I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
------------------------------------------------------
The shadow of the Golden Ancient Tree swayed gracefully behind Gu La. Its trunk shimmered with golden patterns like liquid sunlight, and every leaf seemed to hold fragments of starlight. Countless golden threads flowed around his slender fingers like a galaxy in motion.
Ya Li's silver-white dress rippled like waves under the influence of soul power. She instinctively took half a step back, unwilling to disturb the breathtaking scene before her. Her crystal earrings refracted mesmerizing rainbows in the glow.
The array of soul-guided lights on the ceiling of the examination hall flickered abruptly, causing Tang Wulin to feel an uncontrollable tremor in his Blue Silver Grass.
"Incredible!"
Even in her surprise, Ya Li retained her elegant and gentle demeanor. Her voice, usually as clear as a spring stream, carried a rare quiver.
"It's said that the Golden Ancient Tree is a treasure left by the Sea God for Shrek Academy, maintaining the academy's high concentration of spiritual energy—an environment comparable to any simulated cultivation space. I never imagined the Spirit Pagoda could replicate its spirit soul."
"Especially, that you could gain the recognition of the Golden Ancient Tree spirit soul."
Ya Li now believed more than half of Gu La's claim to be a reincarnated god. No one would understand the power of the Golden Ancient Tree better than those from Shrek Academy.
"Without a doubt, Gu La, fourth trial—ten points."
Gu La blinked. "Won't you invite me to the inner court? I've heard that inner court students have the privilege of meditating near the Golden Ancient Tree. I'd like to try it early—or do I need to pass another trial?"
At this, Ya Li realized something she had missed earlier. Gu La's soul rings appeared unusually high-level, but they were obscured by his overwhelming spiritual power, making them hard to discern clearly.
She lowered her head in thought, secretly communicating with Yun Ming nearby. The Golden Ancient Tree was Shrek Academy's trump card. Allowing a reincarnated god to approach it required careful consideration of the consequences.
"No trials are necessary."
Yun Ming appeared in the room, the silver trim on his dark robe rippling faintly. This Pillar of Heaven (Atlas) Douluo extended his arm to embrace Ya Li's waist.
The red-robed elder bowed his head respectfully, addressing him as "Master." Cai Yue'er's eyes lit up at the sight of her beloved, but when she saw Yun Ming embracing Ya Li, her face turned pale. Fortunately, her weathered skin made it less noticeable.
"With your talent, passing the trials and meeting the requirements for the inner court is a given. I can make an exception and allow you to enter the Golden Ancient Tree's domain early."
The red-robed elder was startled but, upon reflection, conceded that Gu La's extraordinary abilities warranted bending the rules slightly.
Cai Yue'er opened her mouth to protest but, seeing Yun Ming ignore her completely, felt a wave of sorrow wash over her. She turned her head away, silently lamenting her self-inflicted torment.
"Follow me."
Yun Ming's voice carried a peculiar rhythm, akin to stars rising from the depths of an abyss piercing through a thousand-year-old frozen lake, sending ripples through Gu La's ears.
With a light tap of his toes, Yun Ming transformed into a streak of flowing clouds, leaping out of the window. The soul power of a peak 99th-level Douluo traced a faint golden trail in the air.
Gu La raised an eyebrow in interest. As his dark boots stepped over the windowsill, spatial ripples bloomed beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, their figures crossed over Shrek Square, startling twelve birds perched on the phoenix trees.
Tang Wulin and the others watched as Gu La followed Yun Ming until their figures disappeared from view, then returned to continue the trials.
After leaving the examination hall, Yun Ming didn't return to Sea God Island but instead flew directly away from Shrek Academy.
He finally came to a halt above a cracked wasteland. Seven broken totem poles stood amidst the scorched earth, their weathered surfaces still bearing traces of exaggerated carvings.
Raising his hand, Yun Ming formed a seal. His divine-level spiritual power poured down as a silver screen, distorting the ten-mile radius around them. Even the howling winds froze into translucent amber.
The moment the barrier was complete, twelve golden chains emerged from Yun Ming's back. Each link bore intricate divine runes, their spear-like tips radiating endless sharpness.
Yun Ming turned to face Gu La, detecting no trace of divine power in him.
But he trusted his longtime friends wouldn't deceive him.
"How should I address you? Gu La, or as a god?"
---
Gu La glanced around the shimmering silver barrier, his fingertips brushing against a fragment of the totem pole beside him. The touched carvings glowed with a faint blue soul power before fading into silence within the fractured array.
Divine-level strength—even with his rapid growth, he wasn't sure when his spiritual power would reach the level of a god.
"It doesn't matter. Titles are irrelevant. Call me whatever you wish."
Yun Ming nodded. As the strongest person of his generation, he possessed his own pride and confidence, not humbling himself despite Gu La's identity.
"Very well, Gu La."
He slowly spoke, "Zang Xin and Cao Dezhi approached me and told me everything. Based on my perception, the Plane Lord is indeed preventing me from ascending to godhood."
Gu La crossed his arms. "So what will you do about it?"
Yun Ming's expression remained unchanged, his profound gaze seemingly able to see through everything.
"There's nothing I can do. In this small world, the heavenly rules are incomplete—it's impossible to break through to godhood. Even semi-gods remain bound by the plane's restrictions, unable to journey into the cosmos."
"So you want me to break this deadlock?"
Gu La's emerald-gold hair danced in the wind as he shook his head. "You should know—the situation meticulously crafted by the God King isn't something I alone can overturn."
"You can't either."
"Is that so?" Yun Ming suddenly clenched his fist, and soul power erupted between his fingers like a supernova.
"Then why did you spread this information? Just to show us that all our efforts are merely the whims of gods—a mere calculation to enhance the plane's essence?"
He strode toward Gu La, his steps releasing ripples imbued with astonishing willpower. "I only seek to control my own fate!"
Gu La chuckled softly, the glowing emerald-gold strands in his hair illuminating the cracked earth beneath him. Countless crystalline clusters burst forth from the ground, transforming the barren wasteland into an amethyst jungle in the blink of an eye.
"Even if Shrek Academy is destroyed and despised by millions?"
Yun Ming's indomitable fighting spirit faltered, then gradually faded.
Shrek Academy had nurtured him—it was his bottom line. Though he didn't care about others' opinions, he cared deeply about Shrek Academy.
Yun Ming fell silent for a long time.
As for whether Gu La had a method to help Yun Ming ascend to godhood, of course he did.
The simplest method—find a parallel world without suppression, travel through time and space to take Yun Ming there, let him break through, and then return.
But haste rarely makes for good deals. With such a divine opportunity at stake—and the possibility of saving Shrek Academy—Gu La naturally intended to profit more.
He turned and waved his hand, his figure vanishing in a series of instantaneous movements. "Think it over. But here's a reminder."
"If you don't ascend to godhood, within ten years, nearly ten thousand teachers and students of Shrek Academy will perish in a crisis, leaving only a handful alive."
"And you will also die in the future. Ya Li's ultimate fate is to perish alongside the Abyss."
"Oh, and you won't die in the battle defending the abyss, so you won't be resurrected. Farewell, Yun Ming, Atlas Douluo."
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)