Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Just as Feng Yao and Tang Chen were flying across the ocean to Seagod Island for their long-awaited reunion, a struggle concerning Tang San's fate was unfolding in a distant and unknowable dimension.

Tang San's consciousness was swept away by the sudden surge of Asura divine power, instantly escaping the bloody land of the Slaughter City and being drawn into a strange space that defied description. Here, there was no concept of up, down, left, or right; only endless crimson light and chilling killing intent intertwined, as if he were in a domain constructed from the very laws of slaughter.

His injuries healed rapidly under the nourishment of the Asura God's power, but his soul felt an unprecedented tremor and oppression. Before him, two blurry figures, exuding supreme majesty, slowly coalesced.

One of the figures possessed an extremely pure aura, filled with pure killing intent and death; it was none other than the deity who had previously granted him power—the God of Slaughter.

The other figure, however, made Tang San's very soul want to kneel down! That figure was incredibly tall, shrouded in dark red divine light, obscuring his features. Only his eyes, like two cold, blood-red stars, contained supreme majesty, the power to judge all living beings and uphold the law! Just standing there, he seemed to be part of the rules of the entire universe, inspiring no thought of resistance whatsoever!
This is none other than the Asura God, one of the five great god-kings of the divine realm, who is in charge of killing, judgment, and maintaining the balance of the divine realm!

"Lord Asura God!" The God of Slaughter bowed slightly to the majestic figure, his tone respectful, but also revealing a hint of barely perceptible resentment.

The Asura God's gaze, almost tangible, fell upon Tang San, a gaze that seemed to pierce through all his secrets. A cold yet majestic voice echoed through the space: "This child possesses two martial souls, a resolute nature, and, moreover, a profound foundation built upon their inheritance. His bloodlust, tempered in the City of Slaughter, is beginning to take shape. Only by inheriting my divine position can his potential be fully realized, allowing him to better fulfill his mission of maintaining balance."

The God of Slaughter paused for a moment, seemingly wanting to argue something. He had indeed initially taken a liking to Tang San, bestowing upon him power as a prelude and test. But before Shura, his qualifications were clearly insufficient; even if he were to pass on his divine position, whether he could enter the God Realm would depend on the decision of the God Realm Committee.

In the end, the God of Slaughter could only sigh helplessly and bow again: "I will obey Your Majesty's divine decree. This child... is indeed the best candidate to maintain the balance." His figure slowly faded away, signifying his withdrawal from the competition for Tang San's succession.

Now, only the consciousness of the Asura God and Tang San remains in this space.

The Asura God's icy gaze refocused on Tang San: "Tang San, do you know your crime?"

Tang San's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly composed himself, replying respectfully, "Please enlighten me, Lord Asura God." He was uneasy, wondering what the other party meant.

"You slaughtered your own sect, your actions were extreme and cruel. Although there were reasons for it, the amount of killing was too great and has disrupted the balance of order in the lower realm." The Asura God's voice was devoid of any emotion, as cold as the law. "This is the first point."

"You slaughtered a large number of soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, but your character has degenerated to a low level, and you have no mercy or compassion. This is the second point."

With each statement, Tang San's heart sank further. He hadn't expected that his every move in the City of Slaughter was under the watchful eye of this enforcer of the divine realm!

“However,” the Asura Myth changed his tone, “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Maintaining balance sometimes requires ruthless methods. Your decisiveness and strength are exactly what the current situation demands.”

These seemingly contradictory words left Tang San somewhat confused.

The Asura God did not explain, but continued: "However, to inherit my divine position and wield the power of judgment, strength and determination are not enough. You must undergo the most rigorous trials to refine your soul, distinguish right from wrong, and truly understand that the true meaning of killing is not destruction, but 'life' for a higher order."

Before Tang San could respond, the surrounding crimson space suddenly shifted!
Tang San found himself seemingly trapped in an endless cycle of illusions. Each illusion represented a potential turning point in his life, but each was extreme and distorted.

He saw that in order to protect Xiao Wu, he did not hesitate to slaughter the entire Spirit Hall, even affecting countless innocent people. In the end, he was betrayed by everyone and sank into endless killing and resentment with Xiao Wu.

He saw that in his pursuit of power, he had succumbed to the temptation of the Rakshasa God, becoming even more evil than Bibi Dong, and was ultimately attacked by the people of the world.

He saw how his momentary mercy had led him to spare the enemy, resulting in the destruction of Shrek Academy and the tragic deaths of his teachers and friends...

Countless possibilities, countless choices, each filled with pain, struggle, betrayal, and destruction! The Asura God's test is not a battle, but a direct examination of his heart, interrogating him about every decision, forcing him to make choices in the most extreme circumstances, and to bear the consequences!
In this endless cycle of reincarnation and torment, Tang San roared in agony, his soul seemingly torn apart and reassembled time and again. He needed to find that last vestige of "order" and "balance" within these distorted illusions, to find the equilibrium between killing and protecting.

This test is far more dangerous than the Nine Trials of the Sea God, because it targets the deepest weaknesses and obsessions of the soul.

The Asura God's icy gaze remained unmoved as he watched Tang San struggle within the illusion. He needed an enforcer capable of perfectly executing the will of "balance," not a killing machine swayed only by personal grudges and emotions. Tang San's ability to pass the test would determine whether he was truly qualified to touch the Asura Demon Sword, one of the highest authorities in the God Realm.

Several days passed quietly in the tranquil and sacred atmosphere of Poseidon Island.

Feng Yao left the space for Poseidon and Tang Chen's final reunion, then went to find Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling. They were overjoyed to see Feng Yao return safely, especially amazed by the increasingly unfathomable aura emanating from him. Feng Yao briefly informed them of his family's situation, omitting the many unforeseen events on the continent, simply telling them to focus on their cultivation.

On this day, Feng Yao, as usual, came to the edge of the circular sea to instruct the crowd.

Golden sunlight spilled across the azure sea, shimmering like scattered gold dust. A gentle sea breeze, carrying the salty scent, caressed the shore. Occasionally, powerful sea spirits would leap from the water in the distance, splashing up huge waves, yet daring not to approach this sacred sea too closely. Everything appeared tranquil yet brimming with life.

However, when their gaze swept across the sea and looked toward the opposite shore, they suddenly froze, all their ease and comfort instantly turning into unbelievable shock and horror!
On the pristine white sand beach across the shore, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure sat alone on a rock, facing the vast, circular sea.

Is that the Great Priestess of Poseidon?
That once stunningly beautiful, noble, and graceful being, like a sea goddess, has now... become like this!
She was still wearing that deep blue mourning robe, but the sea breeze made it look unusually loose. Her once lush and lustrous blue hair, like seaweed, was now dry and gray, devoid of any shine, casually draped behind her and tossed about by the sea breeze, adding to her desolate appearance. She was turned away from them, but her profile, filled with deep wrinkles and etched with endless weariness and sorrow, still pierced everyone's eyes.

What was most heartbreaking was her posture. She was no longer the tall, majestic, and powerful high priestess who controlled the sea, but rather sat there, slightly hunched over, curled up like an ordinary old woman whose support had been stripped away. Her hands seemed to unconsciously caress something, her gaze blankly fixed on the undulating sea, as if staring at a past that could never be returned to. Her whole being exuded a heavy, lifeless aura, a stark contrast of despair with the vibrant blue sea around her. In just a few days, she seemed to have completed the aging process of an ordinary person's life, transforming from a peerless and powerful figure into a lonely old woman wandering the seashore, awaiting the end of her life.

"The...the Grand Offering?" Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, almost unable to believe what she was seeing.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes widened, filled with undisguised shock and deep heartache. They could clearly sense that although Poseidon still faintly exuded the majestic aura and vast spiritual energy of a peerless Douluo, as if breathing and sharing the fate of the entire ring sea, that feeling was like a candle flickering in the wind, with an undeniable withered core beneath its brilliance.

At this moment, her life force flickered uncertainly, not like the blazing sun, but like a bubble on the shore about to be swallowed by the waves and instantly shattered and disappeared under the sunlight. It was beautiful but so fragile that it was suffocating. It seemed that at any moment it would be completely dissipated into the world with the salty sea breeze, leaving only nothingness.

Feng Yao silently watched the lonely figure on the opposite shore, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He had long anticipated this. Tang Chen's return and departure had taken away the last glimmer of light and all the hopes in Poseidon's life. Her lifelong wait had come to an end, but it had also exhausted her last bit of strength. The greatest sorrow is a broken heart; this was it. This sea, where they might have once crossed paths, had now become the place where she poured out her endless grief.

As if sensing their gaze, or perhaps whispered by the sea breeze, Poseidon turned his head with extreme slowness and difficulty. His cloudy eyes took a moment to cross the ring of water and focus on the four people on the opposite shore. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his aged face, like a fleeting glimmer of light on the sea.

"It's...it's you all..." Her voice was hoarse and dry, like waves rubbing against rough sand, long since lost its former clarity and authority, so soft that it required careful listening to hear, as if it might be blown away by the sea breeze at any moment, "Don't worry...I won't leave until your test is over..."

She seemed to want to say something more; her lips moved slightly, but in the end, she only shook her head weakly. Her gaze became empty again, slowly turning back to look at the endless, undulating blue sea, as if their arrival was merely a grain of sand thrown into the ocean, unable to stir any ripples in the lifeless sea of ​​her heart. Her entire world seemed to consist only of the sea before her and the memories that had sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Ning Rongrong's tears welled up instantly. She wanted to rush across the circular sea to the other side, but Feng Yao gently pulled her back.

Feng Yao bowed deeply and respectfully to the lonely figure on the opposite bank. Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, their eyes also red, followed suit.

They understood that any comfort would be futile at this moment. The old woman, immersed in the immense grief of her final reunion with her beloved and their eternal farewell, was slowly walking towards the end of her life. This ring-shaped sea had become a barrier separating two worlds: on one side, vibrant young people; on the other, the despondent, awaiting their end.

The four of them stood quietly on this side of the circular sea, gazing at the frozen, sorrowful silhouette on the opposite shore. They felt that even the bright sunshine and the fresh sea breeze carried an indescribable heaviness and desolation.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Spirit Hall, in Spirit City, a grand event that would change the landscape of the continent was being held.

The "Seven Great Sects Re-election Conference," personally initiated and presided over by Pope Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall, attracted almost every well-known sect and force across the entire continent. Of the former seven great sects, the upper three—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—had been wiped out, the Clear Sky Sect had gone into seclusion and was infamous for the Tang San incident, and the lower four sects had long since submitted to the Spirit Hall. This re-election was less a competition and more a ceremony for the Spirit Hall to redefine the power structure of the spirit master world and establish its absolute authority.

The proceedings of the conference were entirely predictable. Under the powerful military intimidation and covert manipulation of the Spirit Hall, all sects that dared to raise objections were ruthlessly suppressed. Ultimately, the new list of the "Seven Great Sects" was unveiled:
The one ranked first was none other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!

Bibi Dong placed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School in this position for several reasons: First, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School possesses a profound foundation, Ning Fengzhi is exceptionally intelligent, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin's combat strength remains top-tier. It is the only sect that can barely uphold the reputation of the "Upper Three Sects" and add a touch of "orthodoxy" to the new system. Second, placing it at the top is also a form of appeasement and division, demonstrating to the continent's soul masters that the Spirit Hall is not solely focused on suppression and is willing to "accommodate" its former adversaries, provided they are sufficiently "compliant."

The remaining six seats were unsurprisingly divided among sects that were completely close to, or even dependent on, the Spirit Hall. Almost all of the original four lower sects were selected, and two new sects that had received significant support from the Spirit Hall in recent years were added. These new seven sects have essentially become tools and henchmen for the Spirit Hall to control the Soul Master world.

As the list was read aloud by the Cardinal of the Spirit Hall, a brief murmur quickly dissipated into a tense silence. Everyone understood that from this moment on, the centuries-old tradition of the Spirit Master world on the continent had been shattered, and a new era entirely dominated by the Spirit Hall had begun.

However, this is just the beginning.

On the high platform, Bibi Dong, dressed in a purple-gold papal robe and wearing a nine-curved purple-gold crown, slowly stood up. She held a magnificent scepter inlaid with countless gems, and her beautiful face wore a cold and majestic smile. Her gaze swept across the entire audience, and her powerful aura made almost no one below the Title Douluo level dare to look her in the eye.

"From this day forward," her voice amplified by her soul power, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present, carrying an undeniable determination, "all Soul Masters of the continent have a place to belong! The old order is corrupt, and a new era shall be created by us!"

She paused briefly, savoring the mixture of awe and fear in the eyes of the crowd below, before dropping the bombshell she had prepared long ago, a bombshell capable of shaking the entire continent:

"Therefore, I hereby declare—with the Spirit Hall as its core, and by integrating the power of the new seven major sects and all the spirit masters under heaven, we will establish an unparalleled spirit master empire, named—the Spirit Empire!"

"I, Bibi Dong, am the first emperor of the Spirit Empire!"

"The imperial territory encompasses all areas formerly under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Hall, as well as the territories of the seven new major sects! From this moment forward, imperial laws shall apply here, and all citizens of the empire must obey them!"

boom!
Despite having a premonition, the moment Bibi Dong uttered the words "establish a nation," the entire venue erupted in a tremendous uproar! Establish an empire! This meant that the Spirit Hall was no longer content to be a transcendent spirit master organization, but rather to truly step into the limelight, to rival the Heaven Dou and Star Luo empires, and perhaps even… replace them!
Ambition! Naked, undisguised, enormous ambition!

All the newly appointed sect leaders of the seven major sects, except for Ning Fengzhi who was absent, knelt down and shouted, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Immediately afterwards, like a tidal wave, all the Soul Masters in the venue knelt down, their shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" deafening.

Bibi Dong stood atop the high platform, receiving the adoration of the masses, her purple eyes flashing with a cold yet fiery light. She knew this was only the first step. The war chariot of the Martial Soul Empire had been set in motion; next, she would use iron and blood to crush all obstacles and bring this continent completely into her grasp!
The situation on the mainland thus irreversibly descended into war and conflict. (End of Chapter)