Chapter 27 – Death God Tang San: Feeling Targeted
Tang San could feel a mysterious and powerful force surging within his body.
As his soul power surged wildly, a ring of white light slowly rose from beneath his feet, enveloping him in a divine glow.
"What is this? Could it be a reward for passing through the Hell Road?"
Just as he was lost in thought, a familiar figure descended from the sky.
"Xiao San, you came out… even earlier than I expected — by half a year."
The newcomer was none other than Tang Hao.
"Father!"
Tang San's eyes lit up with joy.
After a year and a half of separation, he could clearly sense that his father's complexion had greatly improved — far better than before.
"Xiao San, congratulations. You've obtained the title of Death God and awakened the Death God Domain."
"Father, so this is the Death God Domain?"
Tang Hao nodded.
"Yes. Every soul master who acquires the title of Death God gains this domain. Within the Death God Domain, your enemies' strength will be automatically suppressed by ten percent, while your own power increases by another ten percent. And as your cultivation grows, this ratio will rise even further."
"What a terrifyingly powerful domain!"
A look of delight spread across Tang San's face. This journey through the City of Slaughter had truly been a tremendous harvest.
"Father, your complexion looks much better. Has your body fully recovered?"
Tang Hao nodded slightly.
"For the past year, I've been recuperating at your aunt's place. My internal injuries haven't completely healed, but I'm much better than before. Come, I'll take you to Heaven Dou City to meet her."
"Father, before we go to Heaven Dou City, there's something I must do first. My soul power has already broken through the bottleneck of rank fifty — it's time for me to obtain my fifth soul ring."
Hearing this, Tang Hao was briefly stunned.
When Tang San had entered the City of Slaughter, his cultivation had only been at the forty-fourth rank. Soul masters were heavily suppressed within that city, and their cultivation usually progressed extremely slowly.
He hadn't expected that Tang San would actually increase his soul power by six levels in just a year and a half.
Perhaps even more, since without fusing a new soul ring, part of his soul power would remain undetectable.
"Father, my martial soul has evolved into the Dark Blue Silver Grass. It can absorb and devour the soul power of others to strengthen itself rapidly. Look."
As Tang San spoke, his right palm glowed faintly as soul power surged outward. A wisp of black light condensed, transforming into dark, glimmering blue silver grass that danced in the air like a living serpent.
Tang Hao's expression shifted — shock mixed with a trace of delight.
"Xiao San, your martial soul has truly evolved. It's no longer that fragile Blue Silver Grass from before. But remember — do not lose yourself in its power. You are its master; never let the heart demon control you."
"Father, rest assured. I'll always keep it under control."
"Good. Then let's go to the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt for a soul beast. Soon, you'll have your very first ten-thousand-year soul ring."
Tang San's heart filled with eager anticipation.
As the father and son walked and talked, Tang San listened as Tang Hao explained the major events that had occurred while he was gone — especially those involving Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Father, for Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo to personally act, the treasure from the Speed Clan must be something extraordinary. Do you know what it was?"
"I heard it was a five-thousand-year-old Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng."
"Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng!?"
Tang San's heart trembled violently.
'That's a natural eighth-grade immortal herb! An extremely rare divine medicine! To think it actually fell into their hands…'
Tang Hao sighed softly.
"The Speed Clan was once one of the four affiliated clans of the Clear Sky Sect. The clan master, Bai He, is my maternal uncle — which makes him your great-uncle. Now, his arms have been severed by Ghost Douluo, leaving him crippled. The clan was already impoverished, and after such a devastating blow, I fear they won't be able to endure much longer."
Tang San clenched his fists, anger boiling in his chest.
Although he had never met this great-uncle, he was still family — yet not only had their precious immortal herb been stolen, but even his arms had been brutally cut off.
"Those two bastards… truly inhuman!!!"
"Indeed. Yue Guan's obsession with rare flora makes it understandable he'd seize the ginseng, but their actions in Gengxin City are another matter. They cut off Lou Gao's right arm and even declared he would never again collaborate with the other two Divine Craftsmen… It's utterly absurd."
"Father, who are the other two Divine Craftsmen?"
Tang Hao replied calmly,
"One is Tai Tan, the clan leader of the Strength Clan — just like the Speed Clan, they were once an affiliated clan of the Clear Sky Sect. The other one… is me."
Tang San was stunned, staring at Tang Hao in disbelief.
"Father, you're one of the Three Divine Craftsmen!?"
Tang Hao gave a faint, nostalgic smile.
"That was long ago. Lou Gao has spent his entire life forging; in terms of craftsmanship, he's without question the best in the world. Not only that, he holds an immense collection of rare metals. But now, with his right arm severed, he's completely ruined… sigh."
The more Tang San thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
He couldn't understand why Ghost Douluo would cripple a blacksmith who had no enmity with them at all.
During his time in the City of Slaughter, Tang San had already begun devising ways to deal with Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.
He was well aware that the gap between them was massive — an unbridgeable chasm that would take years, maybe decades, to overcome by cultivation alone.
There was, however, another path — one that could bring him vengeance much faster: the creation of Tang Sect's supreme hidden weapons, each capable of killing a Title Douluo.
Weapons like the Peacock Plume, Torrential Pear Blossom Needle, and Buddha Fury Tang Lotus — each possessed terrifying power, enough to threaten even those two enemies.
Yet these Tang Sect ultimate weapons required extremely rare materials and peerless craftsmanship to forge. Creating even one was an almost impossible task.
But now, Ghost Douluo had crippled the greatest blacksmith in this world and even forbidden him from working with the other two Divine Craftsmen.
'They robbed my great-uncle of his immortal herb, crippled the best forgemaster alive… Why does this all feel like they're targeting me specifically?'
Tang San's brows furrowed deeply. Something about this didn't sit right.
Just then, Tang Hao spoke again.
"After the destruction of Shrek Academy, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo never returned to the Spirit Hall. Right now, the Spirit Hall is scouring the continent for their whereabouts. Betraying the Spirit Hall carries severe consequences — they're not having an easy time themselves."
A trace of satisfaction flashed through Tang San's eyes.
"Serves them right! That's the fate they deserve!"
The internal conflict within the Spirit Hall was good news for him — it would only make his path of revenge smoother.
"Xiao San, there's also some good news. The Grandmaster and Flender went to Heaven Dou City. There, they met an old acquaintance and successfully re-established Shrek Academy."
"Really!?"
Tang San's eyes widened in surprise and joy.
"And what about Dai Mubai and the others? Are they there too?"
"Yes. They're all in Heaven Dou City now."
"That's great! Once I obtain my fifth soul ring, I'll go find them!"
Tang San's face glowed with excitement and longing.
But before long, that joy faded away, replaced by a hollow stiffness in his expression.
He suddenly thought of Xiao Wu — and his heart twisted painfully, as if torn apart by invisible blades.
If Xiao Wu were still alive… how wonderful that would be.
But she was gone, forever. The Shrek Seven Devils could never again be whole.
Tang Hao, seeing the sorrow on his son's face, sighed softly. He reached out and gently patted Tang San's shoulder.
"Xiao San, don't dwell on it. We must live well — for their sake, and for the love they left behind."
Tang San nodded slightly, forcing a faint smile. Then he suddenly remembered something.
"Father, did you… Ever go see Mother?"
Tang Hao shook his head, guilt flashing in his eyes.
"I planned to wait for your return, so we could visit her together."
"Then let's go see her now, and afterward… We'll hunt the soul beast."
"Alright."
The two figures soared toward the great mountains behind Holy Soul Village, vanishing into the forested horizon.
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Yue Guan slowly opened his eyes from meditation, letting out a long sigh.
"Haa… just a little bit more."
Beside him, Ghost Douluo chuckled.
"Old Chrysanthemum, stop forcing it. Just eat that Earth Dragon Gold Melon I gave you. I'm ready — let's go hunt for our next soul beast."
—
End of Chapter