Chapter 213: The Return of the Tang Sect

Tang Jiu was still unaware of the danger looming over her as she gloomily returned to her room in the inner court.

"Damn it! What the hell did that bitch Zhu Zhu do? How could her soul power increase so much in just one month?"

She still couldn't accept the fact that she had lost to Zhu Zhu. What made it even worse was that Zhu Zhu, whose soul power had always been lower than hers, had now surpassed her.

Just then, the door she had left slightly ajar creaked open as if something had bumped into it, startling her.

With a pout, she walked over and slammed the door shut hard. But she didn't notice that Fang Chang had already activated his "Stealth" ability and silently slipped into her room.

In her palm, a short strand of Blue Silver Grass appeared. "I wonder how those other two are doing. If I can't stand out during this tournament, then…"

Her murmuring was suddenly cut off by a strange voice that echoed in her mind.

"What is Tang San to you?"

"Who are you?!" Tang Jiu's hairs stood on end. She asked warily, "W-What Tang San? I don't know anyone by that name!"

"You don't? Are you sure?" Fang Chang pressed.

"I really don't know anyone named Tang San. Who even has such a lame name?" she said with an aggrieved expression, seemingly not pretending.

Huh? Fang Chang furrowed his brows. In his stealth state, he sat down on her bed. The noise from the bed made Tang Jiu jump back in fear, shrinking against the wall, too scared to move.

"W-Who are you? What are you doing in my room?" A voice was speaking directly into her mind, from an invisible presence right in her room, interrogating her.

Anyone would be creeped out by such a situation.

Fang Chang had no intention of answering her. Instead, he slowly approached, releasing faint traces of soul power pressure, gradually breaking down her psychological defenses.

"Then, do you know of an organization called the Tang Sect?" he asked again.

"I… how do you know about that?" When she heard the words "Tang Sect," Tang Jiu's expression shifted visibly, a mix of fear and surprise.

"So you do know." This time, Fang Chang abandoned telepathy and leaned in close, speaking directly into her ear.

At this close distance, his breath brushed against her cheek as he spoke, making her already frayed nerves nearly snap.

Tang Jiu dropped to her knees. "Yes, I know! Please don't kill me, sir! I'll tell you everything I know!"

…That easy? Fang Chang hadn't expected her resolve to crumble so quickly.

"Go on. I'm listening. If I find out you're hiding anything, don't blame me for…" He lifted a lock of her hair with his finger, subtly revealing his presence while remaining in stealth.

"I'll talk, I'll talk, I'll tell you everything!" Tang Jiu cried out, eyes red with panic.

"The Tang Sect is an ancient sect. It used to thrive for a time, but after the soul tool revolution brought by the Sun Moon Continent, we declined."

"Now the Tang Sect is weak. There are probably fewer than a hundred members left, scattered across the continent."

"Tang Sect members seek out people whose Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass and who show a certain level of talent to serve as potential successors to the sect." She spoke quickly and without pause, and what she said wasn't too far off from what Fang Chang had speculated.

"And what is your relationship with the Tang Sect? Are you the current sect master?" Fang Chang's tone sharpened, laced with killing intent.

Tang Jiu burst into tears. "N-No, I'm not! I swear I'm not the sect master!"

She quickly explained, "This generation of the Tang Sect chose three people as candidates. I'm just one of them."

"They'll select the final sect master before we turn twenty-five, based on our strength, talent, and influence."

"Until then, I'm just a low-ranking member. Please don't kill me!"

Fang Chang couldn't help but be amused by how terrified this so-called Tang Sect successor looked.

"Then, do you know where the Tang Sect is located?"

"The Tang Sect's location?" Tang Jiu hesitated. "I only know that the current headquarters is in the Sun Moon Empire. I don't know the exact location."

"Are you lying to me?" Fang Chang's voice grew slightly colder, naturally exuding an intimidating aura. "Then how do you usually contact Tang Sect members?"

"I'm not lying, I swear, sir!" Tang Jiu said desperately. "There's a Tang Sect contact point not far from the academy, near the Star Dou Forest. I communicate with them through that location."

"I see. At least you're being sensible." Fang Chang now had a rough understanding of the Tang Sect's current state.

Compared to the version in Douluo Dalu II, this one seemed to be faring slightly better, but not by much.

As for Tang Jiu, she probably didn't have any direct connection to Tang San. She just happened to have the same surname and the same Martial Soul.

What Fang Chang really wanted to know was—who revived the Tang Sect? Where were they now? How strong were they?

But judging by the clueless girl in front of him, she wouldn't have those answers.

This current Tang Sect seemed to be operating with extreme caution, as if constantly guarding against a powerful enemy.

Fang Chang had a gut feeling—that enemy might very well be him.

He had no intention of letting this so-called Tang Sect heir live. After forcing her to draw a rough map of the contact point, he killed her with poison.

Then he staged the scene to make it look like she had committed suicide.

Only after doing all this did Fang Chang calmly leave and return to his quarters in the outer court.

The next day, using the map Tang Jiu had provided, he easily located the Tang Sect's contact point.

There, he found an elderly Soul King, probably in his sixties or seventies. It didn't take much effort to force a critical piece of information from him:

Tang Sect members scattered across the continent would be gathering in the Sun Moon Empire in a few months—coinciding with the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament—for a grand assembly.

At that time, they would likely decide the next sect master.

Fang Chang did not destroy the contact point. He merely crippled the Soul King's soul power and threw him deep into the Star Dou Forest.

He also left behind a tracking mark, so he would immediately know if someone came to deliver a message.

After this, the academy kept Tang Jiu's death strictly confidential. She even remained on the official list of tournament participants.

The academy simply claimed there had been a tactical adjustment, promoting Ning Wan'er to the main team and placing Tang Jiu as a substitute.

Only a few top-level inner court officials knew the truth—that the academy was acting under duress, helping cover something up.