Hao Tian Sect Secret Base –
Anyone familiar with the Hao Tian Sect knew it was a top-tier sect that, when faced with an insurmountable enemy, would choose to retreat from the world and abandon its affiliated forces.
The current Tian Xing Federation was even more terrifying than the former Spirit Hall, so long before their official campaign began, the members of the Hao Tian Sect had gradually dispersed under various pretexts, hiding in different corners of the Douluo Continent.
However, the Tian Xing Federation was no disorganized Spirit Hall.
The sudden mass movement of personnel by the usually reclusive Hao Tian Sect did not go unnoticed. Though their intentions were unclear, undercover operatives from the Tang Sect had already taken note.
Once the incident came to light, past mysteries were resolved.
Upon receiving the news, Tang Sect operatives swiftly organized local authorities to launch a crackdown on the scattered members of the Hao Tian Sect passing through the region.
In a short time, the Hao Tian Sect suffered heavy losses.
However, drawing on their escape experience from ten thousand years ago, each group had at least one Title Douluo from the Hao Tian Sect overseeing them. With the assistance of four-character Battle Armor, a significant number of their members managed to escape.
But soon, the Hao Tian Sect became public enemy number one across the Douluo Continent.
Leaving aside the major powers and corporations, the common people had deeply felt the benefits brought by the Tian Xing Federation in recent years. At the very least, they no longer feared wars tearing families apart or corrupt officials plundering recklessly.
Especially after learning that the Hao Tian Sect had destroyed an entire city just to deal with two members of the Tian Xing Knights, public sentiment toward the Hao Tian Sect reached an all-time low.
For a time, the overwhelming resentment even affected the harvest of faith energy by the Shrek Seven Monsters in the God Realm.
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Douluo God Realm – Sea God Palace –
The Shrek Seven Monsters gathered together for the first time in a long while.
However, no one spoke. All eyes were fixed on Tang San, who sat at the head of the table, his expression somewhat gloomy.
After years of interaction, the Shrek Seven Monsters had long understood Tang San's nature. When he was weak, he could call Dai Mubai "Big Brother," but once he surpassed him, he simply addressed him as "Dai Mubai."
After becoming the dual god-position holder of the Sea God and Asura God—undisputed God King—Tang San naturally became the undisputed leader. No one dared to speak out of turn to him.
At this moment, Tang San finally spoke.
"You all should be aware of the recent situation with the faith energy."
Of course, they were aware. After all, during the gods' gathering to watch the spectacle, Tang San's actions on the Douluo Continent had been thoroughly exposed.
However, apart from Tang San, no one knew that he had also sent his precious son down to the mortal realm. Otherwise, they would have been even more astonished.
Now that hiding the truth was pointless, Tang San calmly recounted what he had done over the years.
Xiao Wu stared in disbelief. Her precious child had been thrown into the perilous Douluo Continent!
Though Xiao Wu had long been accustomed to being a devoted wife and mother, she instantly reverted to her fiery, headstrong self from years past, ready to scold Tang San. But a single stern glare from Tang San, now radiating authority, silenced her and sent her back to her seat.
Xiao Wu felt wronged but dared not resist, whimpering softly.
The other five watched this scene with complex emotions. Apart from Ma Hongjun, the other four had yet to produce heirs of their own.
Still, after so many years as siblings, they all empathized with Xiao Wu and silently sympathized with her plight.
But then again, this was Tang San they were dealing with.
Tang San quickly resumed his composed demeanor, explaining that everything he had done was for the greater good of their cause, without an ounce of selfishness. He claimed it was all to restore peace to the Douluo Continent, which necessitated his intervention in its affairs.
Everyone listened quietly. After a long pause, Ning Rongrong finally couldn't hold back and said:
"We understand your difficulties, Third Brother. So just say what you need to say. We've been siblings for so many years—there's no point in hiding things."
Interrupted mid-performance, Tang San felt a flicker of irritation but quickly adjusted his attitude, feigning deep emotional connection as he looked at Ning Rongrong.
"Rongrong, you truly understand me. Then I won't beat around the bush.
As you can see, the current situation on the Douluo Continent is extremely unfavorable for us Shrek Seven Monsters to gather faith energy. Though I've already dispatched all the divine positions in my possession, it's still insufficient to bridge the gap with the Tian Xing Federation.
So, I humbly request that everyone pass on your divine positions to new inheritors, increasing our strength on the Douluo Continent.
Only then can we ensure that our legacy on the continent will endure."
Tang San's words were filled with claims of acting for the collective good, but the others stared at him with strange expressions.
It was as if they were silently asking: "Do you even hear yourself?"
Though ten thousand years had passed, and everyone had diligently cultivated to reach Tier-2 god status, allowing them to abdicate their divine positions—
A mere Tier-2 god wasn't enough to give them confidence to freely roam the vast and perilous universe!
Tang San himself knew this was unfair.
But the divine positions they had received were ones he had painstakingly arranged for them through connections with the old Sea God and Asura God. Without his help, how could these five individuals, with their mediocre talents, ever hope to ascend alongside a genius like him?
Now, he was merely asking them to return what rightfully belonged to the original gods.
Tang San believed he had been restrained and polite. If not for their long-standing sibling bond, he might have outright demanded their compliance.
Seeing no immediate response, Tang San first appealed to Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing on an emotional level.
Dai Mubai inherited the War God position, while Zhu Zhuqing held the Speed God position—both Tier-2 gods.
Though their attributes didn't quite align perfectly with their martial souls, they had little choice.
Since the collision of the Sun Moon Continent with the Star Luo Continent four thousand years ago, their faith energy harvest had steadily declined. Now, with the complete annihilation of the Dai family, their faith energy had hit rock bottom.
Tang San seized on this point, as well as the blood feud between the Tian Xing Federation and the Dai family, to pressure them.
Finally, Tang San shamelessly claimed he had already passed on a Tiger God position to preserve the honor of their family lineage—but lamented that their current strength was insufficient and urged them to "invest more."
Yet Tang San seemed to have forgotten that Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing harbored no fondness whatsoever for the Dai family.
After rambling on for some time, Tang San saw that Dai Mubai remained unmoved. A flicker of irritation flashed in his eyes.
But at this moment, Dai Mubai took a deep breath.
Just as Tang San thought he had convinced him, Dai Mubai spoke:
"Tang San, I'm willing to hand over my divine position—but I want you to answer one question."
A glimmer of joy appeared in Tang San's eyes as he immediately agreed.
However, the question Dai Mubai asked made Tang San freeze in place.
"Xiao San, was the collision between the Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent orchestrated by you?"
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