Tang San

Biodata

Power Progression

Background & History

Tang San attended Notting Junior Soul Master Academy under Yu Xiaogang's instruction. When Gu Ling challenged Yu Xiaogang's insistence that the Bone Dragon Martial Soul must follow a defensive path, Tang San initially found Yu Xiaogang's arguments more convincing. Though Gu Ling's demonstrations and reasoning raised doubts, Tang San ultimately chose to trust his teacher's experience rather than voice his reservations. 2 3 4

During the search for their first Soul Rings, Gu Ling also challenged Yu Xiaogang's plan for Tang San's Blue Silver Grass. Gu Ling pointed out that the vine-type Martial Soul could already entangle naturally and argued that a first Soul Ring focused on entanglement would be redundant. Tang San recognized the logic but again followed Yu Xiaogang after his teacher ended the discussion. 6 7

Tang San absorbed a Mandra Snake Soul Ring and became a One-Ring Soul Master. His new Blue Silver Grass gained Binding and paralytic venom, while the Soul Ring also strengthened its toughness. 10 13 14

At Xiao Wu and the work-study students' urging, Tang San sparred with Gu Ling. His Blue Silver Grass initially failed to restrain Gu Ling, whose Bone Dragon claws tore through it. Tang San adapted by binding Gu Ling from several directions, but Gu Ling's armor blocked the venomous spikes and his Spatial Rift Bone Spikes overwhelmed Tang San's evasive techniques. Tang San conceded defeat after a spike stopped near his chest. 12 13 14 15

Over the following six years, Tang San and Gu Ling became distant despite sharing the Seventh Dormitory and attending the same academy. Yu Xiaogang repeatedly warned Tang San that Gu Ling would become jealous of his Twin Martial Souls, and Tang San gradually stopped initiating contact. 16

After graduation, Tang San traveled with Xiao Wu to Shrek Academy on Yu Xiaogang's recommendation. In Soto City, he encountered Gu Ling again after Gu Ling defeated Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu. Angered by Xiao Wu's condition but constrained by the Great Soul Arena's rules, Tang San informed Flanders of Gu Ling's presence and encouraged him to seek an explanation outside the arena. 17 41 44

Before Shrek's team battle against the Imperial Dou Team, Yu Xiaogang made Tang San's battlefield control central to a plan for restricting Gu Ling's spatial movement and permitted him to reveal the Eight Spider Lances. Tang San used the lances to disrupt the Imperial Dou Team's formation. After Gu Ling eliminated Shrek's two support members, however, Tang San mistook Gu Ling's position for an opportunity to surround him; the Imperial Dou Team instead encircled Shrek. Tang San briefly restored his team's defense, then abandoned his command position when Xiao Wu was injured. The formation collapsed, and Shrek lost despite his continued resistance. 51 53 54 55 56 57

After that match, Gu Ling publicly challenged Yu Xiaogang's theories and conduct. Tang San attempted to attack Gu Ling with the Eight Spider Lances after the fighting had ended, but Flanders restrained him. 57 58

When Tang San reached level 40, Yu Xiaogang, Flanders, and Liu Erlong accompanied him into Sunset Forest to seek his fourth Soul Ring. A soul-beast stampede caused the ground beneath him to collapse, and an underground passage led him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He recognized its medicinal value from Tang Sect records, but found signs that its herb garden was maintained by someone else. He nevertheless collected herbs before signaling his teachers. Gu Ling and Ye Lingling confronted him, identifying the garden as Dugu Bo's; Tang San refused to return the herbs and lost the ensuing fight. After his teachers arrived, he accused Gu Ling of stealing them. Dugu Bo later intervened on Gu Ling's behalf, and the dispute escalated into a battle with Tang San's teachers. 77 78 79 80 81 84 85 87

Tang San subsequently obtained a millennium-year fourth Soul Ring, but remained troubled that Gu Ling had absorbed a ten-thousand-year fourth ring. As Shrek prepared for the tournament, he secretly returned to the well, hoping its herbs would help him, his teacher, and his teammates close the gap. He found the garden largely cleared, but recovered fourteen unidentified Crimson Marrow Lingzhi. Unaware that they boost Soul Power by consuming Life Origin and shortening lifespan, he first gave one to Tai Long, who rose from level 38 to level 40, then distributed portions to the team and offered one to Yu Xiaogang. 92 97 98 99 100 101

By the tournament's opening, Tang San had reached level 43. In Shrek's first match against Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Gu Ling chose to face the seven-person Shrek lineup alone. He suppressed Tang San's Soul Skills, eliminated the other six fighters, and then defeated Tang San despite his Spider Web Restraint and Eight Spider Lances. Gu Ling broke all eight lances and destroyed the External Soul Bone's essence with ice-and-fire energy, permanently severing Tang San's connection to it. Tang San survived but required rest and was devastated by the loss. His father Tang Hao subsequently sought revenge against Gu Ling. 102 103 104 105 106 107 108

Personality

Tang San is cautious, reserved, and respectful toward authority. He privately notices when Yu Xiaogang's behavior appears unreasonable, yet repeatedly suppresses his doubts because of his loyalty to his teacher and belief in Yu Xiaogang's knowledge. 3 6 7

He is also analytical in combat. After losing to Gu Ling, Tang San focuses on the cause of the defeat—particularly the inability of his venom to penetrate Bone Dragon armor—and considers the methods he withheld during the friendly spar, including his concealed second Martial Soul, hidden weapons, and movement techniques. 14 15

Tang San is strongly protective of Xiao Wu. Seeing her unconscious after her duel with Gu Ling provokes immediate fury, and his inability to retaliate within the arena leads him to seek Flanders's intervention instead. 44

As Shrek's battlefield commander, Tang San can coordinate teammates and adjust tactics under pressure. His concern for Xiao Wu can also override that judgment: he left the center of Shrek's formation to reach her after she was injured, allowing the Imperial Dou Team to split his teammates apart. His loyalty to Yu Xiaogang likewise drove him to attempt an attack on Gu Ling after their match had ended. 53 55 58

Tang San's rivalry with Gu Ling increasingly shapes his decisions. Despite recognizing signs that Dugu Bo's herb garden was in use, he justified taking herbs from it, later returned without permission, and tested an unidentified lingzhi on Tai Long before sharing the remaining herbs. He did not know that their apparent cultivation benefit came at the cost of Life Origin. 79 81 97 99 100 101

Abilities & Skills

Blue Silver Grass

Tang San's primary Martial Soul is a vine-type Blue Silver Grass capable of natural growth and entanglement. 6

• Can spread across the battlefield and bind targets from multiple directions. 13 14
• Its first Soul Ring increased the grass's toughness and added venomous spikes. 13 14
• Its control and poison are ineffective if its spikes cannot pierce an opponent's defenses. 15
• Can be used for battlefield-wide control and to coordinate or withdraw teammates, although Gu Ling's spatial movement and Soul Skill suppression have broken through those arrangements. 53 55 56 103 104

First Soul Skill: Binding

Granted by Tang San's over-400-year Mandra Snake Soul Ring. The skill is also called Entangling. 10 13 14

• Produces large quantities of Blue Silver Grass for multi-directional restraint. 14
• Can approach from the front, flanks, and rear by using terrain and obstacles. 14
• Activates Mandra Snake-derived paralytic venom through spikes on the grass. 14
• Failed to poison Gu Ling because the spikes could not penetrate his Bone Dragon armor. 15

Second and Third Soul Skills

• Parasitic: Tang San's second Soul Skill can lie hidden on a target and activate at a critical moment. 51
• Spider Web Restraint: His third Soul Skill produces a broad, tough restraint capable of sealing off an area. He used it against Gu Ling in both the Medicine Garden confrontation and the tournament. 51 80 105

Purple Demon Eyes and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track

Tang San used Purple Demon Eyes to read the original trajectories of Gu Ling's bone spikes and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade them. 14

• Allowed him to avoid several attacks from Spatial Rift Bone Spikes. 14
• Could not determine where spikes would emerge after entering spatial rifts. 14
• Also aided his movement and survival when a collapsing slope carried him into the underground passage leading to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. 78

Concealed Second Martial Soul and Hidden Weapons

Tang San possesses a second Martial Soul that he keeps hidden in accordance with Tang Hao's instruction. He also considers Tang Sect hidden weapons among his strongest unrevealed methods. 15

• Neither was used in his friendly spar with Gu Ling. 15
• His second Martial Soul is the Clear Sky Hammer; Tai Tan recognized it and confirmed Tang San's identity as Tang Hao's son. 97
• Tang San later used hidden weapons against Gu Ling in their fight at Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden, briefly slowing his approach. 80

Eight Spider Lances

An External Soul Bone that formerly gave Tang San eight spider-like lances extending from his back. They enhanced his movement, close-range attacks, and control; the lances carried poison and could help him traverse difficult terrain. 51 54 78

• Tang San used the lances to disrupt the Imperial Dou Team's formation and later to fight Gu Ling at the Medicine Garden. 54 80
• Gu Ling broke all eight during their tournament match, then destroyed the soul bone's essence with ice-and-fire energy. Tang San's connection to it was permanently severed; a healer confirmed that the lances could not be restored. 105 107

Mysterious Heaven Technique

Tang San's cultivation is supported by the Mysterious Heaven Technique. 16

• Helped him reach level 29 during his six years at Notting Academy. 16
• He also drew on it while treating the effects of poisonous mist during his return to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. 98

Tang Sect Medicinal Knowledge

Tang San recognized the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and several of its herbs through Tang Sect records. That knowledge did not enable him to identify the Crimson Marrow Lingzhi he later recovered or detect the cost of its apparent Soul Power boost. 78 99 100

Relationships

• Yu Xiaogang — Teacher. Tang San consistently supports Yu Xiaogang despite privately questioning some of his conclusions about Gu Ling and Blue Silver Grass. He later defended him during public disputes with Gu Ling and offered him an unidentified lingzhi in the hope that it would help him break through level 30. 3 4 6 7 58 81 101
• Gu Ling — Former dormmate and rival. Tang San lost their first spar, then gradually became distant from him because of Gu Ling's conflict with Yu Xiaogang. Their later disputes over Dugu Bo's herbs and two team-battle defeats deepened the rivalry; Gu Ling permanently destroyed Tang San's Eight Spider Lances in their tournament match. 14 15 16 57 79 80 105
• Xiao Wu — Close companion whom Tang San supports and protects; her defeat by Gu Ling intensifies his hostility toward Gu Ling. Her injury during a team battle prompted Tang San to abandon his command position, and he later removed her from the match for her safety. 12 14 44 55 56
• Flanders — Headmaster of Shrek Academy. Tang San brings Flanders to Gu Ling after the arena confrontation, hoping he will retaliate outside the venue. Flanders later accompanied Tang San on his fourth Soul Ring hunt and restrained him when he attempted to attack Gu Ling after a match. 41 44 58 77
• Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun — Shrek Academy companions whose defeats by Gu Ling contribute to Tang San's renewed conflict with him. Both fought under Tang San's battlefield direction in the Imperial Dou Team match, though his departure from the formation left them exposed. 41 44 50 53 55
• Tang Hao — Father. Tang Hao instructed Tang San to conceal his second Martial Soul. After learning of Tang San's injuries and the destruction of his Eight Spider Lances, he attacked Gu Ling to avenge him. 15 97 107
• Tai Long and the Strength Clan — Tai Tan acknowledged Tang San as Tang Hao's son, and Tai Long addresses him as “Young Master.” Tai Long became more devoted to him after a lingzhi supplied by Tang San raised his Soul Power from level 38 to level 40, unaware of its hidden cost. 97 99 100
• Dugu Bo — Owner of the Medicine Garden from which Tang San took herbs without permission. Dugu Bo confronted the Shrek group over the intrusion and later left Crimson Marrow Lingzhi in the cleared garden as a trap for Tang San. 79 84 85 92
• Yu Tianheng — Former Imperial Dou Team captain who later joined Shrek. He and Tang San shared a determination to defeat the Imperial Fighting Team in the tournament. 97 102
• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing — Former Shrek teammates who transferred to Gu Ling's Imperial Fighting Team. Tang San regarded the loss of Ning Rongrong's support as a serious setback for Shrek and an advantage for its rival. 74 97

Notable Quotes

“I lost.” 14

“Teacher, I'm sorry. I lost this match. I let you down.” 15

“No, I haven't lost yet!” 105

“Teacher, my Eight Spider Lances... they're gone.” 107