The Self-Closing Tang San

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"The Nether Spirit Cat and the White Tiger are inherently two highly compatible martial souls, capable of forming the martial soul fusion skill Nether White Tiger. Although, for some special reason, the resonance between your martial soul and Dai Mubai's has vanished, the compatibility remains. If you were to devour it, there's a strong chance your martial soul could evolve. However, what's gained through devouring isn't the same as what you cultivate yourself, it comes with hidden risks. Plus, if word gets out, the Spirit Hall could easily brand you an evil soul master. After devouring, you'd better not use this ability recklessly again." Ning Tian said.

Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes. "Listen to yourself. I'm not some ruthless woman who'd do anything just to boost her strength."

Ning Tian grinned lecherously. "Well, whether you're ruthless or not, I'll have to check for myself."

"Stop it!"

Amid Zhu Zhuqing's startled cry, Ning Tian released his gold devouring beetles to seal the doors and windows.

…..

While things were lively on Ning Tian's side, Tang San's situation was downright bleak.

From the grand arena to the barracks, Tang San's mind endlessly replayed every moment of today's match against Zhu Zhuqing.

To him, this wasn't just a lost fight, it was much more.

When he'd lost to Ning Tian before, he could console himself with the fact that he had an external soul bone and twin martial souls. He told himself that once he fully cultivated his second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, he'd surpass Ning Tian. But losing to Zhu Zhuqing this time? That was something he couldn't stomach. Sure, her fourth soul skill was unusually powerful, but the real issue was how she'd outmatched him in every way.

First, his greatest trump card, the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques failed.

Then, his Eight Spider Lances were neutralized by her external soul bone. Even the two spider-type soul skills he'd absorbed beyond the limit with his Blue Silver Grass were countered by that same external soul bone.

His Clear Sky Hammer martial soul was useless against her incredible speed. Its bulkiness just turned him into an easy target.

And the worst part, the thing he absolutely couldn't accept came in the duel's final moments. Relying on his natural talent, he'd barely managed to multitask, splitting his focus two ways. But Zhu Zhuqing? She went further, pulling off an astonishing three-way multitasking feat that sealed his defeat, leaving him with a brutal hit to the waist.

Before this, Zhu Zhuqing hadn't been anywhere near this strong. It was only after spending two years with Ning Tian that she'd grown so much. Her soul power had steadily climbed to level 43, her combat skills had skyrocketed, and she'd even gotten that external soul bone.

According to Grandmaster's theory, external soul bones could only be obtained while absorbing a soul ring. Yet, if they weren't fused, they could be stripped from the host's body. Thinking about it now, that logic was full of holes, but Tang San had bought into it back then. The kicker? Zhu Zhuqing's fourth soul ring clearly didn't come from a spider-type soul beast. And her third soul ring? He'd never heard of a spider-type soul beast granting a beast martial soul user a cloning skill. That meant her external soul bone likely came from the Black Widow he'd killed years ago.

That soul bone should've been his.

It should've been his.

True, his Crypt Demon Spider external soul bone wasn't inferior to the Black Widow's in most ways, except for the poison and even outperformed it in some aspects. But if Zhu Zhuqing hadn't had that Black Widow soul bone, she wouldn't have stood a chance against him.

Here's the thing, the more someone's done wrong, the more they hate seeing the same thing happen to them. In Tang San's eyes, he'd already jumped off a cliff to prove his innocence over the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing got off scot-free. That was unforgivable. Whether it was Zhu Zhuqing or Ning Tian, who'd helped her steal what was rightfully his, both had crossed a line they couldn't come back from. When he eventually destroyed the Spirit Hall, he'd settle the score with them too.

At the same time, Tang San couldn't ignore his own flaws. Right now, the Clear Sky Hammer's attacks were too straightforward, too easy to counter. He needed group attack skills and long-range techniques to round it out.

With that in mind, Tang San said goodbye to the Shrek team and, just like in the original story when Shui Bing'er broke his spirit, he withdrew into seclusion.

This wasn't the first time he'd shut himself away.

The first time was in the Star Dou Great Forest, when Xiao Wu was snatched by the Titan Giant Ape. He could only watch helplessly as Ning Tian chased after her.

The second was during the preliminaries, when Shui Bing'er controlled him from start to finish, and he only scraped by thanks to his external soul bone.

The third was when Ning Tian crushed him with overwhelming power.

And now, the fourth, the one that stung the most was losing to Zhu Zhuqing, someone who'd once been far weaker than him. That hit harder than anything.

Watching Tang San trudge into the barracks alone, the Shrek group minus Xiao Wu couldn't help but feel down. Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Yu Tianheng were especially shaken. Forget Tang San; even they were shocked by Zhu Zhuqing's display of strength.

Dai Mubai, her former fiancee, looked like a wilted eggplant, utterly defeated. He was beyond hope. Not only had he been castrated, but now his greatest asset, his strength, had fallen short against Zhu Zhuqing. Even if he beat Dai Weisi in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament finals, without his manhood or his fiancee, he had no claim to the Star Luo Empire's throne.

His future was gone.

But he wouldn't let Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Tian, that cheating pair, get away with it. Even if it killed him, he'd drag them down with him.

Tang San holed up in the barracks, locking the doors and windows tight. The dim light and silent surroundings slowly calmed his racing heart.

But he didn't cultivate.

A thick fog clouded his mind. He couldn't pinpoint where he'd gone wrong or figure out which path to take next.

For one thing, Grandmaster had definitely led him astray, that much was clear.

But seeking out Zhu Qing, Ning Tian's teacher? Who knew if she'd sabotage him? Tang San even suspected that the last time she'd suggested he absorb the Crypt Demon Spider soul ring, it was a setup so Zhu Zhuqing could counter him.

...

Three days passed in a blur. Tang San wrestled with his thoughts, but the more he pondered, the messier his mind became. He didn't rest, didn't eat or drink, didn't even show up to the competition. He just drifted in that hazy state, his heart quietly tormenting itself.

Since becoming a soul master, he'd always stood at the top of his peers. Meanwhile, Ning Tian was dismissed as having a trashy martial soul. Sure, he'd gone from half-level innate soul power to level ten in just a year, but Tang San still hadn't taken him seriously.

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