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Sea God Island was home to the beautiful Sea God Temple. This place was different from the bright golden light of the Angel Secret Realm. The Sea God Temple was filled with a deep blue color and a very peaceful feeling. The tall pillars in the grand hall looked like they were carved from solid blocks of blue crystal that came from the deep sea. Soft water patterns flowed gently across their surfaces. High up on the ceiling, thousands of small blue spots of light turned slowly.
It looked just like a small version of the starry sky was hidden inside the room. It also felt like looking up at the light from the very bottom of the ocean. In the middle of the hall stood a giant statue of the Sea God. The statue held a golden trident and looked down at the people below with a mix of kindness and great power.
At this moment, the usual peace inside the hall was broken by a serious and shocking event. Sea Horse Douluo Oya knelt on one knee in front of the giant statue of the Sea God. His body still carried the scent of the sea wind and a hint of tiredness that was hard to see. He was reporting everything he had seen and heard on Purple Pearl Island a short time ago.
He looked up at the High Priestess and spoke in a sad voice, explaining that is how it happened. Although he managed to fight off those three people and saved Purple Pearl, they ran away very quickly. They used strange methods, so he could not catch them. Purple Pearl Island and the nearby villages suffered terrible losses, and many people died.
Oya's face was full of deep sadness as he finished speaking. The grand hall became completely silent. The High Priestess stood quietly in front of the Sea God statue. When she heard his words, her beautiful and calm face showed strong emotions for the very first time. Her eyes looked like the deepest parts of the ocean, and they showed a mix of shock, anger, and hidden worry. She had been calm for many long years, but her mind was deeply shaken when she heard about people sucking human blood, turning bodies into mummies, and the terrible Rakshasa God.
The other Sacred Pillar Guardians stood on both sides of the hall. Their faces changed color instantly when they heard the news. Sea Dragon Douluo had a very hot temper and hated evil things more than anything. His beard and hair stood up wildly, and his loud voice sounded like rolling thunder. He asked how this behavior was any different from the Evil Soul Masters in the old stories. He was so angry that faint sounds of roaring dragons echoed around his body.
Sea Illusion Douluo frowned deeply as strange lights twisted in his eyes. He spoke in a serious voice, explaining that the Rakshasa God was an ancient god. This god had a status similar to Lord Sea God and the Angel God, but their power was focused on evil and devouring others. He said if a follower of the Rakshasa God had really appeared on the continent and started killing innocent people like this, the whole land might already be in giant trouble or facing a terrible disaster.
Sea Star Douluo always spoke in a slow way, but his voice was very cold this time. He said it was strange that three young Spirit Masters had the power and the guts to commit such crimes in the ocean protected by Sea God Island. He noted that the background of these young people must be very complicated.
Sea Maiden Douluo had a beautiful singing voice, but now it sounded sharp and full of anger. She asked what the innocent islanders did wrong to deserve such a cruel end. She said these monsters were making the clean ocean dirty, and they had to be destroyed completely.
The other two guardians, Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Ghost Douluo, did not say anything at all. However, their spirit power began to flash brightly around their bodies. This showed everyone that they were also extremely angry. Sea God Island had protected the peace of the ocean for a very long time. This open challenge and cruel attack insulted the power of Sea God Island and went against their faith in the Sea God.
The hall became completely quiet after a few moments when the High Priestess slowly raised her hand. Every guardian stopped talking right away. Her eyes moved across the face of each Sacred Pillar Guardian. Finally, she looked out into the far distance, as if she could see right through the walls toward the ocean that was being ruined by evil forces.
She let out a long breath, and the peaceful look on her beautiful face went away completely. It was replaced by a strong, royal power and deep anger. As the High Priestess of the Sea God and the protector of the ocean, it was her job to keep these waters safe and protect the people who believed in the Sea God.
She told everyone to be quiet and said what Oya saw was not an accident. She explained that the strange figure holding a sickle was probably a piece of a broken soul left behind on the Douluo Continent by the Rakshasa God. She said those three young men were Evil Soul Masters who enjoyed killing innocent people and stealing life from others. She stated that no matter what kind of god was helping them from behind, their actions were hated by heaven, earth, and the ocean itself.
The High Priestess stopped for a second, and her eyes became as sharp as knives. She ordered them to pass her command. She said starting today, Sea God Island would enter a level-one state of alert. They needed to make patrols stronger around all the islands and nearby waters. She called out to Sea Dragon, Sea Illusion, Sea Star, Sea Maiden, Sea Spear, Sea Ghost, and Oya. She said except for the ones who must stay behind to keep the Sacred Pillars working and protect the island, everyone else would leave immediately.
She gave them their mission, telling them to start from Purple Pearl Island and search all the surrounding waters, islands, and even the coastlines near the main continent! She ordered them to use every method possible to find the three Evil Soul Masters. They needed to find out where they came from, what they wanted, and who was helping them. She said if they found their location, they did not need to ask for permission.
They should just capture them with all their strength. She added that if the enemies fought back or if they caught them in the middle of a crime, they could kill them right there. She wanted them to drag these monsters out, clean up the ocean, and bring them back to Sea God Island to face the judgment of the Sea God.
The seven Sacred Pillar Guardians bowed at the same time and shouted loudly that they would follow her command. In the next moment, seven bright lines of light in different colors shot up from the Sea God Temple. They carried the heavy pressure and deadly intent of Titled Douluos as they flew off in different directions.
Inside the empty Sea God Temple, the High Priestess stood all by herself in front of the giant statue. She watched the lights fade away in the distance, but the worry in her deep blue eyes did not go away. She whispered to herself about the Rakshasa God and feared that the continent was entering a time of great trouble.
A few days later, the news of Bibi Dong's death and the total defeat of the Spirit Empire's main army outside Iron Wall Pass spread across the whole Douluo Continent like a massive storm. The Spirit Empire lost its top leader and its best fighters. The empire had been growing very fast and taking over a lot of land, but it suddenly fell into a state of confusion and extreme weakness.
The soldiers at the front lines lost all hope, and there was no one left to rule in the back. The people in different provinces and kingdoms who had been controlled by force started to cause trouble. All the arguments and internal fights that had been hidden during their fast growth exploded at once.
On the other side, the Heaven Dou Empire had just survived a terrible danger, and the Star Luo Empire had been training its soldiers for a long time. Both empires saw this perfect chance and took it immediately. They started their big counterattack on the third day after Bibi Dong died. For the Heaven Dou Empire, Marshal Ge Long led the army with high spirits.
They marched west from Iron Wall Pass with a force that could not be stopped. Wherever they went, the soldiers of the Spirit Empire either ran away as soon as they saw them or were broken after a tiny bit of fighting. One city after another that had been taken by the Spirit Empire raised the flag of the Heaven Dou Empire once more. The free people cried tears of joy and welcomed the army with food and drinks.
The Star Luo Empire did the same thing. Their top commander led their best soldiers to start a fierce counterattack from the southern area. The Star Luo army was already famous for being brave and strong in battle. After being forced to hide and defend for a long time, their attack was incredibly wild, and they quickly took back a huge amount of land they had lost. In just two weeks, the map of the continent completely flipped. The Spirit Empire was like a big bubble that got popped. The land it had stolen shrank away very fast.
Heaven Dou and Star Luo did not just take back their old lands; they also used the chance to capture some of the Spirit Empire's original border cities, pushing the lines deeper. The Spirit Empire could only bring its remaining soldiers together to protect a few main provinces and the area around Spirit City. They lived in constant fear and lost all the power they used to have to conquer the world.
In Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, the whole city was celebrating like never before. The big city gates were wide open, colorful flags waved in the wind, and beautiful flowers covered the main streets. Thousands of people walked onto the streets on their own, waiting excitedly. Their loud cheers shook the sky because today, the heroes who saved the empire from being destroyed were coming back in glory.
Outside the gates, the winning army marched in perfect lines. Their armor looked bright and clean even though they had just come back from a hard war. Flags fluttered everywhere. Marshal Ge Long wore his full military uniform and rode a grand horse at the front of the line, smiling as he accepted the cheers of the crowd. Behind him walked the members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, who had done great things in the war.
However, everyone's eyes naturally turned to a special spot in the line. There was no big group of guards there, only a few people. At the front was the leader of the Spirit Hall, Tang Chen. He was wearing tight blue clothes. Next to him were Dugu Bo, Yang Wudi, and a few others. These people did not mix with the regular soldiers, but they felt like the true heart of the whole celebration.
The regular people might not know every little detail of what happened, but they all knew that this mysterious leader of the Spirit Hall and the strong fighters under him had changed everything at the final moment. They knew he was the one who killed the unstoppable Empress of the Spirit Empire, Bibi Dong. The people cheered with a lot of thanks, respect, and curiosity.
The grand victory ceremony took place in the big square right in front of the palace. Emperor Xue Ye had passed away, so the new Emperor Xue Beng was now wearing serious royal robes. He personally led all the government officials out of the palace to welcome the heroes, giving them the highest honor. After the long speeches and reward ceremonies finished, Xue Beng stood on the high platform. He looked with bright eyes at Tang Chen, who was standing calmly below him.
Xue Beng spoke into a loud spirit tool so his powerful voice could be heard by everyone in the square. He told Tang Chen that he had come forward when the empire was in danger, used smart plans, killed powerful enemies, and saved the entire country from falling apart. He said such amazing work could not be rewarded with simple titles or regular gold and silver. He stopped for a moment, and while everyone watched, he carefully took an object from a fine jade tray held by a worker.
It was a three-dimensional triangle object that was clear and had a deep blue sea color. It was about one foot in size. It was not a regular gemstone, but it looked more beautiful than the cleanest sapphire. Strange blue lines like water waves moved smoothly across this triangular object. These patterns did not look like they were carved by hand; they looked alive. Circles of blue light flashed gently, filling the inside of the palace with a soft, magical glow. Under the sunlight, it looked like a tiny ocean was trapped inside it, sparkling with light.
This was the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It was a national treasure passed down through many generations of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family. People said it was connected to the mysterious Sea God and held unbelievable power. The past rulers always kept it as a symbol of the country's luck and would never show it to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary or for an incredibly great action. They would certainly never give it away as a gift.
The whole square became quiet as everyone held their breath to watch. Xue Beng held up the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud with both hands and spoke loudly to Tang Chen, explaining that this was the treasure of the Heaven Dou royal family. He said he was giving this treasure to him today to reward his great work in protecting the throne. He expressed his hope that the leader would use it well and keep protecting the lands of Heaven Dou.
After saying those words, he walked down the steps of the high platform. Many people looked on in total shock as he handed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud directly to Tang Chen. This grand reward and this respectful action pushed the status of Tang Chen and his Spirit Hall to a level that had never been seen before.
Tang Chen raised his head a little bit and looked calmly at the blue triangle object that was shining with the light of the deep sea. Then, he reached out his hands and took the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud firmly. To be honest, this item was not just a random gift from Xue Beng.
Tang Chen had actually asked the young emperor for it. As a person who had traveled to this world from another place, he knew very well that this object was connected to the legacy of the Sea God. He thanked His Majesty for the very kind gift in a calm voice that did not show any wild emotions.
This scene made many members of the royal family feel a sense of relief in secret. In their minds, the fact that Tang Chen accepted the reward meant that the Spirit Hall would stay friendly and work together with the Heaven Dou Empire for a while. It showed he did not want to steal the throne right now. Right after that, Xue Beng used the chance to ask Tang Chen to become his personal teacher. He called him the Imperial Tutor and gave him a massive piece of land with a hundred thousand homes. He also allowed Tang Chen to wear his sword and shoes inside the palace and skip the formal introductions.
When it was time to leave, Xue Beng personally walked Tang Chen and Ning Fengzhi out. Ning Fengzhi went back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, while Xue Beng walked with Tang Chen all the way to the outer gates of the palace.
After Tang Chen got back to his room, he immediately took out the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. As soon as the blue triangle object appeared, its light turned the whole room into a deep sea-blue color. He did not rush to pour his spirit power into it. Instead, he looked closely at this unique item with its moving lights and shadows.
He carefully released his mental energy to test it and look inside. Suddenly, he felt an incredibly massive force hit his mental energy and push it back violently. He was still holding the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud when his whole body fell backward instantly, and his mind went completely blank. In the very last second before he lost consciousness, he only felt something hard hit his head.
The loud noise of Heaven Dou City celebrating its victory made a very cruel contrast with certain quiet corners inside the Spirit Empire. It felt like the difference between heaven and hell. There was a small border city named Gray Rock City that was still a few hundred miles away from Spirit City. It used to be a busy place because it connected several mining areas, but now, this small city was completely dead. Saying it was a mountain of dead bodies and a sea of blood did not even describe how bad it truly was.
At the main gate of the city, the bodies of the guards were twisted into strange shapes by a giant, invisible force. They were mixed together with the broken pieces of the wooden city gate, creating a bloody mess. On the streets, countless dead bodies lay everywhere.
There were men, women, old people, and young children. The way they died was very strange, but they all shared one thing. They were completely shriveled up. It did not matter if they were soldiers wearing leather armor, common people in simple clothes, or Spirit Masters in long robes.
The bodies underneath looked like all the water and life had been sucked right out of them. Only a thin layer of skin was left covering their bones. Their eyes were sunken deep into their skulls, and their mouths were wide open, frozen in the extreme fear they felt right before they died.
Most of the buildings nearby had fallen down. They were not destroyed by regular war weapons, but it looked like they were pushed down and ripped apart by a very wild force that was full of deep hatred. Among the broken walls, shrivelled mummies were hanging everywhere. You could not hear a single sound from any living creature in the entire city.
Even the common flies and birds that eat dead meat were completely missing, as if they were scared away by this pure feeling of death and evil. The source of all this terrible fear was a single person wrapped in a large, dark red cape, standing completely still on the base of a broken statue in the middle of the central square of the small city.