Deep in the Soul Beast Forest, dense canopies blotted out the sky. Dappled light fell across the ground strewn with rotting leaves, lending the place a deathly stillness.
Tang San moved alone through the shadowy undergrowth. His steps were hurried but silent, and his aura was suppressed to the extreme. His usually gentle face was now twisted by overwhelming hatred and malice, venomous resentment roiling in his eyes until it seemed almost tangible.
Exposed in front of everyone for manipulating Soul Beasts to harm his companions, branded a traitor despised by the entire Shrek team, then driven from the group by Zhao Wuji and left alone in the perilous Soul Beast Forest—this humiliation was the greatest disgrace he had suffered since arriving in this world!
Once the favored genius of the Tang Sect in his previous life, now a genius with Twin Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent, he had always planned for every contingency and moved carefully at every turn. When had he ever been reduced to such a sorry state?
First, the bandits' ambush had been easily foiled by Lin Chen, leaving his entire plan in ruins. Then he had meticulously lured out a thousand-year-old Datura Snake, hoping to poison Lin Chen and cripple his cultivation. But Lin Chen had proved powerful enough to crush a thousand-year Soul Beast, and had seen through every one of his schemes at a glance, exposing his vile nature for all to see.
His companions' accusations and disgust, Zhao Wuji's harsh punishment, and Lin Chen's cold, indifferent gaze—as if he were looking at a clown—all echoed through his mind again and again. Each time he remembered them, the hatred in his heart grew stronger.
"Lin Chen... This is all because of you!"
Tang San clenched both fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. He didn't even notice the blood seeping out as the Soul Power around him surged violently, making the nearby plants tremble. He hurried to a secluded cave and warily surveyed his surroundings. Only after confirming that no Soul Beasts or other people were nearby did he slip inside. He quickly found stones to block the entrance, leaving only a narrow crack for air.
The cave was dim and damp, with the smell of earth and mildew hanging in the air. Tang San sat cross-legged on the cold ground and drew a deep breath, forcing down his churning emotions. Slowly, he reached for the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist.
His fingertips brushed the warm Storage Soul Tool. His expression grew grave as he slowly poured Soul Power into it. In the next moment, several fragments of metal, glinting with cold light and exquisitely crafted yet radiating deadly menace, floated before him.
They were fragments of the unfinished Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus!
After arriving on the Douluo Continent, he had used his memories of the Tang Sect from his previous life to gather rare metals and forge this prototype Hidden Weapon, piece by painstaking piece, at the cost of untold effort. The Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus was one of the Tang Sect's peerless Hidden Weapons, its might astonishing. Even unfinished, it could kill a Soul Elder instantly if detonated. Even a Soul Ancestor would be gravely injured if caught off guard!
He had originally planned to complete the Hidden Weapon and keep it as his ultimate trump card, never using it unless his life was at stake. But now, against Lin Chen, whose strength was unfathomable and who had foiled every one of his schemes, ordinary methods were useless. Only this ultimate killing weapon could avenge his humiliation and erase Lin Chen once and for all!
"Lin Chen, aren't you so powerful? Can't you see through my schemes with ease?" Tang San stared at the fragments before him, a vicious smile curling his lips. His voice was hoarse, like a ghost's. "This Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus is a peerless killing weapon of my Tang Sect. No matter how capable you are, facing it, you'll have no way out but death!"
He bit his fingertip and squeezed out a drop of blood essence. Pointing into the air, he slowly infused the blood into each metal fragment, while channeling his Soul Power and the life energy of his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to nurture them day and night.
As the blood essence seeped in, a faint red glow appeared across the once-cold metal fragments. Their fit rapidly improved, and they seemed on the verge of joining together. A heart-stopping aura of deadly menace gradually filled the air. Though the weapon was still unfinished, its aura of destruction was so intense that the cave's temperature dropped several degrees.
To ensure he could kill Lin Chen with one blow, Tang San didn't dare slacken for a moment. He devoted himself entirely to nurturing and forging the Hidden Weapon. He could clearly feel the Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus growing more powerful with every passing moment. Given a little more time, he would fuse the fragments completely—and gain the absolute power to slay Lin Chen!
He would wait for the perfect moment, for the instant Lin Chen let down his guard, and strike him with a fatal blow!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Lin Chen led the Shrek group onward at a steady pace. After the two earlier upheavals, the atmosphere within the team had changed completely.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar had abandoned their last traces of doubt about Lin Chen, replaced by sincere respect and trust. They now instinctively followed his instructions. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong were even more devoted to Lin Chen, never leaving his side and gazing at him with admiration and fondness.
The entire Shrek team had grown closer than ever, and their teamwork was becoming more and more seamless.
Lin Chen walked at the head of the group, dark Soul Power lingering around him. Though he seemed to be proceeding calmly, his spiritual sense was fully extended, taking in every movement within several thousand meters.
Of course, he wouldn't let his guard down around Tang San.
As someone who had transmigrated, he knew better than anyone how patient and ruthless Tang San could be. After two failed schemes, being driven from the group and suffering such humiliation, Tang San would never let it go. He was bound to be preparing an even more terrifying counterattack.
When Tang San had left earlier, Lin Chen had clearly sensed a deep killing intent hidden in his eyes. It hadn't come from his Martial Soul or a Soul Skill, but from an extremely subtle yet deadly aura. Clearly, Tang San had used some kind of trump card that no one else knew about.
"Brother Chen, what are you thinking about?" Xiao Wu bounced over to Lin Chen, tilting her little head as she asked curiously. The fear left by the Datura Snake's ambush had long since been dispelled by the sense of security Lin Chen's fierce protectiveness had given her. She had already returned to her usual liveliness.
Ning Rongrong hurried to catch up as well, the Seven-Colored Glazed Pagoda turning gently in her palm. "Lin Chen, are you still worried about Tang San? That guy's devious and cunning. Now that he's been kicked out of the group, he definitely won't let this go. Should we take extra precautions?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, but she too stopped and looked at Lin Chen with cool eyes, clearly waiting for his reply. Soul Power from her Hell Spirit Cat stirred faintly around her as she stayed alert.
Lin Chen stopped and turned to the others. His gaze was calm, yet brimming with confidence. "Tang San is at the end of his rope. He won't make much trouble. Still, it's best to be cautious. As we continue our training, stay close to the group and don't go off alone. If anything seems amiss, come to me at once."
He paused. Soul Power stirred faintly around him, and a steady, powerful presence spread out, calming everyone. "With me here, whatever tricks he tries, I can easily break them. I tore his schemes to shreds before, and I'll turn every one of his plans to dust again."
At his words, the last of the Shrek team's worries vanished.
They had all witnessed Lin Chen's strength: he had slain a thousand-year-old Datura Snake with a single move and seen through Tang San's plot at a glance. With a leader this powerful and dependable, they had no reason to fear any danger.
"Brother Chen is right! If Tang San tries any more tricks, I'll slap him flying with one paw!" Xiao Wu declared, waving her dainty fist, unwilling to back down.
"Exactly! With Lin Chen here, we have nothing to fear!" Ma Hongjun thumped his chest, Phoenix Fire Line flickering faintly around him as his fighting spirit soared. "Now we can focus on training and getting stronger, without that despicable villain dragging us down!"
Dai Mubai nodded, the White Tiger Martial Soul gathering power within him. "We'll follow Lin Chen's lead. From here on, we'll hunt suitable Soul Beasts with all our strength and improve as a team. If Tang San dares to come looking for death, we'll take him down together and hand him over to Teacher Zhao!"
Oscar clenched the sausages in his hand and said earnestly, "I'll keep Recovery Sausages and Flight Sausages ready at all times to maintain everyone's fighting strength. I won't give Tang San a chance to take advantage of us!"
Seeing how united they were, Lin Chen gave a slight nod, a look of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
After enduring all those trials, the Shrek team had finally begun to take shape as a top-tier team. Tang San was nothing more than a stepping-stone on their path to growth. Nothing more.
"Let's keep moving and head deeper into the forest. The Soul Beasts in this area aren't old enough to be suitable for our training anymore. Finding suitable Soul Beasts and improving our strength is what matters most."
Lin Chen waved them onward and led the way once more. The others followed close behind, their steps firm and Soul Power surging around them, their spirits bright and high.
Sunlight pierced the layers of canopy and fell upon them, filling them with warmth. It stood in stark contrast to the bone-chilling killing intent in the distant cave.
A life-and-death battle was quietly taking shape.
Tang San nurtured the Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus night and day in secret, his murderous intent growing stronger. Meanwhile, Lin Chen led the Shrek group in steady training, their strength steadily increasing as they awaited the villain's counterattack.
No one knew that the next time they met, the ultimate Hidden Weapon would collide head-on with overwhelming strength. That clash would bring their feud to a final end and unleash a storm so fierce it would shake the entire Soul Beast Forest!
Before you continue