Tang San's Bewilderment

Spirit Hall, Angel God Mountain.

This was the most sacred place in Spirit Hall, where only the Great High Priest Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue could set foot.

Golden light spilled down from the dome, illuminating the entire temple.

In the very center stood a statue of the Angel God, ten zhang tall, its six wings spread wide, its face holy and majestic.

A golden-haired man knelt before the statue. He was handsome, appearing to be only in his thirties, yet his eyes held the weight of a century of vicissitudes.

His aura was incredibly gentle, warm as sunlight; he was none other than the rank 99 Limit Douluo, Qian Daoliu.

"Respected Angel God, what are your instructions?"

Qian Daoliu's voice echoed through the empty temple.

He had sat here in meditation for three days and three nights, awaiting a divine revelation.

The statue of the Angel God emitted a faint golden glow.

The light was not blinding, and then a voice resonated directly within Qian Daoliu's mind. The voice was genderless, ethereal and distant, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.

"The tournament, Yang Teng. Xiaoxue must get close to him to avoid a future life-or-death calamity!"

Qian Daoliu's eyes snapped open.

"A life-or-death calamity?!"

The words escaped his lips before he could stop them. His gentle aura fluctuated instantly, causing the air in the temple to stagnate.

"Who could threaten Xiaoxue? Is it the Clear Sky Sect? Or Sea God Island?"

He forced himself to calm his aura, but the shock in his heart surged like a tidal wave.

Qian Renxue was his only granddaughter and the final hope of the Angel clan; he had seen her potential himself.

Yet now, the Angel God had personally issued a warning that Qian Renxue would face a life-or-death calamity in the future?

The golden light of the statue gradually dimmed, and the voice did not sound again.

Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and knelt once more in salute.

"Yes, respected Angel God!"

He rose slowly, his golden robes flowing in the light. His gaze shifted from gentle to sharp—the keen edge befitting the peerless Douluo who was invincible in the sky.

"Yang Teng..."

He repeated the name in a low voice.

"The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament... Xiaoxue must get close to him."

Though he did not understand why, the God's instructions had to be obeyed. Qian Daoliu turned and left the temple.

At the same time, deep within Spirit Hall, in a dark, secret chamber.

Violet liquid churned in a massive bath, emitting a strange fragrance and intense fluctuations of spirit power.

In the pool, a woman of breathtaking beauty soaked with her eyes closed, her black hair spread out like seaweed.

She was the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong.

She was naked, her skin fair and translucent, like a silent, snow-capped mountain.

Above her hung several cocoons wrapped in spider silk. Vague human shapes could be discerned, but they held no signs of life; these were spirit masters she had devoured using the power of the Rakshasa God.

Bibi Dong suddenly opened her eyes.

Pain and struggle flashed through her violet pupils. In her mind, a cold, sharp voice echoed repeatedly:

"Do not touch Yang Teng, or you shall die!"

It was the warning of the Rakshasa God. Just moments ago, as she performed the Nine Trials of Rakshasa, this warning had pierced her consciousness like a dagger.

"Why..."

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, the violet liquid roiling in response to her emotional turmoil.

"The Rakshasa God warns me before the tournament—could this Yang Teng merely be a junior participating in the spirit master tournament?"

She clutched her forehead, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Bibi Dong's thoughts raced.

It seemed that on the roster for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, there was indeed a boy named Yang Teng in the Tianshui Academy team.

Could such a "junior" actually warrant a personal warning from the Rakshasa God?

"Even a deity fears him..."

Bibi Dong muttered to herself, her expression grim.

"What kind of background does he have?"

She thought of Qian Daoliu; that old man seemed to be preparing for something lately. Could he, too, have received a revelation from the Angel God?

Bibi Dong stood up from the bath, the violet liquid sliding off her perfect curves. With a wave of her hand, a magnificent papal robe draped itself over her body.

"Yang Teng..."

She recited the name, a complex light flashing in her eyes.

"I must see for myself exactly what kind of sacred being you are."

Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy.

On the training grounds, the Shrek Seven Devils were undergoing their final synchronization drills.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun worked with seamless coordination, their soul power fluctuations rising and falling in rhythm.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the direction of the academy gates.

"Tang San! Get your ass out here, you prince!"

An arrogant voice rang throughout the entire academy.

A young man dressed in luxurious brocade robes stood there with a haughty expression; it was none other than Liu Qingfeng, the prince of the Balaque Kingdom.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man clad in dark gold armor: the Guardian Hand, Iron Rock Douluo Tie Zhan.

The Golden Iron Triangle instantly stepped in front of Tang San.

Flender pushed up his glasses, his face grave.

"Your Highness, to what do we owe the honor of your visit?"

Liu Qingfeng ignored him, his gaze fixed intently on the man named Tang San.

After a few seconds, he frowned, muttering to himself.

Why does this Tang San look like this? He looks nothing like the one from that day...

"Are you Tang San?"

Liu Qingfeng asked.

"I am."

Tang San stepped forward, neither servile nor overbearing.

"May I ask why Your Highness is looking for me?"

"Why?"

Liu Qingfeng sneered.

"After the humiliation you dealt me at the dessert shop and telling me to come find you, you dare ask why?"

He waved his hand. "Seize him!"

The Guardian Hand's nine soul rings instantly flared to life: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.

The pressure of a Title Douluo swept across the field like a landslide or a tsunami. The Shrek Seven Devils retreated in unison, and the weaker Oscar and Ning Rongrong turned pale.

Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang gritted their teeth, struggling to hold their ground.

As Soul Saints—and in Yu Xiaogang's case, someone who had barely even broken through to the Soul Master level—they were simply no match for a Title Douluo.

"Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding!"

Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice.

"Tang San has been training at the academy the entire time and has never left Heaven Dou City. How could he possibly have appeared in the Balaque Kingdom!"

Liu Qingfeng grew impatient. He knew he had clearly been played by that person, but he couldn't just slink away in defeat.

"Guardian Hand, do it!"

Just as Tie Zhan was about to step forward, a mocking voice suddenly rang out.

"Yo, who is this, daring to run wild in my Shrek Academy?"

Green poisonous mist appeared out of thin air, and an old man in dark green robes walked slowly toward them, his face gaunt.

It was Shrek's guest elder, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.

A level 92 soul power fluctuation radiated outward. He was one level higher than Tie Zhan, and his poison was notoriously troublesome; even Title Douluos several levels higher than him were unwilling to tangle with such an opponent.

Flender instantly regained his confidence and straightened his back. "Senior Dugu!"

Dugu Bo nodded slightly, then looked at Liu Qingfeng and Tie Zhan, speaking indifferently.

"Tang San is my brother. Whoever dares to bully him is making an enemy of me, Dugu Bo!"

Tie Zhan's pupils constricted.

He had not expected Shrek Academy to be so prosperous now that they could recruit a recluse like Dugu Bo.

The Poison Douluo's level was already higher than his, and with that difficult poison technique, he certainly wouldn't gain any advantage if they fought.

Tie Zhan took a deep breath and stepped in front of Liu Qingfeng. He knew that today's mission would likely end in failure.

"Your Highness," he whispered.

"With the Poison Douluo here, it is unwise to force the issue."

Liu Qingfeng gritted his teeth and finally flicked his sleeve violently.

"Let's go!"

Dugu Bo watched their retreating figures and let out a cold snort.

"The Balaque Kingdom... is forgetting its place more and more."

He turned to Tang San, his tone softening slightly.

"Kid, what kind of trouble have you stirred up again?"

Tang San wore a bitter smile.

"Senior, I truly don't know. I haven't even been to the Balaque Kingdom."

He also found it strange; Tang San hadn't left the academy recently, so how could he have been in the Balaque Kingdom thousands of miles away?

"Could it be..."

Tang San muttered to himself.

"Someone is framing me?"

He looked into the distance, his eyes growing deep.

"What a despicable wretch!"