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Ning Tianchen's fourth soul skill originated from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and inherited its most powerful innate ability.
However, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul was inherently an auxiliary-type martial soul, and when the soul ring was attached to it, slight variations occurred.
Instead of reversing someone to childhood or pulling them into another dimension like before, Time Reversal now restored all allies' soul power and stamina within a range over the course of a day—including his own.
It was precisely because of this soul skill that Ning Tianchen had dared to recklessly unleash high-consumption techniques earlier.
In an instant, Ning Tianchen's condition returned to how it was before the battle began.
Tang Chen's expression suddenly darkened, and he growled, "Twin martial souls, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda... So you didn't just inherit the Seven Kill Sword from the Chen family—you also obtained the legendary martial soul of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect."
"Ning Fengzhi truly has good fortune to have a descendant like you."
The legend of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul was no secret among the major powers.
Yet, who would have thought that the first time he encountered this martial soul, it would unleash such an overwhelmingly powerful soul skill?
Most importantly, two incredibly potent martial souls appeared on the same person—and they were successfully cultivated as twin martial souls.
Tang Chen couldn't help but suspect that Ning Tianchen might be a chosen one favored by the Douluo Continent.
Ning Tianchen responded indifferently, "Elder Tang Chen, though you still have much soul power remaining, your stamina is mostly depleted. Will the scales of victory still tip in your favor?"
Tang Chen's chest heaved violently; the sudden reversal of the situation caught him completely off guard.
Direct clashes weren't the Seven Kill Sword's forte, so he had wondered why Ning Tianchen would continue down this path.
At first, he thought the younger man lacked experience fighting against Hao Tian Hammer soul masters due to his youth.
Now, however, it was clear—he had fallen into Ning Tianchen's trap.
"Are all the young people on the continent this cunning nowadays?" Tang Chen snorted coldly.
Ning Tianchen shrugged. "All's fair in war. Well then, let's settle this."
As he spoke, the Seven Kill Sword lightly swung before him, and a series of "Kill" word sword techniques gradually condensed.
In the blink of an eye, twenty-one "Kill" characters appeared out of thin air.
Compared to Chen Xin, Ning Tianchen surpassed him.
The execution of the "Kill" word sword technique relied on both soul power support and mastery of swordsmanship—two things Ning Tianchen didn't lack at all!
Of course, twenty-one "Kill" characters weren't his limit. The fourth soul skill of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had a cooldown period of one hour, during which he couldn't use it again.
If he exhausted all his soul power in one go and failed to kill Tang Chen, death would undoubtedly be his fate.
Let's not forget—Tang Chen still hadn't used his ultimate trump card.
"Each generation produces its share of talents, but newcomers must prove themselves worthy before surpassing their predecessors."
Tang Chen was no longer as calm as before; flames of anger burned in his eyes.
This life-or-death battle—he had to win. He needed the Asura God position to avenge the Hao Tian Sect!
He still had Bo Saixi waiting for him. After so many years apart, there was so much he wanted to say to her.
Driven by the forces of hatred and love, he felt as though he were possessed by divine power. His fatigue vanished completely, as if the Hammer God himself had taken hold of him.
"Hao Tian Shakes the Heavens!"
"Hao Tian Breaks Through the Clouds!"
"Hao Tian Moves the Thousand Mountains!"
All three of his ultimate techniques were unleashed, each strike carrying power comparable to his ninth soul skill.
The "Kill" word sword techniques shattered one after another, but they weren't without effect.
Tang Chen, who had just dispelled his fatigue, now looked more exhausted than ever, gasping for breath and barely able to lift the Hao Tian Hammer.
"Forcing me to this point—I acknowledge your strength!"
"If we fought again ten years from now, regardless of whether you inherit a God position, I wouldn't stand a chance against you."
"But unfortunately, in order to complete the divine trial, you've been too reckless. Young man, remember—recklessness is the root of failure."
With that, the first black soul ring beneath Tang Chen's feet shattered, followed by the second, third, and all the way to the ninth. They transformed into pure soul power and surged into his body.
Ning Tianchen was the third person to force him to use his ultimate trump card—the Great Sumeru Hammer—and the only junior to do so.
"Here it comes!" Ning Tianchen's gaze grew solemn.
As the creator of the Great Sumeru Hammer, even with the same soul power level as Tang Hao, the might of his attack would far surpass Tang Hao's.
As a demi-god, the power of his next strike would likely rival that of a true god-level technique.
Ning Tianchen decided not to resist with offensive soul skills. His various ninth soul skills might not withstand a god-level attack.
But he wouldn't surrender without a fight.
"Deep Sea Demon Whale King Torso Soul Bone Skill, Absolute Defense."
Tang Chen's eyes widened, and his muscles bulged across his body. "It's useless. Even a defensive soul skill as strong as the Invincible Golden Body can't withstand a god-level strike."
"Great Sumeru Hammer!"
The Hao Tian Hammer descended with earth-shattering power, crashing toward Ning Tianchen's position.
The hammer loomed like a black cloud blotting out the sun's light.
In the next moment, the forest floor collapsed, leaving Ning Tianchen alone atop a cliff.
…
The million-year soul bone of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King activated, and the phantom of the demon whale curled up its body, shielding Ning Tianchen within.
The Hao Tian Hammer slammed down with apocalyptic force. The shockwave spread rapidly, destroying all trees within nearly a hundred kilometers. The ground looked as if it had been plowed over, with all the soil overturned.
A massive golden mushroom cloud rose into the sky, visible even from a thousand miles away.
The soul beasts in the Great Star Dou Forest were terrified, rushing madly toward the other side of the forest.
Today was undoubtedly a great calamity for the entire Great Star Dou Forest!
The "afterglow" of the soul skill lasted for the length of an incense stick before beginning to dissipate.
Tang Chen was utterly spent, his hands pressed against the Hao Tian Hammer, barely managing to stay upright.
The dust around him hadn't settled, and without his soul rings, he couldn't see the battlefield clearly.
But he was confident—no one could survive his full-power strike.
"What a pity. If his fourth soul skill could assist me, I could unleash two successive ring explosions within a short time."
One ring explosion had already caused such devastation. If he could perform a second, even facing a true god, he might still have a chance to fight!
In the center of the dust-covered battlefield, Ning Tianchen struggled to his feet.
Although the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's torso soul bone skill could withstand a god-level attack, the soul bone itself shattered as a result.
However, this wasn't irreversible damage—it simply entered a cooldown period. After a month, the soul bone would recover fully.
The full brunt of the god-level technique had been absorbed by the soul bone, leaving Ning Tianchen with only minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Tang Chen had been waiting for the confirmation sound of completing the divine trial.
To his surprise, what he encountered first wasn't the Asura God's affirmation, but Ning Tianchen's figure.
With all his soul rings shattered, Tang Chen knew he no longer had the strength to fight. A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"It seems the old wave truly dies on the shore."
Ning Tianchen gave a faint smile.
This clash had been thoroughly exhilarating for him.
In his previous battle with Tang Hao, Ning Tianchen had held back to avoid collateral damage to Suotuo City.
This was the first time he had unleashed his full strength without restraint since the conclusion of the Seven Great Sects Re-selection Conference.
Before he could deliver the final blow to Tang Chen, the Asura Devil Sword within Tang Chen's body began to stir.
The Asura Devil Sword emerged from Tang Chen's body, instantly draining him of his life force.
Ning Tianchen felt a restless energy between his brows and lightly tapped the Asura Mark on his forehead. His own Asura Devil Sword shot out and flew toward the other sword.
Under the influence of divine power, the two Asura Devil Swords fused together, causing a dramatic upheaval in the surrounding environment.
"Completion of the Eighth Trial of Asura. Reward: Complete Version of the Asura Devil Sword."
"Ninth Trial of Asura: Fully equip both martial souls with complete soul rings, complete the final inheritance trial, and become the new Asura God."
Ning Tianchen leaned wearily against the only intact patch of ground beside Tang Chen.
After such a long journey through the trials, he was finally approaching the climax.
The perils he faced along the way were known only to him.
At this point, the only missing piece among his martial soul bones was the head martial soul bone.
The head martial soul bone was crucial for a soul master's spiritual power, so he hadn't dared to absorb it recklessly.
Ever since obtaining the million-year soul ring of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, he had begun reconsidering what to do with the ninth soul ring of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Back on the Sun and Moon Continent, when facing the Tyrant Evil Eye, he might have only been able to rely on divine power to escape. But now, the Evil Emperor was no longer an insurmountable obstacle for him!
Moments later, the two Asura Devil Swords completed their fusion, and a brand-new, fully formed Asura Devil Sword fell into his hands.
"Tang Chen, Tang Chen... you were already dead long ago. What remains now is just the process of your corpse decaying."
Without the help of the Asura God, how could his body—after being parasitized by the Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King for so many years—still exhibit peak-level combat strength?
After putting away the Asura Devil Sword, Ning Tianchen was about to strip Tang Chen of his martial soul bones when suddenly, the Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King hurriedly appeared before him.
"Greetings, Master."
With awkward human speech, it expressed its respect and loyalty to Ning Tianchen.
The Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King was originally a product of Slaughter City and naturally understood whom it should serve.
Ning Tianchen had successfully replaced Tang Chen and gained the recognition of the Asura God. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he would become the future ruler of Slaughter City.
Ning Tianchen understood that Slaughter City required a manager; otherwise, internal order would collapse, and over time, Slaughter City itself would fade into oblivion.
With this in mind, he asked with a smile, "Do you want to re-parasitize his body?"
The Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at grains.
Tang Chen had just died, and his body was still warm. If Ning Tianchen removed the martial soul bones, the body would be severely damaged, rendering it useless for parasitism.
However, Ning Tianchen wasn't willing to miss out on the high-quality martial soul bones Tang Chen possessed.
Even if he couldn't absorb them himself, they could still be taken back to the sect as precious inheritance treasures.
The Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King stammered, "Master, I can spit out the martial soul bones."
Previously, it lacked the ability to completely kill Tang Chen, and since martial soul bones were closely linked to the soul master, it had no way to extract them.
Now, however, Tang Chen was dead, and the connection between the martial soul bones and his body had been severed, leaving them ownerless. Once the Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King entered the body, it could directly expel the martial soul bones.
With this explanation, Ning Tianchen had no reason to refuse.
The Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King immediately burrowed into Tang Chen's body and transformed back into the appearance of the Slaughter King.
Under its control, the martial soul bones on Tang Chen's body floated out.
Spirit bones were useless to soul beasts, so the Slaughter King naturally had no intention of keeping them for itself.
After carefully organizing the martial soul bones, it respectfully presented them to Ning Tianchen.
Though none of Tang Chen's martial soul bones were million-year ones, they all came from rare soul beasts and were of extremely high quality, with none below eighty thousand years in age.
"Truly worthy of a legendary figure," Ning Tianchen sighed.
After accepting the martial soul bones, he gave instructions: "Everything in Slaughter City will remain unchanged. If anyone becomes a Killing God, send a Killing Envoy to inform me at the Tianjian Sect."
The Slaughter King had spent most of its time within Slaughter City and was unaware of the changes in the continent's situation or even where the Tianjian Sect was located.
Ning Tianchen reminded it, "It's in Tian Dou City. Just ask around after you get there, and you'll find it easily."
The Slaughter King nodded repeatedly. "Yes, this subordinate will strictly follow Master's orders."
Anyone capable of becoming a Killing God would undoubtedly possess extraordinary talent. Such individuals must be recruited under his banner.
Before leaving, Ning Tianchen warned, "I don't want to hear about the destruction of Slaughter City. Do your job well, understand?"
With that, his figure vanished from the spot.
The Slaughter King glanced at the battlefield around him and couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"The Master's power is truly terrifying. I must perform exceptionally well in the future," the Slaughter King thought to himself.
…
Upon returning to the Tianjian Sect, Ning Tianchen didn't rush to the Sun and Moon Continent to obtain the ninth soul ring for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.
With his current strength, traveling to and from the Sun and Moon Continent at full speed would take no more than a month.
In the meantime, he began frequent correspondence with Qian Renxue and assisted Feng Xiaotian and others in completing their divine trials as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, on Sea God Island.
After months of effort, Tang San had finally completed the sixth trial and obtained the Sea God Trident from the Sea God Palace.
Following that, he swiftly moved on to the seventh trial, engaging in sparring matches with the seven Holy Pillar Title Douluos.
The Sea God's divine artifact, though a super divine artifact, was not as powerful as the artifacts of the five God Kings, especially the three Enforcers.
However, for Tang San at his current stage, obtaining the Sea God Trident was like adding wings to a tiger.
Though he was only a Soul Ancestor, with the Sea God Trident, he was now capable of handling ordinary Super Douluos.
In the end, all seven Holy Pillar Title Douluos were defeated by him, successfully completing the seventh trial.
The content of the eighth trial of the Sea God required Tang San to return to the continent and retrieve the Heart of the Sea God (Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud).
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud had been hidden by Ning Tianchen beneath the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, guarded by the skeletal remains of two divine beasts.
Through various methods of investigation, the Sea God eventually discovered its approximate location.
Of course, the Sea God only knew that the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was somewhere in the Sunset Forest, but the exact location could only be determined by Tang San himself.
The Sunset Forest was located just outside Tian Dou City, within the sphere of influence of the three great sects.
Given his enmity with Ning Tianchen, if Tang San were discovered by members of the Tianjian Sect, he wouldn't be able to search for the Heart of the Sea God in peace.
Therefore, his most pressing task now was to find a way to locate the Heart of the Sea God without being detected.
Tang San instinctively considered asking for help from the strong individuals on the Sea God Island, but unfortunately, they all had responsibilities and couldn't leave the island.
With no other options, Tang San decided to first return to the Tang Sect and discuss the matter with his father and uncle.
On the day he was about to leave the island, Bo Saixi sought him out.
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