The authoritative voice that had resonated in Tang San's mind grew more and more ethereal toward the end, but Tang San felt nothing but reverence. He didn't even need to ask — he understood that whether it was the golden phantom or that commanding voice, both came from the true Sea God, or rather, from the imprint the Sea God had left in this world. He had finally glimpsed the threshold of divine power for the very first time.
As Tang San regained control over his body, the four Titled Douluo who had been gravely wounded were only just pulling themselves up from the distant ground, their faces drained of color. Meanwhile, high in the air, the purple fragments that had been Bibi Dong's body were spiraling rapidly and converging, seemingly stitching themselves back together under the influence of purple runic patterns. At the same time, a strange ring of purple light enveloped the outer edges of those fragments.
Tang San had absolute faith in the Sea God's words. If the Sea God himself said that Tang San couldn't kill Bibi Dong before becoming a god, then there was simply no chance. Without the slightest hesitation, even though his mental power was nearly completely depleted, he forced himself to muster what little energy remained, activated the Hidden Ocean Shield to turn invisible, and silently melted into the depths of the forest. Not one of the four Titled Douluo who had gotten back on their feet dared to give chase. They had been utterly terrified by the true divine power of the Golden Thirteen Halberds.
And who could blame them? A single strike had gravely wounded five Titled Douluo, including the Empress of the Spirit Empire herself — the peak-level Bibi Dong. How could they not fear such power? The Sea God's Trident in Tang San's hands had shaken them to their very core.
The purple demonic patterns grew increasingly intense as the shattered body of the Death Spider Emperor slowly coalesced, reassembling into its original form. However, faint threads of gold had now threaded through the purple patterns on her body. The moment she restored her true form, Bibi Dong immediately released her Martial Soul Avatar, transforming back into her human form. She even recalled her Martial Soul entirely.
She spat out a mouthful of golden-tinged blood, her body swaying violently. Her beautiful eyes burned with unwillingness. "This man… will be the greatest obstacle to my unification of the continent."
Having spoken those words, she collapsed to the ground, her hands forming a strange mudra as she entered a meditative cultivation state.
The ninth Soul Skill Bibi Dong had just used from the Death Spider Emperor was called Undying Body. For most Soul Masters, the strongest ninth Soul Skill would never be absorbed as an auxiliary ability, but Bibi Dong possessed a Twin Martial Soul, so she had no such worries. This ninth Soul Skill came from a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast identical to her own Martial Soul — the Death Spider Emperor. It had taken her an entire year of relentless hunting to finally kill that beast and obtain both its Soul Ring and its Death Spider Emperor Soul Bone. Among the two abilities granted by this hundred-thousand-year Soul Skill, one was the life-saving defensive skill she had just used — Undying Body. Even if her body was shattered to pieces by an enemy's attack, it could reassemble itself. It surpassed the restorative ability of Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone.
The moment Bibi Dong sensed the lethal threat posed by the Golden Trident, she had rapidly switched to her Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul and unleashed this life-saving ninth Soul Skill. No matter how powerful the opponent's attack, it would be unable to kill her. However, the Sea God's golden divine power was not so easily withstood. Although she had used the Undying Body to block the majority of it, a small amount had still invaded her body and would need to be purged on her own.
Under these circumstances, let alone using mental detection to search for Tang San and the others, Bibi Dong couldn't even guarantee her own safety. The four elders of the Spirit Empire hurriedly moved to surround and guard her. Naturally, in their hearts, even the Chrysanthemum Douluo — who would have liked nothing more than to tear Tang San to shreds — didn't dare venture out in pursuit. Every person had only one life. Having painstakingly cultivated to the Titled Douluo level, who among them would want to take such a risk? At the same time, the power Tang San had displayed filled them with a sense of utter helplessness. What kind of opponent was this, to be so powerful that even the Sovereign had been gravely wounded?
In truth, Tang San's own ability alone was far from enough to accomplish all of this. Just as he hadn't understood Bibi Dong's skills, she and those Titled Douluo knew nothing about his abilities, and especially not about the Sea God's Trident. They had been completely caught off guard. Combined with the activation of the true Sea God's imprint, this was the only reason they had been repelled in a single blow. Had the real Sea God been there, the second stance — Thousand-Year Void — alone would have been enough to take their lives. Even Bibi Dong would have been gravely wounded. After all, though the gap between a level ninety-nine peak Douluo and a god was only a single step, the difference in actual power was as vast as heaven and earth. Moreover, Bibi Dong at this moment was not the complete Bibi Dong — a portion of her power had been diverted elsewhere and could not be recalled. That other use was, in fact, even more important than obtaining the Soul Rings of the two Forest Kings.
When Tang San fled, his body was already spent. The Sea God's Trident's consumption of both mental and soul power was enormous. Even the final attack had relied on the energy of the Sea God's imprint itself, but before that, Tang San had already used it three times. His body wasn't quite at the point of total exhaustion, but it was hollow and drained. Even maintaining the Hidden Ocean Shield's invisibility was a struggle.
Guided by their spiritual connection, Tang San quickly sensed Xiao Wu's anxious soul fluctuations rapidly approaching him. His assessment of the situation with the Titled Douluo on Bibi Dong's side was nearly identical to reality — at the very least, those people wouldn't dare abandon Bibi Dong to give chase for at least half an hour. That gave him ample time.
Xiao Wu and the others hadn't run very far — just over five li from the battlefield. When Tang San arrived, Xiao Wu was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Daming, Erming, you have to hold on! You can't die! Big Brother is coming right away. He's an expert at neutralizing poisons — he'll definitely be able to save you!" Through her tears, Xiao Wu continuously poured her soul power into the bodies of the two divine beasts.
But no matter what, the light in both Daming's and Erming's eyes only grew dimmer and dimmer. Their bodies could no longer move even a fraction.
"Xiao Wu, stop wasting your strength. There's nothing more to be done for us. That human's Martial Soul carries the most lethal poison in the world. The Death Spider Emperor's venom is already incurable. What's more, the poison has not only invaded our internal organs — it has corroded our very souls. Don't cry, alright? The fact that you and Tang San managed to rescue us and keep us from dying at the enemy's hands… we're already grateful. We've lived for a hundred thousand years — even in death, it cannot be called a premature end. We didn't die at the enemy's hands, and we didn't become her Soul Rings. We're satisfied." Daming's eyes were nearly closed; he barely had the strength to keep his eyelids open.
While they were speaking, Tang San arrived and released the Hidden Ocean Shield's concealment.
Seeing Tang San, Xiao Wu grabbed onto him like a drowning person clutching at straw. "Big Brother, hurry, save them! Daming and Erming are about to die!"
Tang San was shocked. Ignoring his own weakened state, he rushed forward and pulled two antidote pills from his Myriad Treasure Purse — pills he had refined years ago — and placed one in each of the divine beasts' mouths. He then used what little soul power he had left to catalyze the medicine.
"Tang San, don't waste your effort. Even if a god came, they couldn't save us. Our bodies are structured differently from humans. Since you've made it here in time, we wanted to thank you before we die. Thank you for not letting us fall into that person's hands."
Tang San hurriedly tried to reassure him. "Daming, you'll be fine. I will find a way to save you both."
Suddenly, Daming's eyes snapped open, blazing with a fierce radiance, as though he had been restored to full vitality in an instant.
"Tang San, listen to me." With the revival of his mental faculties, Daming's voice had grown strong again. But seeing this, Tang San's expression turned deathly pale. Well-versed in the nature of poisons as he was, how could he not recognize it — Daming had truly reached the end. This sudden recovery was nothing but the final rallying of a life on the brink.
"My time is running short." Daming looked at Tang San, then at Xiao Wu. Beside him, Erming — equally on the verge of death — had also opened his eyes, but his once golden gaze had turned a dull, ashen gray.
"Tang San, we know our own condition. This body has been completely corroded. Unless you can produce right now the same medicinal herb you used to save Xiao Wu's body last time, there is no chance left for us. My time is limited — let me finish speaking."
The herb Daming referred to was naturally the Heartbreak Red. Where could Tang San possibly find it now? Even if he could, it would already be too late. And the requirements for anyone who wished to consume the Heartbreak Red were impossibly strict.
Tang San stared at Daming with a heavy heart and nodded. Xiao Wu, however, threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around Daming's massive neck, weeping openly.
A distant, luminous light flickered in Daming's eyes. "Tang San, to be honest — in the beginning, I didn't like you. Xiao Wu had always been with us. The three of us lived together for nearly a hundred thousand years. No matter what she did, Erming and I supported her — even when she ultimately chose to become human. When you appeared, we realized that Xiao Wu's heart had given itself entirely to you. You know how that felt? It was as if our own sister had gone off with someone else. But after what happened last time, we understood — you truly love Xiao Wu. You were willing to give your own life to save her. Xiao Wu's choice was not wrong. You are her true home. This time, seeing the two of you return together, I was genuinely happy. When I saw that Xiao Wu's soul could already possess a body, I understood that all these years, you had been working tirelessly toward her resurrection. Xiao Wu has a good eye — she found you. I'm happy for her."
Daming paused. "I'm about to leave, but I still have one wish unfulfilled. I hope you can grant it for me. Will you?"
Tang San nodded firmly, his voice resolute. "Name it. Whatever it is, I'll do it." Not for any other reason, but for the bond that Daming and Erming shared with Xiao Wu — he would honor this last request.
Daming nodded at Tang San, a look of gratitude on his face. "Thank you, Tang San. Today may well be the day I've said 'thank you' more than any other in my life. Xiao Wu, don't be sad. Like us, you've lived for a hundred thousand years. You have Tang San, you've evolved into a human, and you have new hope. But we've lived in this great forest for a hundred thousand years. In truth, we long ago lost much of our attachment to this world. In a sense, death can be both an ending and a new beginning."
"Tang San, Erming and I see life and death quite clearly. Death doesn't frighten us. As long as we don't die in humiliation at the enemy's hands, we're satisfied. The only thing I can't rest easy about is Xiao Wu. My final wish is to see Xiao Wu's resurrection with my own eyes — to witness the process before the last moment of my life."
Tang San was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Daming to make such a request. With a somber expression, he said, "I'm sorry, Daming. I can't do that right now. I don't yet have the strength of a Titled Douluo. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
Daming's gaze suddenly turned sharp, piercing into Tang San. "I can feel it — your current soul power is at level eighty-five, isn't it? You're only five levels short. Erming and I can give you those five levels. But once you have them, you must resurrect Xiao Wu. Can you do it?"
Tang San was stunned. "Daming, you mean to..."
Xiao Wu jerked her head up, clutching the scales on Daming's body. "No! Daming, Erming, you can't do this!"
Erming, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. His eyes, too, had brightened — like Daming, he had entered the state of a final rallying light. His gaze, equally intense, was fixed on Tang San. "Xiao Wu, if you don't want our deaths to be completely meaningless, then don't try to stop us. Big Brother and I have already made up our minds. If we're going to die regardless, why not make that death count for something? Being able to help you resurrect Xiao Wu — our deaths will have been worth it. And once we become Tang San's Soul Rings, we'll still be by your side, protecting you. Tang San — are you willing? The three of us are all male. For Xiao Wu's sake, are you willing to sacrifice alongside us?"
Both Daming and Erming knew exactly how great a toll resurrecting Xiao Wu would take on Tang San. Convinced of their own impending deaths, they hoped to use these final moments to compel Tang San to go through with Xiao Wu's resurrection.
They had witnessed Tang San's power. Resurrecting Xiao Wu would mean he had to give up the last ten levels of his soul power, never to become a true powerhouse again. For a Soul Master of extraordinary talent, that was a fate arguably worse than death. They feared that Tang San might otherwise leave Xiao Wu in her current state rather than fully resurrect her.
Meeting the gazes of the two divine beasts, Tang San's own eyes lit up, a cold light gleaming within them. "Daming, Erming — what are you worried about? Even though you've been with Xiao Wu for a hundred thousand years, and I've only been with her for a little over a decade, my feelings for her are no less deep than yours. I brought Xiao Wu back to the Star Dou Great Forest specifically to resurrect her. Enough talk. Watch."
As he spoke, Tang San suddenly struck out with his palm toward Xiao Wu. She was completely stunned — she never would have thought Tang San would suddenly attack her. Before she could react, his palm had already landed on her forehead. Xiao Wu let out a muffled gasp and slowly collapsed to the ground. A red glow rippled outward from her body, but it struggled against being drawn back into Tang San.
"What are you doing?!" Daming and Erming roared in unison. But they couldn't move at all, and could only watch helplessly as Tang San acted.
With his mental power depleted, Tang San's Sea God's Light had dimmed considerably, but when that golden radiance appeared, it still immediately restrained Xiao Wu's soul and drew it into his own body.
His gaze swept toward Daming and Erming. Tang San's lips pressed together in a grim line. In a sudden, violent motion, he swung the Sea God's Trident in his left hand and brought the central blade down hard onto his right shoulder. The Sea God's Trident was a true divine artifact — no matter how tough one's flesh might be, it could not withstand a divine weapon. Blood burst into the air as his entire right arm was severed clean off.