"Are you threatening me?" Bo Saixi stared coldly at Ye Hao. This young man was no ordinary figure—there had to be a scheme behind his words.
"I wouldn't dare." Ye Hao clasped his hands with a faint smile. "Senior Bo Saixi, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. For now, please rest here. No one will trouble you."
"Once you've regained your strength, I'll personally escort you out."
Bo Saixi clenched her fists. Her condition was still weak—the backlash from unleashing Sea God's Twilight a month ago had taken a severe toll.
No, that hadn't been her power. The Sea God had temporarily lent her his strength, and a mortal body couldn't withstand divine energy.
She had been unconscious for an entire month, only just waking up. The price had been far too steep.
"...Fine."
Reluctantly, Bo Saixi agreed. For now, she had no choice but to wait until her soul power recovered before leaving.
After Bo Saixi left, Ye Hao sidled up to Qian Daoliu.
"Grandpa, are you really not interested in Senior Bo Saixi? Now that Tang Chen is dead, this is the perfect opportunity. Chances like this don't come twice."
Qian Daoliu: "..."
"There was a time... but I've lived long enough to let go of such things."
Ye Hao sighed dramatically.
"I know this wasn't your idea," Qian Daoliu chuckled. "Never mind that dog. Today is an important day—one that will determine the future of the Spirit Empire. Let's go."
"Mm." Ye Hao nodded, following Qian Daoliu toward the Elder Hall.
Today was significant—the Angel Trials were about to begin. The glorious era of the Angel bloodline had arrived.
Stepping outside, Bo Saixi gazed at the bustling streets of the Spirit Empire, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her.
The city was vibrant, every face brimming with vitality.
"The Spirit Hall has actually founded an empire... the Spirit Empire."
A chill ran down her spine. In just a few decades, the Spirit Hall had grown to such terrifying heights.
With half the continent already under their control, it was only a matter of time before they unified the entire land. And once they did...
"Sea God Island."
This was her greatest fear. Ye Hao's strength was already formidable—as the Death God's heir, it wouldn't be long before he completed his trials and ascended.
"Sea God Island cannot fall. Tang San is the Sea God's chosen successor. Perhaps once he inherits the divine throne, we'll have the power to resist Ye Hao and the Spirit Hall."
But then she frowned.
"Yet Ye Hao told me to investigate Tang San's past on the continent... Why?"
The thought troubled her. Tang San was Tang Chen's great-grandson, a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect who had grown up on the mainland.
As the Sea God's chosen, Bo Saixi had never understood—what made him so special?
Suddenly, an overwhelming sacred aura erupted from the Elder Hall, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Her pupils contracted sharply.
"The... Angel Nine Trials?!"
Inside the Elder Hall.
Qian Renxue stood before the towering statue of the Angel God, hands clasped in prayer. Her Six-Winged Angel martial soul shimmered behind her, golden light flooding every corner of the chamber.
Qian Daoliu watched with barely contained joy. Though he had long known his granddaughter would undertake the Angel Trials, seeing it unfold still left him breathless.
At the side, Ye Hao and Xiao Hong sat together.
"So... did he succeed?" Xiao Hong whispered.
"Nope." Ye Hao shrugged helplessly.
"Seriously? After all the effort we went through, your grandpa just—"
Before the dog could finish, Qian Daoliu shot him a warning glance.
Let it go... Just endure it...
"Enough." Ye Hao clamped a hand over Xiao Hong's mouth. "If Grandpa isn't interested, we shouldn't force it. You can't rush fate—maybe one day he'll change his mind on his own."
Qian Daoliu: "..."
Qian Renxue: "..."
Ye Hao coughed awkwardly and dragged Xiao Hong aside.
"Tell me—with my current strength, what are my chances of pulling out the Death Scythe?"
This was Ye Hao's seventh trial—a pivotal moment. Success was mandatory. Failure meant never getting another chance.
"Ten percent."
"That low?!"
"You think the Death Scythe is some ordinary divine weapon? It's heavier than the Sea God's Trident. Besides you, no one else can even budge it."
Xiao Hong flashed a toothy grin. "But hey, I believe in you!"
"Any shortcuts?"
"Yep."
"Spit it out!"
"You need to obtain left and right arm soul bones as soon as possible. That'll boost your odds significantly."
Ye Hao frowned. "Arm bones? Where am I supposed to find those now? And they have to be compatible?"
Soul bones were rare. Perfectly matched soul bones were even rarer.
Xiao Hong rolled his eyes. "You idiot! Just get Zhuzhu to sacrifice himself to you!"
Ye Hao: "...…"
Ye Hao was speechless: "Don't forget, my current soul power is only level 84. How can Zhuzhu sacrifice himself? Moreover, what if the sacrifice yields a spine bone or a skull bone instead?"
"When all seems lost, a new path appears."
Xiao Hong laughed: "Don't worry, you can pull out the Death Scythe. I have high hopes for you."
With that, it swaggered away.
"Always so mysterious, that damn dog," Ye Hao shook his head with a bitter smile.
At that moment, Qian Renxue, kneeling before the Angel Statue, suddenly underwent a transformation.
Layers of golden halos bloomed like petals, unfolding from within. Qian Renxue was bathed in a golden radiance.
The Angel Statue pulsed with golden light as the Six-Winged Angel figure became increasingly lifelike. It stepped out from the statue, appearing supremely sacred, with six golden wings and a resplendent Angelic Sword in hand, exuding an indescribably divine aura.
"Xue'er, are you ready to accept the Angel God's trials?"
Qian Daoliu stood before the Angel Statue, his voice impassioned as he called out to the kneeling Qian Renxue, his heart overflowing with joy.
"Grandfather, I am ready."
Qian Renxue's eyes burned with determination as she nodded firmly.
Golden light swirled around her as she slowly rose, enveloped in the radiant glow.
"The Angel Nine Trials are about to descend," Ye Hao could sense it—just as the Death God Nine Trials could sense it too.
Meanwhile, outside the Elder Hall.
Xiao Hong stretched lazily under the sun, cracking one eye open to observe.
"The Douluo Continent is about to be unified, and the Death God will soon return to the world. I'm overjoyed."
With that, it flopped back down and resumed its nap.
Nothing was more important than sleep.
The descent of the Angel Nine Trials heralded a new pinnacle for the Spirit Empire, ensuring its prosperity and glory.
But while some rejoiced, others despaired.
Bo Saixi's gaze was complicated as she personally witnessed the arrival of the Angel Nine Trials.
When Tang San had received the Sea God Nine Trials, the scene had been similarly earth-shaking.
Golden light pierced the clouds, dyeing them in radiant hues. The glow spread, enveloping the entire Spirit Hall in warmth and sanctity.
"Angel Nine Trials..."
Bo Saixi was momentarily stunned before sighing to herself, "The future of Sea God Island is precarious. The Death God and the Angel God—both stand with the Spirit Empire. As for Sea God Island, there is only Tang San, the Sea God's heir. If I sacrifice myself, then Sea God Island will..."
Face utter annihilation.
This was Bo Saixi's greatest fear—that Tang San, as the Sea God, might ultimately prove no match for the Death God and the Angel God.
Worse still, the current Death God and Angel God were husband and wife. United, they would be invincible!
Even gods would fall before them!
"No, this cannot be! Sea God Island must not perish!" Bo Saixi's brows furrowed deeply. The weight on her shoulders as the Sea God Douluo was immense—especially now that the Spirit Hall had established the Spirit Empire, Ye Hao possessed the Death God's inheritance, and now an Angel God successor had emerged. The pressure was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, deep within the Spirit Hall.
Inside the Rakshasa Secret Manual, Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor martial soul manifested behind her, nine soul rings rising slowly. Then, the Death Spider Emperor faded, replaced by the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, also with nine soul rings. Before her, the Rakshasa Scythe hovered midair, emanating a sinister black glow as an overwhelmingly evil aura rapidly spread.
"Finally, I've reached this point. Soon... the day will come."
Bibi Dong's lips curled into a twisted smile.
After enduring the Rakshasa Nine Trials, her efforts had not been in vain. She had finally arrived at the final stage.
This time, she would ascend to godhood and reign supreme!
Time passed minute by minute. As the golden dusk faded from the horizon, the Spirit Hall returned to its usual tranquility.
The crowd gradually dispersed, each person brimming with excitement. Though they didn't understand what had happened, they knew it was an auspicious sign.
The Spirit Empire, newly established, was already ascending to unprecedented heights. It would surely leave an indelible mark on history, standing eternal in the river of time!
Inside the Elder Hall.
Nine sacred beams of light descended from above, enveloping Qian Renxue completely.
"Angel... Nine Trials. The trials countless generations of Elder Hall masters have awaited have finally arrived."
Qian Daoliu was overcome with emotion. Even if he had to sacrifice himself the next second, he would do so without hesitation.
"Your grandfather is proud of you. Even your deceased father can rest in peace now."
He sighed wistfully.
"Grandfather, is this... the Angel Nine Trials?"
The nine beams of light instantly merged into Qian Renxue's brow, forming a small angel insignia with golden edges, enhancing her beauty with an almost ethereal quality.
Ye Hao wiped away the drool at the corner of his mouth. Qian Renxue was his wife—he had every reason to celebrate.
Now, it was his turn. The Death God's Seventh Trial had to be completed.
Silently, Ye Hao watched Qian Renxue immersed in the golden radiance before quietly taking his leave.
Before extracting the Death Scythe, he needed to make thorough preparations.
Exiting the Elder Hall, Ye Hao headed to the rear, finding an open space.
"This spot is perfect—it can serve as the foundation for the Death God's Temple."
He smiled faintly.
The seventh trial required extracting the Death Scythe, which currently resided within the Death God's Temple—itself housed within the Death God's Heart.
The prerequisite was releasing the Death God's Temple from the Death God's Heart.
This open area was the ideal foundation.
Ye Hao tossed the Death God's Heart into the air.
Instantly, the sky darkened. The Death God's Heart expanded rapidly, its black light spreading across the heavens as the Spirit Hall was plunged into darkness.
"Grandfather, what's happening...?"
Inside the Elder Hall, Qian Renxue sensed the encroaching darkness. Having received the Angel Nine Trials, she had become acutely sensitive to such energies.
"Don't worry—it's Hao'er. He's preparing to complete his seventh trial," Qian Daoliu reassured her.
The Death God's Heart grew to the size of the Elder Hall before slowly descending.
Dust billowed as debris scattered in all directions.
"That... that is..."
Bo Saixi's breathing grew ragged. This was her first day at the Spirit Hall—her first day awake.
"The Spirit Empire is truly extraordinary. Why is it that as soon as I arrive, such once-in-a-century spectacles unfold one after another?"
She frowned.
"Could this be Qian Daoliu's deliberate display?"
A ploy to intimidate her into retreat...
That was Bo Saixi's suspicion.
Meanwhile, Xiao Hong rolled over and ambled toward Ye Hao's location.
With the Death God's Temple reemerging, it—as the Death God's guardian—had to make an appearance.
With a mighty leap, Xiao Hong's body rapidly expanded midair, soon reaching a hundred meters in size.
Its form was towering and robust, limbs thick and powerful, wreathed in scorching flames as an overwhelming pressure radiated outward.
A wisp of divine aura pulsed through the air...
Bo Saixi: "..."
She was utterly speechless.