"Who said I was going to give up the Sea God's divinity?" Tang San lifted his head and said, "Father, don't forget—after I become the God of Shura, I can still remain on Douluo Continent for a while.
During that time, cultivating a successor to inherit the Sea God's position and occupy that slot is entirely possible."
Tang San's plan was clear: before ascending to godhood, he would secure his relationship with Xiao Wu, have a child with her, and let that child inherit the Sea God's position.
That way, he would be the Shura God, and his son the Sea God. Once they ascended together, father and son united—unstoppable!
Hearing this, Tang Hao's heart stirred. "Excellent!" he said.
Tang Hao began forming his own plan.
Tang San was good—vital for the Tang family's rise—but his soul wasn't truly his own flesh and blood. That had always been a thorn in Tang Hao's heart, impossible to pull out.
From the start, he had intended for Tang San to strengthen the Tang family, while he and A Yin would bear another child—one who would be completely theirs in both soul and body. That child would receive all their love and care.
But god positions in the Divine Realm were limited. Tang Hao had originally planned to remove one of the Shrek "monsters" so that his real son could inherit a second-class god's position.
Now things were better—there was an even greater option. The first-class god seat of the Sea God was the perfect fit for his other son.
In his previous life, Tang San had gained Poseidon's favor with the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul.
If his other son also possessed that martial soul, gaining Poseidon's blessing would be no surprise.
Yes, that was it. In this life, Tang San would be the Shura God, and his younger brother the Sea God. Two gods in the Tang family! They would secure their foothold in the Divine Realm.
Looking at Tang San's coal-black, ugly face, Tang Hao silently decided: let Tang San take the Blue Silver Emperor seat and bloodline for now—but eventually, it would belong to his younger brother.
"So, in other words, the Shura God's position is the most important one here?" Tang Hao asked.
"Mm." Tang San nodded.
The two fell into silence.
Mentioning the Shura God seat inevitably brought up one crucial factor: the Shura God's scabbard. Xiao Wu was that scabbard.
In his previous life, with Xiao Wu's relationship with him, inheriting the Shura God was no problem.
But in this life…
"Xiao San, be honest with me. What is your relationship with Xiao Wu right now?" Tang Hao asked.
"Xiao Wu has martial soul fusion with other men, but not with me!" Tang San said bitterly. "I had hoped to shine in this tournament, to win back her mother's relic for her. But in the end, I still lost…"
The first part of Tang San's words gave Tang Hao a headache. But the last sentence made him doubt his ears.
"No, Xiao San—what did you just say at the end?" Tang Hao's chest tightened with unease.
"That we lost, Father. Didn't you watch the match?" Tang San asked, puzzled.
"The sentence before that?" Tang Hao pressed.
"That I wanted to win back her mother's relic for her. What's wrong with that?" Tang San asked, even more confused.
"No—something's very wrong! What is Xiao Wu's mother's relic?" Tang Hao asked, breath quickening.
"The hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit right arm bone," Tang San replied, still puzzled.
"You're saying—that hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit was Xiao Wu's mother???" Tang Hao's face went pale with shock, sweat pouring from his pores.
"Of course, what's so strange about that? That's what Xiao Wu told us," Tang San said.
Tang Hao broke out in a cold sweat. "Xiao San, are you absolutely sure?"
"There were only two hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbits in the whole continent during this era. Of course she's Xiao Wu's mother. Xiao Wu herself told us," Tang San insisted.
Damn it. It's over. I accidentally killed Xiao Wu's mother for my hundred-thousand-year spirit ring. If she ever finds out that I'm her true enemy, will she still let Xiao San use her as the Shura God's scabbard?
Without her recognition, can Xiao San still inherit the Shura God's seat? Without that, how can the Tang family's grand plan ever succeed?
Realizing this, Tang Hao was drenched in sweat.
Damn it! Once again, I've screwed over my Xiao San!
"The greedy Spirit Hall! For the sake of rings and bones, they cruelly killed Xiao Wu's gentle mother, and even used her relic as a tournament reward.
Such shamelessness! One day, I'll destroy Spirit Hall and bring justice for Xiao Wu and her mother!" Tang San righteously condemned Spirit Hall from the moral high ground, oblivious to his father's panic.
Tang Hao suddenly realized—things weren't beyond saving.
Yes, Xiao Wu's mother had indeed died at his hand. But Xiao Wu didn't know that. Spirit Hall had stolen both A Yin's and Xiao Wu's mother's soul bones, drawing suspicion toward themselves.
Xiao Wu mistakenly believed her mother had been slain by Spirit Hall.
Good. Spirit Hall's theft was a blessing in disguise! Tang Hao's tense heart finally relaxed.
"Yes, yes, exactly! Xiao Wu's mother—such a kind soul beast—died at the hands of Spirit Hall's greed. How could they do such a thing? Their crimes are beyond forgiveness!" Tang Hao echoed Tang San, also condemning Spirit Hall from the same lofty moral stance.
As they cursed, Tang Hao found himself more and more convinced. If Spirit Hall had been the ones hunting him back then instead of the Clear Sky Sect, he wouldn't have killed his father by mistake, wouldn't have been branded a parricide, wouldn't have been hounded like a dog.
Ah Yin wouldn't have been forced into sacrificing herself. And with her sacrifice, he had gained the ninth soul ring—so why would he ever have needed to hunt another one? Without that need, he wouldn't have killed Xiao Wu's mother at all.
So really, it was all Spirit Hall's fault. Xiao Wu's mother hadn't died at his hands, but at Spirit Hall's. Thinking this way, Tang Hao felt much better.
Father and son cursed more and more furiously. By the end, in their mouths, Spirit Hall had already become the embodiment of evil.
Finally, Tang Hao glanced at Tang San, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Xiao San, the most urgent thing right now is to win Xiao Wu over. Only with her love can you begin the Shura God Trials."
After learning that he himself was the one who killed Xiao Wu's mother, Tang Hao now had only one thought:
He had to make sure Tang San quickly won Xiao Wu's heart, inherit the godhood, and become a god.
After that, he could reveal the truth to Tang San, secretly revive Xiao Wu's mother, erase her memories, and let her believe she had been hunted down by Spirit Hall. Only this way could he erase the hidden danger of the matter.
Only then could Spirit Hall be saddled with the blame for the crime, and his own "innocent self" be cleanly detached from the whirlpool of hatred.
When Tang Hao asked him a question, Tang San instantly recalled the chimera in the tournament, remembered himself injecting soul power into it, helping Yu Tianheng and the others push it forward.
Thinking of this, Tang San became more and more angry, more and more aggrieved.
Veins bulged on his forehead, his fists clenched tight, his eyes reddened, and he panted like a raging ox:
"Dad, can you help me kill Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Yu Tianheng, Er Ming—those people?" Tang San roared. "I want them dead—!"
Tang Hao heard the grievance in his son's voice.
But he had already killed Xiao Wu's mother—there was already hidden hatred between them, though Xiao Wu didn't yet know. He dared not stir up more conflict now.
"Xiao San, do you understand what Martial Spirit Fusion means?" Tang Hao took a deep breath. "It means Xiao Wu has already built bonds with them. If you kill one side, the other will sense it—and see you as a mortal enemy."
"As your father, of course I'd want to avenge you. But if I kill them, Xiao Wu will see me as her enemy. Then… could she ever accept you?" Tang Hao asked.
Hearing this, Tang San, though enraged, began to calm down.
Yes. Dai Mubai and the others deserved to die, but not by his own hand. Otherwise Xiao Wu would truly hate him.
And he couldn't rely on mere schemes either—plots always leave hidden dangers. Even if he tricked Xiao Wu into becoming a god, her "scabbard" nature would remain.
One day, if she ever discovered the truth, she would refuse to let him draw the Asura Sword.
If Dai Mubai and the others died by his hand, it would be like planting a mine beside himself. Martial Spirit Fusion really was troublesome.
"Then what should I do, Dad? Am I supposed to just sit here and watch them, fusing again and again before my eyes—!" Tang San's eyes blazed red as he roared at Tang Hao.
"Xiao San, you fool!" Tang Hao snapped. "We can't kill them ourselves, but can't we let someone else do it for us?"
"Borrow another's blade?" Tang San frowned.
"Where are we right now?" Tang Hao hinted.
"Spirit Hall!" Tang San said the words, and his eyes lit up.
"Xiao Wu is relying on an immortal herb to conceal her soul beast aura. Tomorrow, I'll look for the right chance and secretly knock that herb away.
Spirit Hall will immediately sense her aura. Then, in Xiao Wu's most fragile, most desperate moment—you must bravely step forward, shield her, and bear it all for her." Tang Hao explained.
Tang San patted his chest proudly. "Dad, I get it. I did this a lot in my last life! Just stand in front of Xiao Wu and say, 'If you want to hurt her, step over my corpse first.' I know the drill."
"Girls always like heroes who save them. That way, you'll win Xiao Wu's affection." Tang Hao stroked his chin. "Then, at the most critical moment, I'll appear, save both you and Xiao Wu, wreak havoc across Spirit Hall, and rescue you two.
As for Dai Mubai and those other men coveting Xiao Wu—they'll be left behind in the Pope's Palace, where Spirit Hall will unleash its wrath on them."
"Dad, don't forget about Gangzi—that Flying Dance! You can't leave Gangzi behind in the Pope's Palace." Tang San reminded him.
Hearing this, Tang Hao realized the flaw. "Right, right, Flying Dance must be taken too."
In the previous life, Tang Hao had stormed Spirit Hall and taken only Tang San and Xiao Wu. This left an awkward problem: the Shrek group had still been inside Spirit Hall.
In that situation, whether they survived depended on Bibi Dong. Tang Hao, after all, was a wanted man in Spirit Hall.
These people had connections with him and Tang San—could they have left unscathed?
The answer was yes—because Gangzi was still there. Surely Bibi Dong wouldn't dare kill Gangzi too.
So, in this plan, taking Gangzi along wasn't just about loyalty—it was about freeing Bibi Dong's hands to do as she pleased. Ideally, she'd slaughter Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and all the men entangled with Xiao Wu.
"Spirit Hall kills Xiao Wu's fusion partners, and I avenge her afterward. That way I win her heart!" Tang San had already worked out the whole flow of the plan, and suddenly he felt the future brighten again.
That night, Tang Hao and Tang San discussed it in secret, then separated.