On the plain, the divine light emanating from the Sea God's Trident barely suppressed the spread of corrosive evil energy. But those whose lives were consumed could not return, falling like broken puppets, their skin visibly rotting and decaying, like long-dead mummies.
The forces of both great empires retreated frantically, away from the spreading areas of evil energy.
This was no longer a time to debate which of the two empires had stronger military might, but a time to flee for their lives.
Qingluan Douluo, who had managed to pull away the heavily injured and temporarily immobilized Jiangmo Douluo, looked solemnly at the incessantly spreading black mist and also issued a retreat order to the army of the Martial Soul Empire.
The Rakshasa God, feeling extremely uncomfortable from the sacred Sea God's light, cast a grudging glance, then added divine power. After a heavy and deafening roar, the three separated in mid-air.
Under the vigilant gazes of the pale-faced Tang Sui and the unnaturally dark-faced Hei Mian, the Rakshasa God greedily stared at Tang Sui. Dense mental pollution spread with its words, encroaching upon Tang Sui and Hei Mian:
"Say whatever you want, that guy understands nothing."
A violent ringing in her ears caused Tang Sui's vision to black out for a moment. The dark golden mask that swirled around her trembled. Tang Sui swallowed the blood rising to her throat and transformed her pitch-black demonic energy into a sharp wind blade, slashing horizontally at the Rakshasa God.
The Rakshasa God dodged to the side, evading the troublesome Hei Mian, and once again closed in on Tang Sui. Four scythes, extending from its back and connected by flesh, carved afterimages in the void. Each swing cut through the surrounding space, even directly cleaving Tang Sui's domain and scraping her skin.
"Futile struggle."
The Rakshasa God's bloodthirsty voice grew more excited.
"Below true gods, all are ants!"
"Your meager Dao intent is nothing before me, why resist further?"
Tang Sui narrowly dodged the cuts, a few strands of raven-black hair drifting down like down, quickly pulverized in the swirling, distorted energy waves.
"Your target is me?"
Tang Sui, sensing something was wrong, coldly stared at the Rakshasa God, who had scraped off a piece of her flesh and was now eating it before her eyes.
"I don't think I have anything that would make you covet me."
The Rakshasa God licked the blood from its lips, its gaze on Tang Sui viscous and venomous. Its androgynous voice, like the wails of countless infernal spirits, was even more potent than the mental pollution it had previously emitted.
"You are a variable."
"The Sea God and the Asura God, those two arrogant fellows, were both winners in this gamble of fate. They wouldn't care about you, they'd even try to win you over."
"The rules recognize your existence, which is also tacit approval of a change in outcome, and gives me a chance to turn things around?"
Tang Sui's heart sank as she listened.
The Rakshasa God's face, already like a鬼 face, became even more ferocious. Countless illusory heads, some with human faces, others with beast faces, surged from its back, as if it had split into multiple personalities, yet all spoke with the same voice of resentment.
"What good are gods? Gods merely postpone death, they are not eternal!"
"What I want is eternity! The eternity of power, all under my control! Not to merely choose those so-called divine inheritors to pass down the name of 'Rakshasa'!"
"What's the difference between that and those ants?!"
"So jealous, so hateful! Why are their inheritors the best, while I can only choose the inferior and be eliminated in the end?!"
"Hahahaha! What's the point of being a first-tier deity? In the end, you still end up with a dissipated soul!"
"Variable, variable! I need a variable!"
"What balance, what principles? This world is inherently about strength. As long as I am strong enough, what I say becomes the new rule!"
"By devouring you, I can escape the damnable lifespan limit and achieve true eternity, hahahaha!"
Confused ramblings overlapped, making the listener's head ache and their vision blur.
Others who heard the Rakshasa God's chaotic words might have been filled with bewilderment, but Tang Sui, who knew the Rakshasa God was referring to the original destined path, grew visibly grim.
She understood why the Rakshasa God was targeting her.
Firstly, it was because she herself was a variable. Secondly, she was the only demon on this Douluo Continent who had been recognized by the rules as a demon.
The lifespan of demons could be extended indefinitely with the growth of their cultivation. If they didn't die prematurely, a demon of her power level would have an endless lifespan, thus achieving a different kind of immortality.
No wonder even her brother, this son of destiny, ignored everything else and only wanted to kill her.
Hei Mian's form dissolved amidst the terrifying divine power bombardment, returning to her soul.
The Rakshasa God, who had closed the distance to Tang Sui in an instant, unleashed a cross-shaped slash with the four scythes from its back. Amidst the heart-wrenching cries of Tang San and the others, the shadow of death enveloped Tang Sui.
The pain of her flesh being reaped seared her pain receptors. She met the gaze of those eyes devoid of pupils.
"No—!"
Divine light extinguished, soul-polluting malevolence spread across the land.
Tang San, his eyes bloodshot, charged towards the void, even though his strength was nearly depleted.
Dai Mubai and the others also moved towards the void, but were stopped by Chen Xin and Gu Rong, who still had their wits about them, and Dugu Bo working together.
Faster than Tang San was Tang Hao's charge, but before he could come into contact with the pervasive purple-black evil energy, Tang Xiao, who was pursuing him closely, intercepted him.
"Hao, calm down! You don't have the Sea God's light protection like Xiao San. If you get contaminated by that evil energy, not only will you be unable to save anyone, you'll die!"
"But that's my daughter!"
Tang Hao, with red eyes, pushed Tang Xiao away. When he looked towards the void again, he saw the Rakshasa God had moved before Tang Sui, bringing down those four ferocious scythes!
As death approached, she felt an unusual sense of calm.
Countless memories flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.
She looked up at the unfolding scroll of memories before her. The brilliant, colorful scroll turned into black ash, scattering at her fingertips as the scythes drew nearer.
"Boom—!!!"
A giant black shadow appeared out of nowhere, smashing the Rakshasa God away forcefully.
Dark, hard, massive scales entered her vision. Blazing demonic power distorted the air. The Ten-Headed Primordial Great Beast, tearing through space, unleashed a terrifying, condensed demonic energy shockwave from its maw, colliding with the divine power blast from the Rakshasa God, exploding with earth-shattering roars.
"Boom boom boom!!!"
Rolling black smoke filled the air, instantly turning the entire sky into a murky blend of colors and terrifying swirling clouds.
The soul masters who still possessed soul power abandoned all other actions, mobilizing almost all their soul power to erect defensive energy shields.
Tang San and the others, unable to dodge and even charging towards the center of the energy storm, were all sent flying dozens of meters, spitting blood.
Tang Sui, drenched in blood, fell into the billowing smoke, her fate unknown.
"A mere divine thought dares to touch this seat's person?"
A voice, filled with murderous intent, echoed, its oppressive pressure no less potent than the divine might the Rakshasa God exuded, blanketing an area of a hundred miles.
Ten thick, dark outlines, a hundred meters tall and over ten meters wide, slithered like serpents in the smoke, gradually becoming distinct. Even the Rakshasa God and the black-purple evil energy it released appeared insignificant before this colossal form emerging from the mist.