Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the day of Xue Ye succession arrived.
During this period, Heaven Dou City saw an influx of numerous prestigious families and top dignitaries from various kingdoms and duchies.
Their sole purpose for coming to Heaven Dou City was to witness the succession, a grand event indeed.
Although Emperor Xue Ye was already in his twilight years, his age and physical condition suggested he could easily hold on for another decade or so.
So why the sudden decision to abdicate?
Could it be that he was being forced by Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe"?
This thought wasn't unique to just one or two people; many dignitaries harbored the same suspicion.
With the Crown Prince having the formidable Martial God Douluo as his guest minister, it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that he could pressure Emperor Xue Ye into abdicating in his favor.
For some, only three days had passed, but for others, it felt like three years.
In the depths of the eighteenth level of hell, Tang San was enduring the torment of the first level, the Hell of Tongue Ripping.
Though only three days of punishment had passed in reality, he had experienced the same ordeal for a full three years in the illusion!
Tang San opened his eyes, a sign that someone else was about to take over the illusion-casting.
Once filled with light and an insatiable thirst for the future, Tang San's eyes now looked hollow and lifeless.
Three years! Who could fathom how he had endured these three years, even though only three days had passed in the outside world.
After these "three years," there were still "over a thousand years" to go!
Tang San wasn't sure if he could hold on. Just three years had nearly driven him to the brink of mental collapse.
If this were a normal punishment, he would have already completed his sentence by now.
But this punishment was anything but normal!
"I don't want to become a god anymore. Let me go, please..."
Tang San's speech was now faltering, not just because of the Hell of Tongue Ripping, but also because he hadn't communicated with anyone for three whole years in the mental realm.
He couldn't even scream if he wanted to.
If this was the price of becoming a god, he'd rather not. The torment was simply unbearable.
The soul within Tang San's spirit ring was now tightly sealed.
The rules of Slaughter City dictated that spirit rings be sealed.
If it weren't for the fact that he was "blood-bound" to Tang San, Xiao Wu would have suspected that Tang San was already dead.
Tang San should be grateful that during the time Xiao Wu's spirit ring was sealed, she couldn't hear or sense anything from the outside world.
Otherwise, his deception regarding the spirit ring would have been exposed.
No matter how much Tang San pleaded, no one paid him any heed. In fact, his reactions only spurred them on.
As illusion-type evil soul masters, they thrived on tormenting others' minds. After the changes in Slaughter City, they had been itching for an outlet.
Now, with Tang San as their scapegoat, ahem, test subject, they were more than thrilled.
"Tang San, enjoy yourself. You've been personally singled out by Lord Yama for special attention," one of the illusion-casters chuckled as Tang San was plunged back into the illusion.
Though it was a drain on their spirit power, seeing Tang San suffer like this made it all worthwhile.
What? Why torment Tang San without any personal grudge?
They were merely following orders, and besides, they enjoyed this sort of thing.
"I'll restore my spirit power. Make sure you last a bit longer."
"Don't worry, my mental and spirit power are enough to keep him occupied until you're fully recovered."
The team responsible for this "project" wasn't just a couple of people; there were several of them, each with clearly defined roles, working in a well-organized manner.
"Let's hope so!"
Once again, Tang San was thrust into the illusion, enduring yet another round of torment.
He was already numb, but the mental anguish was inescapable.
Despite his formidable mental strength, he was no match for these evil soul masters.
They had used special methods to drastically reduce his mental power, leaving him no chance to resist.
What could Tang San do in such a situation?
Unable to fight back, he could only silently endure the punishment.
"I don't want to become a god anymore. Let me go..."
Tang San continued to beg, but gradually, he forgot why he was pleading. All he knew was that he was being punished, and even the reason for his punishment began to fade from his memory...
Back in Heaven Dou City, the day was one of grand celebration, with the entire nation rejoicing.
On the streets, a procession of people on horseback drew everyone's attention.
It was worth noting that horseback riding was usually prohibited within Heaven Dou City, but today was an exception.
The rider was none other than "Xue Qinghe." Did she look triumphant?
No, she appeared dazed and lost in thought.
The throne she had long schemed for was finally within her grasp, yet "Xue Qinghe" felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier and heavier.
She was about to bear the responsibility of the entire populace of the Heaven Dou Empire!
"Am I truly ready for this?"
"Xue Qinghe" asked herself, momentarily lost in thought.
Was the throne really what she had been seeking all along?
From the very beginning, all she had ever wanted was Bibi Dong's approval...
Even in this new life, her goals had shifted, but they still didn't include the well-being of the people.
Being entrusted with such expectations, yet not having the people in her heart...
"No, this isn't right."
"I will become the Angel God. Gods love all beings. How can my love be so shallow?"
"The world is vibrant because of humanity. My focus has been misplaced."
"Starting today, I will learn to be a god..."
She had once become a god but had never fulfilled the duties of one. Instead, she had pursued the destruction of something insignificant.
If everything in that dream was true, then she had indeed been foolish.
To put it bluntly, she had been downright stupid.
"Strange, why doesn't the Crown Prince look happy?"
"This is the day of his coronation. Shouldn't he be overjoyed?"
The onlookers, seeing "Xue Qinghe" with a sullen expression, couldn't help but feel puzzled.
They truly couldn't understand what was going on.
The Crown Prince was about to become the emperor, yet "he" didn't seem happy about it.
It was quite baffling.
Especially for the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, and Prince Xue Xing, who were even more confused.
Could it be that they had misjudged Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe"? Did he truly have no interest in the throne?
Were the deaths of the other two princes also unrelated to "Xue Qinghe"?
Logically, "he" should be basking in the glory of this moment. Why did "he" look as if he had just lost his father?
Xue Beng and Xue Xing exchanged glances, but no words passed between them, leaving only endless confusion and doubt.
"Your Highness, don't lose focus!"
Beside "Xue Qinghe" stood Meng Shenji and two others. Meng Shenji whispered a reminder.
Today was a momentous occasion, and "Xue Qinghe" shouldn't be in such a state.
Hearing this, "Xue Qinghe" snapped out of her thoughts and instinctively nodded, her face breaking into a professional smile.
The sudden change left everyone stunned, unable to react immediately.
"This guy..."
Xue Beng's eye twitched slightly. So, "Xue Qinghe's" smiles were all just a facade.
Subconsciously, "he" had learned to smile as a form of disguise.
"How utterly hypocritical. Ugh!"