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Seeing Tang San regain his confidence, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Erlong pinched Yu Xiaogang, signaling him to stop talking nonsense.
Yu Xiaogang, however, remained indifferent, muttering, "If not for my guidance, how could Tang San have such a firm conviction to become a God?"
Watching Yu Xiaogang's "dead pig unafraid of boiling water" attitude, the others couldn't help but feel pity for Tang San. What kind of karmic debt had Tang San accrued in his past life to end up with such an eccentric teacher?
Suddenly, everyone's body jerked violently.
The entire Sea God Island shook uncontrollably. The previously calm ocean instantly transformed into a raging maelstrom, with massive waves crashing frantically against the island's shores.
"What's happening?! Has Ye Lan launched an attack?!" Yu Xiaogang's heart trembled as he blurted out his deepest fear.
It took over ten seconds for Sea God Island to recover from the tremors. Everyone looked up at the blood-red sky, their eyes filled with confusion.
"Grandmother, what is this? Why has the sky turned red?" Tang San asked, bewildered.
Bo Saixi sensed the surroundings for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "I find that the bottleneck of my cultivation has loosened. I fear a new transformation has occurred within the Douluo Continent."
"That's great!! High Priest, as long as you break through Rank 100, you will surely defeat Ye Lan!!" Yu Xiaogang exclaimed excitedly.
"It's not that simple," Bo Saixi shook her head. "The bottleneck has loosened for the entire Douluo world. They will likely be able to break through further as well."
"Little San, relying on the God-bestowed soul rings, your strength has taken a qualitative leap. You must now challenge the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians for the Fifth Trial of the Sea God, and then complete the Sixth and Seventh Trials in one go."
"Once you complete the Seventh Trial, I will allow you to return to the Douluo Continent to find your father."
Tang San's eyes brightened. "Really?! I will definitely complete the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Trials!!"
"Good. Little San, your cultivation relies on the Eight Spider Lances, doesn't it? After these years of tempering, your foundation is solid. In these extraordinary times, you may use... certain 'special' means," Bo Saixi added.
Tang San's pupils shrank. He hadn't expected his grandmother to see through his reliance on the Eight Spider Lances. Then, his heart filled with warmth. He had been most reluctant to expose his darker side to her, but he never expected her to accept his "evil" methods.
"I understand!" Tang San nodded heavily.
"Methods are merely methods; just ensure you do not use them on innocent civilians. Once you complete the Seventh Trial, I will provide you with some defensive measures. As for me, I must go into secluded cultivation to prepare everything for your eventual ascension to godhood!" Bo Saixi declared.
"Little San, prepare to begin the Fifth Trial now!" Bo Saixi looked toward the Seahorse Sacred Pillar.
"Third Brother!! Good luck!!!!" Xiao Wu shouted with all her might.
Hearing her cry, Tang San glanced sideways and gave a curt, "Oh."
---
*Douluo Empire, Sunset Forest Soul Beast Sanctuary, Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.*
"Boss!! A fox is coming!!!" The Skydream Ice Worm quickly woke Ye Lan from his meditative state.
"Senior Hu?! Why are you here? I thought it would be Chenxiang looking for me," Ye Lan said, surprised.
"What, are you unhappy that your Senior is here? Should I leave then?" Hu Liena asked piteously.
"Senior, give it a rest!" Ye Lan said helplessly.
In that instant, Hu Liena suddenly threw herself into Ye Lan's arms, acting spoiled. "I missed you so much~"
Hu Liena's natural charm, seductive voice, and exquisite figure sent a jolt through Ye Lan's mind.
"Senior, what's the matter?" Ye Lan swallowed hard.
"Hmph!! When did you get involved with a black dragon and a scorpion!?" Hu Liena asked, gritting her teeth.
"Huh? What scorpion? What black dragon? Am I that kind of person?" Ye Lan's eyes widened.
Hearing the gossip, Skydream immediately pricked up its ears. A scorpion and a black dragon? Boss plays that dirty?
"I bet you are!! Di Tian has already proposed to Teacher on behalf of the Ice Empress Douluo and the Demon King Douluo. Teacher is currently asking for your opinion," Hu Liena said, watching him closely.
"Ah? They proposed already? I recall I only beat them up once," Ye Lan said, scratching his head.
"So, will you marry them or not?" Hu Liena countered.
"Why wouldn't I want free wives?!" Ye Lan laughed loudly.
"You pervert!!!" Hu Liena's face flushed.
"What are you thinking? I'm clearly contributing to the peaceful coexistence of humans and soul beasts—taking a giant leap for our relationship!!" Ye Lan explained.
"Waaaaah!" The Skydream Ice Worm was inconsolable. It hadn't expected that Ye Lan, simply by beating up Bing'er and Xiao Zi, would win their hearts. They were the goddesses of the Soul Beast race!!!!
The Boss had captured the hearts of his goddesses so easily!!
"What's that crying sound?! Did someone get dumped?!" Hu Liena asked, confused.
"Waaaaah!!" Skydream cried even louder. Even though it knew about the engagement, hearing it confirmed was still a massive blow.
"Stop crying, Skydream. Once I become a God, I'll introduce you to a goddess!" Ye Lan promised.
"Waaa... Boss, really!?"
"Boss, you're the best!!!" Skydream instantly cheered up.
Hu Liena hugged Ye Lan tightly. Remembering the jealousy in her teacher's eyes when Di Tian proposed, she asked with 90% certainty:
"Junior, have you... even 'taken down' Teacher?"
"Taken down? Teacher and I are of one mind." Ye Lan pinched Hu Liena's cheek.
"I knew it!! You really are a big wolf!!! Even Teacher..."
"Ye Lan, is your Senior's beauty not enough?"
"You and Little Xue have been progressing for so long..."
"And after all this time, you..."
"Could it be that Junior and I are not 'of one mind' as well?"
Hu Liena looked at Ye Lan expectantly, her heart racing. The current Ye Lan was simply too handsome. People called her a vixen, but in her eyes, her Junior had become a male succubus—even the first female emperor of Douluo had fallen for him.
"Of course I feel the same for you, Senior," Ye Lan smiled.
Hearing his confirmation, Hu Liena decisively pinned Ye Lan down and lunged for his lips.
Seeing the long-repressed Hu Liena, Ye Lan helplessly blocked the gossiping soul beasts within his soul rings and embraced her tightly.
Hu Liena murmured dizzily, "Mm, Junior... use whatever 'methods' you have on me."
"I want to know why Teacher always looks so lovesick~"
"Don't badmouth Teacher!"
"Blood Armor: Full Form!!"
"Ah!! Senior knows she was wrong!!"
A long time later, Hu Liena lay in Ye Lan's arms, her eyes misty and her face flushed.
Ye Lan held her and asked, "Senior, what's the intelligence from the continent?"
"What is the actual situation with the Abyssal invasion?"
"Hmph, can't it just be that I missed you?" Hu Liena bit Ye Lan playfully, then began: "Small spatial rifts are appearing across the Douluo Empire."
"From these rifts, monsters like green-skinned dwarves and transparent spheres emerge."
"These monsters are roughly equivalent to Soul Masters. Although they aren't strong individually, the rifts appear everywhere. Many villages haven't been attacked yet, but they live in constant fear that a rift will open in their own homes."
Ye Lan frowned. "Green-skinned dwarves? Transparent spheres?"
"Do the dwarves have long ears and round eyes?"
"Junior?! How did you know!" Hu Liena was shocked.
"These two monsters are called Goblins and Slimes."
(Note: The original Abyss setting had 108 levels, but was rarely detailed. Only a few types like Shuttle Demons and Ant Emperors were shown. Therefore, this story adds more fantasy creatures.)
"What strange names!" Hu Liena remarked.
She then asked, "Junior, do you have a plan? Teacher is currently getting a headache over this!"
"Many Titled Douluos have already headed to the Far North to observe that strange dark vortex."
Ye Lan thought for a moment and said, "Tell Teacher to create an 'Adventurers Guild.' Any Soul Master can register as an adventurer there."
"We just need to issue tasks to the adventurers with rich rewards. This will mobilize everyone's enthusiasm to hunt Abyssal creatures."
"Adventurers can be ranked: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, King, and Legend."
"Bronze handles Rank 1-29 creatures; Silver handles 30-49; Gold handles 51-69; Diamond handles 70-79; King handles 80-89; and Legend handles 90-95."
"Junior!! This plan is brilliant!! You aren't the God of Life and Destruction—you're the God of Wisdom!!!" Hu Liena praised.
Ye Lan smiled and continued, "As for the rewards, they must be substantial! Enough to make them willing to work themselves to the bone!"
"Junior, why? Can the Douluo Empire's funds handle that kind of drain?" Hu Liena asked, puzzled.
"Senior, you don't know that Spirit Hall has more money than it knows how to spend?!" Ye Lan said helplessly.
"What?! You can run out of ways to spend money?!" Hu Liena dithered.
"Of course. Artificial soul rings, whale glue, soul tools, and soul pills have already drained the savings of countless people. Even so, demand still exceeds supply."
"The imperial treasury has exceeded all common sense. We have mountains of gold soul coins. Now is the time to let that money flow back to the civilians and Soul Masters."
"Currently, the monsters are just Goblins and Slimes. As the planes merge, the monsters will only get stronger. We must raise the baseline strength of the entire continent!!" Ye Lan declared.
"I understand!!" Hu Liena looked at Ye Lan with pure adoration. His long-term vision left her mesmerized.
Ye Lan lay back on Hu Liena's external soul bone "Fox Tail," thought for a moment, and continued: "Have Teacher provide some support to the 'Sun Moon Kingdom' as well. That is also the territory of the Douluo Empire."
"Mm!! These rifts appear and disappear; likely the entire planet is suffering," Hu Liena agreed.
"The Adventurers Guild tasks will mainly handle rifts in remote areas, targeting low-level monsters. As time goes on, Spirit Hall and the Temple must be fully prepared for a large-scale invasion."
"Additionally, have Teacher handle the propaganda and public morale. Emphasize that the Empire is under attack to unite the people and soul beasts as one."
"Put the Empire on wartime alert. Manage critical resources. Most policies can mirror those used during the war with the Myriad Beast Empire."
"Finally, tell Teacher and Little Xue to build more Angel Temples and Rakshasa Temples. Since the Godhood positions in the Divine Realm cannot currently be inherited, have them collect the faith of the Douluo Continent first. Prepare for their eventual ascension!!"
"Alright, I've got it!!" Hu Liena kissed Ye Lan's forehead and then reluctantly hurried back toward Spirit City.
---
*Several months later.*
*Douluo Empire, Myriad Beast City, Star Lake Soul Beast Sanctuary.*
Gu Yuena slowly opened her purple eyes. After this period of recuperation and cultivation, she had finally reached the limit of the Douluo plane. Her physical body had reached the Rank 100 level—the so-called "Divine Officer" level.
With the help of the "Dragon God's Heart," her mental power could barely reach the "Half-Step God-King" level. In planes with fewer restrictions, she would be able to fully recover her mental power to the God-King level.
"Xue'er, you're here?!" Gu Yuena was surprised to see the peerless woman with ice-blue hair before her.
"Mm. Di Tian has moved all the soul beasts from the Far North to Myriad Beast City." The Snow Empress looked at Gu Yuena, a flicker of emotion passing through her calm blue eyes.
She pursed her lips and asked, "Sovereign... have you and Ye Lan reconciled?"
Hearing the name, Gu Yuena thought of Ye Lan's face, and a smile unconsciously surfaced.
The smile left the Snow Empress dazed. She heard Gu Yuena say, "Yes. Although it feels like we just met, I think he is very good—an extremely reliable person."
It was the first time the Snow Empress had heard her Sovereign praise anyone—human or beast—like that.
She recalled the summit of the snowy peak and the Sovereign's genuine display of emotion. Back then, for the sake of the soul beast race, the Sovereign had forcibly sealed her own memories and those of Ye Lan.
Now, even without her memories, the Sovereign had fallen in love with the same person all over again.
Love...
The Snow Empress's eyes flickered again. She hesitated deeply about whether to return those memories to her Sovereign. If Gu Yuena regained those memories, her love for Ye Lan would surely be even deeper.
However...
In the simple, lonely world of ice and snow, through those boring days, she had revisited the Sovereign and Ye Lan's experiences countless times in those memories.
Reliving them so many times had caused her to fall in love with Ye Lan herself.
If she returned these memories to the Sovereign, she would lose them forever.
She was unwilling...
(End of Chapter)