Renxue drew a slow, steady breath.
Thump!
Her heartbeat echoed clearly in Tang Yin's ears, anticipation coiling tightly in his chest as he waited for her answer.
"No," she said gently, yet firmly.
Tang Yin blinked once, then laughed—low and warm—shaking his head with a faint, amused smile, as if he'd already known her choice.
"I never expected you to follow me anyway."
He stepped closer, close enough that Renxue could feel his presence, his warmth. But as he opened his mouth to speak—she reached out, fingers curling into his sleeve.
"Wait, Tang Yin… just listen to me first." Her violet eyes blazed—not with defiance, but with unwavering pride and certainty.
"The Spirit Hall will always be my home, and my grandfather has placed great expectations on me. I can't be selfish," she said steadily.
"I won't walk behind anyone… and I won't live in anyone's shadow. Not even yours." Renxue held his gaze unwaveringly.
Tang Yin nodded slowly, a warm, approving smile spreading across his face. "Mm. That's fine by me. I respect your choice."
In that moment, the world seemed impossibly small between them. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a fierce, confident murmur that brushed against his skin.
"I'll become a god before you," Qian Renxue challenged, her eyes flashing with ambition. "Before any of your lovers. And then… I will be the one to unite the continent."
The sheer audacity of it sent a jolt through Tang Yin's veins. It wasn't anger—it was the pure, intoxicating thrill of the hunt.
His eyes burned with raw admiration.
"Ha…" he breathed, his voice thick with a mix of wonder and desire. "This is exactly why I fell for you. You are uncompromisingly yourself."
Inwardly, a small, lamenting thought crossed his mind: 'You really have no idea, Once the ninth ring of the Blue Silver Emperor settles into my soul and I step into the Titled Douluo realm, the path to godhood will be a sprint.'
His gaze softened as it lingered on her. But I'll let you race me. After all… what's the point of godhood if I reach it without any motivation?
He leaned down, forehead brushing Renxue's.
"Then we'd better hurry," he said with a quiet laugh. "I don't plan on losing to you."
The tension between them no longer felt like confrontation—it felt like a promise being forged.
---
Creak—
The heavy palace doors groaned shut behind him, the sound echoing throughout the silent courtyard like the final seal on their pact.
Renxue's words about his "lovers" hadn't been mere provocation—they were a declaration of war, staking claim to his attention, his respect, and his heart entirely for herself.
Tang Yin knew she didn't just want to stand beside him; she wanted to be the sun that made every other star vanish in comparison.
A proud woman like Renxue would never be satisfied with being just one of his lovers. He had to ensure that all of them broke through godhood as quickly as possible—so she could see, without a doubt, that none were any less.
"Haaah…" He let out a long, weary sigh as he made his way toward the Tang Sect. With no further business at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect, the girls had already returned home after the banquet.
The moment he stepped inside, Tang Yin was met with a chorus of scrutinizing gazes from his lovers. He instinctively wiped the sweat from his forehead—women's sixth sense was no myth; it was frighteningly real.
"Liu Erlong, come with me," he said, turning on his heel and leaving the others behind without offering any explanation.
The girls exchanged bewildered looks, but their suspicion only deepened. Unlike them, Erlong didn't think much of it. Since Tang Yin had called for her, she just followed behind.
"Do you think Xue Qinghe is secretly plotting to have his sister marry Tang Yin?" Rongrong asked, lighting the fuse.
"Hmph. He's simply dreaming," Meng Yiran scoffed coldly.
"But Tang Yin didn't seem interested in Xue Ke at all," Tang Yuehua added thoughtfully. "She's one of my students at the Moon Pavilion, yet he didn't even spare her a glance."
While his lovers were engrossed in a heated discussion about the possibility of welcoming another sister, Tang Yin and Liu Erlong found themselves in a very critical stage—where abdomen swelled, boundaries blurred, and self-control was required.
Whoosh—
Erlong's body erupted in roaring heat as the Nirvana Flame within her flared, streams of blazing spiritual power spiraling chaotically around her dantian.
The flame surged violently, eager to condense, yet unstable and unpredictable. At Level 95, her cultivation foundation was very strong, but forming a Nirvana Flame pushed the limits of her spiritual power and elemental control.
Tang Yin stood close, his mental power were enveloping her like a protective shield, ready to stabilize any moment the core threatened to spiral out of control.
"Focus on your Spiritual Power," he instructed, his steady reassurance sinking into her mind. "Your Spirit is strong, but the Nirvana Flame tests even the strongest. Let it flow—but don't let it burn your Spiritual Sea."
Vmmmm...
Liu Erlong's eyes glowed golden, her mind synchronizing with the pulsating flames. Sparks and molten whorls coalesced, forming a miniature vortex at her lower dantian.
The Nirvana Flame responded to her will but remained erratic, twisting violently as if trying to resist compression.
Tang Yin's hand hovered near her abdomen. He didn't touch directly but projected guiding energy, weaving resonance patterns in order to stabilize the flame. "Feel the core's pulse. Let it obey your will." he said.
The temperature spiked, surrounding air like molten metal. The Nirvana core threatened to erupt, risking fractures in her meridians, but Tang Yin's spiritual energy acted like a dam, restraining the violent surges just enough.
"Now—breathe with the flame! Compress it steadily, synchronize yourself with its rotation."
The Spirals of molten light compressed into a compact, spinning orb—the very essence of her Nirvana Flame crystallizing into a Soul Core. But Tang Yin remained poised, ready to intervene at a second's notice, stabilizing the core whenever it threatened to fracture.
Sweat streamed down Erlong's face, but she persisted, feeling the core solidify in perfect resonance with her soul.
Hummmm...
Finally, the Nirvana Flame Soul Core settled, a miniature golden sun at the center of her lower dantian. The fusion between Spiritual and Fire attribute was flawless—her foundation and the flame elemental affinity intertwined in balance.
Tang Yin finally, nodding. "You did it," he said softly, pride evident in his voice. "Your Nirvana Flame Soul Core is complete at last. Its power is now part of you—every pulse of your soul will feed the flame, accelerating your recovery and amplifying your Fire power."
Liu Erlong exhaled, golden light reflecting in her eyes. The chaotic flame no longer roared in a dissary but pulsed steadily, recovering her soul power reserve.
By the time they had completed the soul core formation, his lovers hadn't even finished their previous discussion.
Seeing Tang Yin return, they probed about the possibility of welcoming a new sister, but he resolutely denied any such allegation.
"Stop asking me such baseless questions! I've reached Level 90 through relentless cultivation and need a soul ring. Tomorrow, I'm going to the Star Duo Forest."
He successfully diverted their attention away from his affairs and slipped away under the pretense of supervising the sect's progress, leaving their suspicions behind.
The next day,
Tang Yin stepped out of the sect's main gate, blowing a kiss to his lovers before unfurling his Eight Spider Wings and soaring into the sky.
Yet his trajectory was slightly off from the Star Duo Forest—it led instead toward Spirit Hall. He hadn't forgotten his promise: he intended to take Hu Leina with him on this hunt.
"Hmm... Should I enjoy some free time in Spirit City?" he pondered aloud.
The bustling streets shimmered with the same ethereal glow he had admired during the finale of Continental Tournament, yet memories of Slaughter City's grim alleyways and relentless chaos surged unbidden.
Still, a thrill coursed through him at the thought of finally seeing his little fox again—a reunion he had imagined over and over in countless daydreams. He had missed her dearly.
---
A week later, a handsome man arrived in Spirit City through the grand city gate. His long blue hair flowed behind him like a river of silk, his sharp, flawless face gleaming like jade. Every step he took, every sway of his lean, poised frame, turned heads on the bustling streets.
"Wow! Look over there! He must be the prince of a neighboring empire or a disciple of Spirit Hall?" one onlooker whispered.
"I've never seen anyone this handsome in my life… he must have a very noble background!" another exclaimed.
Wherever Tang Yin went, he drew gazes like a magnet, as if the whole city itself had paused to acknowledge his presence.
Before long, Spirit Hall guards moved swiftly, appearing before him, their spears and martial soul blades poised—
"Hmm?! It can't be. Is it finally coming?" His heart thumped in excitement having seen this classic scenario millions of times.
Acting mode online—
Tang Yin straightened his robes, puffed out his chest, and prepared to announce his heroic presence to the world. His voice echoed in his mind like the roar of a mountain:
"A thousand years to the east, a thousand years to the west—how dare anyone look down on common people!"
"Seeking death! I'm your grandpa..." He spun dramatically, expecting the guards to sneer or challenge him.
Instead… they fell into step beside him, acting almost like a personal escort, shielding him from the crowd. They had to intervene—he looked every bit like someone important.
The guard leader bowed low and spoke with utmost respect: "Your excellence, may I know who you are and what brings you to Spirit City? I am at your service."
Tang Yin blinked.
His dramatic declaration… had been met not with fear or awe, but with polite service. He shook his head slowly, regretfully, thinking:
"It seems looking down on the protagonist only happens in third class Chinese novels."
Still, Tang Yin had no intention of making things difficult for Hu Leina. With a calm, almost regal air, he announced arrogantly:
"I am the boyfriend of your saintess. You may inform either the Pope or Hu Leina herself."
Silence—
"What… he's the boyfriend of Miss Hu Leina?!" one onlooker finally exclaimed.
Instantly, the news spread like wildfire.
Whispers became chatter, chatter became shouting, until the entire city thrummed with excitement: "Did you hear? Saintess Hu Leina has a boyfriend!"
The news didn't just travel—it struck.
Yan, one of the so-called Golden Generation, felt his blood boil. His goddess—the one who had ignored him for five long years—had a boyfriend, and he hadn't even known.
He had long since stopped chasing her.
After the Elite Young Soul Master Continental Tournament five years ago, one misfired move had nearly cost her life, and Bibi Dong had forbidden him from pursuing Hu Leina since.
But now… now the thought darkened his mind:
If he couldn't have her… then no one would.
He vowed to destroy anyone she loved.