Chapter 304: The Second Stage, Judgment! Tang Hao's Past
Boom!
The entire courtroom echoed with continuous roars.
When the Asura God's fist struck Tang San's trident, the immense force blasted him thousands of meters away.
Tang San felt a sharp pain in his arm and his grip loosened, causing the Sea God Trident to fly out of his hand.
Just as Tang San was about to summon the Asura Sword, his expression changed abruptly.
He had lost control over the Asura Sword.
"Tang San, this is my domain. Do you think you can summon the Asura Sword here?"
"I'm warning you for the last time, if you don't use your full power, you won't pass my trial with your current strength!"
The Asura God gave Tang San no breathing space, attacking him with relentless combat awareness, overwhelming him.
"Want to see the old me?" Tang San muttered to himself as he endured the onslaught.
Since coming to this world, Tang San had never abandoned the cultivation of Tang Sect techniques, hidden weapons, and poisons.
However, his cultivation in martial souls had indeed taken a part of his energy.
Moreover, without living the harsh life he once had in the Tang Sect, his mindset had indeed softened.
If not for the support of the three upper sects, Sea God Island, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's treasures, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it was debatable whether he could have mastered the ultimate skills of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.
"If I can't pass this first stage, my dream of inheriting dual gods will be shattered. Facing Su Yun's suppression, I will surely be at a disadvantage."
"Besides, the Spirit Empire still has Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue."
"Oscar may have the potential to become a god, but he can't keep up in time."
"I must pass this stage!"
In an instant, Tang San's eyes changed!
His gaze towards the Asura Spirit's phantom became as cold as when he hunted targets in the Tang Sect.
For the Tang Sect disciples, once a target was assigned, they must kill it at all costs!
"If you want to see my true strength, then forgive me, senior!" Tang San said, staring at the Asura Spirit's phantom.
Hearing this, the Asura Spirit's phantom saw Tang San's eyes and a smile curved on his lips, "Good, that's the look."
"This is the real you!"
Boom!
It seemed as if thunder roared in the sky!
The Asura Spirit's phantom's eyes flashed red, transforming into a red beam and shooting towards Tang San!
At this moment, Tang San was no longer passive. His hands moved to his waist soul guide, pulling out numerous silver needles and hidden weapons.
"Hidden Weapon Hundred Solutions!"
In an instant, Tang San's hands moved like a thousand-hand Guanyin, scattering countless hidden weapons, creating a rain of weapons that enveloped the Asura God's path.
For the first time, the Asura God sensed a dangerous aura from Tang San. Instead of anger, he felt even more excitement.
Only by approaching death could his combat skills reach a higher level!
Facing the Asura God's fearless onslaught, Tang San remained calm, using every hidden weapon he had painstakingly crafted.
Finally, when Tang San used the Peacock Plume and took out the Storm Pear Blossom Needles, the Asura God stopped his actions and said softly, "No need to continue."
"Tang San, you have passed."
With a wave of his hand, the Asura God returned Tang San to his original position.
All his injuries vanished, and even the used Peacock Plume was restored to its original state, surprising Tang San.
"No need to be surprised, consider this place a virtual dreamland where everything can be restored," the Asura God explained.
Tang San understood and felt a burst of joy.
After all, crafting the Peacock Plume required tremendous effort, so having it restored was undoubtedly good news.
Moreover, he had passed the first stage of the Asura God's trial!
"Senior, since I have passed the first stage, can we start the second stage?" Tang San immediately asked.
He didn't have much time left.
Although he was unsure of Su Yun's current situation, based on his understanding of Su Yun's talent, the latter must have his own confidence. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to the Sea God's conditions.
"Of course."
The Asura Spirit's phantom nodded, then suddenly asked, "But do you know what my second stage is about?"
Tang San shook his head honestly, "I don't know."
The Asura Spirit's phantom said, "Since you have inherited the Sea God's position, you should know that the Sea God controls the sea. But do you know what I, the Asura God, control?"
Tang San replied without hesitation, "Slaughter."
The City of Slaughter was managed by his ancestor, so Tang San knew this very well.
The Asura Spirit's phantom chuckled, "That's not wrong, but it's somewhat incomplete."
Partial?
Tang San was slightly stunned.
The Asura Spirit's phantom continued to explain, "I, the Asura God, not only preside over slaughter but also over judgment and law."
"As an Asura, judgment must be conducted with fairness!"
"When you become a god, if there is ever a need for you to arbitrate disputes, especially those between gods due to personal conflicts or even deadly duels, your judgment will be crucial. It could affect the peace of the Divine Realm and the worlds under it."
"This is why the Asura God trial consists of two stages."
"The first stage of battle proves you have the strength to take on the position of the Asura God."
"Without a strong enough fist, do you think other gods will heed your judgments?"
The Asura God's words made Tang San nod in agreement.
Indeed.
Even in the continent, it was the principle that whoever had the biggest fist made the rules. For example, the Spirit Empire invaded their Heaven Dou Empire because they had a greater number of soul masters.
If he had become a god earlier, the Spirit Empire wouldn't have dared to invade, even if they had a hundredfold courage.
"Just now, I didn't let you use the Asura Sword intentionally."
The Asura God suddenly said, "Now you can try summoning it again and see if there's any difference."
Upon hearing this, Tang San immediately tried to summon the Asura Sword again.
This time, he summoned it without any hindrance.
As he held the Asura Sword, he instantly felt an unprecedented killing intent surge into his body!
"This is…" Tang San was astonished by this new sensation.
"This is the true nature of the Asura Sword."
The Asura Spirit's phantom explained, "The reason I fought you was to completely unlock it, allowing you to fully control it."
"Otherwise, with your initial approach, the success rate of fully mastering it wouldn't even be fifty percent."
Tang San finally understood the intention behind the Asura Spirit's actions and immediately bowed deeply, a ninety-degree bow.
"No need for that."
"Next, I will explain the second stage of the Asura God's ninth trial."
Tang San's eyes lit up, and he listened attentively.
"I've said enough for you to guess the content of the second stage."
"That's right, it is judgment."
"Since you will become an enforcer, a judge, your decisions must be fair and not influenced by emotions."
"In other words, you must be an impartial judge."
"While you may make certain concessions within the rules, you cannot overstep them. Otherwise, you will lose the chance to pass the trial."
"Do you understand?"
Tang San nodded, "I understand."
"Very well."
With a wave of his hand, the Asura God made a screen appear before Tang San.
"You will see two cases here. I hope you can make a fair judgment," the Asura Spirit's phantom instructed.
Tang San nodded calmly and said, "Rest assured, senior. With the heart to inherit the Asura God, I will judge impartially."
Seeing this, the Asura Spirit's phantom nodded, then snapped his fingers. Instantly, a scene appeared on the screen before Tang San.
The scene began to play.
Tang San focused on the night sky shown on the screen.
Then, the scene shifted, and the camera focused on three people.
Two men and one woman.
As he saw the figures...
Tang San's pupils contracted!
The people in the scene were none other than his father and uncle!
Moreover, they appeared to be very young!
What was going on?
Tang San wanted to ask, but found he couldn't speak or move his body.
Then, a familiar voice sounded in his ear, the voice of the Asura Spirit's phantom.
"Do not make any statements until you have watched the entire scene."
Tang San knew this was a restriction imposed by the Asura Spirit's phantom, as he was currently undergoing the divine trial.
Reluctantly, Tang San continued watching.
At that moment, he noticed a woman in blue clothes with blue hair standing next to his young father and uncle.
The woman's face bore a resemblance to his own, and she exuded a gentle, water-like aura.
Tang San's pupils shrank again as he recalled his uncle's and Ning Fengzhi's words after seeing Su Yun's true martial soul form!
Could this woman be his mother?!
Although the woman's identity was not explicitly stated in the scene, Tang San was almost certain that she was his mother.
With this realization, Tang San's curiosity grew.
This was the second stage of the Asura God's ninth trial, focused on judgment.
Could it be that he had to judge his parents or his uncle?
Tang San found this unlikely.
"Perhaps it's about the Spirit Hall."
Tang San thought to himself.
He remembered that he had half soul beast blood.
His mother was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the Blue Silver Emperor.
Truth be told, from the perspective of a god, the Spirit Hall hunting soul beasts—even if it meant hunting his mother—wasn't entirely wrong.
After all, soul masters hunting soul beasts was the natural order.
But if he had to judge the Spirit Hall, could he really declare them blameless?
Tang San felt a pang in his heart.
After pondering for a moment, he thought, "Mother, I hope you don't blame me. I must judge fairly."
"But, as your son, avenging your death at the hands of the Spirit Hall is justified."
Tang San silently vowed to himself. For the sake of becoming a god, he would temporarily set aside his personal feelings.
He would eventually destroy the Spirit Hall and avenge his parents.
At this point, the scene showed only Ah Yin and Tang Hao.
Tang San saw his mother revealing her true identity as a soul beast to his father.
"Revealing her soul beast identity to my father, that's the power of love?" Tang San couldn't help but feel envious of his father, who was loved by his mother.
Though he had several wives now, most were marriages of alliance.
The only one who truly loved him was Yu Qingrou from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Only she could give him a motherly tenderness.
The scene shifted again.
Tang San saw his father and uncle talking in whispers.
At first, Tang San couldn't make out their conversation.
But then he heard something that shocked him!
"Brother, Ah Yin is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"
"What?! Hao, say that again?"
"It's true, she told me herself."
"Hiss—"
In the scene, Tang Xiao took a deep breath, and the brothers fell silent.
"Brother, I…"
"Hao, I left because I knew about Ah Yin's feelings for you. But you should know that relationships between humans and soul beasts don't end well…"
"Brother, of course, I know."
"Then why are you telling me this?"
"Brother, don't you see this is a great opportunity for us?"
"A great opportunity?"
"A chance to revive our Clear Sky Sect!"
"We can always find women."
"But opportunities to become stronger are rare!"
"Defeating the Spirit Hall hinges on this!"
In the scene, Tang Hao's face bore a crazed look.
Then, he excitedly revealed his plan.
"No Titled Douluo on the continent has a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. If this plan succeeds, I will be the first to achieve it!"
"I might even obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul bone!"
...
Tang San couldn't believe the words coming from his father's mouth.
Although he understood the need for ruthlessness to become stronger, the scene before him was truly shocking.
In the scene, Tang Hao continued explaining his plan.
"If we act against Ah Yin, the emotions of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast will affect the soul ring, impacting my absorption."
"So, we need a perfect plan."
"Brother, I need your help. You are older and wiser. I want to hear your thoughts."
In response, Tang Xiao in the scene pondered for a moment, then his eyes flashed with cold light.
"Use someone else's blade to kill!"