In essence, this was a skill similar to a Domain, though it lacked the powerful growth potential of a true Domain. Its effect, however, was terrifying — especially in team combat, where its ability to link everyone together was extraordinarily potent.
From the start of the battle until now, the Shrek Six Devils had been somewhat disorganized. After all, it had been years since they fought together, and they were still missing Xiao Wu. None of them were particularly familiar with each other's newly acquired abilities. While their tacit understanding remained, they couldn't coordinate as seamlessly as they had over five years ago.
With this mental network, however, the situation changed. Every person poured their abilities without reservation into Tang San's mind, and through rapid analysis, Tang San could direct each person to react and deploy their Soul Skills accordingly.
Transmitting thoughts through spiritual power was incomparably faster than speaking aloud. Once Ning Rongrong released this Soul Skill, the Shrek Six Devils were instantly connected as a single entity.
The "Killing" character that could tear through space silently vanished, and Sword Douluo's calm voice echoed from every direction: "Before absolute power, all skills are illusions. Watch closely."
In their perception, the massive sword leveled horizontally in the air, and behind it appeared a colossal phantom over five meters tall — a perfect likeness of Sword Douluo Chen Xin himself. They watched as he gripped the sword with one hand, his form shifting with an almost effortless grace that seemed to follow the fundamental laws of heaven and earth. The colossal Seven Kill Sword swept forward as if it had come alive. In that instant, the Seven Kill Sword seemed to drain every ounce of power from the surrounding area — Tang San's Slaughter God Domain, his Blue Silver Domain, and Ning Rongrong's Phantom Domain were all shattered simultaneously. Everything around them became clear once more.
The giant sword in Chen Xin's hand was not pointed at them, but at the void itself. With a slight flick of his wrist, six cuts flowed as one, and a "Killing" character ten times larger than the previous one materialized in midair. In that moment, the entire sky darkened. The terrifying aura radiating from that jet-black character forced all six of the Shrek Devils to one knee simultaneously. Even with their combined strength, they could not withstand that pressure.
Chen Xin's voice reached each of their ears: "When Soul Power reaches level ninety-five and above, a qualitative transformation occurs. With each subsequent level, the Martial Soul evolves once more. At that realm, you no longer rely on individual Soul Skills — instead, you merge as one with your Martial Soul. That person from Spirit Hall years ago achieved complete fusion between himself and his Martial Soul, and he withstood nine of my father's 'Killing' characters in a row. Using Angel Soul Power, he struck my father's internal organs, leaving him with an incurable wound. Technique is certainly important, but the growth of Soul Power is fundamental. Without a powerful foundation of strength, even the finest Soul Skill or Soul Bone cannot unleash its true potential."
Light and shadow withdrew simultaneously, and Sword Douluo's form faded along with the vanishing "Killing" character. But his words had been deeply seared into the hearts of the Shrek Six Devils.
Tang San felt it most acutely. The overwhelming killing intent within that character gave him a strangely profound sensation — a killing intent fundamentally different from what resided in his Slaughter God Domain. The killing intent of his Domain was filled with violence, bloodlust, and icy ruthlessness. Yet this killing intent, released by Sword Douluo, carried with it a feeling of vast, righteous grandeur. In a vague flash, he began to grasp a thread of understanding, though he could only catch the very edge of it.
All six of them remained quietly on one knee, none speaking a word. Their Martial Souls gradually receded, and each sank into deep contemplation.
Undoubtedly, every member of the Shrek Seven Devils was a prodigious genius. Sword Douluo's words were few, but the awakening they provided — combined with the various reactions their bodies had produced under that immense pressure, on the brink of life and death — was invaluable. What they needed most right now was precisely this kind of feeling.
The Great Master whispered to the dazed Bai Chenxiang beside him: "Let's go. They won't come to their senses before evening." He was very satisfied with today's outcome. Ever since the Shrek Seven Devils had won the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament five years ago, he had been looking for an opportunity to temper them. But they had all gone their separate ways afterward, and he had never managed to gather them together.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament had certainly made the Shrek Seven Devils famous, but it had also inflated their confidence excessively — Tang San's in particular. Although on the surface Tang San seemed no different from before, with his strength constantly rising and all manner of powerful abilities at his disposal, his inner confidence had swelled beyond what was healthy. Others couldn't see it, but the Great Master saw it clearly. Before heading to the dangerous Sea God Island, he believed it was essential to knock these children down a peg, allowing them to grow under pressure while also helping them truly understand the gap between themselves and genuine powerhouses.
Outside Shrek Academy.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin descended lightly, and a wry smile had appeared on his previously calm face. He thought to himself, I hope this didn't strike too hard a blow to those children. It had been the Great Master's request, and he had fulfilled it. But it had also given him a real sense of just how strong the Shrek Seven Devils had become.
On the surface, he had won with ease. But in truth, only he knew what had really happened.
Why had he resorted to manifesting as a sword? One only needed to look at his clothes to understand. Ma Hongjun, after receiving Ning Rongrong's multiple enhancements, had produced explosive force of staggering magnitude — particularly the temperature of his Phoenix Flame, which far exceeded Chen Xin's expectations. Though it still hadn't been enough to actually wound him, the hem of his robe had been completely scorched. Half the garment had turned to ash, making him look rather wretched. That was why he hadn't lingered after the battle ended and had simply left.
The giant sword phantom and the spectral figure wielding it — those were abilities he had only comprehended after breaking through to level ninety-seven. They were the effect of his ninth Soul Skill. It was simply that those not at the same tier couldn't tell which Soul Skill he was using.
That was why that single sword strike had completely stunned the Shrek Six Devils. The offensive power he had unleashed in that moment could be called the absolute pinnacle of strength in the current world.
Looking at his robe, which now consisted of only half its original length, Chen Xin chuckled. "When I was their age, I certainly didn't have this kind of strength. I hope this trip to Sea God Island goes well for them."
Three days passed quickly. The battle against Sword Douluo had shaken the Shrek Six Devils even more deeply than the Great Master had anticipated. All six remained indoors for a solid three days — no sparring, no conversation, just silent cultivation in their wooden cottage. It wasn't until Ning Fengzhi sent someone to fetch Tang San that this period of secluded meditation came to an end.
The Great Master brought the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan disciple to the cottage and called, "Xiao San, come out for a moment."
His voice not only roused Tang San but also awakened the others. Suddenly, a piercing phoenix cry rang out. Even from outside the cottage, the Great Master could feel the air turn scorching hot. A crimson figure burst through the roof and shot skyward, and the room it had just vacated was reduced to ashes in an instant.
Enormous wings of flame unfurled, carrying the figure a hundred meters into the air before halting. In the next moment, fire erupted outward, and a massive ring of flame expanded to a diameter of over fifty meters before gradually fading.
"You fat oaf — when we get back, you're the one rebuilding the house."
Dai Mubai, Oscar, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing emerged almost simultaneously. Tang San held Xiao Wu's hand. Though she still wore that vacant expression, something had subtly changed since their engagement — she no longer seemed quite as hollow.
The speaker was Dai Mubai. Though he was scolding the fatty, everyone wore knowing smiles. Clearly, Ma Hongjun had broken through.
Perhaps it was because Ma Hongjun was now the only one among them — aside from the soulless Xiao Wu — who hadn't yet reached the Soul Emperor rank. Or perhaps Sword Douluo's overwhelming display had cut too deeply, igniting the latent potential of his Phoenix Martial Soul. In just three days, despite having leveled up only months ago, he had broken through yet again, pushing his Soul Power to level fifty-nine. He was now just one bottleneck away from level sixty.
"Don't mention it, don't mention it! If tearing down a house once could give me a level-up each time, I'd do it gladly!" The fatty descended from the sky in high spirits, making no effort to hide his elation as he laughed heartedly.
"You fat oaf, gloating again. You're still the weakest one." Bai Chenxiang, who had come along with the Great Master, muttered from the side.
Over these past days, the Shrek Six Devils had been like walking corpses, and she had been the one taking care of all their meals. She had been genuinely worried — if the Great Master hadn't reassured her, telling her this was a normal reaction, she probably would have gone back to the Tang Sect to fetch her grandfather for help. Now seeing everyone recover, and with Ma Hongjun breaking through at that, she felt inexplicably happy. Was it because of Ma Hongjun's improvement? She wasn't entirely sure herself.
Hearing Bai Chenxiang's words, Ma Hongjun's excitement took a direct hit. "Xiangxiang, can't you just praise me for once? I'm level fifty-nine now! I'll be hitting sixty before you know it. I won't always be the weakest."
As he spoke, he shot a not-so-innocent glance at Oscar. As a Food Type Soul Master, no matter how talented Oscar was, there was no way he could level up as fast as Battle Soul Masters like them. The reason Oscar had managed to reach level sixty during those past five years was because he had sacrificed an enormous amount — while the fatty had been decidedly lazy by comparison.
"What are you looking at? Fat oaf, let's compete and see who levels up faster on this trip to Sea God Island." Oscar wasn't the type to concede easily. Ever since obtaining his sixth Soul Ring and that Mirror Image Soul Bone, his confidence had skyrocketed.
Ma Hongjun fired back without missing a beat: "Bring it on! You think I'm scared? Let's make a bet. If I win, you let me kiss Rongrong. If you win, I'll let you kiss me. How about that?"
"Get lost —" Oscar flew forward and kicked the fatty square in the rear. Ning Rongrong glared at him through gritted teeth; had she been a Battle Soul Master rather than a support-type, she likely would have marched over and taught this foul-mouthed idiot a proper lesson.
Bai Chenxiang saw no reason to pass up the chance to take him down a peg. "See? His true nature is showing. I knew you weren't a good person."
"I—" In any other verbal sparring match, the fatty rarely lost ground. But the moment it was Bai Chenxiang, he wilted.
The Great Master smiled faintly. "You should all have gained something these past few days. Don't discuss it — just sit with the feeling and truly experience it. The reason I recommended Sea God Island was precisely so you would carry this feeling with you at all times. Constantly pushing your potential under pressure. Pressure is motivation, but you must also learn to judge the right amount. Too much is as bad as too little. From Sword Douluo's lesson, you should now understand the gap between yourselves and true powerhouses. I hope that when you return from Sea God Island, that gap will have narrowed considerably."
"Yes, Master!" the Shrek Six Devils answered in unison, their expressions sober and respectful.
The Great Master then turned to Tang San. "Xiao San, Sect Master Ning has sent a clansman to invite you to the palace. Go ahead. I've already prepared everything you'll need for this journey. Set out tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Teacher." Tang San agreed and departed for the palace with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's envoy, leaving Xiao Wu temporarily in the care of Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
Over these three days, although only Ma Hongjun had raised his Soul Power level, Tang San had benefited greatly as well. He was a sharp mind — he understood that if, after being crushed under immense pressure, one went searching exhaustively for every flaw and deficiency, it was very difficult to make real progress. Instead, he had devoted his thoughts entirely to understanding that colossal "Killing" character. Over the past few days, he had gleaned a measure of insight. He now understood that his Slaughter God Domain still had enormous room for growth.
In terms of raw power and utility, Tang San's Blue Silver Domain clearly surpassed his Slaughter God Domain. It not only aided him in spiritual detection but also provided tremendous enhancement when he deployed various Blue Silver Emperor Soul Skills. Yet Tang San simultaneously recognized that, for all its strengths, the Blue Silver Domain had inherent limitations. Its effectiveness varied drastically depending on whether Blue Silver Grass was abundant or absent in the environment. This uncertainty could leave him vulnerable when facing powerful opponents.
His last battle against Qian Renxue had taken place in the sky, where the Blue Silver Domain's effect had been severely diminished. Had they been in a forest, Tang San would not have fought so desperately. He might not necessarily have won, but even without using Xiao Wu's sixth Soul Skill, he wouldn't necessarily have lost either.
In terms of limitations, the Slaughter God Domain was far superior. Its enhancements and effects were fixed — that is, controllable. Only by making the Slaughter God Domain stronger could he fully unleash his strength across all manner of environments and conditions.
Tang San had already made up his mind: he would find a way to enhance the power of his Slaughter God Domain. First, by raising his Soul Power to the level where he could manifest his Martial Soul Avatar, allowing the Domain's effects to fully manifest. Second, by deepening his understanding of the Slaughter God Domain itself.
The Slaughter God Domain carried side effects — Tang San had always known this. Every time he activated it, he was affected by the killing intent and became prone to violent emotions. But this time, under the immense pressure Sword Douluo had exerted, Tang San had discovered a different path for the Slaughter God Domain. If he could successfully transition to this new approach, he would no longer need to reserve mental energy to control his emotions when using the Domain. A full infusion of spiritual power would undoubtedly allow the Domain to wield far greater power.
The Tian Dou Empire's imperial palace had returned to normal — at least on the surface, there was no sign of the crisis that had nearly toppled the royal family.
Arriving at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Tang San was received by Ning Fengzhi.
"Uncle Ning." Tang San bowed respectfully. Though he was now a sect master in his own right, he never failed to show proper courtesy to Ning Fengzhi. Setting aside the connection through Ning Rongrong, Tang San had always remembered the help Ning Fengzhi had given the Shrek Seven Devils over the years. Especially to him personally. Without Ning Fengzhi and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's support, the founding of the Tang Sect would not have gone nearly so smoothly.
Ning Fengzhi smiled and said with a hint of reproach, "There are no outsiders here — why so formal? I've told you many times. You are now the Sect Master of the Tang Sect. You need to carry yourself accordingly."
Tang San smiled gently. "Regardless of my title, you are still my Uncle Ning."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Xiao San, the reason I've asked you here today is to bring you before His Majesty."
"Oh?" On the way over, Tang San had still been absorbed in his thoughts about the Slaughter God Domain and hadn't considered the purpose behind Ning Fengzhi's summons. "An audience with His Majesty? Is it because we're about to head to Sea God Island?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "You'll be gone for an indeterminate amount of time. Perhaps His Majesty won't live long enough to see your return. The Tang Sect's future requires the support of the Tian Dou Empire. Before you leave, I believe you should pay your respects and report your plans to His Majesty."
Understanding dawned on Tang San instantly, and he silently cursed himself. There had been too much to attend to these past days, and he had neglected something so important — utterly unacceptable.
"I understand. Thank you, Uncle Ning." Tang San said from the heart.