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After Yang Wudi left, only Tang San and Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue—remained in the hall.
At this moment, she abandoned her male guise, revealing her true self. "Being an emperor is exhausting, especially when I also have to disguise my gender. It's even more draining."
"The path you chose, you must walk it even through tears," Tang San replied.
Qian Renxue gave him an exasperated look. "…Let's just say you're trying to encourage me. Now, tell me, what was going on earlier? I don't believe for a second you'd lose focus during a conversation."
"Someone broke through to rank 100," Tang San admitted. "Judging from the aura, it's Tang Chen from the Haotian Clan…"
"Tang Chen!" Qian Renxue's expression grew solemn. She naturally knew of this peerless powerhouse from her grandfather's generation. But upon learning he had reached rank 100, her tension quickly eased. "Him becoming a god is good news. He won't be able to interfere in worldly matters anymore. It's like shackling himself."
"But what if he doesn't know the rules of the Divine Realm?" Tang San asked.
Ignorance could lead to recklessness.
Qian Renxue froze for a moment, then shook her head. "Even better. The Divine Realm will intervene, and we can use the opportunity to verify whether your and my mother's theories about the gods are correct."
Tang San stared at Qian Renxue for a long time, until her face turned slightly red. "What is it? Is there something on my face?" she asked.
"I heard from the Pope that ever since you were a child, you've never called her 'Mom' or 'Mother.' You've always referred to her as 'she,' 'that woman,' or even 'sister,'" Tang San said, a teasing smile playing on his lips. He found the changes to the "plot" he had influenced rather amusing. On a personal level, it seemed things had turned out rather well.
To his surprise, Qian Renxue seemed a bit sour upon hearing his detailed account. "Hmph, that woman seems to trust you quite a lot if she's shared even that much."
Tang San coughed awkwardly, attempting to change the subject. "Ahem, I heard you're planning to return to your female identity?"
Qian Renxue nodded. "If it's possible, I'd rather be a woman. Pretending to be a man is troublesome, especially when it comes to certain aspects of daily life."
Even the most radiant angel still had to deal with mundane necessities, Tang San mused, before coming up with a ridiculous idea. "Why not deliberately offend Tang Chen? Then, slowly revert to wearing women's clothes and 'becoming' a woman. You can just claim to the public that Tang Chen punished you and transformed you into a woman."
Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes. "That sounds more like an experiment to see if Tang Chen would interfere with worldly affairs… Besides, how would I even hide my identity if I stood before him?"
"Exactly why I have no talent for politics," Tang San said, spreading his hands in mock helplessness.
"Don't think you can push me away with such nonsense."
Qian Renxue realized that Tang San's comment had been partly a joke and partly an attempt to steer her away from seeking his advice on matters of governance, city planning, economic development, or even personal issues.
Although she knew Tang San was mostly untested in such fields—his true expertise lay in martial spirit research, human anatomy, and soul tools—the less accessible he seemed, the more she wanted to seek his counsel. Tang San's unparalleled strength only added to this allure. If he chose to support her, no one could truly oppose her policies.
This was because Tang San operated with a transparent and unyielding strategy: he became so overwhelmingly powerful that the schemers lurking in the shadows found their efforts useless. Most of the time, they had to rethink their plans repeatedly, only to abandon them altogether.
Tang San himself was a force of destiny.
"Why does it sound like… I'm the one in the wrong here?" Tang San muttered, his expression a mix of amusement and bewilderment. His interactions with Xue Qinghe hadn't been extensive, yet her "obsession" with him seemed unusually strong.
Then again, growing up with a distant mother, a grandfather who only desired her godhood, and the burden of pretending to be a man, it was logical for her to have some… eccentricities beneath her composed exterior.
---
At the same time, Tang Chen, having left Spirit City, headed straight for Sea God Island. His unrestrained divine aura and bold movements immediately drew the attention of the Sacred Pillar Guardians.
However, as they prepared to confront him, Tang Chen's overwhelming and oppressive presence left them powerless.
Unhindered, Tang Chen strode toward the island's core, the Sea God Hall. Located on an island within the island, the hall stood atop a pyramid-like structure. A staircase of 1,001 steps led to the temple at the summit.
Facing the Sea God's Light, Tang Chen was utterly unperturbed. With every step he took, his sheer aura dispersed the ocean-like radiance with ease, allowing him to ascend effortlessly toward the peak.
The Light of the Sea God
The Sea God's Light, left behind by the Sea God before his ascension to the Divine Realm, was but a fragment of his power. How could it compare to the might of a true god?
"Tang Chen!"
Inside the Sea God Hall, Bo Saixi felt the trembling of the Sea God's Light and emerged, her face filled with shock and delight as she recognized an old acquaintance.
Upon seeing Bo Saixi, Tang Chen quickened his pace, a smile breaking across his face. "Saixi, I've fulfilled my promise. I've broken through to rank 100 and have come for you!"
Suppressing her excitement, Bo Saixi gazed at him with a mix of emotions. "You fool. Didn't you know that I rejected Qian Daoliu back then?"
"I knew."
Tang Chen was now at the top of the stairs. With a hearty laugh, he said, "But at the time, the three of us were close friends. I didn't want to make things awkward for Qian Daoliu. Besides, I was confident that I'd eventually reach rank 100. And here I am, after all these years, successful at last."
He extended a hand toward her. "Now that I've met your condition, will you marry me?"
Having spent years as a secluded priestess, Bo Saixi's temperament and experience were no different from that of an innocent young girl. Naturally, she nodded, her voice trembling with emotion. "I've been waiting for this day for so long. I thought it was hopeless, but you… you really achieved it. Of course, I'm willing."
After three days and three nights of bliss, Bo Saixi bid farewell to the seven Sacred Pillar Guardians of Sea God Island and left with Tang Chen. Although she was the high priestess of Sea God Island and the Sea God's most devoted believer, Tang Chen was a true god of rank 100. The island's rules couldn't bind him, and the Sea God himself could only watch helplessly as his priestess was taken away.
---
"Brother, this is not okay!" The Sea God stormed into the presence of the God of Asura, his tone furious. "She was one of my most exceptional priestesses, the key to opening the final inheritance gate for my successors. Now she's gone! Even if someone qualifies for my inheritance in the future, who's going to open that gate? Me?"
Would he have to personally descend to assist his inheritors?
If so, his mystique would be ruined.
And opening the gate himself? That would be undignified! The Sea God, after all, was stronger than most first-tier gods, second only to the God-King.
The God of Asura responded calmly, "Why so agitated? Tang Chen didn't even remove the Sea God's mark from Bo Saixi's brow. Tang Chen is only a divine officer without a formal godhood. In a hundred years, he won't have the right to bring anyone to the Divine Realm. If he wants to stay with Bo Saixi for eternity, he'll have to help you find a worthy successor. Bo Saixi will then perform the final sacrifice, and with your assistance, her soul can enter the Divine Realm to have her body rebuilt."
The Sea God's eyes narrowed. "Wait… Isn't that a loophole in the rules for ascension?"
The God of Asura raised an eyebrow. "And what if it is? Are you planning to close it? If you do, Tang Chen might go to war with you. Though he couldn't overcome his emotional ties to inherit my godhood, his talent and potential remain unparalleled. Once his divine power stabilizes in the Divine Realm, he could reach the level of a major god and possibly rival a God-King in strength. The only thing he'll lack is the ability to govern laws, but that doesn't mean he'll be weak."
The inability to wield laws didn't equate to weakness.
The God of Asura understood Tang Chen's past well. As the creator of techniques like Exploding Ring, Chaotic Cloak, and the Nine Absolutes of the Haotian Hammer, Tang Chen's ingenuity could turn resentment into an unstoppable drive. If the Sea God refused to help him, it would undoubtedly lead to a grudge, and with his brilliance unclouded by emotions, Tang Chen would become even more dangerous.
The Sea God froze, swallowing his indignation. "So, what? Am I supposed to thank you?"
"Of course," the God of Asura said smugly. "Tang Chen can only stay in the lower realm for a century, during which he must find a successor who satisfies you. Ultimately, it's because I'm generous—I didn't abandon him after he failed to inherit my godhood."
The God of Asura then sighed, his expression turning grim. "But finding a successor is difficult. The next qualified candidate is Tang Chen's grandson. Based on the feedback from his Slaughter Domain, he seems to be just as infatuated as his grandfather… This family is something else."
The God of Asura couldn't help but think of another figure who had borrowed his power—Tang Chen's great-grandson.
---
"Speaking of which," the Sea God interjected, "my divine artifact's core, the Sea God's Heart, had its spiritual consciousness erased. It feels like part of my power was also siphoned. Could it be the same person who borrowed your strength?"
"It's likely." After listening to the Sea God's account, the God of Asura speculated. "That person's martial soul is extraordinary, capable of simultaneously borrowing the power of multiple gods. Could they one day achieve a nine-god fusion?"
"That's absurd!" The Sea God felt a chill run down his spine. The idea of a nine-god fusion was unthinkable.
"Unlikely," the God of Asura agreed. "But partial borrowing might be possible. We can consider that person as a backup candidate for you and me. Once they ascend to the Divine Realm, we can discuss the situation with them. If they're suitable, we'll grant them a godhood."
The Sea God was speechless. This is your plan?
This Divine Realm is doomed.
(End of Chapter)