Chapter 739
Ren Xue
"It's here!" the God of Destruction roared. The gods were poised to strike. But at that moment, a sudden change occurred—the will did not rush towards the aura as expected, but instead split into countless fine threads, bypassing the barrier and piercing straight for Tang Wulin's brow! It saw through the trap at the last moment and chose to attack the vessel itself directly!
"Watch out!" Qian Renxue reacted with lightning speed, unleashing the Angelic Holy Sword, its divine fire burning the fine threads. But the threads were too numerous and intangible, piercing through the sword light and embedding themselves in Tang Wulin's forehead. Tang Wulin shuddered violently, his eyes instantly turning dark red, and twisted veins appearing beneath his skin.
"Wu Lin!" Qian Renxue rushed forward without regard for anything, attempting to purify the corruption with her divine power. But the will of the Eye of Annihilation was extremely strong, and its maniacal laughter echoed in Tang Wu Lin's consciousness: "What a perfect body... fragile, yet with boundless potential... become my vessel!" Tang Wu Lin's consciousness was dragged into darkness, and countless negative emotions surged in: despair, anger, hatred... He seemed to have returned to the moment when he was controlled by the Golden Dragon King, cold, violent, and wanting only to destroy everything.
No, he couldn't repeat the same mistake. Tang Wulin gritted his teeth and persevered deep within his consciousness. He remembered Qian Renxue's tears, the children's cries, the parents' expectations, and Isis's final smile. Those warm memories were like lighthouses, guiding him in the darkness. He struggled desperately, trying to regain control, but the will of the Eye of Annihilation was like a malignant tumor, constantly eroding his sanity.
Outside, the gods launched their attack. The destructive power of the God of Destruction, the life-binding of the Goddess of Life, Tang San's Trident of the Sea God... countless divine powers bombarded that will, but it was rooted within Tang Wulin's body. Forcibly separating it might damage his soul. Qian Renxue's eyes were red with anxiety. Suddenly, she thought of something.
"Wu Lin! You said you'd keep it under control!" she cried, her voice trembling with tears. "You said we'd go back together! You said no one would die! You promised me!" The same words, the same cry that had echoed before the Abyss Gate, rang out once more. Tang Wu Lin's body trembled, and the dark red in his eyes faded slightly. Qian Renxue saw hope and continued to shout, "Look carefully, it's me! And Mom and Dad, the children, everyone is waiting for you! You promised to protect us, you can't break your promise!"
More memories flooded his mind. The Sea God's Fate at Shrek Academy, the vows at the wedding, the cries of the children at birth, the warmth of the divine family reunion... those beautiful, precious scenes pierced the darkness like a sharp sword. Tang Wulin's consciousness re-coalesced, and he "saw" the dark red will in his sea of consciousness, like a giant worm, coiled deep within his soul.
"Get out," Tang Wulin hissed in his sea of consciousness. His soul, though fragile, was incredibly resolute. The Eye of Annihilation laughed wildly: "A mere mortal dares to resist? Your body is mine!" It opened its massive maw, lunging to devour him. Tang Wulin didn't retreat; instead, he met the attack head-on. At the moment of impact, a golden light suddenly shone from the depths of his soul—the embers of the Dragon God's soul, sealed but never extinguished. The golden light, like a raging fire, instantly ignited his dark red will.
"Impossible! You've been sealed! How could you still possess the power of the Dragon God!" the Eye of Annihilation screamed. Tang Wulin's consciousness coldly replied, "What's sealed is only power, not will. And I am Tang Wulin." Golden light surged, completely engulfing and purifying the dark red will. Outside, Tang Wulin suddenly opened his eyes, the dark red fading, his mind clearing. He exhaled a cloud of black gas, which twisted and dissipated in the air, emitting a mournful shriek.
"It's over..." he said weakly, his body swaying as he collapsed into Qian Renxue's arms. The gods breathed a sigh of relief and rushed forward to check on him. Fortunately, the erosion had been brief; although Tang Wulin's soul was damaged, it wasn't fundamentally harmed. On the contrary, the will of the Eye of Annihilation was severely injured by the Dragon God's embers and could no longer cause trouble for a while. The cracks in the Abyss Gate gradually closed, and the whispering disappeared.
A crisis was averted in an unexpected way. Although Tang Wulin was weak, his eyes shone with renewed spirit—during the confrontation, he sensed a slight loosening of the seal, however minor, proving that the power of the Dragon God had not completely left him. With continued cultivation, perhaps one day he could regain control of that power.
After half a month of recuperation, Tang Wulin's body gradually recovered, and his soul power, tempered by the accident, rose to level 20. He was still weak, but the deathly aura between his brows had lessened, replaced by a renewed vitality. Qian Renxue accompanied him in his daily cultivation, and their soul powers resonated subtly during their interactions, showing a tendency to complement each other. The Goddess of Life said this was a sign of soul harmony, and perhaps dual cultivation could accelerate Tang Wulin's recovery.
But Tang Wulin wasn't in a hurry to achieve success. Having experienced life and death, he cherished the peace he had now. Every morning, supported by Qian Renxue, he would stroll in the Tranquil Garden and watch the sunrise over the divine realm. Children often came, pestering him to tell stories or demonstrate their newly learned divine arts. Tang Xuanyu had begun to explore the inheritance of divine positions but insisted on coming to his father for guidance every day; Tang Yilin had become fascinated with alchemy, often picking exotic flowers and herbs to "experiment" with, leaving his little face blackened; Tang Nianxue, on the other hand, loved to snuggle in her father's arms and listen to those ancient stories.
Sometimes, Tang San and Xiao Wu would come over, and the family would sit together, drinking tea and chatting. Their conversations ranged from the affairs of the God Realm to anecdotes from the mortal world. Occasionally, they would mention old friends from Douluo Continent—Dai Yuhao and Tang Wutong often brought news from the mortal realm, saying what geniuses Shrek Academy had produced, how prosperous the Tang Sect was, and what new changes had occurred in the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. Tang Wulin listened, his eyes filled with nostalgia. He thought of Lin Yue, Gu Yuena, and all his comrades-in-arms. He wondered where they were now, and if they were well.
"Once you're feeling better, let's go back to Douluo Continent for a visit," Qian Renxue said softly. Tang Wulin nodded, "Okay."
The path of cultivation is long and arduous, but Tang Wulin is no longer anxious. He relearns the most basic control of soul power, practices the simplest soul skills, and savors the joy of every bit of progress. He discovers that after losing his world-destroying power, he can perceive the subtle details of the world more clearly—the flow of the wind, the temperature of the light, the breath of the plants, and the slightest change in the emotions of those around him. Perhaps this is another kind of gain.
Six months later, Tang Wulin's soul power broke through to level 30, officially becoming a Soul Master. Although this was insignificant in the God Realm, his whole family celebrated for him. Xiao Wu personally cooked a table full of dishes, Tang San brought out his treasured immortal wine, and the children chattered excitedly, creating a lively atmosphere. Tang Wulin raised his cup, which contained the mildest fruit wine. He looked at Qian Renxue beside him, at his parents, and at his children, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"A toast to the past, a toast to the present, a toast to the future," he said softly. Qian Renxue clinked glasses with him, her eyes glistening with tears, yet filled with a smile. Yes, no matter how many hardships and obstacles lay ahead, as long as the family was together, nothing was to be feared.
Night deepened, the children were lulled to sleep, and Tang San and Xiao Wu departed. Tang Wulin and Qian Renxue sat side by side in the pavilion of Jingxin Garden, gazing at the starry sky of the God Realm. The Milky Way shone brightly, and in the distance, towards the Abyss Gate, the light of the Tree of Life shone silently like a lighthouse. (End of Chapter)