Tang San

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Holy Soul Village and Nuoding Academy

Tang San comes from Holy Soul Village, where he awakens his Martial Soul alongside Lin Gu. Both receive work-study places at Nuoding Academy. By their arrival, Tang San has accepted Yu Xiaogang as his teacher, attracted by his theoretical knowledge 1.

Although Tang San considers Yu Xiaogang’s dismissal of Lin Gu’s apparently useless clothing Martial Soul understandable, he quietly objects to the harsh treatment. After Lin Gu kicks Yu Xiaogang, Tang San begins questioning his teacher’s competence: an adult Soul Master could not evade a six-year-old’s prank. Nevertheless, he offers Lin Gu help as a fellow villager 1.

First Soul Ring Hunt

Tang San listens attentively to Yu Xiaogang’s explanations during their expedition into the Soul Hunting Forest. However, he is visibly unimpressed when his teacher repeatedly suggests Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo as a possible first ring 3.

When a Mandala Snake defeats Yu Xiaogang, Tang San fights it using Tang Sect secret arts and a knife. Lin Gu withstands its attacks and restrains its tail, allowing Tang San to stab its head. Together, they kill the beast 3 4.

Tang San refuses to abandon the resulting ring despite Yu Xiaogang’s warnings. He first offers it to Lin Gu, then begins absorbing it after Lin Gu declines. The process is painful, but he succeeds and becomes a Soul Master 4 5.

Helping Lin Gu

Repaying Lin Gu’s assistance, Tang San agrees to help him obtain a thousand-year first ring. Against the Boulder Turtle, Tang San supplies dagger attacks, poisonous Blue Silver Grass, and Entanglement while Lin Gu absorbs damage and restrains the beast 5 6.

Their initial attacks fail to penetrate its defenses. After Yu Xiaogang identifies the weak point between its brows, they concentrate their attacks there. Tang San also uses Entanglement to prevent it from withdrawing into its shell. The battle takes two hours, after which he lends Lin Gu his dagger for the finishing blow and guards him during absorption 5 6.

Lin Gu’s successful absorption of a purple ring—and advancement to rank thirteen—makes Tang San increasingly dissatisfied with his own first ring. He congratulates his friend nonetheless 6.

Different Paths

Tang San later registers as a Soul Master at Spirit Hall so that he no longer needs a work-study quota to continue studying. When offered membership, he refuses because Yu Xiaogang has specifically instructed him not to join. Lin Gu accepts the same offer 8.

Tang San had hoped they would attend another academy together after graduating, but acknowledges that their paths will now diverge. Lin Gu raises the possibility that they may someday become enemies; Tang San answers only with a faint smile 8.

After seeing Lin Gu defeat numerous One-Ring Soul Masters without injury, Tang San again questions his choice of first ring, attributing the gap to Lin Gu’s thousand-year ring 10.

Personality

Tang San is attentive to instruction and strongly influenced by his commitment to his teacher. Even after privately doubting Yu Xiaogang’s practical ability, he encourages Lin Gu to become a fellow disciple. He also follows Yu Xiaogang’s advice against joining Spirit Hall because he feels bound by their established master-disciple relationship 1 7 8.

His respect does not prevent disagreement. He insists on attempting the Mandala Snake ring despite his teacher’s objections and later joins Lin Gu in telling Yu Xiaogang to stop recommending Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo 4 5.

Tang San reciprocates help and keeps cooperating with Lin Gu despite growing envy of his achievements. He helps secure the Boulder Turtle ring, stands guard during its absorption, and offers congratulations even while regretting his own comparatively weaker ring 5 6.

Abilities & Skills

Twin Martial Souls

Tang San possesses Twin Martial Souls, a fact initially treated as a secret 1 7.

• Blue Silver Grass is the only one identified in the supplied passages 3.
• Yu Xiaogang inadvertently reveals his twin-soul status while questioning Lin Gu’s newly manifested wooden knife 7.
• Tang San accepts Lin Gu learning the secret because they come from the same village 7.

Blue Silver Grass

Absorbing the Mandala Snake ring turns Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass purple and grants it offensive capabilities and potent poison 5 6.

• Used alongside his dagger to attack the Boulder Turtle’s weak point 6.
• Its poison affects the turtle, but does not enable him to quickly overcome its defenses 5.

First Soul Skill: Entanglement

Entanglement restrains a target with Blue Silver Grass and carries poison from the Mandala Snake ring 5.

• Holds the Boulder Turtle’s head in place, creating opportunities to attack 5.
• Helps prevent the turtle from retreating into its shell 6.
• Prolonged combat nearly exhausts Tang San’s Soul Power during the hunt 5.

Tang Sect Secret Arts

Tang San uses Tang Sect secret arts when entering combat against the Mandala Snake 3.

• The supplied passages do not identify individual techniques or explain their mechanics.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dagger — Given to him by Yu Xiaogang; used against the Mandala Snake and Boulder Turtle. He temporarily lends it to Lin Gu to finish the turtle 4 5 6.
• First Soul Ring — A yellow Mandala Snake ring, identified as 422 years old in later dialogue; grants Entanglement and modifies Blue Silver Grass 5 8.

Relationships

• Tang Hao — Father. Visits Yu Xiaogang after Tang San becomes his disciple 2.
• Yu Xiaogang — Teacher. Tang San values his instruction but increasingly questions his judgment and practical competence 1 4 5 7.
• Lin Gu — Fellow villager, schoolmate, and Soul Ring hunting partner. Their cooperation develops alongside Tang San’s envy of Lin Gu’s progress; their choices regarding Spirit Hall separate their intended paths 1 4 5 6 8.
• Xiao Wu — Dorm Seven companion and sparring partner. Tang San feels an unexplained discomfort when watching Lin Gu massage her shoulders 2 3.