The Slaughter King's once pale complexion slowly shifted, replaced by a healthy flush of color.
The bat-like wings on his back shattered inch by inch, disintegrating into ash beneath the destructive might of the Slaughter Death Ray.
His scarlet hair gradually turned black, and the same transformation occurred within his eyes.
They became pitch-black—deep, profound, and endless. His features also underwent subtle changes. Though still appearing middle-aged, his face grew more handsome, as if all malice and wickedness had been washed away, replaced entirely by righteous dignity.
His long black hair flowed freely in the wind. Standing tall and unmoving, he no longer bore the frail illusion of the Slaughter King. Instead, he stood as solid as a mountain—majestic and unshakable.
The invincible bearing of a peerless powerhouse revealed itself before Lin Fan.
Now, the only remnant of red upon him was the sword-shaped blood mark glowing faintly on his forehead.
Lin Fan's pupils shrank sharply. He could clearly sense it—though the blood-colored aura had vanished and the wings were destroyed, the aura emanating from this man was climbing to terrifying heights at a geometric rate, as though without end.
The blood-red glow radiating from the sword-shaped mark on his brow expanded outward, forcing back Lin Fan's Slaughter Death Ray.
"The power of the Asura God… and the Asura Demon Sword—so they finally emerge!" Lin Fan exclaimed in awe.
He had thought the Slaughter King would perish within the Death Ray. But instead, it awakened Tang Chen's true self.
No—strictly speaking, the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King's soul had been destroyed within the Death Ray, yet Tang Chen's soul—protected by the Asura God's divine power—remained untouched.
Thus, Tang Chen's true will resurfaced.
Lin Fan understood clearly. Tang Chen had once completed seven of the Asura God's Nine Trials, only to be corrupted during the eighth by the Rakshasa God's evil interference. This had allowed the Bat King to seize control.
It now made sense that Tang Chen carried the Asura God's power within him.
The next instant, Tang Chen's eyes blazed with crimson radiance. His claws reverted to broad human hands, crimson energy coursing forth like a flood.
At that moment, the aura erupting from him soared beyond description, far surpassing Lin Fan's 98th rank soul power.
Behind him, an illusory red phantom took form, exuding infinite murderous intent. The energy in his palms condensed, transforming into the shape of a hammer.
A massive crimson hammer, etched with countless sinister runes, materialized. Yet in the blink of an eye, the hammer seemed to melt away—reshaping itself into a colossal sword over two meters long.
This blood-red giant sword was sleek yet broad, its blade inscribed with dark-gold divine runes. Its aura resembled Lin Fan's Slaughter Sword spirit, but far holier, more majestic, and infinitely more oppressive.
At the junction between hilt and blade rested a strange blood-red gem shaped like an eye. This was none other than the Asura God's super divine weapon—the Asura Demon Sword.
Clutching the weapon in both hands, Tang Chen advanced fearlessly. Crimson light fused into one with his being, and with a mighty upward swing, his blade tore through the sky to meet Lin Fan's Slaughter Death Ray.
From Hu Liena's perspective, only two blinding seas of crimson light collided.
BOOM—!!!
Scarlet clashed against scarlet, fusing for a brief instant before exploding outward with devastating force.
Hu Liena felt a tidal wave of destructive energy engulf her. She curled into a ball, hiding within the shelter of her nine fox tails.
The next second, she and the surviving Enforcers were all overwhelmed by the shockwave, falling unconscious.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan was blasted back over a hundred meters, his insides churning violently, blood spilling uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth.
At the center of the battlefield, a massive crater nearly five hundred meters wide and over a hundred meters deep yawned open. All structures within the radius had been reduced to ash—save only the solitary Hell Slaughtering Field and the entrance to Hell Road.
"Hahaha! Did I win… or did I lose?"
"Asura… truly worthy of the name Asura. In the end, I still failed to pass your trial."
The Slaughter King suddenly roared with laughter, yet his expression twisted in unbearable agony. Two streams of blood-red tears flowed down his face.
Lin Fan steadied his chaotic qi, his heart trembling. "Such terrifying power… Tang Chen has undoubtedly surpassed rank 99—he's achieved a half-god body."
After a long while, Tang Chen's emotions finally calmed. The blood tears ceased, and his eyes regained clarity.
With a sharp swish, Tang Chen appeared before Lin Fan in a flash, the Asura Demon Sword in hand.
Lin Fan straightened his posture, meeting his gaze.
Tang Chen's voice was steady and grave now, lacking the shrill wickedness from before. It carried the weight of an elder, deep and resonant.
"Young man… thank you."
"Thank you…?" Lin Fan asked, puzzled.
Tang Chen nodded solemnly. "Yes. If not for you shattering the Bat King and the evil will that plagued me, my true self would never have awakened."
Lin Fan inclined his head. "I see. But with your strength now, Senior, I can only look up to you. This battle—I have lost."
Tang Chen shook his head with a faint, bitter smile. "No. It is you who won. You defeated the Slaughter King, and in doing so, restored my true self."
"Because of you, I even completed the Eighth Trial, attaining the body of a half-god. But… it is already too late. Far too late…"
His expression contorted again as he laughed in pained sorrow.
When he finally calmed, Lin Fan hesitated before asking: "Senior… with such strength, could it be—you are one of the three peerless Limit Douluo of the continent, the long-vanished Haotian Douluo?"
Tang Chen nodded calmly. "I am Tang Chen, Haotian Douluo. Judging by your appearance, you're about the same age as my grandson… yet you've already reached rank 98. When I secluded myself, you should have only just become a Title Douluo. And yet—I do not know you."
Lin Fan's face lit with joy. "So it really is you, Senior Tang Chen. I heard about you from Tang Yuehua. She told me you vanished while seeking the gods. I never imagined I'd meet you here in the Slaughter City."
"What? Yuehua? My only granddaughter—you know her?" Tang Chen's expression softened in surprise.
Lin Fan straightened, speaking solemnly. "Senior, allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Lin Fan. Yuehua and I have not yet held our wedding ceremony, but since she was sixteen, we've been together."
Tang Chen's eyes widened. "Together… for over twenty years? And yet no wedding? Brat, you're not toying with my granddaughter's feelings, are you?" His tone turned sharp, an elder's authority pressing down.
Lin Fan gave a wry smile. To be honest, Senior, when we first met, I only had innate rank six soul power. I wasn't worthy of Yuehua then. Later, the Haotian Sect suffered its great upheaval, forcing your clan into seclusion. Yuehua and I were separated for many years. It wasn't until I broke through to Title Douluo and returned to Heaven Dou City that we reunited."