Having condensed a perfect body and feeling an unprecedented connection to the Douluo Plane, Lei Chen slowly opened his eyes. His gaze seemed capable of piercing through layers of space, instantly landing at the center of Sea God Island within Shrek Academy.
On Sea God Island, the golden ancient tree that had stood for ten thousand years was today undergoing a transformation that shocked the entire senior leadership of the academy.
The already majestic and spectacular ancient tree, for reasons unknown, began a near-frenzied growth within just a few short hours. Its thick trunk visibly expanded, and its gnarled, dragon-like roots burrowed deep into the island's foundation, even causing minor tremors.
Most astonishingly, the already sky-blocking canopy now spread outward like a living creature. The dense golden leaves and branches shimmered with the glow of life, eventually enveloping the entire Sea God Island in its shade. From afar, the island appeared to be covered by a vast, gently glowing golden canopy.
This unprecedented spectacle naturally drew the high-level attention of the Sea God Pavilion.
Within the Sea God Pavilion, the atmosphere was heavy.
Led by Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo, and others, the venerable elders gathered, their faces unable to conceal shock and worry. They had tried various methods of investigation but still could not understand why the golden ancient tree had suddenly undergone such a drastic change.
This ancient tree was not only a symbol of the academy but was also intrinsically linked to the foundation of the academy and even the entire Shrek City. Any unusual activity from it affected everyone deeply.
"Elder Mu, what do you make of this..." Elder Song turned his gaze respectfully towards the seemingly drowsy old man seated at the head, his tone full of deference.
The old man was none other than the current master of the Sea God Pavilion, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En, the academy's sole pillar of stability.
Mu En slowly raised his head. A glimmer of depth, incongruous with his age, flashed in his cloudy eyes. He gazed at the massive canopy outside the window that had nearly dyed the sky gold, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke slowly in a hoarse voice, "The rules of the world... seem to have undergone some fundamental change."
"A will I cannot comprehend, yet vast and boundless, is awakening... or perhaps... is taking over this heaven and earth."
He paused slightly, sensing the far more active and abundant life energy flowing in the air compared to before, and continued, "As an aggregation of life force, the golden ancient tree's transformation is the most direct response to this upheaval."
"It seems to be... cheering, welcoming the arrival of a new era. As for the specific reason, even I cannot see the full picture. I only feel as insignificant as dust before this grand will."
Mu En's vague yet profoundly solemn and awe-inspiring explanation left the assembled elders even more bewildered.
A change in the world's rules? An incomprehensible will? This had completely surpassed their scope of understanding.
If even a Limit Douluo couldn't comprehend this change, what level of power must it be?
Just as everyone exchanged glances, trying to digest this astonishing information yet finding it unbelievable—
Another change occurred!
Without any warning, the golden radiance enveloping the entire Sea God Island abruptly contracted inward. The massive, suffocating canopy trembled gently. In the next moment, to the utter horror of all onlookers, the entire golden ancient tree, along with the entire plot of land its roots occupied, was uprooted by an invisible, irresistible force!
"What's happening?!"
"The golden ancient tree! It... it's flying!"
"Heavens! How is this possible!"
The elders rushed out of the Sea God Pavilion. The sight before them left them utterly dumbfounded.
They saw the golden ancient tree, which had borne ten thousand years of history and was regarded as the lifeblood of the academy, now enveloped in seven-colored light, slowly ascending into the sky. Its massive form showed no sign of clumsiness; instead, it drifted as lightly as a feather towards the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Mu En also came outside the pavilion. He looked up at the distant golden giant tree, his aged face filled with complex emotions—shock, understanding, ultimately resolving into a long sigh. "So it is... the will of the Plane... Shrek, our ten-thousand-year mission, may be different from now on."
No one attempted to stop it, for everyone could feel that the power lifting the golden ancient tree was on a level far beyond their comprehension. It was a force belonging to the entire world, not to be defied.
Star Dou Great Forest, the core region, Lake of Life.
The lake's surface rippled with emerald waves. The life energy here was so thick it seemed tangible, giving the water a jade-like hue.
At this moment, the space above the lake's center twisted slightly. Lei Chen's newly condensed, perfect body, emanating a seven-colored halo and an aura of thunderous pressure, quietly appeared. His gaze swept over this vibrant area, and he nodded in satisfaction.
This was not only the place where the Silver Dragon King had once lain dormant but also the node where the life veins of the entire Douluo Star converged—the optimal location for the life core to reside.
"This place is your true home," Lei Chen murmured softly, raising his hand in a beckoning gesture.
The golden ancient tree, wrapped in seven-colored light, traversed space and steadily descended into the center of the Lake of Life. Its enormous roots, as if alive, actively probed beneath the lake's surface, deeply embedding themselves into the Douluo's most fertile, life-energy-rich soil.
*Hum—!*
The moment the golden ancient tree took root, the heaven and earth energy of the entire Star Dou Great Forest, and even a wider area, began to boil!
Centered on the Lake of Life, a mighty tide of life spread out like ripples. Wherever it passed, plants grew wildly, spiritual herbs bloomed, and countless injured or weakened Spirit Beasts bathed in this light of life. Their wounds healed at a visible pace, and their auras grew stronger.
The golden ancient tree's branches and leaves unfurled, more resplendent and vibrant than ever before. It connected completely with the Lake of Life beneath it and the entire life vein network of the Douluo Star, truly becoming the Plane's life core.
Having completed the relocation of the life core, Lei Chen did not pause. He hovered high in the air and slowly closed his eyes.
What came next was his promise to that important ally, and the first step in his reshaping of this world's order.
Using the authority of the Lord of the Plane, he began to communicate with the world's fundamental laws, tracing the trajectory of time. His will locked onto a specific point in time—several years ago, deep underground in the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, the moment he and the Silver Dragon King formally established their alliance.
From that moment until now, for all Spirit Beasts that had perished across the Douluo Douluo due to human hunting in these intervening years, their dissipated life imprints and remnant souls began to be forcibly gathered and reconstructed from the heavens and earth, from the laws themselves, summoned by the Plane's origin.
Star Dou Great Forest, Sunset Forest, Extreme North Land... Countless places where hunting had once occurred began to emit points of spiritual light. Like fireflies, these lights drifted from the void, from the earth, even from some Soul Bones carried by Spirit Masters, carrying the dying cries and unwillingness of the Spirit Beasts.
Under the influence of Lei Chen's vast divine power, these fragmented life imprints and remnant souls rapidly reassembled according to their forms in life. Flesh regenerated, bones reformed, souls returned to their places...
A Wind Wolf that had just been hunted not long ago, to the astonishment of the hunting party, saw its wounds heal as it stood up in confusion; a Polar Ice Bear that had fallen on the Extreme North ice plains shook its massive head and let out a puzzled roar; even some Spirit Beasts that had long turned to skeletons, but whose time of death fell after the alliance was signed, began to regrow flesh, sinew, and veins upon their white bones...
Resurrection. Mass, unimaginable resurrection!
This was not a miracle for individuals, but the Lord of the Plane temporarily modifying and intervening in the entire world's rules of life and reincarnation!
All Spirit Beasts that had died due to human hunting after Lei Chen and the Silver Dragon King formally established their alliance, regardless of rank or race, were at this moment pulled back from the abyss of death by Lei Chen's supreme authority!
Countless resurrected Spirit Beasts stood bewildered in the places where they had once fallen, their memories still frozen at the moment of being hunted. Yet the surging vitality within them told them they were alive.
After a brief period of confusion came the wild joy of surviving a catastrophe, and an instinctive awe towards the great will they faintly sensed. They all turned towards the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest's core, letting out cries and roars filled with gratitude.
Sensing the reviving life auras across the Douluo, Lei Chen nodded slightly.
Although the number of Spirit Beasts that had perished in these years was huge, compared to the vastly increased origin energy after the Planes merged, the expenditure was negligible.
This 'gift' could be considered a small token of repayment to the Silver Dragon King who had helped him greatly.