Chapter 299: One Year
Seeing the newcomer, Golden Crocodile Douluo's pupils suddenly contracted, a strong killing intent enveloping him in an instant, prompting him to retreat swiftly.
"Xiao San?! You!" Tang Xiao and the others, seeing Tang San suddenly wake up, were about to ask him what happened, but suddenly felt a vast yet gentle force pushing them away!
In the Star Dou Forest, only Tang San remained, facing the Titled Douluos of the Spirit Empire and the two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
Witnessing Golden Crocodile Douluo's reaction, the Titled Douluos, who were about to pursue Tang Xiao and the others, stopped in their tracks.
Below, the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape looked at the figure in the sky with sudden solemnity.
"You're not Tang San?!" Golden Crocodile Douluo exclaimed, staring at the 'Tang San' before him.
As a top-level Titled Douluo, Golden Crocodile Douluo immediately noticed the difference in the aura of this 'Tang San' compared to the previous one.
Moreover, he clearly remembered that Tang San had already exhausted his strength and fainted, yet the person standing before him now was overflowing with an overwhelming aura.
"Who I am is not important. This matter ends here." 'Tang San' spoke in a mixture of voices, but his tone carried a hint of command.
This commanding tone irked the Spirit Empire's people.
However, Golden Crocodile Douluo stopped them from acting.
He seemed to have guessed the true identity of the person before him.
"Don't overthink it. I will only help him this once."
"Tell Su Yun of your Spirit Empire that there's no need to use Tang San as a whetstone anymore."
"I set a time for him. In one year, Tang San will become a god."
"I believe with Su Yun's talent, becoming a god won't be an issue for him either."
"On that day, their battle will decide the outcome between your two empires."
The words of 'Tang San' caused a change in the expressions of everyone present.
"Regardless of whether your words are credible, by normal standards, Tang San should have been killed several times over. If not for Holy Son Su Yun's orders, he wouldn't be alive now," Golden Crocodile Douluo said, staring at 'Tang San.'
'Tang San' smiled faintly, "No matter what, things have come to this point. As I said, I will help him only once."
"I have delivered the message. I hope you convey it."
"I should be leaving now."
With that, 'Tang San' turned to leave, adding a final remark, "Of course, you can try to follow me..."
"But I can't guarantee your survival."
With these words, 'Tang San' stepped forward and instantly vanished from everyone's sight.
The oppressive aura that had lingered over the crowd also dissipated.
"Elder, what should we do?" Subduing Demon Douluo, standing next to Golden Crocodile Douluo, asked in a low voice.
Regardless of whether the other party was bluffing, they needed a strategy.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes flickered as he looked at the bodies of the Clear Sky School elders on the ground, "Take these corpses back and handle them as usual."
"I will report this matter to the Grand Worship, the Pope, and Holy Son Su Yun."
"For now, everything stops here."
His previous seven-tenths certainty about 'Tang San's' identity had now turned into full certainty.
Following Golden Crocodile Douluo's instructions, the Titled Douluos present began to carry out their tasks and leave.
Dugu Bo also bowed to the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape before leaving.
Within the Star Dou Forest.
"This is troublesome. A year's time introduces too many variables," the Azure Bull Python said, staring in the direction 'Tang San' had left.
The Titan Giant Ape looked at his elder brother and said in a low voice, "Big Brother, could the one possessing Tang San be the legendary..."
The Titan Giant Ape didn't finish the sentence with the word 'god.'
"Most likely. We need to inform Xiao Wu about this."
"Alright."
The two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts immediately headed deeper into the Star Dou Forest.
...
The Spirit Empire.
"A year's time?" Tang San, Bibi Dong, and Qian Daoliu frowned upon hearing Golden Crocodile Douluo mention the timeframe.
"Do you suspect that a god used Tang San's body?" Su Yun asked Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"Yes, I can't think of anyone else who could exert such pressure on me."
Golden Crocodile Douluo frowned, "Even Tang San at his strongest didn't have that power."
"He plans to settle the score between the two empires through a duel between you and Tang San."
Su Yun chuckled, "If Tang San loses, even without that statement, the Heaven Dou Empire would still lose."
Qian Daoliu asked, "Golden Crocodile Douluo, do you know which god descended?"
They all knew that Tang San had inherited two divine positions:
The Sea God and the Asura God.
"It should be the Sea God," Su Yun answered before Golden Crocodile Douluo could think, "When I went to the Slaughter City, I encountered the Asura God, who had borrowed Tang San's body to fight me."
"However, according to the rules of the God Realm, gods are not supposed to interfere in the mortal world. These two have already crossed the line."
Hearing that Su Yun had fought the Asura God, Qian Daoliu's eyes lit up, "What was the outcome of your battle with the Asura God?"
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong and Golden Crocodile Douluo also showed interest. Battling a true god was the pursuit of the strong!
Su Yun thought for a moment, then said, "He retreated first. The outcome was undecided, likely because his divine power was insufficient or he was discovered."
"But if we had continued fighting, he would have lost. After all, he was using Tang San's body to fight me."
"If he had descended in his true form, my chances of winning would be slim."
Hearing Su Yun's words, the three present couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
Being able to fight the Asura God and even have the upper hand, regardless of the conditions, was an impressive feat.
"So, do we wait for this one year?" Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly asked.
A year's time indeed introduced many uncertainties.
For the first time, Qian Daoliu didn't rush to speak but looked at Bibi Dong, "What do you think?"
As the Pope, Bibi Dong should make the decision.
However, this time, she passed the decision to Su Yun, "You decide."
"According to what you said, the Sea God has likely been taken back to the God Realm."
"If that's the case, we don't need to worry about the other side."
Bibi Dong implied that now was the best time to strike against the Heaven Dou Empire.
After all, several Titled Douluos of the Clear Sky School had just been killed by them, and their morale was low.
It was a rare opportunity to attack.
Su Yun thought for a moment, then shook his head, "Don't chase a desperate enemy."
"Since they have set a one-year time frame, they must have prepared contingencies."
"We can afford to wait for a year."
A year was enough time for him. It also gave him time to care for A Yin and their child.
Perhaps the Sea God had even considered this for him.
"Alright, since you've decided, we will recall the troops to rest. However, we should leave some forces behind to guard against sudden attacks from the enemy," Bibi Dong agreed with Su Yun's idea.
Qian Daoliu nodded, "Let's proceed as you suggested."
...
The God Realm.
"Sea God, you intervened after all," the Asura God suddenly said, appearing beside the Sea God.
"That Su Yun is too powerful. If I hadn't intervened, Tang San would have been doomed," the Sea God 'explained.'
"Regardless, we have both descended into the mortal realm. We won't have many more chances to do so openly," the Asura God remarked.
"Intervening once is enough. Whether the successor of the Time God can be dealt with depends on fate," the Sea God said, gazing into the distance, seemingly looking at something.
"Time God..."
The Asura God repeated the name, then said, "I know that once this individual appears in the God Realm, they will undoubtedly cause a stir. At least one person won't be able to remain calm."
"After all, controlling time can affect his position."
The Sea God glanced at the Asura God, "You mean 'Destruction'?"
The Asura God chuckled, "All things from birth to death span a duration. Once time is controlled, even we gods are no exception."
"What significance does it have for 'Destruction'?"
"This is the first time an entity beyond his control has appeared."
Even destruction requires time.
Even to reduce something to dust in a single blow takes time.
But the duration of that strike is beyond Destruction's control once it is initiated.
"This is none of our concern," the Sea God said. "I just hope Tang San can inherit my position quietly, so I can have a chance to travel to other places."
"And if he dies?"
"Then it is fate, irreversible."
"When that time comes, we will watch as the God Realm undergoes a storm."
Heaven Dou Empire
"What?! The Sea God intervened?!" Tang San looked at the elders before him, disbelief written all over his face.
He hadn't expected the Sea God to personally save them.
"Unfortunately, we lost several elders!" Tang Xiao was furious, but he had no outlet for his rage and could only feel an immense sense of frustration.
Ning Fengzhi was the only one who remained calm, addressing Tang San, "Xiao San, the Sea God has given you one last year."
"One year from now, you will have your final showdown with Su Yun."
"And you must become a god!"
"Your victory or defeat will decide the future of the two empires!"
"Who will have the right to rule this continent!"
Tang San trembled upon hearing this and then asked, "Isn't the Sea God worried they will go back on their word?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, "The Spirit Empire has already retreated. They probably need to recuperate."
"We will do the same, but we will leave a garrison to guard against any unexpected attacks."
"We have also sent for Grand Priest Bo Saixi. She will personally train you intensively over the next year."
Ning Fengzhi continued seriously, "Xiao San, your time is running out."
Hearing this, Tang San clenched his fists.
Once, he believed he could catch up to Su Yun, but the latter always managed to counter him in various ways.
This time, he had no retreat!
Even the Sea God had personally intervened to arrange his showdown with Su Yun. If he lost, there would be no turning back!
"I understand!"
Tang San's eyes gleamed with determination. This time, there was no room for retreat.
...
The sudden ceasefire between the two empires left many factions across the continent puzzled.
They couldn't understand the reasons behind it.
Some speculated that the two sides had reached an agreement, while others believed they were each preparing a powerful move to annihilate the other.
Regardless, the continent experienced a brief period of peace.
Trade resumed as well.
The happiest about this unexpected peace were the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Although the Spirit Empire had not been destroyed, they were delighted as long as there was no war.
Time flew by, and six months passed in a blink.
Heaven Dou Imperial City returned to its bustling state.
On the streets, people gradually forgot about Tang San's past embarrassments, focusing instead on the trivialities of daily life.
In a tavern within the city.
A sudden commotion disrupted the peace of a customer sitting by the window.
"You wretch! It's an honor for you that I fancy you. Do you know who my father is?!" A young man in luxurious robes blocked a girl, with several fierce-looking servants surrounding her.
The onlookers turned a blind eye, pretending not to see anything.
Judging by the young man's attire, it was clear he came from a noble family within the empire, and no one dared to provoke him.
As long as they weren't involved, it was best to stay out of it.
"I am a student at the Soul Master Academy!" The girl clutched her chest, angrily rebuking the rogue in front of her.
"Heh, just a little soul master. What's there to be arrogant about?"
The noble sneered, "Women like you are a dime a dozen. Aren't you just trying to get a higher price?"
"I have plenty of money."
"And I heard that your sickly parents are gravely ill and can't afford treatment, right?"
"If you agree to be with me, I promise to get the best soul masters to treat your parents."
His eyes roamed lecherously over the girl's shapely figure, his lust evident to anyone.
The girl wasn't stupid. She knew it was all nonsense.
So she sneered, "If you can get a soul master from the Nine Heart Begonia family to treat my parents, I'll agree to be with you."
The noble was momentarily stunned, then glared at the girl, "You bitch, are you mocking me?!"
What status do the soul masters of the Nine Heart Begonia family have?
How could he possibly summon one?
Even his parents weren't qualified to meet them!
"Wretched girl, if you won't take the easy way, then you'll take the hard way! Tie her up!" the noble shouted.
Hearing this, the girl's body tensed!
(End of Chapter)