The Defection Succeeds, the Tang Sect Becomes a Thing of the Past

With the crisis averted, Tang Tian's tense body instantly slumped. Forcing himself to ignore his injuries, he pulled Lan Bing and Tang Ya close and bowed deeply to Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan, his voice raspy yet earnest.

"Many thanks to you both for your intervention. Words cannot express our gratitude; the Tang Sect will never forget this kindness!"

Lan Bing nodded hurriedly in agreement, her eyes brimming with gratitude.

Beside them, Tang Ya remained silent. She simply stared with wide eyes, locked onto Cao Longyan, her gaze filled with a mixture of curiosity and distraction.

This red-haired youth appeared even younger than she was, yet the strength he displayed was far superior. The two giants he had summoned were formidable, possessing an astonishing presence.

But then, a thought struck her: they were disciples of Shrek. In the past, Shrek had always stood by while the declining Tang Sect was bullied by other factions, refusing to lift a finger. Her eyes instantly ignited with fury, and she glared at Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan, her expression hardening with resistance and resentment.

The atmosphere in the air turned awkward. Sensing his daughter's sudden shift, Tang Tian tugged at Tang Ya's sleeve and hissed in a low voice.

"Xiao Ya, show some respect! They are our saviors! And they are from Shrek!"

Tang Ya bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the Shrek token in Zhang Lexuan's hand. She ultimately said nothing, but her face remained etched with hostility.

To everyone's surprise, Cao Longyan's expression remained cold. He raised a hand to cut off their thanks, offering no pleasantries. His tone was as sharp as a blade, piercing straight into the hearts of the three.

"Don't thank us. This is merely what a Shrek disciple is expected to do. But I have a question for you... Is the Tang Sect truly worth risking your lives to protect?"

The words struck like a thunderclap. The gratitude on the faces of Tang Tian and his wife froze instantly; their smiles stiffened, and their eyes grew vacant, unable to formulate an answer.

They had spent their entire lives upholding the Tang Sect, guarding this legacy, never once questioning it...

Was this devotion truly worth it?

Looking at the decaying Tang Sect before them, at their own wounded family, and at the external enemies lurking in the shadows, they fell into a heavy silence, feeling the first stirrings of doubt in their hearts.

"Of course it is!"

A crisp, firm voice rang out. Tang Ya was the first to step out from behind Lan Bing. Her small frame stood straight, her face full of stubbornness, and her eyes flashed with a fanatical light.

She walked up to Cao Longyan, standing half a head taller than him, and looked down at him. Her gaze was burning, her tone resolute as she argued, her face glowing with pride.

"The Tang Sect was founded by our ancestor, Sea God Tang San. It is the greatest sect! The ancestor possessed boundless divine power; he created the glory of the Tang Sect ten thousand years ago. To protect the Tang Sect is to protect the ancestor's legacy—it is to protect hope! As long as we persist, the Tang Sect will surely regain its former glory. The ancestor will surely watch over us!"

She spoke with passionate fervor, her words filled with blind worship for Tang San, as if he were an omnipotent savior who would resolve their current plight if only they remained devout.

This naive and stubborn worship made Cao Longyan sneer coldly. He shook his head, a flicker of mockery crossing his eyes.

"Hmph, Tang San?"

Cao Longyan stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he locked eyes with Tang Ya. They were so close they could feel each other's breath. He fired off a series of questions that struck at the core.

"Has the ancestor you speak of, Tang San, ever truly planned for the future of the Tang Sect? Has he considered the sect a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand years down the line? After he ascended to godhood, he vanished without a trace, leaving the Tang Sect to decay step by step, leaving his descendants to be bullied by other factions. Has he ever truly cared for you, his descendants?"

Tang Ya's face turned deathly pale. Her lips trembled, and she tried to retort, but Cao Longyan's next words left her speechless.

"Back then, Tang San promised that the Four Great Clans and the Clear Sky Sect would share in the Tang Sect's honor and disgrace, living and dying together."

Cao Longyan's voice grew colder, each word landing like a heavy hammer on their hearts.

"But what of them now? Where are the Four Great Clans and the Clear Sky Sect? Haven't they all vanished? They watched the Tang Sect fall into the abyss without ever reaching out a hand. Is this the 'shared honor and disgrace' Tang San spoke of? Is this the hope Tang San left for his descendants?"

"And you—you are truly naive. You don't even understand the relationship between Shrek and the Tang Sect, or between Shrek and Tang San, yet you harbor this mindless resentment toward Shrek for not intervening. Heh..."

The barrage of questions was soul-crushing.

Tang Ya stood frozen, her face as white as paper. The fanaticism and stubbornness in her eyes faded, replaced by bewilderment and confusion. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she could not utter a single word.

Tang Tian and his wife hung their heads in a chilling silence, their fingernails digging so deeply into their palms that they didn't even notice the blood seeping out.

Deep within, they were experiencing a brutal collision between harsh reality and beautiful fantasy...

For years, they had sustained themselves on the belief that "Ancestor Tang San will protect the Tang Sect" and "there is hope as long as we guard the legacy." But Cao Longyan's words had shattered that illusion into pieces.

Standing to the side, Zhang Lexuan was also deeply moved by Cao Longyan's words, falling into deep contemplation.

As a noble of the Heaven Dou Empire, she had heard the elders speak of the Tang Sect's rise and fall since childhood. She knew of the sect's recent hardships and the cold indifference of the Four Great Clans and the Clear Sky Sect.

She had never blindly worshipped Tang San, viewing him only as a legendary powerhouse. But now, Cao Longyan's questioning allowed her to see a side of Tang San that few ever acknowledged.

He had focused solely on his own ascension to godhood, enjoying supreme glory, while abandoning the sect he had founded and the descendants he left behind. How incredibly selfish.

Cao Longyan never imagined that the first person he would help break free from Tang San's chessboard was Zhang Lexuan, someone who had no connection to him at all.

At this moment, Zhang Lexuan's gaze gradually grew firm, and the look she directed at Cao Longyan held a newfound sense of recognition and admiration.

She suddenly understood that everything her brother Longyan did was never on a whim, but part of a long-term plan—and that Tang San was never an idol worth following.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Cao Longyan did not hesitate. His tone was calm yet possessed a piercing quality, tearing away the truth they were unwilling to face.

"You all know in your hearts that Tang San never truly cared for the Tang Sect. He founded it only to establish a foothold on the continent and to oppose Spirit Hall. Once he became a god, he cast the Tang Sect aside. What you are guarding is not hope; it is a self-deceptive dream woven by Tang San."

These words completely shattered their final psychological defenses.

Tang Tian shuddered, stumbling back a step, his eyes filled with despair and collapse.

He... the belief he had guarded his entire life was nothing more than a dream.

Lan Bing covered her mouth, tears sliding down silently. Years of grievances and suppressed resentment erupted in that moment.

Tang Ya burst into loud sobs, murmuring through her tears.

"Impossible... the ancestor isn't like that... it can't be... the Tang Sect I know isn't like this..."

Watching their beliefs crumble, Cao Longyan felt no pity, only the composure of one who held everything in his grasp.

This was the effect he wanted! The time had come!

He spoke slowly, his tone softening as he offered an olive branch at the perfect moment.

"The shattered dream is not necessarily a bad thing. I am giving you a choice now: take the remaining heritage of the Tang Sect and return to Shrek with He Lexuan and me."

He paused, laying his ambitions bare.

"I intend to use the Tang Sect's foundation to build a force of my own. This force will have no shackles of ancestral inheritance, no selfish leaders. Its sole purpose will be to never fail a good person, and never let a bad person go. Are you willing to join me in breaking the old order left behind by Tang San?"

As his voice fell, Tang Tian and his wife slowly raised their heads. The despair in their eyes faded, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

Tang Ya also stopped crying. She lifted her tear-stained face, her eyes shining as she looked at Cao Longyan.

Though this red-haired youth was young, he possessed a courage and vision far beyond his peers. His words were like a beam of light, illuminating their dark path forward.

After a moment of hesitation, Tang Tian frowned, his tone laced with concern.

"That... we are willing to follow you, but the Tang Sect's heritage was passed down by our ancestors. If we merge it into your faction, we... we fear we would be failing our predecessors..."

This was the final concern in their hearts, the bottom line they had defended for years.

Hearing this, Cao Longyan smiled faintly, his tone overbearing yet insightful.

"Failing the ancestors? The current heritage of the Tang Sect was never some ancestral legacy. When the sect declined, when external forces eyed you like tigers, and when you lacked the strength yourselves, it was your family that held on through the bitterness and gave your all to preserve it. This persistence was bought with your lives; this heritage belongs to you by right."

In truth, Cao Longyan had long since seen through the strengths of Tang Tian and his wife.

To be able to guard the remnants of the Tang Sect in a desperate situation and fend off external greed meant that even if they lacked raw power, they possessed unique methods or exceptional intellect.

His invitation was never born of kindness, but of a desire for their abilities—he was simply recruiting talent to build his own foundation.

Cao Longyan's words completely dispelled the couple's concerns.

Zhang Lexuan looked at the youth before her, her eyes filled with emotion and joy.

Brother Longyan's ability to see through to the essence, his awe-inspiring dominance, his vision and courage—he is a born leader!

Tang Tian and his wife were also filled with sincere admiration. They bowed deeply to Cao Longyan, their voices firm.

"Very well, we are willing to follow you and pledge our lives to your cause!"

"No need for such formality; I'm not accustomed to such gestures."

Cao Longyan said with a smile. He had wanted to help them up, but his height simply wouldn't allow it!

"We don't know much about you yet. Could you tell us? It's fine if you'd rather not."

Tang Tian couldn't help but ask. Though he had decided to follow him, he still wanted to understand this young leader better.

Cao Longyan smiled faintly.

"My name is Cao Longyan, or you can call me Longyan. I am six years old, the great-grandson of the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek. I spend most of my time on Shrek's Sea God Island. My Martial Soul is the Ten Halls of Yama, and I possess the Ultimate Fire and the True Dragon bloodline."

At these words, Tang Tian and his wife were utterly shocked, their eyes filled with disbelief.

At six years old, to possess such strength, vision, talent, and background—he was a prodigy among prodigies! They felt even more fortunate in their choice; by following such a leader, they finally had a bright path ahead.

Tang Ya also looked at Cao Longyan with eyes full of worship. In her young heart, the hypocritical image of Tang San had already been cast aside. At this moment, Cao Longyan was the idol in her heart, the powerhouse she wished to follow.

Zhang Lexuan watched the scene, a smile gracing her face. She knew that a force with Cao Longyan at its core would one day stand at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent!

Cao Longyan nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the distance. A flicker of resolve crossed his eyes as he slowly uttered the name he had already decided upon... Rakshasa Street!

Tang San, Cao Longyan sneered inwardly, look—the Tang Sect you founded has now become the stepping stone for the force I am building! The establishment of Rakshasa Street is merely the first step in overturning your chessboard. One day, I will make you see everything you cherish dismantled piece by piece. There will be no more Tang Sect in this world, and no more myth of you, Tang San!

Within the fireball, a vague, imposing figure nodded slightly, casting a look of approval and appreciation.

This little one has a bit of the demeanor I once had.

Douluo God Realm

Tang San: "My destined Child of Luck—why has his radiance dimmed?! No, wait! What about my Tang Sect?! Why has the light of the Tang Sect been extinguished entirely?!"