Qian Daoliu did not answer.
He was still watching Tang Chen in the Sky Screen, his golden eyes as calm as ever.
Demon Subduing Douluo did not dare press him further.
High above, Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect were still trading barrages of comments.
More Soul Masters eager to watch the spectacle joined in.
[Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect are both top powers on the continent. Now this will be a show!]
[One is the world's foremost Soul Master power, and the other leads the Upper Three Sects. Neither will bow to the other!]
[Tang Chen really did beat Qian Daoliu. Surely that can't be faked?]
[One victory or defeat doesn't represent their full strength!]
[Qian Daoliu hasn't even appeared on the ranking yet. It's too early to say any of this!]
[I just want to know why Tang Chen is only ninth when he's supposedly invincible on land.]
[The Sky Screen surely hasn't finished its review yet. Keep watching and we'll find out!]
As everyone was discussing this, the scene in the Sky Screen changed again.
Sea God Island.
The azure sea and blue sky met in a single line.
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu stood at the foot of Sea God Mountain.
The two had just finished fighting Bo Saixi.
Tang Chen's robes were torn in several places, but the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand still radiated crushing pressure.
The six wings behind Qian Daoliu slowly folded, and the golden divine light faded with them.
Bo Saixi stood before the Sea God Hall.
Her red dress hugged her tall, slender figure, its hem stirring gently in the sea breeze.
She held a scepter, her long blue hair falling to her waist.
The three Level 99 Peerless Douluos looked at one another.
After a moment, Tang Chen spoke first.
"Bo Saixi, I love you."
He had always been direct in everything he did.
Since he was certain of his feelings, he would not hide them in his heart.
Qian Daoliu glanced at Tang Chen.
Then he, too, looked at Bo Saixi.
"I love you as well."
Silence instantly fell across the continent.
The next moment, comments flooded the Sky Screen.
[Holy crap!]
[We get gossip like this on the Powerhouse Ranking too?]
[Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu both love Sea God Douluo?]
[These are three Level 99 Peerless Douluos!]
[One is Invincible on Land, one is Invincible in the Sky, and one is Invincible in the Sea!]
[The three legendary Peerless Douluos actually have a past like this?]
[We certainly picked the right day to watch the Sky Screen!]
[Who will Bo Saixi choose?]
On Sea God Island.
Bo Saixi looked at the two men standing before her without answering immediately.
Qian Daoliu possessed the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.
His Martial Soul was a god-level Martial Soul, and he could also draw upon the power of the Angel Temple.
Tang Chen did not have a god-level Martial Soul.
With his Clear Sky Hammer, he had cultivated all the way to Level 99.
By comparison, Tang Chen's foundation was more profound.
Bo Saixi had already made her choice in her heart.
But she knew that Qian Daoliu's feelings for her were sincere as well.
She did not want to hurt Qian Daoliu outright, and she also wanted Tang Chen to stay on Sea God Island.
Holding her scepter, Bo Saixi rested her gaze on Tang Chen.
"You are both among the strongest Soul Masters of our time."
"I will not make a choice now."
"Whichever of you first breaks through to level one hundred and becomes a true god, I will accept him."
As her words fell, the sea breeze lifted her long hair.
Bo Saixi was still looking at Tang Chen.
Her feelings were already written in her eyes.
Outside the Sky Screen, countless people immediately caught the hint.
[Does she even need to choose?]
[Bo Saixi clearly loves Tang Chen!]
[Her expression is calm when she looks at Qian Daoliu, but even her eyes change when she looks at Tang Chen!]
[That is legendary. She's not even pretending anymore!]
[Accepting whoever becomes a god first-that was obviously meant for Tang Chen!]
[Bo Saixi is Sea God Island's High Priest. She can't leave Sea God Island. She probably has her own difficulties too.]
[Qian Daoliu's loss was fair. He should have noticed it himself.]
Inside the Worship Hall.
The enshrined looked at one another.
They had never expected the Great Enshrined, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi to share such a past.
Demon Subduing Douluo opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
Qian Daoliu stood in the deepest part of the hall.
Everything in the Sky Screen reminded him of Sea God Island many years ago.
He had long known that Bo Saixi loved Tang Chen.
That was precisely why he had chosen to leave.
Qian Daoliu blamed no one.
Matters of the heart could never be forced through strength.
Sea God Island.
Bo Saixi stood before the Sea God Hall.
As she watched herself in the Sky Screen, a trace of reminiscence entered her eyes.
Decades had passed, yet the sea breeze remained unchanged.
Tang Chen, however, had never returned.
Bo Saixi raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the aquamarine atop her scepter.
"Tang Chen."
"Why didn't you understand back then?"
Slaughter City.
Tang Chen sat upon a Blood-Colored Throne.
His mind had already regained some clarity.
As he watched Bo Saixi speak those words, his memories of the past grew clearer as well.
Back then, he had been wholly intent on becoming a god.
He had thought that only after reaching level one hundred would he be worthy of returning to Sea God Island and standing before Bo Saixi.
Tang Chen watched the Sky Screen, his pale hand slowly settling on the throne's armrest.
"Bo Saixi is still waiting for me."
"As long as I receive the Heavenly Dao's reward, I can free myself from the Nine-Headed Bat King."
"I failed the Asura God Trial once, but I can walk that path again."
He had already lost far too many years.
This time, he had to leave Slaughter City alive.
Then he would go to Sea God Island.
And see Bo Saixi again.
The scene in the Sky Screen continued.
After hearing Bo Saixi's words, determination appeared in Tang Chen's eyes.
He withdrew the Clear Sky Hammer into his body and turned to look at the distant sea.
"In that case, I will seek the path to godhood."
"Until I become a god, I swear never to return!"
Having said this, Tang Chen strode down Sea God Mountain.
Bo Saixi remained where she stood.
She watched his retreating figure, wanting to speak several times, but in the end, she did not call him back.
Qian Daoliu took it all in.
With a soft sigh, he followed Tang Chen away from Sea God Island.
The comments grew lively again.
[Good grief!]
[Sea God Douluo practically had the answer written on her face!]
[Does this count as casting flirtatious glances at a blind man?]
[Bo Saixi told Tang Chen to become a god only because she wanted to give him a reason to stay!]
[But Tang Chen just turned around and left, even swearing not to return until he became a god!]
[He's truly powerful as the man invincible on land, but he's truly slow when it comes to love!]
[Qian Daoliu understood everything, while all Tang Chen heard was "become a god"!]
Beyond Sea God Island.
Two figures walked across the sea.
Tang Chen was preparing to seek a Godhood Inheritance.
Before departing, he had one more thing to do.
The Clear Sky Sect had already become the foremost of the Upper Three Sects.
Spirit Hall was also expanding rapidly.
If he did not return for many years, conflict between the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall would be hard to avoid.
Tang Chen stopped on a deserted island.
He turned to look at Qian Daoliu behind him.
"I am going to pursue the path to godhood."
"I do not know how many years this journey will take."
"Before I leave, I want to fight you once more."
Qian Daoliu landed on the other side of the deserted island.
The Six-Winged Angel unfurled behind him, golden radiance illuminating the sea.
"You want to use this battle to secure peace for the Clear Sky Sect?"
Tang Chen did not deny it.
"That's right."
"If I win, starting with you, no one belonging to Spirit Hall may set foot in the Clear Sky Sect."
Before you continue