The Fall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect

[First-person perspective.]

"Brother Gao, why did you ask to speak with me alone?"

Once they reached a secluded spot, Tang San watched Gao Yang with some caution.

"Since you're wary of me, Brother Tang, I'll get straight to the point." Gao Yang smiled. "Rongrong's Martial Soul advanced thanks to the Immortal Herb you gave her. As her fiancé, I've prepared a few modest gifts for you."

Tang San frowned.

Because of Oscar, he felt some resistance toward Gao Yang.

He did not show it as plainly as Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, but he had no desire to accept Gao Yang's so-called generous gifts.

"There's no need. Rongrong and Oscar are my companions. I gave them Immortal Herbs without expecting anything in return. Besides, Uncle Ning has given me substantial discounts in our business dealings. If anything, I may owe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect more than it owes me."

"What a velvet-wrapped needle of an answer, Brother Tang." Gao Yang shook his head helplessly. "But don't refuse just yet. Don't you want to know how to add Soul Rings to your Second Martial Soul?"

As he spoke, Gao Yang slowly raised his left hand. A Seven Kill Sword floated silently before him.

There were no Soul Rings, only seven gemstones—two purple, four black, and one red—set into the blade.

"You're a Soul Saint? Are those gemstones Soul Rings? Wait, that last one... could it be a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?"

Tang San's pupils contracted. The man before him was only two or three years older than Ning Rongrong, part of the same generation as himself.

Tang San was only at rank fifty-nine, yet Gao Yang had already reached rank seventy!

If Gao Yang had competed back then, what chance would Tang San or the Spirit Hall Golden Generation have had?

And Gao Yang's Seventh Soul Ring was red.

Red meant a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. How...

How had he done it?

"As expected of Grandmaster's outstanding disciple. You're well-informed, Brother Tang." Gao Yang put away his Martial Soul. "With your talent, it may not be long before you obtain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring yourself."

Then he raised his other hand, and a Staff appeared out of thin air.

Six Soul Rings circled the Staff: five black and one red.

"Twin Martial Souls! You have Twin Martial Souls too!" Only then did Tang San grasp what made the man before him so extraordinary. "Why did you dare add Soul Rings to your Second Martial Soul?"

After all, even Grandmaster would not let him rashly add Soul Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer.

He feared Tang San's body would burst apart.

"Be patient, Brother Tang. I came here to tell you how to add Soul Rings to your Second Martial Soul."

Only then did Tang San realize that this young man had approached him with genuine goodwill.

With that thought, he finally cupped his fists in a formal salute.

"Brother Gao, I was rude just now. Please forgive me."

"No need to apologize, Brother Tang." Gao Yang took no offense and continued, "There's only one way to add Soul Rings to a Second Martial Soul: undertake a Divine Trial."

"A Divine Trial?"

"Yes. Many Deities have left legacies across this continent. Complete the Divine Trial a Deity left behind, and you can break through rank ninety-nine, reach rank one hundred, and become a god."

"Become a god? That... how is that possible?"

"Brother Tang, the proof is standing right in front of you."

"You mean you've completed a Divine Trial?"

"Not yet. A Deity's trial generally has nine stages. Once you complete the third, you carry the Deity's aura." Gao Yang continued, "After the third trial, you theoretically possess a demigod's body. Adding Soul Rings then carries no risk."

"Brother Gao, is that truly the only way?"

"Yes."

"Then Bibi Dong..."

"That's right. I can sense that she, too, is a Deity's successor."

Tang San's face turned ashen.

His family bore a blood feud, and now he was being told their enemy was about to become a god!

How was he supposed to avenge his mother then?

How could he seek justice for his father?

"Brother Gao, do you know where these Deities can be found?"

Overcome with emotion, Tang San seized Gao Yang by both shoulders.

"Brother Tang, one is right under your nose. Your Divine Slaughter's Domain is a Deity's legacy." Gao Yang smiled.

"What?" Tang San stared at him in disbelief.

"I can clearly sense a trace of divine might deep within your domain."

"But... but I haven't felt any guidance from a god!"

"I don't know why. Perhaps you could return to its source—Slaughter City—and have a look."

At that, Tang San gave a bitter smile.

After what he had done, going back...

Would likely be courting death!

Regret washed over him. He had picked up a stone only to smash his own foot.

"Apart from the one connected to me, do you know of any other Deities, Brother Gao?"

"A few, though their requirements are harsh," Gao Yang answered frankly. "The angels passed down by Spirit Hall come from the Angel God. And overseas, there's Sea God Island, where the Sea God's legacy can be found. Beyond that, I don't know."

"Sea God Island..." Tang San repeated the name, then bowed solemnly to Gao Yang. "Thank you, Brother Gao!"

"Heh, this information isn't especially secret. Even without me, you would surely have learned it someday." Gao Yang took four pills from his Soul Tool. "A few pieces of information aren't enough to express my thanks. These are called God-Given Soul Rings. Please accept them, Brother Tang!"

"God-Given Soul Rings? What are they?"

Tang San did not take them at once. Instead, he asked for an explanation.

"Just as the name suggests, they're Soul Rings bestowed by a god."

Gao Yang explained, "When your Soul Power is about to break through, crush one. You'll gain a Soul Ring without having to hunt a Soul Beast. Its age depends on the limit your body can withstand. Rongrong told me your fourth Soul Ring was already ten thousand years old. I believe that by the time you become a Soul Douluo, you'll be able to withstand a hundred-thousand-year ring!"

"To think... such a divine treasure exists..." Tang San was stunned. "No wonder your Seventh Soul Ring is a hundred thousand years old. You must have used a God-Given Soul Ring."

"Actually, no." Gao Yang smiled. "While completing my Divine Trial, I happened to kill a young Tai Tan and a young Green Snake, so I absorbed their rings."

Only then did Tang San realize how terrifying Gao Yang was.

"Your strength truly is... unfathomable, Brother Gao..."

Without realizing it, Tang San had grown much more courteous toward Gao Yang.

"No need to stand on ceremony, Brother Tang. Take these four God-Given Soul Rings." Gao Yang smiled. "Rongrong told me the woman you love is also a Soul Beast in human form. Once you're together, I imagine she won't like seeing you hunt Soul Beasts. With these God-Given Soul Rings, things will be better for both of you."

"Brother Gao, this... this is too precious. You should keep them for Rongrong."

"I've set aside Rongrong's share, of course." Seeing that Tang San still had more to say, Gao Yang pressed the God-Given Soul Rings into his hand. "Enough dithering. I can sense you're at the peak of rank fifty-nine. Why not absorb a Soul Ring first? You'll have more strength when you go looking for the woman you love."

"Then... I won't refuse your kindness!"

"Think nothing of it. I'll stand guard for you!"

[After Tang San finished absorbing a God-Given Soul Ring, he set out for the Star Dou Great Forest as you and the others from Shrek watched him go.]

[After Tang San left, you spent a few days touring the mountains and rivers with Ning Rongrong and the others from Shrek. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun also grew friendlier after accepting your God-Given Soul Rings.]

[One day, Ning Fengzhi and Sword and Bone Douluo suddenly appeared at Shrek Academy, battered and disheveled. You knew at once that something was wrong.]

[Sure enough, Ning Fengzhi brought the terrible news: the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been destroyed!]

[Ning Fengzhi said that if Xiao Tian had not fought two Titled Douluo alone at the critical moment, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have ceased to exist.]

[Most of the sect's buildings had been destroyed, but its losses had not been too severe, and its foundations remained. Ning Fengzhi therefore planned to move the sect's surviving forces into Heaven Dou Imperial City.]

[But your greater concern was Xiao Tian. This old companion had been with you for years, and your affection for him was second only to what you felt for your parents and Ning Rongrong.]

[Sword Douluo told you that Xiao Tian had killed one Titled Douluo in a surprise attack, but another had gravely wounded him, leaving him surrounded. The fighting had been so chaotic that Sword Douluo only knew Xiao Tian had broken through the encirclement and fled toward the Star Dou Great Forest.]

[After leaving you with a few words of advice, Ning Fengzhi returned to Heaven Dou Imperial City with Sword and Bone Douluo and Oscar. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing immediately went back to the Star Luo Empire. You cared nothing for where the others went. All you cared about was Xiao Tian. After quickly packing with Ning Rongrong, you both raced toward the Star Dou Great Forest at full speed.]