The Extreme North, the Ice Palace.
Snow Empress gazed at the information on the light screen. Her white-robed figure, purer than snow, stiffened slightly, and a trace of complexity flashed through her cold eyes.
"One million years… the Black Dragon King… Di Tian's luck is truly exceptional."
The anxiety in Ice Empress's eyes did not fade. Instead, it was joined by a sense of urgency.
"Snow Empress, after Di Tian's evolution, the strength of the Star Dou Forest has grown even more. If we want to rescue Tian Meng, it will be even harder."
"No. I have already sensed changes in the Star Dou Great Forest. The Evil Emperor is going there in person."
Snow Empress shook her head and looked toward the direction of Star Dou, a sharp glint flashing through her eyes.
"Di Tian and the Evil Emperor have always been mortal enemies. Now that Di Tian has evolved, if the Evil Emperor insists on invading, it will certainly become a fight to the death."
"When two tigers fight, one is bound to be wounded. This may be our opportunity."
She raised her hand and condensed an ice blade, her voice cold and resolute.
"Pass down the order. All soul beasts of the Extreme North are to cultivate with full effort. I will personally guide ice-type soul beasts in integrating spiritual power. When war erupts between Star Dou and the Evil Spirit Forest, we will seize the chance to infiltrate Star Dou and rescue Tian Meng."
...
Spirit Hall City, the Papal Palace.
The greed Bibi Dong had just felt because of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm was instantly extinguished by the news of Di Tian entering the rankings.
She staggered back a step, her crimson eyes filled with disbelief and despair. The scepter in her hand fell to the ground with a loud clang.
"One million years… Black Dragon King… god-level combat power…"
Bibi Dong murmured, her voice trembling.
"The Star Dou Great Forest… actually has a one-million-year soul beast!"
She had thought the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm was an opportunity to exploit, but Di Tian's evolution instantly shattered her illusions.
A one-million-year Black Dragon King was an existence even peerless Title Douluo could not contend with. In the face of absolute power, Spirit Hall's plans seemed utterly laughable.
"Your Holiness…"
Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke cautiously beside her, his tone filled with worry.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the turmoil in her heart.
"It is nothing. The Soul Hunting Plan is suspended indefinitely."
Inside the Hall of Offerings.
Qian Daoliu stared at the light screen, his face pale as paper, the despair in his eyes even deeper.
The angelic divine power he took such pride in was like an ant trying to shake a tree before the dragon might of a one-million-year Black Dragon King.
"Son of the Dragon God… one million years…"
Qian Daoliu slowly closed his eyes, his voice filled with powerlessness.
"Are humans… truly finished?"
The other elders remained silent. Despair permeated the entire Hall of Offerings.
...
Shrek Academy, inside a pavilion.
The Grandmaster's body shook violently once more, shock filling his eyes as his fingers trembled unconsciously.
"One million years… Black Dragon King… Di Tian… Star Dou Great Forest…"
His mind was in complete chaos. His former understanding of soul beasts had been utterly overturned.
From the Evil Emperor's nine hundred ninety-three thousand five hundred years, to the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's one million years, and now to Di Tian's one-million-year Black Dragon King, the power of soul beasts had reached a level that inspired sheer despair.
"Teacher…"
Tang San stood nearby, feeling the dragon might that traveled across thousands of miles. Turbulent waves surged within his heart as well.
He could clearly sense that Di Tian's power far exceeded his imagination, even more terrifying than any powerhouse he had ever seen.
The Grandmaster slowly regained his composure and looked at Tang San. A complex expression flashed through his eyes, containing worry, unwillingness, and more than anything else, a trace of hope.
"Little San, do you see it? This is the pinnacle power of the continent. One-million-year soul beasts, a child of the Dragon God. If we humans want to gain a foothold in this era, there is only one path. Become stronger."
Tang San nodded heavily, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Teacher, I understand. I will cultivate with all my strength, reach that realm as soon as possible, and protect everything we wish to protect."
...
Heavenly Path Academy, a pavilion.
Li Tianyi set down his teacup. A trace of gravity flashed through his eyes before he returned to his usual calm.
"A one-million-year Black Dragon King… Di Tian's move has completely changed the continent's balance."
He turned to look at Shui Bing'er, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Bing'er, it seems your path still stretches much farther ahead."
"The true excitement of this continent has only just begun."
A blazing light shone in Shui Bing'er's eyes as she nodded firmly.
"Teacher, I understand."
"I will work twice as hard and will not disappoint your expectations."
"Hey! Don't forget about us too!"
"Yeah!"
The other girls chimed in to ease the tension.
...
The Evil Spirit Forest.
The Evil Emperor's massive eyeball stared fixedly at the information on the heavenly screen. Rage and jealousy churned violently within its purple-black pupil.
"One million years… Black Dragon King… Son of the Dragon God…"
The hoarse voice sounded like the roar of a ghost from the abyss, filled with unwillingness and killing intent.
"Why? Why does that crawling creature get to evolve into a Son of the Dragon God? Why does he receive the favor of the Heavenly Dao?"
He felt the terrifying dragon might coming from the Star Dou Great Forest. The pressure was like a mountain bearing down, throwing the spiritual power within his body into chaos.
Nine hundred ninety-three thousand five hundred years of cultivation seemed so insignificant before a one-million-year Black Dragon King.
"No… impossible!"
The Evil Emperor roared madly. Eighty-one tentacles lashed the void in frenzy. Black scales fell away as dark purple lightning raged wildly.
"This Emperor is the true ruler of the continent. This Emperor is the strongest!"
He suddenly turned toward the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest, a trace of insane killing intent flashing through his eyes.
"Di Tian, do you think evolving into a Black Dragon King means you can suppress this Emperor forever? Three days from now, this Emperor will shatter your Star Dou, take your life, and seize your dragon core!"
"The one-million-year spiritual power of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, and your dragon core as well, will become the stepping stones for this Emperor to break through to godhood!"
Before the words had even faded, the power of time and space around the Evil Emperor boiled once more. The purple-black light curtain expanded to a radius of fifty miles. The black fog of the entire Evil Spirit Forest surged violently. Countless sinister soul beasts went mad under his roar, howling toward the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.
A battle capable of overturning the continent's balance was already on the brink of eruption.
...
The Star Dou Great Forest, beside the Lake of Life.
Di Tian hovered in midair. The dragon might of the one-million-year Black Dragon King enveloped the entire forest. His golden pupils looked toward the direction of the Evil Spirit Forest, icy killing intent flashing within them.
"Evil Emperor, three days from now, this Emperor will await your battle in Star Dou."
The voice was like the judgment of the Dragon God, resounding across every corner of the continent.
Gu Yuena stood by the Lake of Life, gazing at Di Tian's back. A profound light flickered through her eyes.
She knew that this battle was not merely a clash between Star Dou and the Evil Spirit Forest. It was a game between soul beasts and humans, and even between the Heavenly Dao and fate itself.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, ten thousand beasts bowed in submission. Dragon might shook the world.
Three days later, the Star Dou Great Forest would usher in a battle of the century.
At the same time, the fourth place on the Soul Beast Rankings was revealed.
[Soul Beast Rankings, Fourth Place: Deep Sea Demon Whale King]
[Cultivation: 1,000,000 years]
[Affiliation: Deep Sea]
[Evaluation: A soul beast from the same era as the Sea God's ascension through faith. Its left eye was destroyed by the Sea God's Trident. Its true combat power has already reached the god level.]
[Reward: Increase cultivation by 200,000 years.]
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