Tang San stared at the spot where the Jade Gate had been struck. The terrifying power of his third Soul Skill needed no further explanation—it was a formidable fusion of darkness and space, nearly unstoppable. Even the thick, reinforced Soul Guidance Device barrier of the Insectoids had been annihilated by this very skill.
Yet now, this seemingly fragile, exquisitely crafted white jade gate remained completely unscathed, without even a single scratch!
Tang San stepped forward and reached out to touch the Jade Gate. His expression shifted abruptly as he muttered to himself, "This sensation... it feels similar to Slaughter City and Ghost City. Could this be a divine seal? Just like the world of Slaughter City, Soul Skills might be unusable here!"
It finally dawned on him. No wonder he had felt something strange when his Soul Skill made contact with the gate earlier. He surmised that the interior of this gate must function similarly to Slaughter City—once entered, Soul Skills would be suppressed.
Though Tang San hadn't stepped inside yet, his third Soul Skill had already touched the gate, likely causing the skill to fail for this very reason.
"What a marvel. No wonder no one has ever passed the Holy Academy's entrance exam. That old missionary only charged ten gold coins with such a sly look—this gate was built by the Angel God himself!" Tang San stroked his chin but didn't dwell on it further. Instead, he activated his External Soul Bone.
As expected, nothing happened. It wasn't that the External Soul Bone had failed—it was simply that his thousand-year Rakshasa God Eyes couldn't penetrate the Jade Gate.
"If Soul Skills won't work, brute force will have to do."
Taking a deep breath, Tang San stored away his Clear Sky Hammer and removed his outer robe, revealing his muscular arms. Though only twelve years old, the early awakening of his abilities on the Douluo Continent had accelerated his growth, and he now stood as tall as an adult.
Planting his feet firmly, Tang San retrieved a thumb-thick Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng from his Soul Guidance Device and popped it into his mouth. Instantly, the medicinal energy erupted, flushing his cheeks red as if he had taken a stimulant.
Pressing both hands against the Jade Gate, his Rakshasa Martial Soul manifested. "I thought the Rakshasa Martial Soul might be suppressed too. Seems I worried for nothing," he mused.
"Rakshasa Avatar!" he roared inwardly. His already flushed skin, heated by the ginseng, now swirled with a bloody aura, making him resemble a crimson demon from afar.
With a resonant hum, the earth trembled as the Blood Moon cast its glow overhead. "Domain Expansion—Blood Moon Eternal Sin Blood Prison!"
In an instant, a mirage-like vision unfolded within the domain. The Blood Moon transformed into the ceiling of a prison, while the ground churned with a viscous pool of blood. Chains shot up from the depths, ready to suppress an enemy's Soul Power. Though no foe stood before him, countless chains now converged into a single, immense force, thrusting against the colossal Jade Gate.
A closer look would reveal twelve faceless stone statues standing at the bottom of the blood pool, each gripping chains. However, perhaps due to Tang San's current limitations, these statues remained dormant.
"Haah!"
In that fleeting moment, every aspect of Tang San's being surged to its absolute peak. The Rakshasa Avatar clung to him as though the true Rakshasa had possessed his body.
Boom! The moment Tang San exerted his full strength, the Jade Gate emitted a faint white light, forming a pushing force. The counterforce of this white light was precisely equivalent to the limit of a level 37 Soul Elder.
"No wonder no one could push open this gate. The stronger the strength, the greater the resistance. Without a God-level Martial Soul, formidable physical power, and an innate Domain, it would be absolutely impossible to push it open."
A red and a white force collided, and the creaking sound of the gate slowly opening echoed as the tightly shut door revealed a narrow gap.
Fortunately, the old missionary had already left. Otherwise, seeing this scene would have shocked him beyond belief, as even Pope Qian Xun Ji could only push the gate open a tiny crack.
Boom! A deafening roar erupted, and the surrounding white mist surged like a vast ocean being overturned, forming a massive whirlpool.
Creak— Tang San took a step forward with his right foot. By now, the white jade gate had been pushed open enough to fit a person's head through. All he needed was to step in with his left foot to enter.
"Damn it, can this gate really be opened?!" Tang San gritted his teeth, but he found that after opening it halfway, the remaining part became nearly impossible to push further.
However, just as he was locked in this stalemate, a burst of Soul Light suddenly shone from his right hand. The Clear Sky Hammer Spirit flew out from his body, transforming into a black streak of light that slammed heavily against the gate.
With a loud clang, the remaining part of the gate was forcefully smashed open by the Clear Sky Hammer. Immediately after, a surge of platinum light gushed out from inside, sucking Tang San in before the gate shut abruptly, as if nothing had ever happened.
Thud! The next moment, Tang San, who had been sucked in, felt himself being spat out. He tumbled head over heels on the ground, rolling several times before finally stopping in an undignified heap.
Tang San stood up and opened his eyes, only to find himself standing at the foot of an enormous mountain that towered into the clouds. In the distance, all he could see were layers of clouds, making it seem as though he were standing in the sky itself.
"Huh... does this mean I passed the entrance exam? Where's that old missionary? Or is the exam not over yet? This can't possibly be the Spirit Saint Academy, can it?" Tang San frowned in confusion. "Examiner, where are you?"
He turned around and saw a swirling, radiant gate behind him. After examining it, he muttered, "I must have come out from here. This seems to be a Soul Guidance Device, similar to a Storage Ring Soul Guidance Device with spatial attributes. It's probably a Teleportation Gate Soul Tool."
"No wonder no one has ever passed the Holy Academy's entrance exam. Opening this Jade Gate requires Twin Spirits."
A hint of pride flashed across Tang San's face. Who else in this world possessed Twin Spirits besides him? "Ah, well, what can I say? I'm just naturally gifted."
After indulging in some self-praise, Tang San began surveying the surroundings. "This place is likely similar to the underground worlds of Slaughter City and Ghost City—an alternate dimension. It might have been left behind by the Angel God."
"Could there be an Angel God Trial inheritance hidden here?"
However, Tang San quickly dismissed this idea. The Angel God's trials had always been under the control of the Spirit Hall. If there really were an Angel God Trial here, he wouldn't have been able to enter in the first place.
"What is that?" Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly, spotting a faint golden glow in the distance that resembled a building.
Testing his footing, Tang San discovered that the surrounding clouds could actually be stepped on like solid ground. As he gradually moved closer, he saw an exquisite white temple standing at the center of the sea of clouds. In front of the temple stood a statue of a Six-Winged Angel, beneath which three words were inscribed in golden letters.
"Angel City? Have I come to the dwelling place of angels?!" Tang San swallowed hard. Here he was, a participant in the Rakshasa God Trial, standing in the home of angels?
This was practically asking for trouble!