In the blink of an eye, nearly another month had passed.
At the gates of Shrek City, two small figures draped in cloaks followed the crowd toward the entrance.
"Names?" the soldier at the gate began the routine questioning.
"My name is Tang San, and this is my younger brother, Xiao Wu."
One of the small figures spoke up. The soldier paused, looking at Tang San and the Xiao Wu he held by the hand with some surprise, and said softly:
"I didn't expect to see someone with the same name as the one from ten thousand years ago. Interesting. Children, what are you doing here?"
"Making a living."
"Alright, go on in." The soldier didn't make things difficult for the two of them.
The main reason, of course, was that one could tell from their tattered clothes that there was no "oil" to be squeezed from them. They were just two little beggars; aside from the special name, there was nothing worth exploiting.
Stepping into Shrek City, the Xiao Wu beside him couldn't help but exclaim: "It's so big..."
As the economic exchange center of the three major empires of the original Douluo Continent, the scale of Shrek City was surprisingly massive. In terms of prosperity alone, it even surpassed the capitals of the three empires.
"Naturally."
A hint of pride appeared on Tang San's face.
Ten thousand years ago, it was he who led Shrek to its peak! It could be said that he deserved a share of the credit for the current prosperity of Shrek City—and a very large share at that!
Holding Xiao Wu's hand, Tang San began following the road to find a place for them to stay.
The first trial of the Sea God had, naturally, been completed by him with ease.
Just over a month ago, Tang San had carefully located those ten-plus mission targets based on the marks attached to the Divine Trial. However, through observation, he discovered that these ten or so people were basically Soul Masters. This made Tang San realize that defeating them head-on was essentially impossible; he had to use his wits.
Thus, Tang San chose to directly poison the well water they used for drinking and cooking.
Although the Duke's Mansion was left behind by his brother Mubai, after some thought, Tang San concluded that since these dozen people belonging to the Duke's Mansion could be marked by the Divine Trial, the mansion must have already become corrupt. His act of poisoning was a righteous deed!
He, Tang San, had a clear conscience!
To ensure a hundred percent kill rate on those targets, the poison Tang San used was naturally an undetectable chronic toxin. Once those people were sufficiently eroded by the poison, he personally added a more violent toxin to their food. Sure enough, after poisoning them in the morning, Tang San's Divine Trial was completed that very night.
One could only say: as expected of him!
As for those who were killed along with them by the poison, they deserved their fate. After all, birds of a feather flock together; if someone was marked as wicked by a Divine Trial, how could the people around them be anything good?
He was simply ridding the people of an evil!
Feeling the twenty thousand Gold Spirit Coins obtained from the Eldest Young Master of the Duke's Mansion, a smile appeared on Tang San's face. Besides, he had "saved" those people back then; they ought to be grateful to him!
A few hours later, Tang San took Xiao Wu to a housing rental agency and directly rented a small house for 500 Gold Soul Coins a year. Under the waiter's enthusiastic send-off, the two arrived at the door, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, however, Tang San noticed an incredibly long queue in front of a shop not far away. There were even a dozen figures wearing Shrek Law Enforcement uniforms maintaining order nearby.
"There... why are there so many people?"
The waiter blinked, turned to look, and then realized: "Oh, that. Guest, you might have just arrived in Shrek City and don't know the specifics.
"It's like this: that is the station for the Spirit Transmission Pagoda organization. This organization's main business is selling 'man-made soul rings'."
"Man-made... soul rings?"
Tang San felt like he had heard a foreign term. Soul rings could be man-made?
"Yes. The Pagoda Master of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda is the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department of Shrek Academy, Master Skydream. This master is said to be an eight-ring Soul Douluo and an eighth-ranked soul tool engineer.
"And this 'man-made soul ring' is his latest work, released only about half a month ago! Furthermore, the master decided to provide the first soul ring for free to all Spirit Masters who reach Level 10!
"In addition, the Spirit Transmission Pagoda even provides free martial soul awakening services, martial soul development consultation, future career planning, and many other services!"
Tang San was incredibly shocked, but at the same time, he inexplicably began to grow wary.
From this organization called the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, he saw the shadow of the former Martial Soul Hall!
But hearing the waiter say that the Pagoda Master was also the Vice Dean of the Shrek Soul Tool Department meant he was one of Shrek's own...
Tang San began to deliberate, and Tang San reached a conclusion.
This Spirit Transmission Pagoda probably had no issues. After all, how could there be bad people in his Shrek?!
Thinking it over, Tang San asked again:
"Is the soul ring sold by this Spirit Transmission Pagoda safe? Are there any problems?"
"You can rest assured on that, guest. The Spirit Transmission Pagoda is backed by Shrek; there are no issues. There hasn't been a single dispute in the past half-month."
"Then is the soul skill formed by this 'man-made soul ring' any different from a soul skill obtained by normally hunting a soul beast?"
"There are some differences. According to information from the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, the soul skill obtained from absorbing a 'man-made soul ring' is closely linked to one's own thoughts, martial soul, and personality.
"For example, if someone has a fire-attribute martial soul and prefers frontal combat, and they hope for a powerful offensive soul skill while absorbing the ring, then the result will most likely be a frontal power-attack type soul skill."
The waiter explained, and Tang San's expression gradually became quite colorful.
Why did he feel that this 'man-made soul ring' sounded so much like the 'God-bestowed soul ring' he received after completing the first Sea God trial...
Hesitating, Tang San asked once more: "And what about the age of these 'man-made soul rings'? What are they like?"
"According to the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, their lowest is a two-hundred-year soul ring, followed by three hundred, four hundred, five hundred, and so on.
"After reaching the thousand-year level, it increases by two hundred years at a time—twelve hundred, fourteen hundred, and so forth. Once it reaches the ten-thousand-year level, it increases by one thousand years at a time...
"However, it's said that the current limit is the 99,999-year level. There aren't any higher than that."
The waiter was very talkative—though it couldn't be ruled out that he was just using the chat as a way to slack off.
Hearing the waiter's words, Tang San breathed a slight sigh of relief. Looking at it this way, his own unused 'God-bestowed soul ring' was still slightly superior.
When absorbed, his 'God-bestowed soul ring' could directly reach the absolute limit his body could withstand!
Wasn't that better than these 'man-made soul rings'? Tang San regained a bit of his equilibrium.
Just as he was about to leave, the waiter suddenly spoke again:
"Guest... I feel a kinship with you, so let me give you a heads-up. If you're looking to get a soul ring to break through your cultivation recently, it's best not to go to the Star Constellation Great Forest."