Tang San Unwilling! Third?! What's in the Top Two of the Golden Ranking?!

"The Asura God Sword... in terms of grade, it's far too powerful compared to my Angel Holy Sword."

"This is a genuine Super Divine Artifact."

Qian Renxue's tone carried a complex mix of emotions—both a longing for something greater and a hint of frustration born from facing such an opponent.

"Yet even a Super Divine Artifact like this... is only ranked third?"

Standing beside her, Golden Crocodile Douluo's wrinkled old face was equally filled with shock.

He had lived for centuries, priding himself on his vast experience, but the impact of today's Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking came wave after wave, nearly overturning his understanding of the world.

"Truly beyond belief."

Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was aged and hoarse, heavy with gravity.

"First, there's the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, who alone claims two rare treasures on the ranking—enough to make anyone envious, with fortune soaring to the heavens."

"But this Tang San is even more astonishing than her!"

"He alone occupies two spots, and at that... the Sea God Trident ranked fifth, and this Asura God Sword ranked third!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo let out a long sigh, his murky old eyes filled with worry.

"This child... his fortune is so immense, his strength so great—truly, I have never seen the like in all my life."

Listening to Golden Crocodile Douluo's words, the weight in Qian Renxue's heart grew heavier.

She gazed into the distance at the endless military formations beyond the pass, as if she could see the man surrounded like a moon by a host of stars.

"Yes, this Tang San is so powerful..."

Her voice dropped, tinged with a trace of confusion.

"Can we... truly defeat him?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo fell silent for a moment, as if pondering the answer to that question.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly.

"Young Master, do not lose heart too soon."

"The Heavenly Dao is merciless, yet there is always a sliver of hope. All things in the world hold variables."

"A sliver of hope..."

Qian Renxue savored those words, and a faint glimmer suddenly flashed in her somewhat dim golden eyes.

A figure emerged in her mind without warning.

That figure, clad in white as snow, with a languid posture, yet mysterious and unfathomable.

Her Master!

That man who had existed since the era of the Sea God Poseidon, wandering the mortal world, and by now... had likely lived for over twenty thousand years!

"Perhaps... Master might have a way."

Qian Renxue murmured to herself unconsciously.

But no sooner had the thought arisen than she extinguished it herself.

She shook her head bitterly, a wave of helplessness surging within her.

"No..."

"Tang San is now the Co-lord of both the Sea God and the Asura God, his strength already surpassing that of the Sea God Poseidon in his prime."

"Even... our Angel Clan's strongest ancestor from twenty thousand years ago, the Angel God Qian Yuhan, likely wouldn't be his match."

"No matter how long Master has lived, how could he be a match for such an existence?"

This realization pressed down on her heart like a boulder, making it hard to breathe.

But even so...

Even if Master couldn't defeat Tang San...

Qian Renxue's thoughts drifted away involuntarily.

She missed him.

The days they had spent together.

Scene after scene, all as clear as if they had happened just yesterday.

With a sudden flush, Qian Renxue's fair, jade-like cheeks quietly took on a moving shade of crimson.

Even the tips of her ears grew hot.

She gently bit her lower lip, letting out a call in her heart that no one could hear.

"Master... where are you..."

"Xue'er... misses you."

"So much, so much. This war is too exhausting... nothing like the days when you taught me so well back then."

At the same time, outside Jialing Pass.

The two allied armies of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire stretched out like two boundless seas of steel, layering siege around the majestic Jialing Pass.

Banners blotted out the sun; killing intent soared to the heavens.

Yet at this moment, the battlefield, steeped in slaughter, had fallen into an eerie silence.

Millions of soldiers, without exception, tilted their heads skyward, their faces etched with identical shock.

Their gazes were all fixed on the enormous golden ranking in the sky, and on that ranking, the blood-dazzling phantom of a divine sword.

"What? The Asura Sword... only ranks third?"

From the front lines where the Shrek group stood, someone let out a cry of surprise, instantly igniting towering waves of turmoil in everyone's hearts.

"My god! How is this possible!"

"What a joke! That's the Asura Sword!"

On the Sky Screen, the golden ancient characters were crystal clear.

[Exotic Treasures Ranking Third Place: Asura Sword!]

The Shrek group exchanged glances, each seeing the thick shock and bewilderment in the other's eyes.

And Tang San, standing at the very center of the crowd, had his face—once brimming with confidence and ease from receiving the Heavenly Dao's reward—

completely frozen the moment he saw the words "Third Place."

His pupils suddenly contracted, the smile at the corners of his mouth stiffening on his face, looking somewhat ridiculous.

"How is this possible?!"

Tang San roared inwardly, a massive sense of absurdity flooding his entire being.

"My Asura Sword... actually... actually only ranks third?!"

This was the lifebound divine artifact of the Asura God!

Who was the Asura God?

He was one of the Five Great Supreme God Kings of the God Realm, wielding slaughter and judgment, a terrifying existence whose strength firmly held the top three in the entire God Realm!

And his weapon only deserved to rank third?

"This sword has even bathed in the blood of the Dragon God—it is a true god-slaying blade!

It is a peerless fierce weapon that once slew the former supreme ruler of the God Realm!

How powerful it is!"

"How... how could it only rank third?!"

Tang San's heart churned with towering waves; he simply could not accept this result.

This Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking's ranking was practically an insult to him!

And an insult to the supreme Asura God!

Beside him, Xiao Wu covered her red lips, her beautiful eyes wide as saucers.

"Third Brother..."

Her voice was filled with shock.

"The Asura God Sword is so powerful, how could it only be third? What kind of treasures could be ranked above it?"

Dai Mubai let out an exaggerated shout, his evil eyes brimming with agitation.

"This has to be a mistake! It's absolutely a mistake!"

"Even a super divine artifact that killed the Dragon God can only take third place—this Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking's judging criteria is way too absurd!"

"Could the first and second place be things that can destroy the God Realm?"

Yu Xiaogang, the Master known for his wisdom, was now frowning deeply, his expression more serious than ever.

He pushed up his glasses and said in a low voice:

"Xiao San, things... might be more complicated than we imagined."

His gaze locked onto the Sky Screen, his voice hoarse.

"The Golden Ranking states that this sword once slew the Dragon God."

"What kind of existence is the Dragon God? The ancestor of all beasts, the former supreme ruler of the God Realm, whose power even surpassed the Five Great God Kings!"

"A weapon capable of killing such an existence has power beyond the scope of our mortal imagination."

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and spoke word by word.

"But even so, it still... can only rank third."

"This means that in this world, there exist exotic treasures even greater and more terrifying than 'slaying the Dragon God'!"