That same evening, after the freshman assessment ended, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan were called to the Outer Court by Tang Ya to celebrate Huo Yuhao's team's victory. Though labeled a celebration, it was really just an excuse for Huo Yuhao to grill fish for everyone. Only then did Zhu Ziyang realize that the freshman Ma Xiaotao had once mentioned—who ran a grilled fish stand at the academy gates—was actually Huo Yuhao.
He had to admit—Huo Yuhao's grilling skills were quite impressive.
As they ate, the group chatted cheerfully.
"Xiao Xiao," Tang Ya said with a mischievous smile, "you see how Yuhao and Wang Dong have joined our Tang Sect? What do you say—want to join us too?"
"Tang Sect?" Xiao Xiao blinked, confused.
"Yes! The Tang Sect!" Tang Ya said excitedly. "We've got loads of secret techniques. You've seen some through Yuhao already. In fact, one of them is a perfect match for your martial soul. So, what do you say? Want in?"
"Sure!" Xiao Xiao replied after a moment of thought. "Senior Tang Ya, I want to learn Yuhao's footwork technique!"
"Hehe, no problem!" Tang Ya beamed with pride, making a triumphant fist gesture toward Zhu Ziyang and the others. To her, Xiao Xiao was a dual martial soul wielder—a talent seen once in a century. Recruiting her into the Tang Sect was a huge win.
"Senior Zhu Ziyang, is there something on my face?" Wang Dong asked curiously. "You've been staring at me."
"No, nothing like that," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile. "I was just curious. You and Yuhao didn't know each other before enrolling, right? Yet in just three months, you've become such close friends that you can use a martial soul fusion skill? That's pretty incredible."
"Exactly!" Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement. "When I'm with you two, I always feel like the third wheel."
"Hehehe… maybe we're just fated to be best bros," Huo Yuhao said shyly, rubbing his head.
"That might not be far off," Bei Bei added. "Xu Sanshi and I have been roommates for three years, and we've never even come close to forming a fusion skill."
"Pfft, as if!" Xu Sanshi scoffed while focusing on his grilled fish. "Why would I want to spark anything with you? If I'm going to spark something, it'll be with my Vivi!"
"Eat your fish!" Jiang Nannan blushed, quickly shoving a grilled fish into Xu Sanshi's mouth.
"Rain or shine, Yuhao and Wang Dong are really lucky," Jiang Nannan sighed in admiration.
"No doubt about it," the others agreed in unison.
Zhu Ziyang just smiled and stayed quiet, savoring the fish while replaying a recent conversation with Electrolux in his mind.
"Teacher, are you sure that Wang Dong has divine essence within him?"
"I'm certain. The divine aura he carries is strikingly similar to the one we sensed from that mysterious man outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. They're likely connected."
"So Wang Dong and that man might share a link?"
"Most likely. Wang Dong's divine essence is subtle—almost imperceptible. I only noticed it during his martial soul fusion with Huo Yuhao when the origin of his martial soul briefly revealed itself."
"I see now. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the mysterious man, Wang Dong, the Tang Sect, Huo Yuhao, and the hidden god pulling the strings—these elements must be connected somehow…"
As Zhu Ziyang pieced things together, combined with the knowledge from Peerless Tang Sect, the larger picture began to take shape.
Wang Dong and the mysterious man were both from the Clear Sky Clan. Both that clan and the Tang Sect had ties to Sea God Tang San. But with the Tang Sect in decline and the Clear Sky Clan in seclusion, Tang San's divine seat could no longer gather enough faith power from the Douluo Continent.
So, Tang San—unable to personally intervene as a god—chose a proxy. That's when the "Child of Destiny," Huo Yuhao, caught his eye. Through Yuhao, he could rebuild the Tang Sect. By having Wang Dong—scion of the Clear Sky Clan—join the sect, the two lineages could reconnect.
The divine essence within Wang Dong was likely implanted by Tang San, its purpose to strengthen his bond with Huo Yuhao. That would explain why two people from such different backgrounds, talents, and temperaments could develop a martial soul fusion skill in just three months.
As for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zhu Ziyang now suspected—with near certainty—that it had been left by Tang San specifically for Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong to find. He recalled how the Laurel Immortal Tea had constantly referenced its guardian role, further supporting the theory.
"What a masterful scheme…" Zhu Ziyang thought. His mind raced, but his eyes grew brighter. He realized he might be entangled in a god's grand design. Fear battled with a rising sense of challenge.
To challenge the heavens, the earth, and even the gods—that would be the greatest joy of all!
Yet little did Zhu Ziyang know that what he had deduced was just a small sliver of Sea God Tang San's vast plan—a much darker, more insidious goal lay hidden: one of usurping through deception.
In a distant, unknown divine palace, a blue-haired man sat upon a throne, his eyes half-lidded, fingers drumming rhythmically on the armrest. A faint smile played on his lips.
He was Tang San—the Sea God.
"…So Little Qi has made contact with the Child of Destiny," Tang San murmured. "Good, good… So the Tang Sect's leader doesn't have the Blue Silver Grass martial soul anymore. No wonder my connection to the sect was suddenly cut off. A minor setback… Nothing I can't handle…"
"…Let's see what kind of luck this Child of Destiny truly possesses," he said, eyes opening to reveal a blue-gold glow that seemed capable of piercing the cosmos and gazing across dimensional boundaries. "Try to stop me if you dare. Yuhao and the Tang Sect are already bound together. What can you possibly do? At most, blur my vision a little…"
"…A million-year soul beast? The Skydream Iceworm?" Tang San chuckled. "Truly the Child of Destiny… to receive such powerful aid. Excellent!"
He laughed with delight. The more resources the Child of Destiny gathered, the sweeter the harvest Tang San would one day reap.
"…So many exceptional talents are gathering around him," he muttered. "Ah? More anomalies—people whose destinies were altered, all tightly linked to him. Is this the influence of his luck? Very good! Two fourteen-year-old Soul Kings… Perhaps I'll gift them a god position or two in the future. After all, they're fine talents of my Douluo Continent."
"…Now then, I'll let the Child of Destiny grow on his own for a while," he said. "I mustn't interfere further. 'He' will soon begin to retaliate… and Destruction… Heh. Let him run wild for a bit."
His expression turned sinister. He sneered and vanished into the palace shadows.
Zhu Ziyang had no idea that, because of Huo Yuhao, he had drawn the attention of Sea God Tang San. At that very moment, he was already on his journey home.
Time passed quickly. He and Jiang Nannan had now turned fifteen—their fourth year at Shrek Academy. It was the start of their fourth holiday, and on the second day of the break, they set off for Anyang City, traveling swiftly without stopping in any of the cities along the way.
"Brother, should we visit Zhenzhen now, or on the way back?" Jiang Nannan asked. Her soul power had already reached rank 54.
"Let's go now. I bet Yang Zhenzhen has already reached rank 10 by now. The sooner we help her obtain her first soul ring, the sooner she can continue cultivating," Zhu Ziyang replied. His own soul power had reached rank 56. He could feel his cultivation speed slowing, but he didn't mind. After all, a soul master's strength wasn't measured by soul power alone.
"Alright, let's hurry then!" Jiang Nannan agreed, speeding up.
Before long, the two arrived—for the fifth time—at Zhangyang Village.