Within the Imperial Golden Hall, sandalwood incense curled gently upward.
Ning Fengzhi, Feng Bailong, and Yu Yuanzhen—the three sect masters of the Upper Three Sects—were all gathered, their auras deep and restrained.
Emperor Xue Ye's gaze swept across the hall. He asked with concern:
"Where is Sword Wine Douluo?"
Dugu Bo replied:
"Zhexian made a breakthrough two days ago and went to the Star Dou Forest."
Chen Xin, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them—
a trace of sword light flashed in his gaze.
"Zhexian advanced to Spirit Saint?"
Dugu Bo nodded with a faint smile.
Feng Bailong stroked his beard and laughed:
"The Spirit Saint realm is a watershed. I wonder to what extent young friend Zhexian's strength will improve after receiving his seventh Spirit Ring."
"The current situation is not yet at the point where Zhexian must be alarmed."
Ning Fengzhi lowered his eyes, took a light sip of clear tea, and then turned to Emperor Xue Ye.
"Your Majesty, how is the battle between the Spirit Empire and the Star Luo Empire progressing?"
Emperor Xue Ye coughed lightly, brows clouded with worry.
"The Spirit Empire sent a thousand Spirit Masters across the border under the pretext of cleansing Corrupted Spirit Masters."
"Star Luo deployed fifty thousand elite troops to confront them—
lost more than ten thousand, but annihilated the invaders."
"That Dai Zhen truly deserves the title of an iron-blooded emperor…"
"Knowing the Spirit Empire's ambition will not die and conflict cannot be resolved, he beheaded all thousand invaders and stacked their heads at the border as a warning mound."
"This greatly boosted Star Luo's morale and enraged Bibi Dong, who then commanded her armies to invade."
"But Star Luo is strong in military might—they will not fall so easily."
Ning Fengzhi was silent for a moment, then asked:
"Has the Star Luo Empire requested aid?"
"They have not."
Emperor Xue Ye slowly shook his head.
"I know Dai Zhen somewhat."
"He fought his way through a blood-soaked succession war with his own strength to claim the throne."
"He trusts only himself and the Star Luo Iron Cavalry. Unless he is driven to absolute desperation, he will never ask outsiders for aid."
Feng Bailong nodded slightly.
The Star Luo Empire's royal power was highly centralized; all sects within its borders were forced to bow.
For this reason—
The previous Upper Three Sects had all been located in Heaven Dou territory.
Star Luo simply provided no soil nor policy for sects to thrive.
That was also why he felt no loyalty to Star Luo and had moved his sect to Heaven Dou.
Of course—
Highly centralized authority had benefits as well.
The Star Luo Empire's million-strong army existed only because of iron-fisted royal rule.
"Since that is the case…"
"Before Star Luo requests aid, let us remain observers."
"Strengthen our preparations and wait."
Chen Xin pondered and said:
"As for Zhexian, do not disturb him."
"Let him cultivate in the Star Dou Forest."
"With every bit of strength he gains, our top combat capability increases—and our odds against the Spirit Empire improve that much more."
Feng Bailong and Yu Yuanzhen nodded in agreement.
Emperor Xue Ye rose and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, honored ones, for giving your strength to the empire."
"It is the good fortune of Heaven Dou's people that we have you—and Sword Wine Douluo."
"Your Majesty flatters us."
...
Star Dou Forest.
Lake of Life.
Boom—!
The calm lake suddenly erupted, sending a pillar of water shooting skyward.
A white figure broke through the surface, stepping on mist and waves before landing lightly on the shore.
"Zhexian!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. They hurried toward him.
Zhu Zhuqing threw herself directly into Li Zhexian's arms, her slender hands wrapping tightly around his waist.
Xiao Wu stopped a few steps away, a soft smile on her pretty face.
"You finally came out. Zhuqing has been worried sick."
"Brother Zhexian!"
Da Ming and Er Ming approached with heavy steps, their gazes drifting to the long sword at Li Zhexian's waist.
Their beast eyes narrowed slightly—
a flicker of instinctive fear passing through them.
Even with its edge hidden within the sheath—
The terrifying aura within the sword made even these two forest overlords' souls tremble faintly.
Da Ming withdrew his gaze and asked with confusion:
"Brother Zhexian, a strange aura surged up from the bottom of the lake just now. What exactly was it?"
"Er Ming and I investigated for a long time, but found nothing."
Li Zhexian paused slightly at the question.
The Skydream Ice Worm was inside his spiritual sea at this very moment.
If he told the truth, it would expose the fact that he knew about the underground secrets.
And besides…
The fewer who know about the underground, the better.
If nothing unexpected happens,
the terrifying being beneath the ground shouldn't awaken for another ten thousand years.
Da Ming and Er Ming were better off not knowing anything—
just continuing as the lords of the Star Dou Forest.
"Brother Zhexian, you absolutely must NOT say anything!"
The Skydream Ice Worm darted anxiously around his spiritual sea.
"You have no idea… down there—"
Its words abruptly stopped, cut off as though its throat had been seized.
In the unseen depths—
It felt as if a pair of dark-gold dragon eyes glanced coldly at it from the Underground Palace.
"Anyway! Don't mention my existence.
If you stir up curiosity about the underground, it'll only bring trouble to those two big dumb gatekeepers."
Li Zhexian pondered briefly, then said:
"It was a special Spirit Beast that dwells underground. It has no effect on the Lake of Life. Seniors, you need not worry."
Da Ming and Er Ming still held doubts but nodded.
Years ago, Li Zhexian had invited several Titled Douluo to save them—
their trust in him was absolute.
"Zhuqing, I'm fine."
Li Zhexian gently patted the girl in his arms to comfort her.
But the moment he spoke—
His expression changed abruptly.
His once-warm eyes suddenly sharpened like swords.
He snapped his head toward the depths of the forest.
Two faint golden streaks of glazed sword-qi burst from his gaze, tearing through the air and slashing into the dark woods.
"ROAR—!"
A violent tiger roar shook the forest.
Two blood-red lantern-like eyes lit up within the darkness.
Da Ming's serpentine body tightened, coiling protectively around Er Ming.
Er Ming's eyes bulged with fury as his mountain-like fists thumped against his chest, roaring toward the direction of the blood-red eyes.
Anything that could make the two overlords of the Star Dou Forest respond like this—
Was certainly no ordinary Spirit Beast.
A smear of pitch-black fur streaked past, purple demonic patterns rippling across its hide—
wicked and unnatural.
And the moment it vanished—
The darkness covering the forest lifted, and sunlight returned.
This mysterious Spirit Beast seemed to possess some kind of dark-attribute domain.
Inside Li Zhexian's spiritual sea, the Skydream Ice Worm exclaimed:
"The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?!"
"There's actually such a monster in the Star Dou Forest?!"
"Legend says it's a mutated white tiger possessed by an Evil God.
It grows by devouring Spirit Beasts and Spirit Masters—loathed by both humans and beasts."
"A thousand-year one is already rare—this one has sixty thousand years! Its strength is no weaker than a hundred-thousand-year beast!"
Hearing the explanation—
Li Zhexian's heart stirred.
He suddenly remembered one nearly heaven-defying ability that this Dark Demon Evil God Tiger displayed in the original story.
A flash of sharp, blade-like excitement flickered in his eyes.
"Senior Da Ming, please protect Zhuqing."
The moment he finished speaking—
His figure turned into flowing light.
A streak of glazed sword-qi flashed and vanished—
Chasing like lightning toward the fleeing Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
"Hey! No! Stop!"
The Skydream Ice Worm panicked, flailing inside his spiritual sea:
"Brother Zhexian!!"
"What kind of decision is THAT?!"
"I told you how strong it is so you'd calm down—NOT so you'd chase it down to cut it!"
"How are you getting more excited the more I warn you?!"
..