After that, Tang San fought more and more frenziedly, as if he had returned to his previous life, leading Shrek to one victory after another.
The conviction of certain victory once again filled Tang San's body. He was Tang San, leader of the Shrek Seven Devils, the one who would one day end the tyrannical rule of Spirit Hall, rescue the people of the continent from suffering, and become the Sea God and Asura God, revered by countless generations.
When the last student of the Plant Team was entangled by Tang San's sticky snot and fled the stage crying, Tang San's face twisted into a hideous expression as he let out a roar:
"Who else——!"
The entire arena fell silent.
Tang San put away his Clear Sky Hammer, raised both hands toward the heavens, and lifted his head to face the sun. The sunlight fell upon his dark skin.
In this second life, Tang San had rarely had things go his way. During his years at Shrek, he had always been suppressed by Yu Tianheng and Er Ming. Even his beloved Xiao Wu had been drawn to Yu Tianheng.
Tang San didn't want anything else. He only wanted to prove himself—to prove to Xiao Wu that he, Tang San, was not a useless man.
Finally, he had won. And it wasn't just any win—it was a glorious one-versus-seven sweep. At this moment, the frustration and grievance buried deep inside him for years poured out in a flood.
So, in front of tens of thousands of spectators, Tang San spread his ape-like arms, pounded his chest hard, and the thumping echoed like the sound of war drums. Tilting his head back, his dark face opened thick lips, letting out a loud call—like the cry of a male baboon.
Everyone in the stands stared wide-eyed at the figure on the stage: short-limbed, dark-skinned, doing what seemed like some bizarre performance art. Finally, someone broke the silence:
"Is this guy mentally ill?"
After the match, Tang San strutted off the stage with his head held high like a victorious rooster. He walked straight up to Yu Tianheng, who was taller, fairer-skinned, more handsome, and at a higher spirit power rank than him. With confidence, he declared:
"Yu Tianheng, did you see? I, Tang San, won this match—and it was a one-versus-seven."
"Humph." Yu Tianheng snorted coldly. "You only won by using disgusting spirit skills to gross out the girls until they surrendered without even fighting. You little runt, tell me—was that really a win based on true strength?"
Tang San opened his mouth to respond, but Dai Mubai cut in first, pointing a finger at Yu Tianheng's nose:
"Humph, Yu Tianheng, making people feel disgusted is also a kind of strength."
Oscar added, "Don't dodge the question. Just admit it—did our Ah San win or not?"
Ma Hongjun chimed in, "Not only did our Ah San win, he crushed seven opponents in a row—one hit each. Can you f***ing do that?"
Yu Tianheng sneered, "Yeah, yeah, fine, dark-skinned Ah San won. But so what? That kind of disgusting trick might work once, but can you win every time with it? Aside from that, how much real strength do you actually have?"
Tang San clenched his fists tightly. Raising his head, nostrils flaring with steam, he said coldly:
"Yu Tianheng, fine. In the next match, I won't use those two spirit skills. I'll show you my real strength."
"You said it. Just don't make me clean up your mess afterward," Yu Tianheng replied with disdain.
"The opponent for tomorrow's round-robin match is the Windfire Academy team. Even though the Divine Wind team lost to us in the knockout round, don't underestimate them," Flender adjusted his glasses and reminded them.
Feng Xiaotian…
Tang San stopped listening after hearing that name. His eyes sharpened. Another man who had a martial soul fusion skill with Xiao Wu. Just wait—tomorrow, in front of Xiao Wu, he would crush him and make her see that Tang San was her true support.
Meanwhile, after finishing his talk, Flender dismissed the rest of Shrek, leaving only Tang San standing there.
"Xiao San."
Tang San looked up at him.
Flender asked, "Why did you take it upon yourself to add a spirit ring to your Clear Sky Hammer? How am I supposed to explain that to your teacher and your father?"
"I…" Tang San clenched his fists tightly and explained, "I felt the limit of my Blue Silver Grass spirit. Continuing to cultivate it would just waste time. Instead of wasting my golden cultivation years on a useless spirit, I should devote them to the Clear Sky Hammer."
(And he wasn't wrong. With his bloodline stripped away, the Blue Silver Grass truly was a waste spirit. Continuing to cultivate it would indeed waste his time.)
Flender was convinced by Tang San's reasoning, but then asked another question:
"But if you were going to add a spirit ring to your Clear Sky Hammer, you should've let the teachers arrange it for you. Why would you choose such a spirit ring for a strength-type weapon like the Clear Sky Hammer?"
"I—" Tang San opened his mouth, then helplessly recounted everything that had happened to him.
Flender clenched his fists in anger. "Hai-ge, is it? Fine. After this tournament, I'll find this Hai-ge and settle the score." Then, patting Tang San's shoulder earnestly, he said, "What's done is done. It can't be helped now. Luckily, you still have five more rings ahead. As long as you work hard, you can still become a Titled Douluo."
Just a Titled Douluo?
Tang San raised his head toward the starry sky.
Titled Douluo was not his goal. His goal was godhood. To return to his rightful place, to finish his unfinished mission, to make the Tang family rule the entire Douluo Universe, so that all beings under the stars would bask in the glory of the Tang clan.
Of course, all of this hinged on Xiao Wu. With Xiao Wu, he would gain the Asura God position and everything else. Without her, he would lose everything.
Under the same night sky…
"Xiao Wu, you haven't looked for your Brother Xiaotian in so long. I've missed you so much," Feng Xiaotian said excitedly.
"Brother Xiaotian, tomorrow I have something I want to ask of you," Xiao Wu's voice was soft and coquettish.
"What is it? Just say it. Your Brother Xiaotian would go through fire and water for you."
Xiao Wu leaned close to his ear and whispered. After listening, Feng Xiaotian thumped his chest and said, "Don't worry, Xiao Wu. Leave it to me."
Xiao Wu kissed him on the cheek and said sweetly, "Brother Xiaotian, you're so good to me."
Then, like a gentle and understanding wife, she slowly undid the buttons of Feng Xiaotian's shirt, whispering, "Brother Xiaotian, let's practice our martial soul fusion skill together tonight."
The next day, when Tang San entered the competition grounds, he unexpectedly saw Feng Xiaotian appear at their team's station.
Feng Xiaotian was holding a bouquet of fresh flowers. Dropping to one knee before Xiao Wu, he spoke with deep affection:
"Xiao Wu, ever since we parted, my days and nights have only two measures: missing you, and missing you more. Soul power can summon storms, but it cannot blow away your name from my heart. No matter how fragrant the food, without you, it all tastes like ash.
Today, I've gathered all the howling winds into this bouquet, so that from now on they will do only one thing—gently circle around your fingertips. I no longer wish to be the 'wind,' I only want to be the 'Xiaotian' who calms at your call.
Life is long, but I only want it to bear the name 'Wu'—Xiao Wu's Wu. At this moment, I offer my spirit rings, my spirit bones, and my whole heart together. Will you take my hand and let me spend my life protecting your carefree joy?"
This dramatic confession quickly drew a crowd of infatuated young girls who surrounded the scene.
"Wow~ what a romantic confession!"
"Feng Xiaotian is so handsome, like a real prince on a white horse."
"So envious of Xiao Wu, I want my own prince too…"
Witnessing this, Tang San's body trembled violently, his eyes turned red, and he began panting like a bull. At that moment, four hands pressed down on his shoulders. From behind came the voices of Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Tai Long:
"Ah San (young master), calm down, calm down—"
"Calm down?" Steam burst from Tang San's nostrils, his red eyes terrifying. He shook off the hands holding him and roared: "How do you expect me to calm down!"
Like a raging gorilla, Tang San barged into the confession scene.
The romantic picture instantly shattered. Between the cute Xiao Wu and the dashing, heroic Feng Xiaotian suddenly stood a dark-skinned, short-limbed man. With a furious roar, Tang San snatched the bouquet from Feng Xiaotian's hands, tore it apart, and flung the shredded petals into the air. Brilliant colors rained down from above.
Everyone froze for a moment—then a girl screamed:
"Ah! Where did this black brute come from?"
"A beautiful confession ruined by such a brute!"
But Tang San ignored the crowd's scorn, glaring angrily at Feng Xiaotian.
"Feng Xiaotian, Xiao Wu is not a woman you can approach."
Feng Xiaotian brushed off the petals, stood up—taller than Tang San by a head—and looked down at him:
"How laughable. Between us, it's mutual consent. Since when does some brute like you have a say?"
Tang San's face darkened. "Feng Xiaotian, I am Xiao Wu's giegie. It is my duty to protect her from people with ulterior motives."
Feng Xiaotian laughed. "Ha! You're surnamed Tang, she's surnamed Xiao. What kind of giegie are you? At most, you're just using the excuse of being her 'giegie' to hide your own improper desires."
Tang San was about to respond, when Xiao Wu's voice came from behind him:
"Ah San giegie, I know you treat Xiao Wu well, but you're just Xiao Wu's giegie. You can't control everything about me. Brother Feng Xiaotian is only confessing, that's all."
"Confessing—that's all?"
Tang San's eyes grew bloodier, steam puffing furiously from his nostrils. You call this 'that's all'? And since when do you call him Brother Feng Xiaotian?!
Taking Xiao Wu's words as an opening, Feng Xiaotian sneered:
"Did you hear that, little runt? You're just her giegie—not even related by blood. What right do you have to interfere?"
Tang San's chest heaved. After a long moment of heavy breathing, he growled:
"Feng Xiaotian, do you dare make a wager with me?" He invoked the God King's Wager.
"Oh? A wager? What sort of wager?" Feng Xiaotian asked.
"Simple. In the next match, we both take the field first, fighting with all we've got. If I win, you stay away from Xiao Wu. If you win, you can name your own condition." Tang San raised his head and pointed at Feng Xiaotian.
"I accept. But for Xiao Wu, my beloved, I won't make any demand that would put her in a difficult position. I won't take away her right to associate with you. Instead, if you lose, then after our match ends, you will kneel to me and admit: 'Master, I was wrong.' Do you dare gamble on that?" Feng Xiaotian declared with righteous conviction.
His words immediately drew cries of admiration from the watching girls.
"Wow, Feng Xiaotian is so devoted to Xiao Wu! That's true selfless love—he won't restrict his girlfriend's freedom."
"Exactly. Compared to him, this ugly brute is nothing. Just looking at him makes me sick—I almost threw up my dinner."
"This brute calls himself Xiao Wu's giegie? I bet he just wants to use that as a pretext to take advantage of her. Disgusting."
"Disgusting is right! His character is gross, and even his soul skills are gross—snot-flinging, really?"
Tang San felt as if a knife had pierced his heart. This damned Feng Xiaotian—just like Yu Tianheng, poisoning Xiao Wu's impression of him again! So despicable!
Before Tang San could retort, Dai Mubai stepped forward:
"Then wager it is! Our Ah San isn't afraid of you. Listen well—Xiao Wu belongs to Ah San, and no one else can touch her!"
"Hmph! Feng Xiaotian, I hope after you lose even your underwear you'll crawl away from Xiao Wu. She belongs to our Ah San!" Ma Hongjun followed up.
Hearing these two blockheads, Tang San nearly coughed up blood. He didn't doubt Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's loyalty, only their intelligence. You idiots—do you realize how Xiao Wu will think of me after hearing you say that?!
But the situation had gone too far. Gritting his teeth, Tang San forced himself to say:
"Fine. Wager accepted. I'm not afraid of you."
Feng Xiaotian narrowed his eyes. "But your character is questionable. I don't trust you. We'll need a witness for this wager." He turned toward Xiao Wu. "Little Sister Xiao Wu, why don't you be our witness?"
"Brother Feng Xiaotian, Ah San giegie…" Xiao Wu looked at both of them, clearly troubled. "There's no need for this…"
Tang San locked eyes with her, voice resolute:
"Xiao Wu, don't try to dissuade me. Since the wager is set, then you be the witness. Let your giegie sweep away the flies buzzing around you."
"Very well then, Ah San giegie." Xiao Wu sighed helplessly. "Since it's come to this, I, Xiao Wu, will be the witness to your wager."
The wager was set. Tang San glanced around and suddenly noticed Yu Tianheng standing among the spectators. His eyes turned, and a cunning idea surfaced—a clever plan to pit one tiger against another wolf. He turned to Yu Tianheng and said:
"Yu Tianheng, don't you like Xiao Wu? Just now, Feng Xiaotian confessed to Xiao Wu in front of everyone. Aren't you going to show any reaction at all?"
Faced with Tang San's question, Yu Tianheng merely smiled faintly, walked to Feng Xiaotian's side, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Then he said something that completely shattered Tang San's worldview:
"I believe love is about selfless acceptance, not selfish possession. I love her, so naturally I must love everything she loves, accept all that she is. If Brother Xiaotian confesses to Xiao Wu, and if Xiao Wu is willing to accept him, then what harm is there?"
Tang San's dark face twitched. He turned his head toward Feng Xiaotian. "And you? Do you accept Yu Tianheng?"
"Of course." Feng Xiaotian placed a hand on Yu Tianheng's back and said: "If Xiao Wu also likes Tianheng, then why wouldn't I accept him? After all, I love her—so naturally I must love those she loves."
Tang San: "…"
For a moment, Tang San was at a complete loss for words. Xiao Wu was his forbidden treasure, his exclusive scabbard. His worldview simply did not allow another man to touch her. But if he said that aloud now, wouldn't he sound narrower, pettier than Yu Tianheng and Feng Xiaotian in front of Xiao Wu?
Love is selfless acceptance, not selfish possession… Tang San's mind was spinning.
Impossible! I am the one who loves Xiao Wu the most! Xiao Wu must be mine alone, Tang San's forbidden treasure, my sword sheath!
"Then… if I also like Xiao Wu, would you accept me being with her too?" Tang San snarled, his face twisted.
"Of course," Feng Xiaotian corrected calmly, "but only if Xiao Wu likes you too."
Yu Tianheng added: "Oh, I almost forgot—you're Xiao Wu's giegie, aren't you? As her giegie, how could you harbor thoughts about your own sister? Or are you really planning to use the title of giegie as a cover to plot against her?"
The surrounding spectators suddenly understood.
"He said he liked that Xiao Wu, but didn't he just say he's her giegie? How could a giegie think about Xiao Wu like that?"
"Didn't you hear? They're not real siblings, it's just fostered—she's a dry little sister."
"A dry little sister, huh? So this dark-skinned guy really intends to use the name of giegie to get close to Xiao Wu and make his move. Ugly people really do stir up trouble!"
"How filthy."
Tang San's black face flushed with red. Obviously, they had struck a nerve.
"I—I was speaking hypothetically! Hypothetically! Hmph, saying all this now is useless. We'll settle it in the arena!" Tang San regretted recognizing Xiao Wu as his sister in the first place. Now, he didn't even have the courage to openly admit he loved her. With a dark expression, he turned and left.
The match officially began. Tang San and Feng Xiaotian stood on the Soul Fighting Platform. From the audience seats, cheers overwhelmingly favored Feng Xiaotian. The reason was simple: one side was a tall, handsome man, the other a short, stubby, coal-black ugly fellow. Who do you think the crowd would cheer for?
"Looks like I'm more popular," Feng Xiaotian said with a smile.
"Hmph, once we're on stage, let's settle this with real skill." Tang San's dark face was twisted with jealousy as his eyes locked on Feng Xiaotian. Inwardly he fumed: So what if you're better looking than me? If only… if only my Blue Silver Emperor bloodline hadn't been stolen—if my bloodline had fully awakened—your face wouldn't even be worth comparing to me, Tang San!
The referee announced: "The match will officially begin in one minute. Both sides may prepare."
The two locked eyes. Feng Xiaotian released his martial spirit—the Gale Double-Headed Demon Wolf. His soul rings shone in the standard configuration.
Tang San summoned the Clear Sky Hammer, showing off his ridiculous purple, purple, purple, yellow configuration.
Feng Xiaotian mocked: "Little runt, I'm not afraid of your snot hammer."
"It's the Clear Sky Hammer, not a snot hammer!" Tang San angrily corrected. Then he said: "Feng Xiaotian, do you really think the Clear Sky Hammer only has soul skills? Today I'll show you the secret art of my Clear Sky Hammer!"
Tang San had not let his rage blind him. He rationally analyzed Feng Xiaotian's situation. Feng Xiaotian could be considered the most gifted spirit master of their generation outside the Shrek Seven Devils. Even the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall couldn't compare. Yet he had wasted his talent on developing a self-created soul skill.
In his past life, Feng Xiaotian had only reached Soul King. Presumably, that was because he had poured his efforts into that self-created skill.
But in this life, Feng Xiaotian had broken through to Soul King—so did that mean he hadn't gone down that path?
DONG! DONG! DONG!
The bell tolled—the match officially began.
Both Tang San and Feng Xiaotian moved.
Feng Xiaotian spread his wind wings and soared upward, a fierce gale surging around him. He shouted: "Tang San! Today I'll let you witness my exclusive, self-created soul skill—the Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes!"
This declaration instantly overturned Tang San's assumption. His eyes burned with jealousy. You mean to tell me… you broke through to Soul King and perfected your self-created soul skill?!
No. This can't be. The continent of Douluo does not allow anyone to outshine me! No one!
But this was a match. No matter how unwilling he was to believe, Tang San had no choice but to face reality. He swung the Clear Sky Hammer, beginning to stack Chaotic Cloak strikes. As he did so, he sneered:
"What Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes? Your self-created skill is nothing but trash before the secret arts of my Clear Sky Sect."
Both were chain-stacking styles of offense, but in Tang San's heart, the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Method utterly outclassed Feng Xiaotian's creation. His sense of superiority ran deep.
Thus, within the roaring gales, the two figures clashed repeatedly.
The Clear Sky Hammer smashed against the wolf's wind blades again and again, each collision stacking greater and greater force.
But sharp-eyed soul masters could see clearly—the Clear Sky Hammer's heavy power gained more from each stack than the Gale Demon Wolf's thirty-six slashes.
With every exchange, their attacks approached balance… until finally, the Clear Sky Hammer overwhelmed its opponent.
In the VIP seats, Ning Fengzhi pushed his glasses and said: "As expected of the mighty Clear Sky Sect—the Clear Sky Hammer truly lives up to its name."
"What a pity," Salas remarked. "Such a powerful martial spirit, such outstanding talent. And yet, wasted on this boy. Don't you think so, Sect Master Ning?"
Hearing Salas's words, Ning Fengzhi felt a pang in his heart. Looking at Tang San with regret, he sighed: "Even so, as long as Tang San truly develops the Clear Sky Hammer, his future achievements will still stand at the very peak of this continent, won't they?"