"Tang San, my Soul Devouring Spider Emperor's ninth soul ring comes from the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King – yes, the same one from your Sea God's eighth trial." Ye Hao's words cut deep like knives into Tang San's heart.
Tang San clenched his fists so tightly they turned white, glaring at Ye Hao in silent fury. If looks could kill, Ye Hao would have died a thousand deaths already.
"Ye Hao! If I survive today, I swear I'll kill you with my own hands! You've taken everything from me – the Demon Soul Great White Shark King, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, everything! You deserve death! I'll kill you!" Tang San's entire body trembled with rage, his hatred transcending time itself.
"You have no tomorrow." Ye Hao's voice was icy.
"From this moment on, there will be no Tang San of Tang Sect, no Tang San of Douluo Continent. I'll ensure you die without even a grave."
Raising the Asura Demon Sword, its dark red blade gleamed as a sword light illuminated Tang San's body. The glow revealed Tang San's ashen face, his eyes losing focus as cold sweat drenched his back.
"No, no, no no no!" Three desperate denials revealed Tang San's panic.
Ye Hao was determined. Lifting the Asura Demon Sword high, a dark red sword light split the heavens as it descended toward Tang San's head.
"Ye Hao! You can't kill me!" Tang San screamed, his legs shaking uncontrollably. Facing true death, all his usual composure vanished, replaced by sheer terror.
He knew escape was impossible.
As a former Tang Sect disciple who had once jumped from Ghost Dreaded Peak, he'd never felt such heart-pounding fear as when watching that sword descend.
"No! I won't die!" Tang San's eyes burned red as he activated his Blue Silver Grass, his seventh and eighth soul rings flashing.
"Seventh Soul Skill – Blue Silver True Body!"
"Eighth Soul Skill – Blue Silver Absolute Defense!"
Transforming into a massive Blue Silver Grass, golden light erupted from the plant under his eighth soul skill, forming an impenetrable dome above him.
"Ye Hao! You can't kill me! My eighth soul skill blocks all attacks! As long as I live, I'll have my revenge!" Tang San's desperate shouts masked his hope to escape and plot future vengeance.
"How pathetic." Ye Hao's response was dismissive.
The Asura Demon Sword fell, slicing through Tang San's barrier like paper.
"What? Impossible!" Tang San gaped as his ultimate defense shattered effortlessly.
The sword descended.
Head separated from body.
Tang San's headless corpse twitched stubbornly before finally lying still.
His wide-eyed head stared at Ye Hao with eternal resentment.
"Still staring?" Ye Hao frowned and swung again, reducing both body and head to ashes that scattered on the wind.
"It's over… but not quite." Sheathing the Asura Demon Sword, Ye Hao summoned the Death God's Scythe as the sickle mark glowed on his forehead.
He threw the scythe toward where Tang San's remains had vanished.
"Got you!" Ye Hao smiled, pulling the scythe back with soul power. Tang San's confused soul clung to the blade, his face a mask of terror.
"Ye… Ye Hao, I'm already dead! Won't you spare me even now?"
Ye Hao chuckled. "They say raising a tiger invites calamity. You're that tiger. If I'm not thorough today, you'll become tomorrow's disaster."
"No! I'm dead! I can't threaten you anymore! Please, show mercy! I'll never oppose you!" Tang San begged as he felt the scythe absorbing his soul.
"That's not certain." Ye Hao raised the Death God's Scythe toward the trapped spirit.
"First you were Tang San of Tang Sect, then Tang San of Douluo Continent. Who knows where you might appear next? I can't allow that. So… rest in peace."
With a final swing, Tang San's spirit split in two. The scythe's power dissolved his soul completely. For good measure, Ye Hao struck several more times, ensuring absolute annihilation.
"Enough already! He's completely gone with no chance of revival! Now hurry up and ascend!" The Death God's impatient voice echoed in Ye Hao's mind.
"Just being thorough. Caution never hurts." Ye Hao took a deep breath.
With Tang San gone, his greatest obstacle was removed. The path to godhood lay open.
Having completed the Death God and Asura's eighth trials, Ye Hao decided to undergo the ninth trial here.
Placing the Death God's Scythe at the island's center, the surroundings transformed dramatically. Darkness enveloped everything as Ye Hao prepared for ascension.
Next, he planted the Asura Demon Sword beside the scythe. Sitting between the two divine weapons, the Death God's Temple materialized behind him as the sickle and sword marks on his forehead flickered.
"Ascension time. Dual godhood – Death God and Asura God – here I come."
Entering the temple, Ye Hao found both gods waiting.
"Death God, Asura God, why are you here?" Ye Hao asked.
The Death God grinned. "I'm about to be free—I mean, you're inheriting my position! Of course I'd come personally. Right, Asura?"
Asura God nodded. "Absolutely! Dual godhood is unprecedented in the divine realm. We couldn't wait—I mean, we're excited to witness it."
Ye Hao nearly laughed at their terrible acting. Clearly desperate to retire, they couldn't even lie convincingly.
"Let's begin." The Death God coughed, breaking the awkwardness.
As both gods began fading, the Death God's Scythe and Asura Demon Sword flew into the temple, orbiting Ye Hao while radiating distinct auras.
"Death God and Asura's ninth trial – Divine Succession, Dual Godhood – begins now!"
A majestic voice filled the temple as a dark red pillar shot skyward, staining the heavens. Though midday, the world turned dark.
On the secluded Sea God Island, Bo Saixi gazed at the darkened sky with complex emotions.
"So it's come to this. Ye Hao ascends to dual godhood… sigh." Though envious, she knew her role as Sea God's attendant barred her from such glory.
Meanwhile, at Spirit Hall, the newly ascended Raksasha God Bibi Dong paused before departing for the frontlines, sensing the tremendous energy from the sea.
"You feel it too?" She looked toward the ocean.
Xiao Hong grinned. "Yes. The kid's completed his trials. He's ascending now."
"Wonderful. With Hao'er's ascension, only Xue'er remains." Bibi Dong smiled, knowing her divine intervention would ensure Spirit Empire's victory.
"Guard the Spirit Hall well. I'm off." With that, she vanished.
"Come back soon." Xiao Hong waved a paw cheerfully, humming as it walked away in excellent spirits.
…
On the isolated island, darkness reigned supreme as the Death God's Temple stood at its center. Ye Hao's soul bones glowed brilliantly before detaching from his body.
First, the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone and Titan Giant Ape left leg bone flew upward, transformed by the dark red light into armored greaves before returning to Ye Hao's legs.
Next came the Death Spider Emperor and Soul Devouring Spider Emperor arm bones, similarly reforged into vambraces.
Finally, the torso and head bones became breastplate and helmet.
All six soul bones had evolved into the Death God and Asura's divine armor. Ye Hao's six-foot purple light wings transformed into dark red death wings capable of circling the planet in a single flap.
The ascension's energy churned the sea for miles, sending hundred-meter waves crashing as marine soul beasts fled in terror.
Sitting cross-legged, Ye Hao smiled as he felt his body undergoing divine metamorphosis. Grasping the Death God's Scythe, he heard an internal crack as his soul power broke through to level 100.
"Death God and Asura's ninth trial complete! All soul rings increased by fifty thousand years each!"
The dual inheritance meant every ring gained a total of one hundred thousand years!
Now displaying ten soul rings per martial soul:
Death Spider Emperor:
Nine red, one red-gold!
Soul Devouring Spider Emperor:
Eight red, one dark crimson-gold, one dark gold!
Twenty dazzling soul rings marked Ye Hao's arrival at the world's pinnacle. He could feel time's flow with each breath.
Finally, Ye Hao pointed, summoning three figures from the Death God's Heart – Zhu Zhu, Zhu'er, and Xie Hu. Keeping his promise, Ye Hao used divine power to resurrect them as true humans rather than soul beasts.
"We're… alive?" Zhu Zhu marveled at his new human form and ninety-ninth level power. The others shared his awe.
"Thank you, master!" They bowed deeply.
Ye Hao helped them up. "You've earned this. Now… let's go home."
Exiting the temple, Ye Hao dispelled the darkness with a wave, restoring sunlight. One step took him to Sea God Mountain.
"Senior Bo Saixi." His sudden voice startled her.
"You… when did you arrive?" She frowned at the now-divine Ye Hao.
"Just now." Ye Hao smiled reassuringly.
"Why have you come? Sea God Island is sealed for a century."
In response, Ye Hao produced the Sea Horse Douluo's soul. "I had no choice killing him before. Now as a god, I'll restore him. From today, let there be peace between Spirit Empire and Sea God Island."