Sword, Come!

She could not help herself. She looked up at the Sky Screen, at the continent's strongest fighters.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Rosaria."

Rosaria waved a hand. She was curious too: just how powerful were the gods of another world?

"Forget it. Watch the Sky Screen first. I'll punish you afterward—you can help me patrol all of Teyvat Academy."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and sat beside Rosaria. Together, they looked up at the Sky Screen.

On the Sky Screen, Bibi Dong was about to destroy Tang San's divine body when Tang Hao stepped forward.

The leaders of Douluo Continent's major sects knew Tang Hao well.

They watched him detonate all nine rings, withstand Bibi Dong's strike, then swing his hammer and wound her before rescuing Tang San's divine body. Everyone stood stunned.

Tang Xiao most of all. Since when had his foolish little brother been capable of that?

If you could hammer a god like that, would we have been forced to seal off our mountain?

The other Elders turned eager eyes on Tang Xiao. If Tang Hao could do it, surely Tang Xiao could too?

The two of them could detonate their rings together, land a hammer blow each, and give Qian Daoliu more than he could swallow.

Tang Xiao hurriedly waved them off before their fantasies ran any further.

"Brother Hao has a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. I don't. Let's see what happens next."

Judging by strength, their turn should come in the next round anyway.

Unfortunately, Tang Hao had been expelled from the sect. There was no time to bring him back and restore him to the family rolls; the Heavenly Rankings would not wait for them.

"Wait. That's not right!"

Tang Hao might not have time to return, but Tang Xiao could take the ancestral memorial tablet to him!

Tang San's memories had mentioned Shrek Academy, and Tang Xiao happened to know its location from those merchants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He hurried to share his idea with the Elders.

The Seventh Elder immediately rose and roared:

"Sect Master, don't forget how the Clear Sky Sect ended up like this—or how Sixth Brother died!"

The Sixth Brother he spoke of was the Sixth Elder, his own elder brother, who had not survived that battle.

Had he lived, the Clear Sky Sect would surely have gained another Titled Douluo.

Tang Xiao pressed his lips together and sighed.

"We're one family. They wanted to kill Brother Hao's wife—our sister-in-law.

After they pushed us that far, do you think there was any room left to make peace?

We lacked the strength before. Now we know Brother Hao has it, my nephew will become the Sea God, and Spirit Hall has shown its ambitions. Do you think they'll spare us?

Besides, the Upper Three Sects are branches of the same tree. I trust the others aren't fools!"

Everyone froze. Was this really their Sect Master?

The Second Elder was first to slap the table and rise.

"The Clear Sky Sect was never a pack of cowards! I've hated the decision to seal off the mountain for years. Come on—I'll go with you myself!"

Two streaks of light left that frost-bitten place, one following the other.

This Sky Screen showing ran longer than any before it, making every faction understand how fierce the war to come would be.

The Lake of Life, in the Star Dou Forest.

Di Tian sharpened his claws, his eyes full of contempt.

Just two First-Level Gods, newly ascended at that. If I weren't afraid the Divine Realm would notice, I could crush each one with a claw.

The sleeping Silver Dragon King had awakened. None of the three First-Level Gods on the screen had reached their full power, and they had only just learned to wield divine power. Their blows had hurt less than those of the Divine Official who had beaten her before.

The shame of that day made the Silver Dragon King grit her teeth. If her body had not been gravely wounded, how could she have lost to a mere Divine Official? But that Divine Official, and the glowing ornament at his waist...

A power system from another world? I never expected an outsider.

She was the Dragon God, inheritor of his laws and his "world-shaking wisdom." She was nothing like that Golden Dragon King, a musclebound fool.

"Once I claim the reward for first place on the Heavenly Rankings, I'll kill that brat!"

The Silver Dragon King ground her teeth at the memory. What did he mean, "as expected of one who inherited the Dragon God's world-shaking wisdom"?

She was smart to begin with, thank you very much!

"Focus on recovering your strength. The Divine Realm will notice us soon."

With that, the Silver Dragon King closed her eyes and began regulating her breathing.

She could not yet stand against the Five Great God Kings. If the Heavenly Rankings' reward proved inadequate, she would have to wander again.

Sea God Island.

Bo Saixi watched the Sea God fall on the Sky Screen and Tang San's statue on Sea God Island shatter. Her eyes showed no emotion. By then, she would already have given her life to begin the Ninth Trial, wouldn't she?

She wondered how Tang San would persuade her—and what had become of Tang Chen.

"You said you'd come back once you became a god. But you left... and there's been no word since."

Bo Saixi sighed, at a loss. She had asked Sea Soul Masters to seek news of Tang Chen. All she had learned was that he had vanished, his fate unknown. He had not even returned when the Clear Sky Sect sealed off its mountain.

Only two possibilities remained: he had become a god, or he had died. Bo Saixi believed in Tang Chen. Had he become a god, he would have come to find her. After so long, she feared the worst.

No wonder she would choose his descendant in the end.

"Lady Bo Saixi, should we go to the continent and bring back the future Lord Sea God?"

Sea Spear Douluo made the suggestion.

He was certain Lord Sea God had died in an ambush. Besides, judging from the battle, Lord Sea God had left the ocean entirely to fight on someone else's ground. No wonder he had lost.

They had to bring him back and put him through proper training.

Bo Saixi had noticed it long ago. They were followers of the Sea God, yet when he went to fight on the continent, not a single Sea Soul Master stood on the battlefield beside him.

"Find him first. The comforts of Sea God Island have dulled your ambition. It's time you went out and trained."

All at once, Tang San became the focus of every faction's maneuvers: a future god from Shrek Academy.

And Yu Xiaogang, who had trained a god, drew their attention as well.

When Flender learned that his academy had produced a god, he was overjoyed.

Before he could even set out to look for Tang San, Tang Hao appeared. The pressure of a Titled Douluo knocked everyone present unconscious, and he grabbed Tang San and Xiao Wu before plunging into the vast mountains and seas.

The Sky Screen continued. At last, the two supreme Elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the subjects of this showing, appeared.

Ning Rongrong froze at the sight of Chen Xin's missing arm and Gu Rong's battered body. She could not believe these were her two grandfathers. Seeing Chen Xin's severed arm, she covered her mouth without thinking.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong joined forces to open a crack in the Divine Barrier, allowing Tang Hao to escape with Tang San's divine body. The two stayed behind to face Bibi Dong, who had become a god.

Both knew their lives were nearing their end. Gu Rong shouted:

"Bibi Dong, you destroyed our sect and slaughtered more than two thousand of our disciples. It's time you paid that blood debt."

His colossal Bone Dragon True Body appeared behind him and raised its head with a long cry.

The Martial Soul in Chen Xin's hand dispersed. He formed a sword-finger gesture and intoned softly:

"With this broken body, I have waited for today!

My name is Chen Xin—

I seek the Sword Dao and will never forsake my sword heart.

A verse of Thirteen Strings in my cup, half a life through wind and rain—all gathered into one sword!

Sword, Come!"