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"In my position, I bore my responsibilities. I did everything I could to find a way out for my kin, yet in the end, all my efforts came to nothing. Now, we must face the horrors of the deep sea's slaughter. I am not a qualified leader."
In the ocean, a monstrous beast of unfathomable power was wreaking havoc, slaughtering countless sea spirit beasts—especially those who worshipped the Sea God.
This 100,000-year-old Blue-Ringed Jellyfish had once been naive, believing she could enter human society to secure benefits for her people. But after taking human form and learning of the current state of the continent, all her hopes vanished.
For a moment, the mother's story left everyone present in silence. Gu Yue lowered her head, her heart tangled with resentment and unwillingness. The conflict between humans and spirit beasts had long since passed the point of reconciliation. Only a final, decisive war would determine the survival of either side.
"Please… will you take my son? Let him return to human society, let him grow up normally…"
Leng Jiuming's face twisted with conflict. Though this mother was only a 69th-ranked spirit master, she could command several 10,000-year-old sea spirit beasts among the surrounding Blue-Ringed Jellyfish swarm. With such power, she could have easily trapped them all here—yet now, she was begging.
Among them, only Leng Jiuming could answer her plea. As a 79th-ranked Spirit Sage and a member of the East Sea Spirit Pagoda, he had the authority to ensure Zhang Wa's safe integration into human society.
After a long silence, Leng Jiuming stood with a heavy heart. "Very well. I will make sure he lives a good life in the human world."
"Thank you…"
Tears welled in Zhang Wa's mother's eyes as she knelt to kiss her son. Then, the Blue-Ringed Jellyfish beneath her gently extended its tentacles, delivering Zhang Wa to the shore.
Unlike an ordinary child, Zhang Wa's gaze was firm, though his voice trembled slightly as he shouted, "Mother! When I become a Titled Douluo, I'll return to the sea to help you! I'll find a new path for the Blue-Ringed Jellyfish tribe! So… Mother… you must not die!"
Before leaving, the transformed spirit beast swept a meaningful glance over the group, pausing briefly on Bai Xu before resolutely diving back into the depths.
Gu Yue watched the departing jellyfish swarm with respect, her emotions stirred. As the sovereign of all spirit beasts, she bore the responsibility of their revival—but would things truly go as she wished?
Was her plan truly right? Would humans ever submit to spirit beasts again?
She had walked a tightrope all her life—could she really make it to the other side?
While the others were lost in the melancholy of farewell, Bai Xu frowned, unable to shake a nagging suspicion. "Isn't this all too… convenient?"
His words drew puzzled looks from the group.
"What do you mean?"
Bai Xu glanced at Zhang Wa beside him, pinching the boy's soft cheek absentmindedly. "Why did she choose us, of all people, to entrust her child to? She could have easily taken Zhang Wa into human society herself, investigated potential families, and found someone willing to adopt a child with innate spirit power. Yet she took the riskiest option—approaching us. It's almost as if she knew we wouldn't harm her after hearing her story."
If any among them had ill intentions—or worse, secretly contacted the Spirit Pagoda to ambush the transformed spirit beast—the consequences would have been dire. Especially with Leng Jiuming, who was on the verge of breaking through to the Title Douluo realm.
Why would she take such a gamble?
Bai Xu couldn't help but recall the schemes of the so-called "God King Tang" from Douluo Dalu 2.
Was something—or someone—subtly influencing him too?
[I guided her to you.]
A serene voice echoed in Bai Xu's mind, sending a jolt of alarm through him. He immediately went on guard, but the calm expressions of those around him confirmed that only he had heard it.
'Who's there?' he thought sharply.
The mysterious energy in his eyes swirled autonomously as the voice spoke again:
[I am the remnant will of the Douluo World's consciousness. Here… I extend my welcome to you, visitor from beyond the stars.]
A single sentence laid bare Bai Xu's deepest secret. Cold sweat drenched his back as the others walked ahead, leaving him frozen in place, his mind racing.
Meanwhile, someone else was equally stunned.
In Gu Yue's mind, an unfamiliar voice whispered:
[Silver Dragon King… do you… wish for the spirit beasts to survive?]
'The Douluo World's consciousness?' Gu Yue sensed an inexplicable karma settling upon her and immediately guessed its origin.
But the sensation vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
---
That night, in a small fishing village inn…
Bai Xu sat alone in his room, illuminated only by moonlight. He was waiting—waiting for that voice to return.
"There's no mistaking what I felt earlier. That thing is inside me. The remnant will of the Douluo World's consciousness? Shouldn't the current master of the Douluo World be Tang Hao? Is this the lingering soul of the world's consciousness before Tang Hao devoured it?" He deliberately mused aloud, hoping to provoke a response.
Sure enough, an inexplicable energy surged around him as the voice spoke again, fragmented but clear:
[Correct… as you surmised… As expected of a visitor from beyond, privy to knowledge beyond ordinary comprehension…]
Bai Xu's eyes narrowed, a flicker of killing intent in his heart. "How do you know who I am?"
If this entity posed a threat, he would sooner destroy his own martial soul than risk exposure.
[Simple… because I was the one who called you here.]
"...?"
The statement struck Bai Xu like a thunderbolt, shaking him to his core.
[Be at ease… Allow me to explain.]
[Normally, the world's consciousness maintains ecological balance, guiding the development of all life. Under ordinary circumstances, it does not develop sentience—existing in a perpetual state of vague, chaotic influence over Douluo's fate.]
[But under the divine realm's decree, Tang Hao has been replacing me. As a result, Douluo's development has spiraled out of control. Humans have grown unprecedentedly powerful, while spirit beasts can no longer counterbalance them. Foreign worlds invade, countless minor planes merge with Douluo, and now the planet resembles a punctured balloon, its essence leaking away.]
[Originally, I should have been completely consumed by Tang Hao. Yet, by some twist of fate, this process birthed true awareness in me. But no matter how I schemed, I could not devise a way to save Douluo, nor resist Tang Hao's devouring of the world's essence.]
[Then I recalled the soul that accidentally fell into Douluo twenty thousand years ago—Tang San, the current Asura God of the divine realm. If an otherworldly soul was the root of this calamity, then perhaps another could end it.]
[I prayed to higher planes, sacrificing the last of my sentience, hoping to summon a destroyer—one who could sever Douluo's tangled threads of fate.]
[And thus… you arrived.]
[Whether you choose to destroy or rebuild this world, I will support you without hesitation.]
Bai Xu: "..."
A moment later, the world's consciousness faded. It was indeed weak, reliant on Bai Xu for survival.
But Bai Xu had gleaned crucial information. The entity's words rang true—his martial soul was likely the vessel for its remnants. The stronger Bai Xu grew, the more it could influence the world around him.
Like today's inexplicable encounter with the transformed spirit beast.
A faint smile curled Bai Xu's lips. "Heh… I should thank you. By sheer coincidence, you set me on this path. But whether Douluo is saved or destroyed… the choice isn't mine alone. It lies in the hands of its people."
Knowing Bai Xu, if no one provoked him, he wouldn't care if Tang Hao spawned a dozen little brothers for Tang San. But he wasn't naive enough to assume Tang Hao would tolerate his existence.
"The fact that I haven't been exposed to Tang Hao yet is likely due to this obscuring karma… probably the world consciousness's doing. I've really been dragged into a massive vortex, haven't I? Hah!"
---
Next room over…
Gu Yue pondered quietly. "That strange voice today… the inexplicable karma… Was it truly the Douluo World's consciousness? Would it aid the spirit beasts? That remains unclear. But if we could secure its support, the spirit beasts' survival would be guaranteed! Setting that aside, Bai Xu's body is truly peculiar. His organs seem to contain unique energies—earth in his spleen, metal in his lungs, water in his kidneys… A martial soul unlike any I've seen. His physical body might already rival Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline. How bizarre. For now, I'll observe him further… Though Leng Jiuming seems to know something. Perhaps I should start with him."
The night passed without further incident.