As the temporal stasis ended, everyone near Sea God Lake regained consciousness.
"What happened?" Xu Xiaoyan murmured in confusion, voicing the thoughts of all present.
Everyone's first reaction was bewilderment. From their perspective, Tang Wulin had undergone bizarre changes that caused the entire Sea God Lake to darken with ominous winds and oppressive energy. Yet now, the lake was calm and undisturbed, and Tang Wulin had vanished without a trace.
For those affected by the temporal stasis, this was incomprehensible. One moment, it had been an apocalyptic scene; the next, everything was peaceful and serene—an eerie transition.
Before they could even begin to process their confusion, the sudden appearance of a man shattered their thoughts entirely.
"Wretched beast, die now!"
A burly middle-aged man materialized in the sky above Sea God Island, his face twisted with fury. In the eyes of all present, he raised a massive Black Gold Hammer with both hands, his aura as overwhelming as a towering waterfall, and swung it directly toward the Golden Tree.
The onlookers tensed, a mix of shock and anger rising within them. They could all sense, to varying degrees, the man's formidable power and the terrifying force behind his hammer strike. If that blow landed on the Golden Tree, it would likely shatter it completely!
This man had come to destroy the Golden Tree!
The Elders of the Sea God Pavilion rushed out of the Tower Ship, but Yun Ming was faster. Like a white meteor, he flashed before the Golden Tree, his Sky Piercing Spear thrusting forward to meet the Black Gold Hammer, whose momentum rivaled that of a mountain.
"BOOM—"
A thunderous explosion reverberated throughout the Inner Academy. Students on Sea God Lake covered their ears, their faces contorted in pain. The sheer volume of the blast was enough to shake the minds of most present, a testament to the terrifying power behind the collision.
Jing Shaoyu's gaze remained fixed on the sky. He was surprised that Tang Hao would attack the Golden Tree directly—didn't he fear that destroying it might harm the Blue Silver Emperor, A Yin, in the process?
But recalling Tang Hao's past exploits, Jing Shaoyu understood. The man was undoubtedly consumed by rage, his rationality abandoned once again. He acted on impulse, never considering the consequences—a behavior entirely consistent with Tang Hao's nature.
Still, though Jing Shaoyu scorned Tang Hao's character, he didn't dare underestimate his current strength. After all, this was a being who had broken through to godhood. If he truly went berserk, could Yun Ming really stop him?
Preparing for the worst, Jing Shaoyu readied himself to activate the strand of God Power left to him by the God of Destruction. He hadn't expected to use it so soon.
"Get out of my way!" Tang Hao snarled impatiently, unleashing the oppressive aura of a god. In an instant, the air around Sea God Island grew thick and heavy, pressing down on everyone with immense force.
Yun Ming, who had barely managed to block Tang Hao's hammer strike, was sent flying backward. He crashed into the branches of the Golden Tree before finally stopping, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his lips. His expression was resigned, yet his eyes burned with intensity. "So this is the power of a god? Truly formidable."
"Ming!" Ya Li shouted towards Yun Ming, her face filled with worry and fear. Under Tang Hao's divine pressure, the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion could barely move, and even Ya Li, a Limit Douluo, was forced to move as slowly as a snail.
The Elders' gazes at Tang Hao were filled with shock, confusion, panic, and fear. They couldn't understand how a god had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, completely overturning their understanding of the world. Even Yun Ming, whom they regarded as comparable to the sages of old, had never achieved such a feat. How could this ordinary-looking, scruffy-bearded man possibly be one?
"Sir..." Yun Ming struggled under the immense pressure, trying to reason with Tang Hao.
But was Tang Hao someone who could be reasoned with? His face was full of impatience, giving Yun Ming no chance to speak. The Clear Sky Hammer swung once more, its dark light expanding until it transformed into a hundred-meter-long colossal hammer, smashing viciously toward Yun Ming—he intended to crush both Yun Ming and the Golden Tree in a single strike!
Seeing that Tang Hao refused to communicate, Yun Ming abandoned words as well. His muscles tensed, his Soul Power surged wildly, and his Sky Piercing Spear Martial Soul flickered with radiant light. Nine Soul Rings—four black, three red, and two golden-orange—burst forth with dazzling brilliance simultaneously. His aura skyrocketed, reaching the absolute peak of his power.
Facing an opponent of unprecedented strength, Yun Ming gave it his all, not daring to slacken in the slightest.
The Sky Piercing Spear and the Clear Sky Hammer collided once more, this time unleashing even more violent shockwaves and force. The Heaven and Earth Essence above Sea God Island was momentarily drained, and the powerful shockwaves struck nearby students, sending them tumbling into the lake.
"This won't do—we must evacuate the students immediately." The sight made Ya Li's heart clench. She spoke urgently, "Yue'er, take the others and protect the students. Sister Yue and I will find a way to support Ming."
"Yes!" Cai Yue'er responded immediately. Though reluctant, she understood that this level of battle was beyond her intervention. Evacuating the students was the priority now.
Seizing the brief moment when Yun Ming and Tang Hao clashed, reducing the divine pressure, Silver Moon Douluo Cai Yue'er, along with the Blazing Dragon Douluo, Crimson Dragon Douluo, and other Elders of the Sea God Pavilion, swiftly began evacuating the students. The Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event came to an abrupt halt.
The students were forcibly escorted off Sea God Island. Outer Academy students returned directly to the Outer Academy, while Inner Academy disciples, after retreating from Sea God Lake, summoned their Martial Souls, unwilling to leave any further. They all knew the academy was facing a grave crisis and refused to flee like cowards.
Seeing this, the Elders didn't force them to leave. They still held faith in Yun Ming—he had created too many miracles before. This time would be no different.
The outcome of the aerial clash was decided. This time, Yun Ming stood completely unmoved, his posture as straight as the Sky Piercing Spear in his hand. His eyes shone with calm brilliance, and his gaze toward Tang Hao grew even more indifferent, as if his opponent wasn't a god but merely an ordinary Limit Douluo.
Tang Hao was surprised. He hadn't expected Yun Ming, a mere Limit Douluo, to withstand two strikes from his hammer—and the second one so effortlessly. This was unacceptable. He was the master of the Douluo Dimension, a god! How could it take him three strikes to deal with a mere human? This was practically rubbing his face in the dirt!
It seems this time I'll need to focus on careful recovery, Tang Hao immediately identified the cause and sighed inwardly.
"You're not bad, able to withstand two strikes from me." Perhaps the first two hammer blows had dissipated some of his anger, as Tang Hao actually initiated conversation, adopting an imperious tone. "Considering your cultivation wasn't easy, I'll give you one last chance—step aside!"
"Sir..." Yun Ming, hearing Tang Hao speak, thought he was willing to communicate and immediately responded.
However, Tang Hao only wanted to speak himself, not listen to Yun Ming. He rudely interrupted, his furious roar echoing throughout the Inner Academy: "Enough nonsense! I am Poseidon's father! This demonic tree behind you dared to harm Poseidon's son—it must be possessed by evil spirits! Today, I shall eradicate this evil for Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy! Move aside now, or you too shall face death!"
Yun Ming's expression turned extremely grim. How could he possibly step aside? The Golden Tree was the final resting place of generations of Sea God Pavilion masters. If it were truly possessed by evil spirits, what would that make all those previous masters?
Moreover, the Golden Tree was the spiritual symbol of Shrek Academy. If it were destroyed by Tang Hao, how could Yun Ming ever face his teacher again, or the generations of masters and sages of Shrek Academy?
Thus, he raised his Sky Piercing Spear, pointing it directly at Tang Hao.
"Fine, fine, fine!" Tang Hao laughed in extreme anger at Yun Ming's choice. "I see Shrek Academy needs some serious reorganization—daring to defy the divine will of Poseidon!"
"Hmph! Impossible! Even if you are Poseidon's father," Yun Ming declared resolutely, having made his choice, "even if Poseidon himself descended and tried to lay hands on the Golden Tree, I would never allow it!"
As these words fell, Tang Hao's fury erupted, but what happened next completely surpassed his expectations.
"Hummm—"
The previously silent Golden Tree shook violently. Its crown, trunk, and roots erupted with intense, radiant golden light, illuminating the endless night sky above Sea God Island like a brilliant golden sun rising, forcing Inner Academy students witnessing this spectacle to instinctively close their eyes.
Such a phenomenon couldn't possibly go unnoticed by other factions in Shrek City. Powerful figures from various organizations appeared above their respective headquarters, gazing from afar at Shrek Academy with growing suspicion, yet none dared approach recklessly.
Standing before the Golden Tree, Yun Ming was bathed in the endless golden light radiating behind him, making him appear godlike. A platinum glow emerged from his chest, elevating his aura to a level even Ya Li and Long Yeyue couldn't comprehend.
While Ya Li felt excitement that somewhat dispelled her panic, Long Yeyue watched the glowing Golden Tree with complex emotions—her face showing reverence, hatred, affection, longing, and fear all intertwined, causing her own aura to fluctuate.
At the forefront of all Inner Academy students, Jing Shaoyu stared fixedly at Yun Ming and the Golden Tree's transformation. Within the golden radiance, he saw nearly a hundred figures flickering in and out of existence—some transforming into True Dragons, others into phoenixes, while still others wielded spears or swords. These figures grew clearer and closer, as if crossing the river of time from various eras.
Finally, all the figures converged into the image of a young man. He appeared handsome and refined, his temperament surprisingly similar to Yun Ming's, yet carrying more vicissitudes than Yun Ming. His eyes were bright, seemingly containing thunder and lightning within them. The corners of his lips curled into a smile, exuding confidence and an overwhelming aura.
"Bei Lao!"
Cai Yue'er, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, and the other Elders of the Sea God Pavilion shouted in unison, their voices filled with excitement, surprise, exhilaration, and nostalgia.
Only then did Jing Shaoyu and the Inner Academy disciples present realize the identity of the youthful phantom that had emerged from the Golden Tree.
Heaven's Chosen Douluo!
"Hahaha, Yun Ming, you truly haven't disappointed me!" Heaven's Chosen Douluo laughed heartily. "Come, let these lofty gods witness the fruits of our master-disciple labor!"
Yun Ming didn't speak. He merely gripped his Sky Piercing Spear with both hands, pointing its tip skyward as he held it before his chest.
"Hmph!" Tang Hao snorted disdainfully upon hearing Heaven's Chosen Douluo's words. To think mere mortals could defeat gods—what wishful thinking!
Under everyone's gaze, the phantom of Heaven's Chosen Douluo transformed within the golden light into a hundred-meter-long purple dragon with four wings and a pair of blade-like horns atop its head. Lightning coiled around its claws, and thunderbolts spiraled along its tail. This was Heaven's Chosen Douluo's Martial Soul—the Heaven Tribulation Sacred Dragon!
The Heaven Tribulation Sacred Dragon appeared, carrying the legacy of Bei Lao and the successive Pavilion Masters within the Golden Tree, and surged into Yun Ming's body.
In that instant, the heavens and earth changed colors. Yun Ming's aura began to skyrocket, the energy within him climbing at a terrifying rate. Golden patterns emerged on the Sky Piercing Spear, and the white-gold light before Yun Ming's chest revealed its true form—half of a divine rune.
This half-rune exuded an otherworldly sensation. As the terrifying energy poured in, it first dissolved, then reconstructed itself, visibly forming its other half at a rapid pace, striving to complete itself.
When the full rune finally took shape and returned to Yun Ming's chest, everything fell into an eerie silence. Heaven and earth seemed to vanish, leaving only Yun Ming standing at the center of this space like the axis of the world.
An unprecedented, terrifying aura erupted from Yun Ming's body. A golden ring of light materialized behind his head, and his body became clad in white-gold armor—his Four-Word Battle Armor, now radiating an indescribable majesty and solemnity that forbade any thought of disrespect or irreverence.
At first, Tang Hao had watched with mild interest, utterly unconcerned, dismissing the changes in Yun Ming and the Golden Tree as mere death throes. But when the divine ring appeared behind Yun Ming's head, he realized things had spiraled beyond his control. By the time he tried to intervene, it was already too late.
Yun Ming had ascended to godhood!
Witnessing this unbelievable scene, Jing Shaoyu was overwhelmed with awe. Yun Ming's half-formed Divine Throne, combined with the souls of previous Pavilion Masters, had actually allowed him to forge a complete Divine Throne—even if only temporarily, it was more than enough!
Yun Ming and Heaven's Chosen Douluo were truly geniuses!
Jing Shaoyu's gaze instinctively fell upon the Golden Tree behind Yun Ming. At this moment, the Golden Tree had completely lost its radiance, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary old tree. Yet he knew this was merely superficial—the Golden Tree still contained within it an immense energy no weaker than what it had just released. That was its true essence.
Two millennia of accumulation by Shrek Academy, the souls and energy of nearly a hundred Limit Douluo, all exchanged for that brief moment of brilliance—was it worth it?
Yes, absolutely worth it. After that fleeting radiance, Yun Ming would soon turn the temporary into the permanent. This was beyond doubt.
In the original timeline, this energy, along with the Golden Tree's own power, would become nourishment for the Blue Silver Emperor A Yin. Indirectly, this led to Yun Ming's inability to borrow this energy when facing the God-Slaying Soul Guidance missile later, ultimately resulting in his tragic demise.
Jing Shaoyu had reason to suspect this was A Yin's deliberate doing. Even the Holy Spirit Church's Grand Elder knew to borrow this energy and transform into a gluttonous fiend. If this energy had still been present, there was no reason Yun Ming wouldn't have used it.
"Now, leave Shrek Academy! Shrek Academy does not welcome guests like you." Yun Ming raised the Sky-Piercing Divine Spear, pointing it straight at Tang Hao as his cold voice reverberated with God Power.
The fluctuations of God Power were highly sensitive on the Douluo Continent, especially for Limit Douluo.
The moment Yun Ming ascended to godhood, every Limit Douluo-level powerhouse on Douluo Star was alerted. The first to react were naturally the two major factions closest to Shrek Academy.
At the Spirit Transfer Pagoda headquarters, Leng Yaozhu stared in the direction of Shrek Academy, her face filled with shock and awe as she murmured, "Is it him?!"
At the Tang Sect headquarters, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin looked toward Shrek Academy with astonishment and excitement. "Is this real?"
In Mingdu, Hanhai Douluo Chen Xinjie and Yuetian Douluo Guan Yue immediately turned their attention toward Shrek Academy, their reactions differing. Chen Xinjie remained silent, while Guan Yue smiled bitterly. "Senior Brother, you've once again surpassed me."
In the Blood God Mountain Range, Ruthless Douluo Cao Dezhi gazed excitedly toward Shrek Academy, exclaiming, "Yun Ming!"
Deep within the boundless ocean, a colossal creature opened its eyes, revealing hatred as it roared, "Humans! Why?!"
In the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, Di Tian stared blankly toward Shrek Academy, muttering in disbelief, "How is this possible? My Sovereign..."
At an unknown location, a Limit Douluo howled in furious denial, "Impossible! This can't be real!"