Chapter 377: Nine Tang Sans

After experiencing three rounds of one replica and two rounds of three replicas, the Crystal Palace's test wasn't over yet. What did this mean?

Tang San was neither an idiot nor bad at math. This last test would be just one more round since only three steps remained, that much was clear. So, how many replicas would there be? The second round had three times the number of the first round. If the third round also had three times the number of the second round...

Tang San realized he was likely in trouble and couldn't help but think sarcastically,

I’m sure a whole lot of normal demons and nymphs can pass this test!

Facing three replicas, he could still seize every opportunity available, but how could he cope if the replicas became nine and all his bloodline abilities were copied?

Tang San felt helpless. No matter what he did, he would lose. Either he went through with it and was forced to reveal some real power in order to pass the test, or he gave up and lost the possible reward.

He was genuinely hesitant.

The Crystal Demon Emperor was the First Emperor—the head of the Ancestral Court— and the most powerful being among all demon and nymph races. It had existed for over two thousand years, and Tang San... was ultimately human. If he could pass all these trials, what would that mean? The Crystal Demon Emperor would undoubtedly see his true strength—the fact that he had more than two bloodlines, peak ninth-order spiritual power, and great potential for growth. Would it allow someone like Tang San to exist?

Tang San's impulse to challenge the last trial gradually subsided. He calmly dismissed the idea of continuing upward. There was no doubt in his mind as to whether he could defeat nine of himself, but the extent of what he would need to reveal in order to do so was unpredictable.

As his energy gradually recovered, Tang San stood up again, looking at the somewhat ethereal Crystal Palace not far ahead. Resolutely, he turned around, preparing to head down the mountain.

But at that moment, with a sudden buzz, a powerful suction force came from behind, halting his step downward. He was then pulled upward.

A crystal-clear light enveloped his entire body, rendering him immobile. It seemed as if all time and space around him had been locked in that instant.

The scanning sensation he had felt before reappeared.

I can't leave?

Tang San was shocked. He hadn't encountered such a situation in any of the other palaces!

Use divine consciousness to force his way out? That was impossible. Not only had he not yet recovered to the god level, but even if he had, unless he fully regained his strength, he wouldn't be a match for the Crystal Demon Emperor! The Demon Emperor was undoubtedly at the peak of the twelfth order, in other words a First Class God, far beyond what Tang San could contend with now. Besides, this was the Crystal Demon Emperor's domain.

This is coercion! Tang San's face was full of helplessness. It seemed this battle was unavoidable.

"Why do you not climb further?" a majestic voice echoed.

Its gender was indistinguishable, and it seemed to be coming from all directions simultaneously.

Tang San smiled bitterly. "I feel it's impossible, so I naturally choose to retreat."

"Impossible? You haven't even tried. How do you know it's impossible? Cowards can never become strong!" The voice became more intense and the pressure grew more oppressive, making Tang San feel like he couldn't breathe.

Tang San's mouth twitched slightly. Obviously, he couldn't say, "Because I'm human, and I'm afraid you'll kill me if I reveal too much."

Cowardice it was, then.

Yet the next moment, things took an unexpected turn.

The majestic voice said in a somewhat strange tone, "Well, you’re not wrong either. Knowing it's impossible and still trying is foolish. Furthermore, in this next trial, it's win or die once you enter. There's no second chance. This is the only way to gain the Crystal Palace's recognition."

Tang San's heart shook. "Then I can choose not to take the trial, right?"

"Too late. You have already entered this trial. Good luck." The majestic voice turned cold, with a hint of mockery, as if it was intent on making Tang San perish.

Tang San watched as the three steps shifted down under his legs, placing him at the very top of the Crystal Palace's stairs.

Buzz!

The surrounding scenery shifted, and the battlefield reappeared.

Tang San took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the surge of negative emotions that made him want to curse. He didn’t have time to spew profanity; at this moment, he had no other choice but to face the impending test. If this was a life-or-death trial, there could be no hesitation.

Just as he anticipated, as soon as he appeared on the battlefield, nine figures flowed out from beneath him, quickly spreading into the distance.

As expected... there really are nine of them.

While his mouth twitched, Tang San didn't pause. He had to seize this initial moment of time difference. Without hesitation, he shook his wrists and a heavy crossbow appeared in each hand. Yes, crossbows—an enhanced version of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.

The two Godly Zhuge Crossbows glowed brightly, igniting with platinum light as the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral infused into the amplification arrays and erupted!

These two Godly Zhuge Crossbows were custom-made by Tang San. Using them required more spiritual power and greater energy infusion. Each bolt was made of black gold, designed to pierce various defenses. Moreover, at this moment, he had also infused them with the immensely powerful Lion-Tiger Golden Astral, the ability of a first-tier bloodline!

The two Godly Zhuge Crossbows fired almost simultaneously, each launching eighty-one bolts glowing with platinum light. Strangely, the bolts made no sound as they shot toward the positions where the nine figures emerged.

At the same time, Tang San had already shot forward, rushing toward one side.

The Godly Zhuge Crossbows, with their immense power, enhanced by the Lion-Tiger Golden Astral and the black gold's armor-piercing capability, could not be completely blocked by physical defense, even if the target was from the Mammoth Demon clan.

However, these nine figures were vastly different from those before. Just as the bolts were about to strike them, they suddenly erupted with intense platinum light, with platinum flames rising from their bodies.

Tang San's expression changed drastically, because he recognized this phenomenon. These were signs of lifeforce ignition. The replicas were directly burning their own bloodlines to gain immense power instantly.

Isn't this cheating?

Not only were there nine of them, but they could also use this kind of ability!

The bolts of the Godly Zhuge Crossbows exploded in the face of the platinum flames, but the shards were still powerful. Though they couldn't deal fatal injuries to the replicas, they did force them to retreat. The flames of the replicas also exploded outward; though all of them were pierced by a number of bolts, none of the wounds were fatal.

At this moment, Tang San had already lunged at the leftmost replica. This was a life-and-death battle, and he couldn't take any chance. What if the opponent was deceiving him? Someone like the Crystal Demon Emperor couldn’t care less about his life or death, after all, and he was probably viewed as nothing more than a plaything.

No matter what, he couldn't afford to lose this battle.

The leftmost replica had taken fewer bolts from the Godly Zhuge Crossbows, but it had been pushed back. At that moment, Tang San reached it.

However, this replica clearly sensed the danger. Compared to the previous three replicas, its fighting spirit was significantly stronger. The burning Lion-Tiger Golden Astral around it suddenly exploded!