Qian Renxue's mind went blank for a moment. The next second, a terrifying black tide surged up from beneath her feet, like a rapidly spinning vortex about to swallow her.
The repulsive force that seemed to compress even the air made Qian Renxue's struggling movements stiff and slow. Her body was continuously pulled into the vortex of black mud, and her breathing began to become difficult.
Through the gaps of black lines scattered like threads in her vision, she seemed to see another shadow, identical to Tang Sui but in black, landing beside Tang Sui. Perhaps sensing her gaze, the other party’s crimson, cold eyes flickered over, and her own eyes instantly stung unbearably, forcing her to close them.
"You found me."
Tang Sui looked at Hei Mian, who had torn through space to arrive, her eyes curved into a smile.
Just like in their past games of hide-and-seek, this was merely another game.
Hei Mian looked at the bruised and battered Tang Sui, their demonic pupils chilling. They took Tang Sui’s hand, and as demonic energy flowed in, a surging black tide poured out of the suddenly appearing black vortex as if a dam had broken.
Hei Mian's power was purer and more violent than Tang Sui's.
With a slight shift of thought, the black tide invaded this space, painting over the uncomfortable golden light with the familiar black.
Oppression, suffocation.
This was Qian Renxue's current feeling.
The sacred golden light was constantly being devoured. Tang Sui, receiving treatment from Hei Mian's demonic energy, finally remembered Qian Renxue.
She watched Qian Renxue being pulled deeper into the vortex by the black mist, her smile containing a faint warmth and a hint of pity in her eyes.
"Since your fight with me was fair from beginning to end, I'll tell you another piece of news."
The black mist pulled her frantically. Qian Renxue stretched her neck with difficulty, looking towards Tang Sui and Hei Mian.
"Qian Renxue, do you know? I heard that the trials for the Angel God are all related to the seven emotions and six desires. As the one being tested, the person needs to sever all seven emotions and six desires with the Angelic Holy Sword in hand."
"Greed and sin are desires, but family affection... is also an emotion sometimes."
"In a certain sense, an Angel God who abandons all emotion, leaving only selflessness and justice, is closer to the Heavenly Dao."
"And you? Will you become a god whose emotions are extinguished by divinity?"
"What...?"
Tang Sui's voice suddenly seemed very far away, blurred as if covered by a layer of cloth.
Qian Renxue clearly heard the first half and the end, but the words in the middle were extremely hazy, like chewing food and speaking unclearly.
Then, there was no then.
Qian Renxue's presence disappeared from this space.
Hei Mian’s lips curled into a sneer. "The person has been taken away."
Tang Sui showed regret. "They retrieved her quite quickly. Just a little longer and I could have heard Qian Renxue's choice."
Hearing this, Hei Mian glanced over. "That's not necessarily true. There are many changes before the outcome is decided. But one must also see clearly which side fate stands on."
"I do hope fate stands on my side," Tang Sui said frankly. "Honestly, I don't dislike Qian Renxue. If she were born in our era... she would probably become a qualified god..."
Unfortunately, she was born in this era.
By the end, Tang Sui's voice was almost inaudible.
Hei Mian silently watched the suddenly dejected Tang Sui. After a two-second pause, as if Tang San would have gently stroked Tang Sui's head in the past, Hei Mian reached out, placing their fair palm on top of Tang Sui’s head, as if suppressing her fleeting thoughts, and softly uttered two words:
"Let's go."
The weight on her head brought Tang Sui back to her senses.
She collected her emotions, her eyes curved slightly, and she took Hei Mian’s released hand. The figures, one black and one white, disappeared into the fractured space, returning to reality together.
...
The time spent absorbing soul energy and the time spent fighting in the virtual space were chaotic.
When Tang Sui's consciousness returned, her vision was still a little hazy.
The next second, a cold, sharp hardness pressed against her cheek.
"Buzz—"
A dark golden mask touched Tang Sui’s cheek, its black and gold single eye staring at her motionlessly.
Other dark golden masks floated around her, their eyes watching her, like a scene of trypophobia from a horror film.
Tang Sui gently patted the cool mask. "I'm fine. Thanks to your timely reaction. My soul power has also reached the saturation point of level 90."
‘Are you going back to the City of Slaughter to advance to Title Douluo next?’ the Fox Mask asked gently.
Tang Sui pondered for two seconds and shook her head. "I won't be returning to the City of Slaughter for now."
The Ape Mask raised its voice. ‘If you’re not going back to the City of Slaughter, where are you going to advance?’
"That..." Tang Sui raised her hand, her plain white palm facing upwards. wisps of coldness condensed into solid ice. The crystal-clear ice surface reflected Tang Sui's delicate face and her soft blue eyes like a prism.
The masks that were in sync with Tang Sui's thoughts paused. The considerate and loving Fu Shen immediately chimed in. ‘Speaking of which, little master hasn't visited Madam in a long time, has she? Tian Qing Niu Mang and Titan Giant Ape are also there, they can help protect you while you advance.’
Tang Sui let out a hum. She clenched her fingers, then opened her hands again, forming a black and red barrier. She quickly ascended, heading towards the inland old grounds – the Sunset Forest.
Fortunately, Tang Sui’s flight did not consume soul power, only a small amount of demonic energy. With a burst of acceleration, and when tired, she would fly steadily for a while before continuing to accelerate.
After repeating this for three days and two nights, Tang Sui reached the Sunset Forest, located in a secluded area within the Heaven Dou Empire.
Having not returned for a long time, it was still a lush green forest.
As a soul beast forest, the Sunset Forest seemed not much different from the Star Dou Great Forest on the surface.
But upon closer observation, one could see that the Star Dou Great Forest was a tropical rainforest, while this place had more trees and plants suitable for northern growth. The only thing that was exactly the same was the Blue Silver Grass covering the forest floor.
Even though the blood connection had been severed, Tang Sui was still familiar with the path to the entrance of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Soon, Tang Sui, having ventured deep into the Sunset Forest, arrived at the familiar mountain peak surrounded by dense green mist.
The corrosive poison that even ten-thousand-year soul beasts feared was completely blocked outside the black and red barrier.
The barrier carried Tang Sui unimpeded to the mountain top.
The dense green mist swirling around the peak served as a natural shield and protection.
In the middle of the mountain was a huge hollow, and the swirling clouds and mist blew past the barrier.
Tang Sui, standing on the mountain top and looking down, knew that the basin beneath the clouds was where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located.
The closer to home, the more timid one becomes.
This emotion, which was almost impossible for Tang Sui, now swept over her.
With the barrier opened, Tang Sui stood frozen on the mountain top, feeling the wind for several minutes, her eyes filled with longing and hesitation.
‘What are you afraid of? We’re still with you!’
Unable to bear it any longer, the Ape Mask impatiently broke the silence.
‘If they don’t want you anymore because you’re no longer related by blood, you still have us!’
‘Besides, Xiao Mian has also woken up. What position have you put Xiao Mian in?’
The Ape Mask shamelessly pushed Xiao Mian, that is, Hei Mian, forward as a shield.
Hei Mian: 【......】
She seemed speechless for a few seconds. After a while, when Tang Sui was still hesitating, she spoke as if sighing:
【Go down.】
【We are always here.】
—Aside—
The first resurrection item goes to Ah Yin~
Qian Renxue is truly a pity. I wanted to change the middle part but not the final outcome of becoming the Angel God.
Today’s bonus chapter is finished~ Little cuties, see you next month, mwah!