Pain.
That was Niu Tian's first sensation upon waking up. His spirit felt as if it were being sliced by a blade, a constant stabbing pain throbbing in his brain.
His vision was slightly blurred as he looked around, only to realize with a shock that Titan was bound beside him. He instinctively tried to raise his hand, only to find that he was bound as well.
The power within his body was dormant; golden chains had completely suppressed and locked down his spirit, Soul Power, and soul. Currently, he was—at most—equivalent to an ordinary human with a slightly stronger physique.
Of course, none of that was the most important part. The important part was that Niu Tian realized the strand of Tang San's Divine Consciousness within his body... was gone!
Niu Tian snapped into full alertness. In the next moment, a voice drifted over from ahead:
"Hello, Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect."
Huo Yuhao watched Niu Tian calmly, the shimmering light of emotional power silently flickering deep in his eyes. Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao asked directly:
"What is your relationship with Tang San?"
Niu Tian froze. His eyes, which had just cleared, became lifeless once more: "Not great."
"Then why do you two follow his orders?"
"Because of Sister Xiao Wu... he is her husband, after all. Moreover, when he resurrected my brother and me, he left a restriction deep within our souls. We have no choice but to obey him."
There was a hint of resentment in Niu Tian's tone. Clearly, he harbored a grudge against Tang San, and quite a significant one at that.
"If you had to choose one to die between Wang Dong'er and Tang San, who would you pick?"
"Tang San!" Niu Tian said without a moment's hesitation.
"If you had to choose one to die between Xiao Wu and Tang San, who would you pick?"
"Tang San!" Niu Tian said again, just as instantly.
This level of decisiveness caused even Huo Yuhao to be slightly taken aback.
"Then, if you had to choose one to die between Wang Dong'er and Xiao Wu, who would you pick?"
At this, Niu Tian's expression fell into conflict. It took a long while before he answered strugglingly: "I don't know."
"Is that so... it seems I won't have to kill you."
With a wave of his hand, Niu Tian immediately fell back into a deep sleep. Huo Yuhao asked Titan the same set of questions and received almost identical answers.
Well, Titan's answer was that he hoped to tear Tang San's soul into two halves as well, so Tang San could feel the pain Dong'er experienced. It truly coincided perfectly with Huo Yuhao's own thoughts.
After confirming that Niu Tian and Titan were not loyal to Tang San but merely followed him because of Xiao Wu and the restrictions, Huo Yuhao breathed a slight sigh of relief.
However, the Eye of Destiny at his brow manifested at that moment and directly left its own restrictions on Niu Tian and Titan.
Not killing them was one thing, but necessary safety measures still had to be taken. He could simply unbind them later after he finished off Tang San.
As for Xiao Wu—that woman was a total "love-brain" who knew nothing. When he killed her in the previous life, she still had a look of utter bewilderment, seemingly never expecting that her husband would push her in front of him. Pitiful.
With another wave of his hand, Huo Yuhao woke the two up and spoke with a light smile:
"I heard you two wished to find me to ask about some matters? It just so happens that I have something I'd like to trouble you two Divine Beasts to help with. Would that be acceptable?"
Still slightly dazed, the two felt their hearts sink as Huo Yuhao exposed their identities in a single sentence. After sharing a look, Titan remained silent in a show of tacit understanding, while Niu Tian spoke up:
"Your Excellency... is the Master of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda?"
"Yes, you can just call me Yuhao."
"I see. Since Pagoda Master Yu knows the identities of my brother and me, then do you know who sent us down to the lower realm?"
Niu Tian attempted to probe.
"Yes, I know. Tang San, right? I'm currently looking for a way to kill him." Huo Yuhao made no attempt to hide his intentions.
In an instant, Niu Tian's thoughts, which he had struggled to calm, surged again.
"Do you realize... he is a God with the dual Divine Positions of the Asura God and the Sea God?"
"I know. He's just a God King."
Huo Yuhao spoke the fact calmly.
Hearing this, Niu Tian immediately formed a guess.
Even if his own strength couldn't be fully exerted due to the world's suppression, he still possessed the power of a top-tier Limit Douluo!
To be able to subdue him so easily without him sensing a thing, and to even extract that strand of Tang San's Divine Consciousness... there was only one possibility.
The person before him was a God! A God who could freely exert his strength on the Douluo Plane!
Combined with what the youth just said...
Could the person before him be—a reincarnated God King!
A former God King who wanted to strike at Tang San and had already secretly accumulated god-level strength... such an entity...
After a moment of silence, Niu Tian decisively chose to prioritize his and Titan's lives.
"Pagoda Master Yu, what is it you want my brother and me to do?"
"First, you two will serve as my materials to assist in my research. After all, I've never had materials of the Divine Beast level before.
"Second, all Soul Saints and above of the Clear Sky Sect must sign a contract to work for my Spirit Transmission Pagoda."
"Only these two things?"
"Only these two."
Huo Yuhao nodded with a smile, then his smile faded as he said calmly:
"If you two Sect Masters are obedient, perhaps... I will also take action to heal the soul injuries of the Young Sect Master of your Clear Sky Sect."
Suddenly, the expressions of Niu Tian and Titan shifted. The previously silent Titan lost his cool instantly, struggling against his bonds while roaring at Huo Yuhao:
"If you fucking dare to touch Dong'er, I'll fucking kill you!!!"
"Er Ming!" Niu Tian tried to suppress Titan as usual, but being bound himself, there was nothing he could do.
"The Second Sect Master misunderstands. This is not a threat, but actual assistance."
What a joke—not touch Dong'er? How could that be! He was definitely going to whisk Dong'er back home; no one could stop him from that.
"I have seen the Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect. Her soul was forcibly torn in half by someone, then that part was forcibly filled with divine power, and finally, a seal was used to suppress the soul's collapse.
"Given the current situation, in less than five years, that seal will no longer be able to restrain the collapse of the soul. I believe I don't need to tell you what happens then?"
Huo Yuhao explained the stakes clearly. Niu Tian fell silent immediately, while Titan subconsciously clenched his fists.
After a long while, Niu Tian finally spoke:
"Can Pagoda Master Yu truly heal Dong'er's soul?"
"Rest assured, I have done quite a bit of research regarding the soul."
Worst case, he would simply abandon his arrangements in the Holy Spirit Cult, go there directly, and turn every last Evil Soul Master there into research materials. Huo Yuhao refused to believe he couldn't find a way to complete Dong'er's soul.
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Niu Tian fell silent for a moment before saying seriously:
"Is that so... then we brothers agree." After a slight pause, Niu Tian spoke again:
"What... what is the situation with Tang San right now?"
"Nothing much, except the Sea God Divine Position has fallen into my hands."
Huo Yuhao nonchalantly took out the Sea God Trident and weighed it in his hand, his tone incredibly casual.
Niu Tian and Titan: ?!!!
Wait, bro?
The Sea God Trident that Tang San treasures like his own life... you just pulled it out like it's nothing? Huh?