Following the surprise attack, Lev was blasted outside the palace.
However, instead of returning inside, he simply stopped himself in midair and slowly rose higher into the sky.
Seeing Emperor Xue Ye and the others rushing outside, Lev did not pay them any attention at first. His gaze instead swept across the entire Heaven Dou Palace and the vast city below.
This was his first time seeing the palace from such a height.
He could not help but feel amazed by the scenery.
From above, the entire Heaven Dou City looked completely different. The magnificent buildings, sprawling streets, and enormous palace could all be seen clearly from his position.
After admiring the view for a moment, Lev finally shifted his gaze toward Emperor Xue Ye and the others who had emerged from the palace.
The shocked expression on Emperor Xue Ye's face immediately made Lev smirk.
"Listen carefully, everyone!"
His voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire city.
"I will carry out a complete cleanup today."
Lev's eyes narrowed as an overwhelming aura spread from his body.
"From this moment onward, the Heaven Dou Empire will cease to exist!"
His declaration resounded throughout Heaven Dou City and even reached the surrounding areas.
Everyone who heard his words reacted differently.
Some were confused.
Some were angry.
Some were terrified.
But one emotion was shared by almost everyone.
Fear.
A single man had just declared the destruction of an entire empire.
And judging from everything that had happened since his return, nobody dared to dismiss his words as an empty threat.
***Recca***
Lev raised his hand and began writing the word in the air.
The moment the final stroke was completed, his ninth spirit ring appeared.
At the same time, the tattoo on his back had finally been completed.
The mysterious pattern that had gradually formed over the past five years had finally revealed its true appearance.
A magnificent dragon was engraved across his back.
At this moment, Lev had finally stepped into the realm of a Titled Douluo.
[Spirit Ring absorbed.]
[9th Spirit Ring: Recca]
[Description: A fully grown dragon.]
[Skill: Using this ability, the host can summon Recca, who possesses the ability to fight independently and has access to the skills of the other Flame Dragons.]
Lev's eyes widened slightly after hearing the system's notification.
"A dragon that can fight independently..."
He could not hide his excitement.
Although he had already anticipated that Recca would be powerful, he had never expected that the dragon could actually fight independently while possessing the abilities of the other Flame Dragons.
After waiting for five years, he could finally see the result of his training and preparation.
Just thinking about Recca's potential made Lev's blood boil with excitement.
Meanwhile, Emperor Xue Ye and the others remained frozen in place.
They had been completely shocked when they saw Lev emerge from their combined attack without even a scratch.
But now, their expressions have become even more complicated.
Nine spirit rings.
Lev had actually become a Titled Douluo.
And yet, something was seriously wrong.
Every single one of his nine spirit rings was white.
"What...?"
The Titled Douluos surrounding Emperor Xue Ye stared at the nine white spirit rings in disbelief.
They had never seen anything like this before.
Even Emperor Xue Ye could not understand what he was looking at.
A Titled Douluo possessing nine white spirit rings?
It completely defied everything they knew about the world of spirit masters.
Yet the overwhelming pressure radiating from Lev's body was undeniable.
Whatever the reason behind those strange spirit rings was, there was one thing they could no longer deny.
The Lev standing before them was no longer the same person from five years ago.
Looking at the description of his ninth spirit ring, Lev smiled widely as he looked down at Emperor Xue Ye and the others.
"Your Majesty, if you had simply left me alone back then and hadn't harbored any ill intentions toward me, none of this would have happened."
Lev's smile slowly disappeared, replaced by a cold expression.
"Remember this well. The fall of the Heaven Dou Empire is entirely the result of your own arrogance and stupidity."
Following his declaration, Lev raised his hand once again.
His ninth spirit ring suddenly lit up.
The white spirit ring slowly rose into the sky before rapidly expanding, becoming several times larger than an ordinary spirit ring.
Then, something strange happened.
The sky suddenly began to darken.
Clouds gathered at an alarming speed, covering the heavens above Heaven Dou City. The sunlight gradually disappeared, causing the entire city to fall into an ominous darkness.
The people living throughout the empire immediately panicked.
"What is happening?!"
"Look at the sky!"
"Run!"
Chaos quickly spread throughout the city.
Many people rushed out of their homes in confusion, while others desperately searched for somewhere safe to hide.
Above the palace, several figures could also be seen flying into the sky.
The ordinary citizens could not identify who they were or what they were doing, but the powerful spirit masters in the surrounding area could clearly see them.
The stronger their spirit power was, the clearer their perception became.
And what they saw only made their hearts tremble.
Something enormous was about to happen.
*****
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy,
Meanwhile, inside the academy, a group of people stood together while staring at the darkening sky.
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
Students were continuously fleeing the academy, while the teachers desperately tried to maintain order and prevent everyone from falling into complete panic.
However, even the teachers themselves were struggling to remain calm.
"L-Lev... Why is he attacking the empire?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes remained fixed on the distant sky.
"Why is this happening? D-Did he do something?"
Although he could not see what was happening from such a distance, he was already familiar with Lev's spirit power signature.
He knew without a doubt that the terrifying presence in the distance belonged to him.
"B-But Lev's power earlier was terrifying!" Ma Hongjun exclaimed, his body trembling as he remembered what they had witnessed earlier that morning.
"He wiped out almost half of that army with a single spirit ability!"
He swallowed hard before continuing.
"A-And what were those strange spirit beasts?! How could he possibly tame them and make them fight for him?"
Ma Hongjun had never witnessed anything like it before.
The sight of tens of thousands of spirit masters being slaughtered by a single person had completely shattered his understanding of strength.
Flender and Zhao Wuji also remained silent.
Their expressions were solemn as they tried to comprehend what they had witnessed.
Even after everything they had experienced throughout the years, they had never imagined that one person could possess such overwhelming power.
Oscar, however, was somewhat different.
He had already spent a year with Lev in the Extreme North and had witnessed a portion of his terrifying strength.
Yet even he could not remain calm.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
'He's definitely stronger than he was three years ago.'
Oscar clenched his fists.
He had already known that Lev was a monster.
But seeing him again after three years made him realize that the gap between them had only grown wider.
Meanwhile, Tang San stood silently.
Fear and shock were intertwined within his eyes.
He had never imagined that Lev would become such a monster after five years.
Back then, Tang San already knew that Lev was stronger than him.
However, he had always believed that the difference between them could eventually be overcome.
He had trained under his father for five years.
He had endured countless hardships.
He had become stronger.
And yet...
Looking at Lev now, fighting against an entire empire by himself, Tang San's confidence began to crumble.
'How... how did he become this strong?'
For the first time, Tang San's belief that he could eventually defeat Lev began to disappear.
The distance between them was no longer something that could be measured simply by a few spirit ranks.
It was a gap that seemed to stretch across an entire world.
*****
Outside the Palace,
After Lev summoned Recca, Emperor Xue Ye and the others gasped in shock as a dragon's head suddenly emerged from the spirit ring, followed by its enormous, fiery body. The dragon was so massive and long that its body was comparable in size to the entire palace. Seeing such an enormous creature hovering in the sky, everyone could only stare at it in disbelief as Recca similarly looked down at them.
Meanwhile, everyone living within the empire had also turned their attention toward the sky. An eastern dragon clad entirely in flames had suddenly appeared, looking as though it were the very embodiment of fire itself.
Recca, whose enormous and elongated body covered a large portion of the sky, slowly lowered its head and looked down at the people beneath it.
Then—
ROARRRR!!!
A deafening roar erupted from Recca's mouth.
The terrifying sound shook not only Heaven Dou Empire but seemingly the entire continent. The earth trembled, the clouds scattered, and countless spirit beasts instinctively lowered their heads in fear. Even powerful spirit masters could not help but feel their hearts tremble upon hearing that terrifying roar.
*****
Spirit Hall,
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Bibi Dong and the others immediately turned their attention toward the direction from which the roar had come.
Everyone inside the hall frowned as they felt an indescribable pressure through the sound alone. There was even a faint trace of fear hidden within their expressions.
It was not simply the roar of an ordinary spirit beast.
Whatever had produced that sound possessed a terrifying level of power.
Without wasting another second, Bibi Dong immediately ordered one of her subordinates to investigate what was happening.
"Go. Find out what happened and report back immediately."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
The person immediately bowed before leaving the hall.
Bibi Dong continued staring toward the distant direction with a solemn expression. She had never felt such a terrifying presence from a spirit beast before.
*****
Elder's Palace,
Inside a quiet hall, a handsome man who appeared to be around thirty or forty years old could be found meditating alone.
He wore a simple grey robe, while his long black hair was scattered behind his head and neatly combed. His tall figure remained completely still as his calm and serene breathing gave the entire room a peaceful atmosphere.
However—
ROARRRR!!!
The terrifying roar suddenly echoed across the distance.
The man's eyes immediately opened.
His previously calm expression disappeared as he slowly stood up and looked toward the direction from which the roar had originated.
A deep frown appeared on his face.
For the first time in a very long while, an emotion he thought he had forgotten suddenly surfaced within him.
Fear.
He had encountered countless powerful beings throughout his life, yet the pressure carried by that roar was something completely different.
"This..."
The man narrowed his eyes.
He immediately realized that whatever had appeared in the outside world was something that could not be ignored.
*****
Sea God Island,
Meanwhile, an incredibly beautiful woman could be found sitting gracefully upon a throne.
She wore a white and red gown with long sleeves adorned with intricate silver decorations. A golden crown shaped like a halo rested upon her head, perfectly matching the golden scepter in her hand.
Her ocean-blue hair flowed down her back like water, reaching all the way to the ground.
She was none other than the Sea God's High Priestess.
Hearing the terrifying roar, the woman's beautiful brows immediately furrowed.
She slowly turned her gaze toward the distant mainland.
"What was that?"
It was the first time she had ever heard such a terrifying roar coming from the continent.
For a moment, she wanted to personally investigate the situation.
However, without receiving an order from the God she served, she could only remain on Sea God Island.
She could only suppress her curiosity and continue watching the distant horizon.
*****
Slaughter City,
On the other hand, a tall and well-built man with spiked black hair reaching his shoulders and pale skin could be seen sitting upon a rock.
A sword rested in his hand.
The man's eyes remained fixed on the distant horizon as the terrifying roar echoed across the continent.
His expression became solemn.
For a moment, he simply stared in that direction without saying anything.
Then, as if deciding that the matter had nothing to do with him, he lowered his gaze and continued swinging the sword in his hand.
Each movement was simple yet precise.
*****
Star Dou Forest,
At the core and deepest part of Star Dou Forest, an extremely beautiful woman with long silver hair and violet eyes suddenly opened her eyes.
She had clearly sensed something.
Her violet eyes slowly turned toward the outside world, seemingly capable of piercing through countless obstacles and seeing everything beyond the forest.
A faint smile gradually appeared on her beautiful face.
She then raised her hand and gently waved it.
The space beside her suddenly distorted.
A handsome middle-aged man wearing a black robe adorned with golden lines appeared.
He possessed black hair with a single golden strand hanging down, while his sharp eyes carried deep golden pupils. His body stood at least two meters tall, with broad shoulders and an imposing physique.
Yet despite his intimidating appearance, the moment he appeared, he immediately dropped to one knee.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
"Find out what is happening," the beautiful woman calmly ordered. "I have never felt such a level of suppression before. How could a dragon with such terrifying power still be alive on this continent?"
The middle-aged man's expression became solemn.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"If possible, bring him—or her—to me."
"Understood."
The middle-aged man immediately disappeared from the spot.
The beautiful woman then turned her gaze toward the outside world once more.
She stared into the distance for several seconds before slowly closing her eyes.
"It's not time yet."
With those words, she returned to her previous position and went back to sleep.
*****
God Realm,
No one could have imagined that immediately after that terrifying roar shook the continent, several Gods residing within the God Realm had already gathered together for a serious discussion.
The atmosphere within the hall was unusually solemn.
Even the Gods who normally paid little attention to the affairs of the mortal world were now looking toward the Douluo Continent.
No one knew whether the appearance of such a terrifying existence was a blessing or a disaster.
But one thing was certain—
The Gods had now turned their attention toward the continent.
*****
Outside the Palace,
Like everyone else across the continent, Emperor Xue Ye and the others who were directly within Recca's range of suppression were trembling in fear, their bodies completely frozen in place. Although Recca's suppression wasn't specifically directed at them, the distance between them and the dragon was simply too close. If not for their powerful spirit power, they would have already lost consciousness from the overwhelming pressure.
It was only now that Emperor Xue Ye truly regretted everything he had done.
He could only grit his teeth and endure the terrifying pressure while waiting for the suppression to end. He already knew that the situation could no longer be negotiated. His only remaining option was to fight.
He looked at Lev with his fists tightly clenched, his expression filled with anger, fear, and regret.
"Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, I want you to understand something," Lev said calmly while looking down at him. "I only chose to escape back then because I was worried about the safety of my companions. But now that I'm back, I'm far stronger than I was back then. I have no reason to give you another chance to use whatever tricks you might have against me."
Lev's voice was calm, yet every word carried absolute confidence.
He wanted Xue Ye to understand just how badly he had miscalculated.
The person he had once tried to eliminate was now standing above his entire empire.
"A-A-Attack!!!!"
Emperor Xue Ye suddenly shouted with all his strength, desperately overcoming the fear that had filled his heart.
His mind was already consumed by fear and chaos, but he still held onto one final hope.
His trusted Titled Douluos.
Perhaps, with their combined strength, they could still kill Lev and somehow reverse this hopeless situation.
Seeing their futile resistance, Lev merely smirked.
"Recca."
Before the group of Titled Douluos could even make a move, Recca had already begun concentrating an enormous amount of flames within its mouth.
The flames rapidly condensed into a massive fireball.
Then—
BOOM!!!
Recca unleashed it.
The enormous fireball descended toward the palace like a meteor falling from the heavens.
The people throughout the city immediately panicked.
However, their bodies remained frozen because they were still affected by Recca's terrifying roar. They could only stare helplessly at the approaching attack.
'Our lives... are over.'
That thought appeared simultaneously in the minds of countless people.
Meanwhile, Emperor Xue Ye and the Titled Douluos beside him looked at the approaching attack in horror.
The enormous fireball was like a meteor descending from the atmosphere, rapidly approaching the palace where they were standing.
"Levvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv!!!!!!!"
Emperor Xue Ye could only scream Lev's name in desperation.
The next moment—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The enormous fireball completely swallowed the palace.
Emperor Xue Ye and the Titled Douluos were engulfed together with the palace itself—the very structure that had symbolized the authority and glory of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The ground violently shook as the attack struck.
Flames erupted in every direction, destroying the palace and the surrounding infrastructure. The magnificent structures that had once represented the empire were reduced to ruins in an instant.
Nothing remained except flames, smoke, and ashes.
The Heaven Dou Palace had ceased to exist.
Meanwhile, the people living throughout the city felt as though the world itself had come to an end.
Some spirit masters had already begun running for their lives, while others could only remain where they were, waiting anxiously to see what would happen next.
Above the city, Lev continued flying through the sky.
He slowly raised his head and looked toward the heavens.
The sky above him remained vast and seemingly endless.
Lev stared at it for several seconds before flying toward Recca and landing directly above its enormous head.
Then—
ROARRRR!!!
Recca roared once more.
The terrifying roar spread throughout the entire city.
Countless ordinary people cried out in fear, not knowing what to do or where to escape.
"Listen!"
Lev suddenly shouted.
His voice echoed throughout the empire, reaching the ears of everyone who was still alive.
The entire city fell silent.
One by one, the people looked toward the sky.
"Heaven Dou Empire's era ends here."
Lev's voice was loud and firm.
"I, Lev Hendrix, hereby declare myself the new Emperor. From this moment onward, I will rebuild this empire and rename it the Eternal Divine Empire."
His words reverberated throughout the land.
Establishing his presence and demonstrating his absolute might was only the first step of his plan.
This place would become the foundation of everything he intended to accomplish next.
"You may leave if you don't wish to remain here."
Lev looked down at the countless people beneath him.
"But for those who choose to stay, I promise that I will build the safest and strongest empire this continent has ever seen."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Make your choice carefully. I will not force you to stay, but those who choose to remain must be prepared to follow the rules of the Eternal Divine Empire."
With those final words, Lev activated Instant Transmission.
His figure disappeared from the sky together with Recca.
Just like the wind, he vanished from everyone's sight.
For several moments, the entire city remained completely silent.
The people were still processing everything that had happened.
The Heaven Dou Empire had fallen.
Its palace had been destroyed.
Its Emperor and strongest Titled Douluos had disappeared.
And now, a new ruler had declared the birth of a new empire.
It was only moments later that different voices began echoing throughout the city.
Some people cheered and praised Lev.
Others cursed him.
Some remained hesitant.
Others were completely confused about what they should do next.
Fear, excitement, uncertainty, hope, and countless other emotions filled Heaven Dou City.
Everything had changed because of what Lev had done.
*****
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy,
"T-Terrible... Lev's power is truly terrifying." Flender spoke with fear evident in his voice. He couldn't help but think about what might have happened if they had somehow forced Lev to reveal his secrets back then. Just imagining the consequences made his body tremble.
"A-After five years... I-I think Lev has become invincible in this world." Yu Xiaogang followed, his eyes still fixed on the sky in complete shock.
On the other hand, Zhao Wuji remained silent.
However, his body was drenched in cold sweat.
He couldn't help but remember everything he had done in the past. Thinking back on how reckless and foolish he had been toward Lev, he could only pray that Lev would not return to settle those old grievances.
"T-Teacher, I think we have a much bigger problem than this." Tang San suddenly spoke seriously. "Remember, Dai Mubai went back to his family. There's a good chance that he has already reported that Zhu Zhuqing has returned."
His expression became solemn.
Despite being shocked by Lev's overwhelming strength, Tang San knew there was nothing he could do about it right now. Instead, he focused on the more immediate problem.
The moment they heard Tang San's words, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Zhao Wuji's expressions changed.
They immediately realized what he meant.
They knew about the conflict between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, as well as the obsession Dai Mubai had continued to hold onto even after five years.
If Dai Mubai's family learned that Zhu Zhuqing had returned and was now together with Lev, there was a possibility that the Star Luo Empire would become involved.
And if that happened...
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
"W-We need to leave!" Flender suddenly said in panic.
Tang San's words had finally brought him back to reality.
No matter how terrifying Lev had become, Dai Mubai was still their student and friend.
They couldn't simply stand by and watch something happen to him.
"We need to stop him before it's too late," Yu Xiaogang said solemnly.
Without wasting another moment, Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, Zhao Wuji, and the others immediately left the academy in a hurry.
They had to reach Dai Mubai and his family before the situation became completely irreversible.
*****
Dugu Bo's Mansion,
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tsunade could be found waiting for Lev inside a room. They had heard all the commotion happening throughout the city, and although they were frightened by what was happening outside, they trusted Lev completely. Thus, they could only remain inside and patiently wait for his return.
As silence filled the room, the tailed beasts suddenly stood up and looked toward the door. They then turned toward their master as if trying to tell them that someone had arrived.
Seeing their sudden actions, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan were surprised. They looked at one another before quickly standing up and leaving the room, their expressions filled with nervous anticipation.
However, the moment they stepped outside, their bodies froze.
The first thing they saw was an enormous dragon flying through the sky.
Cold sweat immediately ran down their backs as fear filled their hearts. The enormous dragon's presence alone was enough to make them instinctively take a step back.
But then they saw the person standing on top of its head.
"Lev..."
The moment they recognized him, all their fear and worries immediately disappeared.
Seeing the three women below him, Lev smiled before canceling his ninth spirit ring ability.
Recca's enormous body immediately transformed into flames before gradually disappearing into the air.
Lev then jumped down from the dragon's head and landed directly in front of them.
"I'm back."
The moment they heard those words, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan could no longer hold themselves back.
They immediately rushed forward and embraced him tightly.
Although they had trusted Lev and believed that he would return safely, hearing the commotion outside and knowing that he had gone alone against the entire empire had still left them extremely worried.
Now that they could finally see him standing safely in front of them, the anxiety that had been weighing on their hearts completely disappeared.
"I'm a little sweaty," Lev said with a helpless smile as he looked at everyone. "How about we take a bath together?"
Although bathing wasn't necessarily required, Lev felt that he needed to wash himself after everything that had happened.
The foul smell of blood still lingered on his body.
Hearing his suggestion, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan looked at one another.
Before they could even respond, Lev had already embraced them and lifted them off the ground.
"Come on."
With that, Lev carried the three women toward the bathroom.
**********
---Noon---
Lev's Room,
As if nothing had happened that morning, the atmosphere inside Lev's room was peaceful and relaxed.
Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing were lying comfortably on the bed, completely exhausted after their intimate time together with Lev.
Dugu Yan sat nearby, looking at Lev with a mixture of happiness and nervousness.
Lev looked at her for a moment before finally speaking.
"YanYan, be my woman."
Dugu Yan froze upon hearing his words.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Lev, seemingly unable to believe what she had just heard.
Although she had secretly held these feelings for him for years, she had never expected Lev to suddenly say such words to her.
A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
Then, a beautiful smile appeared on her face.
"I will."
Her voice was soft but filled with happiness.
Lev smiled upon hearing her answer and pulled her into his embrace.
At that moment, Dugu Yan finally felt as though the feelings she had kept hidden for so long had finally received an answer.
Outside, the entire continent was still in turmoil.
The destruction of the Heaven Dou Empire had already sent shockwaves throughout the continent, and countless people were undoubtedly discussing what had happened.
Yet inside the mansion, none of them cared about that for the moment.
For now, they simply wanted to enjoy being together again after five long years.