Divine Realm (7th day after Qian Renxue entered seclusion)
Asura God sat in quiet focus, as his gaze settled upon the blood-soaked grounds of Slaughter City, where Tang San was undergoing one of the most brutal trials known to mortals.
A faint trace of approval surfaced in his otherwise cold expression.
'It seems it won't be long before you pass the trial.'
Tang San's growth had been steady—resilient, disciplined, and ruthless when necessary. All the qualities required to inherit the Asura God's authority were gradually taking shape within him.
Yet just as he continued observing—The invisible threads of fate surrounding Tang San trembled.
Then—They weakened drastically.
The dense fortune that once enveloped him seemed to disperse, as if an unseen hand had forcefully torn away a portion of it.
The Asura God's expression stiffened.
'What happened?'
Frowning, he traced the source of this sudden disturbance. His divine sense swept across the continent, following the causal threads that bound Tang San's destiny together.
What he found made his brows knit tightly.
'The Tang Sect… has been destroyed?'
For a moment, even he found it difficult to believe.
The Tang Sect had been moving cautiously, evading pursuit with precision. With Tang Hao drawing attention by attacking Spirit Hall branches, they had created a delicate but effective balance.
Even external forces had been subtly influenced—Poseidon himself had shown signs of interference, attempting to stabilize the situation in Tang San's favor.
And yet—It had all collapsed.
'How?'
The question lingered, heavy and unresolved..
Before he could delve deeper, a message descended upon him from the Destruction God.
"Asura, I believe the punishment for Eros has been postponed long enough."
The Asura God's eyes darkened slightly.
'Tch…'
Reluctance flickered through his thoughts, but it was quickly suppressed.
"I will convene it tomorrow."
After sending his reply, his attention briefly returned to the mortal realm. The former headquarters of the Tang Sect now lay silent and abandoned, its influence erased as if it had never existed.
His expression turned indifferent.
'Useless.'
Without further thought, he withdrew his focus and once again fixed his gaze upon Slaughter City.
At that moment, Tang San stood at the end of the Hell Road, his body drenched in blood and exhaustion. Beside him was Hu Liena, equally worn yet resolute.
A surge of killing intent condensed and transformed, forming the embryonic outline of the Death God Domain around Tang San.
Seeing this, the Asura God raised a finger.
With a simple flick—A strand of divine consciousness descended silently, merging with Tang San's being without resistance.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
'With this, the inheritance can begin at any moment…'
'And should anything unexpected occur, I will be able to respond immediately.'
There were more immediate matters to attend to.
The Asura God then departed for the Divine Council.
After all—He knew very well that if he delayed any longer, the Destruction God would nag him again.
----
Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan
As Ning Fengzhi was walking towards his office
Click… click…
The faint, rhythmic sound echoed like a ticking clock counting down to something unseen.
As if by instinct Ning Fengzhi sensed danger, he silently activated his martial soul—the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. The exquisite nine-story pagoda materialized, radiating nine-colored light as his soul rings rose one after another.
He could not understand how anyone had reached this inner chamber so effortlessly. Yet the moment he pushed open the door and stepped inside, his composure nearly shattered.
A blonde woman sat casually at his desk. Her figure was elegant, but her face… seemed blurred, like a shifting dream that refused to be grasped. The sound came from her boots, which were lazily tapping against the table, each click echoing far louder than it should.
A calm, almost amused voice filled the room.
"Fengzhi, don't be afraid. Come in. If I wanted you dead, you would not be standing here."
Ning Fengzhi's throat tightened. He forced himself to remain composed, though cold sweat had already begun to form along his back. Slowly, he reached into his robes and pulled out a teardrop-shaped blue pendant.
The woman watched him without interruption, as if observing a performance meant solely for her entertainment.
Ning Fengzhi injected his soul power into the pendant, however nothing happened.
His pupils shrank.
'How is this possible?'
He had personally tested this item countless times. Even if it was not an offensive artifact, it was still a Level 6 soul tool with strong defensive capabilities.
More importantly, it carried a trace of divine blessing. When activated, it would always produce a resonance—like standing within an endless ocean.
But now… there was no response, not even a fluctuation. A chill crept into his heart.
'The connection… has been cut? or… sealed?'
He recalled the words of Sea Dragon Douluo, the confirmation of divine blessing, and that dreamlike oceanic sensation he had once experienced. All of it now felt distant, unreal—like something forcibly erased.
Before he could think further, the woman spoke again.
"Trying to call for help?"
Her voice was gentle, almost teasing, yet it carried an indescribable pressure.
Ning Fengzhi's hand stiffened.
"Unfortunately," she continued, tilting her head slightly, "you won't be able to reach him."
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier with every word.
Ning Fengzhi slowly lowered the pendant, his mind racing. His usual calm calculations, his refined diplomacy, his confidence built over decades—all of it felt meaningless in front of this existence.
Qian Renxue's voice cut through Ning Fengzhi's spiraling thoughts like a blade drawn across silk.
"What do you think should be the punishment for betrayal, Fengzhi?"