Tang Lan, Tang San!

Under the gaze of all living beings, the large words on the light screen slowly faded away, followed by the appearance of an image.

In the image, dark clouds blanketed the sky, and a bitter wind howled as though rain could fall at any moment!

At dusk, rows of thatched cottages in a small village nestled among the mountains and forests were engulfed in raging flames. Thick white smoke billowed upward and scattered everywhere in the fierce wind, making the scene seem like the end of the world!

Within the village, villagers lay strewn across the ground. Their cheeks, chests, and necks were covered in wounds carved by broadswords, blood pouring freely from them!

The villagers' furniture, pots, bowls, and utensils had been tossed carelessly along the roadside. Strange cart tracks and hoofprints could be seen, with scattered grains of food occasionally strewn beside them!

And all these traces pointed toward the direction of the village entrance!

Without a doubt, this little mountain village had been attacked by bandits—and not just any bandits, but utterly vicious ones who killed anyone they encountered!

Across Douluo Continent, many of those who had initially been watching with great interest turned pale at the sight. Some ordinary people even began vomiting.

"Gasp! Starting off with such a huge scene? This guy called Tang San must have had it pretty rough!"

"Tsk, tsk, an entire village slaughtered?! Judging by the scene, they must have run into a group of bandits, right? Those bastards were ruthless!"

"Eh?! In a situation like this, could this Tang San be one of those villagers who got hacked down? If so, wouldn't he be about to die right away?! That's way too tragic, isn't it?!"

"..."

Just as everyone was making their guesses, the image on the light screen suddenly changed.

At some point, an elderly man clad in white, with a head full of white hair, had appeared in the center of the village. As he looked upon the miserable sight around him, his aged face was filled with fury.

"Damn it! It's those notorious Nine Yin Alliance bandits again! Those scum who kill without batting an eye and take pleasure in murder actually robbed and massacred another village! Before I die, I will surely eradicate you thieves and avenge these innocent villagers, as well as those four Tang Sect disciples!"

As the old man's voice fell, the Heavenly Ranking thoughtfully displayed an introduction to his identity. A line of large words appeared beside him on the screen.

"Outer Sect Great Elder of the Shushan Tang Sect—Tang Lan!"

The instant they saw the old man's introduction, every faction on Douluo Continent stiffened.

The Shushan Tang Sect?!

Was it a hidden faction of the continent?!

Within Spirit Hall's Pope Hall, When Bibi Dong, seated upon the Pope's throne, saw the four words "Shushan Tang Sect," she first let out a sigh of relief, only for her beautiful brows to furrow once again.

"So, this Exposer is someone from this so-called Tang Sect!"

"Fortunately, this Exposer isn't a remnant of the Clear Sky Sect. Otherwise, I would have to consider whether to find an excuse to wipe out the Clear Sky Sect before the Soul Hunting Plan begins!"

"However, I seem never to have heard of this faction called the Shushan Tang Sect. You two Elders, do you know anything about it?!"

Below, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged bewildered looks. After hesitating briefly, Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward and looked toward Bibi Dong on the throne, his voice slightly uncertain.

"Your Holiness, we too have never heard any information regarding the Shushan Tang Sect."

"Moreover, there does not seem to be a mountain range called Shushan anywhere on the current Douluo Continent!"

"Therefore, this subordinate suspects that this so-called Shushan Tang Sect may be a faction from at least tens of thousands of years ago in the history of Douluo Continent. Perhaps there truly was once a mountain named 'Shushan' on the continent, but it was renamed as history progressed! As for the faction called the 'Tang Sect,' it likely perished with the passage of time as well."

"After all, if any faction had endured from tens of thousands of years ago until today, it would be impossible for Spirit Hall, with our power and intelligence network, not to have received even the slightest news of it."

After pondering for a moment, Bibi Dong nodded, tacitly agreeing with Chrysanthemum Douluo's words. Yet she still gave him another order.

"Still, arrange for more people to thoroughly investigate the continent's historical records. Search as carefully as possible for this faction called the 'Shushan Tang Sect.' At the same time, compile information on all sects that have appeared throughout history."

Upon hearing Bibi Dong's command, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately nodded before leaving to make the arrangements.

Regarding the newly emerged Shushan Tang Sect, the major factions across Douluo Continent all adopted measures similar to those of Spirit Hall.

While the entire Douluo Continent buzzed with discussion over the words "Shushan Tang Sect," within Shrek Academy, Seeing the familiar yet unfamiliar image of the old man on the light screen, Tang San jolted, his expression dazed as he unconsciously murmured in a low voice, "It's Old Master Tang Lan..."

His voice was so low that even Xiao Wu, who was holding Tang San's arm, did not hear his muttering. However, Flender, not far away, stiffened, his heart violently shaking!

As a high-level Soul Saint of rank seventy-eight, his hearing was beyond anything ordinary people could imagine!

It was precisely because he had heard Tang San's murmur that Flender's heart shook wildly! The smile at the corners of his eyes was nearly impossible to suppress!

"As expected! Tang San is this time's Exposer! Hahaha..."

"I've struck gold! I've really struck gold!"

"With the situation as it is now, Tang San, this Little Fellow, will surely have a chance to become a Titled Douluo in the future! When that time comes, Shrek will truly become famous across the continent! Hahahaha... Xiaogang's eye for talent is as sharp as ever!"

"Xiaogang can finally fulfill his dream as well!"

"Perhaps the former Golden Iron Triangle can reunite once more..."

But suddenly, Flender seemed to think of something. The smile that had just appeared at the corners of his eyes gradually froze on his face.

"No! Aren't the Exposer's memories only poured into the Exposer's mind when the Heavenly Ranking's revelations come to an end? Why does Tang San already know the old man on the screen?"

"Gasp!!!"

At that instant, Flender silently turned sideways, his expression changing again and again!

The scene on the light screen continued.

Just as the old man named Tang Lan, radiating murderous intent, prepared to hunt down the bandits known as the Nine Yin Alliance, a faint infant's cry suddenly rang out from the village!

Tang Lan's expression changed the moment he heard the cry. Without a second thought, he rushed toward the sound, arriving outside a wooden house engulfed in roaring flames after only a few leaps.

"It's here!"

Following the baby's cries from inside, Tang Lan ignored the blazing roof and thick smoke and charged straight into the house. In an inconspicuous corner, he found a tattered piece of cloth. The infant's cries were coming from beneath it.

He swiftly pulled back the cloth, revealing a baby lying in swaddling clothes, crying!

Bending down, Tang Lan picked up the swaddled infant. A kindly smile appeared on his aged face, especially when he saw the baby's pure eyes gazing at him curiously. Tang Lan could not help but chuckle.

"You little fellow, it seems you truly are fated to meet this old man!"

"From now on, your name will be Tang San."