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Medusa ignored the onlookers. With a sudden flicker of spirit light in her palm, a shimmering silver dragon scale manifested. She tossed it casually onto the ground in the heart of Sandra City's most prosperous commercial district, directly opposite the Great Spirit Arena.
In an instant, the silver scale expanded and transformed into a towering triangular prism. Each of its three sides shimmered like a gateway of light. Once the "Myriad Beast Platform" was fully deployed, Medusa turned her gaze toward a group of Spirit Elders nearby.
"Aren't you going to try it?" she asked.
Her voice possessed an irresistible, ethereal charm. Unable to suppress their curiosity, the group of Spirit Elders approached the Myriad Beast Platform. Within moments, a flash of light enveloped three of them, and they vanished, drawing gasps of shock from the surrounding Heaven Dou civilians and Spirit Masters.
A short while later, the three reappeared, their faces pale with awe. "It's so real! I encountered a literal dragon! It was larger than any dragon I've ever seen in my life!"
"You saw a dragon?! I was in a fantastical forest and saw an ape of titan proportions!"
Seeing the amazement of the first three, the rest of the crowd—while keeping a wary eye on Medusa—began to edge closer to the platform. Once they realized Medusa did not intend to stop them, more and more people surged into the Myriad Beast Platform. Word quickly spread that behind those light gates lay a miraculous world.
Observing the crowd's reaction, Medusa's voice faded into a soft murmur. "Lord, the mission is complete."
Heaven Dou Empire, Kara City.
On the high city walls, the garrison of the Heaven Dou Black-Armor Army was sparse. A few veterans were busy boasting of past glories to the wide-eyed recruits.
"A-choo!"
A sudden, piercing chill caused a wave of shivering. Though it was the height of summer, the air abruptly plunged into the depths of a freezing winter.
"What's happening?!" panicked recruits shouted as a massive shadow blotted out the sun.
Casting that shadow was an Ice Azure Wolf, sixty meters tall and over a hundred meters long. The ice-blue horn atop its head pulsed with a frigid light, and a Domain instantly blanketed the entire wall. The beads of sweat on the guards' foreheads were frozen into frost mid-drop. Their stiff hands gripped their weapons in terror, but the cold was so absolute they found themselves longing for the sweltering heat of just seconds ago.
"Captain! What do we do?!" A recruit shivered violently, looking toward a man ten years his senior.
The captain opened his mouth, his voice filled with despair. "The highest-ranked master in Kara City is only a Spirit King. That Ice Wolf in the sky... it is undoubtedly a Title Douluo!"
"A Title... a Title Douluo?! Why would someone like that attack a backwater mountain town like ours?!" The air was soon filled with the sounds of weeping and mourning.
"Wait... why are we civilians without spirit power still alive?"
"Captain, look! If he's a Title Douluo, shouldn't he have destroyed everything by now?"
As the tens of thousands of defenders cried out in confusion, a thunderous wolf howl echoed through the heavens.
"South! To the south! Enemy attack!"
From the southern horizon, an army of ten million "Myriad Beast Silver-Armor" troops marched in perfect, rhythmic unison toward the walls, the earth trembling beneath their boots.
"Those who lay down their arms shall be spared. Otherwise, you shall witness the birth of an icy hell," the Ice Azure Wolf declared, a ghostly light flickering in its pupils as the spiritual pressure on the guards intensified.
Faced with the threat of a Title Douluo, the Heaven Dou defenders chose the path of survival. They cast aside their armor and weapons, standing in place to await their capture by the silver-armored legion. Once Kara City was secured, the Ice Azure Wolf descended to the city center to place another Myriad Beast Platform.
Western Front of the Heaven Dou Empire, Landa City.
Under a bright, clear sun, a sudden sandstorm erupted. Countless people cried out as the sky turned yellow, their vision completely obscured by the swirling grit.
BOOM!
A gargantuan Golden Crocodile King erupted from beneath the earth at the base of the city walls. It charged fiercely against the several-meter-thick stone fortifications. Facing a beast nearly a hundred meters long, the Heaven Dou soldiers frantically unleashed every long-range attack they had.
However, their spirit skills and arrows failed to even scratch the Golden Crocodile's hide. The beast ignored them, spinning its massive body to create a golden tornado of destruction. Within minutes, the walls of Landa City were breached. It was only then that the defenders realized the Myriad Beast Silver-Armor troops had used the sandstorm as cover to reach the foot of the city.
With the elite army and the Golden Crocodile King inside, Landa City fell. Like the others, the Crocodile King left a Myriad Beast Platform in the city square.
Western Front of the Heaven Dou Empire, Belaie City.
A figure in black robes appeared outside the majestic walls. Eerie blue spirit flames flickered from within the darkness of the hood. As those flames touched the ground, they transformed into black skeletons.
These skeletons, wielding a variety of rusted weapons, surged toward the walls of Belaie City. Despite their terror, the Heaven Dou soldiers suppressed their fear and launched a counterattack against the sea of black bones. But the skeletons were endless; the fallen ones merely became stepping stones for the next wave.
The piles of bones grew so high they formed a literal mountain against the dozens-of-meters-high walls. Just as the defenders thought they were gaining the upper hand, the endless bones glowed with blue light and resurrected simultaneously. Overwhelmed by the immortal tide, Belaie City surrendered.
"Bone-Bone" glanced at the city as the Myriad Beast Army took over, dismissed the skeletons, and moved to the city center to deploy the platform.
Heaven Dou Empire, Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Husband, the Myriad Beast Empire has revealed over a dozen new Title Douluos," Bai Chenxiang reported. "Aside from ten whose backgrounds are unknown—the Only-Me, Purple Emperor, Heavenly Phoenix, Sun, Moon, Star, Medusa, Crocodile King, Skeleton, and Ice Wolf Douluos—the rest are the members of the Myriad Beast Team who fought you five years ago."
She continued, "Under Di Tian's leadership, most of our Heaven Dou Title Douluos are pinned down at Caster City on the Eastern Front. On the Western Front, the Evil Eye Tyrant Douluo is feinting an attack on Spirit City to keep the Pope occupied. This allowed the Medusa, Crocodile King, Skeleton, and Ice Wolf Douluos to seize Sandra, Kara, Landa, and Belaie."
"According to reports from the 'Ravens' inside the cities, the Myriad Beast Army has unexpectedly avoided massacring the troops. They are merely confiscating weapons and taking prisoners. Furthermore, they are placing a 'Myriad Beast Platform' in every city. Rumor has it these platforms can increase the cultivation years of Spirit Soul rings."
"Husband, the Myriad Beast Empire is truly strange. Putting aside the platforms left in the vassal kingdoms, the level of the Myriad Beast Team members makes no sense. In just five years, they've jumped over forty levels?" Bai Chenxiang asked, puzzled.
Ye Lan activated his "Eight-Sided Exquisite Heart," "Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart," and "Consciousness Acceleration," falling into deep thought.
Evil Eye Tyrant? He had never heard of such a title, yet this person could actually hold back his teacher. As for the Myriad Beast Team, while others didn't know their secrets, he did. They were the most terrifying existences among Soul Beasts. Not one of them had a cultivation lower than 200,000 years. With the mysterious Silver Dragon King involved, their "reincarnation" process was likely unique. Their rapid leveling was probably tied to the Myriad Beast Platforms.
"What are the results of the investigation into the platforms? Are there side effects or strange statuses for those who enter?" Ye Lan asked.
"None so far," Bai Chenxiang replied. "Even Title Douluos who entered found nothing amiss. Furthermore, the platforms cannot be moved. It's as if they don't actually exist in the physical world."
"They can't be moved?"
"Correct. Anyone who touches the platform enters the fantasy world within. But if you close your eyes and try to touch where the platform should be, the space feels empty," she explained.
"Oh? Fascinating. An entity that only exists when observed?" Ye Lan mused. "Send out orders: Spirit Hall masters are not to enter the platforms unless absolutely necessary. Since we don't know their goal, we must avoid the trap."
"I understand. However... I fear many will still go in. The temptation of gaining combat experience without the risk of death is too great for any Spirit Master to resist."
Ye Lan nodded. "You're right. Tell Xue'er and Zhuqing specifically to stay away from them."
"The Battle of Caster City ended in a draw..." Ye Lan continued to himself. "I didn't expect the Myriad Beast Empire to have so many Limit and Super Douluos. Chenxiang, notify Teacher. Tell her to lift the restrictions on 'Spirit Pills.' We need to mass-produce new Title Douluos immediately."
"The masters of the Lower Four Sects—Hei Xiaohu of the Black Tiger Sect, Feng Bailong of the Wind Sword Sect, Hu Yanzhen of the Elephant Armor Sect, and Huo Mingxin of the Fire Leopard Sect—are all a step away from the Title rank. Incorporate their core members into the Sanctuary. Offer them the 'Soul Core Cultivation Method' and artificial 100,000-year spirit rings."
"Whatever it takes, we must bolster our numbers. Otherwise, our regular armies have no defense against a Title Douluo-led raid."
Bai Chenxiang smiled. "That is a brilliant move. The Lower Four Sects have been jealous of the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans for a long time. Ever since my grandfather and the others broke through to Title Douluo, they've been making bitter comments at every assembly. Now that the Clear Sky Sect is gone, they've been looking for a way to join us anyway."
"And the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," Ye Lan added. "If they have high-level Spirit Douluos on the verge of breaking through, support them as well."
"But husband, isn't Yu Xiaogang..."
"One thing has nothing to do with the other," Ye Lan said firmly. "Without Yu Yuanzhen's support, Caster City might not have held. Besides, Yu Xiaogang was expelled from the clan and struck from the genealogy years ago. Yu Tianheng is doing a good job managing his city."
Star Luo Empire, Myriad Beast City.
"Lord, that is the situation. Bone-Bone, Medusa, Little Wolf, and the Crocodile King are still holding the Western Front. The number of Heaven Dou Title Douluos outside the cities is increasing as they try to push the battlefield into our territory," Di Tian reported.
Gu Yuena nodded. "Continue to pin down the Spirit Hall masters. If an opportunity arises, consume the Heaven Dou cities piece by piece. If our Title Douluos are overwhelmed by a concentrated attack, they are permitted to abandon the cities."
"Our ultimate goal is to maintain our reputation and the goodwill of the people while deploying as many Myriad Beast Platforms as possible. Restrain our soldiers; they must not kill innocents. If the Heaven Dou army slaughters our men, treat them with equal severity."
"The Lord is wise!" Di Tian said excitedly. "The more people enter the platforms, the greater our chance of success. When the time is right, you shall ascend to godhood!"
Du Dexie looked at Di Tian and the Silver Dragon King with apprehension. "Is the faith from the Sun-Moon Continent not enough?"
"I have a premonition that a cataclysm is coming to the Douluo Continent," Gu Yuena said softly. "Our environment is becoming precarious. No matter what happens in the future, the Myriad Beast Platform is our final retreat."
As news of the fallen western cities reached the capital, Spirit Hall launched a swift counter-offensive. They dispatched multiple Title Douluos to reclaim the cities one by one. The Myriad Beast Silver-Armor troops had already looted the armories and departed, so the defenders put up little resistance, withdrawing with their small garrisons.
However, as soon as the Myriad Beast Empire saw the Heaven Dou masters move, they struck elsewhere, seizing new cities and placing more platforms. This led to a bizarre "city-swapping" tactic. One day a city belonged to the Beasts, the next to Heaven Dou. Some cities changed hands ten times in a single month. This constant state of flux dragged both empires into a grueling quagmire of war.
Three Years Later.
In the endless void of space, a seven-colored translucent sphere drifted like a lonely boat in a bitter sea, enduring the relentless battering of space-time turbulence.
Divine Realm, God-Forbidden Land.
The once magnificent seven-colored sky of the Divine Realm had become unstable, flickering with black fissures. The gloom made the God-Forbidden Land feel even more oppressive.
Clad in her shimmering Rakshasa God-Armor, the Rakshasa Goddess cast a wary glance at the towering spire in the center of the forbidden zone. She turned to the man beside her, who wore blood-red patterned armor and possessed eyes like crimson pools. A flicker of hidden affection crossed her dark eyes.
"Asura, what is this place? Aren't all gods forbidden from approaching here?" she asked.
"This is the God-Forbidden Land," the Asura God replied calmly. "The Golden Dragon King is imprisoned beneath that tower."
"The Golden Dragon King?! He's still alive? I thought he died!"
"It makes sense you wouldn't know; you weren't there for the Great War of the Divine Realm. After the Dragon God was defeated, I split him into two halves. One became the Silver Dragon King, who inherited his spiritual power, and the other became the Golden Dragon King, who inherited his physical strength and malevolent intent."
"If he's half of the Dragon God, he must be incredibly powerful. Why didn't you kill him then?"
"The Silver Dragon King escaped into the space-time turbulence. As for the Golden Dragon King, he is nearly immortal within the Divine Realm. We could have destroyed him if we united all our power, but the Gods of Life and Destruction, along with several others, refused. They felt the Divine Realm owed its growth to the Dragon God and wouldn't permit his complete extinction," Asura explained.
"Is he really that dangerous? If we release him, won't we suffer the consequences?" The Rakshasa Goddess took a small step closer to Asura.
Asura silently stepped away, maintaining his distance. The Rakshasa Goddess gritted her teeth in frustration. This old blockhead... still obsessed with his 'White Moonlight'! Because of her unrequited love for him, she had spent years sabotaging Asura, yet for some reason, he hadn't settled the score. Instead, he had invited her into this plan.
Ignoring her mood, Asura continued, "Powerful? Perhaps. But after all these years of cultivation, even he cannot defeat me. It would be best to have the support of Life and Destruction for our departure from the Divine Realm, but they refuse to leave."
The Rakshasa Goddess stamped her foot. "Those two lunatics are so attached to this 'house' that they'll die with it! Let them! What about the Sea God? Why isn't he here yet?"
"He's probably lurking near the Angelic Sanctuary again like a creep!"
"Who's a creep?!" a voice rang out. "Don't slander my noble image. The Angelic Lady is my White Moonlight! I have nothing to say to an old widow like you!" The Sea God appeared, looking righteous.
"You! You pervert!" The Rakshasa Goddess swung her demonic sickle at him in a fit of rage.
"Enough," Asura interrupted. "Poseidon is on time. Prepare yourselves. We are breaking the seal."
Under Asura's lead, the three gods approached the towering spire. Asura's palm glowed, and an intricately constructed "Key of the Divine Realm" appeared.
"Rakshasa, Poseidon, channel your divine power into the key with me. I have masked our energy fluctuations, but the window is small. If Destruction finds out, we fail!" Asura erupted with blood-red light, pointing his fingers toward the key.
The Rakshasa Goddess and Sea God followed suit. The key began to shine with a nine-colored radiance, its gears spinning rapidly before firing a concentrated beam of light into the ancient tower. The tower shrank instantly and dissolved into a nine-colored mist.
CRACK!
A massive fissure tore through the center of the clearing. It began small, but quickly expanded to hundreds of meters wide. From within the rift, a thick, tangible golden light began to pour out like molten gold.
Low growls echoed from the depths, quickly escalating into a high-pitched, thunderous roar. It was a dragon's cry—filled with exhilaration, resentment, and an insatiable desire for destruction.
THUD!
A massive claw gripped the edge of the rift. As it pulled, the cliffside collapsed under the pressure, leaving a claw-shaped crater hundreds of square meters in size. In the next heartbeat, a behemoth soared from the depths.
It rose like a flying mountain, its golden radiance staining the earth. Its scales were rhombic, each with four ridges meeting at a sharp peak—thick, solid, and incredibly sharp. A single scale was over a square meter in size, and there were countless thousands of them across its body.
Massive wings unfurled, seemingly blocking out the space-time turbulence outside the Divine Realm's barrier. Spikes ran from its head down its spine to its tail, which ended in a heavy, mace-like club covered in thorns. Its eyes were like giant rubies, glowing with madness and ferocity.
"ROAR—!"
The Golden Dragon King hovered in mid-air, its shadow covering the gods below.
"Hahahahaha! I am finally free! Who broke the seal that held me for an eternity? I shall reward you with death!" The dragon spread its ten-thousand-meter wingspan and locked its gaze onto the three tiny figures. "Asura?! DIE!"
A claw the size of a building lunged at Asura. The god swung a blood-red sword light, forcing the dragon back a step.
"Golden Dragon King, you madman! Look at the state of the Divine Realm!" the Rakshasa Goddess screamed.
The dragon paused, glancing at the crumbling sky. His pupils contracted. "The space-time turbulence has reached this point?"
"Golden Dragon King, let's skip the nonsense," Asura said coldly. "The Divine Realm is on the brink of collapse. We are all in the same boat. The fools in charge still want to go down with the ship. If we cooperate, there is a slim chance of survival."
The Golden Dragon King huffed, a blast of hot air nearly knocking the gods back. "Fine. You can die a little later then. I accept."
(End of Chapter)