Complete darkness enveloped the surroundings, so thick that Tang San couldn't see his own hand before his face. The air was filled with dark red mist as his small boat drifted aimlessly through the void like a ghost ship.
The deck was overrun with demonic spiders of various sizes, their razor-sharp fangs bared as they launched relentless attacks against Tang San.
"Damn it! Who's behind this?" Tang San cursed inwardly while swinging his "Sea God's Trident," cleaving through the spiders with each strike.
Yet the spiders seemed endless - for every one he killed, two more took its place, covering ninety-nine percent of the deck.
Standing in the only clear space surrounded by spider corpses, Tang San felt his scalp tingle with dread.
"Whose sick joke is this? When I find you, death will be too good for you!"
His eyes bloodshot with rage, Tang San activated his Blue Silver Grass martial soul. Eight soul rings appeared as countless blue silver vines erupted, sweeping the spiders from the deck.
Soon, the deck was mostly cleared.
"Pant... pant... Who's there?" Tang San gasped for breath.
Since leaving Sea God Island, inexplicable events had plagued him. This ominous beginning boded ill.
Deciding to turn back to Sea God Island and postpone his return to the mainland, Tang San found himself lost in the dark red sea, his boat drifting aimlessly like a demon wandering the night.
"The disappearance of Sea God Island, these strange spiders..." Tang San frowned. "Someone must be behind this, perhaps even trying to kill me. But who?"
"Spiders... spiders..." Tang San's pupils suddenly contracted. "Ye... Could it be Ye Hao?"
As he spoke, the boat suddenly ran aground. Tang San staggered, nearly falling onto the deck.
"An unknown island?"
Stepping onto the unfamiliar shore in this darkness, Tang San remained hypervigilant. Gripping his "Sea God's Trident," he cautiously advanced, taking no chances.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away on the Douluo Continent:
The final battle between the Star Luo Empire and Spirit Empire raged just twenty miles from the Star Luo capital. Both sides had amassed over a million troops - this battle would determine whether Star Luo survived or Spirit Empire unified the continent.
On Star Luo's city walls:
A cold wind whipped the banners as soldiers stood at attention, spears ready to repel invaders.
"Father, how should we counter Spirit Empire's advance?" Dai Weisi asked grimly, noting the army's low morale as enemies approached.
Sighing, the Star Luo Emperor said, "Spirit Empire has deployed at least five Titled Douluos. Recent reports mention darkness engulfing their territory that shook the entire continent. I fear ominous events are unfolding."
The disturbance from Bibi Dong's godhood ascension had been detected even at Sea God Island, which had immediately sealed itself after Tang San's departure - proof of a god's terrifying power.
"My son Mubai... his fate seems sealed."
At the Spirit Empire camp:
Soldiers efficiently erected tents while soul masters maintained perimeter security, with aerial scouts constantly monitoring.
Spirit Empire's advantage in soul masters was decisive. With the top three sects destroyed and the lower four under their control, Star Luo's fall was inevitable.
"Everyone, Her Majesty has achieved godhood and will soon arrive at the frontlines," Ju Guan announced. "When she does, Star Luo will surely fall!"
This news bolstered morale. A level 100 god - the stuff of legends after ten thousand years without one. With Bibi Dong's imminent arrival, they simply needed to maintain their advantage until then.
Back on the unnamed island:
Tang San gritted his teeth against the endless spider onslaught, his "Sea God's Trident" never resting.
"Where are all these damn spiders coming from? I've never seen anything like this!"
Hidden within the Death God's Heart in the darkness, Ye Hao smiled. "My Soul Devouring Spider Emperor's first spirit skill - Spider Summoning. Endless, inexhaustible. Tang San, I'll take my time tormenting you until death seems merciful."
After what felt like an eternity, a drenched and exhausted Tang San knelt amidst piles of spider corpses, his scalp crawling at the sight.
All these spiders had coordinated to target only him with unprecedented ferocity. Without the "trident," he'd have been overwhelmed.
"I... I must leave this cursed island before more come."
But when he reached the shore, Tang San froze in horror.
His boat had been completely devoured by spiders, leaving only shattered planks floating on the water.
Trembling with rage, Tang San's chest heaved violently.
"Ye Hao! Is this you? Come out and face me! Hiding in the shadows is cowardly!"
Tang San had reached his breaking point.
"Of course it's me!"
Ye Hao's voice echoed before he materialized before Tang San.
"Long time no see, Tang San." Ye Hao waved casually.
Seeing his nemesis, Tang San's eyes burned crimson. He leapt forward, "Sea God's Trident" raised to strike.
"Straight to violence? I'm flattered." Ye Hao stood motionless, catching the trident with one hand.
"So this is the Sea God's Trident?"
With a kick, Ye Hao sent Tang San flying, then examined the weapon. Swinging it lightly, he noted its surprising lightness - far from the legendary 108,000 jin weight.
"Ye Hao! Return my trident!" Tang San shrieked, his greatest advantage now in enemy hands.
After careful inspection, Ye Hao shook his head. "Tang San, this trident is fake."
With a vicious grip, Ye Hao shattered the weapon before Tang San's disbelieving eyes, reducing it to golden dust.
"Im... impossible!" Tang San's eyes bulged.
The Sea God's divine weapon, destroyed so easily?
"Sea God's Trident? What a joke!" Ye Hao sneered.
Enraged, Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer with two yellow and two purple rings. The hammer enlarged as he swung with all his might.
"Pathetic." Ye Hao caught the hammer barehanded and crushed it effortlessly.
Retreating in terror, Tang San suddenly spat blood - but instead of red, the droplets turned transparent.
Tang Sect's ultimate hidden weapon: Guanyin's Tears!
Unfazed, Ye Hao drew the Asura Demon Sword. As Tang San prepared his attack, Ye Hao's blade flashed, splitting the darkness itself.
"Ahhh!" Tang San screamed as his right arm was severed at the elbow, the attack dissipating harmlessly.
"Guanyin's Tears? Now you'll be the one crying." Ye Hao's next strike vaporized the fallen limb.
"Ye Hao! I'll never forgive you! Not even as a ghost!" Tang San howled, his future as a soul master now hopeless without regeneration abilities.
"A ghost?" Ye Hao chuckled. "I'm the Death God's successor. After killing you, I'll ensure you don't even get to be a ghost - complete annihilation, eternal damnation is my gift to you."
"Eternal... damnation?" Tang San trembled violently.
He understood the horror of true oblivion.
"You can't! I'm the Sea God's heir! He'll punish you!" Tang San pleaded, desperately hoping for divine intervention that never came.
Ye Hao stepped closer. "You've been abandoned, Tang San. Think - did you receive any Sea God's Light or affinity after your trials?"
The truth struck Tang San like a hammer blow. He'd received nothing.
"The trident was proof enough. The real one weighs 108,000 jin. Yours was a counterfeit - decent by mortal standards, but still fake."
"Lies!" Tang San spat. "I am the Sea God's heir! In a few years I'll-"
"Enough!" Ye Hao interrupted. "The Sea God abandoned you. The trials were fake, the trident fake - your entire inheritance is a sham."
Releasing his Death Spider Emperor martial soul, nine soul rings appeared:
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red, Red, Red, Red!
Four 100,000-year rings!
Then switching to his Soul Devouring Spider Emperor:
Red, Red, Black, Red, Red, Red, Black, Black, Crimson Gold!
Five more 100,000-year rings!
Tang San nearly bit through his teeth in envy, his face contorting grotesquely.
"Why! Why! Why!" His anguished screams echoed across the island.
Ye Hao smiled coldly. "Your Clear Sky Hammer is ruined too. Adding rings prematurely was idiotic. With patience, you could have had all 10,000-year rings or better. But no - you followed your worthless teacher's 400-year limit theory. Pity."
"Don't insult my teacher!" Tang San raged.
"A joke - you once wanted to kill Jade Xiaogang yourself. Would he rise from the grave if he knew?"
Tang San shook with incoherent rage, his Slaughter Domain flaring wildly.
"No more talk." Ye Hao raised his sword. "Today you die, Tang San. No reincarnation, no afterlife - just eternal nothingness for an outsider like you."
"No! NO!" Tang San begged, finally understanding his doom was at hand.