Time flows like water, passing silently. A year has passed in the blink of an eye since the Douluo Coalition established Demon Quelling City in the Demon Plane.
In this year, through the efforts of all parties, Demon Quelling City has developed from an initially simple fortress into a majestic city with complete functions and strict defenses. The tall city walls are engraved with purification runes, and the buildings within are arranged in an orderly fashion, with soul master quarters, workshops, research institutes, and trading areas all fully equipped. They have even cleared small experimental fields to grow specially improved crops from the Douluo Continent, and the tenacious Blue Silver Grass has even begun to improve the barren soil in the small area around the city.
Although the area outside the city remains an endless wasteland filled with lurking low-level demons, the order within the city is well-maintained, and human soul masters have gradually adapted to the harsh yet opportunity-filled environment here. Exploration teams set out from time to time, bringing back minerals unique to the Demon Plane, strange plant samples, and even live low-level demons for research.
The forging team led by Tang Chen, combining the Demon Forging Technique with Douluo craftsmanship, has preliminarily developed several alloys that provide additional damage bonuses against demons, equipping them in small batches to the stationed soul masters with significant results. Qian Daoliu, on the other hand, is elusive, wandering through dangerous places, tracking the traces of the Fallen Angel, and completing his divine trials.
On this day, Demon Quelling City welcomed a special visitor.
An azure stream of light flew out from the planar passage connecting to the Douluo Continent, landing lightly at the city gate. As the light dissipated, it revealed a tall woman with a graceful and noble temperament. She wore a sea-blue long dress embroidered with wave and trident patterns; her skin was as white as snow, her face was stunningly beautiful, and her pair of azure eyes were like the deep ocean, containing powerful spiritual power and a faint divinity fluctuation. Her aura was profound; she was clearly a Level 95 Super Douluo!
She was none other than the current saintess of the overseas holy land, Sea God Island, Bo Saixi!
Bo Saixi's arrival did not cause much of a stir; she held a special pass issued by the Martial Soul Hall, and her identity had been notified in advance to the high-level officials remaining in Demon Quelling City by the Martial Soul Hall. After all, although Sea God Island is transcendent, it is not without dealings with the top forces of the continent, especially in matters concerning the safety of the continent.
"Bo Saixi of Sea God Island, by the oracle of the Sea God, has come to Demon Quelling City for training, to broaden my horizons, and to hone myself." Bo Saixi's voice was clear and melodious as she explained her purpose to the stationed Elder of the Martial Soul Hall who came to greet her. Her manners were appropriate and her demeanor was elegant, clearly having received an excellent upbringing. However, if one observed closely, one could find a hint of imperceptible nervousness and curiosity deep within her profound eyes at arriving in a strange and dangerous place for the first time, as well as... a sense of mission entrusted to her.
She was indeed the genius cultivated by Sea God Island with all their might, the one most likely to inherit the position of the Sea God! Possessing the God-Tier Martial Soul "Sea God," she reached Level 95 at only forty years old, and after the Method of Soul Cores was spread, her innate potential was further stimulated, attracting the attention of the Sea God Poseidon himself, who descended the Sea God's Nine Trials in advance.
Coming to the Demon Plane this time was ostensibly a requirement of the Sea God's fourth trial, "Red Dust Heart Refining, broaden your horizons," but in reality, it was because the Sea God Poseidon saw that a group of geniuses on the continent like Yu Yuanchen, Qian Daoliu, and Tang Chen were making such a splash that they could even fill a table with godhood successors, and he felt a bit "sour" in his heart. He hurriedly kicked his own favored seedling out to "see the world" to avoid falling too far behind.
"The Sea God Saintess has come from afar, thank you for your hard work. Demon Quelling City was just built, and the conditions are simple, so please forgive us." The stationed Elder led the way politely, but he was secretly clicking his tongue in his heart. Sea God Island has always been mysterious; for this saintess to have such cultivation at such a young age, the foundation of Sea God Island is indeed unfathomable. He could also feel that while this saintess was strong, she seemed... to lack a bit of the composure and murderous aura forged through true trials, more like a peerless piece of jade that had not yet been fully carved.
Bo Saixi nodded slightly and followed the Elder into the city, curiously observing this human city standing in an alien plane. The smell of sulfur and the faint evil aura permeating the air made her frown slightly, but the orderly scene in the city and the high spirits of the soul masters made her feel awe. Is this the foundation laid by Yu Yuanchen and the others? It is truly extraordinary.
Just as Bo Saixi had settled down and was preparing to learn more about the situation in Demon Quelling City—
BOOM!!!
An indescribable, vast aura suddenly erupted from the highest Meditation Tower in the center of the city!
In an instant, the wind and clouds changed! It was not the dark red typical of the Demon Plane, but endless Purple-Gold Thunder Clouds gathering out of thin air, shrouding the entire sky above Demon Quelling City! Within the thunder clouds, billions of electric snakes danced wildly, emitting deafening roars! A supreme majesty that transcended all things, as if holding the power of heavenly tribulation and judging all living beings, swept down like a landslide!
At this moment, everyone in Demon Quelling City, whether they were human soul masters or the low-level demons lurking outside the city, felt their souls tremble and involuntarily felt an urge to prostrate themselves in worship!
"This is... Young Master Yuanchen has come out of seclusion?!"
"What a terrifying aura! It's even more powerful and unfathomable than it was a year ago!"
"Looking at this posture... has the Young Master broken through to Level 99?!"
The city was in an uproar, and all the soul masters rushed out of their houses, looking toward the Meditation Tower in shock.
Bo Saixi was no exception! She stood up abruptly, her azure eyes filled with unbelievable horror! This aura... far exceeded that of the High Priest of Sea God Island! Even... she felt that in terms of the "quality" of the divine sense pressure descended by the Sea God, it didn't seem to be much worse? How is this possible? Yu Yuanchen... has he become a god?!
No, that's not right! Bo Saixi keenly sensed that the "quantity" of that aura did not seem to have reached the god-tier, but that "quality," that level of power... seemed to have undergone some kind of essential transformation! His soul power... to her, no longer felt like ordinary soul power, but a higher-order, purer energy that was closer to... divine power?
"Not yet a god, but refining divine power?!" An absurd and terrifying thought entered Bo Saixi's mind, making her delicate body tremble slightly. This was simply unheard of! According to the records of Sea God Island, only upon reaching Level 100 and becoming a god would soul power completely transform into divine power. Yu Yuanchen... just how far has he gone?!
At the top of the Meditation Tower.
Yu Yuanchen slowly opened his eyes, and purple-gold lightning flashed in his pupils, deep as the starry sky of the universe. He felt the surging power within his body, the quality of which had undergone a heaven-shaking change, and the corner of his mouth curled into a faint arc.
One year of seclusion, and everything fell into place. Level 99, Titled Douluo, achieved!
But this was not his greatest gain. The greatest gain lay in his sorting and clarification of his own "Dao," and a deeper understanding of the essence of power.
The Law of Chaos and Destruction of the Demon Plane and the Law of Order and Life-Death of the Douluo Continent were like the two sides of Yin-Yang, intertwining and colliding in his heart, finally merging into one. He no longer obsessed over whether thunder was "destruction" or "life force," whether it was "order" or "chaos."
Thunder is thunder! It is one of the most fundamental power phenomena in the universe; it can destroy and it can create, it holds the power of tribulation, and it also contains a glimmer of life! The key lies in the heart of the wielder, and in the understanding and application of the laws.
His soul core underwent an astonishing transformation during this realization! It was no longer a simple energy vortex, but had turned into a more complex, more introverted purple-gold crystal that seemed to contain a miniature cycle of cosmic birth and death—the prototype of a "Spirit Core"! Soul power circulated within it, and its quality had increased by more than ten times! In terms of purity and level, it was already no less than the divine power possessed by those who had just entered the god-tier! This was the path he had found, his own path—prepare for things to shape the form, hide the unexpected to generate the heart.
In layman's terms, it means: fully understand and utilize the laws of all things (prepare for things) to shape and strengthen oneself (shape the form); keep one's intentions and power hidden, maintaining a void and calm heart to respond to infinite changes (hide the unexpected to generate the heart). Do not deliberately pursue a certain "Dao," but let all rivers run into the sea, understand the laws of all things, integrate them into oneself, adapt to circumstances, use no method as a method, and use the infinite as the finite.
He, Yu Yuanchen, might not have the heaven-defying Mysterious Heaven Skill, hidden weapon techniques, and God King backing like Tang San; he did not have the cheat-like million-year soul ring, Necromancer's holy arts, and undead semi-plane like Huo Yuhao; nor did he have the Golden Dragon King bloodline and Life Tree like Tang Wulin. What he relied on was a solid foundation, the wisdom of gathering the strengths of others, unremitting exploration of the essence of power, and... the ruthlessness to seize every opportunity to improve himself!
Becoming a Titled Douluo in his thirties, with soul power quality comparable to divine power, every step he took was incredibly solid! He never thought he was worse than those "protagonists" who became gods in their 20s; he was just walking on a path that was more suitable for him, more down-to-earth, and equally capable of reaching the peak.
"Hoo..." Yu Yuanchen stood up, his aura slowly retracting, and the terrifying celestial phenomenon dissipated accordingly. He took a step and appeared silently outside the Meditation Tower, hovering in the air. His gaze swept calmly over the excited crowd below, and he also saw the strange woman in the sea-blue long dress with a unique temperament.
"Level 95, Sea God Martial Soul... someone from Sea God Island?" Yu Yuanchen's heart stirred, and he instantly guessed Bo Saixi's identity. Has Sea God Island finally stopped sitting still? It seems that the waters of this continent are becoming muddier and more interesting.
He descended slowly and came before everyone.
"Congratulations to the Young Master (Brother Yuanchen) for the great success of your divine skill! Breaking through the limit!" Led by Qian Chongshan, Yu Boxuan (rotating duty), and Tang Gan (rotating duty), everyone bowed excitedly. Yu Yuanchen's breakthrough meant that humanity's foundation in the Demon Plane would be even more solid!
Bo Saixi also suppressed the waves in her heart, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully: "Sea God Island Saintess Bo Saixi, by the oracle of the Sea God, has come to Demon Quelling City for training. I have met the Young Master. Congratulations to the Young Master for your great progress in cultivation."
Her voice was still clear, but her tone had unconsciously taken on a bit of awe for the strong. The man in front of her, who looked a few years younger than herself, exuded an unfathomable aura that seemed to be one with heaven and earth, which made her, the Sea God Saintess, feel immense pressure.
Yu Yuanchen nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Bo Saixi for a moment, feeling the pure and powerful Sea God power within her as well as the hidden, greenness that needed training, and smiled indifferently: "Saintess Bo Saixi, no need for formalities. Sea God Island is transcendent; today, the Saintess's arrival makes my Demon Quelling City shine. Since you are here for training, you may understand and participate in the city's affairs as you wish. If you have any needs, you may seek the stationed Elder."
His tone was peaceful, expressing welcome while maintaining distance. Whether Sea God Island's sudden intervention was a friend or an enemy was not yet known, and it still needed to be observed.
"Thank you, Young Master." Bo Saixi bowed again, her heart settling slightly. This Yu Young Master, who is famous throughout the continent, does not seem difficult to get along with.
Yu Yuanchen did not say anything more, his gaze looking toward the dark red horizon in the distance, feeling the "pseudo-divine power" within his body that was as vast as the sea and had undergone a qualitative change, and a sense of heroism arose in his heart.
Level 99 is just a new starting point. His Dao, his path, has only just begun. The Demon Plane, the Douluo Continent, and even that endless God Realm... in the future, there will be a place for him, Yu Yuanchen!
Demon Quelling City will also usher in a new stage of development due to his breakthrough. And Bo Saixi's arrival seems to indicate that more powerful forces from the continent and even overseas have begun to cast their eyes on this newly explored territory.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan