Chapter 229: Tang San's Cunning
The first trial given to Tang San by the Sea God was the 333-step Sea God Staircase.
It must be said, Tang San's talent was indeed formidable. After all, he inherited the physical bodies of Tang Hao and Ah Yin, and with ten years of continuous refinement through his Xuantian Gong, his body possessed strength far beyond that of an ordinary soul master.
In the nearly one year's time, Tang San was not only cultivating with the resources provided by Sea God Island, but he was also vigorously climbing towards the peak of the Sea God Staircase. He discovered that the aura of the Sea God on the staircase increased the recognition of the Sea God's Heart in his hand, and perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could fully earn its recognition.
"Just one last step!" Tang San gritted his teeth, his eyes nearly bursting with veins, his legs heavy as lead on the 330th step, his gaze firmly fixed ahead.
Only three steps away from the summit!
But no matter how strong Tang San's will was at that moment, he couldn't take another step and ultimately sighed. With a thought, a beam of light enveloped him and returned him to the entrance of the first step.
"Not bad, just one year, and reaching this step with your current soul power at level 45, it's enough to prove your extraordinary talent," Sea God Island's High Priest, Bo Saixi, who appeared beside Tang San at some unknown time, commented indifferently, emotionless in her tone.
Tang San nodded slightly and bowed to Bo Saixi.
In this year, his soul power had increased from level 41 to level 45. It seemed minor, but only he knew how much his true strength had improved.
Now, he was like an iron embryo, constantly being tempered by the Sea God Staircase. He seemed unremarkable, but his potential was compelling!
He did not rest on his laurels but humbly said, "It's all thanks to your help, High Priest, and the other Douluos, that I, Tang San, have come this far."
"With your talent, you will likely pass the first trial of the Sea God in another month. To undertake the subsequent Sea God trials, both soul power and temperament need improvement."
Bo Saixi slowly said, "The continental elite competition for high-level soul master academies is about to begin; you might want to return and join the excitement."
The continental elite competition for high-level soul master academies? Upon hearing this, Tang San recalled his companions and... his teacher.
"You've been cultivating, so I haven't told you some things. Now that you have time today, let me tell you about the events of the past year." Bo Saixi then informed Tang San of the year's events concerning the Martial Soul Hall and the continent.
Indeed, after hearing this, Tang San's eyes grew cold, and his fists clenched: "What a Martial Soul Hall, it seems they fear that once I become the Sea God, I will threaten their plans to dominate the continent, so they want to nip me in the bud!"
Turning to Bo Saixi, Tang San asked, "High Priest, with the Martial Soul Hall's wolf ambitions, what are your plans?"
Bo Saixi shook her head: "I am a servant of the Sea God, here only to guard the Sea God's statue and await the next Sea God. As long as the people of the Martial Soul Hall do not invade the Sea God Island under my feet, I will not leave here easily."
Tang San's expression changed slightly: "Do you plan to just watch the Martial Soul Hall wage war and let the flames of war spread across the continent?"
"High Priest, if the Martial Soul Hall unifies the continent, they will surely turn all their forces to attack Sea God Island. Then, the Sea God Island you are guarding will truly be indefensible."
Bo Saixi looked up confidently: "As long as I am here, Sea God Island will not perish."
She turned to Tang San, seemingly admonishing him: "Tang San, if you truly want to protect everything you've mentioned, then use all your strength to strive for the position of Sea God and complete the nine trials of the Sea God."
"Once you become the Sea God, even if the Martial Soul Hall has millions of troops, they will not match the power of your hand."
"Without strength, you are but a speck of dust in the eyes of the Martial Soul Hall, do you understand?"
Tang San fell silent, finally nodding silently: "I understand."
One month later.
Tang San completed the first trial of the Sea God.
His soul power increased from level 45 to level 55, and both his Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer gained a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
With the secret help of Sea God Island, Tang San finally returned to the continent in
secret, back to the Clear Sky Clan.
Seeing Tang San, his great uncle and head of the Clear Sky Clan, Tang Xiao, was extremely excited! Especially when he heard that Tang San had not only completed the first trial of the Sea God but had also broken through to the Soul King realm and obtained two ten-thousand-year spirit rings, he almost ordered a grand feast in celebration, only to be stopped by Tang San.
"Xiao San, what brings you back this time?" Tang Xiao reminded Tang San, "You should also be aware that the Martial Soul Hall has been searching for the identity of the person who inherited the Sea God's legacy. Once your identity is exposed, it will surely bring down the thunderous strike of the Martial Soul Hall."
The other elders also nodded.
Tang San smiled, "Great uncle, elders, the identity of the Sea God's inheritor isn't so easy to ascertain. I've heard from the High Priest that typically only when both parties reveal their divine artifacts can one vaguely sense the presence of another inheritor of a divine legacy."
Speaking, Tang San took out his Sea God's Heart and said, "This item is called the Heart of the Sea God, a divine artifact left by the Sea God for his inheritor. Now, the High Priest has entrusted it to me; she also warned me that this was the artifact Su Yun of the Martial Soul Hall wanted to exchange with her to evolve the Blue Silver Grass—the Blue Silver Emperor Crown."
Mentioning the Blue Silver Emperor Crown, Tang San couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret, and his resentment towards Su Yun grew—he always had to compete with him.
If the Blue Silver Emperor Crown had fallen into his hands, perhaps his so-called trash Blue Silver Grass could have evolved into a true Blue Silver Emperor, and he would have been able to easily unleash his dual spirits against Su Yun. But now, it was snatched away by Su Yun, and who knows to what extent his spirit had evolved.
However, thinking of how Su Yun, clueless about the true value, had so easily handed the Sea God's artifact over to him, Tang San couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
"Su Yun, you've suppressed me for so long, yet you've finally had a moment of foolishness. I bet you never dreamed that the Sea God's legacy would end up with me, and that the Heart of the Sea God would fall into my hands," Tang San thought, feeling a surge of satisfaction at the prospect
of crushing Su Yun underfoot once he became a god.
"So, this artifact was inadvertently delivered to your hands by Su Yun of the Martial Soul Hall?" In the Clear Sky Clan's council hall, the elders were surprised and pleased.
Tang Xiao also cautioned, "In that case, Xiao San, you must never casually show this item, especially not in front of the people from the Martial Soul Hall."
"Although that Su Yun may not know the use of the Heart of the Sea God, if he sees it, he will surely know you've been to Sea God Island."
"Once they connect the dots, they might suspect you are the one who obtained the Sea God's inheritance."
Tang San retracted the Heart of the Sea God and laughed, "Haha, great uncle, that's exactly why I took out the Heart of the Sea God."
The fact that the Heart of the Sea God initially acknowledged Su Yun sparked a competitive fire in Tang San.
In his view, the reason the Heart of the Sea God still refused to fully accept him was probably due to Su Yun's higher soul power.
That guy was only riding on his head because his martial soul was stronger than his own for the time being.
Tang San scoffed internally. Now that he had switched to cultivating the Clear Sky Hammer, his soul power cultivation speed was indeed much faster than before.
Once his soul power increased and he gained the recognition of the Heart of the Sea God, achieving the position of the Sea God, he would eradicate all members of the Martial Soul Hall!
To cut weeds, one must pull out the roots!
"By the way, uncle, the continental elite competition for high-level soul master academies is about to start, and I want to take my old friends to participate," Tang San mentioned. He had read reports that the students of the Martial Soul Hall would not be participating this time.
This was a perfect opportunity for him to boost the reputation of the Shrek Academy.
"But if people from the Martial Soul Hall..." Tang Xiao reminded him.
Tang San shook his head and smiled, "With such a grand event, and with the kings of the two great empires present, I believe the people from the Martial Soul Hall will restrain themselves somewhat."
Tang San heard that this time the competition was managed by Su Yun from the Martial Soul Hall.
He had invited kings of the two great empires and members from various sects and clans to attend as spectators.
Moreover, the competition venue was set in the Star Dou Empire, not at the Martial Soul Hall.
Since it wasn't in the headquarters of the Martial Soul Hall in Spirit City, what was there to fear?
"Besides, representatives from other sects will be present. Uncle, you just need to secretly send someone to protect me."
Tang San was determined to redeem the name of Shrek Academy!
And to vindicate his teacher, Yu Xiaogang!
"Very well, we'll do as you say," Tang Xiao agreed, no longer opposing the idea. "You can stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a while. During the time you were gone, Ning Fengzhi once again sent people proposing marriage between you and his daughter, Ning Rongrong, and also offered a large share of benefits."
Speaking, Tang Xiao took out a marriage proposal and a set of marriage terms, which were filled with benefits.
Tang San didn't even glance at the marriage proposal but took the terms and scanned them, a cold smile appearing on his face, and he said sarcastically, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really is generous, offering so much just to make their daughter my main wife."
Tang San, who was raised within Tang Sect, though rarely leaving home, was aware of the implications of a "main wife."
A main wife is brought into the household in a grand palanquin, married openly and officially.
In a family, she almost holds a position equal to the head of the family, with supreme authority.
If it were before Tang San had become the Sea God's inheritor, perhaps Ning Rongrong might have qualified as his main wife, as both were heirs to their respective sects, and their levels were not far apart.
But now!
Now Tang San was the inheritor of the Sea God, the person on the Douluo Continent closest to achieving godhood!
Aspiring to be his main wife?
With just Ning Rongrong's poor character and her backing from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
Hardly sufficient!
"Uncle, Ning Rongrong has the temperament of a little devil. If she marries into the Clear Sky Clan, wouldn't that disturb our peace?" Tang San tossed the marriage contract aside. "Besides, do you think she currently qualifies to be Tang San's main wife?"
"In the past, she mocked and scorned me based solely on looks, not taking me seriously at all."
"She even unilaterally broke off our engagement after my father died."
"Now that she knows I have become the inheritor of the Sea God, she is desperately trying to marry me, even to become my main wife, and after bearing a son, to change his surname to Ning, to be the head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"That's truly laughable!"
"If that's the case, what does my position as the Sea God amount to?!"
"Hmph!"
Tang San's authority radiated naturally, even though he was only fourteen; he already made the elders around him feel his superior presence.
A descendent of the Sea God changing his mother's surname?
Wouldn't that be ridiculed if word got out?
Tang Xiao knew his nephew harbored much resentment towards the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so he chuckled lightly, "Xiao San, though that's the case, you also know
that just relying on our Clear Sky Clan alone isn't enough to protect you from the Martial Soul Hall."
"We need to ally with other forces to ensure you can become the Sea God smoothly."
Halting mid-sentence, Tang Xiao then took out another marriage document from his chest, "Regarding your divine inheritance, I've only told the people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"This is a granddaughter of Yu Yuanzhen from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, named Yu Qingrou. Her talent is decent, and her temperament is gentle and lovely, her appearance and figure, according to that old man, are exceptionally fine."
"They say they don't aspire for her to be the main wife; a concubine's position would suffice."
Tang San raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's perceptiveness.
However, mentioning the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan reminded him of his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.
After scanning the marriage document and seeing the word "concubine," suddenly, Tang San had an idea and a playful smile appeared on his face: "Uncle, what do you think about making Yu Qingrou the main wife and Ning Rongrong the concubine?"
Tang Xiao and the elders were initially stunned but quickly understood Tang San's intention.
Balance and suppression.
Compared to having a talented main wife with a poor character, it might be better to choose a compliant woman.
Adding to Tang San's displeasure with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and considering his teacher was formerly from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
His bias was natural.
As for whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would turn hostile later?
Heh.
Once the Clear Sky Clan utilized these people and Tang San became a god.
Even if they turned hostile, what of it?
Being able to marry the Sea God was already their honor; even with two sets of guts, they'd likely just swallow their teeth in silence.
"The decision is yours since you are the one getting married," Tang Xiao said. "Rest here in the sect for a few days, and then I'll send you to the imperial city to meet your old friends."
"By the way, we've had word from our spies that your teacher, Yu Xiaogang, is still held deep in the dungeons of Spirit City, the stronghold of the Martial Soul Hall, which is heavily guarded."
"To rescue him, unless you become a god, we have no chance."
Tang San nodded, his fists clenched slightly.
Teacher, rest assured, once I become a god, I will surely rescue you!
(End of chapter)
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