The oil in the cauldron was definitely problematic.
Ordinary oil couldn't possibly cause him such harm.
He refused to believe he was this weak.
After all, his body had been tempered by a 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone, and he had awakened the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline.
In the entire Douluo Continent, few could match his physical strength.
Yet, despite this, he was still in excruciating pain.
"Wait a minute..."
Oil and water, due to their different densities, cannot mix.
Even the Spring is no exception.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn't hard to notice that a large portion of the oil in the cauldron was mixed with red water, which seemed to contain something else.
"Fire elemental energy..."
"???"
Tang San was utterly confused.
Such pure fire elemental energy was being used as a form of punishment?
If Ma Hongjun were here, he'd probably be overjoyed!
For a fire-element soul master, this wouldn't be a punishment but a reward.
If it were pure Fire Spring energy, even fire-element soul masters wouldn't be able to withstand it.
But this was diluted Fire Spring energy. As long as one wasn't too weak, they wouldn't die.
"Do you feel it now?"
"For a fire-element soul master, this cauldron would be paradise. Unfortunately, you're not a fire-element soul master."
Tang San: "..."
"Haha, just kidding."
"If you were a fire-element soul master, you'd be sent to the Frozen Hell instead!"
Tang San's eye twitched slightly. He knew things couldn't be that simple.
Thanks to his strong physique, he wasn't screaming and shouting like the others.
A powerful body and an indomitable will were the keys to becoming a true powerhouse.
Tang San wasn't a fire-element soul master, so he didn't dare absorb even a trace of the energy in the cauldron.
After all, aside from the Clear Sky Hammer, he also possessed the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline.
He couldn't risk damaging his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline by carelessly absorbing fire-attribute energy.
That would be a loss he couldn't afford.
"Kid, you're different from the others. Your sentence hasn't been finalized yet. Being in the Oil Cauldron Hell is just a temporary measure."
"Once your sentence is decided, you'll be dealt with according to the verdict."
"If the verdict includes time in the Oil Cauldron Hell, the time you've already spent here will be deducted from your sentence."
Hearing this, Tang San suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the guide with a hint of confusion.
Could it be that this hell wasn't deliberately targeting him?
He glanced around and saw many others being punished...
It seemed he wasn't the only one being tormented.
If the sins of his past life could be repaid in this manner, it might not be such a bad thing...
What Tang San was thinking about wasn't the lives he had taken, but the fact that he had stolen the Tang Sect's secret manuals.
If he could atone for that through this punishment, he could finally claim to be a true disciple of the Tang Sect with a clear conscience!
Of course, the underworld still needed to be destroyed. After all, the entire Netherworld had a death wish.
When they eventually met the real Ox-Head and Horse-Face, the Black and White Impermanence, and the Ten Yama Kings, he wondered what their expressions would be. In any case, their fate wouldn't be pleasant.
"Thank you for telling me this."
A wise man knows when to yield. Tang San wasn't the type to stubbornly resist when the situation called for compromise.
At level 50, it was his father's fault.
At level 90, his father wasn't at fault.
At level 100, it was everyone else's fault!
Early on, it was "Big Brother Dai."
In the mid-game, it was "Dai Mubai."
In the late game, it was "Xiao Bai."
From this, it was clear that Tang San was someone who knew how to adapt to circumstances and act wisely.
The guide was slightly surprised. This was the first time he had heard someone say thank you, though he didn't particularly care for such things.
"Because of your thanks, I'll tell you one more thing."
Hearing this, Tang San's body stiffened, and his eyes widened in shock as he looked at the guide.
"Don't even think about escaping. Although hell is terrifying, its purpose is punishment, not death. No one dies here."
"No one can escape from hell, not even Title Douluo!"
"So, don't entertain such thoughts."
"Accept your punishment without resentment, and you'll suffer less."
After saying this, the guide fell silent, giving Tang San a deep look.
Tang San nodded, somewhat stunned.
He hadn't expected a simple thank you to earn him such valuable information.
The people around him seemed oblivious, as if they hadn't heard or seen anything.
After all, everyone who came here was told the same thing.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with the advice.
There were monthly evaluations, and those who performed well could have their punishment time reduced.
Time passed slowly. Despite the short distance, the "Judge" took two full days to reach the Oil Cauldron Hell.
In the Oil Cauldron Hell, Tang San felt completely numb. He had no idea how much longer he would have to endure this cauldron.
"Greetings, Judge!"
The two guides had long since left. The person speaking now was the overseer of the Oil Cauldron Hell.
"Mm. Where is Tang San?"
The Judge nodded without any unnecessary words, getting straight to the point.
"Please follow me, sir."
The overseer was equally concise, leading the Judge directly to where Tang San was being punished.
"Pull him out first."
"Yes!"
A moment later, Tang San was kneeling on the ground, visibly weakened.
"Greetings, Judge."
Tang San's voice was hoarse, but he calmly greeted the Judge.
This surprised the Judge.
This young man was no ordinary person.
Only by enduring what others cannot can one achieve greatness.
Thinking about it, Tang San had lived two lives. It was only natural for him to have such insight.
"Tang San, after evaluation by the Yama Kings, your situation is not considered reincarnation or rebirth, but rather possession."
"Therefore, the sins of your past life will be added to those of your current life."
"The verdict is as follows: Tang San, you have killed indiscriminately, stolen your sect's secrets, and possessed a child to be reborn..."
"Now, you are sentenced to the Eighteen Hells. Two months of punishment in each hell, totaling eighteen layers and three years."
Hearing this, Tang San was momentarily stunned, feeling somewhat lost.
He wasn't sure whether this punishment was severe or relatively light.
Eighteen layers of hell, two months in each layer, totaling three years. After three years, he would be a free man again.
Wait, no!
He had only been in the Oil Cauldron Hell for two days and was already in such agony. How could he endure three years of this?
"Give this Tang San some special treatment. Ensure that not a single moment of these three years is wasted!"
Suddenly, an extremely domineering voice rang out, startling both the Judge and Tang San.
"Yes, Lord Yama!"
Tang San: "???"
What kind of special treatment?
"Illusion?"
"One year in a dream, one day in reality??"