Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul originally had the potential to awaken as the Blue Silver Emperor with the help of the Blue Silver King. However, his choices—absorbing an incompatible spirit ring for his second martial soul and a spirit bone with the wrong attributes—had irreversibly ruined that potential.
Worse still, the fire attribute of the spirit bone was constantly burning the Blue Silver Grass, leaving his primary martial soul on the verge of collapse.
Yet now, strands of black flames clung to the withered Blue Silver Grass. Under the influence of this mysterious black fire, the dying Blue Silver Grass began to show signs of renewed life!
Seeing this, a glimmer of joy appeared in Tang San's eyes. He had no time to dwell on the implications of what his father had once warned him about—the dangers of becoming a "fallen one."
"There's no such thing as evil power, only evil soul masters," Tang San reassured himself.
As long as he refrained from wanton slaughter and maintained self-control, he believed he wouldn't become a true fallen soul master.
"Yes, I am a disciple of the Tang Sect. I could never be a fallen one!"
"This power… this power is magnificent!"
Tang San only focused on the changes to his Blue Silver Grass and failed to notice his physical transformation—his hair had turned gray-white, his youthful face now wrinkled like that of an old man.
As furrows appeared on his brow, the 14-year-old Tang San now resembled a decrepit elder in his 70s or 80s.
Nevertheless, he stood up, his broken legs mysteriously healed during the mutation. But, one critical injury remained unchanged—the one that rendered him unable to have descendants.
"The heavens have not forsaken me! I, Tang San, have returned!"
Just as he celebrated his resurgence, his voice caught him by surprise.
"My voice?"
Looking down, he saw his wrinkled hands—those of a feeble elder, not a youth.
"I'm only 14, not even 15! Why… why have I aged like this?"
He murmured in confusion.
"Could it be… the black flames used my lifespan as fuel?"
As Tang San wrestled with his bewilderment, a cold voice interrupted him.
"Kid, you're not completely clueless after all. This kind of mutation requires an enormous amount of life energy. Unfortunately…"
The voice's owner stepped forward, sneering:
"Even if you've successfully mutated, until you become a Title Douluo, your appearance will never return to normal. Worse, your life force will continuously drain due to your martial soul. It will kill you in the end."
Turning to the source of the voice, Tang San's pupils shrank in fear. How could he forget this man?
It was the very person who, with one kick, had crippled him so thoroughly that even his corruption couldn't fully repair the damage.
"It's you!"
Despair surged within Tang San. He had just undergone his transformation, brimming with hope for revenge and rapid growth. With one more spirit ring, he could become a Spirit King and begin to settle old scores.
But now…
It was as if a freshly spawned adventurer had just stepped out of the starting village, only to find the final boss waiting for him. How could he possibly win?
"Yes, it's me!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's smirk widened.
Originally, Yue Guan had been tasked with tailing Tang San, ensuring he stayed alive but thoroughly humiliated. He hadn't expected to witness Tang San's corruption firsthand.
As an elder of Spirit Hall and a sworn enemy of Tang San, Yue Guan could hardly ignore such a sight.
And so, he waited. He let Tang San awaken, burn through his life force, and emerge transformed, only to crush him anew—dangling hope, then obliterating it.
"It's fortunate I followed you. Otherwise, a corrupted soul master like you would have slaughtered countless innocents and weaker soul masters. I'll deal with this now—crushing it in the cradle."
Yue Guan's tone was light, but a sharp glint of malice flickered in his eyes.
Tang San trembled. In the face of a Title Douluo filled with killing intent, what could a mere quasi-Spirit King like him do?
"Thud!"
After a brief hesitation, Tang San dropped to his knees.
"Hiss!"
Unluckily, he knelt on a sharp rock, the jagged stone piercing into his knee.
A sharp gasp escaped Tang San as the intense pain made him nearly leap to his feet.
Yue Guan's expression twitched, his lips tugging into an incredulous smile at the ridiculous sight.
The two exchanged awkward glances.
"M-My lord! We've had no grievances in the past, no enmity in the present. Please, have mercy and spare me!"
Tears welled up in Tang San's eyes, but even as he begged, his mind was calculating. He reached toward his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges soul tool, intending to launch a surprise attack.
As a Tang Sect disciple, he had faith in his hidden weapons. If used skillfully, he could even kill a Title Douluo!
But before he could act, Yue Guan's cold voice pierced through his thoughts.
"Your soul power fluctuations have betrayed you."
Without even lifting his gaze, Yue Guan's dismissive tone froze Tang San in place.
Tang San's hand stopped. His face paled even further, drained of any remaining color.
"My lord, I-I only wanted to present you with a gift…"
"Hah! I have no use for your pathetic trinkets."
Yue Guan sneered.
"Enough talk."
In an instant, Yue Guan appeared before Tang San, his oppressive soul power pinning Tang San to the ground.
"I'll destroy your martial soul first, then cripple your soul power!"
Yue Guan's hand pressed down on Tang San's shoulder, his soul power surging forth.
Under the immense pressure, Tang San's mutated Blue Silver Grass martial soul emerged, visibly fragile and twisted.
"No!"
This martial soul was Tang San's hope for revenge and redemption.
"Hah."
Without hesitation, Yue Guan shattered the corrupted Blue Silver Grass, severing Tang San's connection to it. At the same time, he destroyed Tang San's source of soul power, rendering him unable to cultivate further.
"Hmm… an unusual soul power circulation method?"
Yue Guan paused briefly, intrigued by the unique flow of Tang San's energy. But after a moment, he shook his head.
"Whatever. It's just a useless meditation technique from a broken fool."
"Pffft!"
Tang San spat out blood as his martial soul was destroyed and his dantian shattered.
(End of Chapter)