After Tianlin's words, Tang San connected all the clues. Now he understood why Spirit Hall coincidentally appeared in the Star Dou Forest—it was all orchestrated by the man before him.
He'd always known where Xiao Wu was but didn't act because he didn't want her ring. His comrades weren't strong enough to absorb a 100,000-year ring either. Only he could make Xiao Wu willingly sacrifice herself.
Every move he made was according to Jun Tianlin's design.
"Jun Tianlin, you killed Xiao Wu! I'll kill you!" Tang San's eyes turned blood red. His Dark Blue Silver Grass shot at Tianlin, his hatred now deeper than the ocean.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Three black flashes cut off all the grass—Oslo, now martial soul possessed, intervened. "Tang San, your opponent is me. Blood must be repaid by my own hand."
"I may be higher level, but you have eight rings and I only seven. Compared to your father's advantage over me, it's fairer. Take this—First Soul Skill! Panther Shadow Assault!"
Oslo's figure blurred, leaving afterimages. Before Tang San could react, Oslo's claw raked his chest, leaving three deep wounds—no mercy at all.
But Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor leg bone saved his life.
He was shocked by Oslo's speed. He'd seen Soul Sage agility types like Flender, but Oslo was on another level—Flender had no soul bones.
"No, I can't match his speed. But in technique—try my Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!" Tang San used mysterious footwork.
Oslo smiled and countered with his own Dragon-Panther Transformation, sticking close to Tang San.
It was as if Oslo had seen through Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. No matter where Tang San moved, Oslo anticipated him, slashing repeatedly. Within seconds, Tang San was covered in fatal wounds. Without his soul bone, he'd be dead.
"Strange...why can't I kill him? It's like something's stopping me," Oslo wondered.
Tang San was even more confused. "Why can you completely see through my Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?"
"It's not just that! Listen to this." Tianlin stepped forward and recited a Daoist internal skill.
Tang San was stunned. "Impossible! That's Mysterious Heaven Skill!"
Tianlin nodded. "Correct. You've shown me too many Tang Sect skills. Shu Mountain is a Daoist cultivation sect—its skills can integrate with other Daoist arts. Grandpa Eagle's Divine Eagle Eye can see the flow of soul power. Once he told me your patterns, using Shu Mountain skills, it was easy to deduce your Mysterious Heaven Skill, let alone your other techniques. Tang San, I am now, like you, a living Tang Sect manual."
"Jun Tianlin, you despicable thief! You stole Tang Sect secrets!" Tang San roared. To him, the Tang Sect was as important as Xiao Wu. Tianlin had taken both.
Seeing Tang San furious, Tianlin taunted, "Relax. While your skill isn't as good as my Shu Mountain arts, it has its merits. I'll pass it to my sect's inner disciples—with a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect label, of course."
"Bastard! Cough!" Tang San was so angry he coughed up blood. "I'll kill you today!"
He hurled his Cluster Soul Chasing Ball, raining needles at the Emperor Battle team.
"Xuanwu Shield!" The Shi brothers blocked it. Such tricks didn't require Tianlin's intervention.
At that moment, Tang San leaped into the sky, trying to escape using his Blue Silver Emperor's flight.
His real goal was to use his hidden weapons to buy time, then use his soul bone's flight ability to escape.
With all his skills exposed, he knew he stood no chance, even if Tianlin didn't act. Tang Sect taught—keep the green hills, and you'll always have fuel.
"Trying to run? Teleport!"
Oslo used the Soft Bone Rabbit's teleport to block Tang San's way. Anticipating this, Tang San fired Dragon Beard Needles with his right hand, swung the Clear Sky Hammer with his left—a dual attack, a move he once used to slay the Cerberus King.
But Oslo couldn't fly and was limited in the air, unable to dodge.
"Xiao Tian was right—Tang San's battle IQ is incredible. Luckily, I'm not weak. Soul Bone Skill—Invincible Golden Body!"
With a flash of gold, the needles bounced off like hitting steel, not leaving a scratch.
The Clear Sky Hammer, now even heavier, was caught in Oslo's hand as if it were a toy.
With six soul bones, Oslo was no longer a typical agility type—his strength surpassed many power attackers.
"Take it back!" Oslo hurled the hammer back faster, striking Tang San's chest and sending him crashing down.
Oslo teleported below, kneeing Tang San's back, breaking his bones audibly.
Tang San was now completely powerless.
"Heh, who'd have thought—my last battle would end defeated by Xiao Wu's soul bone," Tang San said. Even at death's door, he didn't beg, "Do it, Oslo. But tell me: did you conspire with Spirit Hall to destroy Clear Sky Sect?"
"No. I swear on my soul; I only told Xiao Tian and Yu Feng. I had no dealings with Spirit Hall," Oslo replied honestly.
"Good. Then my father's killing you was unjust. You killing me for revenge is karma," Tang San said bitterly. He just wanted to die with a clear conscience.
"After I kill you, all grudges between me, your family, and Clear Sky Sect are over. Your father's debt is paid. I won't trouble them again," Oslo promised. For him, one life for one life was enough.
"Xiao Tian, lend me your Demon Sword," Oslo asked.
Tianlin nodded and summoned the sword.
Oslo took the sword and stabbed. Tang San, powerless, saw the sword and, in a final burst, attacked.
"Die, Jun Tianlin!"
Tang San swung the Clear Sky Hammer against Oslo's sword—bang! The hammer broke. The world's top tool martial soul was cleaved.
Oslo stabbed Tang San's heart.
"Tang San, at least you died bravely. I'll tell you a secret—Xiao Wu is alive. She's just lost her cultivation. If she restores it to 100,000 years, she'll recover," Tianlin told him.
A ray of hope lit Tang San's dying eyes.
"I know what you want. Don't worry—I won't harm Xiao Wu again. Rest in peace," Tianlin promised.
At this, Tang San closed his eyes and died.
At that moment, it seemed as if the world itself subtly changed.
PS: RIP Tang San.