The Goddess of Life looked helplessly at Qian Shangyi and sighed. "You were far too impulsive. You actually cut away five levels of Asura's cultivation."
Qian Shangyi gave a cold snort, her tone tinged with disdain. "He let someone from another world possess that Tang San. We already turned a blind eye to that."
"And now he wants to scheme against my successor too? As if I'd let him get away with that."
"If the person he picked is weak, he should train harder. Using such underhanded methods is utterly shameless."
The Goddess of Life furrowed her brow slightly, her voice carrying a note of consolation. "The God Realm Committee already knows about his actions. They'll punish him."
"You... You're the Snow God, yet you still have such a fiery temper. But what's done is done. How do you plan to handle things from here?"
Qian Shangyi looked toward the Asura God Hall. "If anything happens to my successor, I'll personally make his successor pay with his life."
A deafening explosion rang out as violent Soul Power swept through the area, mingling the swirling snow and dust into a blizzard of white and gray.
As the smoke slowly cleared, Qian Lingche's figure came into view.
He was down on one knee, the ice sword in his hand driven deep into the ground to support his swaying body.
His robes were in tatters, and a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He had clearly been badly injured in the battle.
He lifted his head and stared ahead. The phantom image of Yingxiang gradually appeared, but by now it had grown indistinct. At last, it dissolved into specks of light and vanished.
Qian Lingche took a deep breath and slowly rose to his feet. In a low voice, he murmured, "Of course I've already said goodbye to the person I used to be."
The scene around him shifted once more, and Qian Lingche reappeared inside the Snow God Hall.
He stood before the Snow God Statue as the ice sword in his hand gradually turned into specks of light and scattered through the air.
The Snow God's voice rang through the hall. "Snow God's Second Trial: Surpass yourself. Complete."
"Reward: The age of all Soul Rings increased by one thousand years. Soul Power Level increased by two levels."
As the voice faded, a surge of blue energy flowed into his body.
Qian Lingche felt the colors of his existing Soul Rings deepen. At the same time, his Soul Power Level climbed rapidly, breaking straight through to Level 58.
Feeling the power within him, he was a little surprised. The Soul Power he'd received as a reward was just as solid as what he'd gained through his own cultivation, without the slightest trace of instability.
Just as Qian Lingche was rejoicing, the Snow God's voice rang out again. "Angels are sacred. Uphold justice and let the holy light return to the continent.
"Snow God's Third Trial: Destroy the Capital of Slaughter.
"Time limit: One year."
Asura, since you like playing dirty, I'll send you a little gift in return.
Shi Yi stood at the entrance to the Capital of Slaughter. He looked at Qian Lingche beside him and said calmly, "The Capital of Slaughter can't restrain me. As long as I stop the Capital of Slaughter's domain, it won't be able to suppress your cultivation."
Qian Lingche furrowed his brow. "Will it put you in danger?"
Though he'd never experienced it himself, a domain capable of covering such a vast Capital of Slaughter couldn't be suppressed easily.
Shi Yi shook his head. "It'll only consume some Soul Power. There's no danger. As long as you take care of the King of Slaughter quickly, the Slaughter Domain will disappear on its own."
At that, Qian Lingche nodded. "All right. We'll end the fight as quickly as possible. Brother Yi, be careful too. Don't push yourself."
Shi Yi stepped into the Capital of Slaughter, and the scene before him changed in an instant, as if he'd entered another world.
The air reeked of blood, and the buildings all around were gloomy and eerie. Every brick and stone was steeped in endless slaughter and sin.
He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a flash of silver light shone in them.
He saw the scarlet domain shrouding the entire Capital of Slaughter, like an invisible giant hand holding the city firmly in its grasp.
Before the guards of the Capital of Slaughter could even speak, they saw Shi Yi's figure fly into the sky.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul Avatar!"
In an instant, silver light enveloped Shi Yi's body.
"Time Domain—Stasis!"
As his voice fell, the Time Domain swiftly spread, covering the entire Capital of Slaughter in the blink of an eye.
Under the Time Domain's suppression, the scarlet Slaughter Domain gradually lost its effect.
The people inside the Capital of Slaughter suddenly found that their shackles had vanished, their Soul Power had returned, and even moving had become much easier.
But before they could celebrate, countless flaming feathers rained down from the sky.
A voice rang out overhead. "Eighth Soul Skill—Boiling Blood!"
The flaming feathers fell into every corner, setting the entire city ablaze in an instant.
Blazing flames soared into the sky, turning the once-gloomy Capital of Slaughter into a sea of fire. Wails and screams rose one after another.
But at that moment, the King of Slaughter was seated on his throne, several alluring women gathered around him as he basked in their flattering attentions.
Just as he was about to indulge in a little more pleasure, he suddenly sensed a powerful force suppressing his domain.
His brow furrowed, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Hm? Someone's suppressing my domain?"
Before he could react, a tremendous explosion rang out in the heart of the Capital of Slaughter, shaking the entire palace.
The King of Slaughter sprang to his feet, his face filled with shock and fury. "What's going on? Who dares to run wild on my turf!"
He shoved away the woman beside him, a note of murderous intent in his voice. "Get lost!"
The women scattered, intimidated by his presence, not daring to say a word.
The King of Slaughter flashed away, turning into a streak of scarlet light as he sped toward the explosion.
When he flew out of the palace and saw the entire Capital of Slaughter swallowed by a sea of fire, fury blazed in his eyes.
He roared, "Who did this?! Who dares destroy my Capital of Slaughter!"
Qian Lingche was about to speak when Dugu Bo's voice suddenly came from afar. "Ninth Spirit Ability—Green Phosphorus Divine Light!"
In an instant, brilliant jade-green light burst from Dugu Bo. Centered on him, countless razor-sharp beams spread toward the Capital of Slaughter.
Guang Ling suddenly appeared beside Qian Lingche and seized his arm. "Let's go!"
Before Qian Lingche could react, Guang Ling swept him into the air.
Looking down, he saw that green liquid had seeped up through the ground across the entire Capital of Slaughter.
The liquid gave off a pungent odor, and its potent poison and corrosive power ate through everything it touched. Buildings, ground, even the air quickly corroded, hissing as they dissolved.
Even more terrifyingly, everyone touched by the poison let out agonized wails.
Their bodies began to rot at once. Their skin corroded, their flesh melted into puddles of foul liquid, and even their bones were not spared.
The entire Capital of Slaughter had become a living hell. Wails rose one after another, sending chills down the spine.
Qian Lingche knitted his brows, shock flashing through his eyes. "This is just..."
This was the first time any of them had seen Dugu Bo's Ninth Spirit Ability. It could actually spread poison across an entire area, turning it into a land of death.