Tang Hao's face had gone deathly pale. He writhed in agony in midair, blood gushing from his mouth in great spurts.
"Dad!"
Seeing this, Tang San's eyes nearly burst from their sockets.
He had never imagined that his father, whose strength had surged, wouldn't even last one move against Tang Xiao. His arm had been torn clean off.
"Tang Xiao! I'll kill you!"
Tang San had gone completely mad.
The Seagod Divine Armor on his body erupted in a blinding blue light unlike anything before. The Seagod Trident in his hand swung wildly, and enormous phantom waves gathered in the sky.
"Seagod Twilight!"
This was one of the Seagod's most powerful divine skills, fueled by all of Tang San's divine power and fury.
Faced with this attack, Tang Xiao merely looked at him coldly.
"The Seagod? On this great land, he's nothing but an outsider."
Tang Xiao slowly raised his hand. A delicate golden-blue lotus quietly bloomed in his palm.
It was the source of the Supreme Blue Silver Emperor's power.
As the lotus appeared, every blade of Blue Silver Grass across the land let out a thunderous roar.
Countless glimmers of light converged, forming a golden-blue pillar that pierced heaven and earth. It smashed Tang San's Seagod Twilight to pieces.
That wasn't all. The terrifying shock wave tore through the void and slammed into Tang San's chest.
"Pfft—!"
Tang San took a heavy blow and flew back more than a thousand meters. Much of his Seagod Divine Armor shattered, and the Seagod Trident nearly slipped from his grasp.
He looked at Tang Xiao, the fury in his eyes finally giving way to boundless fear.
Tang San clenched his teeth so hard that blood welled from his lips.
He glanced at the Heaven Dou Allied Forces below, who had utterly lost their will to fight and were trembling in terror, then at Tang Hao, who was coughing up blood and hovering on the brink of death.
He knew that if they fought on today, every last one of them would die here.
As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood.
Tang San told himself this.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his injuries, and caught Tang Hao as he fell.
"Tang Xiao, I'll remember this humiliation!"
Tang San spat out those words through gritted teeth. Then he turned, wrapped Tang Hao in what little divine power he had left, and fled into the distance as a streak of light without looking back.
Yu Xiaogang and Marshal Ge Long below didn't dare linger either.
"Retreat! Retreat at once!"
Marshal Ge Long shouted in terror.
The million-strong army withdrew like a receding tide, leaving behind nothing but wreckage and corpses.
Watching the Heaven Dou Empire's troops flee in disarray, the Spirit Hall Empire's defenders on Jialing Pass's walls erupted into thunderous cheers.
Bibi Dong gazed at the white-clad figure in the sky, her eyes filled with complicated emotions and shock.
Qian Renxue flew over to Tang Xiao and gently took his arm.
"Husband, you're incredible."
Tang Xiao turned to look at his wife. The coldness faded from his face, replaced by a gentle smile.
"This is only the beginning. The empire that belongs to us will eventually unite this continent."
He took Qian Renxue's hand and slowly descended toward Jialing Pass.
Even after the battle, the air over Jialing Pass still reeked of blood and gunpowder.
The defenders on the walls were busy clearing the battlefield, while the Spirit Hall Empire's leaders gathered in the council chamber.
An eerie silence hung over the room.
Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor. Though her face was still pale, her beautiful eyes remained fixed on Tang Xiao, who sat to one side.
Her gaze held shock and wariness, along with an emotion too complicated to name.
"If not for Your Excellency Tang Xiao's intervention today, the Spirit Hall Empire would hardly have escaped disaster."
Bibi Dong broke the silence first, her tone polite but probing.
Tang Xiao picked up the teacup beside him and took a small sip, his expression as calm as ever.
"I acted only for Xue'er."
"As for whether the Spirit Hall Empire survives, that has nothing to do with me."
Tang Xiao spoke bluntly, showing Bibi Dong no consideration at all.
Bibi Dong's expression stiffened slightly. But remembering that Tang Xiao's terrifying strength could crush even gods with ease, she had no choice but to force down her displeasure.
Standing behind Tang Xiao, Qian Renxue felt a rush of sweetness at his words.
She stepped forward and faced Bibi Dong, the mother in name, her expression conflicted.
"Mother, my husband has always been like this. Please don't take offense."
Qian Renxue spoke softly.
Bibi Dong sighed and waved a hand.
"Xue'er, now that you've become a god and found such a powerful partner, I can only be happy for you as your mother."
"But although the Heaven Dou Empire has withdrawn, Tang San and Tang Hao are still alive."
"Fail to pull out the roots, and the spring breeze will bring them back to life. Given Tang San's temperament, he'll never let this go."
Bibi Dong's concerns were well founded.
Tang San had inherited the Seagod's godhood. If he had a chance to recover, he would surely return.
At her words, Tang Xiao set down his teacup and gave a faint laugh.
"Let this go?"
"That depends on whether he has the ability."
"A little brat who became a god through borrowed power is nothing but an ant I can crush whenever I please."
Tang Xiao's voice was calm, but the domineering force behind it made everyone in the chamber's hearts jolt.
"Husband, what should we do next?"
Qian Renxue asked curiously.
Tang Xiao took her hand, a profound light flashing in his eyes.
"Now that the Heavenly Dao Gold List has appeared, the balance of power across the continent has been completely upended."
"It's time for the Blue Silver Empire on the Sun Moon Continent to truly take its place here."
Tang Xiao's words made Bibi Dong's pupils contract sharply.
She looked at Tang Xiao and asked hesitantly,
"Your Excellency Tang Xiao, do you mean to... annex our Spirit Hall Empire?"
The atmosphere in the chamber tensed at once. Several of the Spirit Hall Empire's worshippers instinctively clenched their fists.
Tang Xiao gave them a casual glance. The slightest leak of his terrifying pressure struck the worshippers like a thunderbolt, and they staggered back several steps, their faces deathly pale.
"Annex?"
"The Spirit Hall Empire isn't worthy of that word."
Tang Xiao rose to his feet and looked down at Bibi Dong.
"For Xue'er's sake, I can give the Spirit Hall Empire a chance to join the Blue Silver Empire."
"Those who submit will prosper; those who resist will perish."
"Bibi Dong, you're a clever woman. You know what to choose."
With that, Tang Xiao ignored Bibi Dong's ashen expression, took Qian Renxue's hand, and vanished from the chamber in a flash.
Only a stunned Bibi Dong and a group of Spirit Hall Empire leaders staring at one another remained.
Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.
The imperial palace was shrouded in gloom.
Emperor Xue Beng sat on the dragon throne, his face drained of color and his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Imperial Preceptor... did we really lose?"
Xue Beng looked at Yu Xiaogang below him, his voice full of despair and disbelief.
Yu Xiaogang looked just as battered. His once-neat clothes were covered in dust, and he seemed ten years older.
"Your Majesty... Tang Xiao's strength is already beyond the bounds of humanity."
"Even Xiao San... even he was no match for him."
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and spoke hoarsely.
This news struck the Heaven Dou Empire like a bolt from the blue.
They had thought that with Sea God Tang San on their side, uniting the continent was only a matter of time.
They hadn't expected Tang Xiao to appear out of nowhere and shatter their dream to pieces.
"Then... what do we do now?"
Xue Beng asked incoherently.
"Your Majesty, our only option now is to wait."
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward and sighed.
"Wait? Wait for what?"
Xue Beng asked anxiously.
Ning Fengzhi looked up at the sky, a complicated expression flickering in his eyes.
"For the Great Dao Golden Ranking's next announcement."
"If the Heavenly Dao Gold List can reveal the Strongest Power Ranking, then perhaps there are even stronger beings ranked above Tang Xiao."
"Besides, although Lord Sea God has lost once, his reserves of power remain. Once he recovers, he can join forces with the other gods of the Divine Realm. We may still have a slim chance."
Ning Fengzhi's words rekindled a faint hope in the hearts of those in the hall.
However, they had no idea that Sea God Tang San, the one in whom they placed all their hopes, was facing the greatest crisis of his life.
In a secluded valley outside Heaven Dou City.
Tang San sat cross-legged inside a cave, his face as pale as paper. The Seagod Divine Power in his body was unstable, showing signs of collapse.
Beside him, Tang Hao lay on the ground, his entire left arm gone. Divine power had sealed the wound, but his aura had weakened to the point of near-extinction.
"Dad, how are you feeling?"
Tang San opened his eyes and looked at Tang Hao, who was on the brink of death. His eyes were full of pain and self-reproach.
Tang Hao struggled to open his eyes. Looking at his younger son, a bitter despair flashed in his gaze.
"Xiao San... don't worry about me..."
"That wretch... his strength is terrifying..."
Tang Hao spoke haltingly, coughing up a mouthful of blood with every few words.
Tang San gritted his teeth and clenched both fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
"No! Dad, I'll find a way to heal you!"
"Tang Xiao... I'll have my revenge!"
Tang San screamed inwardly.
He had never hated anyone as much as he hated someone today, and he had never felt so powerless.
He was a god, the lofty Seagod!
Yet before Tang Xiao, he was like an ant, easily toyed with in the palm of his hand.
Could it be that I really am inferior to him?
Blood rain still fell in a fine, steady drizzle from the sky.
For dozens of miles around Jialing Pass, the ground was stained a glaring dark red.
Tang Xiao stood in the void, his white robes immaculate.
He watched the direction in which Tang San had taken Tang Hao, but made no move to stop them.
"Husband, you're just letting them go?"
Qian Renxue came to Tang Xiao's side and asked, puzzled.
Her divine armor was damaged, but Tang Xiao's divine power had nourished her, restoring color to her face.
Tang Xiao took her hand and gave a slight shake of his head.
"Go?"
"How far can they get?"
"You can't escape a debt just by running away."
Tang Xiao's voice was calm, but the Heaven Dou Army below felt a chill run down their spines.
The million-strong army of the Heaven Dou Empire had completely lost its will to fight.
Marshal Ge Long's face was deathly pale. He stared at the godlike figure in the sky, scarcely daring to breathe.
"Retreat... retreat at once..."
His voice trembled as he directed the surviving soldiers to withdraw slowly.
Watching this, the Spirit Hall Empire's defenders erupted into deafening cheers.
Bibi Dong stood on the walls, her gaze fixed on Tang Xiao, full of wariness.
She knew that from this day on, neither the Spirit Hall Empire nor the Heaven Dou Empire ruled this continent.
Its master was the Blue Silver Empire, a name no one had ever heard before.
Tang Xiao turned toward the Great Dao Golden Ranking, which was gradually fading from the sky.
"Since everyone's so interested in what happened back then, today I'll tear away that veil of shame."
Tang Xiao spoke as if to himself.
He raised his right hand. A dazzling golden-blue radiance shot into the sky.
The light merged straight into the Sky Screen in the heavens.
Boom—!
A deep rumble rolled across the sky above the entire continent.
The Sky Screen, which had been gradually fading, lit up once more.
It wasn't just at Jialing Pass. People in every corner of the entire Douluo Continent instinctively looked up at the sky.
"Look! The Sky Screen is lit up again!"
"Could they be announcing another Gold Ranking?"
People chattered among themselves, curiosity written across their faces.
But this time, what appeared on the Sky Screen wasn't text. It was a moving image.
The image showed a pitch-black night sky.
The wind howled, and rain poured down in torrents.
The gale drove the rain against the dense leaves, making them rustle.
This was the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
A tall figure raced along a muddy road.
At the sight of him, countless people cried out in surprise.
"Is that... Tang Hao when he was young?"
"What's he holding in his arms?"
The image drew closer.
Young Tang Hao was holding a newborn baby in his arms.
The baby was as delicate as a porcelain doll, and a pair of big eyes shimmered faintly in the darkness.
But strangely, a faint golden-blue radiance flowed around the baby.
It was the source power of a Soul Beast bloodline.
Tang Hao stopped.
He looked at the baby in his arms, not a trace of a new father's joy or affection on his face.
Instead, his eyes were filled with disgust.
"Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul... It's actually just the Trash Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass."
Tang Hao's voice rang out with startling clarity through the rain.
"And the Soul Beast bloodline in this wretch is so potent."
"How can the son of a mighty Clear Sky Douluo like me be a monster with filthy blood flowing through his veins?"
Tang Hao glared at the baby in his arms, his teeth clenched.
"If it weren't for Ah Yin, I'd want to slap you dead!"
Every word he spoke carried clearly to the ears of everyone on the continent.
Before you continue