"Ancient Emperor's Cave House?"
"Another Dou Di?"
Zi Yan looked at the four large characters before her with shock, the ancient desolation surrounding her causing goosebumps to rise all over her body. A person had clearly left this world, yet the things he left behind still made one feel an incomparable sense of dread and reverence. In the whole world, probably only a transcendent being like a Dou Di could achieve this. Although the person had departed, their residual power still pressed down on everyone, preventing them from lifting their heads.
"However, this Dou Di, Xu Ran, I don't feel quite as much oppressive force from him," Zi Yan thought to herself, somewhat chaotically. But that was only regarding them; in the hearts of those who had offended Xu Ran, he undoubtedly existed like a demon.
"Xu Ran, just how many Dou Di are there on the Continent?"
Zi Yan looked at Xu Ran with curiosity.
"Since Dou Di are not merely legends, are there many hidden Dou Di on the Continent now? Also, aren't Dou Di supposed to be powerful beings like gods? Can Dou Di also die?"
"Currently, I am the only Dou Di on the Continent. Although this place is called the graveyard of the gods, the ancient emperors have not died, but have gone to other places. The other Dou Di on the Continent have done the same, moving on to other worlds," Xu Ran explained.
"Gone to other worlds? Are there other worlds besides our own?" Zi Yan suddenly felt very small. Before she had met Xu Ran, she was the top of the Inner Court's mighty ranking, incredibly proud, and believed she knew a lot. But after meeting Xu Ran, even though her strength had greatly improved, evolving from Dou Wang to Dou Huang, she increasingly realized how minuscule she was, how superficial her understanding was.
She knew nothing about this world, and other worlds were something she had never even considered.
"The universe is boundless, like beyond Black Corner Region lies Zhongzhou, and what lies beyond Zhongzhou?"
"Hehe, you talk as if you've been to other worlds. Hmph. Anyway, even if you want to go to other worlds, you can't leave right now. I-I-I... Let's leave together after I also make my breakthrough to Dou Di," Zi Yan said, her face turning red as she lowered her head.
If the other Dou Di had gone to other worlds, would Xu Ran also leave soon?
Thinking of this, her heart tightened, and she became somewhat flustered.
But she did not dare to ask Xu Ran. She feared he would give her an answer she didn't want to hear.
"That makes sense. Our Zi Yan is so formidable, and with me personally assisting you, a realm that ordinary people can't reach in their lifetime is still easily achievable,"
"Who is yours?" Zi Yan's face grew redder, and she glared at Xu Ran fiercely, bearing her teeth.
"But I will definitely be able to break through to Dou Di. I'm so clever!" Zi Yan said very seriously. Since Xu Ran was a Dou Di, she had to become one as well.
Otherwise, what would she do if Xu Ran ran off?
"Yes, yes, yes. Let's go inside and take a look. Your father should be in there," Xu Ran said.
"Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Emperor, Zhukun. I am really looking forward to it."
A smile curled up at the corner of Xu Ran's mouth.
This entity's power was not weak, to say nothing of his talent.
On this continent, aside from the Son of Destiny Xiao Yan and Hun Tiandi, the strength of folks like Zhukun and Gu Yuan were quite similar, all at the Nine-Star Dou Sheng Pinnacle.
In fact, without the Dou Di Yuan Qi, the power of Hun Tiandi, Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Emperor, and Gu Clan's Gu Yuan was essentially the same.
They had all reached the end of this world's path, lacking only that final step.
Only by breaking through that one step could one transform, from a Dou Sheng into a Dou Di, shedding mortality to become divine!
However, that step could not be crossed by mere cultivation alone. Because the breakthrough to Dou Di was not just about the accumulation of Dou Qi in the body. No matter how much one cultivated their Dou Qi, it would be of no use.
The realm between Dou Di and Dou Sheng was different from all previous ones—it required Yuan Qi!
On this continent, the Yuan Qi had already been depleted a thousand years ago, so for Zhukun and the others, breaking through to Dou Di was exceedingly difficult.
As long as there was Yuan Qi, it could be said that these individuals could break through to Dou Di.
The Ancient Emperor's Cave House of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor, as the once residence of a Dou Di, was the last place that possessed Yuan Qi.
To open the Ancient Emperor's Cave House of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor, one would need the Tuoshe Ancient Jade. This was the key to the Ancient Emperor's Cave House. Due to the conflict over the Tuoshe Ancient Jade among the Eight Ancient Clans, the jade was shattered into eight pieces, each held by one of the clans.
Only by collecting all the pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Jade to open the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Cave House, could those at the Nine-star Dou Sheng Peak advance to Dou Di.
This was the reason why Hun Tiandi bloodbathed those ancient races—for the jade, to open the Ancient Emperor's Cave House, for the Dou Di Yuan Qi, to become a Dou Di.
"Father? It seems I have already begun to sense him."
Zi Yan had felt a kindred sensation ever since she arrived at this place. It could only have come from her closest kin.
Zi Yan's heart was both excited and somewhat hesitant.
"Is that…"
In the darkness of the void, there lay a massive creature beyond description, curled up in the dark expanse, motionless. Xu Ran's gaze followed its body, and there it was—a giant dragon whose massive body spanned tens of thousands of meters.
Its body was a purplish-gold color, with ice-cold scales covering its form, exuding a tenacity akin to steel. Even Xu Ran felt a moment of surprise upon witnessing the formidable presence of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Emperor. Indeed… none of these beings were ordinary. This was one that could break through with just a bit of Yuan Qi.
This was the most powerful creature Xu Ran had encountered since arriving on this continent. It was far more terrifying than the Golden-eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian. The Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Emperor, though only at the Dou Sheng Pinnacle, would be at least of the First-Level God caliber in the Douluo Universe.
Zi Yan also saw the dragon-shaped creature shrouded in the darkness below.
"Father?"
Zi Yan felt her bloodline surge, the kindred feeling growing even more intense. She could confirm that the presence below was her close kin, her father.
"Child?"
"My child?"
"Is this the breath of my child?"
In the dark void, a pair of giant eyes that had been closed for a long time suddenly opened!
These eyes were a faint red and layered with overlapping pupils. Just the size of these eyes was dozens of times larger than that of an adult human.
All of a sudden, within the silent space, an earth-shattering roar echoed, and the colossal body that seemed to have lain dormant for millennia suddenly burst into movement, rushing up with ferocity.