His gaze swept over the avalanche and over the entire court of civil and military officials.
"I, Ning Lin, have shed blood for the Heavenly Battle. I am loyal to the empire in my heart, not to your Tang Sect, the Sea God Tang San!"
"Today, I still want to say it."
"The Tang Clan must leave Heaven Dou City!"
"You...!" Tang San was furious.
Ning Lin's words directly escalated the conflict between the two from a personal grudge to a political conflict between the sect and the empire.
Everything he said made perfect sense.
Even Xue Beng, upon hearing these words, looked at Tang San with a hint of fear and distance.
Yes, Tang San is terrifying today.
He was like a sword hanging over imperial power, ready to fall at any moment.
"Well said!"
Qian Renxue praised, then stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Ning Lin.
Six wings of light unfolded, their sacred aura intertwining with Ning Lin's proud, scholarly spirit.
"Tang San, did you hear that?"
"The Heaven Dou Empire does not welcome you, nor does it welcome your Tang Sect."
"With me here today, you won't be able to touch a hair on his head!"
The atmosphere in the main hall became tense once again.
Tang San, holding a trident, faced off against Qian Renxue, who held a holy sword.
The clash of the two demigods' auras caused the entire space to begin to distort.
At the heart of the storm, Ning Lin slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the familiar yet unfamiliar, stunningly beautiful face beside him.
He saw the resolve in her eyes, and beneath that resolve lay a deep-seated unease and remorse.
She was still blaming herself for deceiving him.
The clamor in the main hall, the discussions of the officials, and Tang San's murderous intent all seemed to fade away at this moment.
In Ning Lin's world, only she remained.
He suddenly smiled.
It wasn't mockery, nor bitterness, but a heartfelt, relieved laugh.
"Xue'er".
He called softly.
Qian Renxue trembled and looked at him nervously, like a prisoner awaiting trial.
"Ning Lin...I...I'm sorry."
She finally uttered those three words.
The voice was filled with a humble plea.
Why should I say sorry?
Ning Lin shook his head, reached out, and gently stroked her cheek, which was covered by golden armor.
His movements were natural, just like when he wiped away her tears in the garden when they were children.
"I used to feel very unfortunate because I waited for you for more than ten years."
"Later, I felt very lucky because I met a confidante like Xue Qinghe."
His fingertips felt the cool metallic texture, but his eyes were warm enough to melt anything.
"I only know now."
"The person I've been waiting for, and the person I've met, has always been the same."
"I have never lost anything, nor have I ever been let down."
"So, why say sorry?"
"You are still you, the Xue'er who would share pastries with me in the garden."
"That's enough."
Ning Lin's words were plain, yet they possessed the most powerful force in the world.
It easily shattered all of Qian Renxue's unease, fear, and self-reproach.
She expected to be met with his questioning, his anger, and even his hatred.
She had everything prepared.
But what I wasn't prepared for was his nonchalant and complete understanding and acceptance.
He didn't blame her.
He didn't blame her at all.
This gentleness was more effective at crippling her than the sharpest blade.
Qian Renxue's eyes instantly reddened.
Crystalline tears rolled uncontrollably from those beautiful golden eyes, tracing down her cheeks and dripping onto her magnificent divine armor.
The divine light emanating from her dimmed slightly at that moment.
The majesty of the demigod's body has vanished.
She was just a girl who had made a mistake and was forgiven by the one she loved.
"Ning Lin…"
She choked up, unable to utter another complete sentence.
His forgiveness did not bring her relief; instead, it caused her guilt and deep love to ferment and swell in her heart, almost bursting her chest.
She owes him.
We owe so much.
I'm afraid I'll never be able to repay this debt in my lifetime.
Meanwhile, Tang San, watching this scene of two people pouring out their hearts to each other as if no one else was around, had a face so dark it could drip water.
He felt like a clown.
His meticulously planned assassination plot and his proud divine power became laughable background elements in the face of this sudden family reunion drama.
To kill or not to kill?
The reason is no longer important.
The important thing is that Qian Renxue is here. If he were to take forceful action, it would inevitably trigger a god-level war.
He wasn't certain of victory in the Heavenly Battle Palace.
Tang San's eyes became incredibly deep.
He knew that he couldn't kill Ning Lin today.
However, he remembered this debt.
Tang San's face swelled up to a deep purplish-red.
He felt like a clown, shouting and performing on stage, thinking he was the master of the entire performance.
But the main character in the audience didn't even bother to give him a glance, engrossed in his own drama of a long-awaited reunion and tender feelings between lovers.
This disregard is more humiliating than any malicious words.
He is none other than Tang San, the God of the Sea!
He is destined by Heaven, the future God-King!
When has he ever been treated with such contempt?
The murderous intent was no longer concealed.
The power of the sea god, which had been restrained, erupted like a volcano that had been hit by a boulder!
Do you all think I don't exist?
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a ruthless intent to devour people alive.
Before the words were even finished, the person had already moved.
Tang San's figure transformed into a streak of azure light, the Sea God Trident in his hand slicing through the sky with a sharp whistling sound.
Blue light pulsed across the golden halberd blade, as if it contained the weight of the entire ocean.
He showed no mercy in this attack.
The target is Ninglin!
He wanted to completely eliminate the man who had made him lose face in front of Qian Renxue!
"You dare!"
A golden light flashed in Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes, and the tenderness and tears that had just welled up were instantly replaced by divine majesty.
She didn't even turn around.
With a backhand flick, the Angelic Holy Sword flew from his hand, transforming into a golden rainbow that stretched across the heavens and earth, precisely meeting the deadly blue figure.
Clang—!
A deafening clang of metal resounded throughout the entire council hall.
Blue and gold, two completely different sacred auras, collided violently.
A visible ripple of energy spread wildly outwards from the point of impact.
The floor tiles of the main hall were instantly lifted up and turned into dust.
The sturdy beams groaned under the weight, cracking open with jagged fissures.
The entire court of civil and military officials, like fallen leaves in a storm, were tossed about by this shockwave. Those with weaker cultivation even coughed up blood and fainted on the spot.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
Prince Snowstar cried out in alarm, using his obese body to desperately protect the avalanche, which had already collapsed like mud.
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(End of chapter)