Like thunder exploding on flat ground, Tang San froze.
His expression was complicated as he looked at Xiao Wu on the cross, then at the Asura Sword above the blood pool. His heart throbbed with unbearable pain.
Did he hate this Xiao Wu? Yes—hate! She had put countless green hats on him, borne seven children from other men. Any man in the world would find that unforgivable.
But at the same time, the hatred he felt for her was also entwined with two lifetimes' worth of love. Before, he never understood why Xiao Wu had become like this, but now he finally knew the reason.
Hatred—hatred had twisted the once kind, adorable Xiao Wu into this ugly, bitter self.
Now Tang San faced a choice—judgment upon Xiao Wu.
If the heavenly screen had not reminded him, then perhaps Tang San would have clung to a faint hope: he could pass judgment on her, and when he became a god, resurrect Xiao Wu, turning her once again into the pure, untainted girl he once knew.
But with that reminder, everything changed. If Tang San killed her here, then the Xiao Wu he hated would vanish forever—but so too would the Xiao Wu of his past life, the one he had loved.
Tang San loathed the present Xiao Wu, but he could not accept losing her. From all the waters of the world, he chose only her cup to drink. He loved only Xiao Wu. Without her, even if he became a god—what meaning would it hold?
With torment weighing down his heart, Tang San walked to the edge of the blood pool, locking eyes with the crucified Xiao Wu.
"Xiao… Xiao Wu."
"Don't call me that," Xiao Wu said with disgust. "If you hate me, then draw the Asura Sword and kill me. Fulfill your path as the Asura God. Rest assured—we will never meet again. I won't have to see the hypocrisy and filth of you Tang father and son."
"Xiao Wu," Tang San said with guilt, "about what Father did… I'm so sorry. But he acted without me knowing anything. I was in pain too."
"You're right. But so what?" Xiao Wu retorted coldly. "The truth remains—my mother died at Tang Hao's hands. And you are his son. I will never accept you."
"Xiao Wu." Tang San's eyes fell on the Asura Sword. He seemed to wrestle with himself before asking, "If… If my father had never done that… could we still have been together? Do you think I would have had a chance?" His hand grasped the hilt.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu replied, "If Tang Hao hadn't done it—who knows? Maybe we would have. After all, you were the one who treated me best. Xiao Wu is a conservative girl—I would have loved you for life, borne your children, just as you dreamed. A boy named Wu Lin, a girl named Wu Tong. But… there is no 'if.' No matter how good you are to me, you are still Tang Hao's son."
As she spoke, she raised her pale neck, her voice resolute: "Come on, kill me. My soul will be annihilated in the Asura Sword, and then I'll never have to remember you two father and son again."
"Just because I'm Tang Hao's son… Xiao Wu, do we really have no chance at all?" Tang San asked, unwilling to accept it.
"Hehe, of course there's a chance—if you avenge me. But he is your father. Do you think that's possible?" Xiao Wu sneered.
Tang San released the sword's hilt. With a thud, he knelt on the ground before the blood pool, bowed three times to the crucified Xiao Wu, and said, "Xiao Wu, as Tang Hao's son, I feel deeply ashamed. Don't worry—I will give you an answer."
"Ah San… giegie, you—" Xiao Wu looked at Tang San in shock.
"Xiao Wu, I'll prove to you the depth of my love," Tang San said firmly.
The heavenly voice descended:
"Asura Judgment I complete. The god candidate has chosen: Of course, forgive her.
Reward: +10% Asura God affinity. Soul bone: 100,000-year Green-Furred Baboon Goat Head."
The sword sheath rose into the air, floating. From afar, a stream of green light entered one of the sheath's ten slots. With its infusion, the sheath became half red, half green.
Then a green radiance descended. At its center was a head soul bone, emerald in color, with two curled goat horns extending from its sides like a crown. It fused onto Tang San's forehead.
His black hair turned green, and the horns grew out from within the strands.
Absorbing the 100,000-year soul bone instantly raised his spirit power by one rank. Tang San clenched his fists in excitement, hammered his chest, and let out a wild, frenzied baboon-like roar.
When his outburst ended, he looked at Xiao Wu almost like a child seeking praise. "Xiao Wu, I know—you've done many things that hurt me. But I also know this isn't your true self. That's why I chose to forgive you. Look, we still have a chance, don't we?"
"Ah San giegie… you chose to spare me when given the choice to kill or not. Life and death were in your hands. Do you expect me to thank you for the mercy of not killing me?" Xiao Wu mocked.
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant, Xiao Wu," Tang San quickly said.
But he noticed a subtle shift. Though she was still cold, compared to before, her tone was already softer.
This gave Tang San hope. He believed that as long as he had determination, persistence, and the courage to give, eventually he would warm Xiao Wu's frozen heart, rekindle her love, and reclaim her completely.
And once he reclaimed Xiao Wu's love—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Yu Tianheng, Er Ming… just wait for me!
The god trial ended, and Tang San and Xiao Wu were transported out of the judgment space.
Xiao Wu returned to the sword sheath space. By now, five people were within: Tai Long, Er Ming, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai.
"Xiao Wu-jie, you're finally back. I was so scared Tang San would kill you," Er Ming said.
"Hmph. Knowing the later trial's content, I was already prepared during the fourth test. With Tang San's nature, nothing would happen to me," Xiao Wu said smugly.
Dai Mubai laughed. "That little wretch is just a dog licking at your feet. To him, even letting him lick the toe of a goddess is grace. How could a licking dog ever dare kill a goddess?"
"But Xiao Wu," Ma Hongjun asked worriedly, "you won't actually forgive Tang San after he passes the sixth test, will you? You won't… fall in love with him?"
"How could that be? That little brat is nothing but a dog I can summon or dismiss at will. Playing with him is one thing, but Xiao Wu falling for him? Impossible. Xiao Wu despises spineless men like him the most." She sneered with disdain.
The sixth Asura God Trial was opened.
Tang San once again returned to the Judgment Floating Island.
This time, the one transmitted from the other side of the island was Tang Hao.
When Tang Hao arrived in this space and saw Tang San, his eyes carried a trace of guilt. He opened his mouth and said, "Xiao San…"
He wanted to explain something, but suddenly a cross manifested behind him, binding Tang Hao tightly to it.
The heavens above rippled, and the contents of the divine trial poured deep into Tang San's consciousness:
Asura God Fifth Trial: Asura Judgment II
Introduction: The fourth trial made you realize that your father committed countless crimes—rape, crippling his elder brother, killing his fellow disciples, patricide. And, knowing the true identity of your beloved mother, he still killed her, severing the bond between you and your beloved. Faced with one who has committed such overwhelming sins, what will you do?
Option One: Execute the Judgment. Draw the Asura Sword, judge Tang Hao's sins, and kill him!
Reward: +30% Asura God affinity, external spirit bone—Ten-thousand-year Emerald Green Double-Sided Turtle Shell, torso bone of the same beast, and one God-bestowed spirit ring.
**Option Two: After all, he is your father. Forgive him. Do not draw the Asura Sword. Spare Tang Hao!
Reward: +10% Asura God affinity, ten-thousand-year Nether Ghost Panther left leg bone.
Note: Since you abandoned judgment in the last divine trial, if you once again choose to abandon judgment, your affinity with the Asura God will forever remain capped at 90%. You will fail the trial, and the Asura Nine Divine Trials will degenerate into the top-tier Eight Trials.
Clearly, Tang Hao also received the trial's message. His face instantly changed.
He quickly looked toward Tang San. There, his son stood with dark, coal-black skin, long arms, and short legs—his expression unreadable.
Tang San suddenly lifted his head, looked at Tang Hao, and said:
"Father, now you see it yourself. We've reached the end of the road. This choice will decide whether I become the Asura God… or just the Grand Offering of the Asura God."
Tang San walked straight toward the blood pool.
Tang Hao gave a bitter laugh:
"So… you spared Xiao Wu, only to come and judge your father in the end?"
Tang San placed his hand on the Asura Sword's hilt.
"Dad, Xiao Wu's situation is different. She is the scabbard of the Asura Sword. If she dies, her soul is erased, without reincarnation or revival. You know that. I can't accept a world without Xiao Wu."
Tang San slowly drew the Asura Sword.
Tang Hao's eyes dimmed. "I… I understand. Xiao San, what I did to Xiao Wu… I wronged you."
The blood-red blade glimmered with icy sharpness. Tang San said,
"Father, don't worry. Once I become a god, I'll restore everything. For a god, death is not the end. When I reunite with Xiao Wu, I will revive you. I will find Mother. I will make us a whole family again, just as in our past life. Together we'll accomplish the grand ambitions left unfinished."
Tang San's every step toward Tang Hao sounded like a death knell.
Tang Hao felt release. He lifted his head, as if seeing his own father in heaven (Hei Nu Tang Tian, already in the Dark Joy Paradise). In his heart he thought sorrowfully:
Father, in the end we share the same fate. So be it. These are the consequences of the sins I, Tang Hao, sowed in my lifetime.
Lowering his head, his eyes burned as he gazed at Tang San. He said fervently,
"Come, Xiao San. Use your father's blood to forge your path to godhood. Let us open a new chapter for the glory of the Tang family!"
Tang San heard this, raised the Asura Sword, and thrust it forward!
Puchi!
The sharp blade pierced Tang Hao's heart and drove through the cross behind him. Blood trickled down the edge.
"Ugh—" Tang Hao vomited a mouthful of foul blood, splattering across Tang San's back. His loving gaze fixed on his son as he gasped:
"Xiao… Xiao San, you've always… been my pride… always… forever… Father… Father will never blame you…"
Then, his head drooped. He was gone.
Tang San pulled the Asura Sword free. His expression was complicated as he looked at his father's cooling body.
"Father, you were once my pride too…"
"But you are still my father. Once I become a god, I will bring you back!" Tang San declared, bathing in his father's blood.
Asura Judgment II – Decision Complete. Choice: Execute Judgment.
Rewards Granted: +30% Asura God affinity, Ten-thousand-year Emerald Green Double-Sided Turtle Shell external bone, torso bone of the same beast, and one God-bestowed spirit ring.
In the next moment, the sword scabbard in the blood pool soared into the sky. Three streams of green light from the outside world flowed into the scabbard, filling three of its slots.
Now, eight slots of the Asura Sword's scabbard glowed green, overwhelming its color with emerald brilliance.
From above, two beams of green light descended. At their center were two spirit bones: a radiant emerald torso bone and a gleaming green turtle shell with jade inlay.
First, the torso bone flew toward Tang San. A surge of green light instantly evaporated all of his clothing, exposing his coal-black skin. The bone fused into his body, merging with his spine.
Under the emerald energy, Tang San's hair, nose hair, armpit hair—even his pubic hair—turned vivid green.
Dark skin. Green hair.
Next, the massive external turtle shell fused with him. Tang San's body slipped mostly into the shell, leaving only his head, legs, and his overly long arms sticking out.
This external spirit bone gave Tang San unparalleled defense.
With a ten-thousand-year external spirit bone, his spirit power instantly rose to level 90—Quasi-Titled Douluo.
The God-bestowed spirit ring provided exactly the ring he needed. Tang San absorbed it immediately.
After the absorption, his configuration became seven black rings, two red rings, and his spirit power climbed to level 93—Titled Douluo.
Feeling the overwhelming power flooding his body, Tang San clenched his fists, pounded the turtle shell on his back, and let out a wild baboon-like roar:
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH——!"
After a while, the sword scabbard descended. Tang San picked it up, sheathed the Asura Sword, and looked at Tang Hao's corpse nailed to the cross.
He said solemnly:
"Xiao Wu, did you see? This is my answer to you!"