After Chen Xin left, Ning Fengzhi came before Yu Xiaogang, who was in utter despair, and tried to console him:
"Alliance Leader Xiaogang, I deeply sympathize with your misfortune. But I believe your top priority now should be to stop your cultivation level from dropping further. Once your disciple becomes a god and returns, won't all your problems be easily solved then?"
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Yu Xiaogang's ashen face regained color, and light returned to his eyes.
"You're right. I still have Xiao San. Once he ascends to godhood, all my problems will be resolved. Not only that… I will become the God Emperor, ruling over the God Realm, controlling the fate of all beings, and enjoying eternal life!"
In a rush of excitement, Yu Xiaogang pulled out a ten-thousand-year Lingzhi mushroom from his soul tool ring and swallowed it in a few quick bites.
The next moment, his stomach swelled — and the medicinal power of the priceless Lingzhi transformed into nothing more than the purest foul-smelling fart, which Yu Xiaogang released with relief.
His flat-top head showed a relaxed expression, and in his heart he thought happily: Ah, being able to fart without worrying about losing levels really feels wonderful.
A short while later, Chen Xin returned with the heavily wounded Gu Rong.
Ning Fengzhi immediately activated the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda to heal both Gu Rong and Yu Xiaogang's ear injuries.
At this point, Gu Rong had lost an eye, becoming a one-eyed dragon.
"Uncle Gu, I'm sorry, we came too late," Ning Fengzhi said apologetically.
"Master, don't worry about it. I'm already grateful you came to rescue me. That fellow was vicious — though two levels lower than me, his overall strength was no weaker, and he even had an offensive soul tool. If you had been any later, I might not have made it back," Gu Rong said with lingering fear.
"An offensive soul tool… who would have thought the rebel army had mastered such long-lost technology?" Ning Fengzhi said in shock. "This puts us at a great disadvantage. Our top priority should be to retreat and reconsider our strategy."
Thus, with the aid of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, Yu Xiaogang managed to regroup a portion of the scattered troops and retreat back to the Allied Headquarters.
This campaign against the Litlun Plains had dispatched four armies, totaling six hundred thousand soldiers, meant to crush the rebels in one overwhelming sweep. Yet it ended in disastrous defeat. The four armies were either routed, annihilated, captured, or outright defected mid-battle.
In the end, fewer than thirty thousand stragglers managed to escape.
This battle dealt the Heaven Dou Empire a devastating blow. Its vitality was drained, leaving it powerless to face the increasingly strong Litlun Plains forces.
The entire Allied Headquarters was shrouded in gloom.
"I never imagined that the Spark forces not only possess the technology to grant martial souls, but also the long-lost soul tool technology of the ancient era," Yu Yuanzhen said in shock.
"Alliance Leader, our top priority now should be infiltrating Spark Academy. If we too could acquire this soul tool technology, otherwise the battlefield will remain terribly unfavorable for us," Ning Fengzhi advised.
Xue Qinghe added: "It's true that soul tools are our greatest shortcoming. But we no longer have time — the war has already broken out. After this defeat, the Heaven Dou Empire has lost too much strength; it can no longer mobilize an army in the millions."
This crushing defeat left Yu Xiaogang utterly humiliated. His face twisted as he roared in fury:
"The Heaven Dou Empire has over a hundred million livestock! Mobilize more of them. If one million isn't enough, then ten million! We'll see whether the rebels have more cannons, or we have more bodies to throw at them!"
At Yu Xiaogang's words, the imperial bureaucrats were struck dumb. The empire's situation was already chaotic enough. If Yu Xiaogang carried out such reckless policies, the whole world would surely fall into complete disorder.
The real problem was — the new Heaven Dou Emperor, Xue Qinghe, was a staunch supporter of Yu Xiaogang's policies.
Thus, when Yu Xiaogang demanded mass conscription of more livestock, Xue Qinghe returned to the capital and began a frenzy of militarization, recruiting vast numbers of livestock, and extorting even more from the common people.
And the result of such policies, naturally — was nationwide chaos.
In the southern Otto Province of the Heaven Dou Empire, three brothers rose up, donning yellow scarves and gathering the common folk.
The eldest brother raised both hands and declared:
"Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise! In the year of Jiazi, fortune comes to all under heaven!"
Hundreds of thousands of people rallied to them, and they launched a mighty Yellow Turban Rebellion, immediately joining the Spark resistance and swiftly conquering cities and strongholds of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Along the Meng River, which ran through several provinces, people dug up stone figures on the riverbank. On them were inscribed the words:
"Do not say the stone man has but one eye — he stirs the Meng River to rebellion under heaven."
Like a call to arms, this incited a massive uprising on both banks of the Meng River. The rebels wrapped red cloth around their heads, and thus were named the Red Turban Army.
Dozens of uprisings ignited across the empire. Xue Qinghe dispatched armies everywhere to suppress them, only for his forces to be either crushed by the rebels or defect outright, joining the rebels in storming cities.
The entire Heaven Dou Empire fell into storm and turmoil.
Next door, the Star Luo Empire — though seemingly stable — was not in much better condition.
Several years earlier, in the Star Luo capital, a salt smuggler had composed a seditious poem:
"When autumn comes on the ninth day,
My flowers will bloom and all others wither.
The fragrance pierces Star Luo to the skies,
And the whole city will be clad in golden armor."
Dai Tianfeng had immediately ordered the arrest of this audacious commoner. The man vanished without a trace. When he reappeared, he had become the leader of the Star Luo rebels. Together with a postal station runner, he sparked a massive uprising.
Faced with rebellion at home, Dai Tianfeng mobilized his most elite troops — the White Tiger Legion — to crush the revolt.
But the battle ended in catastrophic defeat. The White Tiger Legion suffered near-total destruction.
After this, the Star Luo Empire's control over its territory plummeted. Large and small uprisings erupted everywhere. Rebels captured city after city, dragging out the genealogies of local noble families and executing them one by one. Countless heads fell in the process.
As the Heaven Dou Empire teetered on the brink of collapse, the Star Luo Empire too was shaken to its core.
During this time, kingdoms, principalities, and countless smaller powers were swept away in the storm.
Alliance Headquarters
Watching the endless stream of bad news from all directions, Yu Xiaogang finally snapped.
Clutching his flat-topped head with both hands, eyes bloodshot, he roared in fury:
"You damned mobs! Isn't it enough to live quietly as livestock? Weren't you born to be lowly? Is it really so hard to accept your status as commoners? Why can't you just accept the rule of those with noble blood? Why must you rebel?! Why—?!"
Two flowers bloom, each showing its own branch.
Inside the domain of the Asura God, Tang San's seven orifices bled, yet he gritted his teeth and endured. Above his head, a black soul ring grew darker and darker, until eventually faint red patterns appeared within the black. At last, through sheer willpower, Tang San forced the black soul ring to transform into a red one.
Tang San finally exhaled in relief. This red soul ring stacked atop the ones of his Clear Sky Hammer. His soul ring configuration now was: purple, purple, purple, yellow, black, black, black, red. With spirit power level 82, he had advanced to the rank of a Contra-level powerhouse.
Tang San stood up and spoke toward the temple:
"Lord Asura God, I have advanced to Contra. Please open the Fourth Trial for me."
Beside the statue of the Asura God, the space rippled. Huo Yuhao entered into the domain of the Asura God. Looking at Tang San with satisfaction, he said:
"Not bad. Truly worthy of being the youth I chose. You have reached Contra level—then I shall open the Fourth Trial of Asura for you."
As he spoke, Huo Yuhao pointed a finger at Tang San. Tang San felt space ripple around him, the world beginning to change.
At the same time, Tang San's divine mark lit up as the content of the Fourth Trial descended:
Asura God's Fourth Trial: Asura's Questions of Love
Content: In this trial, you will enter the Space of Love alongside Xiao Wu and Tang Hao. You must undergo the trial of Love with them, facing questions of love.
Reward upon completion: 10% of Asura's divine power!
The world around Tang San shifted fully. He now stood on one corner of a triangular platform floating in space. Looking across, he saw two people standing on the other two corners—Tang Hao and Xiao Wu.
Tang San shouted excitedly:
"Father! Xiao Wu!"
Both looked back at him.
The exalted voice of the Asura God descended:
"This Fourth Trial is divided into three rounds.
The first round: Asura's Questions of Love.
The second round: questions for the God's candidate.
The third round: revelation of truth.
Remember—honesty and not deceiving your own heart is the standard for passing. If the companions answering falsely, they shall be punished.
If the God's candidate answers falsely, they shall lose the qualification for the God's trials."
Immediately, the rules of the trial were imprinted into the minds of all three. Once they understood, the voice resounded again:
"The divine trial begins."
The light beneath them flickered back and forth before settling beneath Tang Hao.
Tang Hao straightened his chest, waiting for the Asura God's questions.
"First question: Do you have a lover?"
Tang Hao answered:
"Yes. Ah Yin!"
"Second question: Do you love her with the purest love?"
The purest love? Tang Hao did not hesitate. He nodded firmly:
"Yes. I love her with the purest love."
"Third question: Does she love you?"
Tang Hao fell silent. Memories of his past with Ah Yin surfaced—hesitation clouded his expression. He looked at Tang San, who waited expectantly for his answer.
In Tang San's current understanding, rooted in his previous life, his parents had always been deeply in love. He saw nothing strange in the question.
Perhaps out of pride before his son, Tang Hao forced a dishonest reply:
"She loves me!"
"All three answers—incorrect."
Tang San froze in shock. Tang Hao also realized the severity and hurriedly shouted:
"Wait! I admit that Ah Yin may have some misunderstandings about me, but—do I not love her purely enough? Does she not count as my lover?"
"The first question: You love her, but she does not love you. That does not count as a lover."
"As for the second—" The mysterious voice did not answer.
Instead, Tang Hao's inner voice was broadcast across the entire space:
"Only by obtaining Ah Yin can I ensure that Xiao San continues to be my son. When Xiao San becomes a god, I can once again sit as the master of my plane, ruling the destiny of all beings. Therefore, I must obtain Ah Yin—even if I must use the filthiest means to do so!"
This was not Tang Hao speaking aloud, yet it came forth in his own voice. Hearing it, Tang Hao's face instantly flushed red.
He could not refute it. Truly, he could not. That was the darkest thought buried deep within his heart.
"Father, what is going on? What really happened between you and Mother?" Tang San's mind felt overloaded. In his memory, in his previous life, his parents had been loving. How could this be?
Tang Hao turned away, unable to face his son.
"Punishment: soul power reduced by 10 ranks."
Tang Hao's body was lifted into the air by divine power. His Clear Sky Hammer was summoned, with its nine soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red—shining. The final red soul ring dimmed. His aura collapsed, his level dropping from 96 to 86.
During the draining of his soul power, Tang Hao screamed miserably:
"Aaaaahhhhhh!"
Seeing the dimmed soul ring, Xiao Wu's rabbit eyes turned red. She folded her arms and said with contempt:
"Hmph. What a hypocritical man."
At last, Tang Hao was thrown back onto the platform. Struggling to his feet, he said to Tang San:
"Xiao San… I'm sorry. There are things I could not let you know. I hope you can understand. This punishment, I accept willingly. But remember—you are the hope of the Tang family. Even if we answer wrong and are punished, you must always answer from your true heart. Do not lie, or you will lose your chance at godhood."
Tang San nodded firmly:
"Father, I will."
Then, the second round of questions began. Tang Hao's light had dimmed, while the glow flickered between Tang San and Xiao Wu before settling under Tang San's feet.
"It is the candidate Tang San's turn to answer." The voice resounded.
Tang San drew a deep breath, preparing for the questions.
"First question: Do you have someone you love?"
Tang San let out a small breath of relief. There was a difference between someone you love and a lover. Calmly, he replied:
"Yes."
Despite all of Xiao Wu's betrayals and manipulations, Tang San had not forgotten the gentle Xiao Wu of his previous life—his god-queen wife.
"Second question: Does the one you love, love you?"
Hearing this, Tang San's eyes dimmed. He longed to answer "yes," but lying would cost him the Asura God's trial. He could only give the cruel answer:
"No."
"Third question: Is your love for her pure?"
"I…" Tang San hesitated, glancing at his father.
He loved Xiao Wu. Because of love, he tolerated much of what she had done. Yet behind each forgiveness lay another reason: Xiao Wu was the scabbard of the Asura God's Sword. To have her meant gaining the Asura Godhood.
Tang Hao frantically tried to signal him. Tang San understood. Closing his eyes, he thought:
"Xiao Wu, I must become a god. Only by becoming a god can I bring you back to the Xiao Wu I once knew."
"No… it is not pure."