Bamboo God's Second Trial: Destruction of Tang Sect

"Congratulations, Tang San. You paid a tremendous price for the Man Faced Demon Spider clan."

Feng Yan gently pushed the blue glow in his hand, and it drifted slowly toward Tang San's limp body.

His voice continued, "Your selfless devotion moved me. So, for every trial you complete from here on, you'll receive a generous reward..."

At this, a faint glimmer seemed to appear in Tang San's eyes.

Though he still didn't know what a Martial Soul was, surely something bestowed by a god couldn't be bad.

At least it was an unexpected windfall. More importantly, he had earned it himself...

This was something he, Tang San, had won by enduring the Bamboo God senior's trial and trading his own humiliation for it.

Thinking of this, Tang San couldn't help looking forward to what his Second Trial would be—and what the reward would bring.

Could it help him destroy the counterfeit Tang Sect in this world and give him an advantage when he faced Buddha Tang in the future?

Of course, beneath his anticipation, Tang San also felt the tiniest bit of fear and uncertainty.

The Bamboo God's First Trial had already been so grueling. The remaining two would surely be even harder.

Could he... really make it through?

Once the thought arose, Tang San couldn't suppress it. He turned to all the nearby Man Faced Demon Spiders and said,

"The group mating is over. You've all had your fill, so go back. I need some peace and quiet now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ten-thousand-year-old spider with the honest, simple face was the first to bend all eight legs and bow its head, paying respects to its emperor. Then it turned and slowly departed.

The other Man Faced Demon Spiders followed, retreating like the tide, without a trace of reluctance.

"Tang San, listen carefully!"

Seeing the bamboo grove return to silence, Feng Yan spoke. "Bamboo God's Third Trial, Second Trial: Tragedy of the Otherworld Tang Sect."

Tang San wanted to stand at attention, but his weak body wouldn't allow it.

All he could do was lie on the ground, raise his spider head slightly, and struggle to maintain a respectful posture.

"Trial-taker Tang San, from the Otherworld Tang Sect, has been ordered by the Grandmaster to purge the Tang Sect traitor, Buddha Tang..."

Feng Yan's voice rang out clearly, and Tang San listened, overcome with excitement.

Buddha Tang.

Ever since he first heard that name from Grandpa Tang Lan, it had filled him with fury.

He had stolen the Tang Sect Secret Arts, changed his identity in this world, shamelessly claimed to be the true successor of the Tang Sect, and even ascended to godhood.

Why?

Why could a thief become a god, while he, the legitimate Tang Sect successor, had fallen to this state?

Somehow finding the strength, Tang San struggled upright. "I beg you, Bamboo God senior, lend me your aid. I swear I'll make Buddha Tang pay!"

Seeing this, Feng Yan sighed. "Tang San, it's not that I'm unwilling to help you. Buddha Tang is immensely powerful and holds a lofty position in the Divine Realm. He's one of its five God Kings."

"I'm merely a Second-Level God, the Bamboo God. How could I possibly stand against a God King?"

Tang San collapsed back to the ground. He had thought that thief had become a god through sheer luck, but he hadn't expected him to be one of the beings at the very summit of the Divine Realm.

A God King... the king of the gods... The title alone sounded terrifying. Could he really be a match for Buddha Tang?

"What? Are you afraid?"

Feng Yan said calmly, "Don't worry. You won't need to act against Buddha Tang. Someone else will punish him."

"Before ascending to the Divine Realm, Buddha Tang left behind an inheritance in Heaven Dou City. It was none other than the Tang Sect."

"And your Second Trial is to go to Heaven Dou City and destroy the Tang Sect completely."

Tang San felt relieved. Thank goodness he wasn't being sent to confront Buddha Tang right now.

He had thought he would have to wait a long, long time—until he found a way to take human form, and until he had established himself on this continent—before destroying the counterfeit Tang Sect.

"Bamboo God senior, how strong is the Tang Sect now?" Tang San considered many things in that moment.

The third tenet of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Make sure your opponent is your enemy. If they deserve death, show no mercy, or you'll only bring trouble upon yourself.

This damn counterfeit Tang Sect clearly fit that tenet!

It had stolen the true Tang Sect Secret Arts, impersonated the legitimate Tang Sect, and carried on for ten thousand years.

Every generation of its disciples had studied stolen arts and used stolen goods.

Their very existence was an insult to the Tang Sect. People like them were a waste of air. Only death could bring them release!

Feng Yan said, "The Tang Sect has long since lost its former prestige. With your hundred-thousand-year cultivation, uprooting it and erasing its legacy won't be difficult."

"The real challenge is... how you'll get to Heaven Dou City in the body of a Soul Beast."

Even so, Feng Yan was looking forward to seeing it happen.

The Tang Sect's destruction at the hands of the Iron Blood Sect was only a matter of time. But what if someone else did it?

What if Tang San from his previous life, brimming with hatred, personally destroyed the Tang Sect founded by God King Tang San? Now that was an excellent plot.

Hearing this, Tang San pleaded earnestly, "I beg you, Bamboo God senior, please guide me. I'll be deeply grateful."

Feng Yan replied indifferently, "There's no need for guidance. You only need to complete the Bamboo God's Third Trial. As for gratitude? I have no need for such a thing."

With that, he flicked a finger, and another thread of divine power entered Tang San's body.

Tang San felt a gentle force spreading through him. His weakness vanished at once, and his body seemed to return to its former state.

Was this the strength of the Bamboo God senior?

With a flick of his finger, he had restored Tang San, a Soul Beast with a hundred thousand years of cultivation, from utter exhaustion to his peak.

And such a being was only a Second-Level God. Just how powerful was Buddha Tang, who stood at the very summit?

No...

It was too soon to think about that. His most urgent task was to complete the Second Trial and make the counterfeit Tang Sect disappear from this world.

"Forget it. In your Soul Beast body, breaking into Heaven Dou City would be far too difficult."

Seeing that Tang San seemed unsure of himself, Feng Yan sighed with deliberate regret. "I'll make an exception and open a back door for you, personally taking you to Heaven Dou City. Consider it a final act of kindness between us."

Tang San was instantly moved. His earlier disgrace had long since been cast beyond the nine heavens.

He truly had to thank the Grandmaster for letting him, Young Master Tang San, meet such a kind Bamboo God senior—one who was even willing to open a back door for him.

Seeing Tang San overwhelmed with gratitude, Feng Yan could barely contain his smile.

Yes, just like that!

The more grateful, the better! The more trusting, the better!

This Little Scumbag still thought he was helping him with genuine sincerity... And, of course, as far as the result went, he really was helping.

But the reason had never been that he was "moved by a selfless heart."

Moved? Him, the dignified God of Fire, moved by a female spider mating?

Things weren't going to be that simple!

He hadn't lied to Tang San. The Tang Sect really was easy to destroy.

But there were plenty of Titled Douluo in Heaven Dou City. What if they found out that a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast had suddenly appeared in the city...

Heh heh heh...

The risk was a little high, but without risk, would it even count as a trial?