Douro Continent

Chapter 674 The Million-Year Soul Ring: The Descent of the Sea God

Although Tang San had already fought several battles with Qian Renxue, this was the first time he had felt the threat of death. Soul Masters are naturally more sensitive than ordinary people, let alone a powerhouse like Tang San. The Trident of the Sea God in his hand trembled because of the threat coming from behind, which shows how powerful the attack was.

The three-thousand-meter gap was bridged in an instant. Tang San felt as if everything around him had turned crimson gold, as if the entire earth had burst into flames at that moment.

This is 1,500 meters underground! Tang San was overwhelmed with shock and realized for the first time just how terrifying god-level strength could be.

His entire body quickly curled up, simultaneously releasing the immense energy from the exploding Blue Silver Emperor Eight Rings, which was then fully absorbed into his body. The next moment, Tang San felt an intense heat assaulting him from all directions; the terrifying temperature made his body feel as if it were about to melt.

The soul power within his body surged, and the energy gained from the exploding soul rings also rose completely, merging with his own energy. Destroying eight soul rings simultaneously was a desperate measure for Tang San, but without a doubt, under these circumstances he had reached the pinnacle of his abilities.

All the energy surged wildly into the Trident of the Sea God, and the dark halberd displayed its formidable power as a divine weapon of the Sea God. Its entire body was covered in a layer of blue-gold, and a brilliant blue light erupted from the Heart of the Sea God at the center of the trident's blade. Tang San's unleashed raging sea energy completely merged with it, and blue light rippled around his body, forcefully isolating him from the terrifying power of the Solar True Fire.

Despite the continuous evaporation of the blue waves, the Trident of the Sea God also continuously unleashed new power, and no matter how vast the True Fire of the Sun was, it could not penetrate Tang San's body in the slightest.

But at that moment, the soil in front of Tang San suddenly parted, and he felt a void beneath him as the surrounding soil and rocks vanished. A huge cavity appeared 1,500 meters underground.

Undoubtedly, this was all due to the True Fire of the Sun. Although the void could only last for a brief moment, Tang San saw Qian Renxue, dressed in angelic divine armor, rushing towards him like a crimson-gold meteor with illusory light and shadow. Her Angelic Holy Sword pointed forward, and the True Fire of the Sun combined with her angelic divine power made her herself like a sharp divine sword.

There was no other choice. Qian Renxue's speed was simply too fast. All Tang San could do was rely entirely on instinct to block the Trident of the Sea God in front of him and release his gravity control skill onto the trident, causing its weight to increase to 1.08 million jin. As he sank downwards, he met Qian Renxue's deadly sword strike.

Ding--

The Angelic Sword descended from the sky, striking the tip of the Trident of the Sea God. Tang San's entire body trembled violently as if electrocuted. The next moment, energy mixed with blue and red light exploded like a volcanic eruption.

The earth, which had been torn open, was now filled with soil and rocks falling rapidly. But at that moment, the energy generated by the collision of the two divine artifacts exploded.

All the falling rocks and soil disappeared in the burst of red and blue light, leaving no chance for them to get close to Tang San and Qian Renxue.

The blazing Angelic Holy Sword was less than a foot above Tang San's head. He only managed to stop it thanks to the Trident of the Sea God. Tang San saw Qian Renxue up close once again. Her eyes, already reddened, were filled with a fierce killing intent. The terrifying True Fire of the Sun was relentlessly devouring Tang San's protective energy.

The two of them fell to the very bottom of the cave, and Tang San's legs sank directly into the hard rock.

The Angelic Sword pressed down little by little, and even Tang San's Sea God Trident, which weighed 1.08 million jin, could not withstand its explosive power. He could only watch helplessly as the blazing divine sword drew ever closer to him.

At this moment, Tang San's mind was blank. The energy gained from the exploding rings had helped him withstand Qian Renxue's previous burst of power, but the energy from the exploding rings was consumed the fastest. Accompanied by an immense pressure, Tang San clearly felt that his body was completely locked down by Qian Renxue's god-level power. There was no longer any chance of escape.

Three times he faced Qian Renxue, three great battles, Tang San had tirelessly used every advantage he had to defend himself. But now, all his trump cards had been exhausted. Against an opponent fully equipped with divine gear, even doubling his soul power was useless. He could only watch helplessly as the Angelic Holy Sword pressed down on his head.

Was he going to die? Tang San had unleashed all his potential, but he still couldn't withstand the pressure of the Angelic Holy Sword. He knew very well that once the explosive power he had infused into the Trident of the Sea God disappeared, this battle would truly be over. Before this Angelic Holy Sword, which combined with the True Fire of the Sun, he probably wouldn't even leave behind a skeleton.

Lord Sea God, I'm sorry to disappoint you. Xiao Wu, I can no longer be with you.

Unbeknownst to her, Qian Renxue was also experiencing intense inner turmoil. The Angelic Holy Sword pressed down relentlessly, and Tang San was about to perish at her hands. Yet, she felt no excitement or pleasure. Feeling the Sea God's Trident's resistance gradually weaken, and seeing the despair and resentment in Tang San's eyes, a sharp pain pierced the deepest part of her heart. Unable to suppress it, images of Tang San's elegant figure and his near-mad fusion during her breakthrough of the Angelic Inheritance's final trial constantly flashed through her mind. Even the energy released by the Angelic Holy Sword in her hand weakened accordingly.

Reason told Qian Renxue that her judgment was correct. After inheriting the divine power of the Angel God, Tang San had become the biggest weakness in her heart. She had to kill him immediately. No one else knew this secret. As long as she killed him, although the weakness in her heart would be even greater, no one could use him anymore.

However, her emotions told her she couldn't kill the man before her. If she did, she would regret it for the rest of her life; the unbearable pain of regret would forever gnaw at her heart, leaving her no peace. Even with god-like power, she would never feel happiness or joy. Only with this man alive could she find a sliver of solace, a respite from the torment. Although everything that had happened between them was a fantasy, he was, after all, her first man!

This conflicting feeling caused the divine power released from the Angelic Holy Sword in Qian Renxue's hand to be less resolute; otherwise, given Tang San's current condition, the Angelic Holy Sword should have already cut down and destroyed him.

However, Qian Renxue was always a clever woman. Although she struggled between emotion and reason, reason gradually prevailed. She knew very well that if she didn't kill Tang San, he would inevitably become her, and even the entire Spirit Empire's, most terrifying opponent in the near future. Qian Renxue was almost certain that if Tang San also reached godhood, she would be no match for him. If he was already this difficult to deal with, wouldn't a god-level Tang San become synonymous with invincibility?

Finally, Qian Renxue's eyes gradually sharpened, and reason forcefully suppressed the emotions in her heart. Everything she had was given to her by her grandfather, and it was her grandfather's last wish to make the Martial Soul Empire flourish. Even if she suffered for the rest of her life, she could never let her grandfather down.

Tang San also sensed Qian Renxue's killing intent. At this moment, his eyes widened. Even if he wanted to transform his martial soul into the Clear Sky Hammer, he simply couldn't do it. Under the complete suppression of his opponent, he had no chance to fight back at all.

Was death about to descend? At this moment, the despair and resentment in Tang San's eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by an unusual calm. Since the outcome was already predetermined, what could he do even if he was filled with despair? Calmly gazing at Qian Renxue, the blue-gold aura around Tang San gradually faded. The Angel Sword, gleaming with crimson-gold light, suddenly lost all resistance and slashed straight down at Tang San's head. At that very moment, Tang San's hand, which had been abruptly withdrawn, sent the Trident of the Sea God flying again. The previously restrained energy erupted all at once, the main blade pointing directly at Qian Renxue's chest.

Sensing Tang San's actions, Qian Renxue immediately recalled the eight words Tang San had once uttered: "Better to be a shattered jade than a whole tile." Even at this moment, he still had no intention of giving up; even in death, he would retaliate against her.

The Trident of Poseidon might not have the penetrating power of Guanyin's Tear, but it was a true divine artifact. Wounds inflicted by divine artifacts were not easily healed. However, Qian Renxue wasn't worried at all; Tang San's thrust with the Trident of Poseidon only strengthened her killing intent. Although the trident was a divine artifact, how much power did Tang San have left? Clad in Angelic Armor, she didn't need to worry about the trident breaking through her armor, let alone injuring herself.

However, just as Tang San was about to be destroyed by Qian Renxue, a long, leisurely sigh suddenly resounded from the depths of her soul. Immediately afterwards, Qian Renxue felt her whole body tighten, and a vast energy wave surged out instantly, forcefully throwing her body away.

Not only was Qian Renxue surprised, but Tang San was also stunned. Right between him and Qian Renxue, a three-meter-tall, illusory golden figure stood out from nowhere, and the Trident of the Sea God in Tang San's hand was already in his hand.

A brilliant golden light burst forth from the Trident of Poseidon, releasing a surge of excitement. Clearly, in the hands of this golden phantom, it had regained its true power.

"Sea God?" Qian Renxue coldly stared at the golden figure before her. Although they were deep underground, where there was no air, it didn't affect her, a god-level powerhouse. Even if Tang San didn't breathe for the time being, it wouldn't be a problem. The void was also temporarily solidified because the energy from her and Tang San's previous attack had compressed the surrounding broken soil and rocks, preventing it from collapsing.

"No, you are not the Sea God. At most, you are just a thought left behind by the Sea God in this world." Qian Renxue sneered, slowly pointing the Angelic Holy Sword in her hand forward, her six wings unfolding behind her, and rings of golden light emanating from her body.

The golden phantom spoke in a calm and serene voice: "Indeed, this is merely an illusion I left behind in this world. Every god leaves behind the same divine will when they depart. However, the angel god you inherited has long since vanished because his divine will has been manipulated by many. He, on the other hand, was my first choice after I became the Sea God and left this place. I think I will never find a more outstanding successor than him. Little girl, although you have become the angel god, you cannot yet truly utilize the angel god's techniques. Moreover, this is not the right place for the angel god. Your stage should be in the sky."

Qian Renxue snorted coldly, "So what? You only have a thought in your mind. I must kill Tang San. Do you think you can stop me?"

Poseidon smiled faintly, "Why don't you give it a try?" As he spoke, he slowly raised the trident in his hand, and a soft golden halo immediately spread out like ripples on water. Instead of attacking Qian Renxue, it spread behind him and instantly merged into the soil behind him, disappearing from sight.

"As the Sea God, you must always remember to draw upon the power of the sea at all times. The sea is our true body and the source of our power." This was clearly addressed to Tang San. Tang San had caught his breath, and with a flash of light, his martial soul switched to the Clear Sky Hammer. He finally had a sliver of power to protect himself.

A crimson-gold light shimmered illusoryly in the air. Almost instantly, Qian Renxue had split into nine figures. The light and shadow intertwined, and from different angles and in different ways, the blazing true fire of the sun mixed with the divine power of the angels rushed towards the sea god.

Tang San's eyes widened. This golden phantom had appeared once before, when he was nearly killed by Bibi Dong. Its appearance saved his life and taught him the first three moves of the Golden Thirteen Halberds. But he had told himself then that he didn't have much energy, and that time he had almost exhausted it.

Before him stood a true god. Could this mere descent of the sea god, conjured from a wisp of divine thought, truly withstand Qian Renxue's attack? Now seemed the perfect time to turn and flee. He should use the sea god's descent to block Qian Renxue and escape back to the sea as quickly as possible.

However, Tang San didn't do that. His emotions overcame his reason; he couldn't just abandon the Sea God who had descended before him. Even if it was just a wisp of the Sea God's divine will, he had still come to save him. If he left now, even if he survived, Tang San believed he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. Besides, he had already sworn never to let the Sea God's Trident leave him again.

So he didn't leave. He just stood quietly behind the Sea God, holding the Haotian Hammer, intently watching the three-meter-tall phantom.

The phantom of the sea god was golden, but so ethereal that its true form was impossible to discern. At the same moment Qian Renxue launched her attack, he moved as well. The sea god's trident seemed to merge with him, ethereally tracing a path through the air. Golden halos, as if splitting from his body, silently emerged—nine halos in total—perfectly blocking the path of Qian Renxue's nine figures rushing forward.

The first time Tang San saw the Sea God use the Unpredictable Storm, he didn't know this divine skill. But this time was different. Under his focused gaze, he discovered many techniques of the Unpredictable Storm, as well as his own mistakes in using it. The biggest mistake was that he hadn't truly merged with the Sea God's trident. Perhaps that was because he hadn't yet become the Sea God. However, that wasn't the only reason.

From any perspective, Qian Renxue's energy fluctuations were far more powerful than those of the Sea God who descended through divine thought. However, when her attack, imbued with the true fire of the sun, collided with the Unstable Storm, the nine attacks vanished into thin air.

The nine figures merged back into one, and Qian Renxue's eyes revealed intense surprise. She felt no obstruction, but her attack seemed to have had its energy neutralized by her opponent in a special way; even the power of the True Fire of the Sun could not destroy her.

However, after taking Qian Renxue's attack, the Sea God's figure became even more ethereal, as if it might disappear at any moment.

Just as Qian Renxue was preparing to launch another attack to completely destroy the guy in front of her, suddenly, horror appeared in her eyes.

Tang San also sensed it. He turned around sharply and saw a blue expanse. In this dark space, even with the help of the light emitted by Qian Renxue, he could clearly see the azure blue of the sea.

Yes, the soil and rocks behind Tang San turned that color at that moment. Then, a surge of blue light, accompanied by an incomparably vast amount of water element, rushed in.

The trident of Poseidon lit up, and along with Poseidon himself, it transformed into a blue—the blue of the ocean. The trident pointed forward, unleashing an unparalleled surge of terrestrial power, hurtling towards Qian Renxue.

All Qian Renxue could do was quickly retract her six wings, completely protecting her body. The next moment, she was sent into the soil by the azure energy. And everything around her turned blue at that moment.

The energy that Poseidon unleashed when he raised his trident and projected it behind him was not in vain; he was summoning the power of the sea!

During Tang San's previous chase with Qian Renxue, he had already come very close to the sea. The descending Sea God unleashed the true power of the Trident, drawing upon the vast and boundless energy of the ocean, even sending a god-level powerhouse like Qian Renxue flying. Just as the Sea God had said before, this was not her stage.

The increasingly ethereal figure slowly turned around, and with a flash of light, the Sea God appeared before Tang San in the incredibly comfortable blue light.

Although Tang San could not see the Sea God's face at this moment, and could only see a faint phantom, he could clearly feel the Sea God's comfort and kindness.

"I have disappointed you." Tang San lowered his head in shame.

"No, you've done very well. Even I didn't expect that the successor I chose would be so outstanding. In fact, even if you didn't inherit my divine position, I believe that one day you would definitely be able to break through to level 100. Your talent is much better than mine was back then."

"This time, I truly must leave you. The divine will I retained in this world has been completely exhausted. Everything in the future depends on your own strength. Remember, a god who leaves this world cannot return. The Angel God is not to be feared; as long as you inherit my power, it will be enough to contend with her. However, this time, in order to save you, I'm afraid you will encounter great difficulties when receiving the inheritance. But I believe you will definitely be able to complete it. Always remember, the sea is your strongest support. Goodbye, child, may you successfully inherit the power."

Poseidon extended his finger and touched the trident mark on Tang San's forehead. Tang San felt his mind clear instantly, and the next moment, surging water elements transformed into the purest energy, flowing into his body. All the previous consumption, including the negative effects of the exploding ring, completely vanished in that vast energy infusion. The surrounding scenery also became illusory at that moment. Tang San felt a sense of relaxation wash over him; all the pressure disappeared, and the surroundings had transformed into a pure blue world.

The phantom of Poseidon vanished, and the dark trident returned to Tang San's hand. However, to Tang San's astonishment, the Heart of Poseidon beneath the main blade had disappeared, revealing the empty hole he had seen when he first saw the trident. Although the weight of the trident remained the same without the Heart of Poseidon, Tang San clearly felt that it had lost its soul; the harmonious connection was gone, replaced by an ordinary weapon in his hand.

Tang San finally understood what the Sea God had said before leaving. The reason his inheritance would become difficult was probably because of the disappearance of the Sea God's Heart. To save him, the Sea God must have released all the energy of the Sea God's Heart. His attacks, the summoning of the ocean's power, and the help he received to fully recover all relied on the energy left by the Sea God's Heart after it shattered!

Clutching the Trident of Poseidon tightly to his chest, tears streamed down his face. "You saved me. But I failed to protect you. My companion, rest assured, no matter the cost, I will help you find your soul, find the lost Heart of Poseidon."

……

Boom, boom, boom... The waves crashed against the beach, creating a deafening roar. The azure sea stretched to the horizon, the sun shone brightly on the earth, and looking at the beautiful scenery before one's eyes, feeling the salty breath of the sea, anyone would probably feel refreshed and invigorated.

Unfortunately, the six people standing on the beach didn't seem to feel anything like that. Each of them exuded an imposing aura, with dazzling spirit rings surrounding their bodies. Even the one with the fewest spirit rings had seven shining rings. The other five all had eight rings.

A Soul Saint and five Soul Douluos—this would be an absolutely formidable force anywhere on the continent. Yet, at this moment, their eyes revealed intense anxiety.

"Why isn't he here yet? Boss Dai, let me go greet him," Xiao Wu said anxiously.

These six were none other than the other six members of the Shrek Seven Devils besides Tang San. They had been at the seaside for some time and had made contact with the Demon Soul Great White Shark, waiting for Tang San to collect enough spirit rings before joining them on their journey to Seagod Island.

However, just a short while ago, they received a message from Tang San. The golden light of the Sea God Trident shooting into the sky made their hearts tense.

Although they all knew that no one on the continent could threaten Tang San's life, the Sea God's Light that Tang San emitted was a pre-arranged agreement with them, signaling them to be on high alert.

What worried them even more was that immediately after the light of the sea god was emitted, an unprecedented explosion and energy fluctuation suddenly followed. Although it was still far away, the violent fluctuations made the waves of the sea become turbulent. The Shrek Seven Devils had never felt such a level of energy fluctuation before. In their astonishment, they all released their martial souls, ready to support Tang San and respond to any contingencies.

However, after waiting for a long time, following the enormous energy fluctuations, the earth only trembled a few times as if an earthquake had struck, but they still couldn't sense Tang San's presence, nor did they see his return. How could everyone not be anxious?

Xiao Wu was naturally the most anxious, which is why she suggested going to find Tang San.

"No. Xiao Wu, don't rush." ​​Dai Mubai said calmly, "We agreed to meet Xiao San here, so we can't leave easily. I think Xiao San might be in trouble. But we must trust his strength. If you go to him now, what if you encounter danger, or what if he comes? Wouldn't we have to worry about you? Xiao San's soul power has reached level 93, and with his Sea God Trident and twin martial souls, he can even escape unscathed from a level 99 peak Douluo. He should arrive soon, so don't worry too much."

Ning Rongrong stepped forward and took Xiao Wu's hand. "Xiao Wu, Boss Dai is right. Getting separated now would only cause problems. If Third Brother comes and doesn't see you, wouldn't he be even more worried? Let's wait a little longer. If Third Brother doesn't arrive in another fifteen minutes, we'll go look for him together. It's better than you going alone!"

Xiao Wu nodded silently, but she was still very anxious. She had once sacrificed herself for Tang San, and Tang San had then transferred his spirit ring back to her. Therefore, there was a special connection between her and Tang San. Although what Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong said made a lot of sense, and under normal circumstances, Tang San shouldn't have encountered an inescapable danger, Xiao Wu still felt that this time was different. That heart-pounding feeling made her extremely restless and filled with worry.

Waiting is agonizing for anyone. A quarter of an hour passed quickly, and Xiao Wu could no longer bear it. "No, I have to go find him." With that, she turned around and was about to throw the light of the sea god in the direction it had come from.

Zhu Zhuqing acted quickly and grabbed Xiao Wu, saying, "Xiao Wu, don't be impulsive. If you're going, we'll go together."

Xiao Wu's eyes were already red with anxiety, tears welling up in them. "Then let's hurry, this time is different, really, this time is different from before. I can feel that my brother's life is in danger. We must go and save him."

Dai Mubai didn't hesitate any longer. "Let's go pick up Xiao San."

"Wait a minute, look!" Oscar suddenly shouted. Everyone looked in the direction of his voice and saw that the previously turbulent sea had suddenly calmed down. All the waves seemed to have subsided in an instant, and the surface of the sea was as smooth as a mirror, like a huge lake. And right where they could see, about five hundred meters from the shore, a huge whirlpool was forming, and the surging energy fluctuations made the entire sea surface glow with a blue light.

"That's..." Everyone stared in astonishment at the changes on the sea. Xiao Wu, however, had already lunged forward. "That's his power, the power of the Sea God!"

Just as Xiao Wu plunged into the sea like a mermaid, with a soft splash, a figure shot into the sky from the very center of the whirlpool, soaring into mid-air. It was none other than Tang Sanyao!

However, he looked utterly disheveled. Not only was he completely naked, but the broken stumps of the Eight Spider Lances were also visible on both sides of his back, and the Trident of Poseidon was dull and lifeless.

"Xiao San, how did you get out of the sea?" Dai Mubai looked at Tang San's return. Although he looked like he had encountered a strong enemy, he was relieved to see his brothers together.

Tang San descended from the sky, landing directly in front of Xiao Wu who had plunged into the sea. He grabbed her delicate body and said in a deep voice, "There's no time to explain now. Come quickly, come with me into the sea." As he spoke, the blue light of the Sea God Trident mark on his forehead flashed, and the Vast Ocean Protection Shield was released, enveloping the six of them. His soul power burst forth, pulling the six of them towards the sea.

Although no one knew what had happened, they hadn't seen Tang San look so solemn in a long time. No one asked any questions and quickly followed Tang San towards the sea.

As soon as he entered the sea, Tang San saw his good friends swimming rapidly towards him in the distance—the members of the Demon Soul Great White Shark King, Xiao Bai's clan. Seven exceptionally strong Demon Soul Great White Sharks were rapidly approaching. Clearly, they too had sensed the fluctuations of the Sea God's power. Seeing them, Tang San was overjoyed. He quickly activated the Vast Ocean Protective Shield, making them visible, summoned the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, and issued commands to them through his mental power.

The Demon Soul Great White Shark is one of the overlords of the sea, possessing extremely high intelligence. The seven Demon Soul Great White Sharks sent by Xiao Bai, whose cultivation levels all exceeded 30,000 years, immediately understood Tang San's intention. The seven Demon Soul Great White Sharks simultaneously swam to the bottom of the Vast Ocean Protective Shield. Under Tang San's control, the Vast Ocean Protective Shield was integrated into their bodies, and they accelerated simultaneously, swimming towards a deeper part of the seabed.

Tang San discovered that the energy the Sea God had injected into his body not only restored his strength but also greatly enhanced his control over the Sea God's Light and related skills. Previously, with six companions, he would never have been able to control the Vast Ocean Shield so skillfully. But regardless, they were finally safe for the time being.

Using the Vast Ocean Protector on land and using it in the ocean are completely different concepts. In the ocean, this skill from the Sea God can completely merge with the sea, using the power of the ocean to conceal one's aura. Back when Tang San hadn't been able to fully utilize its power, he used the Vast Ocean Protector to lead the Shrek Seven Devils to Seagod Island. At that time, his strength had increased exponentially. When the inheritor of the Sea God enters the sea, even Qian Renxue has no way to stop him.

Less than a quarter of an hour after Tang San and his companions entered the sea, a golden figure descended from the sky and landed on the shore. Qian Renxue, shrouded in her Angelic Armor, looked extremely pale. The Sea God's attack hadn't truly harmed her; as she had said, it was merely a thought of the Sea God, not his actual power. However, while the power couldn't injure her, it had pushed her nearly ten thousand meters away, and simultaneously, the divine sense she had placed on Tang San was forcibly severed. She had finally managed to detect Tang San's aura again, but now it had vanished once more.

============================================

Thank you everyone for your help yesterday. The distance has been reduced. Please help the mistress continue to reduce the distance. Thank you.

(End of this chapter)