Star Dou Great Forest.
Core Zone.
Huo Yuhao had finally completed his period of seclusion.
The annihilation of Shrek and the Sea God Pavilion had brought him enormous gains. Aside from the growth of the Hao Emperor Banner, just the sheer amount of fortune he had absorbed was enough for Huo Yuhao to complete the foundational requirements for stepping into the realm of a First-Level God.
All that remained now was to find time to cultivate alongside the other immortal herbs, and he would be able to ascend to that divine level.
"As expected, primitive accumulation is always brutal," Huo Yuhao sighed.
Every resource dripped with blood.
He, Brother Hao, had worked himself to the bone, and with the help of the Four Great Empires and the entire Shrek City, he had only just qualified to become a First-Level God.
But Tang San and Qian Renxue merely had to inherit the blessings of their predecessors to reach that level—or even the level of a God King.
There was simply no comparison.
But Brother Hao had always been clear-headed. He knew this world was unfair, and what he needed to do was fight with all his strength to seize what rightfully belonged to him!
Of course, breaking through to the level of a First-Level God couldn't be done here in the Core Zone—this place was under the watchful eye of the Silver Dragon King.
So it was time for Huo Yuhao to leave the Core Zone.
But before he left, there were a few things he needed to do.
First, he had to check on Yan Shaozhe and the others—show some concern for his remaining companions.
When Huo Yuhao walked out of the Golden Ancient Tree, everyone was overjoyed. They had all feared something had happened to him.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao looked strong and composed.
Now that they were the remaining souls of Shrek, if they didn't stay strong, Shrek really would collapse entirely.
Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and Cai Mei'er were all injured, but the life force emitted by the Lake of Life in the Core Zone had rapidly healed them. They even showed signs of breaking through after reaching rock bottom.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er, having previously cultivated with Huo Yuhao, already had potential for breakthroughs. Now, they were about to reach Level 96 and Level 95 respectively.
Yan Shaozhe, too, showed signs of breaking through to Level 95—a case of rebirth through adversity. Because of this, he didn't suspect anything unusual about Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er's conditions, assuming it was all natural.
Huo Yuhao was, of course, delighted about Yan Shaozhe's breakthrough.
The stronger Yan Shaozhe became, the more he would benefit Feng Ling when eventually sacrificed to her.
As for Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er, their gazes toward Huo Yuhao were complicated.
The destruction of Shrek had hit them hard. They no longer wanted to think about love or relationships; all they wished for now was to train hard and eventually seek revenge on the Corpse God.
So, they wanted to sever ties with Huo Yuhao.
They couldn't say it outright with Yan Shaozhe present, but they both chose to avoid Huo Yuhao.
Especially Xian Lin'er, who had witnessed Qian Duoduo being captured by the Corpse God—she knew he likely hadn't survived.
She now wore mourning black.
And she was overwhelmed with guilt over Qian Duoduo.
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sigh—"As expected, you want to mourn quietly, so you dressed in filial piety."
Xian Lin'er, in her mourning outfit, looked even more alluring.
As for what she and Cai Mei'er were thinking, Huo Yuhao could guess—but he didn't care.
Some things, once tainted, can never be washed away.
Sooner or later, they would come back looking for Brother Hao.
Next up was Jiang Nannan.
She had merely been severely drained previously. Now that she had recovered, she wasn't slacking off—instead, she was training harder than ever.
Clearly, she had also been deeply shaken.
Jiang Nannan still held strong loyalty to Shrek.
However, ever since she successfully activated the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the way she looked at Huo Yuhao had subtly changed.
It was obvious that Jiang Nannan had started to care about Huo Yuhao.
Perhaps if either one of them took the initiative, their relationship would naturally progress.
But neither of them did.
Probably because the fall of Shrek had made Jiang Nannan feel that this wasn't the time for romance.
Notably, Jiang Nannan had now completed two more God Trials.
The Fifth Trial required the creation of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill—completed.
The Sixth Trial required her to defeat a Titled Douluo using the Fusion Skill—they had just defeated Long Xiaoyao.
So the Sixth Trial, though arduous, was also completed.
Jiang Nannan's God Position Compatibility had increased by another 20%.
At this point, her compatibility had reached 80%.
Perhaps Jiang Nannan wasn't originally a great fit for the Goddess of Love's divine position. But with Huo Yuhao's help and the accumulating influence of the trials, she was becoming more and more aligned with it.
Now came the Seventh Trial—Hearts as One.
The trial required her to create her own unique battle technique, and she could accept assistance from others.
The reward: 25% God Position Compatibility and the ability to sense the Goddess of Love's divine artifact.
Huo Yuhao could definitely help with this. He gave Jiang Nannan his personally written notes and insights on battle techniques—pure, undiluted essence.
He also looked forward to using Jiang Nannan to fully gather the Goddess of Love's divine artifacts.
Yan Shaozhe and the other two took her trial very seriously and all pledged to train her diligently.
They all knew that the Corpse God might have already surpassed Level 100—in other words, he might have become a god.
And to fight a god, one needed another god.
Jiang Nannan was their final hope.
"Perhaps the catastrophe our ancestor Tang San spoke of is related to the Corpse God. If Nannan can take that step, then by using the three strands of Shura God's divine intent bestowed upon us, she will definitely be able to avenge Shrek!" Yan Shaozhe analyzed.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er nodded, expressing that they shared the same thought.
The three of them kept the details of Jiang Nannan's trials vague, avoiding discussing them openly—fearful that any soul beasts nearby might overhear.
Even though they were grateful for the help of Bear Lord and the Silver Dragon King, Yan Shaozhe and the others still kept their guard up.
Afterward, Huo Yuhao reabsorbed the Golden Ancient Tree into his body in front of the four of them.
No pretense anymore.
"What… how did you do that?"
All four were utterly stunned.
That massive tree had just been stuffed into Huo Yuhao's body? That didn't make sense no matter how they thought about it.
"Probably because my bond with the Golden Ancient Tree has deepened to the point where it can now exist parasitically within me," Huo Yuhao explained.
No one doubted him.
They all believed that Huo Yuhao wouldn't lie—and he was the only one qualified to speak on such things.
After checking in on Yan Shaozhe and the others, Huo Yuhao planned to visit the soul beasts—especially Bi Ji, whom he had previously harmed.
Yan Shaozhe and the others didn't try to stop him.
After Huo Yuhao left, deep within the Lake of Life, the Silver Dragon King's spiritual energy rippled slightly.
She had, of course, been monitoring Huo Yuhao and the others this whole time and had figured out most of the situation.
"That Huo Yuhao does have some tricks—he actually managed to absorb the Golden Ancient Tree into his body. But that'll only make it easier for the tree to draw on his power and devour him faster."
"He's planning to leave, it seems. But as long as those humans are still here, he'll return eventually—and the Golden Ancient Tree won't be going anywhere."
"As for those humans… that girl is actually a god's inheritor. Judging by her aura, she's inherited the divine legacy of the long-fallen Goddess of Love."
"Though the Goddess of Love wasn't a combat god, as a support god, she was incredibly powerful. If she's reborn and humanity gains another god, it'll only hinder our Beast Clan's future plan to retake the Divine Realm."
"But now isn't the time to interfere with her divine inheritance."
"…We'll continue to wait."
How could anything escape the Silver Dragon King's notice?
Biji wasn't a saint, but her nature was kind. Though she was wary of humans, she was still willing to communicate with Huo Yuhao.
She was also the one responsible for watching over Huo Yuhao and the others.
"I know my own power. When I lashed out in anger back then, I left behind a force that—even for a powerful soul beast like you—must have had lingering effects. Judging from your complexion, my assessment wasn't wrong," Huo Yuhao got straight to the point upon meeting Biji.
When Huo Yuhao offered to examine her and remove the hidden injury he left behind years ago, Biji only hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
She didn't even call in other soul beasts to protect her during the process.
"Aren't you afraid I might attack you?" Huo Yuhao asked, puzzled.
Biji smiled and explained, "There's no need. You don't seem like the type of person who would do something like that."
It was a beautifully worded response. Biji was one of the few soul beasts who possessed both high emotional intelligence and intellect.
With her gentle and beautiful appearance, she easily garnered goodwill from others. It was no surprise that Di Tian ultimately chose her.
Zi Ji's loss was no injustice.
However, Huo Yuhao was more inclined to believe that Biji's boldness stemmed from the fact that people like Yan Shaozhe were still being held hostage. She knew he wouldn't do anything irrational—otherwise, none of them would survive.
Besides, while Biji wasn't skilled in combat, her vitality was immense. Even if Huo Yuhao detonated her heart, she could survive long enough to take countermeasures.
If she used the life energy from the Lake of Life, Biji could even regenerate a new heart.
Though there was risk involved, with the Silver Dragon King present, that risk was minimal.
This was still a gamble—but Biji was confident she would win it.
And in truth, Huo Yuhao had no intention of harming her.
Biji reverted from her human form to her original body, allowing Huo Yuhao to begin the examination.
Only in her true form could Huo Yuhao clearly sense the differences between her current state and how she had been before.
Back then, he had deliberately planted a special power in her, hidden beneath the cover of Ultimate Ice.
Even without the special energy he left behind, the presence of Ultimate Ice alone was already enough to afflict Biji.
That force of Ultimate Ice had lodged itself right in her heart. If any external power tried to interfere, it could trigger the ice's explosion and damage her heart.
Unless absolutely necessary, no soul beast—including Biji—would gamble with their heart like that.
Moreover, Biji's own powers were ineffective against Ultimate Ice. She could only try to wear it down over time.
But as long as that icy power remained, it would continue affecting her.
It not only prevented her from fighting at full strength, but also gradually diminished her life force.
The most visible sign was the cold sensation radiating from her heart.
Biji's plumage had grown dull and faded from the constant suffering.
Without speaking further, Huo Yuhao raised his hand and pressed his palm against the Emerald Swan's heart. He released his Ultimate Ice soul power, beginning to melt the ice entrenched in her heart.
Then, Huo Yuhao suddenly noticed her heartbeat accelerating.
It wasn't a normal reaction—it was the quickening that came from nervousness.
"I only touched Biji's body, and she already reacted? Is she really that sensitive?" Huo Yuhao mused, his curiosity piqued. But he quickly dismissed those stray thoughts.
"Hmph, this is all because of the imbalance in my lower body—too many distracting thoughts!"
"No, I must beat up Xu Tianchen when I get back!"
Xu Tianchen: Aminos!
Still, removing Biji's hidden danger served two purposes: to build goodwill with the soul beasts, and to activate a hidden contingency.
While the Ultimate Ice was dissolved, the special force hidden within it—imbued with demonic and Buddhist power—silently seeped into Biji's body.
It began to subtly influence her from within.
Huo Yuhao even reinforced that planted energy.
With his current strength, this method left Biji no room to resist.
This quiet, almost invisible method of infiltration was slow but difficult to detect—and it easily took root.
At last, the Ultimate Ice around Biji's heart was fully melted.
Biji immediately felt her body lighten, and a wave of unfamiliar pleasure surged through her. She instinctively spread her wings and let out a long, soaring cry.
Her cry instantly caught the attention of the other soul beasts and Beast Kings. The Myriad Demon King was the first to rush to her location.
Huo Yuhao sensibly stepped back, putting some distance between himself and Biji to avoid misunderstandings.
Biji quickly reverted to her human form, though her face was still slightly flushed.
The Myriad Demon King soon arrived.
After Biji explained, the king didn't misunderstand—but he did give Huo Yuhao a strange look, as if he hadn't expected such kindness from him. Still, he didn't express any thanks, since the one who injured Biji was Huo Yuhao in the first place.
"Kid, this only counts as you fixing your own mistake. Don't expect me to thank you," the Myriad Demon King said coldly before leaving.
"Don't mind him," Biji said with a smile. "Because of the beast tide all those years ago, many still hold grudges against humans. But I know that event was a misunderstanding. The real culprit lies elsewhere."
Huo Yuhao sighed. "There's an unresolvable conflict between humans and soul beasts. Only by solving the issue of soul rings can we ever achieve true peace."
Biji's smile faded, and she sighed as well. "That day... may never come."
"No—it's possible!" Huo Yuhao suddenly said with conviction. "It's still possible, if one becomes a god!"
"As a god, I could create a new cultivation path for human soul masters—one that frees them from their dependence on soul rings. That could end the bloodshed between soul beasts and humans!"
Biji met Huo Yuhao's gaze and suddenly found his eyes so radiant.
"Becoming a god... Ten thousand years ago, humans did produce gods. But now, ten thousand years later, is it still possible?" she asked, as if testing him.
"Yes, it is!" Huo Yuhao replied earnestly. "I've already glimpsed the chance to ascend!"
"Is that so…"
Biji lifted her hand, palm facing upward. A bright emerald glow gathered in her palm, and when it faded, a vivid green feather hovered there.
She released the feather, and it gently floated toward Huo Yuhao, finally merging into his body.
He didn't resist.
"This is the Feather of Life I crafted. It contains the full life force of a hundred-thousand-year Beast King. Even if you die, as long as your body remains intact, it will bring you back to life!"
"Take it as my thanks for healing me—and my investment in you. I look forward to the day you become a god. Just don't forget what you've said today."
Biji's expression was serious, her face slightly pale. It was clear that giving up this feather had cost her dearly.
Huo Yuhao solemnly nodded. "Rest assured, Senior. I always keep my word."
In the future, humans and soul beasts would surely live in harmony under the banner of the Hao Emperor!
After meeting those he needed to and completing all necessary arrangements, Huo Yuhao was ready to leave the core region.
"I'm going to the Dou Ling Empire, to find the members of the Inspection Team and the Elders," Huo Yuhao said seriously. "Whether they are alive or dead, I have to go."
"I'm going with you!" Jiang Nannan blurted out.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier also wanted to speak up and go with Huo Yuhao, but they suddenly remembered—they had already decided to leave him. That moment of hesitation allowed Jiang Nannan to speak first.
Seeing Jiang Nannan take the initiative, both women felt a bitter pang in their hearts.
As for Yan Shaozhe, he remained rational. He knew he was still injured. What he needed to do now was recover and break through his current bottleneck, not become a burden to Huo Yuhao.
"No." Huo Yuhao decisively refused Jiang Nannan's request.
"We have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill! Our fusion technique can even defeat an Ultimate Douluo. If we go together, even if we encounter danger, we'll be able to break through!" Jiang Nannan quickly argued.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and patiently explained:
"We're not going there to kill people. We need to act as discreetly as possible. Even if there's combat, my priority will be to escape. Besides, with the power of the Golden Ancient Tree, I'm already capable of going up against regular Ultimate Douluo."
"Sister Nannan, what you need to focus on now is developing a battle technique that meets the assessment standards, passing the test, and taking that next step. Because our true enemies aren't Ultimate Douluo—they're those even above that level."
"If I fail in the future, then you'll be our final hope."
Jiang Nannan opened her mouth to say something, but in the end she sighed helplessly and stayed silent. She knew Huo Yuhao was right.
"Shrek can't endure any more turmoil. You all are Shrek's last hope. Everything must prioritize the greater good," Yan Shaozhe added. "Yuhao, be careful out there."
Inwardly, Yan Shaozhe was also a bit sentimental.
"Back in the day, the beloved of Ancestor Tang San was a Soft Bone Rabbit soul master. Now, Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan seem to be heading in the same direction—and Jiang Nannan also possesses the Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul. Could this be some kind of omen?"
"There's no legend tied to the Soft Bone Rabbit, is there?"
"Too bad I already have the one I love."
The person Yan Shaozhe loved was currently watching Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan's interaction, feeling a twinge of jealousy. Her small fists clenched subconsciously.
Cai Meier, always sharp and perceptive, had already picked up on Huo Yuhao's attitude. "Yuhao has probably realized the choice Lin'er and I made. Sigh… We've wronged him. It's all our fault, so what more can I ask for? We can't stand by his side without reservation anymore."
Xian Lin'er felt similarly, though with even more sorrow—because Cai Meier still had Yan Shaozhe, while she had nothing.
"Maybe this is fate's punishment for me," Xian Lin'er thought to herself.
Huo Yuhao left the core region without any obstruction. He only needed to inform Bi Ji.
Bi Ji promised Huo Yuhao that she would do her best to assist Yan Shaozhe and the others. After all, the attack on Shrek had also led to the death of the Scarlet King.
This hatred had to be avenged—even the soul beasts would seek retribution.
Now, Shrek and the soul beasts shared a common enemy.
As she watched Huo Yuhao leave, Bi Ji suddenly spoke: "He's gone."
With those words, Jin Qiu'er stepped out from behind a tree. Her eyes remained fixed on the direction Huo Yuhao had left, not blinking even once.
"With his strength, he must've sensed your presence," Bi Ji remarked. "If I remember right, the two of you were once fellow disciples. Why didn't you show yourself?"
"I'm just paying attention to him, nothing more," Jin Qiu'er replied expressionlessly. "He's gotten stronger again. I can't afford to fall behind—I'm going to cultivate."
With that, she turned to leave.
But Bi Ji chuckled, "He once said he would resolve the conflict between humans and soul beasts. If he really succeeds, even the Lord probably wouldn't stop the two of you, right?"
"…Don't misunderstand. I just don't want to lose to him." Jin Qiu'er paused for only a moment before replying, then walked off.
Bi Ji didn't respond—she simply smiled as she watched Jin Qiu'er go off to cultivate.
Although Jin Qiu'er often fell into deep sleep, she never slacked in her training. The core region was perfectly suited to her cultivation, and she had daily instruction from other powerful soul beasts.
Bi Ji clearly understood that while Jin Qiu'er might not harbor romantic feelings for Huo Yuhao, she cared deeply about him. Her attitude toward him was different from how she treated others—that much was indisputable.
And such deep concern… was simply the seed of love.
"If, in the future, Huo Yuhao and the Divine Beast join together to resolve the human–soul beast conflict, they'll gain the support and blessing of every living being on the Douluo Continent."
"With their help, even Di Tian and the Lord's plans will receive a significant boost."
…
At the Cloud-Deep Place, Clear Sky Fortress.
The news of Shrek's downfall had already reached them. Niu Tian and Tai Tan were discussing the matter, both wearing complicated expressions.
"Wait—Shrek was that weak? Didn't even last a day before being wiped out?" Tai Tan said, shocked. "What am I supposed to tell Dong'er when she comes out of seclusion? Oh, wait—it wasn't me who wiped out Shrek. I don't need to explain anything. Never mind then."
Niu Tian sighed. "Let's hope Dong'er's attachment to Shrek isn't too deep. For now, let's talk about the message we received from that person—he asked us to head north…"
They weren't actually forbidden from leaving Clear Sky Fortress. But doing so would require them to seal part of their strength.
That would delay their cultivation.
Still, they couldn't refuse the request—and besides, it probably wouldn't take long. They could treat it as a short outing.
Just then, a figure burst into their room.
In Clear Sky Fortress, there was only one person who would dare do such a thing: Wang Dong'er.
Having just emerged from seclusion, she looked flustered. "Uncle Tian, Uncle Tan—is it true? Something happened to Shrek?"
Clearly, she had already heard the news. After exiting seclusion, she had casually asked around the fortress about recent events—only to hear that devastating rumor.
"It's true. Shrek was destroyed. Judging by the evidence, it was the work of the evil soul masters," Tai Tan replied.
"What about Huo Yuhao? Xiao Xiao? Lan Yin and the others—are they okay?" Wang Dong'er asked urgently.
Tai Tan fell silent.
After a pause, Niu Tian spoke, "No news. But Huo Yuhao has some very special things on him—it won't be easy to take him down."
They knew well that Huo Yuhao carried three divine remnants of the Shura God.
"I'm going to Shrek! I'm going to find them!" Wang Dong'er declared without hesitation.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan looked at each other—and ultimately nodded.
What else could they do when their precious girl wanted to leave? Of course, they'd let her go.
That other person's request… they could just have him handle it on his own.
As for the Clear Sky Sect?
Even without them present—what, is it really going to get wiped out or something?
Clear Sky Sect: [PANIC]!
Douling Empire.
Elder Song, Elder Zhuang, and a team of Super Douluo-level elders had come personally to rescue the inspection team.
The awkward result?
Not only did they fail to save anyone, they ended up trapped in the Douling Empire themselves.
Fortunately, the zombies merely surrounded them without attacking.
Even in the absence of the Corpse God, the remaining zombies, forming the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation, were still too formidable for a group of elders and the half-crippled inspection team to break through.
This Ten Thousand Corpses Formation is a fusion of formation techniques and domain-type soul skills.
It draws inspiration from cooperative formations used by cultivators and is enhanced by the Corpse God's innate domain—the Emperor Zombie Domain—which comes with two divine abilities:
"Zombie Horde, Hear My Command"
"Corpse Tide, Surge Forward"
The first allows manipulation of the zombie horde; the second commands their movement. Both boost the zombies' power.
Without a horde, these divine abilities are essentially useless.
But with a large enough horde? Their power becomes theoretically limitless.
Pair this with the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation, which channels the zombies' strength into the Corpse God, and the Corpse God's power can be amplified infinitely.
In theory, if a horde of a hundred million ordinary zombies were formed into the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation and channeled into the Corpse God, even the current Corpse God could charge the Divine Realm and challenge a First-Class God.
But... where would you find that many zombies?
And feeding so many corpses to the Corpse God for conversion into zombies would be wasteful.
Low-tier zombies are cannon fodder.
Turning them into blood food provides more value.
So, the Corpse God's horde focuses on quality over quantity.
In theory, with just ten thousand divine-tier zombies forming the formation and boosting the Corpse God, he could confront a God King.
Victory not guaranteed, but he could at least clash.
Though ten thousand divine zombies don't exist, there are ten thousand Soul Sage-level zombies, with several hundred Soul Douluo-level among them and over fifty Titled Douluo-level zombies.
Even three Super Douluo-level zombies are present.
Granted, due to the difference in technique, even three Super Douluo zombies need to team up to take down a Level 96 Super Douluo.
While "quality" was the goal, the cultivation was still crude—brute-force enhancements rather than refined development.
But for the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation, raw power is enough.
Aside from the ten thousand elite zombies, over a hundred thousand zombies below Soul Sage level are present—since nearly half the population of the Douling Empire has been zombified.
Even without the Corpse God's control, the formation built from the ten thousand elite zombies is enough to devastate the continent.
Only Limit Douluo could escape.
If the full force of the 100,000+ zombies were used to empower the Corpse God, his strength would reach at least Second-Class God level.
Hence, Shrek's rescue mission was like throwing meat buns at a dog—there's no coming back.
If the Corpse God hadn't ordered them to be surrounded rather than killed, the inspection team and even the elders would have long been wiped out.
Still, the people of Shrek persist.
Fortunately, hope is on the horizon.
The four great empires are forming a united force to rescue Shrek's people.
The primary aim is to rally around Shrek's remaining elites to unite the continent's powers against the increasingly rampant Holy Spirit Cult and Evil Soul Masters.
Not just the empires' royal families are involved—all four empires' Guardians are mobilized, along with top sects like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Heavenly Dragon Gate, and Earth Dragon Gate, each dispatching Titled Douluo-level warriors.
This coordinated military response clearly shows Huo Yuhao's hand behind the scenes.
His goals are threefold:
Deploy and test the elites he's trained—such as Zhang Lexuan and others. They still need growth and will be the future of Huo Yuhao's "Justice Faction."
Stir chaos across the continent to cover his own external movements.
Use this chaos to force hidden talents out into the open for evaluation and recruitment.
Though Huo Yuhao holds sway over the top brass of the four empires, many clans and sects merely appear cooperative while lacking true loyalty.
Huo Yuhao intends to "teach them a lesson."
After leaving the Star Dou Forest, Huo Yuhao first visited the "ruins" of Shrek Academy to survey the scene.
To his surprise, quite a few people had spontaneously gathered to mourn Shrek's fall.
Moved by the sight, Huo Yuhao picked some wildflowers by the road and added them to the growing pile of tributes.
But is everyone truly mourning Shrek?
Not really.
Only those with deep ties to Shrek grieved sincerely.
Most came to demonstrate they were "on the side of justice."
Look—I cried for Shrek. What more do you want? Fight evil soul masters? No thanks.
These people never cared this much for Shrek before.
Nor are they grateful now.
In fact, the ruins had clearly been picked through, with signs of searching everywhere.
Some even used the mourning crowds as cover to scavenge for overlooked treasures.
To this, Huo Yuhao could only sneer:
"Still trying to scavenge after me? Not even if I choke to death will I let you!"
With that, he left—for the Douling Empire.
He already knew the situation there. No need to scout.
He wasn't rushing to rescue anyone. He planned to move once the rescue operation was underway—swooping in after the heavy lifting was done.
For now, he needed to sort through his spoils.
Most could be handled by the Corpse God and company, but some… he needed to savor personally.
Like Feng Ling.
Border of the Heavenly Soul and Douling Empires.
In a forest shrouded by white mist, a lavish estate stood hidden at the center.
The White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
In the duke's bedroom—
Peals of playful laughter echoed.
"Mu Jin, can you do this position?"
"Zhou Yi, not only can I do it—I can do it better!"
Huo Yuhao basked in the attentions of Mu Jin and Zhou Yi. After being captured, Mu Jin had been refined into a blood-fiend wraith, becoming Zhou Yi's "sister."
Now, both willingly gave him their all.
Also in the room was the duchess, Xu Qiudi.
She sat at the vanity, ignoring the debauchery behind her, gently brushing her hair and admiring her ever-youthful, radiant reflection.
With a soft sigh, she stood.
Her loose gown slid off her body.
Then the duchess walked toward the bed.
Outside the door—
Dai Hao and Dai Yueheng stood guard.
Huo Yuhao: From this day forward, I walk the same path as Dai Hao!
After a period of cultivation, Huo Yuhao finally quelled the desires that had recently been stirring in his heart and forcibly brought himself into a state of pure tranquility.
And it wasn't just Xu Qiudi, Zhou Yi, and Mu Jin who had contributed to that process—Qiu'er, Cain, Bibi Dong, Zi Ji, Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Li Jing, Li Ya, and the Blue Silver Empress had all made tremendous efforts. Now, they were all in a deep slumber, gradually recovering their strength and vitality.
Why did he need to enter such a state?
Because Huo Yuhao was preparing to complete the final transformation of his demi-plane.
Within the Realm of Wisdom.
Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged, eyes closed in deep contemplation. His palm faced upward, and from his left hand, countless rings of light radiated outward. But rather than dispersing, they seemed to be bound by some unknown force.
To be precise, these lights bloomed not in this plane but in another, within the demi-plane.
Each ray of light represented a different attribute of power.
These powers collided, merged, and interacted, causing the demi-plane to continuously expand and evolve.
Eventually, a chaotic space began to take shape.
Aside from a few distinct regions, the entire space was filled with chaotic, swirling energy.
Among those distinct areas were the Duke White Tiger's mansion and the location of the Blood Slaughter Bead.
Then, a golden light descended upon the chaos, bringing illumination and vitality to the void. The heavens and earth began to take form.
It was—the Golden Ancient Tree!
If he were relying solely on his own enlightenment, Huo Yuhao would have needed much more time to complete the demi-plane's advancement. But by utilizing the Golden Ancient Tree, he could directly shape the God Nation and solidify its foundation.
It must be known that the Golden Ancient Tree had another name—the World Tree!
In the future, it could even serve as the very core of the Douluo Continent.
Now, to make it the core of a newly born God Nation was more than sufficient.
More importantly, integrating the World Tree with his divine kingdom could help Huo Yuhao stabilize and suppress his personal karmic destiny.
It was like the beginning of the world itself.
The demi-plane fully transformed into a God Nation.
But this God Nation was not planetary in form. Instead, it followed the ancient "round heaven and square earth" design. At its center, the Golden Ancient Tree—now the World Tree—held up the heavens.
There were no suns or stars in the sky.
Only the radiance of the World Tree illuminated the entire realm.
The four basic elements—earth, fire, wind, and water—combined with other attributes, began converting from raw elemental forces into tangible, natural matter.
Mountains, rivers, grass, flowers, forests, glaciers… all kinds of natural landscapes appeared across the land. Aside from the absence of animals, the God Nation was already like a genuine living world.
Moreover, the Duke White Tiger's mansion and the Blood Slaughter Bead were also integrated into the God Nation, becoming sacred "blessed lands" within it.
Back in the real world, the exhausted Xu Qiudi suddenly felt a surge of energy. She climbed out of bed, threw on a loose robe, and stepped outside—only to be greeted by the sight of a brand-new world.
"…Is this… wind?" Xu Qiudi froze on the spot.
A moment later, she came to her senses and dashed out of the Duke's mansion. To her astonishment, her feet sank slightly into the soil—she could feel the ground beneath her, like she was truly alive again.
Turning back, she saw the Duke White Tiger's mansion standing proudly on the plains, still as magnificent as ever.
A single tear slipped from her eye. She felt as though she had returned to her days as the Duchess—alive once more, in every sense.
Meanwhile, the Blood Slaughter Bead had merged into a mountain ravine, transforming it into a sinister land saturated with killing aura.
From within, the voice of the eunuch Gaogong rang out in gleeful laughter.
"Hahaha! I feel it! The path to godhood is right before me!"
"Thank you, Brother Hao! I swear eternal loyalty to you!"
Without needing divine assistance, the bottleneck at level 100 that had plagued Gaogong was shattered—because the rules within this God Nation were entirely written by Huo Yuhao himself.
He could open a direct path for those beneath him in strength—up to a limit just below his own.
This allowed them to break through their limits.
The God Nation was now complete!
But—it wasn't over yet.
Two beams of light descended once more from the sky.
One shimmered with divine light of wisdom, the other pulsed with Rakshasa demonic energy.
They were the Realm of Wisdom and the Rakshasa Realm.
The two realms descended upon separate mountain peaks within the God Nation and merged completely into the land. They transformed into two majestic temples.
Bibi Dong and Zi Ji emerged from the Rakshasa Temple, stunned by the natural beauty around them.
And Huo Yuhao stepped out from the Realm of Wisdom, accompanied by his companions.
The Sacred Spirit Feathered Serpent hovered beside him and spoke:
"The God Nation is like an independent world—superior even to the realms. You can come and go as you please."
"And since you've grasped the attribute of life, once you fully comprehend the laws of life, you will be able to create real living beings within your nation—beings who will form your own divine race."
"Your next step is to expand and fill your God Nation. Let it grow stronger—until it becomes a full realm, a Divine Realm!"
Huo Yuhao nodded. The Sacred Spirit Feathered Serpent had long taught him what to do next.
He raised his arm. "Troops—heed my command!"
The Titan Snow Demon King appeared with the armies of three clans, kneeling before Huo Yuhao.
"I grant you the northern arctic lands as your station!"
"Thank you, Master!"
With that, Huo Yuhao threw the military seal toward the north. It transformed into an icy mountain upon the frozen plains.
The Titan Snow Demon King and the armies arrived there, relishing the familiar icy environment.
Atop the mountain, a throne formed. The Titan Snow Demon King sat upon it as the—guardian of the North.
Next, soul spirits emerged from within Huo Yuhao's soul bones.
"You all can seek out environments suited to you. This God Nation is perfect for cultivation," Huo Yuhao smiled.
The soul spirits offered their thanks and dispersed to settle into the land.
Because the God Nation was a physical manifestation of Huo Yuhao's cultivation, the spirits could live here freely—perhaps even more freely than before.
And not just the soul spirits—even his martial souls and the vengeful spirits within the Hao Emperor Banner could do the same.
The Sacred Spirit Feathered Serpent and the Skydream Iceworm chose to remain in the Temple of Wisdom.
The Healing Angel puppet martial soul now soared freely across the skies of the God Nation—almost as if truly alive.
The mutant Frost Centipede martial soul began exploring the land with other Centipedes.
Huo Yuhao planted the Hao Emperor Banner into the World Tree above, merging its energy with the tree. This allowed even the spirits within the banner to draw strength from the God Nation.
Within this realm, all living beings would be empowered. Cultivation would be smoother, and bottlenecks would no longer exist.
In the skies, two dragon-shaped spirits—one blue and one red—flickered for an instant.
They were the residual souls of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, beginning to awaken.
The Soul Collector was chasing after the Red King across the land.
They ran into the playful Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
"Oi, isn't that the Red King? A few days apart and you've fallen this far?"
Red King: "!!"
What—even the Divine Beast is here?
Wait a minute—then who's that in the Star Dou Forest core?!