Even Ning Rongrong, who was usually so composed, furrowed her delicate brows. Clearly, she was unhappy with the ranking.
In their hearts, Tang San was invincible.
The Tang Sect was the strongest.
That had become a blind faith.
Elsewhere.
Tang San stared fixedly at the glaring words "Fourth Place," his fingers turning white around the Sea God Trident.
How could this be?
He had thought that with his current strength, he would at least make the top two, or even crush Spirit Hall and claim the top spot.
Once he reached the top, he could ride the momentum and shatter the Spirit Hall Empire's morale in one decisive blow.
But now... fourth?
This was practically a slap in the face!
"I don't believe it."
Tang San murmured inwardly, a shadow passing through his eyes.
"In this world, who could possibly rank above my Tang Sect besides Spirit Hall?"
"Could there be some hidden old monster who's never shown himself?"
Just as everyone was seething with indignation,
the Golden Ranking's light shifted overhead.
The rewards were here.
[Tang San, leader of the Tang Sect, reward issued!]
[Three God-Bestowed Spirit Rings granted! Their age will be determined by your ability to withstand them!]
[Soul Power Level forcibly raised to 100! Become a god through the power of your body, without requiring Godhood Inheritance!]
[Tang Sect prodigy Xiao Wu, reward issued!]
[Soul Power Level increased by three ranks! One God-Bestowed Spirit Ring granted!]
[Members of the Tang Sect: Gain the "Ghost Axe Divine Work" forging technique. Hidden Weapons' sharpness increased by 50%! Armor-piercing effect doubled!]
Boom—!
The string of rewards crashed down, and the previously noisy camp fell utterly silent.
Then,
a blue pillar of light erupted from Tang San, reaching from heaven to earth.
It was pure divine power!
Though he had yet to inherit a godhood, the system's forceful infusion had truly pushed his Soul Power beyond that legendary threshold.
Level 100!
A hundred levels, and you became a god!
Three golden spheres of light circled him. They were God-Bestowed Spirit Rings.
Tang San could feel the power within him surging at a terrifying speed.
It was as if he had taken control of the entire world.
"Level 100..."
Tang San slowly opened his eyes. Blue-gold light shot from them, instantly reducing the boulder before him to dust.
The gloom from before vanished without a trace.
In its place came unprecedented elation and swelling pride.
So what if his ranking was low?
These rewards were the real deal!
Even without the Sea God Godhood, his level-100 Soul Power was enough to sweep across the continent!
"Congratulations, Third Brother! Well done, Third Brother!"
Ma Hongjun was the first to react. He immediately put on a fawning expression and loudly showered Tang San with praise:
"Level 100, and you become a god! No one has ever done that before, and no one will ever do it again!"
"What a damn ranking! With this kind of strength, we can wipe out the top three ourselves and take first place!"
Oscar quickly chimed in:
"Exactly!"
"Third Brother is a true god now!"
"What's Bibi Dong? She's not even worthy of helping Third Brother put on his shoes!"
Everyone chimed in, praising Tang San to the skies.
Though Tang San still wore his usual humble, detached expression, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly betrayed his delight.
He clenched his fist, feeling the power to destroy heaven and earth, and his heart swelled with boundless ambition.
"Bibi Dong."
"Qian Renxue."
"Just you wait."
"I, Tang San, will win this battle!"
Jialing Pass, Spirit Hall Empire's camp.
Bibi Dong lounged lazily on her throne, swirling a glass of crimson wine in her hand.
Watching the triumphant Tang San on the Sky Curtain, she let a trace of disdain flash through her beautiful eyes.
"Fourth place?"
"Heh."
She gave a soft laugh, her voice full of scorn.
"The louder they crow, the harder they fall."
"He's nothing but a good-for-nothing who only managed to touch the threshold of level 100 thanks to the Sky Curtain's handout."
"And he thinks he can challenge my Spirit Hall?"
Though she spoke dismissively, a trace of solemnity still passed through the depths of Bibi Dong's eyes.
Those three God-Bestowed Spirit Rings were indeed troublesome.
If Tang San absorbed them all, then combined them with that so-called level-100 Soul Power, he would pose a considerable threat to the Spirit Hall Empire.
"What a pity."
Bibi Dong downed the wine in her glass, murderous intent glinting in her eyes.
"These rewards are excellent, but there's no way to take them from him."
The Golden Ranking's radiance grew ever brighter, forcibly suppressing the restless spiritual energy of heaven and earth that had been stirred by Tang San's ascension to godhood.
Countless eyes fixed upon the sky.
The Tang Sect had taken fourth place. So who, exactly, were the top three?
Just as everyone held their breath,
violet-gold light tore through the clouds, and the name representing supreme power finally revealed itself.
[Third Place on the Power Ranking: Spirit Hall Empire!]
On the ramparts of Jialing Pass, the Spirit Hall Empire's troops, who had been somewhat unsettled by Tang San's ascension to level 100, now erupted into earth-shaking cheers.
That was their empire's name!
That was their faith!
The Golden Ranking's image shifted.
The magnificent Pope Palace stood atop the mountains, the Angel Statue radiating holy light.
Two stunning figures in the image drew the eye above all others.
One wore a golden gown, her skin as fair as snow. Six pristine wings beat gently behind her, her presence sacred and inviolable. She was Qian Renxue, who had already inherited the Angel God Position.
The other held a scepter and wore the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown. Her peerless beauty was matched by an air of sovereign majesty. She was the current empress of the Spirit Hall Empire, Bibi Dong.
[Spirit Hall Empire: The continent's orthodox power of Soul Masters, controlling over half the Soul Masters in the world!]
[Leader: Bibi Dong (Level 99 Limit Douluo, inheritor of the Rakshasa God, Twin Martial Souls)!]
[Prodigy: Qian Renxue (level-100 Angel God, First-Class Deity)!]
[Key members: The seven Grand Worships of the Worship Hall, the Titled Douluo of the Elder Hall, the Golden Generation!]
[Overall strength: Ranked third on the Power Ranking!]
Though the Spirit Hall Empire ranked third, Bibi Dong on the ramparts of Jialing Pass looked hardly any happier.
She gripped her scepter tightly, her fingers straining until they turned faintly white.
Third?
Only third?
The Spirit Hall Empire had a true god, a Limit Douluo, dozens of Titled Douluo, and an army of a million. Yet it could only rank third?
"Is this Golden Ranking making a mockery of me?"
A shadow passed through Bibi Dong's eyes.
She could understand the Tang Sect placing fourth; its foundations were still shallow.
But after ruling the continent for years, her Spirit Hall Empire still wasn't first—not even second?
Just as Bibi Dong was growing dissatisfied, the Sky Curtain trembled. The rewards for third place poured down like a river of stars spilling from the heavens.
[Leader Bibi Dong, reward issued!]
[All remaining trials of the Rakshasa God Trial are waived! Ascend to godhood directly!]
[Three God-Bestowed Spirit Rings granted! Their age will be determined by your ability to withstand them!]
[Spirit Hall Empire prodigy Qian Renxue, reward issued!]
[Three God-Bestowed Spirit Rings granted! Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul evolves—Twelve-Winged Holy Angel!]
[Members of the Spirit Hall Empire: Core members (Titled Douluo and above) each receive one Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, which may freely replace any existing lower-age Soul Ring!]