Tang Chen regains his sanity

Hidden in the shadows, Tang Hao gazed at the Sky Ranking List, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.

"The reward went to San. His future achievements will know no bounds. Once he grows stronger, our chances of avenging Ah Yin will be even higher!"

Under countless watchful eyes, two new lines of golden text appeared for everyone to see.

[Reward: Sanity restored, lifespan extended by three years]

[Reward recipient: Tang Chen]

At the sight, the entire Douluo Continent fell silent.

Everyone in the Clear Sky Sect stared wide-eyed at the name "Tang Chen" on the Sky Ranking List.

Tang Hao even stopped breathing.

Tang San looked utterly bewildered.

"The reward isn't mine?"

At the Worship Hall.

Qian Daoliu gazed at the Sky Ranking List, his pupils abruptly contracting.

"Tang Chen is still alive?!"

Only a short time had passed since his battle with Bibi Dong.

Yet the "gravely injured" Qian Daoliu now had a healthy complexion and steady breathing. He showed no sign of serious injury whatsoever.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression changed drastically as well. As Spirit Hall's most senior member, he knew just how formidable Tang Chen was.

He had never expected Tang Chen to still be alive!

Outside the Papal Hall.

A flicker of surprise crossed Bibi Dong's eyes. "To think Tang Chen is still alive. Heh, but so what? I stand at the Peak of Mortal Beings.

"Unless Tang Chen has become a god, he cannot possibly be my match.

"The peak of mortal beings is only a hair's breadth from godhood. Even that old bastard Qian Daoliu, who has spent years at rank ninety-nine and is far stronger than others at that rank, perhaps even touching the realm of gods, still falls a little short of the peak of mortal beings."

"However..." She paused as she spoke, turning toward the Worship Hall, her grip tightening around the Pope's Scepter.

"That old bastard Qian Daoliu is only a little short of the Peak of Mortal Beings. His strength is only slightly below mine.

"During our fight just now, he clearly didn't use his full strength. He deliberately let me injure him. It seems he didn't want us both to suffer.

"Heh, he really does have Spirit Hall's interests at heart. He doesn't want to see it split apart."

Only now did Bibi Dong grasp what had happened.

Only now did she realize that even though she had reached the Peak of Mortal Beings, Qian Daoliu certainly should not have been powerless to fight back.

Apparently, he had deliberately held back against her rather than going all out, afraid that mutual injury would lead to Spirit Hall splitting apart.

Bibi Dong tightened her grip on the Pope's Scepter and gritted her teeth.

"Fine, fine, fine. Just you wait, old bastard. Once I complete the Rakshasa God Trial, you won't even have a chance to hold back!"

On Sea God Island.

Bo Saixi abruptly covered her lips with her delicate hand, her beautiful eyes slowly blurring with tears.

"Chen, you're still alive..."

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo all wore expressions of shock.

None of them had ever imagined that Tang Chen was still alive!

Once Tang Chen received his reward and regained his sanity, he would surely return to the Clear Sky Sect. Then the sect would no longer remain in seclusion.

The Clear Sky Sect, which had vanished long ago, would once again enter the sight of the entire Douluo Continent.

The three exchanged glances, each seeing delight in the others' eyes.

Ning Fengzhi said, "Once Senior Tang Chen leads the Clear Sky Sect out of seclusion, our Upper Three Sects can join forces. Even Spirit Hall should have to exercise some caution then, instead of continuing its frenzied expansion."

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo both nodded in agreement.

In Slaughter City.

The King of Slaughter was terrified.

You fucking Sky Ranking List! You're restoring Tang Chen's sanity, but did you ever consider how I feel?!

If Tang Chen regains his sanity, how am I supposed to survive?!

Just then, the King of Slaughter suddenly saw the Sky Ranking List tremble slightly. A streak of golden light shot out, hurtling toward him.

The King of Slaughter was utterly horrified.

"Stay away from me!!!!!"

At the Clear Sky Sect.

"Grandfather isn't dead! Hahahaha! Grandfather isn't dead!!!!"

Tang Xiao's wild laughter rang through the Clear Sky Sect, which had been silent for so long.

The elders were also wild with joy, their eyes brimming with excited tears.

"The supreme sect master isn't dead! This is wonderful! Our Clear Sky Sect finally won't have to remain in seclusion!"

"Our Clear Sky Sect will shake the entire Douluo Continent once again!!"

At Blue Tyrant Academy.

Tang Hao's eyes likewise brimmed with tears of excitement.

"Grandfather is still alive. Wonderful..."

In contrast to Tang Hao's excitement, Tang San looked miserable, wanting to cry but finding no tears.

"Wait, who even is this Tang Chen? Why is he still alive? That was my reward! My reward!! And now it's just gone!!"

Tang San clutched his chest, feeling as though a dull knife were gouging at his heart. His heart twisted beneath the blade, leaving him in agony.

Xiao Wu hurried forward to comfort her Brother San.

Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched. In the end, he let out a deep sigh.

He had thought Tang San would receive the reward and gain three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings in one stroke, making his future path smoother and his potential greater.

Now, all those hopes had come to nothing.

In Slaughter City.

The instant the golden light entered his body, the King of Slaughter felt Tang Chen's consciousness, dormant within him for countless years, awaken.

Terrified, he marshaled all his power to suppress it, but he could not hold it back.

"Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King, you deserve to die!!"

Tang Chen's thunderous roar resounded in his mind. The King of Slaughter discovered, to his horror, that his control over the body was rapidly slipping away.

"No! No! This isn't how it's supposed to be!! Damn you, Sky Ranking List! Even in death, I won't let you off!!!!"

The King of Slaughter roared with venom and defiance. In the end, the fully awakened Tang Chen seized control of the body and erased him completely.

Tang Chen panted heavily and looked around at his surroundings before finally giving a bitter laugh.

"To think I still failed in the end..."

He rose from his seat and walked out of Slaughter City, step by step, bathing in the golden sunlight.

He lifted his head toward the sky, gazing at the Golden Scroll suspended high above, and bowed deeply to the Sky Ranking List.

"Thank you."

Then he turned his gaze toward Sea God Island.

"Xixi, for these last three years, I'll stay by your side. I hope you won't drive me away..."

The entire Douluo Continent erupted into a frenzy, with excited discussions breaking out everywhere.

"To think Tang Chen is still alive. It's unbelievable."

"Yes, who could have imagined that the astonishingly gifted Tang Chen was still alive? The Clear Sky Sect should come out of seclusion now, right?"

"Very likely. But I'm rather curious. Instead of increasing his soul ring ages and soul power, the reward restored his sanity and extended his lifespan by three years. What does that mean?

"Could it be that Tang Chen hadn't vanished before, but had lost his sanity? And does extending his lifespan by three years mean he's near death and has only three years left to live?"

"I don't know, but that could be the case..."

While discussions raged across the continent, someone suddenly pointed at the Sky Ranking List.

"Look, everyone! The Sky Ranking List has changed! The next ranking is coming!"

The reward announcement vanished after remaining on the Sky Ranking List for one minute, and a new line of text slowly appeared.

"We're finally getting to the top five. I wonder what Martial Soul could rank above the Clear Sky Hammer."

"It's appearing!"

Under countless watchful eyes, the new line of text fully emerged, clear for all to see.

[TOP5...]