The divine pressure of the Fire Dragon King pierced through the defensive barrier of Spirit City and fell upon them, making it difficult for the soul power within their bodies to circulate. Even their divine souls trembled faintly.
"Your Holiness… the Fire Dragon King's strength is far too terrifying. Our Spirit Hall… may truly only be able to focus on self-preservation."
Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke cautiously, his tone filled with fear.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the raging turmoil in her heart. A trace of ruthlessness flashed through her crimson eyes. "Self-preservation? In the current situation, the only way to preserve ourselves is for me to become a god as soon as possible. Pass down my order. The entire Spirit Hall is to spare no effort in assisting my cultivation. No matter the cost, I must complete the Rakshasa God inheritance at the earliest possible moment!"
She understood clearly that in the present Spirit Hall, only deity-level combat power could secure a foothold in this era filled with powerful figures. Otherwise, annihilation by other forces could come at any time.
...
Inside the Hall of Offerings, Qian Daoliu stood before the Angel God Shrine. His aged face was filled with helplessness and bitterness as he gazed at the crimson dragon silhouette in the sky. A hint of despair flickered in his eyes.
As the guardian of the Angel God, his life's pursuit had been to ensure the continuation of the Angel God inheritance and to see Qian Renxue ascend to godhood.
Yet now, faced with the peak First-Class Deity Fire Dragon King, he finally understood how insignificant his so-called strength was before a true deity.
"A peak First-Class Deity… the Fire Dragon King, Crimson Sun…"
Qian Daoliu murmured to himself as legends about the Fire Dragon King flashed through his mind.
"A top-tier combatant from the God Realm War, still alive, and even subdued by humans. The structure of this continent is completely thrown into chaos."
He raised his hand and gently touched the stone pillar of the Angel God Shrine, sensing the faint Angel God power within it. His heart was filled with helplessness.
"Even if Xue'er becomes a god and ascends as a First-Class Deity, standing against the Fire Dragon King in his peak state would likely be no easy matter."
"Not to mention the Sea God, that old-established deity, as well as Di Tian, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, and the many other powerful figures."
The other six enshrined elders stood behind Qian Daoliu, their faces equally pale, their eyes filled with fear and unease.
They were all top-tier existences among Titled Douluo, yet under the divine pressure of the Fire Dragon King, even standing upright had become difficult, let alone resisting.
"Big Brother, what should we do now?" one of the enshrined elders asked tremblingly, his voice filled with helplessness.
Qian Daoliu slowly closed his eyes. His voice was low and hoarse. "What else can we do? Guard the Angel God Shrine well and assist Xue'er with everything we have. Help her become a god as soon as possible."
"At present, aside from waiting for Xue'er to ascend, we have no other path."
He knew clearly that the current Spirit City possessed no capital to contend with other top-tier forces. Their only hope lay with Qian Renxue and the Angel God inheritance.
...
At Shrek Academy, the Master collapsed onto a decayed wooden stool. The soul beast research notes in his hand fell to the ground. His eyes were filled with shock, his body trembling unceasingly, and even his breathing became rapid.
From the Evil Emperor's 935,000 years of cultivation, to the Heaven-Dream Ice Silkworm's million years, then to Di Tian's million-year Black Dragon King form and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's Quasi-Deity level.
Now, yet another peak First-Class Deity Fire Dragon King had appeared. The strength of soul beasts repeatedly shattered his understanding, completely collapsing his former knowledge of them.
"A First-Class Deity… soul beasts can actually reach the peak of a First-Class Deity… and even belong to a human academy…"
The Master murmured to himself, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"The power structure of this continent is completely in chaos. Before these top-tier soul beasts, humans are utterly insignificant."
...
At Heavenly Path Academy.
"Master, this subordinate has fully recovered peak combat power. From this day forward, I am willing to go through fire and water for you, without hesitation!"
The Fire Dragon King, Crimson Sun, lowered his head to look at Li Tianyi. Reverence and loyalty filled his dragon eyes.
He could sense that the Heavenly Rankings had not only restored his peak combat power, but had also left behind a trace of gentle spiritual energy within his body.
It stabilized his divine soul and prevented backlash from divine power. This debt of gratitude was something he would never forget.
Li Tianyi raised his hand lightly, the spiritual energy around his body surging faintly as he slightly reined in the Fire Dragon King's flame pressure. He smiled and spoke.
"Cultivate well and stabilize your combat strength. In the future, the safety of Heavenly Path Academy will require your careful attention."
Shui Bing'er looked at Li Tianyi, her eyes filled with determination. "Teacher, I will definitely work even harder in my cultivation. I will not disappoint your expectations. I will become a powerhouse capable of fighting alongside Senior Fire Dragon King as soon as possible and properly protect Heavenly Path Academy."
She could sense that the situation on the continent was growing increasingly complex, with powerful figures emerging one after another. Only by becoming strong enough herself could she stand firm in this chaotic era and avoid becoming a burden to Li Tianyi and Heavenly Path Academy.
Li Tianyi nodded in satisfaction and looked at Shui Bing'er with a smile. "Very good, Bing'er. Your talent is exceptional. As long as you cultivate with full focus, you will surely become a top-tier powerhouse in the future."
At that moment, the second-ranked entry on the Soul Beast Rankings began to change.
[Soul Beast Rankings, Second Place: Ice Dragon King]
[Affiliated Force: Heavenly Path Academy]
[Age: 1,200,000 years]
[Evaluation: Originally a First-Class Deity Ice Dragon King of the former God Realm. After falling, her remains were buried at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes, where he clung to life. Later subdued by Li Tianyi, Headmaster of Heavenly Path Academy, and partially restored.]
[Reward: Restoration to peak First-Class Deity combat power.]
Before the crimson dragon might had fully dissipated, the sky lit up once more with brilliant silver radiance. The three words "Ice Dragon King," carrying bone-chilling cold, pierced through the lingering heat and collided with the Fire Dragon King's blazing pressure in midair, bursting forth with crackling spatial fissures.
Across the entire Douluo Continent, one half burned with searing heat while the other half froze like an icy prison. The extreme contrast plunged all living beings into suffocating panic.
Deep within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes, beneath the frozen layers, a dragon roar more solemn than before resounded.
Pale blue dragon might burst through the ice seal and echoed from afar with the Fire Dragon King's crimson flame pressure. The two divine pressures intertwined, forming a yin-yang balanced light curtain. As it swept outward, it forcibly smoothed the chaotic energies between heaven and earth.
The Ice Dragon King's massive body slowly rose. Her scales shimmered with a luminous white chill, her dragon horns were crystallized with ice that had not melted for thousands of years, and extreme cold divine power churned within her eyes.
With every pulse of his divine core, the power of ice laws spread like tides. Wherever it passed, snow filled the skies, and even the high-altitude clouds froze into ice crystals that fell from above.
"I, together with Crimson Sun, shall protect Heavenly Path."
The Ice Dragon King's voice was cold as frost, yet carried unquestionable authority. It interwove with the Fire Dragon King's dragon roar, echoing across every corner of the continent.
...
The overlapping might of two peak First-Class Deities was far more oppressive than a single divine pressure. The pale purple Dragon God light barrier over the Star Dou Great Forest shook violently. Gu Yuena's fingertips surged with soul power at an ever-accelerating pace, barely stabilizing the barrier. The coldness in her eyes deepened.
"Two dragon race deities both belonging to Heavenly Path. Just how many hidden trump cards does Li Tianyi still possess?"
Di Tian's dragon scales tightened across his body. Dark-gold soul power surged wildly, yet he still struggled to withstand the dual divine pressure. His golden pupils were filled with gravity.
"The Ice Dragon King, Profound Frost. Back then, she and the Fire Dragon King were both fierce generals under the Dragon God. She controlled extreme ice laws, and her combat strength did not fall below Crimson Sun's. Now that both have simultaneously returned to their peaks, Heavenly Path Academy has firmly taken the position of the continent's number one force. No one can shake it."
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