The appearance of Snowstorm, Emperor of the Tian Dou Empire, immediately drew everyone's attention. Just as the assembled Soul Masters bowed to him in greeting, he removed his golden helmet, bent at the waist, and bowed deeply to Tang San. With great respect, he called out: "Teacher."
This was Snowstorm, the Emperor, bowing before Tang San in front of nearly a million troops — the sheer shock of it left everyone stunned. Whether they knew Tang San or not, every Soul Master present couldn't help but look at this young man who had just arrived with newfound respect.
At the same moment Snowstorm bowed, Tang San bowed as well — though not to Snowstorm, but rather to the Great Master, who had been standing at Snowstorm's side. He too called out: "Teacher."
The scene looked rather peculiar. Only those who knew Tang San's circumstances understood what was happening.
"Your Majesty, there is no need for such formalities." After bowing to the Great Master, Tang San turned sideways to accept half of Snowstorm's bow, then stepped forward and helped him rise.
From Snowstorm's eyes, Tang San could clearly see the emotion welling within.
"A teacher for a day is a father for life. Teacher, this is what I should do." Snowstorm gripped Tang San's hand tightly, speaking with deep respect.
Tang San smiled faintly. "Your Majesty, you are now the ruler of a nation and the commander of this million-strong army. You must not behave this way again."
Snowstorm laughed heartily. "Teacher, I truly didn't expect you to arrive in time. It seems even the heavens are lending their aid to my Tian Dou."
Tang San said, "I know nothing of commanding armies, but I have come here to give everything I have to help Your Majesty."
Snowstorm nodded at Tang San, then turned his gaze to the assembled crowd and suddenly called out in a booming voice, "All forces of the Tian Dou Empire — attend!"
"Long live Your Majesty!" A thunderous roar erupted in response. Every Soul Master, soldier, and general dropped to one knee. The only two who did not kneel were Tang San and the Great Master, who had been granted imperial exemption from doing so.
Snowstorm's eyes blazed with imperial authority, his regal bearing fully on display. "Today, my teacher — the Sect Master of the Tang Sect, the Blue Hao King, Tang San — has returned. From this moment forward, his commands are my commands, and wherever he goes, it is as if I am there in person."
"Yes! Long live Your Majesty! Ten thousand years to the Blue Hao King!"
Listening to the thunderous shouts of that million-strong army, even someone as composed as Tang San felt his blood surge. His powerful voice rang out across the sky: "Tian — Dou — Will — Prevail!"
That shout was infused with incomparably powerful spiritual force. At the same time, Tang San raised the Sea God's Trident high above his head. With the Sea God's Light pouring into it, a brilliant pillar of golden light surged skyward. Even in broad daylight, every soldier could clearly see that sacred golden column piercing the heavens.
"Tian — Dou — Will — Prevail!" The war cry echoed through every corner of the army, carrying for dozens of miles without fading. The army's morale soared to unprecedented heights.
Snowstorm stared at the golden trident in Tang San's hand with astonishment — it emanated an aura that even made him feel a sense of submission. He was filled with admiration. His respect for Tang San stemmed not only from gratitude but also from the Tang Sect's vital importance to the entire Tian Dou Empire. He had known Tang San was a genius, but as a genius of the younger generation, in his mind, he was not yet a true powerhouse. Yet Tang San's single shout had rallied the response of a million troops, and the aura that had momentarily erupted from him left Snowstorm — who had encountered no shortage of powerful experts — utterly stunned. Vaguely, he sensed that Tang San's strength was in no way inferior to that of the older generation of Soul Masters.
"Teacher, thank you," Snowstorm said from the bottom of his heart.
Tang San smiled and replied, "Wait until I help Your Majesty sweep away the Spirit Empire, then you can thank me." The Tang San of today was no longer the Tang San of old — backed by formidable power, his words carried an unmistakable confidence.
Snowstorm laughed. "Teacher, how about serving as my second-in-command?"
Tang San shook his head. "Your Majesty, I truly know nothing of large-scale warfare. I think it would be better for me to help you counter the enemy's stronger Soul Masters. I'll take command of the Tang family army. When we encounter the Spirit Empire's Soul Master corps, the Great Master and I will handle them, preventing them from interfering with the main battlefield as much as possible."
"Xiao San..." The Great Master furrowed his brow, looking at Tang San. The Spirit Empire's Soul Master corps was immensely powerful. Though Tang San held the title of Imperial Teacher, such a bold promise made the Great Master uneasy. After all, if the promise went unfulfilled, it would be a devastating blow to the entire army — a consequence no one could bear.
Snowstorm glanced at the Great Master, then back at Tang San, and spoke in a solemn tone: "Teacher, I led this army here with the resolve to break rather than bend. When facing Spirit Hall's Soul Master corps, we will fight if we can, and if we cannot, we still have the army behind us."
Tang San replied, "Your Majesty, on the way here, I was continuously calculating the Spirit Empire's military strength. Based on all available intelligence, their total number of Soul Masters should be between sixty and seventy thousand — roughly ten times ours. However, the maximum they can commit to the battlefield is fifty thousand at most. After all, Soul Masters below the thirtieth rank are essentially useless in combat. For Spirit Hall to field fifty thousand Soul Masters at or above the thirtieth rank is already a considerable feat. They need to retain at least five thousand as reserves and another five thousand to garrison the major cities centered around Spirit City. The number truly thrown into battle against us and the Xing Luo Empire should be around forty thousand. Your Majesty's decision to mobilize the full might of the nation must have been coordinated with the Xing Luo Empire, correct? Their overall strength is not inferior to ours, and they will surely press Spirit Hall from the south, creating a pincer attack. That would reduce the Spirit Empire's deployed Soul Master corps by half once more, meaning we should be facing roughly twenty thousand enemies. Of course, even so, the enemy still outnumbers us three to four times over in terms of Soul Masters — still an overwhelming advantage."
Snowstorm nodded repeatedly, expressing his agreement with Tang San's analysis.
Tang San continued, "Currently, of our six thousand Soul Masters, the Great Master commands roughly four thousand, and my Tang Sect contributes two thousand three hundred. Together with the Tang family army equipped with Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, I am confident that we can at least hold against an attack from Spirit Hall's twenty thousand Soul Masters in a head-on confrontation."
The Great Master said, "Xiao San, I've also calculated the balance of strength between both sides. You're right — if their twenty thousand Soul Masters were all ordinary, we could indeed hold them. But don't forget, Spirit Hall is teeming with powerful experts, and Bibi Dong's depths are unfathomable. There's also a peerless Douluo at the ninety-ninth rank who is very likely to appear on the battlefield. You should understand the terrifying destructive power such a heaven-defying powerhouse can unleash in war. Moreover, the Spirit Empire likely has close to twenty Titled Douluo in total, while we currently only have the Poison Douluo, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo. Even adding the Martial Soul Fusion Technique that the Great Master, Flandre, and Erlong can use, we amount to the equivalent of just four Titled Douluo. We'd be facing at least ten Titled Douluo, and possibly a peerless Douluo as well. Once these top-tier experts break into our Soul Master formations, the situation will change instantly. Furthermore, Spirit Hall has been preparing for years — their Soul Douluo and Soul Saint-level experts number more than ten times ours. Have you factored that in?"
This was a war of survival. Though the Great Master had missed Tang San dearly during their five years apart and was overjoyed to see him again, hearing what sounded like a rather reckless promise, he spoke his mind without hesitation.
Tang San pondered for a moment. A faint blue light enveloped him, the Great Master, and Snowstorm, cutting off all sound from the outside world. Then he said just one sentence — and the doubt vanished entirely from the Great Master's face, while Snowstorm's expression turned to one of sudden realization.
Snowstorm departed under the escort of his guards, returning to the central camp, while the Great Master remained behind. He didn't constantly accompany Snowstorm — most of the time, he was here commanding the Soul Master army.
No one came to disturb them. The Great Master asked in a low voice, "Xiao San, are you truly confident?"
Tang San replied, "As long as it isn't both Bibi Dong and the peerless Douluo Qian Daoliu appearing on the battlefield together, I am confident we can hold against the Spirit Empire's twenty thousand Soul Masters. There's also something I haven't had the chance to tell you yet — I came here from the Clear Sky Sect. The Clear Sky Sect has decided to return to the mainland and will naturally join our side within the Tian Dou Empire. To be honest, with the empire mobilizing its full strength this time, the rear is somewhat exposed. I sent a letter via the Agility Hall disciples to the Clear Sky Sect, asking my uncle to leave five Titled Douluo and the majority of the sect's disciples to garrison Tian Dou City. Then, two Titled Douluo would lead a hundred elite disciples here as reinforcements. My father may well be one of those two. With the addition of this force, the gap between our Soul Saint-level and above Soul Masters and the Spirit Empire's would certainly narrow. I didn't mention this to Snowstorm just now — consider it a hidden card. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so definitive in my promise."
The Great Master felt relieved. "That's good to hear. Still, what you said earlier has already greatly bolstered Snowstorm's confidence. He was actually forced into this battle — the situation left him no choice."
Tang San nodded. "That's precisely why I must strengthen his confidence. As the ruler of a nation and commander of the army, if even he doesn't believe in certain victory, how can we possibly win this war? Besides, I haven't been exaggerating. Our Shrek Seven Devils truly are the equivalent of seven Titled Douluo."
This was the same statement Tang San had made earlier to the Great Master and Snowstorm — the Shrek Seven Devils, on the battlefield, were the equivalent of seven Titled Douluo.
With this, the Tian Dou Empire's side effectively possessed over ten Titled Douluo-level powerhouses.
The Great Master sighed softly. "Xiao San, you must remember — compared to destroying the Spirit Empire, I care far more about ensuring no harm comes to you. Yes, Rongrong's Soul Power has reached the eightieth rank, making her the strongest support-type Soul Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan — arguably the greatest support-type Soul Master under heaven. With her, you can indeed enter the Titled Douluo realm. But sustaining six of you with her power alone cannot last forever. There is still a gap compared to seven true Titled Douluo. You must keep this firmly in mind — the battlefield is not a competition ring. A single misstep could cost you your lives. Your lives are the most important thing."
"Teacher, I—" Just as Tang San was about to tell the Great Master that he had already truly become a Titled Douluo, he was interrupted.
"Little Monster, the little brat is back! Hahaha!" With hearty laughter, the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, emerged from seemingly nowhere and appeared before the Great Master and Tang San, cutting off Tang San's words before they could be spoken.
Dugu Bo looked as vigorous and spirited as ever — five years had left no visible mark on him. Disregarding the Great Master's presence entirely, he strode up and gave Tang San a hearty embrace.
"You old monster, you haven't changed a bit! Easy, easy..." Feeling Dugu Bo's unrestrained affection, warmth welled up in Tang San's heart. He returned the embrace with two firm pats.
Once Dugu Bo came over, the four hall masters of the Tang Sect and the other six of the Shrek Seven Devils all gathered around as well, asking about Tang San's experiences over the past five years. Regarding the Sea God Island journey, the five who had returned earlier — Dai Mubai among them — had said little, only mentioning five years of rigorous training that greatly enhanced their strength. This was at Tang San's instructions. After all, the mysterious Sea God Island was best kept from spreading too far.
Surrounded by everyone, Tang San briefly recounted his experiences at Sea God Island, though he spoke more about his understanding of sea Soul Masters and the harrowing events at sea. As for the process of Xiao Wu's resurrection, he said even less. That matter involved secrets shared between him and Xiao Wu, and though all those present were trustworthy, Tang San chose not to speak of it in order to avoid reopening old wounds. However, he made no secret of the situation with the Clear Sky Sect, sharing everything openly. He also consoled the four elders once more, repeating what he had said to Titan.
Titan sighed. "It's been over twenty years. Though we gave a great deal for the Clear Sky Sect back then, we also received considerable benefits from them. Let the past stay in the past. As long as the Sect Master doesn't ask us to merge with the Clear Sky Sect, fighting alongside them is nothing."
Tang San turned to look at Yang Wudi, who harbored the deepest grudge against the Clear Sky Sect. But to his surprise, Yang Wudi's gaze was fixed entirely on Tang San's Sea God's Trident, seemingly unconcerned with the Clear Sky Sect matter at all.
Bai He chuckled. "Sect Master, don't worry about Old Goat. These five years of us all living together again — he couldn't be happier. The past is behind us. He may still carry some resentment, but Old Ape is right: as long as we don't have to go back to the Clear Sky Sect, the past is the past. Dealing with Spirit Hall is what matters. We old folks still know how to tell the difference between what's important and what isn't."
Tang San smiled. "Thank you all for your magnanimity. It's been five years — Elder Titan, how is our Tang Sect faring these days? And what about the Tang family army? I'd trouble you to bring me up to speed."
Before Titan could speak, Yang Wudi suddenly interjected, "Sect Master, where did this trident come from? The moment I look at it, I get a feeling that makes my heart race and my soul shudder. Even my Soul Power has become unstable. My Soul-Extinguishing Spear almost feels reluctant to be summoned."
"That's perfectly normal — my Seven Kill Sword is also suffocated by this trident," said Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had disappeared shortly after Tang San arrived at the army but had now returned. Accompanying him were Bone Douluo Gu Rong and the Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi looked visibly aged, the hair at his temples already streaked with gray. Clearly, these five years had not been easy for him.
"Uncle Ning." Tang San hurried forward to pay his respects. Though he was now a sect master himself, he had never forgotten the help Ning Fengzhi had given him in the past.