After the Slave fleet landed at an unknown small port on the continent, they began traversing through wilderness, mountains, and other uninhabited regions, carefully avoiding human settlements as they advanced toward their ultimate target — Issa Fortress, at the very center of the continent.
Meanwhile, inside the divine trial space of the Asura God, Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at the location of the final divine test.
Before them, within the emerald-green space, rose a staircase that seemed to stretch infinitely upward. Though only a hundred visible steps appeared, everything beyond was shrouded in a thick, swirling mist.
High above the trial space, Huo Yuhao's projection appeared. His voice echoed as he announced the final Asura God Trial:
Asura God's Ninth Trial — Open the Gate of Asura.
Description:
The gate leading to the realm of the Asura God is sealed by eighteen divine restraints. The challenger must break every seal in order to open the gate and enter the Asura Domain to obtain the divine seat.
Rules of the Trial:
Each restraint has its own unique method of being broken. The challenger may take as much time as needed to study each restraint and prepare; however, once the process to break a seal begins, only two hours are given.
If the challenger fails to break even one restraint within the time limit, the trial is considered a failure.
Upon failure, the challenger will forever lose the right to inherit the Asura God's position and will instead become a Great Priest of Asura.
Only by breaking all eighteen restraints can one ascend to the position of Asura God.
After reading the rules, Tang San's expression grew grim.
He thought silently:
"It seems this final test allows no mistakes. Every single step must be taken with utmost caution."
Huo Yuhao's voice echoed again:
"Then, let the divine trial begin."
Tang San turned to Xiao Wu.
"Let's go, Xiao Wu."
They began to climb the staircase.
With each step upward, the green mist ahead thinned slightly, revealing another step beyond.
After ascending for a while, a broad platform gradually appeared through the haze.
Tang San stopped.
"It seems the first seal lies just ahead."
He took several more steps forward, stepping onto the platform.
At the front stood a massive gate. The two panels of the gate were closed — one side engraved with a white tiger bearing sinister eyes, and the other depicting a pink-white rabbit.
The tiger and the rabbit intertwined, forming the shape of a yin-yang symbol.
And standing before this gate was someone completely unexpected — Dai Mubai.
When Tang San saw him, his expression immediately darkened.
"Dai Mubai! Why are you here?"
Dai Mubai shrugged helplessly.
"Little San, I don't know either. When I appeared in this space, I was told I'm part of the first seal's challenge. As for why it needs me, you'll have to read the rules for yourself."
Ignoring him, Tang San approached the gate and stared at the carvings of the tiger and rabbit. They made him feel… uncomfortably irritated.
Then, he began reading the inscription of the first seal's rule:
First Seal Rule:
A special power is required to activate the gate's twin carvings of the tiger and rabbit — the Power of Wu-Bai.
Only through this power can the gate be opened.However, you only have one chance to use this power.
If you fail to activate the carvings fully, the trial is considered a failure, and you will forever lose your qualification as the Asura God's successor.
After reading, Tang San's heart sank. He looked toward Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu… what exactly is this 'Power of Wu-Bai'?"
Xiao Wu blinked in confusion.
"Ah? San-ge, you don't remember? It's the special power that appears when I and Brother Dai Mubai perform our Martial Soul Fusion!"
"What…"
Tang San's face instantly turned pitch black and his green hair seemed to grow greener.
"You mean… the first seal can only be opened if you and Dai Mubai perform a fusion?!"
He was on the verge of collapse.Dai Mubai — his rival in love, the one he despised most!
They'd already broken ties long ago. And now, the trial required him to watch Xiao Wu — his wife — fuse souls with Dai Mubai to help him pass?!
Tang San stood before the gate, head lowered, his dark face unreadable — only the green shimmer of his hair seemed to glow brighter.
Dai Mubai spoke in mock surprise:
"Ah, so that's why I was summoned here. Because the fusion technique between me and Xiao Wu is needed! What a bizarre divine rule.
But… Little San is my sworn brother, and Xiao Wu is his wife — my sister-in-law. How could I possibly do something so improper? Absolutely not."
Xiao Wu's face turned pale. She shook her head rapidly.
"No! Xiao Wu belongs only to San-ge! I can't do that!"
Tang San's body trembled. Finally, he looked up — his eyes bloodshot.
With a tone of agony, he said:
"Xiao Wu… and Dai… Dai-ge… please, I need your help. Help me open this seal."
Dai Mubai sighed and shook his head.
"Little San, you're my brother, but how could I? And didn't you say before that you didn't need my help?"
Tang San fell silent.
He forced a twisted smile and said bitterly:
"Dai… Dai-ge, that was just a joke. You're the leader of our Shrek Seven Devils… I… I allow you to fuse martial souls with Xiao Wu — just help me open this gate!"
"Oh? But if I fuse with Xiao Wu, you won't hold it against me later, right?" Dai Mubai teased.
"N-No! Of course not!" Tang San said quickly.
Dai Mubai still shook his head.
"I don't believe you. What if you become a god later and decide to 'settle accounts' with me?"
Tang San's face twisted even further.
"Then what do you want me to do for you to help me?!"
Dai Mubai smirked.
"It's simple, Little San. Kneel down, kowtow to me three times, and swear in the name of the Asura God that after becoming a god, you'll never seek revenge against me — not even as the Asura God himself. This divine realm enforces all oaths. Once sworn here, not even a god can break it."
Tang San roared in his heart with uncontrollable fury:
"Dai Mubai, you bastard! You actually made me beg you to fuse your Martial Spirit with Xiao Wu's—how could you…!"
His expression twisted completely with rage, his body trembling violently.
Dai Mubai turned around lazily, smirking.
"If you don't want to, then forget it, little brother San. I'll just take my leave then. Maybe you'll figure out another way somehow, who knows?"
He turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Tang San lifted his head, eyes bloodshot, breathing heavily like an enraged bull.
"I agree."
Then, in front of Dai Mubai, Tang San knelt down, his proud knees shaking.
"Boss Dai… I beg you. Please—fuse your Martial Spirit with Xiao Wu's. Use your Wu Bai Force to unlock this layer of the barrier. I swear upon the name of the Asura God—once I become a god, I will never hold this against you."
He kowtowed three times, each thud echoing with humiliation.
In the next instant, a voice descended from the heavens:
Oath established.
Dai Mubai's lips curved into a knowing grin. He hurried over, helping Tang San up.
"Aiya, no need for this! We're brothers, aren't we? If my little brother needs help, your big bro Dai would never refuse! It's just…"
He paused and grinned slyly.
"Even if I agree, we still have to see if Xiao Wu agrees, right?"
Tang San turned his head toward Xiao Wu.
She pouted, clearly displeased.
"Brother San… didn't you say you didn't want me to be close to any other man? I decided to keep myself pure for you… and now you want this?"
Tang San's face twisted in pain.
"Xiao Wu… this will be the last time, I promise. Please, I'm begging you. Fuse with Dai Mubai's Martial Spirit."
She sighed softly.
"Alright… since you said so, Xiao Wu will listen."
Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu stood facing each other, while Tang San stood between them, his head lowered, face hidden in shadow.
The two released their Martial Spirits, their energies intertwining. As they leapt into the air, they shouted in unison:
"The fierce within the flexible—Sky-Shattering Star Break!"
Their figures merged into one, enveloped by a brilliant emerald light. The green radiance cascaded down, bathing Tang San in its glow.
He didn't move. His head hung low, and silent tears dripped onto the ground.
Humiliation… unbearable humiliation.
Why… why must he endure this? To hand his own woman to a friend who betrayed him, and then beg them to fuse in front of him?
Because he had no choice.
He had staked everything on this divine inheritance—the chance to ascend, to reclaim the glory of his past life, to finish what he once failed to achieve.
He endured endless humiliation, countless agonies, all for the sake of godhood—to gain the power to correct every variable in fate… and most of all, to bring back the Xiao Wu who once loved him wholeheartedly.
Before beginning the divine trial, he had endured seventy-two deaths in the Asura God's temple. Add the previous eight trials, and that made eighty ordeals in total. To reach godhood, he had even crossed moral lines—he had slain his own father.
Now, this was the final test. One last step, and he would ascend.
Every pain, every humiliation—it would all end here.
So what choice did he have but to endure?
Finally, Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu's fusion was complete.
The creature they became was awe-inspiring—a mighty tiger's body, covered in fur of white-gold interlaced with faint pink. The tiger's claws gleamed with lethal sharpness, yet its limbs held the supple elasticity of a Soft Bone Rabbit.
It was a hybrid beast—ferocious yet elegant, with rabbit ears upon a tiger's head and fangs replaced by a single, gleaming tooth.
The creature opened its mouth and released a beam of green energy at the massive circular stone relief before them—the Wu Bai Force generated by their fusion.
As the light entered the relief, it began to glow and slowly rotate.
The countdown had begun.
Minute by minute, time passed like torture. Every second stretched painfully long for Tang San—but he endured. He had to.
Fifteen minutes remained of the two hours allotted. But now, the power of the fusion began to wane—the green glow weakening visibly.
Tang San's eyes widened in alarm.
"This isn't right… at this rate, we won't break the barrier in time! Dai Mubai—are you doing this on purpose?! Trying to make me fail my divine trial?!"
From within the fused beast came Dai Mubai's calm voice:
"Little brother San, our Wu Bai Force isn't infinite. I've already burned through almost all of mine. If you don't believe me, ask Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu's voice followed, soft but strained:
"Brother San, Dai-ge is telling the truth. We're almost at our limit. We can't do this alone. Please, don't just stand there—help us."
"Help…? How?!" Tang San asked, stunned.
Dai Mubai chuckled.
"Remember the Spirit Master Tournament? Do it like back then—channel your spirit power into us. We'll convert it into more Wu Bai Force to break through this layer."
A tentacle-like energy limb extended from the fused beast toward Tang San. He froze, staring at it.
"Brother San!" Xiao Wu cried urgently. "We're running out of power! Hurry—send your energy over! Do you still want to become a god or not?!"
The word godhood echoed in Tang San's mind.
His eyes went blood-red again, his breath wild. He seized the energy tendril and poured his spirit power into it with all his might.
"Yes… I can feel it! Tang San's energy! Come on—more Wu Bai Force!" Dai Mubai shouted.
The hybrid beast roared, and the energy beam it released swelled immensely, blasting through the barrier.
The glowing relief turned bright green, rotating until the tiger-rabbit engraving split apart—revealing an open gate.
At the same time, the fusion ended.
Dai Mubai staggered back, his once-proud posture slumped, his body pale and thin, dark circles shadowing his eyes.
Xiao Wu collapsed to the ground in a kneeling position, face flushed, gasping for breath, her hands trembling as they pressed against the floor.
Tang San lay flat on the ground, utterly drained, his spirit power completely spent.