Prior to his rebirth in Soul Land (Douluo Dalu), he was a member of the Outer Sect of the Tang Sect. Tang Sect was a school of assassins who specialized in Poisons and Hidden Weapon. Among the Tang Sect Outer Sect disciples, he was the third most senior and therefore came to be known as Tang San. Even among them, he was considered a genius not seen in two hundred years. Wanting to know the secrets of the Tang Sect that was only taught only to the Inner Sect disciples, he broke into their sacred place stealing the knowledge. Having read and mastered its contents, knowing he committed a crime, he committed suicide by jumping off the Hell's Peak.
Upon his birth in Soul Land, (Douluo Dalu) he realized that he retained his memories from his previous life. Coincidentally he was named Tang San. He was raised by his father Tang Hao who was an alcoholic and a blacksmith, he was a spirit master too (Douluo) in the village of the Holy Spirit.