When Xiao Wu and Tang San arrived at the fourth restriction, Tang San's face turned black and green with rage!
On the relief carving of the restriction gate was a dragon and a rabbit, and standing at the entrance was Yu Tianheng.
There was no need to read the rules to guess what this trial entailed.
"Yo, yo, yo, Xiao Wu, A-San, you're here! I've been waiting for you for ages. So, you've knelt through three trials already, huh?" Yu Tianheng said with a mocking tone.
"You… you all planned this?!" Tang San roared in fury.
"No, no, I just happened to know what happened in the previous trials," Yu Tianheng replied.
Tang San fell silent.
"As expected, the key to opening this gate is the Wu-Heng Power generated from the martial soul fusion between me, Yu Tianheng, and Xiao Wu. Sigh, originally, at Xiao Wu's kind invitation, we were willing to set aside our grudges and help you out. But you didn't need our help—truly ungrateful!" Yu Tianheng said sarcastically.
"Yu Tianheng, cut to the chase. What do I have to do for you to help me?" Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, his breathing heavy like an ox.
"If you want my help, fine. Do exactly what those three before me made you do—but that's not all." Yu Tianheng spread his legs, gesturing to the space beneath his crotch, and said, "To pass my trial, you'll also have to crawl between my legs. Heh heh heh, Xiao San."
"You—"
"Got a problem? Then crawl twice. Unless you don't want to become a god," Yu Tianheng threatened.
The words "become a god" struck a chord in Tang San's heart. He thought of all the sacrifices and humiliations he had endured along the way. If he failed here and couldn't ascend to godhood, wouldn't all his efforts have been in vain?
"Fine, I agree, Yu Tianheng." Tang San took a deep breath, knelt before Yu Tianheng, kowtowed three times, and begged, "I, Tang San, beg you to fuse your martial soul with Xiao Wu. Use your Wu-Heng Power to help me unlock this restriction. I swear by the name of the Asura God that, once I ascend to godhood, I will not hold this against you."
Yu Tianheng nodded in satisfaction, then pointed to his crotch and said, "Then crawl."
Tang San got on all fours, staring at the gap beneath Yu Tianheng's legs. His dark face twisted with rage and humiliation.
Finally, he closed his eyes tightly and crawled through Yu Tianheng's legs. After enduring this humiliation, Tang San said grimly, "Is that enough?"
"Did you forget? I said twice," Yu Tianheng replied.
"Twice?" Tang San suppressed his burning anger and said, "Fine, I'll crawl again."
With that, Tang San crawled back to Yu Tianheng and passed through his legs once more.
As he crawled, Tang San roared inwardly in fury: *Endure what others cannot. I do this only to become a god. For the sake of ultimate godhood, all my sacrifices and suffering are worth it. Yu Tianheng, just you wait. Oaths cannot bind a God King. Once I ascend, I will make you pay for what you've done today!*
Yu Tianheng walked up to Tang San, patted his shoulder, and said, "Ah San, seeing as you've begged to this extent, I, Yu Tianheng, am magnanimous enough to help you. Remember your big brother Tianheng's kindness, okay?"
With that, he and Xiao Wu initiated their martial soul fusion.
The elegance within dominance, the might of dragon and rabbit.
Green light poured over Tang San, who lowered his head and silently bathed in it until the Rabbit-Dragon appeared.
The Rabbit-Dragon unleashed the Wu-Heng Power onto the relief carving, and under the dense infusion of Wu-Heng Power, the carving began to slowly rotate.
However, when the carving had turned three-quarters of the way, Yu Tianheng's soul power was nearly depleted. The Rabbit-Dragon extended a tentacle toward Tang San, and Xiao Wu's voice rang out: "A-San giegie, what are you waiting for? Brother Tianheng's soul power is running out, and our martial soul fusion skill can't hold much longer. Hurry and send your soul power over!"
Tang San, without hesitation, suppressed his immense humiliation, grabbed the tentacle, and let out a wretched, ape-like roar: "Aaaaah, take it! All my soul power is yours!"
"Ah, I can feel it—Tang San's soul power! Come on, more Wu-Heng Power!" Yu Tianheng shouted. The Wu-Heng Power spat out by the beast grew massively thick, breaking through the restriction in one burst.
The gate of prohibition opened, the Rabbit-Dragon dissolved, and Yu Tianheng, utterly drained, collapsed onto the ground. Xiao Wu fell onto his sturdy chest, her face flushed, panting heavily with a "haah, haah" sound. Tang San watched this scene from a distance, seething with humiliation.
After lingering with Xiao Wu for a while, Yu Tianheng regained his strength, stood up, and said to Tang San, "Hei Wo A-San, until we meet again. When we do, don't forget your big brother Tianheng's kindness, okay?"
With that, Yu Tianheng left.
By now, Tang San's ability to endure had reached the pinnacle of purity. Pretending not to notice Xiao Wu's flushed face, he walked over to her and said, "Xiao Wu, let's go."
"Mm, A-San giegie."
And so, the couple continued their journey toward godhood.
The key to the fifth gate was the Feng-Wu Power, which required the martial soul fusion skill of Feng Xiaotian and Xiao Wu.
For the sake of godhood, Tang San endured Feng Xiaotian's humiliation, agreed to his demands, and finally earned Feng Xiaotian's martial soul fusion with Xiao Wu right in front of him.
Bathing in the green light, Tang San witnessed Feng Xiaotian and Xiao Wu's martial soul fusion skill: *Tenacity in the Storm, Dance of Rabbit and Wolf* breaking free from its cocoon.
Under the infusion of Feng-Wu Power, the fifth restriction on Tang San's path to godhood was opened. Of course, Tang San contributed significantly, as Brother Xiaotian's soul power was limited and needed A-San giegie's soul power to support it.
The key to the sixth gate was the Wu-Si Power, requiring the martial soul fusion skill of Dai Weisi and Xiao Wu.
Tang San endured Dai Weisi's humiliation, agreed to a series of unequal terms, and only then earned the right for Dai Weisi to fuse with Xiao Wu.
Thus, in the green light, Tang San witnessed the creation of Dai Weisi and Xiao Wu's martial soul fusion skill. It was similar to Dai Mubai's, except the eyes of the beast generated by Dai Weisi were the same color.
Under the infusion of Wu-Si Power, the sixth restriction was opened, and here, too, Tang San contributed a portion of his power.
The key to the seventh gate was the Ming-Wu Power, requiring the martial soul fusion skill of Er Ming and Xiao Wu.
Tang San endured Er Ming's trials and agreed to a series of unequal promises to treat Xiao Wu well after ascending to godhood, only then earning Er Ming's martial soul fusion with Xiao Wu.
In the green light, Tang San witnessed Er Ming and Xiao Wu's martial soul fusion skill: *Subtlety in Brutal Dominance, Eight Rings of the Universe*.
Under the infusion of Ming-Wu Power, the seventh restriction was opened. Naturally, Tang San contributed a bit of effort in this process, giving him a slight sense of participation.
The key to unlocking the eighth divine restriction was the Power of Snow Dance — a force born from the fusion of Xue Beng's and Xiao Wu's martial souls.
When Tang San saw the carving on the gate — a rabbit and a swan intertwined — and the figure of Xue Beng waiting outside, he didn't even feel surprised anymore. After all the humiliation he had endured so far, he had grown used to swallowing his pride. Over time, Tang San had learned to conceal his anger and pain beneath a mask of restraint. He didn't think Xue Beng could make any request worse than what he had already endured.
"Master San," Xue Beng called out with a smirk.
The words stunned Tang San. His expression froze in disbelief as he looked at Xue Beng.
Xue Beng continued calmly, "Don't be so shocked, Master. I too carry the memories of my past life. In that life, you were my teacher."
Tang San's face twisted with fury. "Xue Beng, if you remember that I was your teacher, then you should also remember that without me, you'd have died at Qian Renxue's hands! Your Xue family's throne would've been stolen by the Spirit Hall! I, Tang San, was your mentor, your benefactor! And this—this is how you repay your master?!"
Xue Beng replied lightly, "Master, you're not wrong. You did show me great kindness in our previous life. But I repaid that debt — spreading your faith throughout the Heaven Dou Empire, making Shrek Academy a power of its own. But that was the past life. This is the present. Last time, you were a god, and I was just a mortal kneeling before you. Now, in order to become a god yourself, you must pass my trial."
"You ungrateful wretch!" Tang San roared, trembling.
But after a long silence, he calmed himself and asked through clenched teeth, "What do you want?"
Xue Beng smiled. "Master, I lived well in the last life — power, wealth, and women. Yet, I still had one great regret. Your lovely wife… my beautiful mistress — forbidden fruit in your eyes. She haunted my dreams endlessly. Such a pity…"
Tang San's face darkened completely, his anger twisting his features until they looked demonic.
Unfazed, Xue Beng continued leisurely, "Master, I have one humble request. Allow this disciple… to offend Mistress Xiao Wu — in your presence."
Tang San's face contorted so violently it seemed as if the space around him might tear apart.
What happened afterward during that one hour remains a mystery.
We only know that, for the sake of godhood, Tang San once again shattered the last remnants of his dignity as a man.
When it was over, Xue Beng and Xiao Wu stood on opposite sides of the platform. They summoned their martial souls — a swan and a rabbit — which pulled toward each other like magnetic poles. They merged, forming a cocoon of light.
A bright emerald glow burst forth from the cocoon, spilling over Tang San's body.
Bathed in green light, Tang San stood with his head bowed, fists clenched tight, his expression hidden in the shadows.
From within the cocoon came the unified cry of Xue Beng and Xiao Wu:
"Spirit Leap of the Frozen Winter — Thousand-Feather Ice Blossom!"
A creature appeared — its form elegant like a swan, but covered in frost-crystal feathers. Its limbs resembled a rabbit's, tipped with icy claws. From its back spread glacial wings, and its small, alluring mouth revealed two gleaming teeth. The beast moved in silence, graceful yet terrifying.
It opened its beak and unleashed a torrent of the Power of Snow Dance toward the gate's carving.
The relief slowly began to rotate.
When it turned about three-quarters of the way, Xue Beng's strength began to falter.
At that moment, a tendril extended from the beast toward Tang San.
From within, Xiao Wu's voice echoed softly:
"Ah San-gege, what are you waiting for? Brother Xue Beng's soul power is almost drained! Our fusion won't hold much longer! Hurry and send your spirit power to us!"
Tang San's heart was numb. He grabbed the tendril, channeling his entire soul power into the beast, and let out a guttural cry of despair:
"Take it! Take all of it—my power, all of it!!"
"I can feel it!" Xue Beng shouted from within the fusion. "The power of Master San's spirit! Come—more Snow Dance Power!"
The beast roared, and its emission of energy grew blindingly strong, finally shattering the divine restriction in one burst.
As the barrier collapsed, the fusion dissolved. Xue Beng and Xiao Wu both fell exhausted to the ground — the disciple lying with his "mistress" nestled against his chest, her face flushed crimson.
The key to the ninth divine gate was the Power of Wu-Long, requiring Tai Long and Xiao Wu's martial fusion. Tai Long was already waiting for Tang San at the gate.
"Young Master, and Young Mistress," Tai Long greeted, "you're finally here."
Tang San's face was dark. "Tai Long, do you still remember who your master is? Has your Li Clan's loyalty been completely lost in your generation?"
"Loyalty?" Tai Long sneered. "And what did my clan gain for our loyalty? Near extinction. For following you and your father, the Li Clan was wiped out in the wars of the continent! My grandfather, my father — all dead! And what did your Tang family give us in return? Did you ever care about your so-called loyal servants?"
Tang San fell silent. In truth, neither he nor Tang Hao had ever seen the Li Clan as more than convenient tools — disposable for the family's ambitions.
But now, the "tool" had turned against its master.
"True loyalty expects no reward," Tang San said coldly. "If you chose to serve my family, then you should never ask for anything in return. That is the law of the Douluo Continent."
Tai Long sneered again. "Well said, Xiao San. But I no longer serve your family. Remember this — you are the one begging me now."
Tang San took a deep breath. "Fine. What do you want?"
"First," Tai Long said, "kneel and bow three times. Call me 'Master Tai Long.'"
Tang San's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to comply. He knelt and kowtowed thrice.
"Master," he said hoarsely.
"Second," Tai Long's eyes gleamed. "I bear the duty to continue the Li Clan's bloodline. Therefore, I wish to—well—share some time with your esteemed wife…"
Tang San's face twisted once more — so violently it was as if a wormhole might open around him.
And once again — for that hour, we do not know what transpired.
We only know that Tai Long and Xiao Wu's martial souls fused, creating the technique:
"Flash of Power — Earthquake Sky."
The resulting Power of Wu-Long broke through the ninth divine gate.
And notably, during that process, Tang San — bathed once more in that accursed green light — contributed no small amount of "effort" himself.