Chapter 301: Tang San: Only One Step Left
Boom!
Bang!
The heavy sound exploded in the tavern like a cannonball, the terrifying force and shockwaves causing the entire building to tremble. Some of the patrons who had left the tavern didn't go far, hiding nearby to eavesdrop on the situation inside.
"Those noble brats have gone too far, even bringing a Soul Emperor. That boy and girl are in big trouble."
"People born with good fortune, what can you do?"
"That boy might get killed."
Many whispered, discussing the situation in the tavern.
Bang!
Suddenly, a loud crash startled everyone who was worried about the boy.
Then they saw someone being flung out of the tavern.
"Too harsh, those nobles... Huh?" Some kind-hearted individuals initially thought to help, but when they approached, they realized it wasn't the brave young man, but rather the noble's family Soul Emperor protector lying on the ground, his face contorted in pain.
What happened?
That was a Soul Emperor!
Seeing the Soul Emperor protector lying there, the crowd wondered if the young man was from some prominent family too.
Did the noble brat kick an iron plate?
Amidst their shock and confusion, another scream erupted from inside the tavern.
Someone with keen ears recognized the noble brat's scream.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
More sounds echoed from the tavern, and the crowd saw the noble brat and his lackeys being thrown out one after another.
The crowd immediately cleared a space, not daring to approach.
When no one emerged from the tavern, someone decided to peek inside, only to find that both the young man and the soul master girl had vanished.
...
Oscar walked towards the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, hearing Tianmeng Iceworm's voice in his ear.
"Kid, you went easy this time. A few months ago, you would have killed those guys outright."
Oscar replied calmly, "Returning to my homeland, I didn't want their blood to stain my eyes."
Changing the subject, he asked, "Brother Tianmeng, you became my soul ring to avoid the heavenly tribulation. What are your plans now?"
After being "saved" by Su Yun, Oscar and Tianmeng Iceworm had planned to find a safe place, but Tianmeng encountered the heavenly tribulation he had avoided. A hundred-thousand-year soul beast faces a heavenly tribulation every hundred thousand years, and this one was nine times more powerful than the previous ones.
With his weak combat abilities, Tianmeng couldn't withstand such a terrifying force.
So he naturally became Oscar's intelligent soul ring, leveraging Oscar's divine power.
"You're destined to become a god, right? I'll stick around and figure it out once you ascend," Tianmeng Iceworm said nonchalantly. "I've got nothing better to do than eat and sleep anyway. Might as well adventure with you."
"Besides, we make a good team, don't we?"
Oscar smiled at this.
After so long on the road, Tianmeng Iceworm was his only companion who could make him smile. Most of the time, he was very taciturn.
"You've reached the level of a seventy-ninth rank Soul Sage. The divine trial has greatly boosted your power. With a bit more effort, you're not far from becoming a god," Tianmeng Iceworm said.
Tianmeng had accompanied Oscar through every divine trial, witnessing his growth firsthand.
Although Oscar inherited the title of Food God, his trials weren't about cooking.
He had to learn to fully integrate his soul power and skills, making the food he produced provide a qualitative boost to others!
Not to mention the extreme training he underwent in the far north.
Tianmeng Iceworm could imagine that with a bit more time, even Tang San wouldn't be a match for Oscar.
Oscar nodded slightly. As he lifted his head again, he found himself at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Upon learning of Oscar's return, Ning Fengzhi immediately summoned him to the council hall.
"Seventy-ninth level soul power? Excellent! Oscar, you haven't let me down," Ning Fengzhi said, appraising Oscar with admiration.
Gaining twenty levels in less than a year, Oscar must have completed at least half of his divine trial.
"It was just luck," Oscar replied indifferently.
Ning Fengzhi noticed that Oscar had become much more composed since he last saw him.
He now believed even more that Oscar was a perfect match for his daughter, Ning Rongrong.
"Right, since you're back, there's something I need to tell you." Ning Fengzhi's expression suddenly turned serious as he relayed the events of the past few months to Oscar.
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's account of the situation, Oscar frowned and said, "You mean there's only half a year left?"
"Yes," Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Tang San is currently undergoing secluded training under Bo Saixi's guidance. He won't come out unless he becomes a god."
"This is a once-in-a-millennium event that will decide the fate of two nations, so we cannot afford to be careless."
Oscar understood why the people outside seemed different from when he had left. They were unaware of the impending final battle between Tang San and Su Yun.
No wonder some scoundrels had started to surface.
"Do you have time tonight? I plan to introduce you to His Majesty. With Xiao San absent, our Heaven Dou Empire needs someone like you, a divine heir, to boost morale and inspire the troops," Ning Fengzhi said, patting Oscar on the shoulder.
Instead of answering immediately, Oscar asked, "Sect Master Ning, do you remember our previous conversation?"
Ning Fengzhi was momentarily stunned, then looked at Oscar, his eyes dimming as he pondered. Finally, he said, "Oscar, to be honest, I think very highly of you."
"But you must understand that there must be no rift between you and Tang San."
"Otherwise, it will inevitably affect the future of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"And right now, no matter how strained their relationship is, Rongrong and Tang San are nominally husband and wife."
"If you suddenly intervene, you know what the consequences will be..."
At this point, Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
In his heart, there were other things he didn't say.
After all, Tang San had dual god positions and the backing of the Clear Sky School.
In terms of value, Oscar couldn't compare to Tang San.
Moreover, Tang San was only one step away from becoming a god, while Oscar's soul power was merely at level seventy-nine.
Oscar's only advantage was his deep love for Ning Rongrong.
But... love alone wasn't enough.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Empire were in the final crucial stages of their war.
Strength was essential.
Without it, everything else was meaningless.
"You don't need to explain. I understand your intentions."
Oscar wasn't naive and knew what Ning Fengzhi was thinking.
He said softly, "At any time, strength is paramount. Unfortunately, my strength is still insufficient."
With that, he turned and left.
"Oscar," Ning Fengzhi called out, wanting to stop him.
However, Oscar walked straight out of the council hall without looking back.
"Fengzhi, are we doing the right thing?" Sword Douluo asked, watching Oscar leave.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, "Uncle Chen, you know we already broke our promise to Tang San once. If we forcibly separate him and Rongrong while he's away, we'll have no peace if he becomes a god."
"Oscar is indeed excellent, and he might treat Rongrong very well."
"But he is alone and can only possess one god position."
"Compared to Tang San, he's lacking."
Ning Fengzhi justified, "Moreover, I checked the ancient texts. The Food God Oscar inherited is a secondary god, not as powerful as Tang San's Sea God and Asura God. The Sea God is a primary god, and the Asura God is at the level of a God King."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin sighed and fell silent.
"Regardless, Oscar is still on our side. As long as he doesn't join the Spirit Empire or betray the Heaven Dou Empire, we can give him what he wants later," Ning Fengzhi said.
Sword Douluo sighed again, "We can only hope for that."
That evening, Oscar didn't attend the banquet with Ning Fengzhi.
Instead, he left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ning Fengzhi made no effort to stop him.
### Chapter 301: Tang San: Only One Step Left
...
Spirit Empire.
In a pavilion, Su Yun and Qian Daoliu were playing chess.
"How is your soul power cultivation going? How long until you become a god?" Qian Daoliu asked. "There are only six months left. You need to hurry."
"My sources tell me that Tang San is in seclusion on Sea God Island, training tirelessly. He's taking this much more seriously than you."
Su Yun shook his head with a faint smile, "My cultivation philosophy emphasizes following my natural inclinations. Rushing will only backfire. But I can assure you, it will be soon."
Soon.
Hearing these words, Qian Daoliu felt somewhat reassured.
"And what about Xue'er?" Su Yun asked after answering Qian Daoliu's question. "I remember her two personalities should have merged by now?"
In the past six months, Qian Renxue had gone on a journey and then returned to enter seclusion. Only Qian Daoliu knew her current condition.
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, "She's doing well. Thanks to the Bi-Xin Green Lotus you and Chrysanthemum Douluo brought back, I managed to help her start the ninth trial, though it nearly cost me my life."
"As for how long it will take her to complete the ninth trial, that depends on her."
Among those who could become gods, only Su Yun was unique in not needing to go through the divine trials. Others still had to complete their trials.
Qian Daoliu took a sip of tea and suddenly asked, "Do you know who the father of the child the Pope is carrying is?"
Surprised by the sudden question, Su Yun understood what the old man was hinting at.
He answered frankly, "Yes, I know."
Qian Daoliu stared at Su Yun for a long time, seeming to want to say something but ultimately remaining silent.
After a while, he said, "Our family owes her. Take good care of your teacher."
"As for Xue'er's decisions, I won't interfere."
Su Yun nodded.
...
Three months later.
In the Blue Silver Grass Clan's territory, two women with completely different temperaments sat facing each other, each holding a baby. Despite their differing auras, they treated the infants with the same tenderness.
"I didn't expect you to have a son," Bibi Dong remarked, raising an eyebrow at Ah Yin's baby, though her tone lacked malice.
"To me, it doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl." Ah Yin smiled, rocking her baby gently.
"That little rascal is now in the Star Dou Forest. I heard the girl with him is also a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit like you." Bibi Dong muttered, annoyed at Su Yun's indiscriminate choices.
Ah Yin laughed heartily, "You mean Xiao Wu? I visited the Star Dou Forest recently and met her. She's a good girl."
"Naturally, you hundred-thousand-year soul beasts get along well, but I don't want to see her," Bibi Dong grumbled, unhappy with Su Yun seeking other women despite having them.
Now that Nana and Zhu Zhuqing were pregnant, Su Yun was still running around.
If not for the Empire's internal caretakers, Bibi Dong would have chained him to her side.
"Don't think about it. The more you do, the angrier you'll get."
"How's your strength now? How long until you take the final step?" Ah Yin suddenly asked.
Bibi Dong glanced at her baby, sighing, "Because of this little one, I can't take the final step yet. It will probably take a while longer."
With only three months left until the final showdown with Tang San, Bibi Dong was growing increasingly anxious.
Although there was an agreement with the Sea God, whether it would be honored depended on strength.
She wanted to become a god as soon as possible.
"Good luck," Ah Yin said with a smile.
Bibi Dong nodded slightly.
She had now fully accepted the woman before her.
"Will you be there on that day?"
Bibi Dong suddenly asked Ah Yin.
Her question implied whether Ah Yin would dare to face 'Tang San' directly at the event.
Ah Yin was momentarily taken aback, but then her eyes filled with determination as she nodded, "Of course."
"Since it's the final moment, I naturally have to settle things with him."
"It's just a pity I don't have the qualifications to become a god. Otherwise, I would also want to fight him."
Ah Yin had always wanted to kill the one who had taken over her child's body.
Now, the time was near.
...
Sea God Island.
In a secret underwater realm, only Tang San's murmurs could be heard.
"Just one last step."