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Just as Yun Shan raised his foot to crush Emperor Xue Ye, heaven and earth suddenly changed color.
Wu Song and Yun Shan lifted their heads at the same time. A familiar aura poured down from the sky.
"That's… the Sea God's aura?!"
At those words, the despair in Xue Ye's heart flickered into hope.
But with his head pinned beneath Yun Shan's foot, he couldn't move a muscle.
In that moment, the once-clear sky was devoured by an endless canopy of black clouds.
The heavy cloudbank surged like tides; a furious gale roared forth, whipping dust and dead leaves into the air.
Within Heaven Dou City, both the surrendered troops and the common folk were drawn to the upheaval above.
Before countless eyes, a colossal blue pillar of light speared down from the heavens, as if to pierce the world itself.
Within it flowed a sea-blue radiance; myriad droplets hung suspended, refracting dazzling brilliance like stars tumbling to earth.
The instant that azure column descended, a vast divine might swept across the land, engulfing the entire city.
Citizens and soldiers alike felt that irresistible power. One by one, they fell to their knees, too awed to raise their eyes to the sacred glow.
Among them, those tied to the Heaven Dou royal family prayed for the empire's survival.
At this moment, Yun Shan and Wu Song wore equally grave expressions, staring fixedly at the blue pillar.
In their sight, a figure slowly took form within the light.
He wore a blue divine robe embroidered with surging waves, and in his hand he held a golden trident.
It was none other than the Sea God, who had only recently descended to the mortal world.
Sensing an aura akin to that of the Hanhai Qiankun Cover, Emperor Xue Ye's eyes brightened with renewed spirit.
Though his head was pinned and his body could not struggle free, he forced his voice out with all his might.
"Lord Sea God—at last! I beg you, save me! Save the Heaven Dou Empire!"
Following the voice, the Sea God found Xue Ye—and discovered an unexpected delight.
"So, it was you, insect, who summoned this god? By rights I should have slain you outright, but since you have led me to such an amusing toy, I shall be merciful and spare you once."
Hearing this, Xue Ye's face lit with joy.
Yun Shan's expression darkened. The "toy" in the Sea God's mouth clearly meant him and Wu Song.
He considered, for an instant, crushing the ant beneath his foot first.
Just then, a voice sounded in the minds of Yun Shan and Wu Song.
In the span of a heartbeat, their solemn looks turned to mocking smiles.
Yun Shan lifted his gaze to meet the Sea God's, grinned, and spoke with biting scorn.
"And here I wondered who it was—turns out it's the mangy cur who got chased off by our Sect Master. All you can do is posture before the ignorant to feel relevant."
His words hit the Sea God where it hurt.
The Sea God ground his teeth, then forced a mocking tone of his own.
"And what of it? If this god is not mistaken, that fellow's true level is about the same as yours. He only shattered my divine sense by using some temporary boost."
Gazing down with smug disdain, he continued, "My plan was to rely on the Sea God's legacy—to make Tang San my successor. Then I would descend again through his body and slaughter you all."
"But fate has brought about another descent. This time, acting for the will of heaven, I'll cut you down myself—no need to wait for the next time."
Yet his taunts failed to rattle Yun Shan and Wu Song.
Wu Song snorted, laughter cold. "Upholding heaven's will? Don't make me laugh. You're just grasping for a pretext to meddle in the mortal world. Dress it up however you like—it's still about maximizing your own interests."
"Impudent!"
Stung, the Sea God bellowed.
In an instant, his divine pressure flooded over Heaven Dou City like a tidal wave.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Those standing closest to Wu Song burst into bloody mist on the spot.
Yet Wu Song stood like a pine on a cliff—unbent, unbowed by the god's might.
"What's wrong? Is a god's power really this feeble?"
Before the words had fully fallen, Wu Song erupted with soul power. The aura of a level-ninety-nine peak Douluo speared skyward.
He couldn't wholly dispel that divine pressure—but he could meet it head-on.
The Sea God was indeed a first-tier deity, but this was only a wisp of his consciousness.
Perhaps it could manifest god-level power, yet it could not reach its true peak.
Seeing Wu Song resist, the Sea God felt his dignity challenged.
"Insect—you court death!"
He hefted his golden trident and smashed it toward Wu Song.
In that instant, a boundless ocean rose from nothing, eclipsing the sky as it crashed down upon him.
Wu Song's aura climbed to an unprecedented peak; his eyes blazed. With the Pride of War bolstering him, his battle strength surged higher still.
Facing that heaven-darkening tide, he knew no fear—his fist shot forward.
It was a punch like a scorching sun tearing open the sea, blasting upward to collide with the falling deluge.
A blow at high noon!
When the sun-fist and the tidal sea met, the impact thundered like the sky collapsing.
The Sea God sneered at the sight. "A mere mortal dares vie with a god?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Wu Song smiled faintly. "Then look again."
The Sea God started, realizing something. He glanced toward the roiling waters—
There, the tide that had covered the heavens had been pierced clean through by that blazing sun.
It had not wholly dispersed, but much of its awe had bled away.
"A mortal—blocking this god's strike?!"
Humiliation curdled into rage. He resolved to silence every soul in Heaven Dou City—
If none lived, no one would tell of a god shaken by mortals.
He raised the golden trident to slaughter them all—
When a clear, ringing dragon's cry split the sky.
Every gaze snapped upward at once.
A vast black shadow tore through the clouds and dropped into view, looming in midair.
It was a colossal black dragon—Di Tian!
And on Di Tian's head stood a disheveled figure: Lan Minghua.
At the sight of the dragon, the Sea God's pupils shrank. "Di Tian?"
As the fiercest battle dragon under the Dragon God's banner, Di Tian's name carried heavy meaning—and the Sea God knew more than most.
While he faltered, a voice that filled him with humiliation and rage sounded in his ears.
"Oi! Gone for just a little while and you've already forgotten me? That really breaks my heart."
Recognizing Lan Minghua, the Sea God's face changed. Once more he felt a lethal threat radiating from that man.
"What is this? Wasn't his strength supposed to be temporary?"
"Why then has his power not waned—but grown even greater?!"
His brows knotted tight, yet no answer came.
Lan Minghua read his expression and knew his thoughts.
What's wrong—speechless?
Had you uncovered my secret earlier, you might have struggled a bit.
But now—even if you descend in person—you're not my match.
Lan Minghua looked at the Sea God with playful eyes and smiled. "Planning to lay hands on my people? Did you ask me first?"
A spark of fury flickered in the Sea God's gaze. He leveled the trident at Lan Minghua and spoke coldly:
"Arrogant wretch. Today this god will take you along with the res—"
Lan Minghua's palm fell.
With a single booming slap, the Sea God didn't even finish his sentence before that fragment of divinity was erased into nothing.
Heaven Dou City fell into deathly silence. No one could believe what they had just seen.
Emperor Xue Ye's eyes filled with despair; he had never imagined even the Sea God would fall before Lan Minghua.
He regretted everything—too late.
Lan Minghua cast him a calm glance. "Kill him. Keeping him alive only wastes air."
As the words landed, Yun Shan pressed down with his foot.
Crack!
A crisp sound. Xue Ye's skull split into pieces; his life was gone.
Lan Minghua had mulled over how to subdue the citizens of Heaven Dou—but after that single slap, it seemed the desired effect had already been achieved.
He assigned the founding of the Tianlong Empire to Yun Shan, then turned back toward the Tianlong Gang.
For he sensed that Tang San and Qian Renxue would soon grow at frightening speed.
He, of course, could not personally act—lest he be accused of bullying juniors.
At the same time, both Qian Renxue and Tang San opened their respective god trials; their strength would soon leap forward by bounds.
(End of Chapter)