Qian Renxue

After hearing Yu Xiaogang's analysis, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others beside him turned deathly pale.

"How... how are we supposed to fight that?"

Oscar's voice trembled, his eyes full of anxiety.

"A level-99 Peerless Douluo, plus an evolved Primordial Martial Soul and a hundred-thousand-year torso bone... He's practically a monster!"

"There's no one in the Heaven Dou Empire who could withstand even one of his blows, is there?"

Ma Hongjun, standing nearby, shrank his neck. His high spirits had been doused in icy water.

"I was actually planning to lead the charge in the battles ahead and earn myself some great merit."

"But now that I think about it... I'd better stay back and keep my head down. If I run into Golden Crocodile Douluo, I probably won't even know how I died."

Clearly, Golden Crocodile Douluo's extravagant reward had frightened Ma Hongjun.

For a moment, fear and unease spread rapidly among the Shrek group.

Watching everyone panic, Tang San, seated nearby, furrowed his brow slightly.

He slowly rose to his feet. A faint blue divine light radiated from him, dispelling the clamor and fear around them.

"Don't panic."

Tang San looked at the others, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes.

"No matter how powerful his Martial Soul is or how high his cultivation is, he's still just a mortal—a Titled Douluo."

"And I am someone who is about to become a god."

"Beneath the gods, all are ants."

"No matter how strong mortals become, before a god, they're nothing but specks of dust—perhaps a little sturdier than most."

"Once I inherit the Sea God Godhood, suppressing a mere level-99 Peerless Douluo will take no more than a flick of my hand."

Every word Tang San spoke rang out with conviction, brimming with absolute faith in and yearning for divine power.

Hearing him say this, the Shrek group, who had been in a panic, immediately felt a weight lift from their shoulders and breathed sighs of relief.

"Right! How could we forget that?"

Ma Hongjun slapped his thigh and burst out laughing, the gloom on his face vanishing in an instant.

"Third Brother is the Sea God's successor. He's going to become a god!"

"With Third Brother here, what the hell do we have to fear from Golden Crocodile Douluo?"

Oscar chuckled too, visibly relaxing.

"Haha, exactly! So what if he's level 99? Before a god, he's just a bigger joke!"

"Third Brother, we're counting on you for the battles ahead!"

A breeze swept over the ridge, carrying the rich scent of earth.

Tang Xiao had already left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with Ah Yin, without a sound.

Now the two of them stood atop an extremely high mountain peak.

From here, the distant mountains, rivers, and streams stretched out beneath them, looking incredibly small.

Ah Yin tilted her head slightly and gazed at the enormous Golden Ranking List hanging in the sky. Worry was written across her lovely face.

Her brows were drawn tightly together, and anxious light flickered in her eyes.

"Spirit Hall... Their strength is about to grow even greater."

Ah Yin's voice was quiet, but it trembled.

The tragedy of that year remained a shadow in her heart, one she had never managed to escape.

Spirit Hall's pursuit had forced her to sacrifice herself, separating her from her beloved and tearing her away from her child.

Now that Spirit Hall's Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, had made the list and received such an outrageously powerful reward, how could she not worry?

A level-99 Peerless Douluo, together with the Primordial Golden Crocodile Ancestor Spirit and a hundred-thousand-year torso bone.

With strength like that, he was practically a force of destruction in the Douluo Continent as it stood today.

Feeling his mother's anxiety and fear, Tang Xiao reached out and gently clasped Ah Yin's still-illusory hand.

His palm was warm, and a steady stream of reassuring strength flowed from it.

"Mother, don't worry."

Tang Xiao looked at Ah Yin, his voice gentle yet brimming with confidence.

"With me here, no one in this world will ever hurt you again."

"Spirit Hall, Peerless Douluo—none of them are anything but dust that I could wipe away with a breath."

Hearing her son comfort her like this, Ah Yin felt a little warmth in her heart.

Still, she could not set her worries aside, and let out a soft sigh.

"Xiao'er, you may be powerful, but Spirit Hall has been passed down for ten thousand years and has deep foundations."

"Besides, neither Bibi Dong nor Qian Daoliu is easy to deal with."

"If they learn you exist, they'll see you as a thorn in their side, a splinter in their flesh, and do everything they can to get rid of you."

Concern filled Ah Yin's eyes. She feared her eldest son would suffer the same fate she had.

At her words, Tang Xiao merely smiled faintly.

He turned to look toward the distant horizon and said calmly:

"Mother, you're worrying too much."

"Besides, I have a wife in Spirit Hall: Qian Renxue."

"I won't let Spirit Hall become our enemy, and they wouldn't dare."

Those words struck Ah Yin like a bolt of lightning, leaving her rooted to the spot.

Her eyes slowly widened, filled with shock and alarm.

"You... what did you say?"

"Qian Renxue?"

Ah Yin's voice rose an octave, and her body trembled with tension.

"She's Qian Xunji's daughter?"

Seeing his mother's fierce reaction, Tang Xiao nodded gently.

"Yes. She's Qian Xunji's daughter, and Spirit Hall's current young mistress."

After receiving his confirmation, Ah Yin's face turned deathly pale. Wariness and pain filled her eyes.

The one who had driven her to her death and forced her to sacrifice herself was none other than Qian Xunji!

He was the person she hated most in all her life!

And yet her eldest son had married his daughter?

Ah Yin lost control of her emotions. She grabbed Tang Xiao's arm and cried out urgently:

"Xiao'er! How could you be with her?"

"Humans can't be trusted, especially people from Spirit Hall!"

"They're greedy, selfish, and cruel! For Soul Rings and Soul Bones, there's nothing they wouldn't do!"

"Have you forgotten how Qian Xunji treated me?"

"Qian Renxue is his daughter. His blood runs through her veins. How could you marry her?"

Ah Yin's voice broke with tears, carrying a fear and hatred that had sunk deep into her bones.

In her eyes, anyone from Spirit Hall who approached her son had to be plotting something, hoping to seize his Soul Rings and Soul Bones.

Watching his mother grow so agitated, Tang Xiao did not get angry.

He understood the pain and shadows in Ah Yin's heart.

After all, what had happened back then had wounded her far too deeply.

Tang Xiao reached out with his other hand and gently patted the back of Ah Yin's hand, patiently explaining:

"Mother, calm down first and let me explain."

"Qian Renxue is different from Qian Xunji."

"She grew up by my side. We cultivated together and weathered storms together."

"She has a pure heart, and she's devoted to me. She's never had any ulterior motives."

"Besides, she hadn't even been born when those events happened. That blood debt shouldn't be laid at her feet."