The reason divine energy was considered an omnipotent power source was its ability to allow a god—even one reduced to a mere wisp of divine consciousness—to achieve an alternative form of resurrection, provided they had sufficient divine energy to nurture it.
This was the case with Qian Renxue.
Though her situation was slightly better since her divine position had been preserved, otherwise her reborn soul would have had to start the path to godhood anew.
As the scabbard of the Asura Sword, Xiao Wu undoubtedly carried a fragment of Tang San's divine consciousness.
Regardless of whether Tang San's main body succeeded or failed, as long as Xiao Wu could escape, Tang San wouldn't truly be considered dead.
What Ye Wen couldn't fathom, however, was what kind of image he projected in Tang San's eyes. Did Tang San really think Ye Wen was such a fool that he couldn't see through this contingency plan?
Or did Tang San believe his scheme was an "unsolvable" stratagem?
Or perhaps Tang San was trying to misdirect him, making Ye Wen think the only remaining fragment of his divine consciousness was in Xiao Wu?
But from the very beginning, Ye Wen had never taken Tang San seriously.
What Ye Wen truly intended to do was strip Tang San of his Asura God position, completely severing any possibility for further advancement.
No matter how many divine fragments Tang San might have concealed elsewhere, Huo Yu'er's future would align with Ye Wen's. She would make the vast cosmos her battlefield, expanding her territory endlessly until she reached the same pinnacle of power as Ye Wen—a Supreme God King.
By then, no matter how resourceful Tang San might be, as long as he remained within this expanse of stars, he would be under constant surveillance by Huo Yu'er's forces. He wouldn't be able to quietly ascend to godhood again. And if he somehow did, Huo Yu'er would surely hunt him down and eliminate him once more. This, in Ye Wen's eyes, was the ultimate unsolvable stratagem.
Thus, Ye Wen wore a warm smile.
"Very well. I didn't expect you to be such a devoted lover. I'll grant your request.
Regardless of whether you win or lose against my disciple, I'll exile your wife from this cosmos and ensure her safe departure."
Tang San's face lit up with joy, but outwardly, he maintained a calm demeanor, bowing slightly to Ye Wen without revealing a trace of his emotions.
"Thank you, Lord Vast Ocean God King."
With this matter settled, not long after, ripples began to spread across the barrier of the God Realm.
It was the arrival of Huo Yu'er and her group.
However, Huo Yu'er's group wasn't limited to just eight people. A massive procession of over a hundred individuals accompanied her.
Aside from Huo Yu'er, the current Empress of Douluo, the others were loyal followers she had cultivated over the years. Though most lacked divine positions, they were Divine Officials elevated purely through divine energy.
Under the enhancement of divine armor, their opportunity to ascend to the God Realm had finally arrived!
Upon entering the God Realm, Huo Yu'er didn't rush to visit Ye Wen. Instead, she turned to her subordinates and waved her hand, instructing:
"Proceed according to the plan. Work in pairs—first, attempt to persuade surrender. If they refuse, eliminate them and seize their positions. If you encounter overwhelming opposition, send a distress signal immediately."
Her followers all acknowledged her orders and swiftly dispersed in pairs, each heading in a predetermined direction.
Huo Yu'er didn't bother with condescending warnings like "be careful." Everyone present had been personally selected by her as Douluo warriors. If they lacked the courage to face gods, they wouldn't qualify as trusted followers of Empress Huo Yu'er.
That said, these loyal subordinates were only capable of handling Tier-2 gods of the Douluo God Realm. Tier-1 gods would require intervention from the Tian Xing Knights or Irwin Elric.
Since the upper echelons of the Douluo God Realm had already fallen, and some factions among the Tier-1 gods had pledged allegiance to their respective God Kings, Ye Wen wouldn't annihilate their subordinates. Thus, the number of Tier-1 gods the Tian Xing Knights needed to deal with was minimal.
Once everyone had departed, Huo Yu'er flew directly toward the Asura Temple.
Seeing the familiar figure standing at the entrance of the Asura Temple, Huo Yu'er's eyes softened. However, six months of rigorous training had tempered her, preventing her from displaying overly sentimental behavior. Still, her once cold golden eyes now shimmered with gentleness.
Upon reaching Ye Wen, Huo Yu'er's previously unapproachable aura had completely dissipated. In a soft voice, she addressed him:
"Master."
Ye Wen nodded lightly, skipping unnecessary pleasantries. Finally, he spoke earnestly to Huo Yu'er:
"Go. Eradicate the last vestiges of darkness shrouding Douluo Star."
"Yes, Master."
Huo Yu'er gripped her Voidbright Sword, bowed respectfully to Ye Wen, and then resolutely stepped into the Asura Temple.
Though Huo Yu'er was now the Empress of Douluo, only she knew the immense pressure she faced.
Though the God Realm that dominated Douluo Star had fallen, it was all thanks to Ye Wen's efforts. Without such an overwhelmingly powerful master, not only would she have been trapped on Douluo Star, but Douluo Star itself would have remained forever shackled by the parasitic Douluo God Realm.
Thus, it was time for her to personally put an end to the evils that had once emerged from the Douluo Continent.
Though called a temple, the Asura Temple was more akin to a small world unto itself. Beyond the living quarters of Tang San's family, it encompassed vast lands and fields.
At this moment, Tang San sat atop a towering mountain ten thousand feet high.
Having lost his Sea God position, Tang San could no longer don the azure divine armor of the Sea God. Instead, he now wore a sinister-looking suit of Asura armor, covered in grotesque patterns and colored in shades of black and red—it exuded an unmistakable aura of evil.
His once light blue hair, now dyed white by the influence of Asura divine energy, made him appear chillingly murderous, like a true Asura god of slaughter.
Looking at the cold goddess wielding her divine sword not far away, Tang San spoke in a low voice:
"You dare show your face after killing my child? You've got quite the nerve."
"That matter is irrelevant.
There's only one thing I want to tell you, Tang San. Today, you will die!"
Huo Yu'er's voice was icy as a surge of murderous intent erupted from her, accompanied by an overwhelming divine pressure that left Tang San struggling to maintain his usual composure. Her strength… had reached the level of a God King!?
"How is this possible!?" Tang San's mind reeled in shock.
But soon, jealousy consumed him. In his eyes, Huo Yu'er had reached the same level he had spent ten thousand years cultivating—all thanks to the guidance of Ye Wen, the Supreme God King.
How enviable. To have such a powerful ally to lean on—if only that ally were his.
Though Tang San had already accepted that his main body was doomed, he hadn't expected to be at a disadvantage from the start.
But now, sensing Huo Yu'er's God King-level strength, Tang San couldn't help but take this battle seriously.
After all, even in defeat, the ever-pristine Tang San couldn't afford to look too pathetic!
The battle between God Kings had officially begun!
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