But even Tang Ya herself could not convince herself with that rebuttal. Under Jiang Mu and Jiang Nannan's gazes, her voice grew softer and softer.
"I..."
"Anyway, Sea God Tang San never used Soul Tools, so we disciples naturally can't use them either."
Jiang Mu was speechless. He raised a hand and pointed at the Twenty-Four Bridges in Moonlight hanging at her waist.
"Isn't that a storage-type Soul Tool?"
Tang Ya's face instantly reddened at that. She opened her mouth and argued, "Th-this was passed down by the Tang Sect."
"Exactly. You said it was passed down, so doesn't that mean someone used it?"
"Th-that's different."
Tang Ya grew less and less confident, nearly burying her head in her chest.
Jiang Mu calmly persuaded her,
"What's different about it? In the end, aren't they both just tools? Why not use a useful tool? Don't be so rigid. Sometimes, you need to change. What needs changing isn't just your behavior, but your heart as well."
Tang Ya's reaction was easy enough to understand. She had been indoctrinated since childhood with the idea that the Tang Sect's hidden weapons were unmatched in the world, and she had grown up listening to Tang San's stories. Naturally, those beliefs had seeped into her over time.
Tang Ya might have recognized the problems with the sect rules, but those very rules were also what had allowed her to become sect master.
The Tang Sect had been destroyed, and her parents had died, leaving only her behind.
So who was to blame?
Should she blame the Tang Sect's hidden weapons for being inferior to Soul Tools?
That conflicted with everything Tang Ya had been taught since childhood.
Should she blame herself for not being talented enough, for her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul failing to grant her strength comparable to Tang San's?
Who would blame themselves?
After going through every possibility, the only thing left to take the blame was the Soul Tools that had openly stolen their business.
That was why Tang Ya needed to change her way of thinking.
"..."
Tang Ya had been left speechless by his retort.
Jiang Mu did not care whether she spoke or not. He checked the Revenge List to see whether Tang Ya had been added because of what he had said.
Yet the list still contained only the solitary name of Bei Bei.
"Don't put Tang San on too much of a pedestal. He was still human, and he had selfish desires too. When he was weak, he used Soul Tools just the same."
"And are the cultivation methods he passed down truly complete? His techniques could allow someone to become a god. If they really hadn't been altered, then after tens of thousands of years of such rapid development, it wouldn't be impossible for a genius even stronger than him to emerge and create a godhood position through those techniques."
"Tang San was calculating. For all you know, even the techniques he gave you are incomplete."
This time, Jiang Mu did not hold back. He wanted to see whether Tang Ya could be added to the list.
Every word he said struck directly at her sore spot. After all, Tang San was exceptionally sacred in her mind, utterly without blemish.
Just as Jiang Mu had expected, after hearing those words, Tang Ya's previously embarrassed face darkened. Yet only a moment later, it fell again.
Jiang Mu checked the list. Sure enough, there was now another name on it.
[Tang Ya, Soul Elder, killing intent index: 1%, available range of retaliation...]
Only 1%?
That was far too little. At most, he could exploit the backlash against her for a minor advantage. What use was the rest?
However, even after staring for a long while, the killing intent value did not rise. Jiang Mu's expression fell. Had he raised her favorability too much earlier?
Then perhaps this killing intent was merely an instinctive reaction. If it could decrease, she would probably have already disappeared from the list by now.
Just as expected, when he checked again, her current killing intent had already vanished.
Still, Tang Ya raised her head and spoke with unwillingness written across her face.
"I don't believe Sea God Tang San would be so selfish as to scheme against future Tang Sect sect masters."
Everyone had selfish desires. Tang Ya might have been able to think of that, but she would never admit it.
Jiang Mu fell silent upon hearing that. Tang San could even scheme against his own daughter. What the hell was a Tang Sect sect master to him?
Seeing Tang Ya's hesitation, Jiang Mu guessed that perhaps all she needed was confirmation. After a moment of silence, he said,
"Think whatever you want, but I can give you a hint. When you have time, look for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. You might find the answers you want there."
"Th-this..."
The sternness at Tang Ya's lips instantly collapsed when she heard that.
"If the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were really so easy to find, the Tang Sect would never have declined this far."
"I heard that an inner disciple of Shrek Academy inherited Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul from the original Shrek Seven Monsters and needed the legendary immortal herbs to suppress it. Even they couldn't find it, so how could I possibly find it? Even if it really contains something I want to know..."
Tang Ya was deeply dejected. Even if it truly held the information she sought, Shrek Academy possessed such immense resources and influence, yet they had failed to find it. What ability did she have to succeed where they had failed?
"..."
It truly would not be easy to go there. Perhaps he would be brutally killed by the fragment of Tang San's divine soul left behind the moment he arrived?
As an essential destination for anyone who transmigrated into Douluo, Jiang Mu had some thoughts about it as well. After all, immortal herbs would be extremely useful if he wanted to improve the quality of his Martial Soul.
But reaching that place would be difficult. There were poisonous miasmas on the outskirts and hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts within. Those were not too difficult to deal with once one became a Title Douluo, but the main issue was the backup plan Tang San had left behind.
That was not something a Title Douluo could handle.
Still, he had no idea how to get into that essential yin-yang hotpot.
As for Tang Ya's situation, Jiang Mu did not have many thoughts about it. Since she had helped him, he could casually offer her a few words of advice. Whether she believed him had little to do with him.
If she was not added to the list later, he could simply remain a spectator. If possible, he could also take her into his harem.
Jiang Mu subconsciously raised his head to look at Tang Ya.
Tang Ya was beautiful, especially with that youthful air about her. Perhaps because she was in a bad mood, she looked quite dejected now, but that gave her a different sort of beauty.
What was the point of transmigrating if he wasn't going to build a harem?
Besides, Bei Bei already regarded him as an enemy. Shouldn't he take revenge a little?
With that thought, Jiang Mu said, "Xiaoya, have you ever considered joining another faction?"
Tang Ya looked at Jiang Mu again and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Jiang Nannan, who was beside them, had already puffed out her cheeks.
Jiang Mu ignored her. "The Tang Sect has already been destroyed. Why not consider joining another sect?"
"Heh."
Tang Ya lowered her head and replied calmly.
"With my talent, what faction would want me? Even if they did, it would only be for the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Once I handed it over, I would have no value left and could be discarded at any time. Besides, I don't want to live under someone else's roof."
At the end, she laughed as though mocking herself.
Jiang Mu ignored that and smiled.
"Then how about joining my faction? In the future, I want to establish an extremely powerful sect. It's still in its beginning stages, so we can keep each other company."
"Forget it. With this big sister's talent, I shouldn't hold you back, Xiao Mu." Tang Ya shook her head in refusal.
Jiang Mu had not expected her to agree immediately. This answer was within his expectations.
No one spoke for the rest of the journey.
Tang Ya was usually quite lively, but because her hand was injured, she kept her legs flat on the seat and maintained some distance from the two of them. She seemed very shy.
Her face would redden whenever she changed her bandages, though she was not overly fussy about it and did not insist that Jiang Mu and Jiang Nannan turn away.
And so, they hurried without stopping toward Shrek City.
Before you continue