When Tang San finished reciting the last vow, the scroll had already drooped several meters down to the ground.
Tang San raised his head and said:
"This vow, let the Asura bear witness, and let Heaven and all living beings testify."
As soon as he finished speaking, the scroll dissolved into a mist of light and merged into the divine mark on Tang San's forehead. The blood-colored clouds in the sky dispersed, returning the heavens to a clear and boundless blue.
Clap clap clap clap clap—
No one really understood what had just happened. They only knew one thing—applause was the right response.
When the applause died down, Dai Mubai rose from the VIP seats, came up to Tang San, and hugged him tightly, saying:
"Ah, third brother, you really are my best brother, my most loyal companion."
Bu Le also came forward, giving Tang San a brief hug:
"Ah San, the children awakened spirits that weren't yours, but you must believe—it was all due to residual energy from when we and Xiao Wu fused spirits together. That caused these mutations. Consider it a gift from us brothers to you. Cherish it well."
After Dai Mubai, Yu Tianheng came forward and also embraced Tang San. Pulling Tang Wu Heng to stand beside him, the resemblance between father and son was obvious at a glance. Yu Tianheng said:
"Bu Le is right. They are your children—your own flesh and blood. The reason they awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is because this is the gift from your brother. Come, Wu Heng, call him father."
Tang Wu Heng nodded and said to Tang San:
"Father."
Tang San's face twisted as though constipated. Rage boiled inside him—he wanted nothing more than to kill this pair of father and son. But with the oath binding him, all he could do was suppress it.
Oscar then walked up and gave Tang San a quick hug, saying:
"Ah San, don't worry. You will always be Xiao Wu's husband, and we are merely her male best friends, nothing more."
Finally, Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi both knelt before their father:
"Father, I propose that our Star Luo Empire carve out a piece of land to grant Tang San, and honor him as a king, to show our gratitude for his virtue!"
Xue Beng also knelt before his father:
"Father, I too propose that our Heaven Dou Empire grant a piece of land to Tang San, and honor him as a king, to show our gratitude for Third Brother's virtue!"
Dai Tianfeng and Emperor Xue Ye nodded at once. They ordered attendants to bring maps—one of the Heaven Dou Empire, one of the Star Luo Empire.
Together, the two rulers drew a line on the borderlands between their empires, marking out a fertile territory to be Tang San's kingdom.
Dai Tianfeng began to declare:
"We hereby proclaim—"
But Yu Tianheng suddenly stood up:
"Your Majesty of Star Luo, that is not proper. My brother Tang San is destined to be a future God-King. How can he be merely enfeoffed? We must crown him! His position should be exalted above even the two great empires."
"That's right—we should crown Tang San as… the Green Hao King!" Ma Hongjun shouted.
"Huh? Green… Green Hao King? What does that mean?" Xue Ye asked in puzzlement.
Oscar quickly explained:
"Green represents the color of life and tolerance—it reflects the vast, embracing heart of the future god. And 'Hao' comes from Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, the source of his fame! Thus, we should honor Tang San as the Green Hao King!"
Green Hao King?! Tang San's forehead nearly burst with veins. In his past life, he had been the Blue Hao King. It wasn't a pleasant title either, but compared to this—Green Hao King? This was basically a mockery in broad daylight!
Just as he was about to explode, a gentle hand touched his arm. Tang San froze. It was Xiao Wu, gazing at him with tender eyes like rippling water:
"Ah San-gege, Xiao Wu thinks this title sounds nice. What do you think?"
Tang San opened his mouth, but thoughts of the divine seat, of his goals, of turning Xiao Wu back into the Xiao Wu he knew—all of it forced him to swallow his rage. He sighed inwardly and said:
"My dearest Xiao Wu, I think… it sounds just fine."
"Then let my male best friends crown you. How about that, Ah San-gege?"
"Ah??? … Alright, alright then!" Tang San finally forced the words out.
Bule and Feng Xiaotian unrolled a long green carpet from the high platform down to the floor.
On the dais, Er Ming placed a finely crafted green throne.
Tang San stood at the beginning of the green carpet. Beside him was Xiao Wu, while on either side stood the leaders of the continent's major powers.
The master of ceremony announced:
"Please crown the king!"
Ma Hongjun and Oscar placed a green royal robe over Tang San's shoulders.
Xue Beng held a green scepter with both hands and respectfully offered it to Tang San. Face stiff, Tang San accepted it. Dai Weisi then presented a green royal orb—topped with a green Clear Sky Hammer entwined with green Blue Silver Grass. Tang San's expression contorted as he accepted it.
Yu Tianheng and Dai Mubai, one on each side, raised a crown inlaid with imperial emeralds, placing it upon Tang San's head.
Xiao Wu held Tang San's hand.
"Please, the King and Queen, take your seats," the master of ceremony declared.
Tang San stared at the dazzling green throne at the end of the carpet, his face dark as ink. In his heart, there was only one word—endure.
"Xiao Wu, let's go," Tang San said softly, forcing gentleness into his voice.
Hand in hand, the two walked across the green carpet, ascended the steps, and turned to face the gathered assembly. Then, under the sun, they sat down upon the bright green throne. Apart from his pitch-black face, Tang San's whole figure seemed to radiate green light.
"Long live the Green Hao King! Long live the Green Hao King! Long live the Green Hao King!"
The alliance's factions shouted in unison as a black ape banner was raised high into the sky.
Tang San nearly lost control then and there. Only Xiao Wu's gentle hand pressing his down kept him from erupting.
"Xiao Wu, what have I done wrong? Why are you tormenting me like this? Why?" Tang San whispered.
"Why? If I told you, would you stand up for me?" Xiao Wu sneered softly.
Tang San looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar Xiao Wu beside him. More than ever, he felt there must be some misunderstanding behind all this, some hidden variable. He took a deep breath and said:
"You are my one true love. No matter what you've done to me, that will never change. If you tell me, I will help you in every way I can."
Xiao Wu smiled playfully:
"Good. You'll find out in time. I hope that when the day comes, you can still say the same words you just said."
Standing nearby, Tang Hao's ears twitched. He had overheard their conversation—and he was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
Tang San did not press further. Instead, his gaze swept over Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the crowd who had just crowned him "Green Hao King." Inwardly, his heart seethed with venom:
"Wait. Just wait. Once I become a god, after I destroy Spirit Hall and Spark, I will settle accounts with every last one of you."
And so, our Tang San was crowned—Green Hao King.
On the continent of Douluo, this throne stood higher than even the thrones of the two great empires. Truly, a moment worthy of celebration.
The coronation ceremony finally ended, and only then did Tang Hao and Tang San breathe a sigh of relief.
Tang Hao said earnestly, "Xiao San, Xiao Wu has gone too far. She actually let her paramour crown you, and with a green coronet no less. Do you understand what that implies?"
Tang San didn't answer, but just thinking of the humiliating scene from moments ago made his face dark as the bottom of a pot.
Seeing Tang San like this, Tang Hao pressed further while the iron was hot. "Xiao San, I'm saying this for your own good. Think about it—Xiao Wu married you, but behind your back she bore seven sons with other men.
A wanton woman like that, what use do you have for her? Once your god trials are over, cast her aside. I've already picked out better options for you—the Silver Dragon King, or the Three-Eyed Golden Lion would both do. And if not, you could seize one of Di Tian's wives—Bi Ji, Zi Ji—are any of them inferior to that Soft Bone Rabbit?"
"Father!" Tang San cut him off, and said coldly, "If Mother had secretly borne seven children with another man, what would you do?"
At this, Tang Hao immediately flared up. His eyes widened with rage: "Silence! That's your mother you're talking about. How dare you? Ah Yin was never that kind of woman!"
Tang San shot back, "Father, Xiao Wu isn't that kind of woman either."
Tang Hao was losing control. "But she already did those things!"
"There must have been some unavoidable reason that forced Xiao Wu into this situation—there has to be!" Tang San said firmly. "Father, I will become a god, and I will restore Xiao Wu to the one I know, the one who belongs only to me. I will find out who caused this change and tear him limb from limb! As for Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Yu Tianheng—I won't spare a single one of them!"
His voice was icy and filled with murderous intent, making even Tang Hao break into a cold sweat. For the first time, Tang Hao regretted his past—why had he taken the easy way out and killed Xiao Wu's mother? Could that have been the cause? But no, Xiao Wu didn't know… or so he thought.
Just then, the divine mark on Tang San's forehead lit up:
First Trial of the Asura God completed. Reward: Asura God Affinity +10%. Tang Hao's arm restored.
At the same time—
In her chamber, Xiao Wu suddenly arched her back as a sword scabbard flew from her chest. After vanishing, it appeared in the secret room where Tang Hao and Tang San were speaking.
"That's… the Asura Sword's scabbard?"
Elsewhere, Tai Long of the Strength Clan—who hadn't participated in the alliance conference—was walking along when suddenly, he felt a mysterious summons.
"What's happening to me?" Tai Long gasped, staring at his hands and body.
His body was disintegrating, breaking down into particles that turned into a stream of green light, rising toward the sky.
"That's the Asura Sword's scabbard," Tang Hao muttered.
The green stream poured into the scabbard, filling one of ten grid-like slots on its surface, which immediately lit up with a green glow.
Tang San studied the scabbard carefully. Only now did he notice the ten slots upon it—something he had never seen in his past life, despite wielding the Asura Sword Scabbard for so long.
When the first slot was filled, the divine trial notified him: Asura God Affinity +10%.
Tang San instantly understood.
"So that's it. In my past life, I never underwent the Asura God Trials, which is why I never saw these ten slots. That means once all ten are filled and Asura God Affinity reaches 100%, I will become the complete and powerful Asura God."
Hope for the future ignited in him.
Then the second reward activated. Tang Hao suddenly felt a prickling in the stump of his missing arm. New flesh sprouted, tissue regrew, and soon a fully formed arm returned to him.
Under the effect of Asura's divine power, Tang Hao's strength instantly rose from level 86 to level 96.
He stretched his body joyfully, and without intending to, the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand. Nine spirit rings circled him: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.
Within the faint aura of the red ring was a trace of Soft Bone Rabbit's presence.
Tang Hao and Tang San failed to notice.
But in the next room, Xiao Wu sensed it keenly. Her eyes turned blood-red.
"That's… Mother's aura." She looked longingly toward the wall separating them, then quickly shrank into herself.
She couldn't let Tang Hao realize she had discovered him as her mother's killer.
Curling up on the bed, Xiao Wu twitched her rabbit ears, listening. The walls were thick, but Tang Hao's booming voice carried through.
"I'm whole again! I've regained my strength! I've returned as a Titled Douluo—hahahahaha!"
In the secret room, Tang Hao dismissed the Clear Sky Hammer. He felt like his old self again—the mighty Clear Sky Douluo who looked down on the world.
Tang San congratulated him. "Congratulations, Father, on regaining your power."
"Mm. Now I can better protect you on your path," Tang Hao replied. Glancing at his new arm, he sighed. "It's only a pity that the soul bone taken by Spirit Hall hasn't been returned. That was the Clear Sky Sect's heritage."
"Father, what belongs to us will always be ours. Once I become a god, we'll reclaim it all," Tang San said resolutely.
"Good." Tang Hao nodded. Then he asked, "And what is the second trial?"
"I'll check." Tang San closed his eyes, calling forth the Asura God's mark. When he opened them again, he said, "Father, the second trial requires me to reach the Soul Saint realm within five years. The reward will be Asura God Affinity +10% and a god-bestowed spirit ring."
"That's not too difficult," Tang Hao nodded.
Once the message was delivered, the Asura Sword Scabbard flew back into Xiao Wu's chamber.
Inside, Xiao Wu entered the scabbard's inner space—and there she saw Tai Long.
To her surprise, this Tai Long wasn't crippled. His body was whole, tall, and powerfully built, radiating a rich masculine aura.
"Tai Long, why are you here?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled.
Tai Long turned to her. His Adam's apple bobbed, his beard was thicker now, and his rough handsomeness had grown even more striking.
"Xiao Wu, did Tang San complete his first god trial?" Tai Long asked.
Xiao Wu nodded.
"The Asura God's trial told me I've now become the will representing 10% of Asura God's affinity. To put it another way, I'm like a shareholder with 10% stock in the Asura God Corporation," Tai Long said, still confused. "But I've also been permanently sealed in this space. And…"
He trailed off, embarrassed to finish the last part that he had become Xiao Wu's exclusive Star Rage!