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—5 and ½ years later—
Douluo Continent,
Five years had passed since Lev uncovered the Spirit Hall's infiltration plan within the Heaven Dou Empire. During those five years, countless major events had unfolded across the Douluo Continent, shocking the people and completely changing the balance of power.
First, major wars began breaking out across the continent. The Spirit Hall launched constant attacks against both empires, forcing the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire to put aside their differences and join forces to resist their common enemy.
However, despite their combined strength, the Spirit Hall remained overwhelmingly powerful. The battles continued relentlessly, ultimately resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.
Second, numerous changes began taking place across the continent.
One of the most significant was the cancellation of the Annual Continental Spirit Tournament. With the war spreading across the continent, many academies and clans were forced to close their doors to the public, while countless spirit masters joined the battlefield in search of merits, wealth, and opportunities to prove themselves.
Some rose to fame through their achievements on the battlefield.
Others never returned.
Yet, among all the events that occurred during these five years, one incident in particular caused the greatest shock throughout the continent.
The Spirit Hall had discovered the location of the long-lost Clear Sky Clan and launched an attack against them.
Although the Clear Sky Clan successfully repelled the assault, the battle had exposed their existence once again to the rest of the continent.
Naturally, both the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire immediately attempted to persuade the Clear Sky Clan to join their alliance.
They offered numerous benefits and repeatedly sent representatives to negotiate with them.
However, the Clear Sky Clan remained adamant about maintaining their neutrality.
No matter how many times the two empires attempted to persuade them, the Clear Sky Clan refused to participate in the war.
Their decision angered the four subsidiary clans.
The four clans—representing the attributes of attack, defense, speed, and strength—were deeply disappointed by the Clear Sky Clan's decision and even openly mocked them for being cowards who were unwilling to stand against the Spirit Hall.
Unable to tolerate their former master's attitude any longer, the four subsidiary clans eventually chose to join forces with the two empires and fight against the Spirit Hall.
Meanwhile, after the Shrek Academy students and teachers arrived at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, the academy readily accepted them after recognizing their exceptional talents.
However, as the war intensified, all ordinary academy activities and training were eventually suspended.
Instead, the students were instructed to participate in the war.
For the young members of Shrek, this became their first true awakening to the cruelty of the world.
They had once viewed cultivation as nothing more than a path toward becoming stronger.
Now, they were forced to understand that becoming stronger also meant surviving on a battlefield where death could come at any moment.
During these five years, Tang San had also learned the true identity of his father and the history of the Clear Sky Clan.
However, after witnessing the clan's attitude toward the ongoing war and seeing how the continent was gradually being consumed by conflict, Tang San ultimately decided not to return to the Clear Sky Clan or follow his father.
Instead, he chose to remain where he was and continue fighting against the Spirit Hall.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, eventually returned to the Star Luo Empire.
His family was naturally surprised by his sudden return, but with the war raging across the continent, they had little time to spare for family matters.
Even his older brother showed little interest in his return.
Although Dai Mubai's brother understood that the chaos caused by the war provided him with an excellent opportunity to secretly eliminate his younger brother, he ultimately chose not to do so.
Dai Mubai, meanwhile, took advantage of the war to gain valuable battlefield experience and rapidly improve his strength.
Ning Rongrong also returned to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan and reunited with her father.
Ning Fengzhi eventually told her everything about the true reason behind the war, leaving her deeply shocked upon learning the truth.
She was especially surprised when she learned just how powerful Lev had truly been and how his actions five years ago had completely changed the course of the continent.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Lev and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan had never become particularly close, leaving Ning Rongrong with mixed feelings about everything that had happened.
As for Ma Hongjun and Oscar, both of them had also improved rapidly throughout the war.
With the guidance of Flender and Yu Xiaogang, the two had grown considerably stronger while also maturing through their experiences on the battlefield.
The innocent and carefree youths they had once been were long gone.
After five years of constant change, hardship, and separation, the members of Shrek had all grown in their own ways.
Eventually, they each went their separate paths once again.
Before parting, however, they made a promise.
Five years later, they would return to the academy and meet once more.
None of them knew what the future would bring.
Nor did they know that by the time they met again, the Douluo Continent might already be a completely different world.
*****
Extreme North,
In the farthest reaches of the northern region, a vast frozen plain stretched endlessly into the distance. The temperature was unbearably low, with layers of ice covering the land as far as the eye could see.
Two cloaked figures could be seen standing in the distance, silently observing the battle unfolding before them.
They were none other than Lev and Tsunade.
In front of them, five figures were engaged in a fierce battle against a massive bear-type spirit beast that had lived for 100,000 years.
Undine, Salamander, Sylph, Gnome, and Whisp were all fighting in their battle modes.
The massive spirit beast stood at least five meters tall, its enormous body radiating an intimidating aura that would have caused even ordinary Spirit Douluos to retreat.
Yet, despite possessing a cultivation of 100,000 years, the spirit beast was being completely overwhelmed.
The five Elemental Spirits moved with astonishing coordination, expertly utilizing their respective elemental powers and abilities to continuously suppress their opponent.
Thanks to Lev and Tsunade's relentless training over the past five years, the five Elemental Spirits had become far more experienced in battle. Although they had struggled considerably when they first began training, they had gradually adapted to their newfound power and developed their own fighting styles.
The battle continued for nearly half an hour.
In the end, the 100,000-year-old bear-type spirit beast could no longer resist.
With one final coordinated assault from the five Elemental Spirits, its massive body collapsed onto the frozen ground.
The spirit beast had died helplessly.
As soon as the battle ended, the five Elemental Spirits immediately flew and ran toward Lev, clearly wanting to hear his praise.
Lev looked at them with a smile.
Seeing that they had managed to defeat a 100,000-year-old spirit beast without his intervention, he couldn't help but feel proud and satisfied.
After five years of relentless training, the five Elemental Spirits had finally reached a point where they could hunt powerful spirit beasts on their own.
"Good job."
Lev praised them with a faint smile.
The five Elemental Spirits immediately brightened.
"It was all Master's guidance!"
They spoke in unison.
Over the past five years, Salamander, Undine, Gnome, Sylph, and Whisp had grown at an astonishing rate.
They had struggled greatly in the beginning, but after continuously training, leveling up, and fighting every day, they gradually became accustomed to the harsh environment of the Extreme North.
Their countless battles against spirit beasts had also greatly increased their combat experience.
At present, their spirit powers had reached astonishing levels:
Salamander — Spirit Rank 74.
Undine — Spirit Rank 72.
Gnome — Spirit Rank 72.
Sylph — Spirit Rank 71.
Whisp — Spirit Rank 73.
Initially, Lev had asked the system how the strength of his summons would be evaluated.
The system's answer was simple.
Every summon would generally follow the power system of the world they were summoned into.
As for their method of becoming stronger, they would grow in a manner similar to Lev's own leveling system.
Furthermore, the system had explained that their original powers would undergo mutations after being exposed to the power system of another world.
This information had made Lev realize something important.
Random Summoning Cards would be far more valuable when used in worlds with an established and comprehensive power system. The strength his summons could obtain and the way they could improve were directly connected to the world in which they were summoned.
Knowing all of this, it was safe to say that the five Elemental Spirits were now far stronger than their original versions.
They still possessed their original abilities, but after five years of exposure to the Douluo Continent's cultivation system, their powers had undergone significant mutations and improvements.
Their bodies had also changed considerably.
Under Lev's guidance, they had trained almost without rest. They endured countless battles while consuming numerous precious and delicious medicinal herbs, and Lev had also provided them with several powerful skills.
The results were obvious.
The five Elemental Spirits had undergone an abnormal rate of growth.
"We should head back."
Lev finally spoke as he looked toward Tsunade beside him.
Just like the past five years, the two had continued living side by side in the Extreme North.
They had endured the boredom, harshness, and cruelty of this frozen land together.
And after five years of constant training, both of them had become considerably stronger than before.
"Mmm."
Tsunade smiled while looking at the five Elemental Spirits.
During these five years, she had personally witnessed their growth and finally understood just how formidable they could become.
She wasn't jealous of them because she herself had also improved for the last five years..
Unlike the Elemental Spirits, Tsunade possessed numerous advantages of her own when it came to being useful to Lev.
There was no reason for her to compare herself with them.
With that, Lev stored the corpse of the 100,000-year-old spirit beast inside his inventory before carrying Tsunade.
After making sure there was nothing else they needed to take care of in the area, Lev and the five Elemental Spirits began walking through the frozen landscape.
Eventually, they started making their way toward the place where they had been staying for the past five years.
*****
Inside a cave,
From the outside, the cave appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary cavern hidden within the frozen wilderness.
However, anyone who stepped inside would be surprised by what they found.
The interior was incredibly spacious, almost resembling a large underground residence. Over the past five years, Lev had transformed the cave into a comfortable home, filling it with everything they needed for their daily lives.
As soon as they entered, Lev raised his hand and activated the lights he had purchased from the system's store.
One by one, the lights illuminated the entire cave, dispelling the darkness and revealing the familiar interior that had been their home for the past five years.
These lights had been continuously used throughout their stay, making the cave feel far more comfortable despite the harsh environment of the Extreme North outside.
After returning home, Lev and Tsunade decided to have something to eat before finally heading to bed.
Meanwhile, Salamander, Undine, Gnome, Sylph, and Whisp remained near the entrance of the cave.
Guarding the place had already become part of their daily routine.
Any spirit beast that wandered too close to the cave would immediately be driven away by the five Elemental Spirits.
With their powerful presence and battle experience, even the stronger spirit beasts of the surrounding area had learned to avoid this place.
Thus, while Lev and Tsunade rested inside their comfortable underground home, the five Elemental Spirits silently guarded the entrance, ensuring that nothing would disturb their peaceful night.
*****
—Night—
On the bed,
Despite the raging snowstorm outside, the temperature inside the cave remained warm and comfortable. Although there was equipment keeping the place heated, the warmth filling the room was also due to the two people lying comfortably on the bed, with Tsunade resting against Lev while breathing heavily.
"Don't worry, Tsunade. You will also have your time in the future," Lev said softly.
This was actually what Tsunade had been concerned about. There were times when she would bring up the matter, wanting to help him, but Lev had instructed her to remain patient. Her strength was already far beyond what was considered normal in this world, and he wanted to wait for the right moment before allowing her to reveal her true power.
In fact, Tsunade's spirit power had already reached Rank 91 making her a genuine Titled Douluo after killing numerous spirit beasts and continuously increasing her strength. However, just like Lev, her actual combat prowess was far greater than what her spirit rank suggested.
Lev believed that the right time for her to showcase her true strength would eventually come—and that time might not be far away.
"I'll wait for it, Master," Tsunade replied with a faint smile.
She really wanted to test her strength in this world, but she could only hold herself back because Lev had instructed her to remain patient. She trusted that when the time came, he would allow her to fight without restrictions.
"Mmm. I think it's also time for us to leave this place and head back to see Zhu Zhuqing and the others," Lev said.
Aside from that, he also wanted to see the results of everything he had done five years ago. Until now, he had deliberately cut himself off from the outside world, leaving him with little idea of what had happened throughout the continent.
"Really, Master?" Tsunade asked as she immediately sat up, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Although she enjoyed being together with Lev all the time, she felt that having more people around them would make things livelier. From time to time, she also missed the days when Zhu Zhuqing had been with them.
"Mmmm. Furthermore, it's already time for me to make my move," Lev seriously replied.
The current him had already accumulated enough strength to accomplish the first phase of his mission. After five years of constant training, conquering and unifying the mainland was no longer an impossible task.
"Heh. I wonder what kind of reaction Zhuqing will have after seeing us again," Tsunade said with a smile.
Since they had left without saying goodbye, she couldn't help but wonder how Zhu Zhuqing had spent the past five years alongside Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo.
With that, Lev and Tsunade spent their final night in the cave together. They shared one last intimate moment before finally settling down to rest.
Tomorrow, they will leave the Extreme North.
And after five years of silence, Lev was finally ready to return to the world.