At the same moment Xiao Wu cried out, the final collision between Tang San and Bibi Dong had already occurred.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had not died in vain. Although their attacks had failed to inflict any harm on Bibi Dong, there was no doubt that the full-power assault of two Titled Douluo had forced her to divert attention to dealing with them. Controlling those nine demonic scythes also required considerable divine will and divine power as a foundation in order to completely slay these two formidable opponents.
Bibi Dong had not expected Tang San to still possess the strength to launch an attack after being pierced through by her Asura Demonic Scythe. That was precisely why she had used her exclusive divine skill to reach Tang San — it was because she valued him more highly, needing to destroy Tang San with her own hands before she could feel at ease. But a portion of her divine will had been diverted to control the demonic scythes.
It was true that when Tang San broke the Sun Angel, he had gone all out. The consumption of his divine power, as well as the damage sustained from the shockwaves, had been extremely severe. However, there was one thing Bibi Dong had forgotten. Before becoming a god, Tang San's greatest asset had not been his soul skills — it had been his spiritual power. When he had just reached the Titled Douluo level, Tang San's spiritual power had even been able to surpass hers when she was already at level ninety-nine.
The abilities a soul master possessed after inheriting a god's legacy were indeed closely related to the god in question, but they were also tied to one's own foundational strength. Otherwise, how could Tang San have completely suppressed Qian Renxue, leaving her with no recourse? Therefore, after inheriting the position of Sea God, Tang San's greatest strength remained the power of his divine soul — not his Sea God divine power.
The earlier collision with Qian Renxue and the severe damage from the Asura Demonic Scythe had consumed his divine power and injured his body, but the consumption of Tang San's divine soul power had been limited — only the portion used to control divine power had been expended. His head had not received any attack either.
A brilliant golden light shot from Tang San's eyes. Concentrated within was all of his divine soul power, held back nothing. His massive divine will had reached an unprecedented level. Moreover, having just watched Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo face Bibi Dong's attacks, the anxiety and fury in his heart had further elevated his divine soul power. In this sudden collision, even though Bibi Dong was in peak condition, she suffered greatly.
The clash of divine souls produced no sound, but the reactions of Tang San and Bibi Dong revealed just how devastating this encounter had been — even more formidable than Tang San's earlier Sea God's Twilight that shattered the Sun Angel.
Bibi Dong, struck by the golden light erupting from Tang San's eyes, seemed as though her head had taken a direct blow. Her entire body arched backward, trembling violently. Even the Asura God Armor on her body detached in that moment, dissolving into purple light and vanishing. A ring of purple qi erupted from her head, and ghostly wails and wolf howls filled the air. Her entire body flew backward as if she had lost consciousness, and from her seven orifices, purple blood sprayed wildly.
Tang San's situation was even worse. Under the full-powered clash of their divine wills, although he had the advantage of Bibi Dong being distracted, he had already sustained severe injuries and his divine soul was insufficient. In this sudden collision, two golden streams of blood sprayed violently from his chest and his back. The Angel God Armor disintegrated, dissolving into specks of golden light that vanished. Even the Sea God Trident transformed into a streak of light and plunged into the trident brand on his forehead.
Intense golden light erupted from that brand, flooding out like a bursting river dam. All the light on Tang San's body converged inward — he could no longer control even a fraction of his own power. He plummeted toward Jialing Pass.
The purple qi finally crawled back into Bibi Dong's head. Forcing her eyes open, she struggled to control her body, let out a piercing shriek, and clawed toward Tang San's direction. Instantly, a purple claw shadow caught up to Tang San's body in midair, piercing clean through his left chest.
A golden heart appeared in midair — but it was clasped within that demonic purple claw.
"No — stop —" Several piercing cries rang out simultaneously — from Xiao Wu, from Ning Rongrong, from Oscar, from the Great Master, from Tang Hao, and even from Hu Liena, who was cradling Qian Renxue's body.
Hu Liena was streaming with tears, her entire body collapsed on the ground. Qian Renxue had also regained consciousness from the violent shock, and saw just in time Tang San's heart being held in midair by the Asura's Claw.
But none of them could dictate the actions of the Asura God.
Pu —
A blinding golden light suddenly burst open in the sky. Tang San's body convulsed violently, and his heart had already transformed into scattered light, dispersing through the air.
Oscar let out a grief-stricken roar, quickly swallowing a Mirror Image Sausage made from Ma Hongjun's blood, then soaring into the air to catch Tang San's body — which no longer had a heart.
Bibi Dong swayed violently in midair. On her ghastly green face, blood continued pouring from all seven orifices, showing just how terrifying the damage from Tang San's full-powered divine soul piercing strike had been.
A cold voice swept over like a tidal wave: "People of the Tian Dou Empire, listen well. I give you three more days to prepare. After three days, the Tian Dou Empire must announce unconditional surrender — or I will bathe the Tian Dou Empire in blood. Xiao Gang, these three days are a courtesy I extend to you. Persuade the Tian Dou Emperor well. Do not be stubborn. The power of a god cannot be resisted."
After saying this, Bibi Dong flicked her finger casually. Purple light swirled around her, and the Asura God Armor reappeared on her body. The massive purple light shrouded the entire sky like dark clouds. Bibi Dong let out a string of piercing laughter, and amid the flickering purple light, she vanished back into the Spirit Hall Empire's army. Qian Renxue and Hu Liena disappeared along with her.
Whether it was the soldiers of the Spirit Hall Empire or the forces of the Tian Dou Empire, neither side had fully recovered from what they had witnessed.
The entire battle had lasted only a very short time, but the outcome left both sides filled with horror.
Once upon a time, the Tian Dou Empire had held an overwhelming advantage, but in that brief span of time, the situation had completely reversed. Although only three people on the Tian Dou Empire's side had died, including Tang San — but as Bibi Dong had said, who could withstand the power of a god?
Oscar descended from the sky carrying Tang San. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong immediately rushed over. Tang Hao had also returned to the city wall. Everyone surrounded Tang San in the center.
"Brother —" Xiao Wu nearly screamed herself hoarse, throwing herself onto Tang San's body. His wounds were horrifying — the left chest bore a piercing wound, but what was even more fatal was the massive hole in his right chest, half a foot in diameter. Golden muscles, meridians, and bones lay exposed, and his blood seemed to have been drained away entirely, congealing around the edges of the wound. His face had completely lost all color, and not a trace of life remained. Even in that short time, his body had turned completely cold, without a shred of warmth.
Grief and despair instantly pervaded the top of Jialing Pass. Xue Beng stood stunned, then dropped to his knees beside Tang San with a thud. Tang Hao and the Great Master were also stunned — just an incense stick's time ago, their shared son had been the magnificent Sea God, but now he had become a cold corpse.
No one could accept this reality. The patriarch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi, seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, stumbling with faltering steps out of Jialing Pass. Though he knew it was impossible to recover every piece, he went personally to collect the remains of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
"Brother, how could you — how could you just leave me like this? Brother, you can't die, you can't die!" Xiao Wu cried out in heart-wrenching anguish. But the Tang San before her could never give her any response again.
"Brother, you promised — you promised you would marry me as your wife. You even said you would give me the grandest wedding. You haven't fulfilled your promise yet. How can you die? Please, wake up, okay? Wake up — no matter what price I have to pay, as long as you wake up, I'm willing."
Even a man like Oscar was now streaming with tears: "That's right, Xiao San — how can you die? We made a promise, didn't we? After the war ends, the Shrek Seven Devils would travel across the entire continent. There are still so many places we haven't been. Didn't you tell me you wanted to see the Extreme North, the place I once visited? I'll take you there. Hurry and wake up — I'll take you!"
The Great Master collapsed to the ground with a thud, his face deathly pale, mumbling to himself: "Am I truly cursed by heaven? Why do all my loved ones meet with tragedy? Even gods are no exception. It's all my fault — all my fault. I shouldn't have let Xiao San acknowledge me as his father. I shouldn't have! I deserve to die. Why couldn't it have been me instead? Xiao San, you shouldn't have saved me! I would rather have died myself than outlive my own son."
Liu Erlong rushed over and clutched the Great Master tightly: "Xiao Gang, no — it's not like that. Don't frighten me."
Tang Hao pushed through the crowd and came to Tang San's side. He did not cry — he could be said to be the only person present who had not shed a tear. But his eyes had turned completely blood-red. Looking at Tang San cradled in Xiao Wu's arms, his eyes no longer held any trace of the Haotian Douluo's former spirit.
"Xiao San, do you remember? Our days in Sacred Soul Village. Back then, I drank every day, and it was you who took care of my daily life. You were a good son, but I was not a good father. Everything that has happened today — it all began because of me. I never once fulfilled my duty as a father. Originally, I had wanted to wait until the war ended, then make it up to you alongside your mother. But now it seems I can no longer do that. Your mother didn't want to see war, so she went back to Tian Dou City. I have no face to see her either. On the road to the underworld, walk slowly and wait for your father. Your father will follow you soon."
As he spoke, Tang Hao suddenly turned to leave.
Oscar reacted quickly, lunging forward to wrap his arms around Tang Hao's waist: "Uncle, you can't go."
Tang Hao was stopped in his tracks by the embrace. The Mirror Image Sausage's effects had not yet worn off on Oscar, and the strength of a Titled Douluo was formidable after all.
"Let go of me. If any of you can make it back to Tian Dou City, help me tell A Yin that I have no face to see her anymore. Tell her to return to the Great Star Dou Forest. In my entire life, I never did anything for my son. Now that my son has been beaten to death, how can I, as his father, cower like a coward? None of you try to stop me. No one can stop me. Dying on the battlefield is still better than waiting to be slaughtered."
An extraordinary aura radiated from Tang Hao's body, and no one dared look directly at his expression. Oscar gradually loosened his grip.
Just as Tang Hao was about to step forward, the Great Master's stiff voice suddenly rang out: "Wait. Xiao San has more than just you as a father — he has me too. How can revenge for our son leave me out? Even if I can't get revenge, I will follow my son. Won't they let us go after three days anyway? Dying on the battlefield — Tang Hao, then let us die on the battlefield together."
Tang Hao's blood-red eyes turned toward the Great Master. The Great Master's eyes had not turned red — instead, they had become strangely calm. But within that calm lay a deathly stillness more terrifying than Tang Hao's blood-red gaze.
Liu Erlong did not try to stop the Great Master. She simply held his hand: "On the road to the underworld, take me with you."
"I'll go with all of you." With a sharp metallic ring, Xue Beng suddenly drew his long sword and turned to look at Marshal Ge Long: "Marshal, after I leave, Jialing Pass is in your hands. Three days from now, you will lead our soldiers to surrender to the Spirit Hall Empire. At the same time, restrain our troops — no further resistance."
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Marshal Ge Long was alarmed, grabbing Xue Beng's arm at once.
Xue Beng shouted angrily: "This is an order — an imperial decree. Would you dare defy it?"
Marshal Ge Long froze, but he did not release his grip: "Your humble servant would not dare, but so long as this old minister still draws breath, I cannot watch Your Majesty march to your death."
Xue Beng said calmly: "My teacher has already perished for the empire. Whether as emperor or as my teacher's disciple, I cannot cling to life. I am the Emperor of the Tian Dou Empire — though I have not held the throne for long. But as a sovereign, there are responsibilities I must bear. This war was launched on my orders. Facing two gods, victory is no longer possible. In that case, continued resistance will only add to the body count. I cannot watch my soldiers and subjects die for nothing. That is why I order you to lead everyone in surrender — to preserve the ember of life for our Tian Dou Empire. But while anyone else may surrender, I cannot. I cannot fail our ancestors. I cannot fail the late emperor. Marshal, you need not try to stop me either. When I walk out of Jialing Pass, please have all our officers watch carefully. I only hope that my death will plant a seed of hope in everyone's hearts. I believe that one day, our Tian Dou Empire will rise to glory once more."
"Your Majesty —" Wave after wave of officers dropped to their knees on the city wall, their eyes red. There was no doubt — as a sovereign, Xue Beng had completely conquered their hearts.
"We wish to live and die with His Majesty. The Tian Dou Empire has no soldiers who shrink from death."
Marshal Ge Long dropped to his knees with a thud: "Your Majesty, if you insist on going, then please entrust the surrender to someone else, and allow this old minister to go with you."
A tragic, stirring atmosphere permeated the air. Though Tang San had died, the imperial soldiers atop Jialing Pass now burned with an unprecedented sense of unity. As the saying goes — an army of grief is bound to triumph. Every eye brimmed with incomparable fighting spirit.
"Your Majesty, give the order! We have a million strong troops. So what if that woman is a god? We can drown her all the same! We would rather die than surrender!"
"We — would — rather — die — than — surrender!" The furious roar exploded like thunder, carrying far beyond the city walls, audible even to the Spirit Hall Empire's encampment outside.
At that moment, in the Spirit Hall Empire's camp, Bibi Dong held Qian Renxue in one hand and Hu Liena in the other, returning to the temporary tent.
Hearing the voices from the direction of Jialing Pass, a trace of disdain appeared on Bibi Dong's grotesque face: "Rather die than surrender? Then in three days, I will first bathe Jialing Pass in blood."
As she spoke, she set Qian Renxue and Hu Liena down on the ground.