The Next Morning
The Shrek team regrouped.
"Morning, Xiao Wu," Tang San greeted her.
Blushing, Xiao Wu looked at Tang San.
"Morning, Ah San giegie."
For some reason, Xiao Wu seemed to radiate a mysterious charm that morning, deeply attracting Tang San.
"Xiao Wu, your mouth corner…" Tang San gestured to his own mouth.
Xiao Wu quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. Seeing what it was, she hurriedly explained,
"Oh, Ah San giegie, I just drank some milk and accidentally spilled a bit."
After explaining, Xiao Wu quickly changed the subject.
"Ah San giegie, how's your preparation for today's match? Do you need me to participate?"
"No, no need, Xiao Wu," Tang San quickly waved his hand.
"Today, you just watch from the sidelines and see how your Ah San giegie brings glory to Shrek Academy."
"Mm." Xiao Wu nodded.
"Since you're so confident, then Xiao Wu looks forward to your victory. You won't disappoint me, right?"
"No," Tang San said firmly.
"I won't, Xiao Wu. This match, I can win—and I must win."
After speaking, Tang San looked toward the direction of the Soul Fighting Stage. He knew this match was critical for him—a battle to prove himself. Was the opponent strong? Yes. But Tang San had every reason to win. No matter how hard it was, he must win.
On stage, the referee announced,
"Next match, Shrek Academy versus Tianshui Academy. Will both teams please enter the Soul Fighting Stage."
Tang San led the seven Shrek members into the arena.
From the opposite direction, a team of female soul masters dressed in water-blue outfits entered. Seeing the lineups, the audience erupted!
"Damn, I bet on Shrek to win because I believed in you guys! What kind of lineup is this? Who's this dark-skinned guy? Where's Xiao Wu? Where's Yu Tianheng? Where's Er Ming? Where are the three soul kings of Shrek?"
"Refund! I'm suing Shrek for match-fixing! Get that dark-skinned guy off! We want to see Xiao Wu and her men's martial soul fusion technique!"
Upon seeing Shrek's team setup, the crowd in the arena burst into an uproar of curses. The reason? Because in the Heaven Dou City competition zone, Shrek's overall combat strength was only second to the Spark Team.
That's why every time a match involving Shrek was announced, the betting odds heavily favored Shrek. People would rush to bet on their win. But today's match infuriated the audience—some even began to suspect Shrek of colluding with the bookmakers to fix the match and scam money.
In this wave of public outrage, the dark-skinned and short "charcoal-head" who was the core of Shrek's team naturally became the main target of criticism.
Verbal abuse came flooding in from all directions. On the arena platform, Tang San clenched his fists tightly, then slowly relaxed them. He muttered in his heart:
There's no need to get worked up over these people. Once the match begins, it'll be enough to drop their jaws in disbelief.
With that thought, Tang San's heart calmed down considerably. His gaze turned to the opposing Tianshui Academy.
Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and other powerhouses from his previous life had all stepped onto the stage.
Shui Bing'er hadn't participated in any previous match at all, which made it obvious—Tianshui Academy had deployed its full main force this time.
Seeing this, Tang San could only curse inwardly:
WTF—Tianshui Academy had been hiding their strength all this time. With the victory points you've accumulated, you had more than enough to advance. Why the hell are you sending your full force now? What, just to give me, Tang San, a slap in the face?!
"Hey! You there, the charcoal-head on the other side!"
Xue Wu pointed at Tang San and shouted, "Is Shrek Academy looking down on us or something? You're not even fielding a single Soul King! Our captain is personally stepping in out of respect for your academy!"
Charcoal-head? Respecting us by going all out? Well then, I, Tang San, truly thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Tang San's face darkened further. He didn't know how to respond to the provocation, but his teammates stepped up in his place.
Dai Mubai said loudly, "Charcoal-head? This is our captain, Tang San! Show some respect!"
Oscar followed up confidently, "The reason we didn't send out Soul Kings is because our San here thinks he's more than enough to deal with you all by himself!"
Ma Hongjun chimed in, "Exactly! Our San's got you handled." As he spoke, he even made a taunting hand gesture.
After speaking, the three Shrek teammates looked proudly at Tang San, as if awaiting praise.
Dai Mubai muttered inwardly, We did well, right, San? Never lose face, even if we lose the match.
Tang San: Thanks a lot, you clowns…
Sure enough, Tianshui Academy became furious upon hearing how dismissive Shrek was being.
"What? You're seriously looking down on us that much?"
"Alright then! You think you're so brave? We're not pushovers either!"
"Captain, let's give this whatever-Shrek-it-is Academy a good taste of our strength!"
The referee stepped forward.
"Both sides have one minute to activate their martial souls. After that, the bell will sound, and the match will officially begin!"
Immediately, a dazzling array of martial souls lit up across the stage.
On Shrek's side, spirits flared into view. But the one who drew everyone's attention wasn't anyone else—it was the dark-skinned short kid who had been the target of so much criticism: Tang San.
This time, what Tang San summoned was not the well-known Blue Silver Grass.
It was—a hammer.
Everyone in the audience was stunned the moment the hammer appeared.
"That's not Blue Silver Grass—it's a hammer-type martial soul?! Is this charcoal-head actually a twin-spirit user?!"
Some with more insight instantly recognized the hammer.
"Clear Sky Hammer! That's the Clear Sky Hammer! Tang San actually possesses the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul—my god~"
In the audience—
A man with a short buzz cut suddenly stood up.
It was Yu Xiaogang. At that moment, a chill ran down his spine. He stared at the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's hand, clutched his head, and muttered,
"Xiao San... You're too reckless. Didn't your father and I warn you not to reveal the Clear Sky Hammer? Why didn't you listen?!"
Now that both Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer were out in the open, many at the scene instantly recognized who Tang San really was. The appearance of the Clear Sky Hammer was like a death knell for Tang San and his master.
In the VIP seats—
A woman shrouded in moonlight—Tang Yuehua—stared fixedly at the hammer in Tang San's hand, muttering:
"Blue Silver Grass... Clear Sky Hammer... Blue Silver Grass... Clear Sky Hammer..."
As she repeated the words, her tone became laced with hatred.
Others might not immediately grasp Tang San's identity. But Tang Yuehua knew all too well.
He was the son of Tang Hao, that beast—the very man responsible for the downfall of the Clear Sky Sect. A half-beast hybrid!
Unlike in the previous life, in this one, Tang Hao had established his dominance over the world by stepping on the corpses of his clan and his own father.
Tang Hao was not only Tang Yuehua's older brother—he was her father's killer.
She and her brother Tang Xiao had suffered greatly within the sect, all due to Tang Hao's actions. In such circumstances, how could she possibly feel love toward him? Hatred was all she had left.
Back in the VIP section—
Ning Fengzhi didn't look much better. He had once pinned great hopes on Tang San. He had wished that Tang San would keep his second spirit hidden until reaching the level of a Titled Douluo, and only then begin attaching spirit rings to the Clear Sky Hammer.
By then, Tang San would've become a sharp blade aimed directly at Spirit Hall.
But Tang San was still too young—he couldn't keep his composure.
Didn't he understand how many enemies his father had made across the Douluo Continent?
Didn't he know how notorious Tang Hao had become?
And yet here you are, boldly showing off the Clear Sky Hammer. Do you have a death wish?!
The worst-case scenario had now come true.
Salas sneered playfully, "Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer twin spirits—and his surname is Tang. He reminds me of someone..."
Ning Fengzhi responded awkwardly, "Bishop Salas, perhaps this Tang San is merely a child born from a Clear Sky Sect disciple and some ordinary Blue Silver Grass woman. I mean, nobles often have affairs outside their clans, right?"
Salas replied coldly, "Sect Master Ning, you pride yourself on your cleverness, but don't think the rest of us are fools.
In this world, twin spirits follow a rule: the two martial souls must be of similar quality for the twin-spirit phenomenon to occur.
Do you truly think ordinary Blue Silver Grass could match the Clear Sky Hammer in quality?"
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
Salas continued, "To be born with twin spirits including the Clear Sky Hammer, the Blue Silver Grass must be the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline."
He then turned his gaze to Tang San, adjusted his glasses, and declared:
"Therefore, there's only one truth—Tang San is the very same beastly child that Tang Hao took away all those years ago!"
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
The atmosphere froze in place. Ning Fengzhi could not find any excuse to refute the accusation.
If the Spirit Hall were to announce that Tang San was a beastkin at this moment, then launching a manhunt on him would be entirely legal and justified.
Ning Fengzhi wanted to protect Tang San, hoping to one day use him as a sharp blade against Spirit Hall. But at this point, he simply had no excuse to defend him.
"Bishop Salas," said Yu Xiaomen, breaking the silence. "Although your deduction makes some sense, there's still no concrete evidence proving that Tang San is the beastkin from back then."
Salas replied calmly, "If it's evidence you want, Spirit Hall can present it anytime."
Huo Qiqiang stepped forward, "Even if you eventually prove Tang San is that beastkin from the past, are you saying Spirit Hall intends to execute him on the spot?"
Salas answered righteously, "Of course. Eliminating criminals like beastkin is Spirit Hall's duty. It's for the peace and stability of the entire Douluo Continent."
Huo Qiqiang refuted, "But that would still violate the Douluo Continent Soul Master Tournament Charter. The charter ensures every contestant's rights, and since Tang San is a contestant, his right to life and freedom must be protected during the competition. This tournament is hosted by Spirit Hall—are you suggesting you'll be the first to break its rules?"
Ning Fengzhi quickly added, "Exactly. The tournament charter clearly states that contestants' rights must be safeguarded. Even if Tang San is the beastkin, Spirit Hall cannot hunt him during the competition."
Salas's face changed subtly. He looked at Ning Fengzhi, then at Huo Qiqiang and Yu Xiaomen. His expression seemed to say, So the three of you are in cahoots now, huh?
Finally, Salas sighed in resignation and said, "Very well. As you say, we won't pursue the beastkin during the tournament. But if this information leaks, and we fail to eliminate the threat in time, leading to future disaster for the Douluo Continent—your three sects will bear that responsibility."
Ning Fengzhi responded boldly, "Rest assured, Bishop Salas. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will take responsibility for that."
At that moment, the three upper sects were truly united, just as Ning Fengzhi had hoped. United in purpose, they now had the strength to oppose Spirit Hall.
—
Meanwhile, Tang San, standing on the stage, was completely unaware that his fate was being silently debated in the VIP stands.
In this moment, with the Clear Sky Hammer in hand, Tang San's entire aura transformed—full of the majestic pride of the Clear Sky Clan.
Xiao Wu must be watching me right now.
She must be watching me, enchanted by my domineering figure, Tang San thought to himself.
Even without soul rings attached to the Clear Sky Hammer, Tang San was confident he could shine in this tournament by relying on the martial arts of the Clear Sky School and the Tang Sect.
"So it's a twin martial soul after all. No wonder you, this black charcoal head, are the captain of the Shrek team," said Xue Wu in realization. "But just having that won't be enough to beat us. Sisters, let's show them the power of the Tianshui Academy team!"
At that moment, the Tianshui team also activated their martial souls.
In an instant, a wave of freezing cold swept over Shrek's side, causing Tang San to shiver slightly.
So cold… Could this be an illusion?
A thought flashed through Tang San's mind.
He looked across the battlefield. The Tianshui lineup was mostly the same as in his past life. But the captain, Shui Bing'er, was different. Her soul ring configuration was: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black—five rings. Her martial soul, the Ice Phoenix, radiated a bone-piercing chill.
A Soul King? Another unexpected variable.
You're not supposed to be a Soul King. You being one… you deserve to die, Shui Bing'er!
Tang San couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy as he realized that while he had declined compared to his past life, Shui Bing'er and Feng Xiaotian had surpassed their past strength.
"Ah San," whispered Dai Mubai, "Shui Bing'er is a Soul King. What should we do?"
Tang San replied quietly, "Stick to the plan for now. Let's test her strength first, then adapt accordingly."
"Got it."
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The match officially began.
"Move—" Tang San had just opened his mouth when a tide of cold air suddenly surged over him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dai Mubai frozen solid into an ice block, and the cold quickly seeped into his own body. Before he could finish his command, Tang San was also frozen.
As the bone-deep chill invaded his body, Tang San recalled a term from his past life: "Ultimate Ice."
With a single instant cast of her freezing skill, Shui Bing'er had frozen the entire Shrek team.
The Tianshui team swiftly moved in, eliminating them one by one like pushing over ice sculptures.
Moments later, the ice encasing Dai Mubai and Tang San cracked, and they broke free.
"C-c-cold, s-so cold!" Dai Mubai trembled.
Tang San gripped his Clear Sky Hammer, exhaling icy breath. His eyes reddened with jealousy.
"Ultimate Ice… You actually have Ultimate Ice… How dare you! You deserve to die!"
"Huh~?" said Shui Yue'er, annoyed. "Why does our Bing'er having Ultimate Ice mean she should die?"
Shui Bing'er herself said coldly, "You black charcoal head, I'm in a good mood today. Surrender and get off the stage while you can."
"Surrender? Never."
Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, his breath ragged like an angry bull.
At this point, Tang San knew—with only him and Dai Mubai remaining—the odds of winning were vanishingly small.
But losing? That was a price Tang San could not afford. If he lost, he'd never be able to lift his head in front of Yu Tianheng, and Xiao Wu would think he was a useless man. That "incompetent" label would haunt him forever.
"Even if I'm the last one standing… even if my Clear Sky Hammer has no soul rings… I, Tang San, am still invincible in this entire battle arena!"
Tang San roared.
He raised the Clear Sky Hammer and began his Disorder Wind Hammer Technique.
But before he could even finish a few swings, another instant-cast freezing wave washed over.
Both Dai Mubai and Tang San were instantly frozen again.
This time, Dai Mubai did not break free.
Tang San struggled again and barely shattered the ice around him. His eyes were still blood-red, nostrils spewing frozen air. His hand trembled as he held the hammer and continued trying to stack the hammer swings—
The scene was so awkward, it looked like some kind of performance art.
Shui Bing'er didn't even need to use her Martial Soul Fusion Technique. A third wave of freezing swept in, and Tang San was completely frozen.
Once it was clear that Tang San couldn't break free, the referee stepped forward and declared:
Shrek Academy versus Tianshui Academy—Tianshui Academy is victorious!