Chapter 26: A Strike Against Time
It was a streak of light, an arrow of destruction.
Tang San had been in the God Realm, overseeing Huo Yuhao's progress and the flow of soul beast luck on Douluo Continent through the central control system, ready to make subtle adjustments to ensure Huo Yuhao stayed on the intended path guided by the Douluo Star's plane consciousness.
But suddenly, an odd piece of information reached him from the center of the God Realm. At the distant edge of the divine realm, an incomprehensible fluctuation emerged—not the feedback of a divine creature.
This piqued Tang San's interest, breaking his boredom.
Since it wasn't a living being yet could generate fluctuations detectable by the God Realm's center from such a distance, it was likely a divine-level or even God King-level treasure.
Having spent countless years in the God Realm, Tang San knew of the universe's secrets—some treasures could spontaneously appear in the void, potentially evolving into natural gods or God Kings if undiscovered.
The God King of Life and the God King of Destruction were such entities.
Eager to claim it, Tang San concealed the information using his central authority, not informing the other four God Kings.
With the God of Destruction preoccupied with the God of Life and the new God Kings of Evil and Good posing no threat, Tang San saw his chance.
He separated one-tenth of his soul and sent it to investigate, knowing that losing it wouldn't cripple his main body.
Transmitting through the God Realm, his soul reached the void of the starry sky.
His God King-level divine consciousness scanned a light-year radius, quickly detecting the anomaly.
But before he could investigate further, the starry sky glowed with faint white light, the void trembled, and dense black cracks appeared.
Space collapsed, laws disintegrated, and all matter within thousands of light years vanished silently, like snow under a blazing sun.
A cosmic abyss formed, catching Tang San off guard. The terrifying fluctuations shattered even his God King soul fragment.
In his final moment, a single image reached his main body in the God Realm.
"Pfft!"
Golden divine blood spurted from Tang San's mouth as the sudden loss of one-tenth of his soul overwhelmed him.
Worse, something seemed to have locked onto him.
An indescribable terror shook his soul, disrupting his control over the God Realm's center.
The murderous God King-level energy fluctuations spread across the God Realm, drawing the four other God Kings and first-level gods to the scene.
Seeing Tang San's state, the God King of Destruction roared, "Sea God, what have you done?"
The God King of Life frowned, debating whether to heal Tang San.
The Evil God King Ji Dong and Good God King Lie Yan watched coldly, unmoving.
Before Tang San could respond, Xiao Wu, his co-throne holder, rushed through the crowd, her face pale with tears. "Third Brother, what happened to you?"
Tang San wiped the golden blood from his mouth, about to answer, "Xiao Wu, I… run!"
A terrifying energy fluctuation erupted from his soul, and with a look of horror, he tried to push Xiao Wu away.
But it was too late. His already-damaged body exploded, the energy storm sweeping everything nearby.
The four God Kings were horrified, unable to comprehend why Tang San self-destructed.
"Tang San, you deserve to die! Xiaolu, help me stabilize the God Realm!" the God King of Destruction shouted.
Ji Dong and Lie Yan, lacking super artifacts, could only shield themselves, their strength barely matching the Seven Elemental Gods.
Tang San never imagined the destructive light could follow his soul's connection and annihilate him in the God Realm, dragging Xiao Wu with him.
"No, Xiao Wu!!!"
His fading willpower let out a mournful cry before plunging into endless darkness.
In his final moment, a strange piece of information entered his consciousness, incomprehensible yet instantly understood: Run, flee to any gap in time—it will always find you and nail you to fate!
After an unknown time, he awoke amidst a familiar, warm fluctuation, witnessing the martial soul awakening in Holy Soul Village from countless years ago.
But how could two identical Tang San souls exist? Upon awakening, the God King Tang San's soul essence overpowered the soul of the young Tang San, inheriting everything.
Lying on the wooden bed in the cabin, drenched in cold sweat, Tang San absorbed the memories and understood.
The image of Xiao Wu torn apart by his own energy storm haunted him.
"No, Xiao Wu, my Xiao Wu!"
Kneeling on his small bed, eyes red and body trembling, Tang San was consumed by grief.
Tang Hao, likely in a rare good mood and drunk, slept soundly, oblivious to the noise.
Suddenly, Tang San realized something. He was only six years old, in the era of the Spirit Hall. Xiao Wu was still alive.
"Yes, I'm only six now, and Xiao Wu is still here. I'll see her again at Notting College in a few days."
His bloodshot eyes sparked with hope, his spirit rekindled.
He could take Xiao Wu back to the God Realm and start anew.
As for the Spirit Hall's two gods, Tang San, as a God King, dismissed them. Even his past self could have swept them away, let alone now.
---
With anticipation for Xiao Wu, Tang San arrived at Notting College's gate.
The familiar gate and campus buildings stirred deep nostalgia.
As expected, the guard harassed him, but Tang San, now a reincarnated God King, felt no anger. Arguing with a mortal would be beneath him.
"Can you prove your spirit to me?"
A greasy, decadent middle-aged man appeared, hands behind his back, squinting with a flat-top haircut.
Tang San looked at the teacher, Yu Xiaogang, with no nostalgia—only disdain.
As a God King, he saw through Yu Xiaogang's facade. A man who relied on family and women, copying others' knowledge without originality. His theories, overturned countless times over Douluo's millennia, were laughable. Even his ignorance of ten-thousand-year soul ring impacts was pathetic.
Still, Tang San planned to use him. Yu Xiaogang could be useful against the Spirit Hall's women, but kowtowing as a disciple? Unthinkable. Yu Xiaogang wasn't worthy of a God King's bow.
If Yu Xiaogang could break through level 30, he should be grateful.
After Yu Xiaogang's speculative ramblings, Tang San reluctantly became his disciple.
Beaming, Yu Xiaogang guided Tang San through the work-study process and sent him to Dormitory 7 to settle in.
Tang San's heart raced with anticipation of reuniting with Xiao Wu.
Then, a voice froze him in place, his eyes reddening as he stared at the figure at the door.
"Excuse me, is this Dormitory 7?"
"My name is Xiao Wu, and my martial spirit is a rabbit, a very cute little white rabbit!"
[end of the chapter]