Late at night, during the Hour of the Rat.
South of Suotuo City, in an abandoned blacksmith's shop.
The battered wooden door creaked in the night wind. Moonlight spilled through the damaged roof, casting mottled shadows across the floor.
The air was thick with the smell of rust and dust. All around him, it was so quiet that he could hear only the chirping of insects and the beat of his own heart.
Tang San stood in the middle of the blacksmith's shop, warily scanning his surroundings. He had arrived on time, but the mysterious figure had yet to appear.
He wasn't someone who trusted others easily. The first rule the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record had taught him was never to trust information that came unsolicited.
But this time, he had no choice but to come. The information the mysterious figure had mentioned had struck precisely at his weak point.
Yi Chen's appearance, Xiao Wu's change—everything unsettled him.
Rustle.
A faint footstep sounded behind him.
Tang San spun around. The Mysterious Heaven Skill surged into motion within him, and he readied himself to strike at any moment.
The mysterious figure in the gray cloak emerged from the shadows, walking at ease, as if strolling through his own courtyard.
He stopped ten yards in front of Tang San. Beneath his hood, a pale chin came into view.
"You're right on time," the mysterious figure said, his voice as hoarse and low as before.
"You asked me here. What do you want to say?" Tang San got straight to the point, making no attempt at small talk.
The mysterious figure fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Tang San, how much do you know about that man called Yi Chen?"
Tang San furrowed his brow. "I've already told you. I don't know much."
"Then let me tell you." The mysterious figure's voice deepened. "Yi Chen doesn't belong to this world."
Tang San's pupils contracted sharply.
"He isn't from Douluo Continent. He doesn't even belong to this plane," the mysterious figure continued.
"He came from somewhere beyond your imagination, and arrived here with a special purpose. Everything he's done—promoting that game called Golden Spatula, taking disciples, winning over the various factions—is all just to complete his mission."
Tang San's heart began to race. Instinctively, he wanted to doubt the claim, but deep down, a voice told him it was true.
It was the only explanation for how Yi Chen could be so young yet possess such terrifying strength, and for how he knew so many things and abilities Tang San had never even heard of.
"What's his purpose?" Tang San asked gravely.
"To change the order of this world." A trace of chill crept into the mysterious figure's voice.
"His game will completely overturn Douluo Continent's existing power system before long. When that happens, traditional cultivation methods will be eliminated. Spirit Masters won't need to hunt Soul Beasts for Soul Rings anymore. They'll gain power by playing games instead. The entire continent's order will be rewritten."
Tang San's hands clenched unconsciously.
He had known since childhood that this world was unfair.
Some people were born with Innate Full Soul Power, while others struggled even to awaken their Martial Souls.
Even so, at least the rules of Douluo Continent were clear: cultivate diligently, hunt Soul Beasts, obtain Soul Rings, and grow stronger step by step.
It was a law that had remained unchanged for millennia.
And now, someone was telling him that this law was about to be overturned?
"You should be angry," the mysterious figure said, his voice laced with temptation.
"Your friends, your companions—they've all been deceived by that outsider. They think Yi Chen is genuinely kind to them, never realizing they're nothing but pieces on his chessboard. You're the only one who sees the truth."
Tang San's breathing grew ragged.
He knew he couldn't believe everything the mysterious figure said, but the words slithered into his heart like venomous snakes, leaving him unable to calm down.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Tang San asked again, his voice a little hoarse.
The mysterious figure fell silent for a moment, then slowly raised a hand and removed his hood.
Moonlight illuminated an aged, imposing face. Tang San had never seen it before, but the pressure and divinity contained in those eyes made his very soul tremble.
"Because I am a god."
As soon as the words left his mouth, an immense, boundless aura—terrifying beyond human understanding—erupted from the mysterious figure!
Tang San's legs went weak, and his entire body dropped to his knees against his will!
Before that aura, the Mysterious Heaven Skill within him was like a firefly before the bright moon, pitifully insignificant!
His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul retreated straight back into his body. It couldn't even muster the thought of resisting!
This was the pressure of a god!
A true god!
The mysterious figure—or rather, the avatar of Asura God—looked down at Tang San kneeling before him, a trace of scrutiny and expectation in his eyes.
"Tang San, I've seen your talent and your character."
Asura God spoke slowly, his voice resounding like a great bell in the empty blacksmith's shop. "You have the potential to become a god, but your power is still far from enough. That outsider called Yi Chen is far stronger than you can imagine. If you want to protect your friends and preserve this world's order, you'll need greater power."
Tang San looked up, his eyes full of shock and reverence. "G-God... My lord, you're willing to help me?"
"I can grant you power." Asura God extended a finger. A speck of crimson light gathered at its tip. "But whether you can wield that power is up to you."
The crimson light left his fingertip and drifted slowly toward Tang San, finally sinking into the space between his brows.
Boom!!!
A violent, blazing energy erupted within Tang San!
He felt as if his body were being torn apart. Every inch of his meridians endured an impact beyond imagining!
He clenched his teeth, bore the agony, and desperately circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill to guide the energy through his body.
His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul emerged against his will. Crimson patterns appeared across its blue vines, radiating an eerie, domineering aura.
What shocked him even more was the shadow of a pitch-black heavy hammer slowly forming in the palm of his left hand.
The Clear Sky Hammer!
But this Clear Sky Hammer was utterly different from before. Crimson lightning patterns coiled around its black body, emanating a destructive aura of slaughter. It seemed that one swing could cleave heaven and earth apart!
"The Asura Clear Sky Hammer," Asura God's voice sounded in his ear.
"It evolved into this new Martial Soul after I implanted a seed of Asura Divine Power into your Clear Sky Hammer. It will inherit both the hammer's dominance and the killing intent of Asura Divine Power, becoming a weapon with which you can conquer the world."
Tang San felt power surging through him. His Soul Power rose at a rapid pace—level thirty, level thirty-one... It continued all the way to level thirty-nine before finally stopping.
In just a few breaths, his Soul Power had risen by a full nine levels!
And he could tell this was only the beginning. The seed of Asura Divine Power still lay dormant within him. As he grew, it would gradually release more power.
"Thank you for your gift, my lord!" Tang San knelt on the ground, his voice brimming with barely contained excitement and gratitude.
Asura God put his hood back on, once again taking on the appearance of the mysterious figure. "You needn't thank me. You still have a long road ahead, and Yi Chen won't fall to a mere increase in power like this. If you truly want to stand against him, you'll need more trials and opportunities."
He turned and walked into the darkness.
"Remember, don't reveal my existence. When you're ready to face him, I'll appear again."
Before the words had faded, his figure had vanished into the night, as if he had never been there at all.
Tang San remained kneeling, his head bowed as he stared at his hands.
The shadow of the Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand slowly faded, but that domineering, blazing sense of power still surged through him.
He raised his head and looked toward Shrek Academy. For the first time, unshakable conviction and confidence flashed in his eyes.
Yi Chen, just you wait.
I, Tang San, won't be trampled beneath your feet forever.