*****
—Three months later—
For the past three months, nothing significant had hindered Lev from developing and strengthening his empire.
There were occasional clashes with Spirit Hall, which repeatedly sent forces to attack the borders of the Eternal Divine Empire. However, after suffering numerous failures and heavy losses, Spirit Hall eventually began to withdraw and avoid further direct confrontation.
As a result, Lev's reputation continued to spread throughout the continent. His name was no longer merely associated with the destruction of two great empires. He was now being recognized by many as a true Emperor—one whose strength and authority were enough to make even Spirit Hall wary.
Meanwhile, a new palace had finally been constructed along the border between the former Star Lou Empire and the former Heaven Dou Empire.
The location had been deliberately chosen and arranged by Lev himself. He wanted a place that belonged solely to him and his lovers—a private residence where they could live without being constantly surrounded by the affairs of the empire.
*****
Eternal Divine Imperial Palace Hall,
Inside the main hall of the Eternal Divine Palace, a group of important figures had gathered to discuss the current situation of the continent.
Lev sat upon the throne with Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan beside him, while the empire's most influential figures stood before them.
Among those present were Ning Fengzhi, Zhu Zhuqing's father, and the heads of the Four Subsidiary Clans.
"I believe Spirit Hall has been avoiding further confrontation," Ning Fengzhi said respectfully. "Over the past three months, their forces stationed along our borders have been gradually retreating. What should we do about this, Your Majesty?"
A smile could not be hidden from his face.
This was undoubtedly good news.
"Spirit Hall has suffered nothing but failure after failure," the Strength Clan Head immediately said. "I believe we should advance and take advantage of this opportunity."
He considered the current situation the perfect chance to strike back, especially now that the territories of the two former empires had been unified once again, with Lev at the center of the newly established empire.
Following his words, the others also began expressing their opinions.
Some believed they should pursue Spirit Hall while it was retreating, while others thought they should remain cautious and strengthen their defenses.
Lev simply listened.
He remained silent as everyone presented their thoughts, carefully considering each suggestion.
It wasn't until several voices began overlapping that Lev finally raised his hand.
The entire hall immediately fell silent.
"No need to advance," Lev said calmly. "Order the army to remain where they are and stay prepared at all times."
He had no desire to prolong this pointless war.
There was no reason to sacrifice countless lives on the frontlines when the conflict could potentially be resolved another way.
Besides, Lev had already decided that he would personally visit Spirit Hall sometime in the near future.
When that happened, he intended to settle the matter himself.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ning Fengzhi immediately accepted the order without question.
The others also nodded in agreement.
Although some of them still had doubts about the decision, none dared to oppose Lev. His authority within the Eternal Divine Empire had already been firmly established, and they trusted that he had his reasons.
The meeting continued for several more hours.
Even after discussing the situation with Spirit Hall, there were still countless matters concerning the empire that needed to be addressed.
The Eternal Divine Empire was still in its developmental stage, and many aspects of its administration, military, economy, and infrastructure required careful planning.
Lev took his responsibilities seriously.
After all, this was his empire.
However, before the meeting could continue much longer, Lev's senses suddenly sharpened.
A powerful presence was approaching the palace.
Lev immediately turned his attention toward a particular direction, his brows knitting slightly.
"I have some personal matters to attend to. We can discuss the remaining matters later. Dismissed for now."
Ning Fengzhi and the others exchanged confused glances.
Lev's sudden change in attitude had caught them off guard.
However, after noticing the serious expression on his face, they immediately understood that something important must have happened.
They quickly concluded the meeting before leaving the hall one after another.
Soon, silence once again filled the vast palace hall.
"We have a visitor."
Lev suddenly spoke.
"Who is it, Master?"
Tsunade curiously asked, her eyes following his gaze.
"An old friend."
Lev smiled faintly before answering.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan also became curious.
They had no idea who could make Lev react like this.
Before either of them could ask, Lev gave an order to the five Elemental Spirits stationed outside the palace.
"Welcome our guests."
The Elemental Spirit immediately received the command and prepared themselves to receive the approaching visitors.
*****
Outside the palace,
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man and a beautiful woman stopped in front of the grand palace, taking a moment to observe the magnificent structure before them.
They had already arrived at their destination, but they had remained outside after sensing several powerful individuals leaving the palace.
However, when they noticed someone approaching them, both of them turned their attention in that direction.
To their surprise, five small and adorable beasts soon appeared before them.
The middle-aged man's eyes widened in surprise.
He had traveled across the continent for most of his life, yet this was the first time he had ever encountered such strange-looking spirit beasts.
More importantly, when he carefully sensed their auras, his expression gradually became serious.
Every single one of them possessed an aura comparable to a 100,000-year-old spirit beast.
Perhaps...
They were even stronger.
"Master has been waiting for you inside."
Salamander, who had transformed into his cute, small form, spoke while looking at the two visitors.
However, despite sensing their powerful auras, Salamander didn't seem particularly interested in them.
To him, they were simply guests his master had ordered him to receive.
Once he finished speaking, Salamander turned around, seemingly losing interest in them.
The middle-aged man's brows immediately furrowed.
He couldn't help but feel offended by Salamander's attitude.
Although it was unreasonable to become irritated over something so trivial, his status was far from ordinary.
Throughout his life, he had rarely been treated with such indifference, let alone by a small spirit beast.
For a brief moment, he even felt the urge to teach Salamander a lesson.
However, he quickly suppressed that impulse.
He wasn't here to cause trouble.
Besides, the fact that five strange spirit beasts with such terrifying strength were acting as guards for the palace already told him that this place was far from ordinary.
"Let's go."
The middle-aged man calmly said before following Salamander and the other beasts inside.
Meanwhile, the beautiful woman beside him was completely captivated by the palace.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked around, unable to hide her amazement at the magnificent structure before her.
"Such a beautiful palace..."
She couldn't help but murmur softly as she followed the others inside.
*****
Palace Hall,
It didn't take long for the middle-aged man and the beautiful woman to arrive at the palace hall where Lev and the others were waiting.
The two remained silent as they stood before Lev, who scrutinized them with a faint smile.
"I can only commend your courage for coming here, especially knowing that the two of you are spirit beasts. I wonder, what is your purpose for coming here?"
Lev spoke calmly.
He already knew exactly who the middle-aged man was.
Di Tian.
The last Golden-Eyed Black Dragon on the continent.
Di Tian looked at Lev with a complicated expression.
He had already been told that the human before him was special, but the irritation he had felt earlier intensified when he realized that Lev seemed no different from the spirit beasts who had come to greet them outside.
Lev then shifted his attention toward the beautiful woman beside Di Tian.
A smile appeared on his face.
"It's nice to see you again, Xiao Wu. You've become much more beautiful than you were back in the academy."
"T-Thank you. N-Nice to meet you too."
Xiao Wu replied shyly.
She had never expected that the person they were coming to meet would be Lev.
Seeing him again after so many years made her heart skip a beat. Not only had he become incredibly powerful, but his appearance had also become even more handsome.
"Then, what should I owe this visit to, Di Tian?"
Lev turned his attention back toward Di Tian and casually called him by name.
Although he already had an idea about the reason behind their visit, he wanted to hear it directly from Di Tian himself.
However, Di Tian had completely forgotten about his mission.
The moment Lev casually called him by his name, the irritation he had been suppressing surged once again.
As a dragon, especially one belonging to the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon lineage, his pride and arrogance ran deep.
How could he tolerate a human treating him so casually?
Di Tian's gaze hardened as a powerful pressure began spreading from his body, clearly intending to demonstrate his superiority.
"I don't know what you've come here for, but you'd better behave yourself, or I'll kill you."
Lev's voice suddenly turned cold.
He had no intention of allowing Di Tian to act arrogantly in front of him.
The moment his words fell, Lev activated his Skull Soul Bone.
Dragon God's Might!
A terrifying aura instantly erupted from his body.
The atmosphere inside the hall changed in an instant.
Di Tian's expression changed dramatically.
"W-What?! This is impossible!"
His eyes widened as his body was forced down under the overwhelming pressure.
His knees slammed against the floor.
Yet the physical pressure wasn't what shocked him.
It was the aura.
The feeling.
The overwhelming sense of familiarity emanating from Lev.
It was something Di Tian had not felt in countless years, yet he could never mistake it.
His mind descended into chaos.
"Is this the strength of the Dragon God's loyal guardian in this generation?"
Lev looked at the kneeling Di Tian with amusement.
"How funny."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Given enough time, my five cute little subordinates outside could probably pummel you into the ground."
Di Tian's expression became even more horrified.
His body trembled slightly.
Now, he was completely certain.
The power Lev had released was something that he could never mistake.
The person standing before him was far more terrifying than the reports had suggested.
For the first time, Di Tian found himself unable to determine what he should do.
Various emotions flooded his mind—shock, disbelief, fear, confusion, and even excitement.
They all mixed together, clouding his thoughts and making it difficult for him to think clearly.
Seeing Di Tian's condition, Lev eventually withdrew his pressure.
"There."
Di Tian immediately took several deep breaths as the terrifying pressure disappeared.
Lev had already lost interest in continuing this confrontation.
"Go back. I've already guessed why you came here."
Di Tian remained silent for a moment.
He adjusted himself before taking one final look at Lev.
Then, without saying another word, he turned around and left the palace hall.
He had completely forgotten that he had come here with someone else.
His mind was still occupied by what he had just witnessed.
He needed to return to the Star Dou Great Forest immediately and report everything to the others.
Lev watched him leave before turning his attention toward Xiao Wu.
"Looks like you've been abandoned, Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu blinked in surprise.
"Don't worry. I've become the Emperor of this place, so you can stay here for as long as you want."
Lev smiled warmly.
"I promised that no one would lay a finger on you."
Xiao Wu was stunned.
She had never expected such words from Lev.
She had spent many years living within the Star Dou Great Forest, rarely having the opportunity to interact with humans again. Now that she had suddenly entered human territory, she couldn't help but feel nervous.
But when she looked at Lev, that nervousness gradually faded.
His power had completely exceeded her expectations.
Unlike Di Tian, who had been overwhelmed by fear and shock, Xiao Wu felt something entirely different from Lev.
An inexplicable presence made her feel as though she should instinctively submit before him.
She didn't understand why.
She didn't know how Lev possessed such an aura.
But there was one thing she was certain of.
She trusted him.
Seeing Xiao Wu standing there somewhat overwhelmed, Tsunade was the first to approach her.
"Hello, Xiao Wu."
Tsunade greeted her warmly.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan soon followed, both smiling at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu was completely overwhelmed by Tsunade's kindness.
She had been expecting some form of hostility from humans after everything she had experienced, yet Tsunade and Dugu Yan immediately welcomed her without hesitation.
She then looked toward Zhu Zhuqing, whom she was somewhat familiar with, and saw the same friendly smile on her faces.
A warm feeling slowly filled Xiao Wu's heart.
For the first time in a long while, she felt as though she had found somewhere she could belong.
Lev watched the girls interact with a smile.
"I'll be gone for a while. I have somewhere I need to visit."
The words were merely an excuse.
Lev had no particularly urgent destination in mind.
He simply wanted to give the girls some time to become familiar with each other, especially Tsunade, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu.
With that, he quietly left the hall, leaving the three girls together.
**********
—Night—
Dining Hall,
What Lev had done earlier was call Ning Fengzhi and the others back to continue the matters they had left unfinished.
The meeting continued for several hours, lasting until nightfall.
Once everything had finally been settled, Lev could finally relax again.
He was now sitting in the dining hall, enjoying dinner together with Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and their newest guest, Xiao Wu.
"Is your life in the Star Dou Great Forest good, Xiao Wu?"
Lev suddenly asked while eating.
He had been wondering how Xiao Wu's life had been after returning to the Star Dou Great Forest and leaving human society behind.
"I-I'm doing fine, but it was rather boring compared to living in the city."
Xiao Wu answered honestly as she continued enjoying the food in front of her.
The dishes were completely different from anything she had ever tasted during her life in the forest, and she couldn't help but savor every bite.
"That's good, then."
Lev smiled faintly.
"This place is my home, so you can choose any room you want. From now on, you can treat this place as your own."
He spoke casually, though there was a hint of guilt hidden behind his smile.
After all, Lev was partly responsible for Xiao Wu having to return to the Star Dou Great Forest much earlier than she originally would have.
He couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty about taking away the opportunity for her to enjoy life in the human world.
"Xiao Wu, are you really a spirit beast?"
Dugu Yan suddenly asked curiously.
Tsunade was also clearly interested as both women looked at Xiao Wu.
It was their first time meeting a genuine 100,000-year-old spirit beast capable of transforming into human form, so naturally, they had countless questions.
"W-Well... yes."
Xiao Wu answered honestly.
She didn't even attempt to deny it.
Lev and Zhu Zhuqing already knew about her identity, and strangely enough, she didn't feel the slightest bit of fear admitting the truth in front of everyone else.
That realization surprised Xiao Wu herself.
Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere here.
Or perhaps...
It was because she already trusted the people around her.
The moment Xiao Wu confirmed her identity, Tsunade and Dugu Yan immediately began bombarding her with questions.
"How long have you lived in the forest?"
"What kind of abilities do you have?"
"Can all 100,000-year-old spirit beasts transform into humans?"
"Do you eat the same food as humans?"
The questions came one after another.
Xiao Wu was initially overwhelmed, but she soon began answering them with a smile.
The dinner that was supposed to be an ordinary meal quickly turned into a lively conversation.
Before long, several hours had passed.
Eventually, everyone decided it was time to rest.
It had been an ordinary and peaceful night within the Eternal Divine Palace.
However...
Not everyone managed to sleep peacefully.
One particular girl tossed and turned in her bed, unable to fall asleep.
Her eyes remained open as she listened carefully.
From somewhere in the palace, strange noises could be heard.
"...What is that?"
She frowned slightly.
The mysterious sounds continued through the night, making it impossible for her to sleep properly.
**********
—One week later—
Star Dou Great Forest,
Deep within the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, Di Tian could be seen kneeling before a beautiful woman who rested upon a luxurious bed inside the cave.
Although Di Tian appeared calm on the outside, his mind was in complete turmoil. He had spent the past week trying to make sense of what he had witnessed, yet the more he thought about it, the more unbelievable it became.
"You seem afraid and conflicted, Di Tian."
The beautiful woman narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at him. Her keen senses could clearly perceive the tension radiating from his body, as well as the large beads of sweat forming on his forehead and back.
Something must have happened.
Di Tian remained silent for several moments. He lowered his head as his expression gradually became serious before finally deciding to report everything.
He recounted his encounter with Lev in detail—from the moment he arrived at the Eternal Divine Palace alongside Xiao Wu, to the overwhelming pressure Lev released, and finally, the terrifying aura that had nearly caused his mind to collapse.
He did not leave out a single detail.
He didn't know what consequences would follow after revealing such information, but this matter was far too important to keep to himself.
The report lasted nearly half an hour.
When Di Tian finally finished, the beautiful woman remained completely silent.
Her expression had frozen, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.
Di Tian then respectfully bowed before leaving the cave.
Only after his figure had completely disappeared did the woman finally move.
Her beautiful eyes trembled as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Just like Di Tian, she found the information almost impossible to believe.
However, she knew Di Tian well.
There was no reason for him to fabricate such a story.
"I-It's impossible..."
The beautiful woman muttered under her breath as she stared into the distance, her expression filled with shock and uncertainty.
**********
—Noon—
Eternal Divine Imperial's training grounds,
Just like any other day, Lev continued his usual sparring routine with Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan.
This time, however, they were training inside the private training grounds of his newly established palace.
Three months of continuous training had significantly improved Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan's coordination. Their movements had become far more synchronized, and their ability to combine their attacks had reached an entirely different level.
Even so, defeating Lev remained an impossible task.
In fact, they couldn't even make him sweat.
This was only natural considering the overwhelming difference between their strength and his.
"That's enough for today."
Lev finally stopped after another exchange, looking at the two girls who were breathing heavily.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan wiped the sweat from their foreheads before nodding.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and Xiao Wu had been watching the entire sparring session from the side.
Xiao Wu was particularly astonished.
She had known Zhu Zhuqing for years, but after being separated from her for so long, she never expected her former classmate to become this powerful.
'She has changed so much...'
Xiao Wu couldn't help but think that Lev must have played a huge role in Zhu Zhuqing's growth.
Her gaze then shifted toward Dugu Yan.
She was equally surprised.
Dugu Yan, whom she had just met was also a powerful spirit master, Their power had reached a level of strength that Xiao Wu found difficult to believe.
Seeing the two girls working together so effortlessly made Xiao Wu feel somewhat bitter.
She couldn't help but compare herself to them.
'I've been living in the forest all this time, yet they've already become this strong...'
Xiao Wu's expression dimmed slightly.
After spending an entire week with Lev and the others, she was still struggling to become accustomed to her new surroundings.
More importantly, she found herself becoming strangely uncomfortable whenever she looked at Lev.
Her heartbeat would inexplicably accelerate, and an unfamiliar feeling would spread through her chest.
It became even worse whenever she remembered the strange noises she had occasionally heard during the previous nights.
Those sounds had repeatedly disturbed her sleep, leaving her wondering exactly what everyone in the palace had been doing at night.
Xiao Wu quickly shook her head, trying to push those thoughts away.
'Don't think about it...'
She silently scolded herself before following the others.
After taking a short rest, Lev, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu headed toward the dining hall.
There was nothing better than enjoying a delicious meal after a good training session.
For the moment, there were no enemies, no wars, and no troublesome matters demanding their attention.
They could simply enjoy their peaceful lives together.
And for Lev, that was more than enough.
**********
—One year later—
Douluo Continent,
A year passed like a gentle breeze, and throughout that time, the Douluo Continent remained remarkably peaceful.
No major wars broke out, and the chaos that had once threatened to engulf the continent gradually became a distant memory.
Meanwhile, the development of the Eternal Divine Empire became one of the biggest topics of discussion across the continent. Under Lev's rule, the empire continued to expand—not only in territory, but also in influence, reputation, and overall strength.
With peace finally settling across the land, spirit academies began reopening their doors, while several clans that had previously remained hidden slowly returned to the outside world.
Spirit Hall, however, was one of the few powers that couldn't celebrate this peaceful development.
Their original plans had become increasingly difficult to execute. Although they had never openly admitted defeat, they had already acknowledged that Emperor Lev was far more capable and dangerous than they had initially anticipated.
For that reason, Spirit Hall temporarily halted its plans against the Eternal Divine Empire.
As long as Lev showed no intention of attacking them, they decided to remain cautious and observe the situation from the shadows.
*****
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well,
Meanwhile, Lev could be found relaxing at the core of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
For the past year, he had spent a considerable amount of time training Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu.
Under his guidance, their cultivation had steadily advanced, while their combat experience had improved tremendously through countless sparring sessions and battles.
For now, however, training has been set aside.
Lev and the girls were enjoying a peaceful moment together in the hot spring, drinking wine and simply relaxing after another long period of cultivation.
Over the past year, Xiao Wu had also become far more accustomed to living alongside them. The shyness she had initially displayed had gradually disappeared as she became comfortable with Lev, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan.
Looking at the people around him, Lev couldn't help but smile.
'It's probably time.'
His gaze slowly turned toward the sky.
'I think it's finally time to unite the mainland.'
His eyes narrowed slightly.
'And after that... I'll turn my attention toward the God Realm.'
Lev had long understood that confronting the Gods was inevitable.
The Dragon God's soul bones he possessed were simply too significant. Sooner or later, the God Realm would become aware of their existence, and he doubted that those sitting at the top of the divine hierarchy would simply tolerate someone possessing such power.
Besides, Lev needed stronger opponents.
Ever since reaching the Titled Douluo realm, his cultivation had reached a bottleneck. Unless he intended to slaughter countless spirit beasts simply to force his way forward, he needed another method to grow stronger.
And what better opponents could there be than the Gods themselves?
"Lev, what's the matter?"
Zhu Zhuqing's curious voice interrupted his thoughts.
She moved closer to him, noticing the unusual expression on his face.
It was rare for Lev to look so serious, and she immediately knew that something important was occupying his mind.
Lev turned toward her and smiled.
He gently pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist before giving her a tender kiss.
Zhu Zhuqing was briefly surprised, but she soon returned the affection.
When they finally separated, Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks were slightly flushed.
Lev then looked toward Tsunade, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu.
Their expressions immediately became a little embarrassed under his gaze.
"Well," Lev said with a faint smile, "I think it's already time."
Dugu Yan immediately understood what he meant.
"Then let's enjoy this precious time while you're still free," she replied with a smile.
The others also understood the meaning behind Lev's words.
No one knew how long his upcoming plans would take.
Because of that, they wanted to cherish every peaceful moment they had together.
Lev smiled warmly at them before pulling everyone into his embrace.
The peaceful atmosphere of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well soon became filled with laughter and affection as the group enjoyed their time together.
For Lev, it was a moment worth cherishing.
Before long, the girls eventually grew tired and rested together, their peaceful expressions revealing how comfortable they felt beside him.
On the other hand, Xiao Wu remained in the hot spring.
She quietly reflected on everything that had happened during the past year.
When she had first arrived at the Eternal Divine Empire, she had been nervous and uncertain.
But after spending so much time with Lev and the others, those feelings had gradually changed.
She had become comfortable with them.
More importantly...
Her feelings toward Lev had also changed.
At first, she had merely admired him.
Then came trust.
And eventually, she realized that something deeper had quietly developed within her heart.
Xiao Wu lowered her gaze, her cheeks becoming slightly warm.
She couldn't deny it anymore.
She had fallen for him.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly sensed someone approaching.
She looked up and found Lev standing nearby.
"Lev..."
Xiao Wu's voice was soft.
Lev looked at her for several moments before smiling.
After a year together, he had already noticed the subtle changes in her behavior. Tsunade and the others had also never missed an opportunity to tease the two of them whenever they noticed Xiao Wu becoming flustered around him.
Lev slowly approached her.
Xiao Wu's heartbeat quickened.
When he finally reached her, Lev gently caressed her cheek.
"You've changed a lot over this past year."
Xiao Wu smiled shyly.
"So have you."
Lev chuckled before leaning closer and giving her a gentle kiss.
It was their first kiss.
For a brief moment, everything around them seemed to become silent.
When they separated, Xiao Wu's face was completely flushed.
She lowered her head, unable to hide her embarrassment.
Lev looked at her tenderly.
After spending a year together, he already understood the feelings she had developed toward him.
And although he had initially been uncertain about his own feelings, the possessiveness he felt whenever he thought about her had already given him his answer.
He wanted her by his side.
"Xiao Wu..."
She looked up.
"Be mine."
Her eyes widened.
Her heart began pounding harder than ever before.
The words she had secretly hoped to hear had finally been spoken.
Without thinking, Xiao Wu threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Tears of happiness quietly rolled down her cheeks.
"Good."
Lev smiled as he embraced her.
"I promise I'll give you the life you've always wanted."
Xiao Wu buried her face against his chest, allowing herself to enjoy the warmth she had longed for.
For the first time in a long while, she felt that she truly had a place she could call home.
Lev remained with her in the hot spring, holding her gently as they continued enjoying their quiet time together.
However, he deliberately chose not to rush anything.
He wanted Xiao Wu's first truly intimate moment with him to be something special—something she would remember for the rest of her life.
And for now, simply having her willingly remain in his arms was enough.