Douluo Continent: The Underworld Emperor Halosa Lets Three Fly

Chapter 135 Old Tang's Defection? The Anomaly of the Angelic Holy Sword (5K)

Under the cover of golden order energy, the massive spatial rift was like a wound soothed by an invisible hand, eventually completely healing, leaving only faint energy ripples.

The chilling howling and swallowing sensation at the heart of the temple finally vanished, leaving only the silence of surviving a catastrophe and the peculiar smell of lingering scorched energy mixed with the fragrance of herbs.

The Angelic Sword hovered beside Harossa, its golden light appearing more solid and restrained than before, and the aura of order emanating from it subtly intensified.

Clearly, the massive amount of rebirth essence consumed during the repair of the spatial barrier nourished and restored its damaged essence to a certain extent.

Harosa nodded to himself. Although this "Sword Brother" was a bit greedy, he was indeed very capable. He gripped the golden dragon spear in his hand, which still exuded a domineering dragon aura and subtly resisted his power, feeling the weight and sharpness originating from the Golden Dragon King's essence. In the corner of the temple, Old Tang (Tang Sanfen Soul) did not linger on the repaired spatial barrier. His ice-blue eyes, like precise probes, were firmly locked on the Angelic Holy Sword.

The mysterious runes flowing across the sword, the pure and powerful aura of the laws of order, especially the strength of its laws which was faintly at the same level as the ocean order laws represented by the Trident of Poseidon—this made the Kai in his heart grow wildly like weeds!

More importantly, he had previously keenly sensed the unusual, hesitant fluctuations of the Angelic Holy Sword when it faced him—it was by no means the instinctive reaction of an unclaimed artifact! It was conscious! It could communicate!

An idea quickly took shape in Old Tang's mind: if he could steal this powerful artifact, he would not only instantly weaken the wild god's support, but also gain a powerful trump card for himself! Even—if he could return to the God Realm in the future and offer it to his true self, it would be a great achievement!

Without further hesitation, a concealed yet clearly defined divine consciousness, like an invisible tentacle, precisely reached for the suspended angelic holy sword, carrying a deliberately crafted sense of gentle "reunion with an old friend":

"Have we met somewhere before?" This question is direct and purposeful.

The Angelic Holy Sword paused noticeably, its golden light flickering like breathing, revealing the intense fluctuations in its internal consciousness.

After a few moments of silence, a fragmented divine thought, carrying extremely complex emotions, finally returned: "The angel of war at Jialing Pass 20,000 years ago."

It's done! Old Tang was overjoyed, a barely suppressed excitement flashing deep in his icy blue eyes! It really is her sword! Qian Renxue's sword! His confidence increased several times over in an instant!

He immediately pressed his advantage, conveying a message through his divine sense that was even more "warm" and "nostalgic": "So it really is an old friend! I, the Sea God, and your master, the Angel God Qian Renxue, had met several times before the battle at Jialing Pass. Although we held different positions, we had fought fiercely and respected each other in the battle. In a way, we were old acquaintances. Time flies, and I never expected to meet an old friend here. It is truly fate." He deliberately blurred the nature of their "intersection," lightly embellishing the hostility and scheming as "acquaintances," while mentioning the "divine test," trying to evoke deeper memories in the other party.

They deliberately tried to build rapport, blurred the lines of hostility, and emphasized "old acquaintances."

Old Tang (divine consciousness): "Lord Holy Sword, your elegance remains unchanged, and your divine might of order is as undiminished as ever. The fact that we can meet in this vast universe shows that there is a mysterious connection between us."

Continue to flatter and draw closer, implying that you are "destined to be together".

The blade of the Angelic Holy Sword trembled slightly once more, and the divine energy it emitted became even more complex and difficult to understand. It contained a trace of excitement at the mention of its former master, a trace of bewilderment at the term "old acquaintance," and a trace of—an indescribable heaviness.

It seemed to be caught in a vortex of memories, and the golden light on the sword appeared somewhat chaotic, conveying a feeling that was both touched and nostalgic about the past, and also carried more indescribable complex and tangled emotions. In the end, it returned to a kind of silent "arrogance" - no longer responding to Lao Tang's conversation, but just quietly floating, as if it was silently resisting or thinking.

Harosa heard and saw all of this clearly. Old Tang's spiritual strength was only at the peak of the second-level god to the initial stage of the first-level god. Without the help of the Trident of the Sea God, he would have no way to block any tricks in front of him, who was at the peak of the second-level god.

Upon hearing this, Harosa really wanted to laugh. It was truly a man of a thousand faces, reminding him of Tang San's time before becoming a god and his time at the Haotian Sect.

Level 60: I am willing to atone for my father's sins. Level 90: My father did nothing wrong. Level 100: It is you Taidian who are guilty.

Old Tang didn't seem to have any intention of deliberately blocking him out; his attitude, tinged with a hint of smugness and provocation, was clearly meant to disgust him.

Look, the amazing gadget you're relying on is an "old acquaintance" of mine! Believe me or not, I can steal it away in a heartbeat?

Harosa's gaze swept back and forth between the angelic holy sword shimmering with golden light and Old Tang, whose face looked "nostalgic" but whose eyes were full of calculation.

Old Tang's undisguised masculinity, and the ambiguous attitude shown by the Angelic Holy Sword, were like two cold needles pricking his nerves.

The worst-case scenario quickly took shape in his mind—if Old Tang really managed to persuade the Angelic Holy Sword, or even reach some kind of agreement with it, and then turn around and attack him to seize this realm of the Gods of Rebirth, this possibility was not unfounded! To put it bluntly, his relationship with the Angelic Holy Sword was purely one of exchange of interests.

He provides energy to help him recover, and the Holy Sword helps him when he needs it; there is no deep bond or master-servant contract between them.

This relationship is incredibly fragile in the face of Tang San, who wields a super artifact, is crowned with the aura of a "God King," and claims to be an "old friend" who was the former owner of the Holy Sword! On the other hand, what about the relationship between the Angel Holy Sword and Tang San (or rather, between Qian Renxue and Tang San)?

Although filled with scheming and deep-seated hatred, it also contained the twisted and complex emotions that Qian Renxue could not fully let go of until her death.

Qian Renxue's twisted "love" for Tang San came suddenly and strangely, and it might even affect the Holy Sword's attitude towards Tang San. Is it hatred? Is it resentment? Or is it mixed with some kind of subtle gratitude after being "forgiven"? Harosa has no way of knowing, but he is certain that this relationship is definitely closer than his, an "outsider's", relationship!

As the consciousness born from Qian Renxue's sword, it naturally leans more towards Qian Renxue's perspective and feelings. As for Tang San, the complex emotions originating from Qian Renxue—the anger of being deceived, the budding affection, and the indelible, distorted tremor brought about by Tang San's ultimate "mercy" at Jialing Pass (in Qian Renxue's eyes)—will inevitably also profoundly influence the consciousness of the Angelic Holy Sword.

Moreover, what is Tang San's identity? He's a God Realm enforcer, a God King! The resources and status he can provide far surpass what a newly risen "second-level wild god" like Tang San can offer. If Tang San promises to bring him back to Douluo Star, and even introduce him to the Angelic Holy Sword in the future, what choice will the Angelic Holy Sword make?

Old Tang's seemingly casual and unshielded spiritual communication was, in Harosa's eyes, more like a blatant boast and provocation: Look, following your super artifact, I'm on the same side! Guess if I can steal it away?

Harosa felt a chilling pressure. He had to do something to break through Old Tang's seemingly "gentle" defection campaign!

Just as Old Tang was preparing to utter another sentence that could more move his "old friend," Harossa's cold voice, tinged with a hint of deliberate doubt, resounded like a chilling spring in the silent temple, its target the Angelic Holy Sword:

"Brother Sword, you have followed your master Qian Renxue in battle for many years. Have you ever considered that her defeat in the Battle of Jialing Pass might not have been due to a lack of strength, but rather to some other hidden reason?"

This statement is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake!

The blade of the Angelic Holy Sword suddenly stiffened! The golden light that had been calming suddenly burst forth, then instantly receded, revealing the violent impact its internal consciousness had suffered!

"Hahahaha!" Old Tang's maniacal laughter immediately rang out, filled with exaggerated mockery and a sense of superiority, instantly breaking the tense atmosphere.

He pointed at Harosa, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, laughing so hard that tears were almost streaming down his face: "Hahaha! I never expected this! Not only is your path to opening up the realm of gods incredibly audacious, but your storytelling skills are also unparalleled! If you didn't become a god, you could go to a tavern and tell stories, and I guarantee you'd make a fortune every day!"

His laughter ceased, replaced by a condescending expression, as if he were explaining history to an ignorant child, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority:

"Let me, the God, tell you the true history: In the Battle of Jialing Pass, the Spirit Empire, acting against all reason, attempted to poison the continent with the power of its two gods! It was I, Tang San, the Sea God and Asura God, who, along with the Shrek Seven Devils, turned the tide! Amidst a vast army, I honorably defeated the Angel God Qian Renxue and annihilated the Rakshasa God Bibi Dong! I saved the lives of the continent! After the war, the Spirit Empire was destroyed, the lost lands were restored, and the people praised me! I was revered as the Guardian God of the continent, Shrek Academy became a holy land for Soul Masters, and the Tang Sect ascended to become the number one sect in the world! My heroic deeds are recorded in history and will be remembered for generations! This is an undeniable fact, witnessed by countless lives and etched in the annals of history! What secrets could there be? Everything was due to my divine might and the righteous path! You, a wild god, dare to presume to comment on the achievements of the God King?"

Old Tang's voice was loud and clear, full of the confidence of a victor and his disdain for Harosa's "nonsense".

However, behind his seemingly impeccable declaration, a storm raged within him! How could he possibly know?! The manipulation during the Divine Examination, the "coincidence" of Oscar and Ning Rongrong becoming gods, the interference of the Asura God behind the scenes—these core secrets, deliberately erased by the original, are unknown even to the gods of the Douluo God Realm. Where did this wild god find out?! It must be a conspiracy theory! He's fabricating stories to sow discord!

Harosa remained unperturbed by Old Tang's sarcasm and "history lesson," a faint, cold smile playing on his lips. He had been waiting for Old Tang's "righteous" declaration.

"History? The history written by the victors is naturally glorious." Harosa's voice was calm, yet it carried a sharpness that pierced through falsehood.

Ignoring Old Tang's harsh mockery and blustering declaration, Harosa's gaze remained fixed on the silent angelic sword. His voice, calm yet possessing a penetrating power, continued to hurl his probing questions:

"Hidden secrets? It's simple. For example, when your master, Qian Renxue, was undergoing the Angel God Trial, why did Tang San's figure repeatedly appear in the key illusions? How many tens of thousands of years have passed since the first Angel God fell? How could the divine trial mechanism she left behind so accurately conjure up the image of a young Soul Master who appeared in a later era and had no connection to her? 'Born from the heart'? Is this heart her own heart, or—a heart subtly guided, hinted at, or even forcibly implanted by some force?"

He paused, not giving Old Tang a chance to interrupt, and then calmly dropped the next bombshell:

"For example, during the God War, Tang San was clearly pierced by the Rakshasa Demon Scythe and his life force was cut off, so why was he able to revive on the spot, even stronger than before? Oscar and Ning Rongrong, two Soul Masters of the food and support types, why did they so 'coincidentally' complete the God Trial at that critical moment of life and death, and become the God of Food and the Nine-Colored Goddess? Is it really just a matter of luck behind this? Or is there a higher-level existence that has already written the script?"

Who gave up their divine positions so easily to the two gods?

Harosa's gaze seemed to pierce through the blade of the Angelic Holy Sword, staring directly at its core consciousness: "Do you think that your master, Qian Renxue, was merely fighting against Tang San at Jialing Pass? No, she was fighting against everything that the entire Douluo God Realm had already arranged! It was a joint manipulation behind the scenes by a God King and a Level One Main God!"

"Shut up! Nonsense! Spreading rumors and misleading the public!" Old Tang shouted sternly, his face so dark it was almost dripping with water, the veins on his hand gripping the Trident of Poseidon bulging. (If it had a physical form)

Harosa's every word was like a poisoned dagger, precisely piercing the carefully concealed truths! A storm raged within him! How did he know?! How could he possibly know these details, so personally sealed away and known only to the highest levels of the divine realm?! It must be a coincidence! A wild guess! A malicious slander! He absolutely could not admit it!

Old Tang was filled with shock and rage, his killing intent boiling to its peak: "This scoundrel dares to slander the God-King and speak ill of the Divine Realm! He has already committed suicide! After this matter is over, I will definitely grind him to dust!"

However, on the surface, he could only suppress his anger, maintaining that "history is beyond question" facade, his voice cold and arrogant: "Hmph! A wild god is just a wild god! All he knows is to use some low-level conspiracy theories to bewitch people! History doesn't lie, and the hundreds of millions of lives on the mainland don't lie! My own achievements and character will be judged by history and the people! How can you twist the truth with just a few words?"

Harosa simply replied, his gaze still fixed on the Angelic Sword: "History? History books are always written by the victors."

An eerie silence fell over the temple once more. Old Tang's chest heaved, his eyes fixed on Harosa with a sinister glint in them, wishing he could pierce him through with his trident, yet he was also filled with hesitation.

The angelic holy sword beside it fell into a long, almost deathly silence. The golden light on its blade, like solidified amber, no longer flickered. Haros's words were like a key, forcefully prying open certain long-sealed secrets deep within its consciousness...

Or details or fragments that have never been deeply considered.

The illusions in Qian Renxue's divine test that were too "coincidental" and "targeted"—Tang San's "miraculous" resurrection of Oscar during the God War, Ning Rongrong's near-impossible ascension to godhood under dire circumstances, and the drastic change in Qian Renxue's personality after meeting Tang San—from a reserved, cunning, and resourceful undercover prince to someone who was sometimes paranoid and sometimes indecisive, and whose twisted and intense feelings for Tang San came too abruptly and illogically.

These details, which it once regarded as the capriciousness of fate or its own obsession, are now strung together by Harosa in an almost cold-blooded "conspiracy theory." Although they sound shocking, they subtly touch upon some doubts that it cannot explain. As a witness, it knows better than anyone the "abnormalities" of those crucial moments.

After a long while, the blade of the Angelic Holy Sword trembled very slightly, emitting a low, mournful sound filled with endless confusion and struggle.

A faint fluctuation of divine thought was transmitted with difficulty, not as an answer to Harosa, but more like a murmur to oneself, or a feeble rebuttal:

The Sea God has a very good reputation on the mainland—this is what's said on the mainland.

Its voice was very soft (its spiritual fluctuations were slight), carrying a sense of uncertainty and elusiveness.

"Hahaha! Did you hear that?!" Old Tang immediately seized this straw, bursting into an even louder, triumphant laugh that echoed through the temple, filled with contempt for Harosa and smug satisfaction at his own "legitimacy." "It's praised throughout the continent! It's revered by all! This is the truth! This is the public opinion! Your dark speculations are nothing but the thoughts of maggots that can't stand the light!"

The power of faith I collected in the Douluo Continent all those years ago is definitely real! It's definitely real!

He laughed so hard he almost fell over, as if he had completely trampled Harosa's "degradation" underfoot, his expression seeming to say:

See? Even it admits it! What else can you say?

Harosa glanced at the laughing Old Tang, then at the dimly lit, silent Angelic Holy Sword, and a faint yet meaningful smile slowly curved his lips.

Old Tang's attitude is not important; what matters is the attitude of the Angelic Sword.

It says "it came from the mainland." These few words say a lot. It doesn't say "it's true," nor does it angrily refute Harosa's slander. It simply states a phenomenon—the sea god has a good reputation on the mainland. What does this mean?

This means it has wavered.

This means it has begun to doubt whether the history that has been passed down is truly equivalent to the whole truth.

This means that the seed of "doubt" planted by Harosa has quietly taken root and sprouted deep within the consciousness of the Angelic Sword.

History is written by the victors? It seems this ancient sword understands this principle. It just needs someone to expose it in its bloody glory.