Tang Chen Makes the List, the Second Demigod

In the God Realm, within the Angel God Temple, the Angel God, who had been watching this battle closely, fell into a long silence.

She had already done her best. As the Grand High Priest, Qian Daoliu could only be strengthened to this extent. If he wanted to become a god, he could only inherit a divine position.

The divine power bestowed upon him, the power of a Demigod... before the opponent's systematic, ever-changing combat style that exploited rules to the utmost, it seemed so... cumbersome and powerless.

On the arena, Mimikyu waddled over on its little short legs to the dull, lightless Odd Keystone Spiritomb had dropped.

Somehow, it produced a Revival Herb brimming with intense life and soul energy, then gently placed it atop the Odd Keystone.

The herb rapidly transformed into streams of green light that seeped into the stone. In the blink of an eye, the Odd Keystone's purple-black radiance lit up once more. Mist rose, and Spiritomb floated back into the air completely unharmed.

"Ah?"

At that sight, Spirit Masters, soul beasts, and even deities alike felt their scalps go numb.

"Good grief! What does this mean? Why can they even bring revival medicine?"

"So if that move just now hadn't managed to take them both down, that bizarre potted plant could have recovered on the spot and gone for an Encore?"

"This Pokemon World's prodigy lineup is way too disgusting. One-on-one is bad enough, but who can beat them as a team?"

This, even more than a straightforward crushing defeat, filled all Spirit Masters—especially those powerhouses who worshipped strength above all else—with bone-deep chill and helplessness.

So... battles could be fought like this?

So... gaps in level and power could be made up for, or even overturned, in such a "shameless" way?

Three Pokemon whose levels were clearly below Qian Daoliu's had, through scalp-numbing tactical coordination and rule-based skills, forcibly ground down a peak God-Chosen empowered by divine power!

The power infused by the God Realm seemingly... had not changed the fundamental gap? Instead, it highlighted the terror of the Pokemon World's systematic, versatile, rule-first combat style even more?

It could not be said that Qian Daoliu had been weak in that battle. He was Douluo Continent's only Demigod.

If they had taken his place, their endings would not have been any better.

The observers from the God Realm also wore increasingly solemn expressions. The information revealed by this battle was far more important than a simple victory or defeat.

Before anyone could think much further, the Sky Screen's golden light began to flow again.

[Ranked Thirteenth: Tang Chen, cultivation level 99 (Demigod), affiliated force: Slaughter City]

[Evaluation: Once invincible on land, he set foot upon the path of divine trials, endured the baptism of slaughter, and gained Asura's attention. Though he was once lost, divine power now empowered him, and he again wielded the Clear Sky Hammer and the Sword of the Slaughter God. His edge can slay every enemy in the mortal world.]

[Reward: Break through his limits and become a god on the spot. Super divine artifact: Star-Shattering Hammer]

"Tang Chen! It's our great-grandfather!" Within the Clear Sky Sect, where everyone had been despondent over Tang Hao's crushing defeat and the disgrace brought upon their sect, incredulous cries suddenly erupted.

The heavily injured sect master, Tang Xiao, abruptly rose to his feet. An unprecedented light burst from his eyes, and his entire body trembled with excitement.

The name that had once led the Clear Sky Sect to its peak, only to mysteriously vanish and become the clan's taboo and regret, had reappeared in the world in this manner, with such glory!

Moreover, words such as "Asura God-Chosen" and "divine power infusion" in the evaluation set every Clear Sky Sect member's blood boiling!

The second Demigod—they saw the perfect hope of reviving their sect and washing away their humiliation!

Sea God Island, before the Sea God Temple.

Bo Saixi stood by the crashing waves in a blue dress, the sea breeze stirring her long hair.

When she saw the words "Tang Chen," her eyes, as deep and tranquil as the blue sea, suddenly surged with monstrous waves.

Her slender hand tightened slightly around her staff, her knuckles turning pale.

An indescribably complex emotion churned within her: the flutter of reunion after a long separation, relief at his achievements, but above all, a sense of fate and faint concern.

The Sky Screen's conflict had already reached this point. Was Tang Chen's appearance a blessing or a disaster? Sea God... what instructions did he have?

Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu both had the aid of deities. Why had she received no response at all, or was it...

Thinking of her duty as Grand High Priest, Bo Saixi only felt a wave of powerlessness rise in her heart.

There was no suitable candidate now. Would it truly come to that step?

Heaven Dou Empire.

Qian Daoliu, who had just been transported back by golden light and was struggling to recover under treatment from Angel Divine Power and precious medicines, slowly opened his eyes.

When he saw Tang Chen's name on the Sky Screen and that evaluation filled with killing intent, a flash of instinctive sharpness and battle intent first crossed his pale, exhausted face—the reaction that only came when meeting an old rival.

Yet this sharpness was immediately replaced by deeper exhaustion, helplessness, and even a trace of absurd "sympathy."

He recalled the nightmare-like battle he had just endured—the endless taunting Light Screens, the indestructible cockroach-like doll, the bizarre chains that forced mutual destruction, and the disgusting sight of his opponents pulling out a Revival Herb to restore themselves to full condition right after winning...

"Tang Chen, Tang Chen..." Qian Daoliu murmured hoarsely, tugging his lips into a bitter curve. "If you think divine power will let you deal with these 'prodigies' with ease... then you will soon learn what true 'despair' is."

More than anyone else, he knew that those monsters from the Pokemon World could not be crushed through brute force or levels alone.

What they possessed was a completely different combat logic, one that played with rules in the palm of their hands.

No matter how fierce Tang Chen's Clear Sky Hammer was, how terrifying Divine Slaughter's Domain was, or how powerful Asura Divine Power was, once he fell into the opponent's tactical trap, his fate likely... would not be any better than Qian Daoliu's. It might even be worse.

After all, Qian Daoliu had at least exchanged blows with them for quite some time before finally being taken out by Destiny Bond.

And judging by the seamless coordination of those three Pokemon, along with their stockpile of items and healing medicine, they clearly had many more "quality" tactics they had not yet used.

Tang Chen, the Slaughter God famed for powerful assaults, slaughter, and crushing foes head-on, would be facing the perfect professional counter.

Qian Daoliu even had a faint premonition: Tang Chen's battle might become the most "tragic," most "stifling," and most "educational" battle since the Sky Screen had appeared.

He tiredly closed his eyes and stopped looking at the Sky Screen, focusing on recovery. Yet the complicated emotions stirred by his old rival's appearance remained difficult to calm for a long while.

"Tang Chen... take care of yourself. I hope your Clear Sky Hammer is hard enough." His tone was full of a veteran's bitterness and a certain indescribable "anticipation."

There was a little concern for his old opponent, but even more than that, a subtle sense of balance at watching someone else step into the same river of "fate." In the God Realm, within the Asura God Temple.

Asura's crimson gaze watched the lower realm. Seeing his God-Chosen, Tang Chen, make the rankings, anticipation and coldness flashed through his eyes.

"Go, Tang Chen. Let me see how much you can force out of the Pokemon World with Slaughter Divine Power infused into you. Your value lies in probing and exhausting them."

In his eyes, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were alike—both useful pieces to uncover the Pokemon World's "prodigies" and the limits of their tactics.

The Star Dou Forest, the Extreme North, the depths of the ocean... the major soul beast factions all turned their attention toward him.

Tang Chen's appearance meant that the intervention of human deities had deepened further.

But with Qian Daoliu's failure as a precedent, their confidence in human God-Chosen had already plummeted. They mostly watched with the complicated mindset of wanting to see humans fight among themselves and suffer setbacks.

They also felt a longing for the Pokemon World. If they could be like those Pokemon, perhaps they would not be hunted by Spirit Masters.

Judging from those Pokemon's life experiences, their world was peaceful and stable.

Human factions such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan felt even more conflicted.

On one hand, Tang Chen's return as a legendary powerhouse of the Upper Three Sects seemed to give them a little more confidence when facing Spirit Hall and the pressure from the Pokemon World.

But on the other hand, Qian Daoliu's crushing defeat remained like an inescapable shadow, filling them with uncertain worry over Tang Chen's fate.