Fall Behind and Get Beaten

"So those Soul Beasts have probably become divine beasts by now?"

Tang San frowned slightly. Along the way, he had naturally noticed the changes across the continent. Some things had developed faint intelligence, while plant Soul Beasts in the wilderness had sprung up like mushrooms after rain. The consciousnesses within the Blue Silver Grass network were even packed beyond measure. Fortunately, they still listened to him, the Blue Silver Emperor.

Soul Beasts capable of such a feat could most likely help the Fierce Beasts he kept in captivity advance their strength to a certain extent. Still, he did not quite believe they could become divine beasts. Even with his dual godhood, he was far inferior to the Dragon God described in the memories passed down by the previous Asura God.

Shallow waters could not raise a True Dragon—unless a True Dragon itself plunged into those shallow waters. But no one like the Dragon God had appeared in the entire universe since then. Tang San instinctively ruled out the possibility of them becoming gods. Perhaps they had used some other method to temporarily raise their combat strength. They could not possibly have transmigrated like him, could they?

The atmosphere inside Sea God Pavilion was incomparably heavy. Seeing Tang San frown slightly, everyone grew even more flustered. If even the God of the Sea could not defeat them, what could they possibly do?

"I hereby command, in the name of the God of the Sea: gather all Soul Masters and armies across the continent and attack the Star Dou Great Forest together. We must prevent those beasts from making a desperate last stand and launching a Beast Tide that causes devastating losses among the common people."

Tang San's eyes flashed. During the time they spent assembling their forces, he intended to digest the Faith Power he had just acquired and, at the same time, absorb the Faith Power Shrek Academy had accumulated over ten thousand years.

"We obey Lord Sea God's command."

Everyone answered respectfully.

"Also, I recall that the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool development has been progressing quite quickly. Then let the continent witness the Sun Moon Empire's splendor. When the time comes, have the Sun Moon Empire shoulder more of the responsibility first."

"The Sun Moon Empire should be able to meet such a request, right?"

Tang San looked toward Jing Hongchen in the corner, and an overwhelming pressure bore down on him.

Feeling Tang San's gaze upon him, Jing Hongchen inwardly cried that he was doomed. Over this period, he had made a point of looking into this Sea God's deeds in greater depth.

He discovered that although this Sea God appeared glorious and righteous in the records, his instincts told him that the man was no good. More importantly, the Tang Sect founded by this man had declined because of the rise of Soul Tools, while the Sun Moon Empire had even invaded his homeland. No matter how he looked at it, there was no bright future ahead.

"Of course. The Empire will certainly charge at the forefront."

Jing Hongchen forced the words out through clenched teeth. That pressure was simply too terrifying. He even felt that Tang San had not used much strength at all.

"For Douluo Continent's faster development, and to better eradicate those Soul Beasts, the Sun Moon Empire will surely contribute its Soul Tool technology from all these years to the entire continent free of charge, won't it?"

Tang San spoke lightly, as though the crystallized wisdom of humanity over thousands of years was not worth mentioning.

"...Of course."

Jing Hongchen nearly bit hard enough to draw blood. The Sun Moon Empire had no god!

"Then I shall await your good news. Be quick about it, lest those Fierce Beasts stir up more trouble. I cannot protect every single person at once."

In other words, only by surrendering to Shrek could one receive a god's attention. Everyone understood the meaning beneath those words.

The meeting adjourned. Apart from those from Shrek Academy, everyone left Sea God Pavilion one after another, their gazes toward Jing Hongchen carrying a trace of pity.

"Fall behind and get beaten."

Xu Jiujiu sighed as she watched Jing Hongchen's bent back.

"We used to be the ones getting beaten. Now it's the Sun Moon Empire's turn."

"Praise Lord Sea God!"

Xu Jiujiu rolled her eyes. When she returned, she would write to her brother and tell him to hurry up and abdicate. The God of the Sea had begun settling accounts.

"God! God! God! God..."

Jing Hongchen frantically wrote those words across the back of an envelope, as though doing so could ease the humiliation in his heart.

Jing Hongchen breathed deeply, both hands braced against the table. The envelope gained a few faint damp spots.

"God..."

Jing Hongchen sat down weakly. The once high-spirited master of Mingde Hall now looked like a stooped old man.

Tang San naturally paid no attention to mortals' reactions. Before him, Shrek's elders were apologizing to him, with Mu En at their head.

"Lord Sea God, it was all Shrek Academy's fault. We forgot our deep bond with the Tang Sect and allowed the Tang Sect's ancestral foundation to be occupied by others. We are guilty."

Mu En's tone was grave, as though the Tang Sect's decline over the past ten thousand years had all been caused by Shrek's inaction.

"It is nothing. Without destruction, there can be no rebuilding. The Tang Sect will eventually shine anew. It is already quite impressive that you maintained Shrek Academy's reputation as the continent's number one academy for ten thousand years."

Tang San wore a gentle smile. It had been inconvenient for him to interfere in the God Realm, but now that he had arrived on Douluo Continent, the Tang Sect's time had come. Naturally, he did not care about the Tang Sect's past. Honestly, those idiots had kept cultivating Blue Silver Grass until they had nearly destroyed themselves. He felt ashamed just talking about it.

"Thank you for Lord Sea God's mercy."

One of the elders nearly cried. He had not expected Lord Sea God to forgive his own people's sins so readily. He really was far too kind!

"Behind me are the Sea Soul Masters from Sea God Island who worship me. They are all Titled Douluo as well. Get acquainted with one another."

"I will take a walk around Shrek Academy later. You need not make any arrangements. Er Ming, come with me."

After giving his instructions to the group, Tang San vanished from before their eyes. He wanted to see how the arrangements he had made before losing contact were progressing.

Er Ming forced a smile and similarly tore through space as he left Sea God Pavilion.

"Er Ming, how is the Child of Destiny doing now?"

Tang San watched the students attending class and running about, recalling the warm days he had spent at Shrek Academy many years ago.

Er Ming's expression stiffened, and his voice carried a hint of ingratiation.

"The Child of Destiny is already sharing a dormitory with Dong'er. They have begun attempting to use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and he is also a Tang Sect disciple."

"Not bad, not bad. It seems there were no mistakes in the arrangements."

Tang San nodded in satisfaction. Everything was within his control.

He was not afraid of that heavily wounded Silver Dragon in the Star Dou Great Forest either. There were still lost divine artifacts on Douluo Continent. When the time came, he could simply "borrow" one from the Far North Land for a while.

The remaining Fierce Beasts were nothing more than chickens and dogs in his eyes, easily defeated. This was simply a perfect opportunity to destroy the Sun Moon Empire as well. The Soul Beasts would be the ones to do it, while he, the God of the Sea, would remain the glorious Lord Sea God.

"Only... since we couldn't contact you at the time, I took the Child of Destiny as my disciple in order to protect him."

Er Ming spoke carefully. Who knew that Tang San, that bastard, would knowingly break the law as an enforcer god and leave behind such an enormous lump of divine power on Douluo Continent? I thought leaving my brother and me behind to oversee the continent was already enough, but he even split off divine consciousness to create an avatar. I'm speechless.

Tang San paused slightly, then continued toward his daughter's dormitory.

"It is nothing. It will help bring us closer to the Child of Destiny. Well done, Er Ming."

When the time comes, I'll pick that Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear as your opponent. I'll even generously allow you to undo your seal while I'm at it.

"Third Brother taught me well. Everything was done to complete Third Brother's task."

I'm really going to disgust myself to death. Tang San, hurry up and die once you're done.

Tang San's brow relaxed slightly. Things were still under control.

"Come, let's go see Xiao Qi."

Are you sure you're not going to see the Child of Destiny you've been obsessing over?

Er Ming grumbled inwardly, then obediently followed Tang San.