Federation Spirit Transmission Academy.
Built in the shadow of the once-towering Spirit Pagoda, it was not far from Shrek Academy. From the upper floors of the teaching building, one could even overlook the Shrek sports field and its students in the distance.
Even though it had only been open a few months, its importance was clear to all.
The Federation had put great effort into it, assembling expert mecha engineers, soul device researchers, and top instructors as senior staff and guidance teachers.
The first batch of students numbered over a thousand, divided into twelve classes.
Class One, naturally, held the most outstanding talents.
"Not bad! Everyone's coursework has been excellent. I'd like to especially commend a few students..."
Class One's homeroom teacher, a gentle-faced, bespectacled middle-aged woman, smiled as she spoke.
"Yuanen Yehui, Gu Yue, Na'er..."
"Your analyses on level 3 mecha construction and the various core soul device arrays were very thorough. At this rate, you'll be tackling level 4 very soon."
"Teacher Mu Ling."
The classroom door opened, and a middle-aged man waved from outside.
Only when Teacher Mu Ling had left did the class erupt in excitement.
"Level 4 mecha engineer, huh..."
If it was the old days, Yuanen Yehui would have been overjoyed at her rapid progress, proud and elated.
But ever since that one day, she finally realized what true genius was.
Freakish, even.
Just using the most basic assignments, someone had managed to create a single-word battle armor. Any misstep would have led to failure, but that guy seemed to have no bottlenecks at all.
"Something's not right..."
While Yuanen Yehui was thinking, Gu Yue beside her frowned slightly, glancing at Na'er.
The latter gave a subtle nod in return.
Their gazes met briefly.
"Should we notify him?"
"No need to alarm Dad. She seems to have transformed just like us, taking human form..." Na'er shook her head, her face very calm.
"And it's clear that this continent cannot support her true rank, which is why her strength dropped sharply when she arrived here. Even if she revealed her true form, she'd be at most semi-divine level."
"That's true," Gu Yue nodded.
"Unless she's in the Abyssal Plane, otherwise..."
"But wait, when did the Abyss even have such a powerhouse?" Gu Yue was puzzled.
"She feels even stronger than the Abyssal Sage King."
"I have no idea..." Na'er shrugged.
"Let's go ask Dad when we get back."
"Hey, I don't sense any other powers trailing her. Looks like she really is acting alone," Gu Yue's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Na'er, just how stupid does someone have to be to sneak alone into the enemy's base, discard their advantage, and start from scratch in human form?"
"Isn't that basically offering yourself up?"
Na'er: "..."
Gu Yue's ridicule suddenly made her pause; she glanced at Na'er and muttered, "I suspect you're mocking me."
"No need to suspect, you're not much better than she is," Na'er said nonchalantly.
"The Dragon God's supposed world-shaking wisdom—how did it get inherited by the Abyssal Plane too?"
Gu Yue: "..."
With the classroom door opening—
A girl with long dark red hair and exquisite features entered, following Mu Ling. Her gaze swept around the classroom, suddenly freezing as if sensing something unusual.
"This is our new classmate, Shen Hong. Everyone, a round of applause!"
Obviously unaware of any undercurrents, Teacher Mu Ling smiled brightly at her own KPI.
New founding or not, everyone could see the Federation and Spirit Pagoda cared deeply for this Academy. She herself had come all the way from Mingdu for her career.
Though the girl was a freebie, lacking a Federation ID, her talent was off the charts—a soul sovereign at age twelve with the power equivalent to a thirty-nine-year-old!
With proper nurture, she would become a top-tier Federation asset.
So Mu Ling was especially attentive.
Clap clap clap
The classroom was filled with applause.
"Find any seat," Mu Ling gently patted Shen Hong's head, gesturing her forward.
"Yes, teacher," Shen Hong walked to an empty seat, remaining calm—a storm of thoughts swirling inside as Gu Yue and Na'er studied her.
These two—didn't look quite human...
In fact, they seemed somewhat similar to the 'Dragon God' who'd appeared recently.
Could it be...
Did the dragon clan hit upon the same plan as I did?
Sneak into the human world step by step, to devour and subsume from within?
Hiss...
Crimson Mother sucked in a cold breath. So many clever minds filled this world! The very stratagem she thought up—the other side had also anticipated in advance...
"..."
Ding-a-ling-ling~
As the bell rang, Shen Hong took a deep breath. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to approach Gu Yue and test if her disguise had been seen through.
But Gu Yue hid her true thoughts, feigning ignorance and teaming up with Na'er. Together, they calmed Crimson Mother's suspicions.
"Shen Hong, come play at my house if you're free!" Gu Yue invited warmly after class.
"Mm, I will..." Shen Hong smiled gently.
At the Academy entrance—
Watching Gu Yue, Na'er, and Yuanen Yehui leave together, Shen Hong's smile faded, replaced by a hint of mockery: "Inviting me, eh? You may regret that..."
"Mother! Why are you going to the human world?!"
Suddenly, a voice sounded in her ear.
It was the Abyssal Sage King's urgent voice.
They had only just spoken days ago, everything was fine, but today, Mother had gone straight into the human world!
How was this any different from that dumb Silver Dragon King?
But he didn't dare say it outright, for fear of being scolded, choosing instead to remonstrate tactfully: "The human world is so dangerous, even I dare not meddle. You, as the master of the Crimson Plane, how could you..."
"Mind your own business," Crimson Mother replied coolly.
"Only by infiltrating the human world and truly understanding how such weak ants unleash such power can we resolve the threat at its root."
"But—"
"No buts! You're getting more brazen—do you want me to start calling you 'Abyssal Sage King' too?"
"Never, Mother..."
She disconnected.
Abyssal Plane,
Sage King: moves to tears.
When he found out Gu Yuena had taken human form, he'd secretly mocked Di Tian. But now... he couldn't laugh.
At this very moment, he felt a growing sense of strangeness. Was there really something peculiar about Douluo Star after all? Some kind of forbidden spell?
Otherwise, how could his nigh-invincible mother, ruler of the Crimson Plane, lower herself for such a foolish move?
Or was an ancestral grave acting up?
"I must investigate this someday..."
"..."
Outside Federation Spirit Transmission Academy.
Crimson hung up in a huff, hopped into her soul device car, and headed to her rented apartment.
She still needed to explore the human world today.
Mecha, battle armor, forging...
All so dazzling.
But, admittedly, interesting.
"Big brother, Silver Dragon King wrote!"
In a tranquil forest, beneath a rushing waterfall, a broad hand parted the watery curtain, revealing a fierce black face—now beaming with joy.
"Oh?" Inside the curtain, a middle-aged man in simple clothing opened his eyes.
"Let me see."
He took the letter and read it carefully.
"Big bro, are we heading out?" Er Ming asked eagerly.
Thousands of years ago, the Divine Realm was swept away by a time-space storm. At Tang San's behest, they remained on the continent as key pieces in a grand web, fanning the flames for Silver Dragon King to open the Ten Thousand Beast Platform project, and stoking the passion between her and Tang Wulin.
Ever since the Silver Dragon King awoke, they'd been hiding in this little world, quietly collecting information.
Now, at last, she had written back!
Their plan could begin...
"Have you contacted Uncle Hao?" Da Ming asked calmly.
"No, we've been hiding here, not outside; Uncle Hao has been devouring the will of a plane and is reportedly injured, in seclusion." Er Ming lamented.
"Even Senior Ah Yin at Shrek can't be reached."
"Big bro, time's critical. If we don't gain Silver Dragon King's trust soon, we may never have another chance..."
"Alright then."
Da Ming sighed.
"In that case, reply and tell her that we, the two brothers, sincerely invite her to meet us in this pocket world."
"Will she come?" Er Ming was hesitant.
They used to be traitors—if they weren't cursed at, that would already be a relief.
"She wants to restore the soul beast race even more than we do. She'll ally with every force. So, we are unavoidable, integral..."
"Big bro, that makes sense! I'll reply right away!!"
Er Ming left happily.
Da Ming, however, furrowed his brow. Why did it feel... something was off?
Was he just overthinking things lately?
Alas, time moved on.
The continent had changed so much, even he struggled to keep up.
He couldn't guarantee the Tang Sect and Shrek were still part of Tang San's grand plan. Everything would have to be tested step by step.
"Humm..."
Su Wen stood within the Poke Ball of the Gale.
Towering ancient trees filled the landscape, forming a vast, lush forest that was awe-inspiring.
With Gale reaching a cultivation of a million years, the Poke Ball had grown as vast as a small world.
Now he faced a choice; should he inherit the Divine Realm, or use the pocket worlds to forge a divine path of his own?
He still hesitated.
The first was safer—the Divine Realm was ready-made.
But the second was more creative...
In a way, he was a creator.
....