"The Asura God Sword... in terms of rank, it was far more powerful than my Angel Holy Sword."
"It was a genuine Super Divine Artifact."
Qian Renxue's tone carried complex emotions—longing for something so powerful, along with a trace of frustration born from facing an opponent.
"And yet, such a Super Divine Artifact actually... only ranked third?"
Standing beside her, Golden Crocodile Douluo's wrinkled old face was likewise filled with shock.
He had lived for centuries and prided himself on being well-informed, yet the impact brought by the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking today came wave after wave, nearly overturning everything he knew.
"It truly is inconceivable."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was old and hoarse, heavy with gravity.
"First, there was Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena. She alone possessed two treasures on the ranking, already making others envious of her heaven-defying fortune."
"But this Tang San is even more astonishing!"
"He alone occupied two spots, and... they were the fifth-ranked Sea God Trident and this third-ranked Asura God Sword!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo let out a long sigh, his clouded old eyes full of concern.
"This child... his fortune and strength are truly unlike anything I have seen in my life."
Listening to Golden Crocodile Douluo, the weight in Qian Renxue's heart grew heavier.
She gazed into the endless military formations beyond the pass, as though she could see the man surrounded at their center like the moon among stars.
"Yes, Tang San is so powerful..."
Her voice lowered, carrying a trace of confusion.
"Can we... truly defeat him?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo fell silent for a moment, seeming to consider the answer as well.
Only after a long while did he slowly speak.
"Young Master, do not lose heart too soon."
"Heavenly Dao is merciless, yet there is always a sliver of hope. All things in the world are subject to change."
"A sliver of hope..."
Qian Renxue savored those words, and a glimmer suddenly flashed through her dimmed golden eyes.
A figure surfaced in her mind without warning.
That white-clad figure, languid in posture yet unfathomably mysterious.
Her master!
The man who had existed since the era of Sea God Poseidon, who had wandered the mortal world and by now... had likely lived for twenty thousand years!
"Perhaps... Master might have a way."
Qian Renxue murmured unconsciously.
But the thought had barely arisen before she extinguished it herself.
She shook her head bitterly, a wave of helplessness welling up within her.
"No..."
"Tang San is now the co-lord of both the Sea God and Asura God. His strength has long surpassed that of Sea God Poseidon in his day."
"Even... the strongest ancestor of our Angel Clan from twenty thousand years ago, Lord Angel God Qian Yuhan, was likely no match for him."
"No matter how long Master has lived, how could he possibly contend against such an existence?"
This realization weighed on her heart like a massive boulder, making it hard for her to breathe.
But...
Even if Master could not defeat Tang San...
Qian Renxue's thoughts drifted uncontrollably into the distance.
She missed him.
Their days together in the past.
Scene after scene remained so vivid, as if they had happened only yesterday.
With a swish, a captivating crimson blush quietly spread across Qian Renxue's fair jade-like cheeks.
Even the tips of her ears grew hot.
She gently bit her lower lip and let out a call in her heart that no one could hear.
"Master... where exactly are you..."
"Xue'er... misses you."
"Misses you so, so much. This war is too exhausting... It was nowhere near as good as the days when Master taught me."
Meanwhile, outside Jialing Pass.
The combined armies of the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire were like two boundless seas of steel, encircling the majestic Jialing Pass layer upon layer.
Banners blotted out the sky, and killing intent pierced the heavens.
Yet at this moment, the grim battlefield had fallen into an eerie silence.
Millions upon millions of soldiers all looked up at the sky, their faces bearing the exact same shock.
Their gazes were fixed upon the enormous Golden Ranking in the heavens, as well as the bloody and dazzling phantom of the divine sword upon it.
"What? The Asura Sword... only ranked third?"
Before the formation where the Shrek group stood, no one knew who let out the first cry of alarm. It instantly stirred towering waves in everyone's hearts.
"My god! How is that possible?!"
"Are you kidding me?! That's the Asura Sword!"
Above the Sky Screen, ancient golden characters stood out with incomparable clarity.
[Exotic Treasures Ranking, Third Place: Asura Sword!]
The Shrek group looked at one another, each seeing profound shock and bewilderment in the others' eyes.
Tang San stood at the very center of the crowd. The confidence and composure he had gained from receiving the Heavenly Dao's reward—
froze completely the instant he saw the words "Third Place."
His pupils suddenly contracted, and the smile at the corner of his lips stiffened, making him look somewhat ridiculous.
"How is that possible?!"
Tang San roared inwardly as an immense sense of absurdity swept through his entire body.
"My Asura Sword actually... actually only ranked third?!"
This was the Asura God's natal Divine Weapon!
Who was the Asura God?
He was one of the Five Great Supreme God Kings of the God Realm, a terrifying existence who commanded slaughter and Judgment, with strength firmly among the top three of the entire God Realm!
And his weapon was only worthy of third place?
"This sword was even bathed in the Dragon God's blood. It was a true blade for slaughtering gods!
It was a Peerless Fierce Weapon that had slain the God Realm's former supreme ruler!
How powerful was it!"
"How could it... how could it only rank third?!"
Towering waves surged through Tang San's heart. No matter what, he could not accept this result.
This Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking was practically humiliating him!
It was also humiliating the supreme Asura God!
Standing beside him, Xiao Wu covered her red lips, her beautiful eyes widened round.
"Third Brother..."
Her voice was filled with astonishment.
"The Asura God Sword is so powerful. How could it only be third place? Then what kind of treasures could the two ahead of it possibly be?"
Dai Mubai cried out even more dramatically, his evil eyes full of shock.
"There must be some mistake! This is definitely a mistake!"
"Even a Super Divine Artifact that killed the Dragon God can only settle for third place? The standards of this Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking are far too absurd!"
"Could the first and second places be things capable of destroying the God Realm?"
Yu Xiaogang, the master renowned for his wisdom, had his brows tightly furrowed as well, his expression more serious than ever.
He adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and said in a deep voice:
"Little San, this matter... may be more complicated than we imagined."
His gaze remained fixed on the Sky Screen, his voice dry.
"The Golden Ranking clearly stated that this sword once slew the Dragon God."
"What kind of existence was the Dragon God? The ancestor of all beasts, the God Realm's former supreme ruler, whose strength even surpassed the Five Great God Kings!"
"A weapon capable of slaying such an existence possesses power beyond the scope of our mortal imaginations."
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and spoke each word distinctly.
"Yet even so, it still... could only rank third."
"This means that in this world, there are treasures even greater and more terrifying than one that 'slayed the Dragon God'!"
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