The hibernation pod hissed open with a sharp mechanical click. Zhangting stepped out, his body feeling denser and more grounded than ever before. Waiting for him was not just his grandfather, but the legendary Qian Gu Die Ting, whose smile was surprisingly gentle for a man known as the Battle God.
"Great-grandfather," Zhangting greeted, bowing respectfully.
"You've done well, child," Die Ting said, a rare warmth in his eyes. "You didn't forget this old man during your three years away. Better than your grandfather, at least! Tell me, what reward do you want? Name it, and it is yours."
Zhangting didn't hesitate. He didn't need pills or weapons; he needed a guarantor.
The Shadow of the Demon Gate
Zhangting's mind was already racing toward the Yuanen Family. He knew the secret that history had forgotten: Yuanen Yehui's mother was a high-level Soul Douluo on the verge of Level 90. When she broke through, she wouldn't just become a Title Douluo; she would become a beacon for the Demon Dimension.
While the "Demon Lord" Wu Jie and his 30,000-strong legion might be considered "weak" compared to the God Realm, they were a world-ending threat to a lone family.
"Great-grandfather," Zhangting began, his tone serious. "You've been in seclusion too long. Stillness breeds stagnation. Why not come with us to the Yuanen family's birthday banquet? A stroll through the world might be exactly what you need to find that final spark for your breakthrough."
Die Ting smiled, seeing through the boy's flattery but touched by his boldness. A Quasi-God walking the earth once more? It was a terrifying thought for the rest of the continent, but for Zhangting, it was the ultimate insurance policy.
"Very well," the old man agreed. "I shall accompany you."
The Spirit Pagoda's "Safety Precautions"
Before the delegation departed, Zhangting made one final stop: the Spirit Pagoda Treasury.
Xu Tiansheng, the treasurer, felt a headache forming the moment he saw the boy. "What now, you little rascal? I hope you're not planning to empty the vault again."
"Don't worry, Uncle Xu," Zhangting said with a charming, innocent smile. "Just a few small things for self-protection. Very few."
Minutes later, Xu Tiansheng's jaw hit the floor as he watched Zhangting load fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells into a storage ring.
"Self-protection?!" Xu screamed. "You're a nine-year-old kid! What are you doing with heavy artillery? Are you going to go fried-fish hunting?!"
"Uncle Xu, please," Zhangting whispered, putting a finger to his lips. "The walls have ears. We are visiting a powerful, independent family. If they see us coming with three Limit Douluos and enough explosives to level a city, they might get the wrong idea. This is just to protect the 'property' of the Spirit Pagoda—which, at the moment, is me."
Xu Tiansheng was speechless.
Leader: Tower Master Qian Gu Dongfeng (Limit Douluo).
Guard: Elder Han Tianyi (Super Douluo).
Special Guest: The Battle God Die Ting (Quasi-God).
Artillery: Enough fixed-position shells to start a small war.
"Are you going to a birthday party," Xu muttered, rubbing his temples, "or are you going to wipe out their entire family tree?"
Chapter 31: Into the Heart of the Giants
The Spirit Pagoda delegation set out, a force so concentrated with power that the very air seemed to vibrate as they moved. They were heading to the reclusive mountains where the Titan Giant Ape bloodline resided.
Zhangting sat in the lead carriage, his eyes closed in meditation. He knew that the Yuanen family would be wary. They were proud, ancient, and fiercely protective of their secrets. But they had no idea that the "congratulations" coming their way were backed by the most heavily armed nine-year-old in history.
He wasn't there to destroy them—not yet. He was there to save them, so that they would eventually belong to him.
Next Chapter: The Titan's Den — Meeting the Future Shrek Captain.
Expert Guide: Zhangting has now secured the most powerful "bodyguard" in the world and enough heavy weaponry to handle the Demon Gate. Do you think he should use the soul-guided shells to close the Demon Gate himself and take all the credit, or should he let the Yuanen family struggle first to make his "rescue" seem more heroic?