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*****
Deep in the ocean, the divine consciousness of the God of Asura and the Sea God continued to clash.
Poseidon took a deep breath and said, "Asura, for your sake, I won't pursue what your successor has done. But this is the ocean—my domain. Here, I do not fear you, even if you're a divine enforcer. No matter how powerful you are, protecting your successor won't be so easy."
"You're threatening me?" The Asura God's gaze narrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Poseidon gave a faint smile. "No, just a friendly exchange."
"Master, let me handle this. I've set my sights on the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's soul ring." Qian Renhan stepped in front of the Asura God's divine projection.
Hearing this, the Asura God looked down at Qian Renhan, a hint of doubt in his eyes. Divine consciousness alone possessed power near that of true gods—especially in the ocean, where Poseidon's divine presence was no different from a god's. Qian Renhan was indeed exceptional, but his Asura Sword was only a martial spirit, not a divine weapon. And to nurture him, the Asura God hadn't granted him divine power. With only a mid-level Rank 98 cultivation, how could he possibly contend with Poseidon?
Poseidon's tone turned cold. "Qian Renhan, it's only out of respect for the Asura God that I've allowed you to act again and again. Do not test the limits of this god's patience."
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King watched the two divine projections conversing with a gaze filled with hatred and helplessness. He hated Poseidon for using him as a stepping stone for the next Sea God and stood in opposition, yet he couldn't deny he needed Poseidon's so-called protection. He still had a wife and children to care for. His young son had only cultivated for tens of thousands of years—a mere fledgling by ocean standards.
Qian Renhan didn't waste words. A dark red sword-shaped mark on his forehead lit up with a blood-red glow. A crimson space, seemingly detached from this world, enveloped Poseidon. Within that blood-colored void, countless three-foot-long scarlet swords hovered in perfect formation, spiraling into a vortex of death.
"Blades sheathed, watching coldly over truth and law. Killing intent like knives, shattering all illusion—Pseudo-Asura Domain."
The Asura God frowned. Not enough. Still not enough. Even with the power of domain enhancement, a full-strength strike could rival a divine-tier soul technique enhanced by rare soul ring detonation methods. But Poseidon, as the Sea God, also possessed a divine domain. Empowered by the vast ocean, he could easily offset it. Clearly, this disciple still lacked sufficient battle experience. He might need to be pulled back for more intensive training.
"God of Asura, your successor has crossed the line. I've already issued warnings. If he dares to strike me, even if this reaches the Divine Realm Committee, I will be in the right!"
Poseidon was now truly enraged. The blood-red ocean water around them slowly faded, replaced once more by the radiant blue-gold glow of the sea. Blue-golden sea beasts began to circle around him, and a golden trident—forged from pure oceanic energy—descended into his hand. His voice rang out, aged and full of authority.
"Roaring like a beast, devouring the heavens and earth; yet silent as the tide, embracing the firmament—Sea God Domain."
Azure and crimson domains collided. In terms of conceptual depth, the Sea God Domain surpassed the Pseudo-Asura Domain. But in terms of raw power density, the Asura Domain held the edge.
Behind the Asura God's divine form, his hands relaxed slightly—ready to intervene at a moment's notice to protect Qian Renhan.
Just then, Qian Renhan's seventh soul ring lit up. The Fallen Angel True Body activated. Endless dark soul power surged into the Pseudo-Asura Domain, dyeing every hovering blade in the domain with a layer of blackness.
Poseidon's pupils shrank. "This is… the fusion of two martial soul energies!"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of the Asura God's lips. His once-relaxed hands clenched again, this time with approval. What did it mean to be a successor? It meant walking your own path under your master's guidance. Up until now, Qian Renhan's sword techniques had merely followed what he had taught him—enough to make him mildly disappointed. But this—this was a technique of his own creation. As expected of his chosen successor.
"I fuse the absolute darkness of the Fallen Angel with the power of the Asura."
The Asura Sword in Qian Renhan's hand burst forth with a dazzling blood-red light, now enveloped in a thick aura of pitch-black soul power. Around this layer of darkness swirled a deeper shade of black, the type that devoured light itself. While this dark energy couldn't match Asura power in tier, no one could say whether the Ten-Winged Fallen Angel might someday evolve into a Twelve-Winged one. Moreover, this darkness attribute was a natural bane to the Sea God's divine light.
Between the strands of Asura soul power, now flowed cold and evil energy—both martial souls perfectly interwoven.
"Asura Sword Technique, Third Form: Shadow-Devouring Blood Asura!"
"You dare?!"
"Divine Skill—Boundless Vastness."
From the sea itself, a colossal figure of Poseidon materialized, formed entirely of water, his equally immense trident gripped in hand.
As the Sea God, Poseidon naturally wielded more powerful techniques. Though this was merely a divine projection, with limited energy, Boundless Vastness—a move capable of infinitely gathering the power of the ocean—was the ideal choice.
Suddenly, the once-calm surface of the sea erupted violently. The ocean churned and detonated outward at a speed invisible to the naked eye, spreading far into the distance. The entire sea seemed to be undergoing a massive upheaval—like an undersea earthquake shaking the world.
Outside Sea God Island, a patrol unit of Devil Soul Great White Sharks sensed the tremors. Alerted, they swam swiftly toward the epicenter of the disturbance.
As several of the sharks arrived at the source, they were abruptly pulled forward by a massive suction force. Alarmed, they quickly turned tail and tried to retreat—only to freeze mid-motion at what they saw.
Before them stretched an impossibly vast waterfall, so wide it vanished into the horizon—a waterfall within the ocean itself! A trench of this scale shouldn't exist beneath the sea. Countless oceanic soul beasts were being sucked into the abyss, their fates unknown.
At the source of the waterfall stood the cause of it all: Qian Renhan. He was gasping heavily, both hands empty, his martial spirit dissolved. Even his external spirit bone had been used up. Without enough soul power left to stay airborne, he hovered only because the Asura God's will was holding him aloft.
Before Qian Renhan, the divine projection of Poseidon—and even the once-magnificent palace behind him—had completely vanished. All that remained was a sea split as far as the eye could see, and three floating soul rings: one crimson ring bearing nine golden lines, another with three golden lines, and a pitch-black ring.
"Good boy! You actually managed to erase Poseidon's divine will from within the sea itself. Now, absorb those two soul rings—this god will personally guard you!"
The Asura God's eyes gleamed with approval. With a flick of his hand, the two crimson soul rings floated to Qian Renhan's side, along with a left arm bone radiating an overwhelming energy, and a right arm bone that had been severed in two.
The powerful left arm bone had naturally come from the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. As for the right arm bone—it had belonged to the Demon Emperor. It had been split in half by Qian Renhan's terrifying sword strike.
Even damaged, the right arm bone was a relic from a 300,000-year-old soul beast. Though halved, its value still rivaled that of a complete 100,000-year soul bone.
"A right arm bone? I was hoping for a torso or a skull," Qian Renhan muttered, disappointed as he examined the Whale King's right arm bone.
"It's just a soul bone—don't dwell on it," the Asura God reassured him. "Once you inherit my divine seat, you can pick and choose as you like. Even a 999,999-year soul bone is nothing to me. Back when the dragon race fell, the soul bones they dropped were far more precious than this. Honestly, if not for the Divine Realm's rules, I'd have stashed a few away myself."
The ocean, now calm again, suddenly erupted with a brilliant red-gold light shooting straight into the sky from the depths below. Qian Renhan burst from the water like a cannonball, his silhouette blazing upward.
Clutched in his hand was the Asura Sword, surrounded by five terrifying soul rings. His cultivation had now risen to Level 99.
Gazing toward the distant mountains and forests, Qian Renhan sensed the residual soul power he had used to suppress Qian Daoliu's martial spirit.
"Old man's life force is still strong. Looks like he's holding his own just fine in the forest."
Qian Renhan had stated clearly long ago: if Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, or any of the six elders were ever in life-threatening danger, he would step in. As for the others—they were not his concern.
As for Bo Saixi? Qian Renhan didn't even bother sensing her status. Whether she lived or died, it wasn't his business.
"It's time to deal with you," Qian Renhan said, shifting his gaze in the direction of the Slaughter City.
"Tang Chen."
(End of Chapter)