Genius...

"Genius..."

Gu Yuena's red lips parted as she gave an exceptionally rare compliment.

"Just who is this Neuvillette?"

"He came up with this method and even put it into practice."

"His understanding of the rules is probably no less profound than mine."

"..."

Originally, Gu Yuena had planned to wait until she had learned the whole story, then find a chance to meet that Tang San.

But now.

She had changed her mind.

She could kill Tang San any time.

But Skywater City and this Soul Spirit System concerned the future of the Soul Beast Clan!

"Di Tian."

Gu Yuena turned the spear in her hand and sent it into the void.

She turned around and gazed toward Skywater City in the distance, a smile of keen interest curling at her lips.

"Make the arrangements."

"This queen will personally go to Skywater City."

"I want to see for myself whether this Neuvillette, who won Snow Empress's heart and came up with the Soul Spirit Method..."

"...is really as remarkable as you say."

If he was.

Perhaps the plan to counterattack the Divine Realm could be changed a little.

Meanwhile.

Far away, in the Divine Realm.

Inside a palace that was entirely dark red and radiated an endless aura of slaughter.

Asura God, seated on a throne of skulls, suddenly opened his eyes.

A flicker of confusion passed through his blood-red gaze.

Just moments ago.

He had sensed that a strand of his divine origin power, left behind on Douluo Continent, had suddenly vanished.

It had been severed completely.

"Strange..."

Asura God tapped his fingers against the armrest, his brow furrowing.

He had deliberately left that divine power behind to suppress the Silver Dragon King.

By rights, it should have remained as long as the Silver Dragon King was alive.

And yet, now it was gone.

"Could that brat Tang San have done something?"

Asura God thought of the successor he had chosen.

Tang San had already inherited the Sea God Godhood and now wielded his Asura Demon Sword.

If Tang San had used the Asura Demon Sword to slay some powerful foe, it was possible that the sword's power had resonated with the divine power Asura God had left behind, causing the connection to disappear.

"Hmph, that brat."

"He's already causing trouble, and he's only just become a god."

"..."

Asura God shook his head, looking unconcerned.

In his eyes, there was no way anything could happen on a low-tier plane like Douluo Continent that would escape his control.

As long as the Golden Dragon King didn't break free of his seal, nothing else mattered.

"Let him do as he likes."

Asura God closed his eyes again and immersed himself in the endless contemplation of the rules.

Meanwhile.

At Jialing Pass, dark clouds gathered above the city walls.

A streak of blue-gold light tore across the sky and crashed onto the watchtower above the pass.

As the light faded, Tang San's face appeared, dark with displeasure.

His Sea God Divine Armor receded into his body. He drew a deep breath and looked toward the distant north, where Skywater City lay—and where Xiao Wu was being held captive.

"Third Brother!"

Dai Mubai hurried over, his steps heavy. His armor was already battered beyond recognition and streaked with dried blood—the marks of the bitter fighting over the past few days.

"You're finally back."

Dai Mubai wiped the dust from his face.

"Things are bad. Spirit Hall's assault is too fierce. Our Soul Master legions have suffered heavy losses, and countless soldiers of the Heaven Dou Empire have been killed or wounded. Everyone... is nearly at their limit."

Tang San's brow tightened. He slammed his palm against the bricks of the city wall, sending shards flying.

"Even if we're at our limit, we have to hold the line!"

"Xiao Wu is still in their hands. I have to save her."

A resolute glint flashed in Tang San's eyes, but he was no reckless fool.

Looking at the ashen faces of the soldiers around him, he knew that unless they first won a battle and raised morale, leading men away to rescue Xiao Wu now would mean certain defeat for Jialing Pass.

"Mubai, pass down the order."

"Rally the three armies and prepare for battle."

"This time, I'll fight personally. I'll make those people from Spirit Hall pay a terrible price. We'll use their blood to consecrate our battle flag!"

"!!!"

The moment Tang San finished speaking.

The Golden Ranking List, which had fallen silent for a while, once again let out a deafening rumble in the sky.

Golden light surged overhead like boiling magma.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to it. Even the soldiers assembling in formation couldn't help raising their heads to look at the ranking list, symbol of supreme glory.

The fourth place was about to be revealed.

The golden light gathered and took the shape of an ancient-looking greatsword, brimming with murderous intent, its phantom form stretching across the heavens and earth.

Dark red demonic patterns flowed along the blade, so chilling that even one glance made it feel as if one's soul might be torn apart by the dreadful killing intent.

[Fourth on the Divine Weapon Ranking List: Asura Demon Sword!]

[Holder: Tang San!]

[Origin: The treasured sword of Asura God, one of the five supreme gods of the Divine Realm. It commands slaughter and Judgment, and is the sharpest weapon of attack in the Divine Realm. It wields the laws of the Divine Realm and passes Judgment on the gods!]

The moment these lines of text appeared, Jialing Pass fell briefly silent.

Then a deafening roar of cheers swept over them!

"The Asura Demon Sword! It's the Asura Demon Sword!"

Oscar jumped excitedly, grabbed Ma Hongjun beside him, and slapped the chubby man hard on the back.

"That's a God King's weapon! Did you see that? It passes Judgment on the gods!"

"Third Brother alone has two divine weapons on the list!"

"The seventh-place Sea God Trident and the fourth-place Asura Demon Sword. Who in this world could possibly stand against Third Brother?"

Ma Hongjun was just as overjoyed, the fat on his face jiggling.

"We've got this! We've completely got this!"

"Who cares about Spirit Hall or Skywater City? In front of Third Brother's two divine weapons, they're nothing but barnyard fowl and clay dogs!"

For the first time in a long while, the Shrek group looked triumphant.

The gloom that had hung over them vanished.

As long as Tang San was strong enough, they still had a chance to turn things around—and even unite the entire continent!

However.

Tang San, the person at the center of it all, only furrowed his brow more deeply as he looked at the ranking in the sky.

"Fourth?"

Instead of feeling pleased, Tang San was seized by a powerful sense of resentment.

Asura God was a God King!

The Asura Demon Sword was reputed to be the most powerful offensive weapon in the Divine Realm.

Why was it only ranked fourth?

What kind of monsters were in the top three?

Could there really be beings more exalted than a God King?

Tang San instinctively wanted to voice his doubts, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down.

He still remembered the Nine Heavens Lightning Tribulation all too well.

The Golden Ranking List might be unfair, but its heavenly might was all too real.

"Forget it."

Tang San clenched his fists in secret.

"No matter what the top three are, if I get the reward for the Asura Demon Sword, my strength will surge once more."

"When that happens, I'd like to see who dares stand in my way!"