The violent fluctuations of energy caused the entire surroundings to tremble. In Tang Chen's hand, the heavy sword continued to spill waves of blood-red light.
Chen Feng stood quietly to the side, watching him. In Tang Chen's eyes, he could faintly see resentment and fury—but beneath it all, there was even more helplessness.
The aura Tang Chen exuded now was completely different from the previous Slaughter King. Back then, his consciousness had been submerged in darkness, with the Scarlet Nine-Headed Bat King in full control. Tang Chen himself had long since lost clarity.
It was only because of Chen Feng's arrival and the merging of the two beams of Asura God's divine light that Tang Chen was able to awaken from his parasitic state.
Unfortunately, his body was already riddled with wounds and corrosion, barely holding together. He had long since reached the end of his strength.
What exactly had he endured all these years?
No one could guess.
Only after a long silence did Tang Chen's emotions gradually calm. The blood-tears finally ceased to flow, and his gaze regained a sharp focus.
Tang Chen spoke softly, "To become a god… this hurdle has blocked me for decades. Yet even after all these years, I have still failed to cross it. And now, I never will."
He turned toward Chen Feng, his eyes carrying a faint look of appreciation.
"You, young man, are far more gifted than I. You aren't even twenty years old, and yet you already stand as a Titled Douluo. In this, I cannot compare to you."
Chen Feng gave a bitter smile. He understood Tang Chen's feelings all too well.
In his previous life, hadn't he also struggled endlessly in pursuit of divinity?
In truth, Tang Chen's fortune was even greater than his own—at the very least, Tang Chen had truly obtained a god's inheritance.
As for himself? If not for Tang San's outrageous actions in the future, the first-generation Asura God would never have crossed the flow of time, sacrificing everything just to find him.
That Tang Chen had failed the god's trial was perhaps due to luck as much as anything. Being parasitized by the Scarlet Nine-Headed Bat King, with traces of the Rakshasa God's influence mixed in… Without that interference, Tang Chen, a man of peerless talent, would never have fallen under the control of a mere soul beast.
Tang Chen sighed lightly. He knew his own condition better than anyone else—his days were numbered.
What weighed on him most now was the sect he had personally founded, the number one sect in the world… and her, far away on Seagod Island.
"My child," Tang Chen said quietly, "my time is short. May I ask you some questions?"
Chen Feng nodded. "Senior, please ask. I will answer everything I can."
"Do you know the current state of the Clear Sky Sect?"
Chen Feng's eyes flickered, showing hesitation.
Tang Chen immediately grabbed his hand, his voice anxious:
"What is it? Could it be that something ill has befallen the Clear Sky Sect in my absence?"
Chen Feng nodded. After a moment's thought, he decided to tell Tang Chen everything.
And so, he recounted in detail all that had transpired within the sect over the years—
Tang Hao's love for a woman of Blue Silver Grass, the persecution of the Spirit Hall, the expulsion and closure of the sect…
Even the recent retreat of the Clear Sky Sect and the retribution visited upon the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans by Spirit Hall, he left nothing out.
As Chen Feng spoke, Tang Chen's face grew darker and darker. Each shift in his expression seemed to make the very air groan and fracture, like iron under strain.
"What a fine Spirit Hall. What a fine Qian Daoliu!" Tang Chen's voice shook with rage.
"To think that so much has befallen my Clear Sky Sect during my absence. Poor Hao'er and his family… what a cruel fate!"
Tang Chen shut his eyes, blood-tears once again sliding down his cheeks.
"How hateful, Qian Daoliu and Spirit Hall! To press my Clear Sky Sect so harshly—do they truly mean to dominate the entire soul master world?!"
Chen Feng's heart stirred, and he quickly added, "Senior, in truth—they are already doing exactly that!"
"Senior, you have been trapped in the Slaughter City and do not know. Outside, not long ago, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was annihilated! Only a few clansmen outside the sect escaped by sheer luck."
"What!?" Tang Chen's pupils contracted sharply.
He did not need to ask who was responsible. The mere fact that Spirit Hall had dared carry out such a massacre already proved their intentions.
Immediately, his thoughts turned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. The three great sects had once stood together. Now, with the Clear Sky Sect in seclusion and the Blue Lightning Clan destroyed, what of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the last remaining pillar?
Tang Chen demanded an answer.
Chen Feng's voice was bitter.
"The situation is dire. To be frank, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan faces enormous pressure. Even if the three sects united, they could hardly match Spirit Hall. Now, with only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan left—what hope do they have?"
"At present, under Sect Master Ning Fengzhi's leadership, they have no choice but to rally many small and mid-sized sects. They've allied, basing themselves in Heaven Dou City, working closely with the Heaven Dou royal family for mutual defense."
Chen Feng hesitated, then added, "Among those allied sects… are the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans, once subordinate to the Clear Sky Sect."
Tang Chen waved his hand, shaking his head.
"There is no need to explain. It was the Clear Sky Sect who wronged them first. Their choice to ally elsewhere is only right."
Chen Feng nodded. Tang Chen was fair-minded—he understood reason and did not need lengthy explanations.
But even so, Tang Chen's anger could not be hidden. Spirit Hall had overstepped again and again. Did they really think Tang Chen was clay, incapable of fury?
If not for the parasitism of the Bat King, if his body were still at its peak, he would long since have stormed the Spirit Hall, blocking the gates of the Douluo Hall itself, and forced Qian Daoliu to come out and fight!
"Good child," Tang Chen said suddenly, his eyes fixed on Chen Feng, "your martial soul must be the Seven Kill Sword, is it not?"
Tang Chen's knowledge was vast. The Seven Kill Sword had long been a renowned top-tier weapon martial soul. Even though Chen Feng's sword had evolved under the influence of the Asura God, its sword intent had not changed—Tang Chen recognized it immediately.
Chen Feng nodded. "Yes."
A gleam of admiration flashed in Tang Chen's eyes. Without reservation, he praised:
"To reach such heights at your age, and even to gain the recognition of the Asura God… you are fully capable of shouldering the burden of turning the tide."
As he spoke, Tang Chen took out a small golden hammer. Inlaid at both ends with black gemstones, it was exquisitely crafted.
"Child, take this token. It belongs to the Chief Elder of the Clear Sky Sect. With it, you may command the entire Elder Hall. You even hold the authority to depose the Sect Master and decide the future of the sect."
Chen Feng's heart surged violently. He quickly stepped back, waving his hands repeatedly.
"This must not be, Senior—absolutely not! I am not of the Clear Sky Sect. To hold such a token would be most improper."
But Tang Chen firmly pressed the token into his hand.
"My time is nearly gone. And with the sect withdrawn from the world, I see clearly now—the Clear Sky Sect lacks a descendant of both strength and vision to lead it. You absolutely have the right to bear this responsibility!"
When you leave here, this token will allow you to command all members of the Clear Sky Sect. You must crush Spirit Hall's wolfish ambitions… And if possible, avenge my Clear Sky Sect's humiliation!