Now that he had come to Douluo, even though it wasn't a strict requirement, if he truly wanted to reach the pinnacle of power, he had to choose what was necessary.
"Anyway, it's only these three women… It's not like I can't taste others…"
"But everything has to be seen clearly… If I can't get the Asura Sword through Tang San, then I don't mind turning everything upside down," Salas thought rationally.
Even now, the reason he didn't make Xiao Wu his soul ring and why he avoided disturbing Tang San and his group boiled down to one thing: Tang San needed to inherit the Sea God's Trident.
Wanting to make them his subordinates was just a bonus—something he could achieve along the way.
Salas wasn't interested in getting the Sea God's position. He was more drawn to the Asura God, since that was a God-King level position.
And even if he wanted to go the easier route and inherit the Sea God, the sea would have to choose him for that, right?
But would the Sea God choose him? Highly unlikely.
The Sea God preferred someone like Tang San—young and gifted in spiritual power.
Asura was different. He didn't care about age like the other gods. Whoever had the capability to inherit his position could inherit it.
He had cast a wide net for potential successors. Anyone who passed the Hell Road would qualify to take his first trial. After that, everything depended on individual ability.
Of course, there was always the possibility that Asura might show favoritism toward Tang San. But that was easier to handle than most other problems.
Salas, who had read the novel and now remembered most of the small details he'd once forgotten, knew how to inherit Asura's position without wasting too much effort.
And it all depended on one thing: the Asura Sword.
He had to ensure Tang Chen passed the 8th trial and successfully retrieved the Asura Sword. That was step one.
And that was closely tied to the Sea God's Light.
Tang San was the best candidate for that. If Salas tried to use someone else, he wasn't sure they would meet the Sea God's requirements. Maybe Hu Liena, with her spiritual talent, could work. But Salas wasn't one to gamble.
So Tang San was important to him. It wasn't in his interest to kill or disturb Tang San's life trajectory.
"I also need to learn that divine technique through him…" Salas mused.
...
As Salas contemplated his plans and ate melon seeds, the Titan Giant Ape's farce finally ended.
Tang San was heartbroken. His eyes were blood-red, his entire body trembling.
Salas couldn't help but silently applaud.
"See... Tang San is such a good boy. Willing to die for his sister, Xiao Wu. That's true love… But this good boy will one day turn into a power-hungry maniac… All because no one was there to put a leash on him," Salas muttered.
Seeing Tang San flying after eating Oscar's Soaring Mushrooms, Salas was touched. He couldn't help but think that his decision to make Tang San his subordinate was absolutely right.
Of course, there was also that joke—how Tang San, mentally a middle-aged man, fell in love with a 12-year-old girl… For that, Salas could only shut his mouth. If he hadn't seen the memories of the original Salas playing around with young girls, he would've righteously scolded, "Tang San, you perverted bastard with unique taste."
But now? He really didn't want to say anything… Seems like every man has his own weird tastes.
Soon, Salas pushed the thought to the back of his mind and followed Tang San.
In the blink of an eye, he reached the area beneath where Tang San was flying.
After the mushroom's effect wore off, Tang San landed helplessly. He ran on foot until his soul power was depleted.
Exhausted and worried about his sister, Tang San sat cross-legged to circulate his Mysterious Heaven Skill. Only with soul power could he chase after Xiao Wu.
"It's time..." Salas had already released his spiritual power, scanning the area for the arrival of the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
After a few minutes, he noticed the beast he had been waiting for.
In a flash, he appeared behind Tang San and knocked him out with a slash to the neck from his now-invisible hand.
"It's best if you stay like this…" Salas thought as he scanned the area again with his mental power, checking for any danger.
Seeing that nothing threatened his future subordinate, Salas moved toward the incoming spider.
Just a few hundred meters later, the spider appeared before him.
Salas didn't waste time.
He swung his Martial Soul—already in his hand from activating his first soul skill—straight at the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
The spider, which had been running at full speed, suddenly crashed to the ground with a booming sound. Its carapace was shattered, blood splattered, and all eight legs sprawled out in a star shape.
SCREEEEE!
A sharp, ear-piercing cry rang out.
Its eight eyes darted around in pain and confusion, purple liquid pouring from its broken shell.
But it saw no one… Nothing in its sight. It wondered if a higher-level man faced demon spider beast had attacked—it was the only kind with invisibility.
But why are you hurting me? We're the same kind… the spider cried with a pitiful siii sound.
Salas smiled at the spider. He was still invisible.
Yes… He hadn't revealed himself. After all, he hadn't even used soul power.
Only after watching Zhao Wuji beat up Ye Zhiqiu—a Soul King—with pure physical strength did Salas realize that to kill a 2,100-year-old spider, he didn't need soul power or soul skills.
Didn't Zhao Wuji send that man flying with a single slap? Even if Ye Zhiqiu had only used his first soul ring's defensive skill and not his two purple rings, Zhao Wuji's physical strength was undeniable.
So Salas figured—at the physical level of a Titled Douluo, did he even need soul power to crush this thing?
Still, he used his hammer instead of his fists… Hammering was way cooler than punching.
Boom!
With another hit, the spider's 3-meter-wide body cracked again. Its internal organs were already a bloody paste.
"Hmm… Without blessing my hammer with soul power, the damage I can do is limited. Knocking someone away and actually breaking through defenses are two different things," Salas mused.
If he had to guess, thousand-year soul beasts had defenses comparable to Soul Kings. After all, beasts were known for their tough skin and natural armor—especially a 2,000-year Man-Faced Demon Spider, which rivaled a 10,000-year-old ordinary beast.
Seeing the spider trying to get up using its legs, Salas smiled wickedly.
Good thing no one could see his ugly grin. The wrinkles on the invisible Salas's face trembled as he took a step toward the spider with excitement.
He was going to break the spider's legs inch by inch and give it a horrible death… Only that way could he build up enough resentment. That would ensure a foolproof way to obtain the soul bone without any unexpected complications.