Before Jialing Pass.
Dark clouds pressed down upon the city.
The Spirit Hall Empire's army had long been arrayed in battle formation, gleaming weapons and armored cavalry filling the air with a grim, murderous aura.
Wearing the Sea God Divine Attire, Tang San floated before the allied army, his azure-blue hair drifting despite the absence of wind.
He looked at the densely packed figures atop the opposing walls, a confident smile curling across his lips.
What use were mere mortals, no matter how numerous?
His Buddha Wrath Tang Lotus was the pinnacle of area-of-effect destruction.
Now that it had transformed into a Divine Artifact, its power had long surpassed mortal imagination.
Perhaps a single one would be enough to reduce Spirit Hall's hundreds of thousands of troops, along with this formidable pass, to ashes!
"Qian Renxue!"
Empowered by the Sea God's strength, Tang San's voice boomed across the battlefield like rolling thunder.
"Come out and die!"
As his words fell, a brilliant pillar of golden light shot into the heavens from Jialing Pass's battlements.
As the radiance faded, Qian Renxue appeared high in the sky.
She wore magnificent, intricate golden divine armor that outlined her nearly flawless figure, making her seem holy and noble.
Beneath the armor, her long, straight jade-like legs were covered by a golden battle skirt, brimming with both strength and beauty. One scarcely dared look directly at them, yet could not help letting one's imagination wander.
"Tang San."
Qian Renxue's voice was crisp and devoid of emotion.
"If you want to fight, then fight. Spare me the nonsense."
"Fine!"
Tang San shouted and said no more.
Azure divine radiance and blazing sun-god light collided explosively in the heavens!
The two gods stood suspended in the air, facing one another from afar.
The next instant, both figures vanished from where they stood.
Clang—!
The Sea God Trident and Angel Holy Sword clashed in midair, unleashing a deafening metallic roar.
Visible ripples of energy spread wildly outward from the two of them, stirring the winds and clouds.
Wielding his trident, Tang San attacked with sweeping, forceful movements. Every strike drew upon the power of the vast sea, raising tidal waves of blue divine power as though he meant to turn the entire sky into an ocean.
Qian Renxue, meanwhile, wielded the Holy Sword with a light, graceful figure and swordsmanship of peerless precision.
Every slash of her sword burned with blazing true solar fire—pure and scorching, as though it could incinerate all things beneath heaven.
Golden and blue divine lights collided and annihilated one another without pause in the sky. Terrifying shockwaves of divine power poured down, making even the walls of Jialing Pass groan beneath the unbearable strain.
On the city walls, Golden Crocodile Douluo and the other Worships looked solemnly up at the divine battle above.
The Soul Masters of both armies watched in terror, their legs trembling weakly.
Was this the power of gods?
The mere aftershocks of their battle were enough to make Soul Masters below the rank of Titled Douluo feel suffocated.
"Second Worship, can the Young Lady... win?"
One Worship asked in a dry voice.
Golden Crocodile Douluo did not answer. Only his tightly clenched fists revealed the turmoil in his heart.
Meanwhile, within Jialing Pass, in a secluded courtyard.
In stark contrast to the earth-shaking chaos outside, this place was as tranquil as a secluded paradise.
Qian Ye sat beside a stone table, looking entirely at ease.
A small clay stove on the table bubbled away, sending up wisps of steam.
He lifted the boiling kettle and poured the scalding water into a teapot. The tea leaves unfurled and rolled in the water, and a refined fragrance instantly spread through the courtyard.
The battle in the sky, powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth, seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.
He raised his teacup and took a light sip.
The tea was faintly bitter at first, then sweet on the finish.
High in the heavens.
Boom!
Following another world-shaking collision, Tang San and Qian Renxue were each blasted back a hundred meters.
Tang San's expression darkened.
He had not expected Qian Renxue to be so powerful. Without using his trump card, he could not gain even the slightest advantage.
He could not drag this out any longer!
The longer the night, the more dreams it brought!
A fierce light flashed in Tang San's eyes as he made his decision.
It was time to let her see what true Heavenly Dao might was!
He abruptly halted his assault and pulled back.
An utterly different and terrifying aura began to spread from his body.
It was a pure, undisguised intent of destruction!
Qian Renxue's pupils contracted, unprecedented gravity filling her golden eyes.
It was here!
The Divine Artifact version of the Buddha Wrath Tang Lotus!
Even a god had to go all out when facing such a weapon of slaughter, born from the world's origin power!
Tang San slowly spread open his palm.
A dark-golden lotus floated silently above it, emanating an aura of decay and finality that made souls tremble.
"Qian Renxue, do you see this?"
A fanatical, confident smile appeared on Tang San's face.
"This is the choice of the Heavenly Dao!"
"The Heavenly Dao favors me. It intends to use my hand to end your Spirit Hall's filthy rule!"
"Spirit Hall must perish!"
His voice was filled with overbearing arrogance.
Yet Qian Renxue showed not the slightest trace of fear in the face of this terrifying Divine Artifact, capable of threatening a god's very origin.
She merely shot Tang San a disdainful glance, mockery curling at the corner of her lips.
"The Heavenly Dao? Would the Heavenly Dao favor a petty man who stole his sect's secret manuals and repaid kindness with betrayal?"
Qian Renxue stood tall and straight. Beneath her golden battle skirt, her slender jade-like legs were long and straight, carrying both divine beauty and an oppressive aura.
"Tang San, whether in your past life or this one, you are nothing more than a nauseating hypocrite."
On Jialing Pass's walls, Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others tensed. They pushed their Soul Power to the limit, prepared to die at any moment.
"You!"
The smile on Tang San's face instantly froze.
Qian Renxue's words were like the sharpest poisoned thorn, viciously piercing the deepest corner of his heart—the place he least wished anyone to touch!
Especially his past life!
That was an eternal pain in his heart!
"I did nothing wrong!"
Tang San's expression twisted as he nearly roared.
"It was the Tang Sect that wronged me! I devoted my entire life to the Tang Sect. What was wrong with taking a few worldly possessions?!"
"You people born high above everyone else will never understand!"
His emotions completely spiraled out of control, leaving only endless killing intent and resentment in his eyes.
"Since you seek death, I will grant it to you!"
"Die!"
With an enraged shout, Tang San hurled the dark-golden lotus in his hand toward Qian Renxue!
Buzz—!
The instant the Buddha Wrath Tang Lotus left his hand, every sound between heaven and earth seemed to vanish.
It did not fly quickly, yet it carried a sense of inescapable destiny, as though it had locked onto cause and effect itself.
Under everyone's gaze, that lotus representing destruction and finality slowly bloomed in midair!
In an instant, an ultimate light of destruction erupted from its dark-golden heart.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a deathly white stillness.
No, it was not white.
It was a pure light of decay that devoured all light and color!
Wherever the light passed, space shattered inch by inch like fragile glass, exposing black nothingness beneath.
Wind, clouds, light, even the laws of heaven and earth were forcibly twisted and broken down before this power, reduced to the most primordial chaos.
This was no longer a battle of mortals, but the end of the world!
Before you continue