Chapter 1180: One Step to the Heavens |
In the next instant, his body began to wither at an astonishing speed. Wrinkles spread across his face, and his frame rapidly decayed. Yet, by complete contrast, his eyes only grew brighter. Behind him, the nine-tailed Celestial Fox manifestation flared, becoming almost solid. Its eyes, like his own, shone with dazzling brilliance.
Tang San froze slightly as he sensed the change. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's body was dying, but his divine consciousness was surging violently. Not only his spirit, but his fortune was rising as well. Meanwhile, the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, which had just been stabilized, suddenly erupted with dazzling white flames.
The whole mountain was burning!
From within came wave after wave of wretched screams. One by one, Celestial Foxes screamed in agony as their bodies were consumed, their essence becoming part of the Sacred Mountain's fire.
"You actually sacrificed your entire clan!?" Tang San exclaimed in shock.
Yes. Without Tang San even lifting a hand, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had somehow caused every member of his clan within the mountain to burn, fuel for the fire of fortune. His own body, too, turned to ash in the air. His cruelty was directed not only at others, but also at himself.
When his body was entirely gone, what remained was the blazing white nine-tailed Celestial Fox. But now, its white eyes had turned blood-red.
"I prepared this long ago. Whether you are Tang San or Jin Miaolin, now that you're an Emperor, things are set in stone. I once considered taking control of Jin Miaolin so that I can slowly absorb the Blue Gold Tree clan's life energy. But since you rejected my offer, I have no choice left. I should have died a century ago anyway, and fortune's backlash made me weaker than any other Emperor. There's nothing to lose. Today, either I die… or I seize your body and reverse fate."
The nine-tailed fox leapt forward, turning into a blazing streak of white light that flew straight at Tang San.
With death knocking at her door, the Crystal Demon Emperor had chosen rebirth. He was even more ruthless. With fortune's aid, he gambled on possession—faster, but also far more dangerous. If he succeeded, he would return to power quickly, beyond the ability of any other Emperor to stop.
And now, with the entire Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain sacrificed, he had drawn upon all he could, staking everything. Indeed, if he succeeded, he could even replace Tang San as a true god. If he failed, all that awaited him was utter annihilation.
But just as the nine-tailed fox rushed upon him, suddenly, the entire world froze.
The fox's leaping form, its bared fangs, the blood-red madness in its eyes—all hung motionless. Countless streams of white fortune-light, pouring from the burning mountain, halted mid-flight.
Even Tang San stood frozen, unable to move.
The heavens pressed down, black as ink, but now, even the storm clouds stilled. All oppressive forces fell silent. Time itself had stopped.
Because that peerless figure had lifted her sword.
The pitch-dark sky split silently open, a thin crack forming.
A blood-red light descended in an almost gentle manner. Yet the instant it touched the ground, sky and earth alike were drenched in crimson.
The whole plane shuddered. Terror spread like wildfire, through every creature of the Daemon Continent, across the Endless Blue Sea, through all of Planet Falan.
It was the fear of the plane itself.
Xiao Wu's lips parted. She spoke softly to the heavens, "Be quiet, won't you?"
At once, silence fell. The darkness vanished, the oppression evaporated.
Far across the horizon, a blood-red sword-light hung suspended, its tip pointed at the earth.
Xiao Wu's gaze fell on the nine-tailed Celestial Fox phantom. Her voice was calm, yet carried irresistible majesty as she said one single word.
"Perish."
The red sword-shadow flickered.
Every being watching felt a crimson sword flash through their minds.
And then the nine-tailed fox was gone—obliterated in an instant, without the time to utter a single cry. The countless streams of white fortune, like clouds scattered by wind, surged into Tang San.
Xiao Wu smiled faintly at the sword-shadow above. "Wait for us just a little longer."
The crimson glow faded from the sky. Sunlight returned. The heavens were clear.
Everything resumed its motion. But the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor was gone. The Celestial Fox clan was no more.
One sword had entirely erased every trace of them.
Tang San quietly absorbed the torrent of fortune into himself, completing his ascension, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"That's it. We are done."
Xiao Wu stood by his side, holding his hand. "Yes, that's it."
At that moment, a golden brilliance erupted from within Council Mountain, shining upon them both. The light spread across the Ancestral Court, gilding it.
The third step of tribulation, Conquering the Heavens, was complete.
Emperors had fallen. Tang San and Xiao Wu had risen. Every step they took trod upon the necks of Emperors; every step they took brought them closer to heaven.
They now held in the palms of their hands the will of the Ancestral Court itself. Across the Daemon Continent, unseen, countless golden motes mingled with the drifting blue light from the endless sea, fusing into their bodies.
It was the power of faith belonging to the continent. Now that they ruled the Ancestral Court, that faith flowed into them.
Tang San looked at the Emperors who remained.
Only five were left: the Rainbowglaze Nymph Emperor, the Undying Demon Emperor, the White Tiger Demon Emperor, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and the Sword Saint Demon Emperor.
Five Emperors—and one crown prince, Radiant Dragon King Xu An'yu.
Tang San beckoned to the White Tiger and Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperors. "Since you've chosen to leave with us, come now."
They looked at each other, nodded, and rose into the air, flying to Tang San's side.
the poing team's Thoughts
Penguin's Choice™ #7: Daddy Is Too Strong
Title says it all. You want this guy to be your daddy. Everybody wants this guy to be their daddy. And if you don't want this guy to be your daddy, it's because you haven't read the novel yet.