A soul power level of peak Level 16 or just stepping into Level 17—that was the result of Ma Hongjun's nearly year-long cultivation.
Whether this progress was better or worse than Tang San's was hard to say.
Speaking of Tang San, over the past year, his life in Heaven Dou City had been quite comfortable.
Not only did he have Tang Yuehua, a caring aunt who looked after him, but he had also gained the allegiance of the Strength Clan.
A year ago—
As soon as rumors spread in Heaven Dou City that the mistress of Yue Pavilion had taken in a nephew, Tai Tan, a die-hard loyalist to Tang Hao, immediately came knocking.
The Strength Clan, formerly vassals of the Clear Sky Clan, had in-depth knowledge of its internal affairs. Tai Tan, as clan leader, knew everything.
Tang Yuehua only had two older brothers: Tang Xiao and Tang Hao.
Tang Xiao had no wife or children, and Tang Hao was rumored to have had a wife.
So in Tai Tan's eyes, this "nephew" by Tang Yuehua's side could only be his master's son.
Once he confirmed it was indeed Tang San, Tai Tan immediately acknowledged him as Young Master and pledged the entire Strength Clan to his service.
As a result, Tai Long became Tang San's follower seven years earlier than in the original story.
The Strength Clan specialized in forging, so Tang San entrusted them with the crafting of hidden weapon components, while he handled the assembly.
Thus, his progress in Tang Sect hidden weapons was not just ahead of the original timeline—it had utterly surpassed it.
Moreover, the humiliation Tang San experienced at the Clear Sky Clan had made him acutely aware of the strength of the Soul Master system—and the importance of personal power.
He threw himself into cultivation far more rigorously than in the original work.
Two months ago—
Lin Rong had a brief encounter with Tang San during an auction in Heaven Dou City.
As the saying goes, wealth and status refine people.
At that auction, there was not a trace of the rustic village boy in Tang San's demeanor. Instead, he looked every bit like a rising leader of a powerful faction.
Using his life-sense, Lin Rong had determined that Tang San's soul power was Level 16.
In his previous life, many believed Tang San's innate full soul power came from practicing Xuan Tian Gong.
But with Xuan Tian Gong in hand, even if the "innate full soul power" wasn't real, it made no difference.
Given Tang Yuehua's knowledge and Tang San's personality, Lin Rong was certain that his first soul ring was around 400 years old.
That would have made him Level 13 after absorption, just like in the original story.
Which meant that in over a year, Tang San had gained three levels, slightly slower than Ma Hongjun, who improved by nearly three and a half.
But Lin Rong knew—this was only temporary.
As Tang San's mastery of Xuan Tian Gong deepened, he would gradually unlock his body's eight extraordinary meridians.
Each breakthrough would significantly boost his cultivation rate.
At that auction, the main items being sold were Tang Sect hidden weapons.
These powerful, easy-to-use weapons naturally drew the attention of Ning Fengzhi.
Tang San soon built a connection with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
When Ning Fengzhi learned that Tang San was the creator of these hidden weapons, he immediately considered recruiting him.
He even thought about marrying Ning Rongrong to Tang San, to fully tie him to the clan.
But that idea vanished instantly the moment he learned that Tang San was Tang Hao's son.
The admiration and goodwill in Ning Fengzhi's eyes quietly turned into a subtle killing intent.
Yet, due to political complications—and the fact that Ning Rongrong had yet to meet Tang San—Ning Fengzhi, just as in the original timeline, chose not to act.
Instead, the two struck a deal.
Tang San received five million gold soul coins, and Ning Fengzhi obtained one hundred sets of hidden weapons. Both believed they had gotten the better end of the bargain.
But in truth, Tang San was the real winner.
Although the Strength Clan had deep reserves, they had many mouths to feed. Yue Pavilion's income also went toward supplying the Clear Sky Clan.
So Tang San's liquid funds were quite limited.
Now, with 5 million gold soul coins—and a 99% profit margin—he had struck gold.
In contrast, Ning Fengzhi had suffered a hidden loss.
He had hoped to hire master craftsmen to disassemble and replicate the hidden weapons.
But unfortunately for him, every weapon sold to outsiders was booby-trapped.
Without the Tang Sect's exclusive dismantling method, attempting to disassemble the weapons triggered their internal failsafes, instantly destroying all critical components.
Even the divine blacksmith Lou Gao couldn't open them without damage, let alone anyone else.
Thus, although Ning Fengzhi had played his hand wisely, he had completely underestimated the Tang Sect's insurance protocols from another world.
In the original timeline, one might say the 5 million gold soul coins were worth it, as he used them to acquire the Delicate Immortal Fragrance (Qi Luo Tulip), and whether the weapon replication succeeded or failed, he came out ahead.
But this time, the Qi Luo Tulip was still sitting inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Ning Fengzhi had spent 5 million gold soul coins for a hundred unusable weapons—a total loss.
And because of the weapon's failsafe, his understanding was logical, but his killing intent toward Tang San still grew slightly.
The Tang Sect's hidden weapons were divided into two types:
Mechanism-Based Weapons
Examples: Buddha's Fury, Tang Lotus, Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, Peacock Plume
Most of these were laced with poison and used by outer sect disciples, considered too crude for formal combat.
(Except for elite ones like Buddha's Fury, Tang Lotus)
Technique-Based Weapons
Examples: Bat Wing Reincarnation, Bodhi Blood, Guanyin's Tear
All technique-based weapons required mastery of Tang Sect secret arts like Xuan Tian Gong, Mysterious Jade Hand, etc.
These were exclusive to inner sect direct disciples and represented the pinnacle of Tang Sect craftsmanship.
Among them, Lin Rong cared little for most, but one weapon struck deep fear into his heart:
Guanyin's Tear
In the original story, it was powerful enough to kill gods.
Thankfully, it was also the hardest to use.
To activate Guanyin's Tear, the user had to master all Tang Sect core techniques to their highest level—Xuan Tian Gong, Mysterious Jade Hand, Purple Demon Eye, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and more.
Even one requirement—Xuan Tian Gong's final form, Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown—would need at least Level 95 soul power.
With so many demanding conditions, Lin Rong only needed to ensure one was never fulfilled, and Tang San would never be able to unleash the so-called "unerring" Guanyin's Tear.
After all, Guanyin is the embodiment of compassion and transcendence—why would a true Buddha cry over worldly matters?
For a mere mortal to force Guanyin to weep… that would be blasphemy!
So, Guanyin's Tear was best left as a legend within the Tang Sect.
"Sever a hand, gouge out a foot, blind an eye… which one would stop Tang San from ever using Guanyin's Tear?"
"Guess I'll wait and see—whichever one he relies on most, I'll cripple that one."
Many speculated that Xuan Tian Gong, a Taoist internal art, didn't logically belong in a sect like the Tang Sect.
They weren't wrong.
But the strange part was that every technique-based hidden weapon relied entirely on Xuan Tian Gong's inner power.
It might be that the Tang Sect originally only had manual hidden weapons, and that mechanism-based weapons were developed later.
After all, technique-based hidden weapons, while classified as "hidden weapons," were more like martial arts techniques—similar to "Divine Flicking Finger" or "Flower-Transferring Palm".