"In the Divine Realm, who doesn't know that you, the God of Destruction, uphold its laws even more strictly than I do?" the Goddess of Life remarked. "As soon as Tang San attains dual godhood, you wouldn't strike against him because of these rules. Tang San conveniently possesses two martial souls—Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer—which can serve as vessels for the Sea God and Asura God's positions. That must be what they planned all along."
The God of Destruction sighed. "If the Asura God and Sea God are bent on creating a dual god, then perhaps we, too, should consider a countermeasure."
The Goddess of Life smiled, leaning against him. She understood what he was implying: letting Su Ming and Tang San face each other on fair ground, with her and the God of Destruction holding back the Sea God and Asura God.
Meanwhile, in the arena below, the crowd watched, unsure what Su Ming planned. Could he actually be healing Yu Tianheng, just to prolong the agony?
Extending his right hand, Su Ming began gathering green energy, which turned dark, and slowly pulled the green light surrounding Yu Tianheng into his right hand, shifting it to an ominous black. "On the path to new life lies destruction—Life Conversion!"
Suddenly, the black energy that had been gathering exploded around Yu Tianheng's right arm, which vanished instantly.
Stunned, Yu Tianheng stared at the empty space where his arm had been, and then, pain struck him like a wave. "Agh! My... my arm!"
The entire arena went silent, and the crowd looked at Su Ming as if they were staring at a monster.
One of them finally broke the silence. "How... how did he do that?"
"It's terrifying! I don't even know what I saw—one second it was there, and the next, gone!"
Bibi Dong and her two close advisors, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, exchanged glances, realizing the potency of Su Ming's self-created soul skill. This technique was nearly inescapable, only slowed because Su Ming had yet to master it.
The spectators instinctively stepped back, unwilling to risk losing body parts to such a horrifying power. Some even glanced downward, nervously considering the consequences if certain "vital" areas went missing.
"Su Ming, what did you do to my arm?" Yu Tianheng screamed, his voice desperate.
Su Ming shrugged casually, "How's that my concern?"
Onlookers couldn't help but laugh bitterly. He was behaving as if taking someone's arm was trivial.
Turning to Dugu Yan, Su Ming said, "Didn't you have questions for him? Go ahead. He won't dare lie now."
Then, his voice dropped to a chilling tone. "And Yu Tianheng, I suggest you answer honestly. You wouldn't want to lose another limb, would you?"
The crowd held its breath. Su Ming's offer intrigued them, given that it was near impossible to regenerate a limb fully destroyed by such dark energy. Was he implying he could restore what was utterly obliterated?
Yu Tianheng was frantic. "Ask! Just ask already!" he cried, desperate for relief.
Dugu Yan stared down at him, coldly asking, "Yu Tianheng, what was your true motive for joining the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? And was there an ulterior motive in approaching me?"
No one had sympathy for Yu Tianheng, neither Dugu Yan nor the Thunder Academy members. Yu Tianheng's betrayal had nearly cost them their lives, and while the rules of the Soul Master Tournament forbade killing, they harbored no objections to seeing him tormented.
Dugu Yan's mind was already set. Regardless of his answers, his betrayal had sealed his fate in her eyes. In the end, he would pay for his betrayal—one way or another.