"You!"Mu Tian pointed at Tang San, his finger trembling, his whole body shaking with rage. He looked on the verge of a breakdown."I will kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"
Tang San calmly observed him and confirmed two things.
First, this so-called transmigrator hadn't seen Perfect World. He didn't recognize the source of Tang San's earlier quote or any Internet references. He likely assumed Tang San's strength came from some butterfly effect caused by his own arrival. Irritable, short-sighted, slow to process. This kind of time traveler, unless he has a system-level cheat, is the easiest to deal with.
Second, Mu Tian still had his martial soul. That meant Hao Yue hadn't been fully stripped away. He seemed to have little memory of the battle's final blow—so, had Austin Griffin really only been inhabiting the fire lizard temporarily?
Maybe it had sensed a better host—and shifted.
Perhaps the life aura of Blue Silver Grass was better at concealing the destructive breath of the God of Condemnation.
"Mu Tian, shut up!"
Ning Rongrong's voice cut sharply across the field.
She had been silent, stunned by Tang San's earlier words. Combined with his composure, his gentleness, and even his handsome face… her young heart stirred for the first time.
More importantly, Tang San's words—whether teasing or respectful—felt sincere. Whether flattering her or mocking Mu Tian, it somehow all made her feel good.
"If you lose, you lose. And now you want to kill someone? Is this what your father and Grandpa Bone taught you?" she snapped at Mu Tian.
Then she turned back to Tang San with a bright smile.
"Tang San, are you willing to join my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
The leading Soul Saint was stunned. He glanced at the 'little witch' of the clan and sighed inwardly.
As expected of the sect master's daughter. She may be playful and headstrong, but her eyes are sharp. If she can win over Tang San… Mu Tian? He's nothing. With that temper, if it weren't for his talent, no one would bother with him.
Still… he squinted slightly.
Is Tang San really just a commoner? That movement skill, the way his hands turned to jade... those must be self-created soul skills. That's not something a six-year-old should be able to pull off.
Tang San gave a modest smile.
"Apologies, Your Highness—the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. I'm just a commoner. How could I dare hope to join such a noble clan? If I can earn the friendship of someone like you… that alone would be more than enough for someone like me."
"Giggle! 'Little princess,' huh? I like that title! Okay, then—we're friends!"
She happily took out a token engraved with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Here! This is my sect's token. As long as you have it, you can get a 30% discount at any of our businesses."
"Thank you, Rongrong." Tang San accepted it and, without hesitation, reached out and shook her hand.
Ning Rongrong blinked, surprised. But she didn't feel offended. Instead, she tilted her head.
"You called me 'Miss' before, then 'Your Highness,' now it's 'Rongrong.' That changed fast."
Tang San answered seriously,"First, you were a noble, and I, a commoner—so I addressed you respectfully. Then, when you kept your word and gave me twenty thousand gold soul coins, I respected you from the heart. So I called you 'little princess.' Now, as friends, it's only right we speak to each other more intimately. You call me Tang San—I call you Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled.
"Smooth talker. But I like it."
—
Seeing the bond forming between the two, Mu Tian grew frantic.
"You—how can you be friends with a hypocrite like him?! He's just a commoner! He's not the same as us!"
Ning Rongrong's expression turned cold. But before she could speak, Tang San calmly stepped back, letting go of her hand.
He walked over to Xiao Wu's side, bowed slightly, and said to Ning Rongrong:
"Miss Rongrong… it seems my background as a commoner still makes me unworthy. I thank you for your kindness, but I won't linger."
Then, without waiting for a reply, he picked up Xiao Wu, activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and vanished into the forest like a phantom.
Not even the Soul Saint had time to react.
Gone. Just like that.
"Wait—Tang San! I didn't mean that!" Ning Rongrong cried out. But Tang San was already gone.
—
"Damn it!"
Ning Rongrong stomped in frustration and turned on Mu Tian with fury in her eyes.
"This is all your fault, you bastard! I just lost a friend!"
"Rongrong, that guy isn't any good! You saw how he kept changing how he addressed you. 'Miss,' 'Princess,' 'Rongrong'—isn't that just two-faced?"
"Where's the hypocrisy in that? I think his reasoning made perfect sense. You, on the other hand—lost a match and immediately talked about killing him. What's wrong with you?"
She turned to the Soul Saint.
"Uncle, what do you think?"
The Soul Saint gave Mu Tian a long look. His tone was calm, but cold.
"Narrow-minded. Extremely narrow-minded."
And that was the truth.
No matter how talented he was, if Mu Tian didn't fix his temperament, the clan wouldn't truly value him.
"Exactly!" Ning Rongrong echoed. "Narrow-minded! And what was it Tang San said again? Oh—right. Toad wanting to eat swan meat! You think I'd fall for someone whose martial soul looks like that?"
Mu Tian's face darkened, fists clenched. He gritted his teeth.
"Tang San could use a thousand-year second soul ring, right? So can I! Hao Yue is strong! I had no problem absorbing a four-hundred-year first ring!"
"Pff. So what? That's just your martial soul being strong. Tang San's soul is Blue Silver Grass. He still beat your Fire Lizard cleanly!"
"He's just a Great Soul Master! His soul power is higher!"
"He's our age and still surpassed you with a so-called 'useless' martial soul," Ning Rongrong said sharply. Then she turned to the Soul Saint."Let's go, Uncle. I still need my first soul ring."
"Yes, young miss."
The Soul Saint bowed slightly and began preparing the team to move.
He knew Ning Rongrong was spoiled, but she never abused her status. When she wanted something, she asked sweetly, acted spoiled, and only when she had no choice did she pull rank.
That was why the disciples feared her—but didn't hate her.
Mu Tian tried to say something, but Ning Rongrong cut him off with a glare.
"Shut up. Cool your head."
Mu Tian could only bite his tongue, but inwardly, he seethed.
Just you wait, Tang San. I'll surpass you and crush you. With Hao Yue, my second soul ring will also be a thousand years. My martial soul is the God of Heaven's Punishment!
He even suspected he could absorb a ten-thousand-year ring.
But Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi wouldn't let him take that risk…
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Tang San finally stopped and set Xiao Wu down.
No one had followed them.
He let out a breath.
Xiao Wu looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time.
"You really surprised me today."
"As a commoner, when dealing with nobles, I have to walk on thin ice. I observe their behavior, learn their character, and once I see who's trustworthy, I show my true self."
Tang San looked calm.
"In this era, that's how commoners survive. If you only show strength—you'll be crushed by fear or envy."
Xiao Wu blinked."That sounds… exhausting."
"It is. But better tired than dead. Most fools don't get to grow old," Tang San said dryly.
—
And just like that… the first transmigrator's cheat was gone.