That was beneath them.
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress, seated across from Furina, looked even more displeased.
As Soul Beasts, they hated deception and betrayal more than anything.
Especially since Ah Yin had been a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form. She was practically one of their own.
"Humans really are mostly faithless and fickle."
The Ice Empress gritted her teeth, a cold glint flashing in her emerald eyes.
"If we were in the Far North, I would've frozen a male like that into ice shards and tossed him into the frozen sea to feed the fish."
The Snow Empress said nothing, but the sudden drop in the surrounding temperature was enough to show how she felt.
Even Bi Ji, who was usually gentle, looked stunned and unable to accept it.
She covered her mouth, her brows tightly furrowed.
"How could someone like this exist..."
"Little Sister Ah Yin gave up her life for him, even sacrificing her soul."
"How could he... How could he scheme behind her back?"
Neuvillette sat quietly in the seat of honor.
He still held his cup of tea, his gaze passing through the window toward the outskirts of the city.
He wasn't surprised by this result.
As one who wielded the authority of Judgment, he had witnessed the ugliness of human nature countless times.
In his eyes, Tang Hao's actions were merely an extreme manifestation of human greed and selfishness.
"And it's not just Tang Hao."
Neuvillette set down his teacup, his tone even.
"That child named Tang San may seem shocked right now."
"But the same blood as his father runs through his veins."
"In essence, there's no difference between the father and son."
"They're both the sort who would sacrifice anything to achieve their goals."
Furina leaned closer, puffing up with indignation.
"Neuvillette, are we just going to watch?"
"That man's right outside the city. I feel like going out there and running him through with my sword!"
Neuvillette glanced at her and gently shook his head.
"No need to get your hands dirty."
"Judgment will come."
"Besides, someone wants him dead even more than we do right now."
Star Dou Forest, Core Circle.
The waters of the Lake of Life churned violently, as if they were boiling.
A terrifying dragon's might surged skyward from the bottom of the lake, making the surrounding Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts tremble and prostrate themselves, not daring to move.
Silver light flickered.
Gu Yuena appeared above the lake.
Her violet eyes burned with palpable fury.
"Tang Hao!"
Her furious shout shattered the clouds overhead.
As the Lord of Soul Beasts, she couldn't tolerate a human playing her people for fools and deceiving them like this.
Especially when it came to the Blue Silver Emperor, the sovereign of the plant-type Soul Beasts, with her exalted bloodline.
She had actually been used by a human as a tool to advance his cultivation!
"My Lord!"
Several enormous figures charged out from deep within the forest.
They were the Ferocious Beasts who had stayed behind, including Xiong Jun and the King of Ten Thousand Demons.
They had seen the images on the Sky Screen, too, and each of them was red-eyed with rage, brimming with murderous intent.
"My Lord, just give the order!"
"I'll head to Skywater City right now and tear that Tang Hao to pieces!"
Xiong Jun swung his enormous Dark Gold Terrorclaws, cleaving several towering trees in half.
Gu Yuena drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent in her heart.
She looked at the blue figure confronting Tang Hao on the Sky Screen.
It was Shui Bing'er.
Although Shui Bing'er was human, at this moment she stood against Tang Hao.
"Don't rush."
Gu Yuena's voice had regained its composure, but it still carried a bone-chilling edge.
"Di Tian and Bi Ji are both in Skywater City."
"If that young woman from Skywater City can kill Tang Hao, then she'll have avenged Ah Yin."
"If she can't..."
Gu Yuena narrowed her eyes, murder in her gaze.
"Then Star Dou Forest will take over."
"No matter what, Tang Hao must die."
"And Tang San won't get away, either."
Outside Skywater City.
The atmosphere was unbearably tense.
Tang Hao's face, which had gone pale after his secret was exposed, suddenly flushed with color.
The rewards on the Sky Screen had arrived.
[Seventeenth on the Golden Ranking List, Tang Hao. Rewards issued!] [Reward One: All bodily injuries repaired; the side effects of Ring Detonation completely removed; Clear Sky Avatar fully restored!] [Reward Two: Soul Power Level increased by one, to Level 98!] [Reward Three: Three God-Given Soul Rings (can ignore age limits and automatically adapt to the best attributes)!]
Three beams of golden light descended from the sky, enveloping Tang Hao.
The shattered meridians within his body were restored at once, bathed in the golden light.
The hidden injuries he'd suffered from overusing the Great Sumeru Hammer's Ring Detonation also vanished completely.
Power.
Unprecedented power surged through his entire body.
Tang Hao tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer.
The hammer, which had been somewhat dim, now erupted with dazzling black light.
Its shaft, once no thicker than a bowl, swelled in an instant, its markings growing clearer and more ancient.
What delighted him even more was that three golden spheres, radiating strange fluctuations, had appeared in his hand.
God-Given Soul Rings!
These were treasures of legend, said to be obtainable only by those chosen by the gods.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Tang Hao threw his head back and laughed.
His laughter was wild, carrying the relief of someone who had escaped death—and the arrogance of someone who had become hopelessly inflated.
The fear and shame he'd felt just moments ago were cast aside the instant he gained real power.
Reputation?
What did that matter?
Now that he had power, who would dare gossip about him to his face?
Once he became a god, who would dare bring up this dark chapter?
"Heaven hasn't abandoned me, Tang Hao!"
"Neuvillette, do you see this?"
"This is the will of heaven!"
"Even heaven itself is helping me!"
Tang Hao was brimming with confidence.
Level 98!
With his restored Clear Sky Avatar and these three God-Given Soul Rings, he even felt he could challenge Qian Daoliu right now!
Tang Hao lowered his head and looked at Shui Bing'er, who hovered not far away. His contempt was plain in his eyes.
"Little girl."
"I gave you a chance just now."
"Since you didn't appreciate it, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Even if you're Neuvillette's disciple, I'll show you today what true power is!"
Tang Hao raised the Clear Sky Hammer high above his head.
This time, without his injuries holding him back, his aura was more than twice as powerful as before.
The surrounding space groaned under the terrifying pressure, as if it were about to buckle.
Despite Tang Hao's explosive increase in strength, Shui Bing'er's expression didn't change.
She was neither afraid nor flustered.
She simply watched Tang Hao laugh, as if he were a clown.
"Have you laughed enough?"
Her cool voice pierced Tang Hao's violent aura and rang clearly throughout the area.
"Just because you've been given a little power, you really think you're someone important."
"Power gained through outside forces is ultimately just a fleeting illusion."
Shui Bing'er slowly raised her right hand.
The Ice Phoenix phantom behind her let out a clear, resonant cry.
The azure sky turned a lifeless white in an instant.
An indescribable chill erupted from Shui Bing'er, spreading in every direction.
This wasn't ordinary cold.
It was an ultimate concept that seemed capable of freezing thought itself—even time.
"Ninth Soul Skill."
Shui Bing'er parted her red lips, speaking four words.
"Absolute Zero."
Before you continue