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Gazing at the sudden crimson glow appearing on Xiao Wu, Tang Hao's eyes flashed with a sharp glint, and his face showed an uncontrollable surge of wild joy. He watched the light wrap around her body, and he could hardly believe his luck.
Is she preparing to sacrifice? He thought to himself while his heart hammered against his ribs. This is excellent! This is the day I have been waiting for!
He knew deeply what the sacrifice of a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast meant for a Spirit Master. It was not just a simple death; it was an act of total devotion that would give birth to a perfect Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring and a matching Spirit Bone.
Most importantly, the sacrifice process was almost impossible to interrupt once it started. He looked at the scene and thought about how much of an immense opportunity this would be for his son, Tang San.
In his mind, this was completely enough to make up for all the previous losses they had suffered. It would even allow the strength of Tang San to undergo a qualitative leap that would put him far above his peers.
However, Tang Hao was somewhat overwhelmed by this sudden surprise. He was so happy that he had not yet noticed a crucial detail about the scene unfolding before him. At the center of that bright crimson light, Xiao Wu had an affectionate, resolute, and all-or-nothing gaze. She was ready to give up everything for the person she loved.
But her eyes were firmly fixed not on Tang San, who lay injured on the ground nearby. Instead, her eyes were locked onto the blood-soaked, dying Tang San who was actually transformed from Tang Chen.
The next second, the Soul bridge began to form. It was connected by the crimson light of the sacrifice, and it was steadily and slowly constructing itself. It extended through the air towards the location of Tang Chen. It seemed that the target of Xiao Wu for her sacrifice was not Tang San from the very beginning.
This fatal misjudgment stemmed from the exquisitely brilliant and disruptive Simulation Spirit Ability used by Tang Chen. The ability had successfully deceived the eyes of almost everyone present in the canyon. This included Tang Hao, whose perception was clouded by concern and the immense surprise of the moment.
While Tang Hao was still overjoyed that his younger son was about to receive a heaven-sent opportunity, he didn't know the truth. He had no idea that the ultimate beneficiary of that sacrifice would be his elder son, whom he hated to the bone. The next second, an incredibly dazzling crimson light burst forth from the glabella of Xiao Wu.
It looked as if it were condensed from the purest life and Soul energy in the world. This crimson light was not scorching hot to the touch. Yet, it carried a majestic energy that could move heaven and earth and even alter the Laws of the world.
The crimson light was like ink dripping into clear water, or like the rising sun instantly dispelling the darkness of the night. Then, at a speed that was imperceptible to the naked eye, it frantically swept and spread in all directions. Wherever the crimson light passed, everything around was dyed with a layer of tragic and beautiful crimson.
The sky, the earth, the rocks, the corpses, and even the dust floating in the air turned red. Even more bizarrely, everything enveloped by this crimson light became still. Whether it was people, Spirit Beasts, or even splashing gravel, everything stopped. The Spirit Ability energy that was dissipating in the air also froze at this moment. The once noisy, chaotic, and murderous canyon fell into a deathly silence.
The body of Xiao Wu, within that crimson light, completely transformed into a translucent dark red color. She looked as if she were carved from the purest ruby, emitting a tragic yet sacred glow.
Looking up, in the Void Realm between her and Tang Chen, a bridge appeared. It was entirely constructed of crimson energy and appeared out of thin air to connect the two of them.
Immediately after, Xiao Wu entered the state of sacrifice. Her consciousness and Soul were burning away to provide power for the ritual. Relying on her last instincts and that unforgettable love, she ran towards the location of Tang Chen. She reached out and tightly embraced him with all her strength.
In an instant, the crimson light completely enveloped the pair as they embraced. The energy of the sacrifice began to surge like a torrent. It started to flow madly into the body of Tang Chen. Gazing at this scene before them, Tang San and Tang Hao were completely dumbfounded.
Their minds felt as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer. They were instantly blank and completely unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before their eyes. They both had the same confusing thoughts running through their heads. Who is she embracing? And to whom is she sacrificing herself?
After a brief daze, Tang San and Tang Hao subconsciously exchanged glances with each other. At this sight, both of them were even more thunderstruck than before. Only now did they realize that the person they saw in each other's eyes was not who they expected. Tang Hao saw the face of Ghost Leopard Douluo, and Tang San saw the face of Devil Bear Douluo.
What is going on here? Tang Hao thought in a panic. Why do I see these faces? Why is my face different? A ludicrous and terrifying thought simultaneously arose in both of their hearts. Immediately, they fiercely cast their gaze back to the location of Xiao Wu.
They focused their eyes on the Tang San who was being tightly embraced by her. Only at this moment did Tang Hao and Tang San realize that there was another Tang San present in the area. Then, they recalled their own appearance in each other's eyes and the displaced figures of the people around them.
A terrifying truth, like a sudden bolt of lightning, struck their minds. They finally understood what was happening. No, it is an illusion! Tang Hao realized with a shock. It is the doing of that damned Tang Chen! He used his Spirit Ability to distort the space around us. He deceived the perception and vision of everyone here!
Damn it! Tang Hao screamed in his mind. He is a bastard! He is a beast! Thinking of this, the eyes of Tang Hao instantly became bloodshot. All the wild joy on his face from moments ago turned into a towering rage and extreme humiliation.
He felt like a monkey being played with by a child. His long-awaited Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast sacrifice was being stolen. The heaven-sent opportunity for his younger son was actually being intercepted by Tang Chen. It was happening with such despicable means right under his nose.
Rebellious son! Oh, you rebellious son! Tang Hao roared with a fury that he could not control. I am going to kill you for this! With a furious roar of impotence, Tang Hao began to pant like an ox. He wished he could rush up right now and tear Tang Chen into ten thousand pieces.
Tang San stood somewhat bewildered in his place. He was staring blankly at the figure enveloped in the crimson light. He especially looked at the unusual state of Xiao Wu. At this moment, he still didn't know that Xiao Wu was a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast.
He could only sense a vast and sorrowful energy constantly surging within her body. He turned to his father with a lost expression. Father, what is happening to Xiao Wu? What exactly is happening to her? He asked with a trembling voice.
The next second, an incredibly sharp and agonizing cry filled the air. It was a sound filled with extreme pain, reluctance, and love. It suddenly erupted from the mouth of Xiao Wu, which had already turned a crystalline crimson color. The sound was so loud and piercing that it seemed to pierce the Soul of everyone listening. It made the entire static crimson canyon tremble violently.
Bathed in the crimson flames that rose from Xiao Wu, her life and Soul continued to burn. Tang Chen only felt a tingling sensation throughout his whole body. It felt as if countless tiny life energies were drilling into his limbs and flushing through his Meridians. His consciousness seemed to detach from his physical body. He felt as if he were floating in a profound and mysterious state of being.
The spirit power of Tang Chen had been somewhat sluggish due to his severe injuries. However, it now began to surge and gush like a bursting dam. The infusion of this vast energy was more than his body had ever felt.
His spirit power rank began to soar at an unprecedented speed. It jumped from Rank 53 to Rank 54, and then quickly to Rank 56. The numbers kept climbing higher and higher. It reached Rank 58, then Rank 59, and finally Rank 60!
Almost within a few breaths, his spirit power forcefully broke through the Rank 60 bottleneck. And just as the spirit power rank of Tang Chen reached Rank 60, something amazing happened.
A dazzling and terrifyingly powerful crimson spirit ring began to form. It appeared naturally with the acknowledgment of the Laws of heaven and earth. It slowly coiled around his body, glowing with a deep red light. It was indeed a crimson Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring.
Xiao Wu was speechless at this point. All of her life force and her Soul had transformed into fuel. They were the wood for the burning sacrificial crimson flame. But her beautiful eyes, which were now completely crimson, still gazed at the person she believed to be Tang San. She looked at him with deep affection.
Her eyes looked as if she were weeping. She was silently conveying her love that transcended life and death. It was a love that was both fervent and despairing. She gave him her very last gaze.
Even to her death, she didn't know the truth. She did not know that the object of her complete devotion was not the man she loved. She offered her Soul to Tang Chen, a person she had almost never paid attention to, instead of the Tang San she constantly thought of.