"All right, go on now. Complete the Eighth Trial of the Death God and face your final test!" Xiao Bai's voice faded away.
Zhu Ziyang raised his head. The two God-Sealing Pillars beside the seventieth step flew out and, as expected, landed in his hands. With his God Position affinity reaching 80%, he immediately advanced to higher steps: seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-three... all the way to the eightieth.
There he halted. On either side of the eightieth step, the two God-Sealing Pillars displayed identical content:
"God Position Affinity: 80%"
"Eighth Trial of the Death God: As the Death God's successor, subduing a believer of the Law of Death is essential. The Beast King of another continent, the so-called Empress of Darkness — the Netherwitch — a heaven-and-earth spirit born from the The Fallen Scythe. Subduing her shall be your final external trial before inheriting the God Position."
"Trial Objective: Subdue the Netherwitch and make her your first martial soul's soul spirit."
"Trial Time Limit: One year."
"Trial Reward: Unknown."
Honestly, Zhu Ziyang had already prepared mentally for the contents of the eighth trial. He had long since realized the true identity of his so-called trial administrator, Xiao Bai. Clearly, everyone was eager for the endgame to begin.
With mixed feelings but undeniable excitement, Zhu Ziyang exited the Divine Inheritance Realm and returned to the Demon Empress Palace.
By the time he arrived, Jiang Nannan and Zhang Lexuan had just finished handling their rewards. Seeing him return, the two immediately gathered around. Jiang Nannan asked, "Brother, how did it go? What was the reward for the seventh trial? And what's the eighth?"
"Haha! My reward can't compare to yours — just two more pillars and a boost in God Position affinity. As for the eighth trial, it's simple. Once we leave the Demon Empress Palace, we can complete it." Zhu Ziyang laughed. "What about you two? What rewards did you get? What's your next trial?"
"Oh!" Jiang Nannan perked up, "My reward for completing the Sixth Trial of the Moon was 10% God Position affinity and a 3,000-year boost to all my soul rings."
As she spoke, she released her soul rings. Previously, she had two purple, four black, and one red ring — now it had become six black and one red. The 3,000 years from the sixth trial, added to the prior boosts, had turned her first and second soul rings into black ones. This showed just how strong the faith in the Goddess of Moonlight was.
Zhu Ziyang was honestly envious.
"My reward was a level increase in soul power and a 500-year boost to all my soul rings," said Zhang Lexuan, her face soft with a gentle smile.
With the sixth trial's reward, her soul ring colors hadn't changed much — still two purple, five black, and two red — but her soul power had risen to Rank 93. Advancing one level in half a year at her stage would certainly draw envy from other Title Douluo.
"Sigh! I'm really envious of Nannan and Sister Lexuan…" Qian Lingyi's delicate face showed both admiration and a hint of gloom. She felt the gap between herself and the others growing — a gap that would only widen. This inevitably made her heart anxious and uneasy.
Zhu Ziyang didn't notice Lingyi's inner turmoil and asked, "What about your seventh trials?"
"My seventh trial can only be completed once we return to the Douluo Continent. I need to help the Silvermoon Spirit Fish Clan find a new habitat," Zhang Lexuan answered first.
"Huh? Then why is my seventh trial to subdue the Silvermoon Spirit Fish King?" Jiang Nannan whined, face full of complaint.
"That's the difference between a god-level trial and a red-level trial, silly girl!" Zhang Lexuan chuckled and pinched her nose.
"So, both your trials require returning to the Douluo Continent, right?" Zhu Ziyang nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. Then we can't linger here in the Wuhun Continent. Once I finish the eighth trial, we'll head back immediately!"
"Mhm!" The three girls nodded simultaneously.
"Oh, right, Brother, what exactly is your eighth trial?" Lingyi smiled, concealing her urgency.
"You might not believe this," Zhu Ziyang chuckled, "but the eighth trial wants me to turn the Demon Empress into a soul spirit!"
"What? You can do that?!" As expected, the three girls were stunned, exclaiming almost in unison.
"Hehe, I didn't expect it either. What a convenient coincidence!" Zhu Ziyang grinned smugly.
"Well then, what are you waiting for? Let's go!" Zhang Lexuan playfully nudged him.
The four left the Demon Empress Palace and returned lightheartedly to the God-Sealing Array's location. Zhang Weiwei and Beimonstan immediately came forward and reported, "Lord, Senior Rogier encountered combat."
"South side?" Zhu Ziyang blinked. "Got it. Beimonstan, go support him."
"As you command!" The golden Behemoth, Beimonstan, responded immediately and rushed toward Rogier.
"You all stay outside. If there's danger, enter the God-Sealing Array immediately — but once inside, don't move recklessly!" Zhu Ziyang instructed the three girls and entered the array.
Inside, the Demon Empress had already accepted her fate and sat quietly beside Snow Empress.
"Daddy, you're back!" Snow Empress floated excitedly toward him, landing on his shoulder. "Xue'er has already convinced her!"
"Oh?" Zhu Ziyang's eyes lit up. He patted her head. "Good girl, Xue'er!"
While praising Snow Empress, he approached the Demon Empress, his tone stern. "Have you decided? Will you become my soul spirit, or…"
"Soul spirit! I want to become your soul spirit!" she cut him off quickly, her expression complex but clearly submissive.
"Very good. You'll thank yourself for this choice one day," Zhu Ziyang grinned. "From now on, just follow my instructions. Leave everything else to me."
"Mm." The Demon Empress lowered her proud head, showing her obedience.
Without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang drew a drop of essence blood and dropped it on her forehead. Immediately, the first-ever soul spirit contract on the Wuhun Continent was recited. As his blood seeped into her, the Demon Empress felt her lost power return — only to be instantly sealed again.
Black energy threads wove around them, forming a giant cocoon. Mysterious characters from the soul spirit contract shimmered and faded on its surface, while the Demon Empress's immense energy surged wildly inside.
Outside the array, the three girls waited anxiously, unable to see inside and unwilling to barge in.
Three kilometers away, Rogier and Beimonstan were locked in combat with a massive Earth Tyrant Dragon covered in golden scales — the Beast King of the Southern Heaven Peak and fourth-ranked beast of the Death Mountains, known as Dragon Lord. With 500,000 years of cultivation, he easily suppressed Rogier, but struggled against the two together.
Neither side had the power to finish the other off, so the battle was a stalemate — which favored Rogier's side.
Ironically, the Earth Tyrant Dragon's appearance was pure coincidence. He'd only come to visit his old friend, the Three-Headed Golden Lion King, and had the misfortune of stumbling into Zhu Ziyang's operation. First intimidated by the Demon Empress's pressure, then ambushed by Rogier, and now besieged — truly pitiful.
Perhaps, if Zhu Ziyang thought him useless, he'd have a moment of mercy.
(End of Chapter)
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