Time hurried by, and another half month passed.
One great battle followed another. Outside Jialing Pass, corpses and bones piled into mountains.
Over that half month, Tang San grew rapidly through combat. With comprehension beyond that of ordinary people, his control over divine power improved by the day, and his use of the Golden Thirteen Halberds became increasingly masterful.
Though his defeats still outnumbered his victories, he was no longer as utterly helpless as in his first battle. He could barely manage to face Qian Renxue head-on and trade blows with her.
That day, high in the sky, two streaks of light, blue and gold, collided once more.
The Sea God Trident and the Angel Holy Sword clashed again and again, divine light bursting in every direction as the sea of clouds boiled.
Qian Renxue spread her six wings, her holy sword sweeping across the sky, each strike heavier than the last. Tang San fought as he retreated, his defenses so tight that not a drop could slip through. The Golden Thirteen Halberds flowed without end, neutralizing every attack.
Just as the two reached a stalemate-
Without warning, a rift split open in the void behind Tang San.
A slender, fair hand wreathed in purple-black divine power of venomous resentment slipped silently out of the rift. Swift as lightning, it pierced Tang San's back, straight through his heart.
"Pfft-"
Blood gushed wildly.
Tang San's entire body convulsed, and he lowered his head in disbelief.
A hand protruded from his chest, holding a still-beating heart in its palm.
Agony swept through his body. With difficulty, he turned his head and caught sight of a face both familiar and unfamiliar out of the corner of his eye-
Purple robes, spider patterns, and purple eyes churning with endless venom and madness.
-the newly