"Son, what should we do about this?" Tang Hao habitually asked, looking at his son, Tang San.
"We already know everything we need to know. From the moment that chamber pot spread the news, it was too late to undo it." Tang San said, gazing at Yu Xiaogang with disgust.
"It's come to this. This chamber pot has spread the news of your deification throughout the continent. There's nothing we can do. Should we kill this chamber pot?" Tang Hao casually summoned the Clear Sky Hammer and asked Tang San.
It was as if, if Tang San agreed, Tang Hao would bring down the hammer and smash Yu Xiaogang into a meat pie.
"No, don't kill me, don't kill me." Seeing the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Hao's hand and the murderous aura that seemed to threaten him, Yu Xiaogang's short hair broke into sweat, his crotch soaked with fear, and the steed of urine filled his nose.
Tang San shook his head and said in a voice only Tang Hao could hear, "Dad, have you forgotten, Divine Test? We still have time to use this chamber pot."
Tang Hao suddenly came to his senses upon hearing this. He casually put away the Clear Sky Hammer, spat at Yu Xiaogang, and said, "Hmph, if that's the case, then I'll let you, this chamber pot, live a little longer."
"Gangzi, listen to me, you're a castrated dog of our Tang family. Dogs, you know, don't do unnecessary things, okay?" Tang San warned, glaring.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang wiped the sweat from his crew cut and said, "I understand, I understand, Xiao San."
Tang San kicked Yu Xiaogang in the chest, saying viciously, "You don't deserve to call me Xiao San. This is my father, my beloved, my family. You're just a dog. You should call me Master, or Young Master. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Young Master, I understand!" Yu Xiaogang held his chest, gritting his teeth and lowering his brows.
"However, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living punishment cannot. You, damned castrated dog, made a mistake and deserved to be punished." Tang San casually pulled a dagger from his bosom, and with a flash of cold light—
"Damn it, Aa ... Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale with pain. He saw his left ear in Tang San's hand. However, the matter wasn't over yet. Tang Hao brought a dog, and Tang San fed the ear to the dog right in front of Gangzi.
Gangzi's eyes were bloodshot as he demanded, "Young Master, even if you don't consider me your teacher, I am still your teacher in the eyes of the world. You can't do this to me."
Tang San wiped the blood off the dagger with a handkerchief and said to Yu Xiaogang, "Gangzi, of course you can publicize that it was I, the traitor, who cut off your ear, but so what!
When I wear a tuxedo, I care about my reputation and protect my reputation, but please don't stain my tuxedo with your dog blood, or I won't wear it. When I don't want to wear this tuxedo anymore, you'll know what cruelty is."
As he spoke, Tang San waved the dagger in front of Yu Xiaogang's face twice. Yu Xiaogang stared at the dagger in horror.
"So, how did you become one-eared? You should know how to explain it to outsiders, right? I don't need to teach you," Tang San said with a sneer.
"I understand, I understand," Yu Xiaogang said.
"That's good. Go back and organize next week's Alliance Conference. My father and I will be there in person," Tang San said angrily.
Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly, then turned and ran!
Tang Hao kicked Yu Xiaogang's leg and said, "You damned one-eared eunuch! My son told you to get out! Get out! Don't you understand?"
Yu Xiaogang howled in pain. Hearing Tang Hao's words, he could only curl up into a ball in humiliation and roll out of Tang Hao and his son's sight.
"Gangzi's flying dance is only good for this. I'll do it after the Alliance," Tang Hao said.
Tang San shook his head and said, "Father, don't be so rough. Gangzi must die, but not directly at our hands. In the eyes of the world, he is my teacher after all. I, Tang San, am pure and innocent, and I don't want to bear any stain!"
"Then can we just let this chamber pot continue to disgust us?" Tang Hao said.
Tang San smiled and said, "Don't worry. Gangzi won't live long either. An ordinary spirit master's lifespan is barely a hundred years, and in the eyes of a god, a hundred years is but a fleeting moment.
We can lift him high up, let him ascend to the clouds, and see the beautiful scenery from above. Before he ascends, we'll take back everything he's been given and cast him into the abyss.
That way, we'll be high above in the divine realm, enjoying endless life and supreme authority, while we watch this level 29 maggot wriggle painfully across the continent, slowly approaching its end. Isn't that wonderful, father?"
In his previous life, he had delighted in watching Yu Xiaogang, the maggot, wriggle towards the end of its life with divine vision from within the divine realm.
The only flaw was that, in his youth and incomprehension, he had helped Yu Xiaogang, the chamber pot, break the level 29 curse, and ultimately allowed Gangzi to experience the wonders of a Titled Douluo.
Now, in Tang San's view, how could Gangzi ever break through level 29? He should be stuck there forever, or even lower.
Furthermore, even after his death, Gangzi's title as Divine Master would endure for eternity, something that Tang San found extremely irritating.
Unfortunately, he wasn't a Time God, and couldn't go back to the moment of his apprenticeship.
"Hearing you say that, I don't seem quite so angry anymore," Tang Hao sneered.
It can only be said that Tang San still wanted to wear a tuxedo and still cared about his reputation. Therefore, in Tang San's view, the way he dealt with Yu Xiaogang in his previous life was the optimal solution for now.
Of course, before ascending to heaven, this life's Tang San would need to find an opportunity to expose Yu Xiaogang's ugly face, sever his master-disciple relationship with Gangzi, and prevent Yu Xiaogang from ever breaking through level 30.
Yu Xiaogang rolled out of Tang Hao and his son's sight, continuing to roll forward a short distance before struggling to stand.
His entire body was bruised and aching, especially the wound on his left ear, which caused him excruciating pain.
Yu Xiaogang looked in the direction of the rolling body and said with deep sorrow, "Xiao San, it was your master who educated you, guided you, and pointed out a path to godhood for you. But as soon as you embarked on that path, you treated your master like this. It truly disheartens your master.
Once a master, always a father. Master's father is also your father's father, and so is your master. Why can't you respect your master as you would your own father? Is blood relationship really that important?"
Although being treated like a dog by Tang Hao and his son, Yu Xiaogang knew that he couldn't live without Tang San. Without Tang San, he would be completely destitute.
But now, Gangzi (Yu Xiaogang) received not the slightest bit of respect from Tang San. Needless to say, Tang San would never honor him as he had hoped—recognizing him as a fatherly figure after becoming a god, reversing fate on his behalf, bringing him to the God Realm for retirement, and even arranging a first-rank godhood for him.
The less secure Gangzi felt, the more paranoid he became. The more paranoid, the more extreme; the more extreme, the more determined he was to achieve his goal by any means necessary—never stopping until he succeeded.
No. Tang San must be made to understand the principle of "once a teacher, always a father."
It was he—Yu Xiaogang—who pointed out the path to godhood for Tang San. Tang San could not simply burn the bridge once he crossed the river, or deny his master once he ascended. He had once promised Yu Xiaogang—"a teacher for a day, a father for life."
Gangzi thought back to not long ago, when Tang Hao had wanted to kill him, but Tang San stopped it. He reasoned:
"Right now, Xiao San still cares about his reputation. I heard that the Angel God's legend involves collecting the continent's faith to ascend. Xiao San must also need faith. Faith is the tuxedo draped upon him—that's why he only dares to treat me like this in private."
The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the more convinced he was.
Since that was the case, Yu Xiaogang decided he had to take the initiative.
He had introduced Tang San into the world of soul masters. He had guided him onto the path of godhood. Tang San should honor him like a father, should reverse fate for him, should take him along to become a god—at the very least, a first-rank god.
That was what Yu Xiaogang deserved.
He would force Tang San, through the weight of master-disciple morality, to bow his head and solemnly promise him, before all the world, the benefits he was owed!
In that flat-topped head of his, this frenzied idea grew stronger and stronger.
The Divine Order Alliance—though Yu Xiaogang was a puppet, all parties still had need of the alliance. So, in the time before Tang San's return, it continued to expand. Aside from the three core sects and the two empires, many clans, duchies, and small sects joined.
Shrek Academy also took part. Over the years, Flender and Liu Erlong had both reached the Soul Douluo realm. The two of them, working together with their Martial Soul Fusion Technique, could even contend against a level 95 Title Douluo.
And, thanks to their fame from placing top three in the Continental Soul Master Tournament, Shrek Academy expanded further, showing every sign of prosperity.
They had enough weight to play a role in this Divine Order Alliance.
On the day of the Alliance Assembly, Flender and Liu Erlong arrived and met Yu Xiaogang.
Seeing him, Flender asked in puzzlement:
"Gangzi, what happened to your ear?"
Yu Xiaogang forced an unnatural expression and replied:
"Flender, it's nothing. I just slipped, fell on the ground, and there was a blade there—my ear hit it."
This was the excuse Yu Xiaogang used whenever people asked.
Flender didn't believe it, but since Yu Xiaogang clearly didn't want to say more, and because their bond had faded without the Martial Soul Fusion link, he didn't press further.
Soon, all the factions entered the assembly.
On the plaza, three great seats were arranged. The one in the center stood high above. To its left and right, slightly lower, were two other seats side by side.
On the left side of the plaza sat the sects: leading was the Body Sect, followed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, and then the smaller sects like Dragon Serpent, Wind Falcon, and Plant Sect.
On the right side sat the sequence of noble houses: leading were the rulers of the two empires—Dai Tianfeng and Emperor Xue Ye—followed by nobles within the empires, and then the independent lords: dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts, barons, etc.
Because it was rumored that the soon-to-be-god Tang San would personally attend, even the frail Emperor Xue Ye came.
The master of ceremonies stood at the center and loudly announced:
"Now, we invite the father of the future Asura God, Tang Hao, to enter!"
Everyone looked right.
Tang Hao's rugged figure strode in. All eyes focused on him. Though infamous for patricide, no one cared—his child was too exceptional. If it were confirmed Tang San could become a god, then everything Tang Hao had done was nothing.
Bathing in everyone's envious gaze, Tang Hao lifted his head proudly, chest puffed, walking down the red carpet. No matter in his past life or this one, Xiao San was his proudest, most accomplished child.
He walked to the central stage and, under the master of ceremonies' guidance, sat in the right-side seat.
Applause broke out. Tang Hao felt immensely pleased, though in his eyes, this was nothing—his peak was as a master of the very plane, where all life of the Douluo plane obeyed his will.
Sitting down, his gaze shifted toward the left-side seat, and anger flickered. To him, the central seat belonged to Tang San, and the seat below that to himself. The two of them were incomparably exalted. But that dog of a man dared to sit equal with him, the god's father?
The answer came the next moment.
"Now, we invite the future teacher of the Asura God, the leader of the Divine Order Alliance—Yu Xiaogang—to enter!"
A flat-topped figure walked down the red carpet and sat in the left-side seat.
Tang Hao transmitted his voice with disdain:
"Gangzi, it's you? Who gave you the face to sit equal with me, Tang Hao? Do you deserve it? I am Xiao San's father. What the hell are you? You're just a castrated dog of the Tang family!"
But Yu Xiaogang turned a deaf ear, ignoring him completely.
Seeing this attitude, Tang Hao's fists clenched hard. He wanted to strike.
But with so many watching, and for the sake of Tang San's reputation, he held back.
"Now, we invite the future Asura God—Tang San—to enter!"
At the back entrance, a dark-skinned, short-limbed odd figure stepped onto the red carpet, slowly walking to the center, and sat in the high central seat.
He glanced at his father on the right, then at Gangzi on the left. His eyelids twitched slightly, but he held it in.
The moment he appeared, all eyes converged on him.
The Divine Order Alliance had been built by Yu Xiaogang in the name of gods. If Tang San could not become a god, it would have been best for him never to show himself—then the lie could continue.
But Tang San chose to step into the open. That meant he was confident he could answer to all the factions of the continent regarding his becoming a god.