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So many souls... what a waste.
Tang San spoke quietly, but his voice rang out clearly across the battlefield.
In the next moment, the Rakshasa mark on his forehead suddenly shone bright. A dark purplish light erupted from his body like a wicked sun hanging over Star Luo City. The Rakshasa Demonic Scythe trembled slightly, spilling eerie green flames from its blade.
Those flames did not ignite the ground. Instead, they ignited the dead.
On the battlefield, the souls of fallen soldiers were pulled from their corpses by the green flames. They struggled and wailed in pain, trying to escape, but they could not break free from the strange pulling force.
On the walls of Star Luo City, everyone looked terrified. Ning Fengzhi watched in shock, his eyes shrinking.
Tang San, you have gone mad! Both Star Luo and Spirit Empire soldiers lie dead down there. How can you disrespect their souls like this?
Tang San lowered his head slowly, his eyes cold as ice.
Disrespect? When the weak die, their souls exist only to nourish the strong. School Master Ning, you have cultivated for so many years, yet you still do not understand this simple truth?
Bullshit!
Dugu Bo roared in anger. The giant green form of the Jade Phosphor Serpent appeared behind him once more. But as he rushed forward, Tang San casually waved his hand. The green light from the Rakshasa Demonic Scythe swept across the air.
A huge explosion shattered the silence. Dugu Bo flew backward and slammed hard into the city wall. The robes on his chest burst apart, and black blood trickled from his mouth. It was no ordinary injury. The Rakshasa Divine Power had entered his body, slowly devouring his life force.
Old Poison!
Yang Wudi yelled furiously. He thrust the Soul Breaking Spear straight toward Tang San like a shooting star.
Tang San did not dodge. When the tip of the spear came within three feet, a thick layer of purplish-black divine energy stopped it cold.
Yang Wudi, your spear is sharp, but you cannot pierce a god.
Tang San flicked his finger against the weapon.
A loud metallic sound echoed as the Soul Breaking Spear vibrated wildly. The skin on Yang Wudi's hand ripped open, and he was thrown back dozens of feet.
Tang San stopped paying attention to them. In his eyes, these people were no longer a threat. The only person he cared about was Tang Chen, but Tang Chen was far away from Star Luo City right now. That was the only reason Tang San dared to come here today.
Tang Chen, don't you love saving people? Today, I will devour every single soul on this battlefield. Let's see if you can save them this time!
He raised the Rakshasa Demonic Scythe high into the air. A dark vortex spun wildly in the sky, pulling the souls upward like pale rivers into his open palm.
The Gold Crocodile Douluo and his five companions watched in horror. Even though they served the Spirit Empire, Tang San no longer looked like a Spirit Master. He looked like an Evil God straight out of hell.
The Grey Wolf Douluo held his bleeding arm, his voice shaking. Second Worshipful Elder, is that really still Tang San?
The Gold Crocodile Douluo stared at the figure in the air. He has been completely corrupted by the Rakshasa Divine Power.
Then what do we do now?
The Gold Crocodile Douluo could not answer. He had thought Tang San came as their reinforcement. But if Tang San devoured all the souls here, none of them would leave this place alive either.
As despair spread through the crowd, Sword Douluo Chen Xin forced himself to stand. His Seven Kill Sword was covered in cracks, but his grip remained firm. Beside him, Bone Douluo Gu Rong also stood up in front of Ning Fengzhi, his body swaying from weakness.
Ning Fengzhi felt tears spring to his eyes. Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, please stop. You cannot fight anymore!
Chen Xin did not turn around. Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School can be destroyed, but we will never kneel.
Gu Rong grinned through his pain. The old sword fanatic is right. These old bones of ours belong on the front lines.
Tang San glared at them with annoyance. Ants, how dare you stand in the way of a god?
He swung the Rakshasa Demonic Scythe down hard. The green light from the blade cleaved through the air, threating to split Star Luo City in two.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong poured the last bits of their spirit power into one final defense. The white light of the Seven Kill Sword combined with the shadow of the Bone Dragon to form a silver shield.
It lasted less than a second.
Cracks appeared instantly across the barrier before it shattered into tiny pieces.
Uncle Jian! Uncle Gu!
The green blade of death fell toward them. But right before it struck, something changed beneath the earth outside Star Luo City.
A soft blue light flickered under the blood-stained soil. Then came a second light, a third, and a fourth. Countless tiny specks of blue light shone near the corpses, the cracks in the ground, and the broken weapons. They quickly connected into a vast sea of light.
The earth trembled as slender stalks of Blue Silver Grass burst out from the bloody mud. They looked weak, but as the destructive attack came down, millions of grass blades swayed together. A bright blue-gold barrier rose to meet the blade.
A deafening boom shook the entire city of Star Luo.
The barrier held firm.
For the first time, Tang San looked shocked.
Blue Silver Grass? Tang Chen is on Sea God Island! How can he interfere here?
Dugu Bo leaned against the wall, his mouth covered in blood, and broke into a laugh. The little freak really left a backup plan!
Ning Fengzhi looked down in surprise. Soft stalks of Blue Silver Grass were gently wrapping around the wrists of Chen Xin and Gu Rong, sending warm energy into their bodies to fix their broken meridians. The gray deathly color on Chen Xin's face began to fade, and Gu Rong's broken bones began to heal.
Tang San's face darkened. He remembered that before Tang Chen left Star Luo City, he had paused outside the gates for a moment. Tang San had assumed it was just a casual move to heal the wounded. Instead, Tang Chen had planted a Life Imprint deep underground. If Star Luo City faced destruction, those imprints would activate on their own.
Tang Chen, you truly are a lingering ghost!
Tang San snapped his teeth together and activated his eighth spirit ring.
Eighth Spirit Ability, Rakshasa Soul Devouring Boundary!
The dark purplish domain expanded rapidly. Countless angry spirits rushed out from the scythe, throwing themselves at the Blue Silver Grass. Wherever they went, the blue leaves withered, and the shield began to shake.
Tang San sneered. A simple imprint left behind cannot stop me!
He tightened his fist, pulling the souls of the dead back toward the sky. But this time, many of the souls stayed behind. A stalk of Blue Silver Grass held onto each one, gently protecting their fading minds.
The spirits of the dead soldiers looked down at the soft blue leaves holding them. A warm glow wrapped around them, comforting them in their final moments.
Tang San roared in rage. Tang Chen! You dare ruin my path to godhood! I will tear your Life Imprint to pieces!
He swung the scythe again, aiming directly at the brightest stalk of Blue Silver Grass in the center of the field. Destroying it would break the entire domain.
Just before the blade hit, the grass bent slightly, almost as if it were smiling.
Then, a cool, calm voice echoed over the field.
Tang San, who gave you the audacity to touch my people?
Every stalk of Blue Silver Grass on the battlefield bowed low.
Tang San raised his head. Far away in the direction of the Sea of Death, a bright blue-gold pillar of light shot into the sky. Space above Star Luo City twisted as long blue vines crossed through the void, gathering together to form the image of Tang Chen.
It was only a phantom born from his will, but the life energy on the battlefield surged instantly.
Tang Chen looked at the injured elders and the dying soldiers before turning his gaze onto Tang San.
Devouring souls? You have really fallen this far.
Tang San glared at him with pure hatred. Tang Chen! Stop acting so high and mighty! Why does everyone believe in you? We both have Blue Silver Grass, so why am I always the one beneath your feet?
Because you have never understood the true nature of the Blue Silver Grass.
Tang San laughed wildly. Power has no good or evil! There is only strength and weakness!
He struck down at Tang Chen's image, but Tang Chen simply raised his right hand. The glowing shape of a blood-red Spirit Bone appeared in his palm, carrying the distant roar of the Evil Spirit Orca King.
Tang San gasped. The Evil Spirit Orca King's Spirit Bone? You killed it?
Tang Chen closed his hand without a word. Millions of grass stalks dug deep into the earth, pulling away the dark energy and purifying the battlefield.
Life Domain. All Souls Return to the Court.
A wave of blue-gold light washed over the land. The trapped spirits broke free from the dark divine power. They did not return to life, but their pain was gone. The souls bowed toward Tang Chen before turning into peaceful specks of light that drifted away into the sky.
Tang San watched his stolen power melt away, his face twisting in anger. No! Those belong to me!
They belong to no one. They were human beings.
Tang Chen's giant phantom expanded, and long blue vines wrapped around Tang San like unbreakable chains. Tang San slashed wildly with his scythe, but for every vine he cut, ten more grew back.
Panic seized Tang San. This was not just a difference in spirit power; it was the power of life overcoming death.
Get lost!
The mark on Tang San's forehead flared with red light. He forced his way out of the blue chains and backed away quickly. He knew he could not finish his goal today. Tang Chen's phantom was enough to stall him, and if Tang Chen's true body arrived, he would be trapped.
Tang San glared at the image of his enemy. I will let you have this victory today, Tang Chen. But you cannot stop me forever. When I become the Rakshasa God, I will pull up every last stalk of your Blue Silver Grass!
You will never get that chance.
Tang San sneered and stepped back into the dark portal opening behind him. Before he left, he glanced down at the Gold Crocodile Douluo and the others.
Retreat.
The Spirit Empire forces did not hesitate. They quickly turned and fled the area.
Silence returned to the battlefield outside Star Luo City. Tang Chen's phantom began to fade.
Ning Fengzhi bowed deeply toward the image. Young friend Tang Chen, thank you.
Hold Star Luo City. I will return soon.
Tang Chen turned his gaze toward the Sea of Death, his eyes turning cold.
Tang San, the day you inherit your godhood will be the day you die.
The phantom vanished, leaving the blue grass swaying gently in the wind. Far away on the Sea of Death, Tang Chen opened his eyes.
At the same time, inside the Angel God Temple in Spirit City, a bright golden light filled the air. A massive statue of the Seraphim stood high at the back of the hall, holding a sacred sword.
Outside, the wind howled violently, but inside, all was silent.
Qian Renxue knelt on one knee, her long golden hair messy and blood dripping from her mouth. Her Angelic Sacred Sword was stuck into the stone floor, its blade covered in tiny cracks.
Opposite her stood Qian Daoliu. The old man's golden robes were torn, and a deep sword wound marked his chest, but his back remained perfectly straight. The grand form of the Seraphim glowed behind him, filling the hall with immense pressure.
Xue'er, if this is all the strength you have, you will never pass the eighth trial.
Qian Renxue raised her head, golden flames burning bright in her eyes.
The Angelic Eighth Trial required her to defeat High Priest Qian Daoliu. She had to defeat her own grandfather, the man who had raised her, protected her, and taught her everything. But from the moment she entered this temple, she knew there was no escaping this fight.
He was her family, but he was also the final obstacle standing between her and godhood.