Yu Mengdi, Angel Martial Soul

"You don't understand."

Tang San shook his head. "It isn't merely a stroke of fortune.

Huo Yuhao is the chosen child of destiny jointly planned by Nian Bing, the God of Emotions, and me. His growth path concerns the future of the entire God Realm.

If someone steals his opportunity and disrupts his growth path, the whole plan will be affected."

"What plan?"

the God of Kindness asked.

Tang San did not answer.

He could not answer.

The core of that plan was to use the children favored by fate on Douluo Continent as chess pieces, providing the God Realm with the power of faith and combat support at critical moments.

Huo Yuhao was merely one of them. After him, more children favored by fate would be arranged in the lower realm.

It was a plan he had formulated together with Rong Nianbing and the others to deal with crises the God Realm might face.

But that plan would not sound honorable if spoken aloud.

Using all living beings as chess pieces, using fate as the chessboard, seeking benefits for the God Realm...

How was that any different from evil?

That was why Tang San never mentioned this plan to anyone.

He merely carried it out in silence, laid out his schemes in silence, then told himself.

Everything I do is for the God Realm.

"I understand the God King's concerns."

Seeing that Tang San was unwilling to answer, the God of Kindness did not press him. "But I must still remind you that the God Realm has its rules.

Privately interfering with the lower realm is a grave taboo."

"I know."

Tang San nodded. "I will not interfere. I'm merely... watching."

The God of Kindness gave him a glance before turning and leaving the Asura God Temple.

The Divine Palace fell silent once more.

Tang San sat upon his divine throne, golden light flickering in his eyes.

"Watching?"

He quietly repeated those words, a cold sneer curling across his lips.

"Since when did what I, Tang San, do become something others could point fingers at?"

"I uphold the God Realm's order and protect the peace of the lower realm. What have I done wrong?"

"That young man stole my opportunity and obstructed the God Realm's thousand-year plan. He is the one truly in the wrong!"

His voice echoed through the vast Divine Palace, each sentence more resolute than the last, as though he were convincing himself.

"This continent is my homeland. It is where I, Tang San, have my roots."

"Every person and every inch of land on this continent is connected to me."

"I have done so much and sacrificed so much for this continent. What is wrong with taking a look?"

"What is wrong with interfering?"

"Everything I do is for the God Realm, for the stability of the lower realm!"

"I am not wrong."

"I, Tang San, cannot be wrong."

"The ones in the wrong are those who obstruct me, those who ruin my plans!"

"The ones in the wrong are all of you!"

He spoke every word with ringing conviction.

He believed those words himself.

Perhaps he had believed them for a very long time.

So long that he could no longer remember when he had learned to use "for the God Realm" as an excuse to dress up every decision, every intervention, every scheme of his.

The Asura divine statue upon the throne slowly lit up, reflecting the crimson divine armor on his body.

Tang San closed his eyes, and his divine sense surged toward the lower realm once more.

This time, he did not try to break through that barrier. Instead, he bypassed it and peered into Douluo Continent from another angle.

He saw Huo Yuhao.

That child was standing beside the young man. The Soul Rings beneath his feet were... colorless and yellow?

Colorless?

Tang San frowned slightly, focusing his divine sense on the Colorless Soul Ring beneath Huo Yuhao's feet.

That was not a true Soul Ring, but a blank Soul Ring formed from the mental power dispersed by Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

That young man had not only taken Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, but even allowed Huo Yuhao to absorb the mental power Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had dispersed?

No, Huo Yuhao had not absorbed it himself. That young man had done it deliberately.

He was cultivating Huo Yuhao?

He had stolen Huo Yuhao's opportunity, yet he was also cultivating him?

Tang San could not understand that young man's intentions.

But there was one thing he understood: that young man was very strong.

Not merely strong in cultivation, but strong in some way he could not comprehend.

That young man carried the aura of a god.

Not a god he recognized, but an unfamiliar god that did not belong to the God Realm's system.

"Interesting."

Tang San opened his eyes, an unfathomable smile at the corners of his lips.

"Whoever you are, and whoever the god behind you may be, this continent is mine."

"No matter what you want to do.

Fine.

But you must follow my rules."

"Otherwise..."

He raised a hand, and a miniature Asura Blood Sword appeared in his palm, scarlet light flowing over its blade.

"I will show you what the wrath of a God King truly is."

Outside the Divine Palace, dark clouds gathered as thunder and lightning raged.

Even the skies of the God Realm seemed to tremble with Tang San's emotions.

At the edge of Star Dou Great Forest, the sun was setting.

Shen Zhou and his group were following the path they had taken in, heading outward.

The Colorless Soul Ring beneath Huo Yuhao's feet had already sunk into his body, leaving only the yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring slowly rotating around him.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei walked in front. Er Ha followed at the very back with the Phoenix Tail Snake's corpse in his mouth, occasionally letting out muffled grumbles.

"This snake is so heavy. This Emperor's mouth is sore."

"Who told you to insist on carrying it in your mouth?"

Shen Zhou replied without turning his head.

"Snake meat is highly nourishing! We'll stew it into soup when we get back. Lao Da, will you have some?"

"...Yes."

Huo Yuhao could not help laughing, then lowered his head to look at the Colorless Soul Ring that had vanished beneath his feet, still feeling a trace of confusion.

But that confusion was quickly replaced by an inexplicable excitement—he was now a true Soul Master.

One ring, Spirit Eye, Mental Attribute.

It was only a beginning, but he had already taken the first step down this path.

Suddenly, Shen Zhou stopped walking.

The Heavenly Eye in his right eye snapped open. A golden vertical pattern flowed through his pupil as a sharp Mental Wave spread from his body, enveloping the three people and one dog beside him.

"Master?"

Huo Yuhao jumped in fright.

"Someone is spying from above."

Shen Zhou's voice was quiet, but its coldness was undisguised. "Shameless bastard."

Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged a glance before both looking up at the sky.

The sky was clear, the sunset clouds were blood-red, and there was nothing there.

"Brother Shen, you mean... up in the sky?"

Bei Bei lowered his voice, a flash of shock crossing his eyes.

Shen Zhou did not answer. He merely looked up at the crimson sunset clouds, a mocking curve lifting at the corner of his mouth.

"Have you seen enough?

If you have, then get lost."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a force that pierced the clouds and shot straight into the heavens.

In the sky, the sunset clouds suddenly churned violently, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand.

A moment later, the turbulence subsided, and the feeling of being watched vanished along with it.

"He's gone."

Shen Zhou withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.

Tang Ya's voice trembled slightly. "Brother Shen, were you cursing... one of the legendary gods just now?"

"So what if I was?"

Shen Zhou glanced at her. "He can do it, but I can't curse him?"

Tang Ya opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately closed it again.

She might be bold, but she was not bold enough to curse a god.

Yet this Brother Shen had not only cursed one, he had done so with complete confidence.

Just how great were this man's nerves?