Prologue: The End of Beginning and End

Prologue: The End of Beginnings

Poseidon Estate.

Tang San raised his wine glass, his gaze sweeping over the mingling deities to land on the flying eaves of the long corridor by the distant lake. Lantern light cast a brilliant golden glow over the glazed tiles, mirroring his mood at that moment—brilliant, complete, and unassailable.

He had finally returned.

Xiao Wu's hand moved gently in his palm.

He turned his head to see his wife slightly frowning, her gaze wandering among the banqueteers as if searching for something.

"Third Brother," she leaned closer, her voice as soft as a flower petal falling into a lake, "have you noticed? It seems someone is missing."

Tang San smiled and shook his head, returning the wine cup to the table as he reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Silly girl, no one is missing here. Aren't our family and friends all right here?"

He raised a hand to point toward the gathering. Dai Mubai was arm-wrestling Zhu Zhuqing while shouting out numbers, and Ma Hongjun had said something that caused Oscar to punch him repeatedly in the ribs, with Ning Rongrong blushing nearby. Tang Wutong and Gu Yuena sat side by side, chatting with smiles on their faces, while beside them stood a false Gu Yuena, gently kneading Tang Wulin's shoulders.

Xiao Wu followed his gesture, her gaze lingering on each face for a moment before returning to Tang San's. She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking it," she said.

Tang San lowered his head and kissed the crown of her head gently.

The banquet at the Poseidon Estate remained noisy throughout the night. Amidst the clinking of cups, no one noticed the absent figure, nor did anyone notice the direction of the God Realm Nexus, where a gaze pierced through layers of palaces, quietly watching it all.

The next afternoon, the sunlight warmed the white jade steps before the Poseidon Estate.

Tang Wutong accompanied her parents to idle in the lakeside corridor. Xiao Wu peeled a grape and suddenly raised her head. "That's right, where is little Yuhao?"

Tang Wutong's lips pouted slightly, like every wife neglected by her husband, carrying three parts grievance and seven parts heartache. "He's on duty at the God Realm Nexus." She spat a grape seed into her palm. "He's covering for Wulin today, and coupled with his own shift yesterday, he's worked three days straight."

Tang San was holding a teacup; hearing this, he raised his head, a satisfied smile blooming on his face. "I truly didn't misjudge him."

He set down the teacup, his gaze passing over Tang Wutong to look toward the God Realm Nexus, his tone full of the gratification of an affectionate elder. "To ensure the complete and rounded reunion of our father and son, he's willing to suffer a bit of a loss and work hard. He truly is a good son-in-law."

The dissatisfaction on Tang Wutong's face melted away, replaced by a shy smile. She lowered her head and whispered softly, "Dad, he never liked bustling crowds anyway."

Xiao Wu handed her a peeled grape with a smile. "When he finishes his shift, tell him to come home for dinner."

The third day.

Gu Yuena stood before the doors of the God Realm Nexus, stunned for a full three breaths.

That door, which she had walked through countless times, was now sealed tightly by a layer of golden light barrier. She pressed her palm against it, feeling a vast and unfamiliar divine power, as heavy as an ancient starry sea and as sharp as a blade ready to pierce everything at any moment.

It was rejecting her.

She turned and left.

Tang Wulin was reading a volume of ancient texts in his bedchamber; seeing his wife push the door open and about to rise with a smile, he met her solemn gaze.

"Something's happened at the God Realm Nexus."

Half an hour later, the entrance to the God Realm Nexus was crowded with people.

Tang San stood at the very front, clad in the Poseidon Divine Armor with the Sea God's Trident planted at his side, the cold light on the halberd blade reflecting his expressionless face. Beside him was a worried Xiao Wu, while Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and other old friends stood behind him. Further back were Tang Wulin, Gu Yuena, Tang Wutong, and eleven God Kings who had hurried over upon hearing the news.

"Huo Yuhao," Tang San's voice was not loud, yet it clearly pierced the pale golden light barrier, "open the barrier."

Silence reigned within the barrier.

Tang San waited for three breaths, his brows furrowing slightly. He gripped the Sea God's Trident a little tighter as blue light began to circulate along the halberd shaft. "Huo Yuhao, in the name of the God Realm Committee, I order you to open the barrier immediately."

Still silence.

Tang Wutong squeezed out from the crowd, ran to the barrier, and pressed both hands against it. The light barrier was ice-cold, like separating herself from an ancient glacier, devoid of even a shred of warmth.

"Yuhao!" Her voice held a trace of panic. "Yuhao, can you hear me? It's me, I'm Wutong!"

Finally, there was a response from within the barrier.

The voice was very soft, as if coming from a great distance, yet also like a whisper right beside her ear. "Wutong..."

Tang Wutong's tears welled up instantly. "Yuhao! Open it, open it and let me go in!"

Silence.

After a long while, that voice sounded once more, this time as calm as an unrippled lake. "You can't get in. And I can't get out."

Tang San's frown deepened. Without speaking further, he raised his hand. The Sea God's Trident trembled, blooming with dazzling golden light that flickered and instantly split into countless golden halberd phantoms across the sky, converging into a rolling sea of golden light clouds that blanketed the barrier—Golden Thirteen Halberds: Endless Ages.

Ripples arose across the barrier before it returned to stillness.

Tang San's pupils contracted slightly.

"This is a divine tool comparable to the Mountain Dragon King's defense." The voice drifted from within the barrier, carrying a faint, elusive trace of amusement. "I call it the Eternal Defense. Tang San, don't waste your effort."

Tang San did not reply. He pivoted his body, divine power surging and pouring into the trident in his hand. With a fierce spin, he hurled the Sea God's Trident forward like a javelin—Golden Thirteen Halberds: One-Way Return.

The barrier remained completely motionless.

The Sea God's Trident transformed into a streak of light and returned to his hand. He withdrew the gloomy look on his face, turned around, and faced the deities behind him.

There was little expression on his face, save for a trace of disappointment vaguely lurking between his brows. "I'm afraid Huo Yuhao has lost his mind." He paused. "He might be about to commit acts that endanger the God Realm. Everyone, join me in subduing him."

Thirteen God Kings stepped forward simultaneously.

Divine lights of various colors flared, slamming into the pale golden light barrier. Every single strike caused the barrier to vibrate violently and send forth layers of ripples. Tang Wutong stood to one side, tears streaming endlessly, her hands clutching her lapels as she opened her mouth, yet no sound came out.

One hour later.

The barrier finally shattered with a loud crash under the fourteenth combined strike, transforming into countless golden spots of light across the sky.

Yet before the deities could breathe a sigh of relief, another pale golden light barrier rose from the exact same spot, identical to the previous one—heavy, sharp, and indestructible.

"Everyone," Huo Yuhao's voice sounded once more, this time carrying undisguised mockery, "don't waste your effort. I have dozens of barriers just like this one. After half a day, I will naturally close it and give everyone an explanation."

Tang San's expression sank.

He lowered his eyelids, hiding the flash of cold intent in the depths of his gaze completely. When he raised his head again, his face wore a breezy, lighthearted smile, as if everything was well within his grasp.

He raised a hand to signal the deities to halt. "Everyone, let's wait." He looked toward the pale golden light barrier, his tone as gentle as if soothing a willful child. "I believe Yuhao will give us a proper explanation."

The deities looked at each other in dismay, but no one said anything further. The thirteen God Kings each retreated a few steps, forming a semicircle outside the barrier as they quietly waited.

Half a day.

For the God Realm, it was merely the snap of a finger.

Yet for Tang Wutong, this half-day felt as long as ten thousand years. She stood before the barrier the entire time, hands pressed against it, her tears drying only to flow again. That barrier remained icy, silent, and offered her no response whatsoever.

Half a day later.

The barrier dissipated as promised.

Tang San took the lead, pushing open the gates of the divine hall.

His movements paused for a split second—the thunderous fury and righteous indignation he had prepared beforehand were suppressed the moment he stepped across the threshold. He took a deep breath, adjusting his facial expression into an appropriate display of concern and worry.

"Yuhao," his voice was gentle, carrying an elder's unique affection, "if you have hardships, tell me. I still consider you my son-in-law."

Huo Yuhao sat upon the main seat of the divine hall.

That should have been the seat of the God Realm Nexus guardian, but right now, he sat in it with the imposing aura of a true throne. He lifted his chin slightly, his gaze landing on Tang San's face as if appreciating some interesting little trick.

"Tang San," he spoke, his tone bland, "stop acting so hypocritical. I know what you're thinking; you've probably already come up with several 'paths to deserved death' for me in your heart."

Tang San's expression shifted slightly.

It was merely instantaneous, so fast almost no one noticed. But Huo Yuhao saw it, and the smile at the corner of his lips deepened slightly.

"Yuhao," Tang San's tone remained mild, though the temperature in his eyes dropped a fraction. "You are maliciously misinterpreting me now. I was simply frantic with worry."

"Frantic with worry." Huo Yuhao repeated the four words, as if savoring something interesting. He nodded. "A fine frantic with worry."

He stopped looking at Tang San, his gaze passing over him to land on Tang Wutong behind him.

"Tang Wutong," he called her name, his voice suddenly growing very soft, "she isn't Qiu'er or Dong'er, is she?"

Tang San's brow furrowed.

Before he could speak, a figure behind him had already bolted out. Tang Wutong rushed up to Huo Yuhao, grabbed his sleeve with both hands, her eye rims red and tears swirling in her eyes.

"Yuhao!" Her voice was urgent, laced with a crying tone. "What wild thoughts are you having? I am Wang Dong'er, I am Wang Qiu'er! I am Dong'er, I'm your Dong'er!"

Huo Yuhao lowered his head to look at the hand gripping his sleeve.

Those were slender, fair hands with distinct knuckles and fingertips carrying a trace of chill. He looked for a long time, so long that Tang Wutong's tears finally fell, dripping onto the back of his hand.

He raised his head, looked at her tear-streaked face, and smiled faintly.

"No," he said, his voice soft yet resolute. "Wutong, you aren't."

"You are only Tang Wutong."

Tang Wutong froze.

Huo Yuhao pulled his sleeve free from her grasp and stood up. His gaze passed over her and landed once more on Tang San's face.

"Great God King Tang," he spoke, his tone as calm as if recounting a matter that had nothing to do with him, "you truly have quite the brilliant scheme."

Tang San's expression had turned thoroughly leaden.

"Tearing Tang Wutong's divine consciousness into three parts," Huo Yuhao's voice echoed in the empty divine hall, every single word as clear as if carved into stone, "leaving one part in the God Realm, turning one part into Wang Dong'er, and stuffing the last part into Wang Qiu'er's body. Engineering it so I would meet and fall in love with Dong'er. When I fell for both Qiu'er and Dong'er, you forced them into a battle to the death, killing Dong'er. And the portion stuffed inside Qiu'er's body—after she sacrificed herself for me, you stole her origin and brought it back to Tang Wutong."

He paused, watching Tang San's increasingly unsightly expression, a trace of mocking curve gracing the corner of his mouth.

"And then you told me that Tang Wutong was both Wang Dong'er and Wang Qiu'er." His voice grew soft again, as light as a sigh. "Using her as a dog leash to tether me. Wanting me to be the Tang family's loyal hound."

He lowered his eyelids and shook his head.

"Great God King Tang. Truly, you possess astonishing wisdom."

Dead silence filled the divine hall.

Tang San's face was ashen. He took a deep breath, and then another, before finally suppressing the surging anger within him. He turned around, facing the dumbfounded deities behind him and Xiao Wu, and spoke word by word:

"My love for my daughter is as clear as the sun and moon. Everyone should know of this." His voice was steady, carrying the grievance of one wrongfully accused and the helplessness of a misunderstood man. "I would never do such a thing."

He turned back to look at Huo Yuhao. In that instant, the gentleness in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by icy rage.

"I truly misjudged you." His words were squeezed out almost from between his teeth. "Yuhao, initially I viewed you as my successor. Yet you slander and defame me. Now, you are no longer worthy."

Huo Yuhao smiled.

There was no anger in that smile, no grievance, only an indescribable exhaustion and relief.

"Tang San," he said, "I knew you wouldn't admit it."

He raised his hand and pointed toward his own forehead.

There, the third eye slowly opened. That was a strange eye, with gorgeous light swirling in the depths of its pupil, and fine black and white lines mixed in the rose-colored halo, as if intertwining life and death, the past and the future, the beginning and the end.

"I saw it with my own eyes." Huo Yuhao's voice was very soft. "From my Eye of Eternity. Actually, at the very beginning, I didn't believe it either. But as my cultivation became higher and higher, the things I could see with the Eye of Eternity became more and more. All things in all times of the universe—the past, present, and future of a person, or rather a god, his destiny. I can see them all."

The light in the Eye of Eternity flared brightly, projecting onto the wall behind the gods.

They instinctively turned around to look.

In the image was a figure very familiar to them.

Tang San.

A sleeping girl lay before him. The girl was only five or six years old, with childishness between her brows, lying there quietly like an exquisite doll.

Tang San reached out his hand and pressed it on the girl's forehead.

A ball of powder-blue light slowly rose from the girl's body, suspended in mid-air, trembling gently as if it had life. Tang San's hands reached into that ball of light and he ripped fiercely—

That ball of light trembled violently, attempting to escape, but it was grabbed tightly by Tang San and ripped into three parts.

Tang San in the image muttered to himself as he ripped. There was a smug expression on his face, like a mischievous child who had completed a proud prank.

"Heh, I really am smart." He said to the three parts of light, his tone so brisk it bordered on flippant. "The abominable Douluo Plane, actually daring to resist me, the God King Tang. You already have the way of taking death! I am going to make you disappointed, your Son of Destiny cannot escape after all."

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, the smugness on his face subsiding a little, replaced by a bit of a guilty conscience.

"However, Xiao Wu cannot be allowed to know about this." He muttered, lowering his head to look at the sleeping girl. "Sigh, Xiao Qi. For Daddy's grand plan, you will just have to sacrifice a little."

The image froze.

The divine temple was so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard.

The gods' gazes slowly turned toward Tang San. In those gazes were shock, incomprehension, suspicion, and fear. Dai Mubai opened his mouth, his Adam's apple rolling a few times before he produced a dry voice:

"Xiao San... Is this true?"

Tang Wutong stood in place like a sculpture.

Her tears were still flowing, but her whole body had already frozen. Her eyes stared fixedly at Tang San, and in those eyes, something was shattering bit by bit.

"Daddy...?"

Her voice was very soft, so soft it sounded like sleep-talking. She raised her hand and pressed her temples. No wonder. No wonder she always had inexplicable headaches. No wonder she always felt a piece missing in her heart. No wonder sometimes when she looked at herself in the mirror, that face felt so unfamiliar.

Xiao Wu stood behind Tang San.

Her eyes were red, tears spinning in her sockets, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She stared at Tang San's back, her lips moving, but no sound came out. She wanted to step forward, wanted to grab his sleeve, wanted to ask him if this was true—yet her feet seemed nailed to the ground, unable to take even a single step.

She only looked at him.

Waiting for him to turn around.

Waiting for him to tell her that all of this was fake.

Tang San's body stiffened for a split second.

It was only a split second. Immediately, he turned around. There was a just-right look of shock and anger on his face, as if he were also seeing this image for the first time, as if he too had been deeply hurt by this image.

"This..." His voice was hoarse, as if hard to articulate. "All of this is fabricated by Huo Yuhao!"

His gaze swept across the gods, swept across Xiao Wu, and finally landed on Huo Yuhao's face. At that moment, the gentleness in the depths of his eyes vanished completely, replaced by unmasked murderous intent.

"Huo Yuhao." He said word by word. "You actually dare to slander me. To drive a wedge between Xiao Wu and me. You--"

The Sea God's Trident rose high, the golden light on the trident scattering to illuminate the entire divine temple.

"You already have the way of taking death!"

Huo Yuhao looked at him.

Looking at the just-right anger on his face, looking at the unmasked murderous intent in the depths of his eyes, looking at the Sea God's Trident he held high.

He suddenly remembered many years ago.

When he first entered Shrek, the Sea God statue at the entrance of Shrek was so towering, so sacred. He had wanted to become a person like that.

Until his Eye of Destiny evolved into the Eye of Eternity amidst the turbulence of time and space.

Until he saw where those sufferings came from.

Huo Yuhao smiled.

That smile was very light, very faint, as if he had finally put down something very heavy.

"Don't rush."

The corners of his mouth lifted. In the Eye of Eternity on his forehead, the rose-colored light mixed with fine black and white lines suddenly flared brightly.

Time seemed to freeze.

The Sea God's Trident held high by Tang San stopped in mid-air, the golden light on the trident solidifying into tens of millions of stationary rays of light. The tears falling from Tang Wutong hung in mid-air, crystal-clear, like solidified stars. Xiao Wu opened her mouth, but could not make any sound. The shock, anger, and fear of the gods all froze on their faces, turning into eternal reliefs.

Huo Yuhao stood up.

He took one last look at Tang Wutong. On that frozen face, the tear tracks were clearly visible. He looked for a long time, so long it was as if he were carving her into the depths of his soul.

Then he turned around.

Behind him, the God Realm Nexus exploded with a roar.

Twisted black light poured out from the shattered core, as if opening a door to another world. That black light was not like ordinary darkness—it had life, it breathed, it was ravenous. It lunged with teeth and claws toward the frozen gods, as if to devour everything inside.

Huo Yuhao stood in the center of the black light and finally looked back.

He looked at Tang San's frozen face, looking at the frozen anger and murderous intent on that face.

"Goodbye, Divine Realm." He said.

The black light exploded with a roar, engulfing everything.

"Tang San."

His voice came from the depths of the black light, gentle, as if bidding farewell, yet also like passing sentence.

"Now, everything has begun anew."