The Great Master said, "That place — Spirit Hall calls it Devil Island, but I know its true name. It should be called Sea God Island. The Soul Masters living there call themselves children of the sea."
"Ever since that failed assault, Spirit Hall has never dared to covet that place again. If I'm not mistaken, there is at least one supreme Soul Master on that island — a peak Titled Douluo, as Sword Douluo mentioned, someone above level ninety-five. Possibly even a Peerless Douluo at level ninety-nine. Otherwise, how could Spirit Hall possibly refrain from seeking revenge after suffering such a devastating loss? The other reason is that the people living on Sea God Island never leave the island."
Tang San asked in surprise, "There's such a peculiar place in the Soul Master world? Why have you never mentioned it before?"
The Great Master sighed. "If I had my way, I would never want you to have any dealings with the Soul Masters there. I never thought you would cross paths with them, so naturally I didn't tell you."
Tang San asked, "Then have you been to Sea God Island yourself?"
The Great Master nodded. "I went there once — during Spirit Hall's attack on Sea God Island. At that time, I was still with Bibi Dong. When I heard about such a miraculous place, I went along with them. Only after arriving did I discover that the Soul Master world harbored such a mysterious group of hidden Soul Masters. Not only were they secretive, but they were extraordinarily powerful. When we Soul Masters from the mainland interacted with them, it was extremely uncomfortable."
"The reason Spirit Hall calls Sea God Island 'Devil Island' is because of that battle. In truth, although the Soul Masters of Sea God Island are difficult to approach, they are not bloodthirsty people. They stay there generation after generation, calling themselves children of the sea. They are also known as sea Soul Masters. Their Martial Souls are extremely peculiar — most are related to aquatic creatures. As a result, their Soul Skills differ greatly from ours. Sea God Island is located in the ocean to the west of the continent. There, these Soul Masters with aquatic Martial Souls can undoubtedly bring their strength to its absolute peak. Sea God Island also harbors numerous exotic Soul Beasts, which is why I say it can be considered a special Soul Beast forest."
Tang San asked, "How many sea Soul Masters are there?"
The Great Master said, "Every human living on Sea God Island is a Soul Master. By conservative estimates, there are at least over two thousand, possibly more. The reason I concluded that there must be a peak-level Titled Douluo there is because several of the Soul Masters who killed our Titled Douluo repeatedly mentioned the words 'Lord Sea God.' Judging from their expressions and tone, they weren't praying to a deity — they seemed to be addressing a person, someone who holds supreme authority on Sea God Island. And those sea Soul Masters were already Titled Douluo themselves. The one they address with such reverence would naturally have to be at least at the peak Douluo level — possibly even a Peerless Douluo at level ninety-nine."
After hearing the Great Master's account, Tang San had already sketched a rough picture of Sea God Island in his mind. "Master, are you suggesting that I go to Sea God Island to train?"
The Great Master nodded. "Sea God Island is undoubtedly filled with all manner of danger. But it is equally brimming with opportunity. The sea Soul Masters are not bloodthirsty. Outsiders who go there can stay and live as sea Soul Masters, provided they pass their trials. But there is one condition — once you become a sea Soul Master, you cannot leave. That is Sea God Island's rule. Last time, Spirit Hall approached as enemies and even killed some sea Soul Masters, which provoked a fierce counterattack. In the end, only about a hundred of their number managed to retreat with their lives. That shows you just how powerful those sea Soul Masters are. With your talent and ability, I have no worries about you going to Sea God Island, and passing their trials shouldn't be a problem either. The crucial point is how you come back. That you will have to figure out on your own. To cross the vast ocean back to the continent, you will have to face pursuit from Sea God Island. I must warn you — the vast majority of the Soul Masters on Sea God Island excel in aquatic combat. Even a simple sea Soul Master at the Soul Douluo level can destroy a Titled Douluo land Soul Master within the ocean. Don't assume that just because you have the ability to fly, you can easily escape. Sea God Island has a type of Soul Master whose Martial Soul is the seagull, and among them is one at the Titled Douluo level. While their speed may not match that of the Tang Sect's Elder White Crane, your bone-graft flight doesn't stand a chance against them. If you can successfully return from Sea God Island, then your strength will see tremendous progress in every aspect."
Tang San hesitated briefly. "Master, the Seven Sects Re-election Conference will be held in just over half a year. If I leave now, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend. If everything continues to follow Spirit Hall's script, it will only become harder to deal with them in the future."
The Great Master smiled faintly. "Do you really think we have the power right now to stop Spirit Hall from achieving its goals at the Seven Sects Re-election Conference? That's simply impossible. For at least the next five years, Spirit Hall will enter its golden age. However, they still won't easily move against the two great empires. Spirit Hall's destruction of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was actually somewhat hasty. In terms of Soul Masters, Spirit Hall certainly holds an absolute advantage, but the kingdoms and duchies it controls are still no match for the two great empires in overall strength. As long as the Tian Dou Empire and the Xing Luo Empire stand together, even Spirit Hall won't dare act rashly. Otherwise, if a great war breaks out, the continent's population could plummet by multiples. Once war engulfs the land, Spirit Hall would gain little benefit and would instead earn the hatred of the populace. Therefore, I predict that after Spirit Hall further cements its supreme position in the Soul Master world through the Seven Sects Re-election Conference, it will accelerate its support for those kingdoms and duchies, bolstering their strength. It will gradually erode the two great empires rather than concentrating its forces for a devastating strike. The two great empires have been deeply rooted in the continent for ages — consuming them entirely won't happen overnight. At the same time, under immense pressure, both empires will strive to strengthen themselves. Although Spirit Hall holds the overall advantage, devouring the two great empires will be a long, drawn-out process. We have already torn off the mask with Spirit Hall. Your defeat of Qian Renxue will surely draw Spirit Hall's intense focus. This is the best time to step away temporarily and improve your own strength. Building up your power for a single decisive strike will yield the greatest results."
Listening to the Great Master's analysis, Tang San nodded again and again. Though he was clever, how could his understanding of the continent's situation possibly match the Great Master's? Admiring his teacher inwardly, a look of realization dawned on his face. The Great Master's words brought him a feeling of suddenly seeing the light.
The Great Master sighed. "What worries me most is whether you can return from Sea God Island. Until you've truly faced it, you won't understand how terrifying the Soul Masters there are. Their aquatic Martial Souls are mostly water-attributed, and their bizarre abilities emerge one after another without end."
Tang San had already straightened out his thoughts. "Master, let me go. If I can't pass this trial, how could I ever stand against Spirit Hall? I will turn the pressure into motivation and raise my strength even faster. When I return, that will be the moment we begin our action. The Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons need time to produce, and I can't contribute much in that regard. I believe I will return safely from Sea God Island."
The Great Master smiled — he had long guessed Tang San's choice. "Not just you. You mean all of you, don't you? Could you bear to leave Xiao Wu behind? Take her with you. It's not only you who needs this trial, but the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils as well. They've all reached a similar bottleneck to yours. To continue raising their strength at a rapid pace, they too must make sacrifices. Moreover, together, you can watch each other's backs."
"The Seven Devils?" Tang San paused, looking at the Great Master in confusion.
The Great Master smiled gently. "I've already communicated with Flandre. Ma Hongjun is no issue. As for Clan Master Ning, I spoke with him yesterday. He still has some reservations, but I believe I can persuade him. When you went to Geng Xin City last time, I sent out a letter. By now it should have reached Mubai and Zhuqing. Such a grueling trial — or rather, such an opportunity — if it isn't the seven of you undertaking it together, how could I rest easy?"
Meeting the Great Master's warm gaze, Tang San's eyes gradually grew misty. He knew his teacher had long ago paved the way for his future growth. And had been silently doing so much and more for him. Years had passed, and the Great Master's temples had begun to gray. In Tang San's heart, the Great Master's standing was no less than Tang Hao's — in fact, what the Great Master had given him was perhaps even more, far more…
"Go. Don't you need to return to the Clear Sky School as well? After you come back from there, Mubai and the others should have arrived. I still need to do more work on Clan Master Ning. You seven are our trump card for standing against Spirit Hall in the future. This trip to Sea God Island — I believe you will all return with great rewards."
Leaving the palace with Xiao Wu, Tang San's emotions stirred endlessly within him. The Great Master's quiet sacrifices lingered in his heart, a weight of gratitude he would never speak aloud but would carry with him always. In his heart, he had always had two fathers.
As he departed the palace, every royal guard who saw Tang San knelt on one knee in salute. Suspended from his waist was a jade pendant no larger than an infant's palm — a seal whose previous owner had been none other than Emperor Xue Ye of the Tian Dou Empire.
Emperor Xue Ye had resumed rule and simultaneously declared the fourth prince, Xue Beng, as crown prince. Prince Xue Xing was placed in charge of the empire's military authority.
That day, Emperor Xue Ye had awakened in the nick of time, and Tang San could easily guess what had happened. Ning Fengzhi had asked him to leave the room at that moment to protect him. Though Tang San didn't know the specifics of how Ning Fengzhi had done it, he could fully imagine that the clan master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan must have used some special method to ignite the emperor's life potential. Doing so had indeed allowed the sovereign to regain consciousness early and take charge, but it had also undoubtedly shortened his already declining lifespan. When Emperor Xue Ye woke, he would have understood this perfectly — a ruler of his caliber might not have seen it clearly in the moment, but he would certainly have figured it out afterward. Though he currently needed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's support, who could say what the future would hold? This matter would inevitably become a thorn between the royal family and the clan.
Ning Fengzhi's decisiveness earned Tang San's deep respect. The fact that Ning Fengzhi had distanced himself showed his goodwill toward the Tang Sect. What he had said that day — asking Tang San to look after Ning Rongrong in the future — was really asking him to look after the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Whether Ning Fengzhi was willing to admit it or not, ever since Spirit Hall's assault, the clan had begun its decline, much like the Clear Sky School before it. It seemed every powerful clan had to pass through such a cycle.
But the Tang Sect was different. Also a Soul Master clan, the Tang Sect not only had an extremely close relationship with Shrek Academy but had played a decisive role in recent events. It could be said that Tang San had saved Emperor Xue Ye and the entire Tian Dou imperial family. Though Emperor Xue Ye had not showered him with excessive rewards, such a debt of gratitude would never be forgotten. From another perspective, compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, such a young sect would be far easier for the Tian Dou imperial family to manage. As long as the Tang Sect made sufficient contributions to the empire in the future, its position would be unshakable.
With these deeper considerations, Tang San desired ever more strongly to bolster his own strength. No matter what attitude the Tian Dou Empire took toward him in the future, without powerful strength to back it up, everything was hollow. And to deal with Spirit Hall, he likewise needed to draw upon the vast manpower and resources of the Tian Dou Empire. The Tang Sect had chosen to align itself with the Tian Dou Empire, and henceforth their fates were bound together.
As for the current crown prince Xue Beng, Tang San was actually unconcerned. Even if Emperor Xue Ye were to die and Xue Beng took the throne — as long as the man wasn't a fool — the overall situation wouldn't change. He had been suppressed all this time by Qian Renxue, who had been impersonating Xue Qinghe, yet had managed to survive. The depth of his concealment was evident. Such a person might be difficult to deal with, but at least he would be a competent sovereign. To put it another way, even if things didn't work out in the Tian Dou Empire, relocating the Tang Sect covertly wouldn't be difficult. After all, the eldest of the Shrek Seven Devils — the Evil-Eyed White Tiger Dai Mubai — was the crown prince of the Xing Luo Empire.
On the way back to the sect, Tang San's mind worked over countless thoughts. After sorting through every matter, he came to appreciate even more the Great Master's far-sighted vision. His temporary departure would not only ease tensions between the Tian Dou Empire and Spirit Hall but also prevent him from remaining and becoming a target. Who could guarantee that Spirit Hall wouldn't send experts to assassinate him?
And right now, Spirit Hall still didn't fully understand the Tang Sect he had established. Once he left, the Tang Sect would more easily enter a period of stable development. With the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the imperial family, his presence or absence made little difference.
Having sorted through all of this, Tang San was firm in the path he needed to take for the coming period. Raising his strength and steadily developing the Tang Sect was the best choice. Impulsiveness would only invite destruction.
Even though the current Clear Sky School boasted six Titled Douluo-level powerhouses, it was only after hearing Sword Douluo Chen Xin's words that Tang San truly understood why his grandfather had chosen to retreat. In the past century, the Clear Sky School now possessed its greatest strength ever — six Titled Douluo. But in truth, aside from Sect Master Tang Xiao, the other five elders were merely Titled Douluo. Given their ages, they could never hope to reach level ninety-five. Even Tang Xiao would likely never attain level ninety-nine within fifty years. How could such a force stand against Spirit Hall? Who knew how many Peerless experts Spirit Hall truly had hidden within its ranks?
Before he knew it, Tang San had led Xiao Wu back to the Tang Sect. The moment they passed through the main gate, a scream reached their ears: "Ah — Sister Chenxiang, you can't do this to me! Even if you disagree, there's no need to hit me, is there?"
"Pah! Who's your Sister Chenxiang? Why don't you just die, you fat fool! How dare you go to Grandfather and spout nonsense — I'm not done with you!"
A massive black shape came hurtling in Tang San's direction. A faint smile crossed his face as he raised his right hand and deflected the incoming momentum to the side. Before he even finished, an incredibly swift white figure appeared before him and delivered a kick to the fleshiest part of that enormous black shape.
"What kind of show is this?" Tang San said with some exasperation, pulling Ma Hongjun to his side. The portly figure was none other than the fatty himself. Quick-witted as ever, Ma Hongjun immediately darted behind Tang San and Xiao Wu. Peeking at the white figure that had planted herself in front of Tang San, he saw it was none other than Bai Chenxiang, granddaughter of the Min Hall's master Bai He.
Bai Chenxiang stood with her hands on her hips, cheeks puffed with indignation. Flushed with anger, two rosy blushes had bloomed on her delicate little face, as if she'd applied rouge. Already beautiful, she looked even more captivating.
Seeing the fatty hiding behind Tang San and Xiao Wu, she refused to let it go. "Fatso, get out here! If you've got any guts, don't hide behind the Sect Master. Cousin, you have to stand up for me! This fatso is going to get me killed!"
Tang San chuckled and quickly said, "Fine, fine, I'll stand up for you. Calm down first — you have to tell me what terrible thing the fatty did to make you this angry."
Ma Hongjun popped out, about to speak, but Bai Chenxiang shot him a fierce glare that silenced him instantly. Strange as it was, Ma Hongjun — who usually seemed carefree and cheerful — actually had an iron will. Among the Shrek Seven Devils, he was only somewhat intimidated by Dai Mubai and Tang San. With outsiders, he never took the slightest loss. Yet facing Bai Chenxiang's petulant glare, he found himself speechless, scratching his head and ears in helpless frustration.
Bai Chenxiang huffed angrily. "This fatso actually went to my grandfather to propose marriage! And my grandfather actually agreed! He even told me to be nicer to him! Cousin, you have to settle this for me — this fatso clearly has no good intentions. I'd sooner marry a pig or a dog than marry him!"
Hearing this, Tang San couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. The fatty going to Bai He to propose — he could understand that. Ma Hongjun's methods might be blunt, but winning Bai He's approval would make things twice as effective. What Tang San couldn't understand was why Bai He had agreed. And agreed without even consulting Bai Chenxiang. That was strange.
After all, while Bai Chenxiang might not compare to Xiao Wu, she was still a stunning beauty with exceedingly high standards. Ma Hongjun's appearance was hardly charming. Could it simply be because Ma Hongjun was also a hall master of the Tang Sect? That couldn't be it. Bai He had been the clan leader of the Min Clan before this, and he was also Tang San's great-uncle.