In the wake of Tang San's thunderous assault on the Sun Moon Empire, the entire Douluo Continent entered a state of fearful silence.
Ten million soul masters dead—slain in a single night of wrath.
Though Tang San had spared innocent mortals, his message was heard with clarity: "Do not covet what is mine."
The soul master world reeled.
Even Spirit Hall, ever prideful and lofty, had fallen quiet. Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, both peak existences, silently reassessed their own positions. While they remained powerful, Tang San's terrifying arsenal of ancient techniques, godhood-level knowledge, and clan-destroying weapons made him untouchable.
In secret chambers, sect leaders gathered. The Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Alliance, and even independent ancient families all whispered the same question:
What realm had Tang San reached?
Was he a God?
No one knew. Tang San had disappeared again into the shadows of the Tang Clan, hidden beneath layers of formations and seals. His presence vanished from the world, as if he were never there at all. Only the vast crater of death in the Sun Moon Empire remained as testimony.
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Within Tang Clan Headquarters – Nine Years Later
Nine quiet years passed.
During this time, the Tang Clan had evolved beyond imagination.
It was no longer a clan, but a continent-wide behemoth. Multiple branches were now stationed across all empires, led by Supreme Elders who enforced the will of Tang San—though they rarely saw him.
The Tang Clan had expanded into three vast divisions:
Resource Division: Controlled herbs, minerals, and cultivation treasures. Alchemy and soul bone production were secretly underway.
Combat Division: A legion of elite soul masters trained under heaven-defying pressure, including advanced formations, unified tactics, and spirit weapon synchronization.
Weapon Division: Makers of soul-devouring weapons. Among them, three were strong enough to injure a 99-level Titled Douluo.
At the top, Tang San—now referred to as the Ancestor—remained unseen. Even Elders were only allowed audience under strict karmic requirements.
But he was watching.
He had reached level 98, yet refused to break through. His goal was not simply godhood. He had already created his own godhood—a "Normal" one—but discarded it.
He wanted Supreme Godhood, the apex of cultivation.
To reach it, Tang San cultivated in isolation, relying on the ancient technique he'd acquired in the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well—a technique that slowly raised his innate talent each year. Its increase had diminished over time, but his most recent discovery reignited his passion:
The Five-Colored Lotus of Heaven's Tribulation.
A rare herb, hidden deep within the Ice Fire Lake, capable of improving innate talent by 10% in a single use. After refining it in secret, Tang San's cultivation speed soared. His energy absorption, battle comprehension, and karmic awareness reached terrifying levels.
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Secret Hall – Forbidden Technique Vault
Few knew that deep within the vault of the Tang Clan lay dozens of techniques created by Tang San:
Spirit Ring Rebirth: Only usable by him. Allows complete destruction and reconstruction of spirit rings using spirit beast souls.
Nine-in-One Strike: Combines all nine rings for a devastating blow. Only Tang San can control it without backlash.
Artificial Ring Crafting: A method to forge 100,000-year artificial rings using pure energy. Limited to 80% effectiveness.
Five-in-One Ring Fusion: The strongest shared technique of the Tang Clan, usable only by twin spirit soul holders. Allows combination of any five rings—devastating against ten-ring enemies.
These techniques were priceless.
Tang San had only shared a few with trusted Elders. Most required god-level treasures or loyalty oaths bound by karma. None had dared betray him. The cost was simply too high.
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Douluo Continent – A Sudden Announcement
From the Tang Clan came a decree.
> "One year from now, the next Continental Tournament shall begin."
"Participation is open to all empires, factions, and clans. Final prize: A complete set of 100,000-year-old soul bones, a divine-level herb, and the Five-in-One Ring Fusion Technique."
The world erupted.
Major powers instantly began preparing. Countless young geniuses emerged. Hidden lineages sent their prodigies. Even Spirit Hall and Sun Moon Empire, who once faced Tang San's fury, decided to send elite teams.
But they moved with fear.
Tang San had not been seen in nearly a decade—but his shadow loomed large. Everyone remembered the destruction of ten million soul masters. No one wanted to provoke him again.