawing his attention with a hidden weapon. Unlike the previous timeline, this time Xiao Wu wasn't with him.
Meanwhile…
"What happened to your arm?"
Xiao Wu gently caressed Tai Long's empty shoulder and asked with concern.
Tai Long replied bitterly, "Don't even bring it up. It's all Tang Hao's fault. Because he offended the Spirit Hall, the Strength Clan got dragged into it. Even I got caught up in the mess."
Xiao Wu's ears twitched. She quickly asked, "Tang Hao? You know Tang Hao?"
"Of course I do." Tai Long's voice was tinged with fury.
"A morally bankrupt man who everyone wants to kill."
His voice grew resentful.
"I don't know what the hell my grandfather was thinking, insisting on pledging loyalty to a guy like that. He got us all stuck with a 'master' above us. Hmph."
Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes. "Sounds like you're not exactly happy about serving Tang Hao?"
"Obviously not!" Tai Long lowered his gaze in self-pity, looking at his missing arm—and his flat crotch—and said quietly,
"Xiao Wu, look at me. Like this… do I even deserve to love you?"
"Of course."
Xiao Wu caressed his face and kissed him.
"No matter how you change, I'll accept your flaws."
"Thank you, Xiao Wu. You're the kindest woman in the world."
"Tai Long gege," Xiao Wu said sweetly, "I need you to help me act out a scene."
"Okay! Whatever it is, Xiao Wu, if I can do it, I'll give it my all—even if it costs me my life!"
"Thank you, Tai Long gege."
Then Xiao Wu began explaining her plan.
The next day, Tang San came to class and saw Tai Long bullying Xiao Wu—just as planned.
Naturally, Tang San rushed up and beat Tai Long to a pulp, then turned to Xiao Wu and gently reached out to her, asking:
"Xiao Wu, are you okay?"
But Xiao Wu turned away in disgust.
"I'm fine. Don't touch me. Your hands are dirty."
Tang San stared at his hands in confusion, sighing inwardly.
Looks like after the whole Giant Lizard incident, there's no way she'll warm up to me so soon…
But then he remembered Tai Nuo, Tai Tan—those three loyal dogs.
Perfect, he thought. When they show up, I'll finally show Xiao Wu my real strength and potential. No more hiding my Clear Sky Hammer.
So he gave Tai Long two more vicious kicks.
Sure enough, the next day, Tai Nuo, Tai Long's father, showed up to challenge Tang San.
Fortunately, Tang San was prepared. Even without his Eight Spider Lances, he used Tang Sect skills and hidden weapons from his previous life to defeat the mighty Power King Tai Nuo.
After the win, Tang San looked toward Xiao Wu—only to see her chatting with Er Ming and Yu Tianheng. His heart clenched in pain.
Just wait. When Tai Tan shows up, Xiao Wu, I'll make you see my true potential.
Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer as he thought this.
On the third day, Tai Tan, the mighty Titan himself, arrived with his son and grandson to challenge Tang San.
Tai Tan saw Tang San's talent and gave him the time of one incense stick to withstand his pressure—testing him with soul power to coerce him into joining his clan.
Tang San endured Tai Tan's pressure until the incense was nearly burned out—then summoned his Clear Sky Hammer.
In that moment, Tai Tan froze.
But Tang San didn't care about Tai Tan's reaction. After all, this guy was just the Tang family's loyal dog—and a well-trained one at that. He didn't need feeding; he brought his own dry food.
Tang San's real goal was to show Xiao Wu just how majestic and domineering his Clear Sky Hammer was.
Raising the Clear Sky Hammer high under Tai Tan's pressure, Tang San shouted silently in his heart:
See it, Xiao Wu? This is my second spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer. I have twin spirits—Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Emperor. Your enemy is Bibi Dong. Only a twin spirit expert who reaches the pinnacle can avenge your mother. Xiao Wu, in this world, only I—Tang San—can help you with that revenge.
And just as Tang San hoped—
In the corner, Xiao Wu really did see it.
But what Tang San didn't expect was—
The way she looked at him was no longer like she was gazing at a simp, or a walking ATM.
Her eyes were now filled with hatred.
Tang San, so you really are the son of my mother's killer…
Xiao Wu's heart surged with icy hatred!
Just as Tai Tan was about to retract his soul power and kneel, Gu Rong stepped out to defuse the situation.
This left Tang San stunned.
Even after 20,000 years, though much of his memory had faded, he clearly remembered that Tai Long, Tai Nuo, and Tai Tan had both arms intact.
But now… And even Gu Rong—what happened to his hand?!
Don't tell me… did Yang Guo open a wholesale shop?!
In response to Gu Rong's resolution of the situation, Titan merely smiled faintly and said,
"Your Grace Gu Rong, even if you hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have dared lay a hand on him."
After speaking, he turned to Tang San with a face full of servility and added,
"This really is a case of floodwaters rushing into the Dragon King's temple—family fighting family."
Then, right there on the spot, he dropped to his knees before Tang San.
"This old servant Titan, greets the young master."
At the same time, Titan barked fiercely at Tai Long and Tai Nuo behind him:
"This is Tang San, the young master of our Strength Clan—understand?! What are you waiting for, kneel!"
Reluctantly, Tai Long and Tai Nuo knelt before Tang San.
"What a loyal dog," Tang San thought to himself.
But outwardly, he remained modest and said with a flustered expression,
"Elder, what are you doing? This is far too much for The Rakshasa God like me."
Titan replied solemnly,
"Young master, such rites cannot be neglected."
"Such rites cannot be neglected"—what a noble excuse.
Hiding in the shadows, Xiao Wu's eyes turned red as she watched the scene unfold.
The night her mother died, aside from remembering Tang Hao, Xiao Wu also remembered this obedient old dog, Titan.
And now, seeing Titan acknowledge Tang San's identity and even pledge loyalty to him as young master—there was no longer any doubt.
Tang San was indeed the son of her mortal enemy, Tang Hao.
Elsewhere, Ning Fengzhi had also arrived. After Gu Rong informed him of Tang San's situation, he said:
"Tang San's talent is truly astonishing. If he's Tang Hao's son, then his mother must be the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Empress. That means his Blue Silver Grass spirit is definitely not ordinary—otherwise, it couldn't have coexisted with the Clear Sky Hammer. It might even be the Blue Silver Empress itself."
Gu Rong paused, then added:
"Clear Sky Hammer, Blue Silver Empress, innate full spirit power… Tang San's potential is too blinding. Sect Master, should I—"
He made a slashing motion across his neck.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, adjusted his glasses, and a gleam of wisdom flashed in his eyes:
"No need. Uncle Gu, have you forgotten where our greatest threat comes from? Above us stands Spirit Hall, and below us, Spark Academy. Tang San's presence is not a threat but a blessing. If we shelter and guide his growth, nurture his talent—he could become our sword against Spirit Hall's tyranny and against Spark Academy's savage ambition to disrupt the order of the world."
Gu Rong thought about it carefully and agreed—it made sense. He dropped the idea of eliminating Tang San.
With that matter settled, Ning Fengzhi began secret negotiations with Tang San to acquire hidden weapons, hoping to use them to arm the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi tried to obtain the manufacturing techniques for the hidden weapons, not realizing he was facing The Rakshasa God older and craftier than himself. He hadn't been able to outmaneuver Tang San in his previous life—and certainly wouldn't in this one.
In the end, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect signed a purchase agreement, buying the hidden weapons from Tang San at dozens of times their production cost.
Later, Gu Rong reviewed the hidden weapons Ning Fengzhi had acquired and said pointedly,
"Sect Master, these are quite powerful, but it's clear that if we had the know-how, the cost wouldn't be that high. That Tang San really gouged us."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and replied:
"Money isn't an issue for our sect. What matters is making a valuable ally—a future powerhouse. Establishing a binding relationship of mutual interest is worth the cost. Tang San's talent and aptitude are worth investing in."
"When you put it that way, that's true," Gu Rong nodded.
That night, after escorting Xiao Wu back to her room at the academy, Tang San returned to his own quarters to cultivate with Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Er Ming, Yu Tianheng, and others from all directions—northeast, southwest—you name it.