Tang San Ranked Fourth on the Golden Ranking! Betrayed by All! Hypocritical Face Exposed!

The last trace of feigned emotion vanished from Tang San's fairly handsome face.

What replaced it was an almost numb calmness, and beneath that calmness, surging arrogance.

This is who I am. Is that enough for you?

So what?

Tang San's gaze slowly swept across those former "companions" around him.

Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun... every face was filled with contempt and distance.

Ning Rongrong's eyes held undisguised disgust and resolve.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, she had stood coldly to one side from beginning to end, like an outsider.

None of that mattered.

A barely perceptible sneer curled at Tang San's lips.

They were merely a group of short-sighted tools.

How could ordinary mortals like you possibly comprehend my, Tang San's, plans and future?

Even Xiao Wu...

At the thought of that figure, a flicker of emotion passed through Tang San's heart, but he forcibly suppressed it almost immediately.

It was indeed a little regrettable.

A spirit ring and spirit bone from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had willingly sacrificed herself were of exceptional quality, rare in the world.

But that was all.

Compared to the reward for fourth place on the Golden Ranking, compared to the supreme God Position in the future, a mere Xiao Wu was nothing. If she was lost, then she was lost.

In the future, I will have better ones.

As soon as that thought arose, Tang San felt his entire body lighten, as though a tremendous burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He was completely relieved.

Those so-called friendships, love, and bonds between master and disciple might have merely been a refuge for his lonely soul from his previous life from the very beginning.

And now, he no longer needed them.

The Path to Godhood had always been a lonely road.

"..."

Tang San slowly raised his head, straightened his back, and fixed his gaze once more on the hesitant Flender.

He silently memorized that expression.

Very good.

Shrek Academy, Headmaster Flender.

When I, Tang San, Rule the World, you will pay for your hesitation today.

He took a deep breath and stopped looking at anyone.

His gaze pierced through the crowd and stared directly at the Sky Screen above.

"Heh."

A soft laugh escaped Tang San's lips.

It was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"This is who I am. What about it?"

He spoke in an even tone, but it carried arrogance ingrained deep in his bones.

"The righteousness and feelings you speak of are nothing more than shackles weaklings use to bind themselves."

"Great Achievers are Not Bothered by Minor Details."

"You do not understand. I do not blame you."

Tang San looked around, his eyes as though he were gazing upon a group of ants.

"This Golden Ranking is fundamentally unfair."

"It has only exposed the so-called 'cause,' yet failed to reveal the 'result' I am destined to achieve in the future!"

"But so what?"

He suddenly raised his voice and pointed at the Sky Screen.

"Fourth place is already enough to prove my talent! Once I receive the reward, my strength will soar once more!"

"In the future, I will definitely become a God, perhaps even attain a God Position higher than everyone else on this ranking!"

"At that time, all of you will be left trembling beneath my feet!"

"Every accusation and insult you hurl at me today will become the greatest regret of your lives!"

His words were wild and utterly unrestrained.

The Sky Screen seemed to have been enraged by his words.

Bzzzz—

Dark clouds abruptly gathered over the Sky Screen glittering with Golden Light, accompanied by flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.

Boom—!

A deafening explosion erupted over Shrek Academy.

This time, the lightning was no longer silver-white.

It was Purple-Gold, carrying a Destructive Aura!

"Not good!"

Flender's expression changed.

But everything was already too late.

A bolt of Purple-Gold Thunder several times thicker than before descended from the heavens, carrying Heaven's Might as it struck the crown of Tang San's head with unerring precision.

"Ah—!"

A miserable scream burst from Tang San's mouth.

Crackle!

Crackle, crackle!

Violent lightning energy rampaged across his body, instantly shredding his blue outfit into tatters.

The electric light faded.

Tang San stood frozen in place.

His entire body was charred black, his clothes were shredded beyond recognition, and every strand of his hair stood straight up like steel needles scorched by fire. Wisps of green smoke still rose from his head.

He stood there blankly, his eyes empty and pupils unfocused. Clearly, that strike had left him completely dazed.

The entire scene fell into Dead Silence.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden spectacle.

"Pfft!"

An irrepressible laugh broke the Dead Silence.

It was Ma Hongjun.

He truly could not hold it in any longer.

Tang San looked far too wretched and ridiculous at that moment, exactly like a clown on a stage.

That laughter was like A Needle, stabbing viciously into Tang San's nerves, which had already been stretched to their limit.

His unfocused pupils instantly regained clarity.

He abruptly turned his head, Eyes Reddened, and glared fixedly at Ma Hongjun.

That look seemed ready to devour him alive.

"What are you laughing at?!"

Tang San's voice was hoarse and shrill. He had completely lost control.

"You useless trash who can only vent through Evil Fire!"

He pointed at Ma Hongjun and cursed furiously.

"If I, Tang San, had not given you the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, you would not even have had the chance for Martial Soul Evolution!"

"Did the Immortal Herbs I gave you all end up in a pig's stomach?"

"You ungrateful wretch!"

"What right do you have to laugh at me?! Are you worthy?!"

The smile on Ma Hongjun's face instantly froze. His face flushed red as he wanted to retort, yet could not say a single word.

Because Tang San was telling the truth.

Zhao Wuji frowned and instinctively wanted to step forward to stop him.

This was no longer an argument, but pure abuse.

Flender raised a hand and stopped him.

A single look halted Zhao Wuji's movements.

Zhao Wuji looked at him in confusion.

Flender merely shook his head slightly, his lips moving soundlessly.

"Let him vent for a while."

Yet in his heart, he was pondering another, deeper question.

Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong—the continent's publicly recognized number one genius—was ranked fifth on the Golden Ranking.

Tang San, with Twin Martial Souls, a transmigrator from the Tang Sect, ruthless methods, countless hidden cards, was ranked fourth on the Golden Ranking.

Then...

What sort of earth-shattering beings were the top three ranked above them?

At that moment, Golden Light on the Sky Screen blazed once more, scattering the thunderclouds that had just gathered.

A line of majestic golden words slowly emerged.

[Golden Ranking, Fourth Place: Tang San. Reward distribution.]

As the words fell.

Two brilliant pillars of light descended from the heavens, ignoring Tang San's wretched state. One entered his body and surrounded the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul that had undergone evolution.

The other surged toward the Clear Sky Hammer phantom behind him.

God-Bestowed Soul Rings!

One for each Martial Soul!

At the same time, eight savage spider legs extended uncontrollably from Tang San's back.

Beneath the shroud of Golden Light, the originally purple-black spider legs began transforming violently. A layer of dazzling golden patterns spread across their surfaces, and their Aura rose steadily!

External Spirit Bone, Eight Spider Lances, evolve!