Chapter 633: The Place of Resurrection, Sunset Forest

Even though Tang San had only just attached the first Soul Ring to his Clear Sky Hammer, if one compared his situation to that of an ordinary Soul Master, it would become immediately apparent why his body could no longer withstand the attribute amplification.

An ordinary Titled Douluo, even with the optimal Soul Ring configuration, would have nine Soul Rings that were nothing more than: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black. A hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring was virtually impossible to obtain. Having one or two Soul Bones was already considered astonishing.

But what about Tang San? Tang San's first Martial Soul, the Blue Silver Emperor, was already at full capacity. Its Soul Ring configuration was: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Black, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red. The first three Soul Rings were relatively normal, but from the fourth onward, every single one was an existence that transcended the normal hierarchy. And he possessed a full five hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings.

In terms of the total cultivation years of his Soul Rings, a Titled Douluo with the optimal configuration would have a combined total that absolutely could not exceed two hundred thousand years. Even surpassing one hundred and fifty thousand years was rare.

But what about Tang San? His nine Soul Rings had a total cultivation of absolutely over five hundred thousand years — a full two and a half times that of an ordinary Soul Master. What's more, the first Soul Ring of his second Martial Soul was already at the hundred-thousand-year level, with an additional hundred thousand years of cultivation. His total Soul Ring cultivation was thus three times that of an ordinary Titled Douluo, reaching a staggering six hundred thousand years!

And that wasn't all. Don't forget that Tang San now possessed a total of six Soul Bones. The external soul bone, the Eight Spider Lances, was evolving alongside Tang San's own breakthrough to the Titled Douluo level. One could imagine that once the evolution was complete, it would absolutely be equivalent to a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone.

Beyond this extra Soul Bone, Tang San also possessed the hundred-thousand-year Sky Blue Bull Python Right Arm Bone, the Titan Giant Ape Left Arm Bone, the Evil Spirit Killer Whale Left Leg Bone, and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone — four full hundred-thousand-year Soul Bones. The only one that was not at the hundred-thousand-year level, the Spirit Gathering Wisdom Skull, had been produced by a Soul Beast over fifty thousand years old. And after its fusion with the Seagod's Cube, who dared to say its effects were inferior to those of four hundred-thousand-year Soul Bones? In actual combat, its utility ranked first among all of them.

Under these circumstances, Tang San's attribute amplification exceeded that of an ordinary Titled Douluo by more than double. The fact that his body had been able to endure until now before showing signs of strain was testament enough to his own formidable resilience.

For anyone else, the current situation might have been fatal. But long before leaving Seagod Island, Tang San had already found a method to overcome it.

Having received the sacrifices of the two Forest Kings, both his spiritual power and soul power had returned to their peak state. The traces of Sea God's Light radiated outward, shooting directly into the Sea God Heart embedded in the Sea God Trident beside him. Instantly, brilliant golden light blossomed forth, completely enveloping Tang San's body.

Bo Saixi had been right — attribute amplification certainly had limits for humans. The human body's capacity to endure would always have its ceiling. But having pulled the Sea God Trident free and weathered the first seven of the Sea God's Nine Trials, Tang San could say that one foot had already crossed into the divine realm. Although his current cultivation was still far from sufficient, the aura of godhood he possessed was the most authentic Sea God energy. This was beyond any doubt.

Under the illumination of the Sea God's Light, Tang San suddenly felt as though his body had been placed inside a massive furnace. The red glow produced by the sacrifices of the two divine beasts had vanished, but an even more intense golden flame now rose from his body.

The hottest parts were precisely where the six Soul Bones resided. Through the glow, he could faintly see that the meridians, muscles, and even the bones beneath those six locations were rapidly writhing and reshaping themselves.

Intense pain assailed Tang San's brain ceaselessly. The Sea God's Light brought searing heat, but it was far more bearable than the swelling agony from before. It made him feel as though his entire body were soaking in a superheated hot spring — the temperature was extreme, but not entirely intolerable.

The bones throughout Tang San's body emitted sounds that set one's teeth on edge, while his meridians and muscles produced occasional explosive cracks. He could feel the muscles on his body's surface rapidly swelling, transforming him into a terrifying mass of bulging muscle. But soon, under the golden radiance shining down from the Sea God Trident, those grotesquely swollen muscles gradually subsided, restoring Tang San to his original build — sturdy, but not exaggerated.

A faint golden sheen now suffused his bronzed skin. It was not the luster of metal, but rather a sacred golden hue.

A sudden flash of clarity rose in Tang San's heart. He realized that after his body's endurance had been pushed to its absolute limit, the Sea God's Light's radiance had guided him through a process of rebirth. Without testing it, he could already feel that his body had become incomparably tough.

Both Martial Souls withdrew back into Tang San's body, and he returned to his original appearance. The only difference was that his clothes had long since been obliterated by the violent energy, leaving nothing but skin that now bore a faint golden glow.

The Sea God Trident descended on its own into Tang San's right hand. The feeling of perfect unity with the weapon swept through his entire body in an instant. He could deeply sense that his compatibility with the Sea God Trident had drawn yet another step closer.

All of this should have been perfect. But when everything was over, Tang San's deep eyes held nothing but sorrow. He drove the now-blackened Sea God Trident back into the ground, collected the Xiao Wu Soul Bone that had been replaced from his right arm, and lifted Xiao Wu's unconscious form from the earth. Then he sank to both knees and bowed deeply before the Sky Blue Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, who had already reverted to their original, smaller forms.

A full ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows.

A brilliant yet frigid light shone in Tang San's eyes. "My two elder brothers, your deaths will not be in vain. I will first resurrect Xiao Wu, and then I will avenge you. Your noble spirits are not far — once I officially inherit the Sea God's divine throne, I will surely release your souls to reunite with Xiao Wu."

The ceremony completed, Tang San gently set Xiao Wu on the ground. Then, with utmost reverence, he placed Da Ming and Er Ming's bodies into his Myriad Treasure Pouch, forcing himself to hold back his tears. He had not yet fulfilled Da Ming and Er Ming's final wish. Tang San felt he had no right to weep — not yet.

The speed of absorbing Soul Rings through sacrifice was fast, but from start to finish it had still consumed nearly half an hour. Bibi Dong could search for them at any moment, and this was not the ideal location for Xiao Wu's resurrection. So he had to leave — to find a place where they would not be disturbed.

He placed the still-unconscious Xiao Wu into the Myriad Treasure Pouch as well, gripped the Sea God Trident, and cast one long, deep glance in the direction of Bibi Dong. "Bibi Dong. We will meet again."

He soared into the sky in an instant. Having broken through to the ninth ring, empowered by his formidable ninety-first-level soul power, Tang San launched himself airborne. He released his spiritual power to shield himself from all external spiritual probes, and headed off into the distance.

He had to leave this place — leave Star Dou Forest. In Tang San's heart, Xiao Wu was more precious than his own life. He had finally obtained the chance to resurrect her, and he would absolutely not allow even the slightest possibility of an accident to occur. Part of Star Dou Forest lay within the borders of the Spirit Empire. As its empress, Bibi Dong could dispatch Soul Master armies at any time to search for his whereabouts. Resurrecting Xiao Wu here would be unsafe, without question. That was why he had thought of another destination — a place where he had almost absolute confidence in helping Xiao Wu's resurrection, free from interruption.

Almost simultaneously with Tang San's departure, on the other side, Bibi Dong also concluded her meditation and opened her eyes.

Compared to the fury she had displayed during her battle with Tang San, she was now considerably calmer. Her gaze fixed on a single direction as she spoke in a deep voice. "Did you all sense it?"

The four Titled Douluo exchanged glances and silently nodded.

Bibi Dong rose to her feet, her expression so dark it seemed it might drip ink. "Good, very good. He stole the Soul Beasts I was determined to claim, and absorbed their Soul Rings right in front of my eyes. Tang San, you have not disappointed me. The speed of your growth has far exceeded my expectations."

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan couldn't help but cry out in shock. "Your Majesty, you're saying — that person was Tang San?"

Bibi Dong let out a cold laugh. "Who else could it be? He probably didn't realize himself that it was precisely because he absorbed the Soul Rings of those two Soul Beasts here that he exposed his identity. What puzzles me is why those two Forest Kings didn't resist, and how he managed to absorb two hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings so quickly. His aura has vanished — he must have truly fled."

Yue Guan couldn't help but press. "Your Majesty, I don't quite understand what you mean."

Bibi Dong swept him with a frigid gaze. Ghost Douluo was dead, and without question, Chrysanthemum Douluo's value had diminished considerably. She was in a state of extreme fury, and if the Spirit Empire weren't in desperate need of every capable person it had, she would have torn this fool apart on the spot.

"Does that require an explanation? The ability to contend against so many of us through sheer strength — yes, that was partly due to the trident's special properties. But if he hadn't possessed the strength of a Titled Douluo, could he have toyed with you all while holding me off? A Titled Douluo who can absorb two hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings. Other than a Twin Martial Soul, can you think of any other explanation? In all of Soul Land, the only person besides myself who possesses a Twin Martial Soul is Tang San."

Yue Guan ventured, "Could it be that someone was assisting him — that someone else absorbed those Soul Rings? Tang San can't be more than thirty, can he? How could he possibly have become a Titled Douluo?" Having witnessed Tang San more than once in person, he simply could not believe that the young man possessed Titled Douluo-level strength.

Bibi Dong's patience finally snapped. With a violent sweep of her hand, Yue Guan's body was sent hurtling backward. "Fool! Back then, which of you believed he could lead a class from Shrek Academy to defeat our Spirit Hall's Golden Generation? Who among you imagined that his hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast girlfriend would sacrifice herself for him? One who achieves what others cannot is a true hero. This man will become the most formidable enemy we ever face — bar none. I never expected that he would be even harder to deal with than his father, Tang Hao."

The other three Titled Douluo watched Bibi Dong, who looked ready to erupt at any moment, and did not dare make a sound.

Various thoughts churned endlessly through Bibi Dong's mind. Should she simply return? No — she could not just leave like this. The purpose of this expedition had not yet been fulfilled. If that terrifying threat of Tang San hadn't appeared, she might have continued searching for hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts. But there was clearly no more time for that now. She needed to reach the peak, and she needed to take that final step. Turning around, Bibi Dong gazed toward the depths of Star Dou Forest, her eyes glinting with cold light.

Tang San would certainly never give Bibi Dong another chance to find him. The moment he left Star Dou Forest, he soared high into the sky, flying with tremendous speed in a single direction.

He had finally reached the dream realm of every Soul Master — the Titled Douluo level. But Tang San's face remained locked in a perpetual frost. Though his internal soul power flowed endlessly and was more than twice as powerful as it had been at the eight-ring stage, propelling his body through the air like a phantom — and the soul power consumed by flying was even less than what he naturally regenerated — none of it could stir the slightest excitement within him. In his mind, the words spoken by Da Ming and Er Ming during their sacrifice echoed ceaselessly, along with the image of their blood-red forms gradually fading into nothingness.

Xiao Wu was still unconscious, and Tang San had forcibly suppressed her soul to prevent her from waking. But reality would have to be faced eventually. Da Ming and Er Ming's deaths would undoubtedly deal her a devastating blow.

But regardless, he had to resurrect Xiao Wu first. vengeance must be served, but not now. Though Tang San believed that with his Titled Douluo strength combined with the Sea God Trident, he already possessed the power to challenge Bibi Dong, the gap between them was still obvious. Moreover, he was about to return the Soul Rings to Xiao Wu. Without a complete set of Soul Rings, and with Bibi Dong surrounded by powerful allies, the road to vengeance was still long.

Flying almost without pause, sustained by his immense soul power, Tang San spent two full days in the air before finally reaching his destination. This was a place Bibi Dong would never think to search, because it lay deep within the interior of the Tian Dou Empire — and it was also a closely guarded secret.

It was another vast forest. At first glance, it seemed no different from Star Dou Forest. But upon closer inspection, one would notice that Star Dou Forest was a tropical rainforest, while this place was populated primarily by trees and plants suited to the northern climate. The only thing entirely identical was the Blue Silver Grass carpeting the forest floor.

Without a moment's hesitation, Tang San plunged into the forest and followed a path all too familiar to him. He knew this place even better than Star Dou Forest. If Star Dou Forest had been the site of his tragedy, then this place was his sanctuary.

Here, he had obtained a wealth of immortal medicinal herbs, granting the Shrek Seven Devils the power to rival Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. Here, he had tempered his body in the Ice and Fire Springs, laying an unshakable foundation for all his subsequent cultivation. And here as well, his mother had been nourished by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and recovered swiftly. Perhaps during his father's remaining lifetime, the couple could finally be reunited. Yes — this place was the Sunset Forest, once Dugu Bo's cultivation grounds. And the place where Tang San's parents now lived in seclusion.

The Sunset Forest — this was the place Tang San had chosen for Xiao Wu's resurrection. The area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was free from Soul Beast disturbances and was virtually cut off from the rest of the world. And here lived Tang San's parents. After nearly five years away, he had finally returned to the continent. How could he not come to see his parents first? Choosing this place for Xiao Wu's resurrection was, without question, the best option.

Soon, Tang San arrived at that familiar mountain. Everything looked as though nothing had changed. Along the way, Tang San had activated the Seagod's Protective Shield's invisibility skill and had encountered no Soul Beast interference, arriving smoothly at the mountain's base. He didn't even need to deploy the Eight Spider Lances — he simply used the flight ability granted by his mother's Soul Bone and soared upward, arriving at the mountaintop in the blink of an eye.