The boundless universe.
In this world, the Sea God Poseidon was as insignificant as a speck of dust. Beside him floated the Douluo Plane, emitting a faint white glow like silver sand in motion.
Each grain of sand was a planet.
Douluo Star was among them.
Poseidon gazed far into the distance, observing the changes in the Douluo Star. His face revealed a look of wistfulness.
"I don't even know how long it's been now... Where did Dan Heng toss the God Realm? Is this considered exile? Hopefully, he didn't get himself lost along with it…"
Poseidon speculated wildly in his mind.
He estimated that over ten thousand years had passed in the Douluo Plane.
In truth, it had been less than a month.
Even the temporal black hole had been shattered by a single punch from Dan Heng.
Poseidon tried to approach the Douluo Plane.
There was no longer any sense of rejection.
This meant that the influence of the God Realm over the Douluo Plane had completely disappeared.
Poseidon tried to comfort himself:
"At least I didn't waste this time… When Dan Heng returns, I'll definitely make him open his eyes a bit…"
Just then, a powerful energy fluctuation appeared behind him.
Immediately followed by the sensation of spatial collapse.
It was as if the entire universe was trembling under pressure.
He spun around quickly and saw that at the location of the former black hole, a massive hole had torn open in space. Inside the pitch-black rift, purple and cyan energy interwove like two grand fireworks.
"That's the power of the God of Destruction?!"
"Did Dan Heng fail to exile the God Realm?!"
Poseidon panicked, worried that a battle might have broken out.
The energy from the God of Destruction had already surpassed the level of a God-King. Even just a wisp of it caused Poseidon to feel instinctive fear.
But the cyan energy… that was something even more profound and overpowering.
The former could be measured in strength, while the latter was unfathomable—too strong to even estimate.
Moments later, the black energy vanished.
Only the cyan light remained, stabilizing the rift in space and flying out of the void.
It was Dan Heng!
His robes were a bit wrinkled, a sleeve torn, and a flush colored his face—he looked slightly strained.
Poseidon let out a sigh of relief. At least Dan Heng's aura didn't indicate any serious injury.
He immediately flew up and examined him up and down.
"You, uh… how did it go?"
Dan Heng shook his head and replied calmly:
"Everything has been settled."
"Settled? What does that mean exactly?"
Poseidon's mouth twitched in disbelief.
Dan Heng said plainly:
"I relocated the God Realm to another universe. They won't be coming back."
Poseidon raised his thumb stiffly:
"You… you're a savage."
Since the Creator God had established this universe, the God Realm had stood unshaken.
And now, Dan Heng had exiled it.
You could only say, there's nothing impossible under heaven.
Before Dan Heng appeared, not even the wildest dreamers would've imagined the God Realm could suffer such a fate.
"Then what was that just now?" Poseidon asked.
Dan Heng answered:
"The Goddess of Life wished to reincarnate in the Douluo Plane. The God of Destruction sought ultimate ascension to battle me in his strongest form. I dealt with them both before rushing back."
As he spoke, Dan Heng raised his palm toward the Douluo Plane. Two beams of light—one green, one black—flew out from his hand.
They were the divine souls of the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction.
They shot into the Douluo Plane—about to reincarnate.
Poseidon was speechless. He could already imagine how furious the God of Destruction must have been.
To ascend beyond the God-King level and still fail to force Dan Heng to take him seriously…
That kind of humiliation was unbearable for a proud and ambitious being.
"Let's go back, let's go back… Oh, right—there's an interesting kid in the Douluo Plane now. Seems like the plane itself isn't behaving anymore," Poseidon chuckled.
Dan Heng gave him a glance but said nothing as he dove straight into the Douluo Plane.
"I'm coming in, big bro—!"
In the outer edge of the Great Star Dou Forest, within dense woods, a bright white light exploded with the power of a 100,000-year soul beast, then quickly shrank down and condensed into the body of a boy.
It was the youth who had fled from the White Tiger Duke's estate—Huo Yuhao.
He was still unconscious, but the white light held his body up and flew swiftly into the distance.
Later.
By a creek, Huo Yuhao roasted fish over a campfire. The flames crackled as he rotated the skewer, his face still wearing a stunned expression.
That white light that found him turned out to be a million-year soul beast.
He was just a regular boy—why would a million-year soul beast willingly offer itself in sacrifice to help him become a god?
"Brother Tianmeng… Am I dreaming?" Huo Yuhao asked mentally.
The voice of the Tianmeng Iceworm replied:
"Relax. With me around, this is no dream. I'll help you become a god!"
Huo Yuhao thanked him. Though still confused, he realized something major was happening.
In the 10,000 years of Douluo's history, no one had ever received a million-year soul ring.
He grinned stupidly, full of hope for the future.
"Hey kid, your fish's about to burn."
A teasing voice called out.
Huo Yuhao jumped up in fright, his roasted fish flying out of his hands.
It landed right in the grasp of a tall man—Poseidon—who took a bite, bones and all.
Poseidon nodded:
"Not bad. This kid's got some cooking skill. Reminds me of you back then, Dan Heng…"
He looked over at Dan Heng beside him.
Dan Heng raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. He was observing Huo Yuhao.
Yuhao had great fortune and was clearly favored by the plane's will.
Dan Heng mused: his son Long Long was the current master of the Douluo Plane, yet another "Child of Destiny" had emerged.
What was the plane trying to do?
Rebel, now that he'd disappeared into the time-space void?
Still, Dan Heng felt no hostility toward Huo Yuhao.
Even without him, Gu Yuena had regained her God-King powers—she could easily subdue the Douluo Plane's will.
And Long Long himself, with the blood of the Silver Dragon King and the Dragon Sovereign, was destined to surpass the very limits of this plane.
He wasn't strong because he was the plane's master—that title was just the cherry on top.
"Sirs… would you like to sit and eat? I've still got some fish…" Huo Yuhao asked nervously.
Meanwhile, he silently called out to the Tianmeng Iceworm.
"…"
No response—the worm was pretending to be dead.
Yuhao instinctively knew these two were far from ordinary—and not to be offended.
Especially in the dangerous Star Dou Forest.
"Sure! This fish smells pretty good!" Poseidon grinned, dragging Dan Heng down to sit.
Yuhao grew more nervous, fumbling as he cooked.
He didn't dare glance at them. He remembered that powerful beings could be eccentric—and staring might be seen as a challenge.
He picked up some seasoning to sprinkle—
"Too early," Dan Heng said.
"Huh?"
Yuhao paused, then realized the fish wasn't cooked enough yet. He blushed in embarrassment.
Poseidon laughed:
"Don't be so nervous, kid. We're not bad people—we won't hurt you. In fact, we're going to accompany and protect you for a while."
"Thank you, seniors…"
Yuhao bowed in gratitude. Even if it was a lie, he dared not doubt them.
"What era is it now?" Poseidon asked.
Yuhao hesitated, then answered:
"It's Douluo Year 43075… and Fontane Year 12893…"
The "Fontane Calendar" referred to the founding of the Fontane Empire.
Poseidon was a little surprised—the Douluo Plane had really gone on for that long.
Over ten thousand years, gone in a blink.
Dan Heng was also slightly taken aback. Yet, despite the time, the world hadn't progressed much.
Civilization had developed very slowly.
Poseidon asked about the political situation.
There were now four countries in the Douluo Continent:
The former Heaven Dou Empire had split into Tianhun and Douling, two weak empires tied closely to soul master factions. Their split had been pushed by soul master sects.
Star Luo Empire still existed, but its royal family had been replaced by the Spirit Hall, now its overlord.
Fontane Empire stood apart from politics and war, yet remained indisputably the strongest nation. The others dared not provoke it.
Among soul master factions, Spirit Hall was still the strongest—but no longer dominant like 10,000 years ago. It could no longer crush all others.
"Oh? Interesting. I remember Spirit Hall had a Goddess of Angels. She never tried to suppress the other sects?" Poseidon asked curiously.
Dan Heng gave him a look—clearly this simp was still hung up on her.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, "The Angel God? She hasn't appeared in a long time. Many people say the Angel God is just a legend now."
"Spirit Hall has never suppressed other sects. In fact, it supported them and often mediated between them to prevent wars…"
"But some other sects, especially the Body Sect and the Holy Spirit Cult, have been very unruly."
Huo Yuhao explained.
Dan Heng was also intrigued. After ten thousand years, the Douluo Plane really had changed a lot.
"What is the Body Sect? And what about the Holy Spirit Cult?"Sea God Poseidon frowned.
Huo Yuhao replied, "The Body Sect is made up of soul masters with body-type martial souls. They're a bit of both good and evil. It's the state religion of the Heavenly Soul Empire. It's said their strength now even surpasses the Clear Sky Sect."
"The Holy Spirit Cult is made up of evil soul masters. Truly disgusting people…"
Huo Yuhao's tone was full of contempt when he mentioned the Holy Spirit Cult.
Poseidon was stunned and frowned. "Evil soul masters? Spirit Hall even wiped out evil soul beasts—how could they possibly allow evil soul masters to rise? What's going on?"
"They supposedly came from the Slaughter City. A hundred years ago, there was a huge incident. Spirit Hall suffered a heavy blow at that time. Although they suppressed the Slaughter City in the end, many evil soul masters escaped and formed the Holy Spirit Cult."
Huo Yuhao explained.
In short, Spirit Hall today no longer held the same dominance as it once did.
With Qian Renxue not stepping in to govern things, and no ruthless figure like Qian Daoliu back then, being drained by the Slaughter City was to be expected.
But Poseidon was furious and asked again, "Who's the current Pope? How can they be such a useless fool?"
Huo Yuhao was startled and looked at Poseidon in surprise.
No matter what, Spirit Hall still controlled a vassal nation. The Pope's status should be just under the Emperor of Fontaine.
And this person was boldly insulting them?
Who exactly were these two?
And why was Brother Tianmeng pretending to be dead and not saying a single word?
Huo Yuhao replied, "It's a young girl named Ye Guyi…"
"A girl??" Poseidon was dumbfounded.
"When did Spirit Hall become so pathetic? Even a little girl can become the Pope?"
Poseidon seemed deeply disappointed, as if hating iron for not becoming steel.
Huo Yuhao scratched his head and said, "I heard she's a surviving descendant of the Angel Clan that Spirit Hall found. She has the Holy Angel Martial Soul, so they made her the Pope—but just symbolically."
As he finished speaking, the two grilled fish were ready.
He respectfully offered them to Dan Heng and Poseidon.
Dan Heng took a bite. The taste was indeed excellent, bringing out the full flavor of the fish.
"Little guy, since we're eating your grilled fish, we won't take advantage of you for nothing…"
Poseidon chuckled.
Huo Yuhao quickly waved his hands, "It's just grilled fish, it's really nothing…"
"How could that be? Dan Heng and I never owe favors. Think about what kind of reward you want."
Poseidon said seriously.
Huo Yuhao grew more nervous. Looking at the grilled fish on the fire, he truly didn't think something like this needed repayment.
Dan Heng lightly shook his head, noticing Huo Yuhao's nervousness, and said calmly:
"Don't pressure him."
Poseidon was not pleased. "How am I pressuring him? This kid meeting us is the greatest blessing of his life!"
"Dan Heng, I've taken a liking to this kid…"
Poseidon patted his chest.
Dan Heng gave him a sidelong glance and replied indifferently, "So what? Have you forgotten about Liu Erlong?"
"..."
Poseidon was stunned speechless. Right, his divine position had already been passed on to Liu Erlong.
The current Sea God was Liu Erlong!
He no longer had anything left to pass on to Huo Yuhao.
Poseidon became both angry and embarrassed. "Dan Heng, I still have a lot I can teach him! Don't underestimate me!"
Dan Heng calmly looked at Poseidon.
Poseidon snorted, grabbed Dan Heng's wrist, and soared into the sky with him. "Like this, for example! This is something I just recently comprehended! I guarantee it'll blow your mind!"
And with that, the two of them flew up into the air.
Huo Yuhao dumbly watched them shrink into black dots in the sky and disappear, instantly realizing that these were big shots… at least Soul Saints!
"Run! Little Yuhao, run! Those two are terrifying…"
The Skydream Iceworm suddenly shouted in panic.
Huo Yuhao jumped in fright and started running without thinking.
(End of chapter)