Sun Moon Empire – Mingde Hall
This was the Sun Moon Empire's most authoritative institute for soul tool research, ranked alongside Shrek Academy and the Body Sect as one of the three great first-class powers on the continent, replacing the "Upper Three Sects" from ten thousand years ago.
At this moment, in a secret chamber, an orange-haired young woman, Juzi, pushed a wheelchair inside.
Seated in the wheelchair was a dignified young man—the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tiannan.
Several people were already waiting inside. Sitting at the head was an elderly man with white hair and beard, yet still vigorous in spirit. When Xu Tiannan entered, everyone's eyes turned toward him.
"Elder Kong…" Xu Tiannan greeted the old man.
This man was named Kong Deming, head of the Sun Moon Empire's Offering Hall. He carried a quarter of royal blood in his veins and was loyal only to the imperial family. Among the Empire's many Rank Nine soul engineers, he was the foremost.
He was also known as the number one soul engineer in the Sun Moon Empire—the one most likely to reach Rank Ten.
Within the Empire, Kong Deming had always been at odds with the Holy Spirit Cult.
Kong Deming chuckled warmly. "Your Highness, there's no need for formality. We've gathered here because our hearts align. The road ahead is uncertain—let us not dwell on empty courtesies."
Xu Tiannan nodded and had Juzi stop his wheelchair beside Kong Deming.
All the other elders present were also royal offerings of the Sun Moon Empire. They had assembled at the Mingde Hall headquarters for one purpose alone.
The current head of Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen, gave a cold snort. "We've confirmed that over the past decade, nearly all of the inexplicable deaths of a million people were the work of the Holy Spirit Cult!"
"They slaughter the living for the sake of their own cultivation—despicable beyond words!"
"If this were to be exposed, the Empire itself might collapse!"
Jing Hongchen's face was filled with hatred as he presented a stack of evidence.
Everyone else's faces hardened with righteous fury.
They took the documents, examined them, and their anger deepened.
"That rabble from the Douluo Continent—they're parasites! Poisonous vermin! If they remain in the Sun Moon Empire, what will become of us? They must be eradicated!"
"A million lives! All for their cultivation—utterly heartless!"
"With this evidence, tomorrow we can jointly petition His Majesty to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult, to have that national preceptor executed by a thousand cuts!"
"…"
Their voices rose in indignation.
But Xu Tiannan shook his head and sighed. "Honored elders, if this were in the past, my father would indeed have had the resolve. But now, the Empress Dowager has bewitched him—his mind is no longer clear…"
"Even if we brought him to see these crimes with his own eyes, nothing would change."
"The power and temptation of the Holy Spirit Cult are too great—he won't abandon them easily."
Xu Tiannan gave a bitter smile, dashing their immediate hopes.
Some of them weren't fully convinced and turned to look at Kong Deming.
Kong Deming, the Sun Moon Empire's foremost strength, on par with a Rank Ninety-Nine Title Douluo, had a grim expression. After a moment's silence, he nodded. "His Highness speaks truth. I too have noticed that His Majesty's recent changes are far too strange—he is no longer the wise and diligent ruler he once was…"
"…"
The chamber fell silent.
This subject could only lead to one thing—
A struggle for the throne.
Jing Hongchen broke the silence, looking at Xu Tiannan. "As things stand, there is only one path—to cleanse the Emperor's side. Please, Your Highness, allow us to act!"
"How… how could we possibly…" Xu Tiannan feigned alarm, waving his hands repeatedly.
"Are we to stand by and watch the Holy Spirit Cult corrupt the Sun Moon Empire? What are we waiting for?!" Jing Hongchen growled, eyes sweeping the others.
"!!"
They all understood. Even knowing Jing Hongchen must already have dealings with Xu Tiannan, they had no better choice.
Star Luo Empire – Star Luo City
High above the city, several powerful auras streaked across the sky—Di Tian and other ferocious beasts, all in their true forms. Massive figures passed overhead, exerting a crushing pressure on those below.
Crowds fled in panic into their homes. In moments, the streets were empty.
Di Tian and the others landed on a plaza within Shrek Academy, shifting into human form.
The Dan Heng family was already waiting for them.
As the glowing halos around them faded, several towering men were revealed.
"Greetings, Lord! Greetings… Master!"
Di Tian led the other beasts in saluting Gu Yue Na and Dan Heng.
Now, there was no need to pretend any longer.
Dan Heng gave a slight nod, not bothering to have them keep calling him "brother-in-law."
Gu Yue Na, holding Dan Heng's arm, openly showed her affection. She asked, "How goes your cultivation?"
"We're but one step away from godhood…" Di Tian replied.
Gu Yue Na glanced at them and had Bi Ji and Zi Ji step closer, speaking about the Dragon God's curse.
Reaching godhood carried a major risk, the cause still unknown.
But if the Dragon God himself had been driven to curse them, it was no small matter.
The beasts were shocked and sullen—not afraid of death, but bewildered by the Dragon God's actions.
If they could never become gods, they would not go mad… but the path to godhood for soul beasts would be severed forever. Since then, beast gods had almost vanished.
Now, they even felt anger toward the Dragon God.
"But," Gu Yue Na smiled, "your brother-in-law has a way for you to become gods without danger."
"!!"
They turned eager eyes to Dan Heng.
Dan Heng shook his head. "Not me—it."
He pointed to the sky, his gaze deep.
Rumble!
The heavens roared with wind and thunder, though no dark clouds gathered.
An oppressive sensation settled over them.
"Feels like something's watching me! So irritating!" Zi Ji snorted.
Bi Ji grasped her hand, signaling her to be quiet.
They all looked up, sensing a presence—but one beyond their understanding, impossible to perceive clearly.
Dan Heng spoke: "Seal off the Douluo plane. Cut all ties with the outside world."
"…"
The curse couldn't have come directly from their bloodline—it must be from the world itself.
By making the Douluo plane a self-contained realm, outside influence could be cut off.
The plane's will was silent for a moment before replying:
"With my strength, it is impossible."
Dan Heng raised one hand to the sky, unleashing a torrent of green energy—the most primordial essence—into the heavens, like an immense energy reservoir to sustain the plane's will.
"As you wish," came the will's emotionless reply.
The green energy dispersed into countless starlights, racing outward in all directions.
The plane's will was building a barrier to seal itself completely.
Thus, the Dragon God's curse could no longer take effect.
No longer would they need to fear soul beasts going mad after reaching godhood.
Only those near god level could faintly sense the change—like losing some elusive inspiration.
From now on, anyone wishing to leave the Douluo plane would have to break through Dan Heng's energy.
"Now, you may become gods," Dan Heng told them.
"Thank you, Master!"
Di Tian and the others were overjoyed—they could feel the bottleneck immediately.
Before this, they might have had to wait until the million-year mark to even have a chance.
Now, even beasts with three to four hundred thousand years of cultivation had the potential.
Roar!
Di Tian became a black streak shooting into the sky.
The others reverted to their true forms and flew to different places to undergo their tribulations.
Thunderclouds massed overhead, their godhood tribulations merging into one, covering a thousand miles and plunging the world into darkness.
"Heh! I can become a god too! Bi Ji, you idiot, why aren't you moving yet?" Zi Ji mocked, hovering in her dragon form.
Bi Ji blushed. "Zi Ji, you go on ahead… don't wait for me."
"You're that weak? Even with brother-in-law's help you still can't transcend? Forget it—I won't become a god either. I'll keep you company, so you won't be embarrassed alone…"
Zi Ji spoke proudly.
Bi Ji looked up at Zi Ji in surprise—she hadn't expected this annoying woman to actually be thinking about her at a time like this.
Bi Ji was deeply moved, and finally spoke the truth.
"Zi Ji, you don't have to worry about me. From my brother-in-law here, I've received the Life God Seat—I can directly become a god without undergoing any tribulation…"
As she spoke, Bi Ji's body emitted a faint green light, brimming with the aura of life.
Almost instantly, she transformed from a soul beast into a god.
A seamless transition—becoming a god on the spot.
Everyone else couldn't help but look over; Bi Ji really had it good!
"???"
Zi Ji was dumbfounded. She lowered her big head, staring at Bi Ji in disbelief, and said:"You've already become a god? And not just any god—you're the Life Goddess, a god-king? You… you… how is that even possible?"
Bi Ji nodded with a smile. "Yes, Zi Ji. I was going to wait until you became a god before telling you, because I thought you'd be unhappy. I didn't expect you to treat me so well…"
"Ahhhh…!!!"
Zi Ji suddenly dropped from the sky, smashing through many of Shrek Academy's buildings as clouds of dust billowed up.
She rolled around on the ground, toppling building after building beneath her massive body.
"I'm so mad! I'm so mad! Favoritism, favoritism, favoritism!"
"I want a god seat too! I don't want to go through a tribulation! Why does Bi Ji get a god seat? What right does she have? How is she better than me?"
"I don't want to become a god anymore, wuuuu…"
The Hell Demon Dragon King, tens of meters long, was throwing a tantrum on the ground.
Everyone watching was speechless.
Why was she acting like a child?
Bi Ji also felt awkward—she had thought Zi Ji would be genuinely happy for her.
She hadn't expected this reaction at all…
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated. "Why don't I give her the Speed God Seat?"
Before Dan Heng could respond, Zi Ji overheard and shouted,"I don't want it! Bi Ji has a god-king's god seat, so I want a god-king's god seat too! I won't accept anything less than Bi Ji!"
"…" Dan Heng was helpless.
This little female dragon was really asking for a beating.
Bi Ji had been chosen by the Life Goddess, not because she got personal guidance from him.
What was Zi Ji even complaining about?
And now, acting like this, she was making Bi Ji sweat bullets—probably regretting becoming a god already.
"Zi Ji! If you dare keep making a scene, I'll hang you from the spire!"
Gu Yuena gave a cold snort. "And don't tell me you're eyeing the Destruction God Seat? That's reserved for Longlong!"
"!!!"
Zi Ji instantly flapped her wings and flew back up.
"No, no! I'll go become a god right now!"
With that, she vanished in a flash.
Gu Yuena snorted again. "She's just asking for a beating."
Dan Heng smiled faintly—by now, he was used to having this husky-like little sister-in-law.
Suddenly, the cold look faded from Gu Yuena's face. She hadn't actually been angry at Zi Ji, only scaring her on purpose.
She secretly squeezed Dan Heng's hand and asked softly,"Husband, are you ready?"
Dan Heng gave the faintest nod, his deep gaze fixed on the heavenly tribulation.
…
Rumble…!!!
The tribulations for the several fierce beasts' ascensions lasted for most of the day. Although no thunder actually struck, the apocalyptic scene still made everyone's hearts tremble with fear.
Only when the thunderclouds fully dispersed did people dare to come out of their homes.
The Star Luo royal family, meanwhile, had already left Star Luo City.
With Dan Heng's whole family staying at Shrek Academy, they didn't dare remain in the palace.
If the other side ever had a whim to launch a decapitation strike, no one could stop them—and they'd be doomed.
Now, they were secretly traveling by carriage to another city.
Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujie looked in silence at the dark clouds still hanging over Star Luo City.
Even from this far away, they could feel that terrifying aura.
"They've ascended…"
"Can the four great empires really resist the Fontain Empire's invasion?"
Xu Jiawei sighed. He considered himself a wise ruler, yet now he was about to become the monarch of a fallen nation!
It simply made no sense.
Xu Jiujie's eyes were red. "Brother, will we ever be able to go back?"
Dai Hao, worried, spoke up—he had already received several urgent reports about the war with the Fontain Empire. The news was one-sided: almost no army could hold out for even three days!
At this rate, the Star Luo Empire would soon be nothing but history.
"Sigh…"
…
After the fierce beasts ascended, they immediately began a stronger wave of attacks, planning to follow Dan Heng's family straight to a decapitation strike!
The target, naturally, was the Sun Moon Empire's imperial capital.
Fontain's regular army, however, would still take about a month to arrive.
Even though the Fontain Empire was invincible and could sweep across both continents, marching and occupying territory still took time.
Dan Heng's family, meanwhile, had already arrived in the Sun Moon Empire—this was to be their final stop.
They came at just the right time—upon arrival, they found the empire preparing for its biggest festival of the year: the Gratitude Festival, a grand celebration for the whole nation. The Sun Moon Emperor himself would be appearing at the largest plaza in the capital to celebrate with the people, attended by all his ministers.
"Let's go join the fun!" Zi Ji said energetically.
(End of chapter)