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Even if Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had joined forces in the past, they would never have dared to underestimate the power of the Spirit Empire's Elders. However, facing these powerful men lunging at him, Tang Chen only lowered his head and took a single glance.
His eyes were terrifyingly calm. There was no anger, nor was there any killing intent. There was not even a ripple of emotion. His main target was not these people; he was currently searching for Qian Renxue and Tang San.
"Move aside," Tang Chen spoke indifferently. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.
Gold Crocodile Douluo said coldly, "Tang Chen, this is the Spirit Empire military formation! Without Her Majesty's permission, don't even think about entering the city!"
Tang Chen looked at him calmly. "I don't want to kill you. I'll say this one last time. Move aside."
Gold Crocodile Douluo's expression sank. He was the Second Worshipful Elder of the Spirit Empire's Hall of Worship, a level 98 Peak Titled Douluo. Now that Qian Renxue had become a true god, how could he be driven back by a single word from Tang Chen?
"Attack!" Gold Crocodile Douluo let out an angry shout.
In an instant, several powerful attacks descended simultaneously. On the city wall, Xue Beng's face turned completely pale. "So many Elders are attacking at once..."
Dugu Bo, however, suddenly sneered. "Don't panic. These people can't stop him now."
A light flickered in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He also wanted to know just how strong Tang Chen had become after returning from Sea God Island.
High in the sky, Tang Chen finally moved. He slowly raised the Sea God Trident, and the blue-gold gem in the center suddenly lit up. In an instant, the water vapor of the entire world seemed to be summoned. Above Heaven Dou City, in the originally dry air, countless fine water lights appeared out of thin air. Those lights quickly condensed, turning into a blue-gold sea tide that surrounded Tang Chen.
At the same time, beneath Tang Chen's feet, a cyan-gold blue silver emperor vine quietly bloomed. The leaves swayed gently as the Life Domain and the power of the Sea God unfolded together.
There was no earth-shattering roar, and there was no flashy Spirit Ability name.
A blue-gold halo centered on Tang Chen suddenly spread out in all directions. In that instant, all the Spirit Abilities attacking Tang Chen froze in mid-air. Azure Luan Douluo's wind blades were swallowed by the blue-gold water curtain, and Lion Douluo's lion claw phantom collapsed inch by inch. The ice crystal arrows shot by Light Feather Douluo hung in mid-air, then dissipated into water mist. The long staffs in the hands of Thousand Jun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo felt as if they had smashed into a boundless deep sea, their power stripped away layer by layer.
Gold Crocodile Douluo's Golden Crocodile King phantom was suppressed on the spot by a vast pressure that could not be resisted. Its massive body froze in mid-air, unable to move forward even half an inch.
"What?!" Gold Crocodile Douluo's expression changed drastically.
The next moment, Tang Chen gripped the trident and gently pressed it downward. The entire sky seemed to collapse a layer. Gold Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, Lion Douluo, Light Feather Douluo, Thousand Jun Douluo, and Demon Subduing Douluo were all struck simultaneously. The Martial Soul True Body behind them trembled violently, and the light of their Spirit Rings dimmed one after another.
Azure Luan Douluo was the first to vomit blood and fly backward. Lion Douluo roared, trying to hold on by force, but the golden lion phantom was pressed to its knees by the Sea God's might. The ice bow in Light Feather Douluo's hand shattered, and he flew backward for hundreds of feet. The long staffs of Thousand Jun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo slipped from their hands as their bodies slammed into the ground, plowing two deep trenches in front of the military formation.
Gold Crocodile Douluo was the strongest, barely holding on for two breaths. But at the third breath, the light of the blue silver emperor vine behind Tang Chen flared greatly. Countless cyan-gold vines emerged from the void. They did not pierce his body, but instead wrapped gently around the Golden Crocodile King phantom. The seemingly weak Blue Silver Grass possessed infinite life force, forcibly pressing all the spirit power Gold Crocodile Douluo had released back into his body.
Gold Crocodile Douluo groaned, and the Golden Crocodile King phantom shattered with a bang. He fell from mid-air, slamming onto the ground on one knee with blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
In just one move, several top experts from the Hall of Worship were completely defeated. What was even more terrifying was that Tang Chen did not deliver a killing blow. After defeating them, those blue silver emperor vines released a wisp of gentle life force, protecting their shaken meridians and preventing their injuries from worsening.
Gold Crocodile Douluo raised his head, his eyes full of disbelief. "You... you've already reached this level?"
Tang Chen did not answer. He took a step forward, passing over the people from the Hall of Worship, and hovered above Heaven Dou City. The Sea God Trident hung at his side, and the cyan-gold Life Domain shrouded the entire city wall.
The injuries on Dugu Bo and the others began to slowly recover under the baptism of this life force. The pressure of the Angel Holy Light remaining on Dugu Bo's chest was also dissolved bit by bit. Ning Fengzhi's face recovered some color as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda lit up with a faint glow again. The injuries on Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were also gently suppressed by the life force.
Yang Wudi looked down at his hands, which had steadied again, a flicker of shock flashing in his eyes. "So this is his power now..."
On the city wall, the Heaven Dou soldiers erupted into long-suppressed cheers.
"Lord Tang Chen!"
"Lord Tang Chen has returned!"
"We're saved!"
In the Spirit Empire military formation, there was dead silence. Countless soldiers stared blankly at Tang Chen floating above the city, their faces pale. They had just seen with their own eyes that several elders from the Hall of Worship had joined forces, only to be suppressed by Tang Chen in one move. This sense of oppression was not weaker than Qian Renxue's personal arrival.
Tang Chen ignored the cheers. His gaze swept over the Spirit Empire army outside Heaven Dou City, past the injured Gold Crocodile Douluo and the other Elders, and finally looked into the distance where a wisp of Angel Holy Light remained.
Tang Chen took a slow breath. The next moment, his voice resounded throughout the battlefield like the ocean tide and thunder.
"Where is Qian Renxue?"
The voice rolled across the land. Heaven Dou City shook, the Spirit Empire army shook, and the clouds in the distance seemed to be blown away by the sound.
Tang Chen, holding the Sea God Trident, stood tall above Heaven Dou City as his voice rang out again. "Qian Renxue! Come out and see me!"
His voice echoed outside Heaven Dou City like the ocean tide, lingering for a long time. The Spirit Empire military formation remained completely silent.
Gold Crocodile Douluo knelt on one knee on the ground with blood still at the corner of his mouth. Hearing Tang Chen call out like that made his expression turn even uglier. If anyone else had dared to call the name of the Angel God so directly in front of the Spirit Empire army, he would have already attacked and killed them. But now, he couldn't attack.
That strike just now had made him clearly realize that Tang Chen's current strength could no longer be measured by an ordinary Titled Douluo. With the Sea God Trident in hand, the Blue Silver Emperor Life Domain on his body, and that unfathomable Spirit Ring configuration, Tang Chen was already standing on the threshold between mortal and god, even if he had not yet truly inherited the Sea God position.
On the Heaven Dou City wall, Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Yang Wudi remained quiet. They knew that the dialogue that would truly determine the direction of the continent was about to begin.
In the distant sky, a golden light suddenly lit up. At first, it was just a tiny dot. Then, that point of golden light rapidly enlarged like a sun breaking through the darkness from the depths of the clouds, speeding toward Heaven Dou City.
The Spirit Empire army immediately knelt down in unison. "Welcome, Your Majesty the Angel God!"
The sound resounded across the plain like roaring waves. The next moment, Qian Renxue appeared in the sky outside Heaven Dou City.
Her six wings were spread behind her, her Angel God outfit shimmering with brilliant golden radiance. The Angelic Sacred Sword in her hand hung down, and her golden eyes were calm and majestic. She had just returned from chasing and killing Tang San from the rear. Although she hadn't managed to kill Tang San, she had saved Suotuo City and seen the tragic state Tang San had left behind.
At this moment, Qian Renxue still carried unspent killing intent. But when she saw the white-clothed figure above Heaven Dou City, the coldness in her eyes paused slightly.
Tang Chen had finally returned. The two of them looked at each other across the air. One was dressed in fluttering blue, holding the Sea God Trident, with cyan-gold life energy and blue-gold Sea God power interwoven behind him. The other was in golden armor with six wings spread, her Angel Holy Light shining on the world like a blazing sun.
Inside and outside Heaven Dou City, hundreds of thousands of soldiers held their breath at the same time. Everyone thought that these two would immediately start fighting. After all, Qian Renxue had just arrived at the gates of Heaven Dou City, almost completely taking over the Heaven Dou Empire. Tang Chen was Heaven Dou's last hope at this moment. If they fought, it would be a true battle between god-level beings.
To everyone's surprise, Tang Chen did not move, and Qian Renxue did not move either. They just looked at each other quietly.
After a long time, Qian Renxue spoke first. "You're back." Her voice was still majestic, but it lacked the coldness she had shown toward Xue Beng, Dugu Bo, and the others.
Tang Chen nodded. "I just returned from the Star Dou Great Forest."
Qian Renxue's eyes flickered slightly as Tang Chen continued, "Tang San went to the Star Dou Great Forest to slaughter Spirit Beasts over ten thousand years old. He wanted to devour the origin of a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast to complete his Ninth Trial of the Rakshasa. Xiong Jun, Bi Ji, Chi Wang, Zi Ji, and the Ten Thousand Demon King were all drawn into the war. In the end, Di Tian made a move, destroying his undead army with the Dragon God Claw and injuring Tang San."
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed. "No wonder he was injured when I fought him."
When she fought Tang San earlier, she had noticed that the three claw marks on his chest were not simple. That power was ancient, powerful, and sharp, capable of suppressing even the Rakshasa Divine Power.
Tang Chen looked at Qian Renxue and said, "But Tang San didn't die."
Qian Renxue said coldly, "I know. After he was defeated and ran from the Star Dou Great Forest, he circled to the rear of my army and slaughtered several cities that had just surrendered. In those cities, I didn't kill anyone, I didn't let soldiers plunder, and I even sent people to maintain order. But after Tang San went there, the souls of the entire city were sucked away, and not a single living person was left."
Speaking of this, the killing intent in Qian Renxue's eyes flared up again. "He also used those souls to turn Tang Xiao and the Five Elders of the Clear Sky Sect into undead. Now he has even more Undead Titled Douluo in his hands than before."
Tang Chen's eyes sank. "I've already sensed it."
On the city wall, Dugu Bo couldn't help but curse when he heard this. "He even turned those old guys from the Clear Sky Sect into undead? Tang San is truly completely inhumane!"
Ning Fengzhi's expression was grave. "This makes his undead army even more troublesome."
Sword Douluo whispered, "What's worse is that he doesn't fight face-to-face. He just keeps slaughtering cities and devouring souls. If this continues, no one can defend all the cities."
Tang Chen didn't look back. He just looked at Qian Renxue and said calmly, "That's why I came to find you."
Qian Renxue raised her eyebrows slightly. "Find me?"
Tang Chen nodded. "Let's have a truce first."
When these words came out, Xue Beng's head snapped up in shock. In the Spirit Empire military formation, Gold Crocodile Douluo and the others also changed their expressions. Tang Chen actually wanted to talk about a truce with Qian Renxue?
Qian Renxue didn't answer immediately. She just stared at Tang Chen. "Give me a reason."
Tang Chen said, "Tang San is no longer just a regular enemy. He's now a disaster for the entire continent. He doesn't care about Heaven Dou, he doesn't care about Star Luo, and he cares even less about the Spirit Empire. The cities you conquer, he'll slaughter. The cities Heaven Dou defends, he'll slaughter. The cities on the border of Star Luo, he'll slaughter them too. Even the Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest aren't safe. To Tang San, the entire Douluo Continent is just a sacrificial altar."
Qian Renxue didn't argue because she had seen it with her own eyes. To heal his injuries and feed the Rakshasa altar, Tang San didn't care who owned the cities. He only cared about gathering souls and hatred to bring himself closer to the Rakshasa God position.
Tang Chen continued, "If you keep attacking Heaven Dou, Heaven Dou will fall. But even if you take Heaven Dou City, it will be meaningless. Tang San will just keep attacking your rear, killing people, and destroying the order you're trying to build. Every time you take a city, he'll turn it into a dead zone. You want to unite the continent, but he wants to destroy it. These two things can't happen at the same time."
Qian Renxue's eyes sank slightly. Tang Chen had pointed out the exact problem she knew was real but didn't want to admit. She was the Angel God. She could defeat Heaven Dou and suppress Star Luo, leading the Spirit Empire army forward. But she couldn't be everywhere at once.
Tang San used Rakshasa Space to move around, making his location unpredictable, and he had an undead army to help him. As long as he avoided fighting her directly, he could keep creating dead cities behind her lines. If he was allowed to continue, the Spirit Empire would only end up ruling over a ruined wasteland.
Qian Renxue said indifferently, "So, you want me to give up on unifying the continent?"
Tang Chen shook his head. "Not giving up, just putting it on hold. We kill Tang San first. After Tang San dies, if you still want to fight, I'll fight you."
His words were calm but carried heavy weight. On the city wall, Xue Beng's face changed slightly, and Ning Fengzhi sighed softly. Tang Chen didn't use fancy words. He didn't promise to protect Heaven Dou forever, nor did he say the Spirit Empire could never unite the continent. He simply pointed out the most dangerous threat in front of them.
Kill Tang San first. As for everything else, the conflict between Heaven Dou, Star Luo, and the Spirit Empire could be settled later.
Qian Renxue looked at Tang Chen quietly. For some reason, memories from many years ago suddenly flashed through her mind. Back then, she wasn't the Angel God yet. She hadn't even revealed her true identity as Qian Renxue, living in Heaven Dou City disguised as Xue Qinghe to manage the political struggles between the imperial court, the sects, and Spirit Master forces.
Back then, she had met Tang Chen many times. Tang Chen wasn't as strong as he was now, but he already had a calm and steady presence that she couldn't ignore. He was never overly humble or arrogant. Even though he didn't come from a powerful background, he always seemed able to see right through people's disguises.
Qian Renxue still remembered playing chess with Tang Chen in Heaven Dou City while disguised as Xue Qinghe. Halfway through their game, Tang Chen had looked up at her and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you have too much on your mind. Even though your moves are steady, it always feels like you're playing chess for someone else."
At that moment, Qian Renxue almost thought her cover was blown. But Tang Chen didn't expose her and simply finished the game.
Even further back, in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had run into trouble. She had entered the forest secretly to get a Spirit Ring without revealing her identity, but ended up surrounded by several powerful Spirit Beasts. Her bodyguards suffered heavy losses, and she almost lost her life to the Emperor Auspicious Beast.