Chapter 240: Tang San — Watch Me Form Alliances, Drive Tigers to Swallow Wolves, and Laugh as the Sun Moon Empire Vanishes

"People from the Clear Sky Sect?"

At the Sun Moon Empire's Holy Spirit Church division in Mingdu, the branch leader suspiciously eyed the two young men in front of him. They were still wet behind the ears, merely Soul Elders in strength, and yet they dared to come here seeking cooperation with the Holy Spirit Church? And waving the banners of the Clear Sky Sect and Shrek Academy no less...

But the most outrageous thing—they actually wanted to form an alliance to go against the Sun Moon Empire!

Did they not investigate beforehand who the Holy Spirit Church's Holy Son was?

Unluckily for them, the current strength of the Holy Son was already at the Soul Douluo level and he served directly under Her Highness the Holy Maiden Nana. Which meant: the moment these two left, their words would probably be placed on the Holy Son's desk—or maybe not even wait that long.

After some thought, the branch leader gestured. A black-robed figure stepped forward.

"Relay everything those two just said to the Holy Maiden. Quick, and return faster."

His voice was low and steady.

As the figure slipped away, the branch leader smirked and feigned a look of interest. "The Holy Spirit Church and the Sun Moon Empire are allies—deeply entwined. If you want us to betray the Empire, surely you're offering more than just talk?"

"As expected." Tang San exhaled in relief, a flicker of joy flashing in his eyes.

To him, the Holy Spirit Church was like a rat skulking in the gutter—disgraceful. But according to Elder Xuan, they were incredibly strong. That woman, Ye Yushui, had proven this recently, and even forced out an ancient powerhouse like Long Xiaoyao. A sect with two ultimate-level beings couldn't be taken lightly.

So if tensions between them and the Sun Moon Empire were growing...

Plus, as Elder Xuan had said, the Holy Spirit Church was filled with capricious scoundrels—evil soul masters with no principles. Betrayal came easily to them. That was the only reason he'd dared come.

"Tang San..." Dai Huabin nudged his companion uneasily.

That black-robed figure's departure gave him an ominous feeling.

He still hadn't avenged the deaths of his parents. That Juzi and Xu Cheng were still alive and well—he couldn't die here.

"Relax." Tang San waved a hand and gave him a reassuring look. "Xu Cheng is a prince of the Sun Moon Empire. If you want revenge, this tactic of 'setting the tiger against the wolf' is perfect. If the Holy Spirit Church turns against the Empire, we'll have our chance."

Dai Huabin said nothing.

Meanwhile, the branch leader's expression twisted slightly, as if he were holding back laughter.

Wait, who did he say he was trying to avenge?

Did this kid even know who I am?

Was he always this bold?

To be fair, Tang San didn't actually know Xu Cheng's true identity. The man had too many disguises, and even if unmasked, the information rarely spread far.

Xu Cheng's identity as a prince was public.

But his status as the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Church? That was known only to a few top-level powers and elites. Even within the Sun Moon Royal Academy, no more than a handful knew the truth.

Tang San had asked Elder Xuan a few questions about the Sun Moon Empire before coming—but the old man had been in a rush to eat and drink, so after answering a few, he was gone.

No warnings, no instructions.

And this entire strategy had been a spur-of-the-moment plan after things didn't go smoothly with Ning Tian.

But ultimately, Tang San had just been too successful his whole life.

Before ascending to the higher plane, his life followed the classic protagonist template: he started with a gifted partner, any trouble was cleaned up by his father Tang Hao, and he had five ultra-talented friends. What should have been a tangled web of grudges, he smoothed over with a few eloquent speeches. Even Dugu Bo became his ally, and he lucked into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to boost his powers (though Tang Hao's reputation played a major role).

Still, Tang San credited it all to himself.

It was he who led the Seven Monsters to godhood.

He who defeated the Spirit Hall.

He who founded the mighty Tang Sect.

And after becoming a god, his rise continued. In just over a century, he rivaled old powerhouses like the God of Destruction—a balance of power.

So in his mind, all of this was fated. Heaven stood on his side. Opportunities were destined to flow to him endlessly.

But he forgot—perhaps it was the Shura God's hidden aid that had smoothed his earlier path. Now...

He should probably thank the fact that Tang Hao devoured the world's will. Otherwise...

"My master is Elder Xuan, the strongest in Shrek Academy. I assume you've heard of him. As for the Clear Sky Sect—I'm also a disciple of the Tang Sect." As he spoke, a mysterious hammer of black iron materialized in his palm.

"Hiss—" The branch leader raised an eyebrow.

Interesting.

So he wasn't just some random punk.

"Continue. If you want the Holy Spirit Church to switch sides, your identity alone isn't enough. At the very least, Elder Xuan himself should be negotiating."

"Elder Xuan is occupied," Tang San smiled, "I'm here to form a strategic alliance. The Sun Moon Empire has oppressed your church long enough. Despite Mingdu's splendor, you were driven to seek shelter in the Evil Forest. Haven't you ever dreamed of overthrowing the Empire and founding a true religious nation?"

It was a two-pronged plan: one, achieve his goal of recruiting Ma Xiaotao—her strength and talent were widely recognized. Two, get the Holy Spirit Church and the Sun Moon Empire to fight. The more intense, the better. And if the church overthrew the Empire, it would delay or even stop the development of soul tools, which suited him just fine.

"How do you propose this alliance?"

"I intend to reform the Seven Shrek Monsters. Ma Xiaotao, whom your church captured, is a perfect candidate. We form a blood alliance, each side representing our factions. Once we grow strong enough..."

Tang San was already planning: if he could find a way to undo the evil control on Ma Xiaotao, it would be a triple win.

The Holy Spirit Church would lose their pawn and possibly suffer massive setbacks.

Truly, no one matches me.

You stand on the first floor—I'm always at the top.

Tang San thought proudly.

"..."

The branch leader was fighting to contain his laughter. His expression twisted from restraint, lips curling upward.

He wiped his face and exhaled slowly.

"So what you're saying is... you want something for nothing?"

"Hm?" Tang San froze.

Frowning, he said, "You don't need to put it so harshly. Think about it—I'm the chosen successor of Shrek's Sea God Pavilion. I hold a significant position in the Clear Sky Sect. It's not impossible that I'll lead both someday. If you support me early, it'll be easy for me to help you overthrow the Empire later."

"Remember, the original Seven Shrek Monsters were tightly bonded. If Ma Xiaotao and I build a strong connection now, isn't that a wise investment?"

He spoke righteously.

"Hmm... This is a major issue. I must report to headquarters. It may take several days to get a response. Will you be around?"

"Don't worry. I'm staying in Mingdu as a Shrek exchange student. If you have an answer, come find me." Tang San waved casually.

Before leaving, he added, "Also, time is tight. If I find another evil-flame prodigy, who knows..."

The branch leader watched them walk away in exasperation.

Once they were gone, he gestured.

The hall doors closed silently.

He turned and knelt before a chair.

"Your subordinate greets the Holy Maiden!"

"Rise." A calm voice rang out.

He dared not lift his head and spoke softly, "I originally planned to detain them. Had Your Highness not arrived and transmitted your order, they would not have left so easily."

His voice turned serious. "So the Clear Sky Sect is determined to fight the Empire to the end?"

"Heh. It was inevitable. The Empire will eventually unify the continent—that contradicts their interests. Those willing to surrender already have. The rest are secretly aligning to resist the Imperial army." Nana sneered.

Of course, there was another deeper reason—Wang Dong'er.

Though she didn't know the girl's identity, given the Holy Son's attitude, the implications must be serious...

"Send someone to tail them. Record their movements and meetings in detail."

"Yes!"

The branch leader remained bowed for a long while before slowly standing.

The chair was already empty.

He sighed inwardly—Her Highness the Holy Maiden was only fifteen or sixteen, yet her power was nearing Soul Emperor level. Even he, a Soul Douluo, couldn't fully perceive her aura.

----

"Where's Teacher Fanyu?"

Dai Huabin was stunned for a moment.

"I don't know. A while ago, he was taken away by the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineering Corps' guards and hasn't been seen since," Mo Xuan said darkly.

"Then what about Senior Sister? Why didn't you report this to the academy earlier?!!" Dai Huabin's eyes widened.

"Senior Sister… cough, she's been busy cultivating soul tools. I reported this to the academy long ago, but they told us to keep it quiet and not cause a stir." Mo Xuan looked even more dejected at the mention of her.

They had still been pretending just moments ago.

Now, Ning Tian had moved the entire sect into the Sun Moon Empire's territory. Wang Dong'er had been taken as a disciple by Xu Cheng due to the Hao Tian Sect incident. Xiao Xiao was close to Wang Dong… Within their class, only he remained loyal to Shrek Academy.

He often saw Senior Sister in the faculty quarters—she exchanged flirtatious glances with Xu Cheng multiple times, the two of them laughing and chatting intimately. This was clearly beyond simple friendship.

Not long ago, Instructor Fanyu had said he would try persuading Senior Sister one more time. He left and never came back—he hadn't been seen in over half a month.

He went to the Sun Moon Empire's Imperial Academy seeking answers, but was brushed off with a smile by the Director. When he tried explaining things to the inner court students, Senior Sister gave him a cold glance—and he chickened out, not daring to cause more trouble.

Naturally, he didn't dare say too much about this. After all, what could Tang San and Dai Huabin really do even if they knew?

Just two more junior schoolmates dragged into the mess, that's all.

"…"

Tang San and Dai Huabin looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.

Walking through the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Academy.

Tang San furrowed his brow, finding the situation tricky.

When he first came to the mortal world and laid eyes on Shrek City—with its wide and solid walls, bustling streets, and Shrek's undeniable strength—he had felt proud and confident. But now… it all felt like a beautiful façade hiding decay within.

They'd been completely trampled on!

How the hell is everyone just putting up with this?!!

"Something doesn't feel right," Dai Huabin said, frowning.

"Doesn't matter. At least with the Holy Spirit Cult, it seems like there's still hope. Let's go find the rest of the Shrek Seven Monsters first."

"Juniors?"

Xu Sanshi glanced at the two in surprise.

He vaguely remembered Dai Huabin—from the tournament, potential teammates and all—but this Tang San…

"Yes. We want to rebuild the original Shrek Seven Monsters." Tang San said proudly.

"So we're looking for Senior He Caitou… and Jiang Nannan."

"Huh?!!" Xu Sanshi's expression darkened.

"Ten thousand years ago, Tang San and Xiao Wu were married. Don't tell me you want to…"

"Of course not. I have… cough, what I mean is, just teammates. Forming a team among top-tier talents and binding their interests together. For example, He Caitou isn't part of the Sun Moon royal family. Later, we might help him ascend to the throne of the Sun Moon Empire." Tang San said flatly.

Jiang Nannan? I've got Xiao Wu—I wouldn't be interested anyway.

"Sounds reasonable, but the path Tang San took ten thousand years ago isn't so easy to replicate." Xu Sanshi nodded.

"Call him Ancestor Tang San! You're part of Shrek, yet so… mmph!" Tang San began ranting, venting the frustration he had built up.

But Dai Huabin quickly covered his mouth, chuckling awkwardly:"Sorry, Senior Xu. He's gotten a little too into character playing Tang San. Don't take it personally."

Xu Sanshi nodded slightly, giving Tang San a pitiful look and shaking his head:"Trying to act like that hypocrite Tang San? Not easy. You'd need at least a split personality and a few screws loose to play it convincingly. And take my advice—don't act too well, or you're gonna get beat up…"

Tang San: "Mmph mmph mmph!!!"

Sun Moon Empire Imperial Academy.

Dueling arena.

A flash of orange with a metallic sheen gracefully landed on the stage.

Behind her, a bloodied figure stood trembling, eyes filled with shock as he stared at her.They were both at Rank 51, Soul Kings. Both close-combat soul engineers.So why was he completely crushed?

Just looking at the sleek, metal-lined soul tool she wore—especially the sharp curves on her legs, gently touching the ground—he realized: she had been holding back.

Had she used full force, just from that grapple, there would be two giant holes in his shoulders.

"I concede!"

With that announcement, cheers erupted from the crowd.

A face at the school-flower level, top-tier talent—who wouldn't be infatuated?

"Ahem… Nannan, it's me—Sanshi…"

Seeing the beauty leaping gracefully off the stage and preparing to leave, Xu Sanshi hurried up.

"You need something?" Jiang Nannan glanced at him coldly—a true ice queen, shutting him out with just one sentence.

Dai Huabin instantly felt something was off.

This Jiang Nannan… didn't seem to be as close to Xu Sanshi as he claimed. In fact, she looked more like… someone being one-sidedly fawned over?

But since they were already here, it was too late to back out.

"Ahem, the Academy plans to reorganize the original Shrek Seven Monsters team—a true recreation. Right now, Junior Tang San is playing the role of Tang San, with Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer. This is Dai Huabin, playing…" Xu Sanshi grinned, trying to please.

"You mean you want me to play Xiao Wu?" Jiang Nannan's brows immediately knit.

"Exactly," Tang San replied confidently.

He glanced at Jiang Nannan, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

If it's her… maybe it's not impossible?

After all, Xiao Wu was in the upper realm, and no one knew this was a clone. Even if he got married and had kids down here, it'd be all for the future of the continent.

Tang San decided he would suffer for the greater good.

"Xu Sanshi…"

Murderous intent flashed in Jiang Nannan's eyes.

She had clearly noticed Tang San's gaze.

And the underlying implications? She wasn't dumb—Tang San and Xiao Wu were a couple. There was a definite insinuation here.

But after taking a few deep breaths, she forcefully suppressed her rage.

"Bother me again, and I'll kill you!"

"Ugh…" Xu Sanshi was left bewildered.

His eyes were only on Jiang Nannan—he hadn't noticed Tang San's expression at all.He thought she was rejecting him, and was about to chase after her when Tang San stopped him.

"Enough, Senior Xu. This is an internal academy matter. The more you interfere, the worse it gets. I think Senior Sister Nannan probably finds you annoying."

Xu Sanshi opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

He lowered his head, dejected.

Tang San smiled slyly, waving casually.

"You should go. Leave the rest to us…"

Watching them walk away, Xu Sanshi let out a long sigh.

Sea God Pavilion.

Conference Hall.

Mu En still sat in his old wheelchair, but he sat upright now. Half of his hair had turned white, yet his complexion was rosy and full of vitality—just like in his prime.

Everyone around him looked invigorated.

They were even discussing how to restore Shrek to its peak.

"How's the return on investment?" Mu En asked.

"Teacher, the principal and interest have all been recovered—three hundred million gold soul coins in total! The other side actually paid up!" Xian Lin'er said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, the elders were visibly thrilled, offering their suggestions:

"Elder Mu, this is a golden opportunity—how can we wait?"

"Exactly! If we make another big haul, Shrek's future is secured!"

"…"

Only Mu En's expression turned serious.

Given the current momentum, Shrek was winning. The Star Luo Empire was winning… everyone seemed to be winning. So who was losing?

The Sun Moon Empire? Not necessarily.

He had a creeping feeling—like a massive invisible net was closing in around them.

But now, the arrow was nocked—it had to be loosed.

The Dou Ling Empire had gone in first. They'd already invested nearly 700 million—basically their entire foundation. And they were seeing massive profits, already earning over 300 million!

And this was in less than half a month!That's more than Shrek's yearly revenue—nearly two years' worth!

With returns this absurd, who could resist?

If everyone made a killing and Shrek missed out due to hesitation, who would bear that blame? Who could bear it?

"Phew… Elder Lin, how much gold soul coin liquidity does Treasure Pavilion still have?" Mu En asked, turning to the finely dressed old woman.

"If I exhaust our funds, at least seven hundred million. If we auction off some items… we could raise up to 1.5 billion," Elder Lin replied thoughtfully.

"There are too many valuable treasures in the Treasure Pavilion. Even if we grit our teeth and sell most of them, we must still keep some of our cornerstone artifacts."

"Teacher, sell them! What's seven hundred million good for? Besides, once we've made our money, we can just buy everything back!" Yan Shaozhe said, clearly tempted.

"...Very well. Elder Lin, make the preparations." Mu En no longer hesitated. Once a decision was made, there was no turning back.

"Alright. Aside from a few cornerstone items, the Treasure Pavilion has large quantities of soul bones, rare treasures, and more. If we sell them, let's host the auction at Shrek Academy. With our name, we'll gather 1.5 billion in no time."

"Then let's send out invitations tonight—the auction will be held tomorrow."

Evening.

Shrek City.

Xu Cheng met his long-lost friend Xiao Hongchen again. The latter's eyes were red as he hugged Xu Cheng, nearly shedding tears.

"Why did you come here!" Xiao Hongchen asked, panic-stricken.

Ever since receiving Xu Cheng's letter, he could barely believe his eyes.

This guy actually came in person—with just two women?!

Given how important Xu Cheng was to the Sun Moon Empire, if he were caught, the entire empire could collapse!

That's why he had snuck over like a thief, not even telling Ma Rulong or Lin Xi—terrified of tipping off Shrek Academy.

"Come on, you think I'd be dumb enough to come unprepared? Just one injured Limit Douluo and a drunkard—what can they do to stop me?" Xu Cheng said with a bright smile.

"…" Xiao Hongchen thought of Xu Cheng's display at the tournament—activating his mecha—and quietly sighed in relief.

This guy always had endless trump cards.

"So what brings you here…"

Xiao Hongchen took off his coat, sat down in a private room at the restaurant, and relaxed a bit.

He glanced at Tang Ya and Gu Yuena.

He recognized the former—she was close with Ah Meng—and nodded in greeting. But the latter…

"Heard Shrek's doing a big clearance sale. I came to browse, maybe pick out a few treasures I like." Xu Cheng said with a grin.

No one on the continent was richer than him right now!

In just half a month, he'd made 1.7 to 1.8 billion gold soul coins—cold, hard cash.

Now that Shrek was auctioning off its treasures, what could anyone possibly use to outbid him?

"Shrek's treasures… a clearance sale… wait, what?!!" Xiao Hongchen's expression shifted rapidly—then he looked at Xu Cheng in horror.

"This whole thing… it was you?!! I invested over three million gold soul coins in it!"

"You can withdraw it whenever you like. I'm not restricting anything." Xu Cheng shrugged, smiling calmly.

"…Damn, seriously." Looking at Xu Cheng's smiling face, Xiao Hongchen suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

The entire continent was being played by a single teenager.

And now, this phrase had never felt more appropriate:

(End of Chapter)