Yu Yuanchen broke through to Level 99 Titled Douluo, his aura triggering natural phenomena that blanketed the entire city in pressure. This news spread like a violent whirlwind, instantly reaching every corner of Demon Quelling City. After a brief moment of deathly silence, the city erupted into deafening cheers and fervor!
"Long live the Young Sect Master!"
"Dragon Emperor Douluo is invincible in his divine might!"
"Humanity shall prosper forever!"
The relief of surviving a catastrophe, the passion for pioneering a new world, and heartfelt worship for the strong exploded in this moment. Every Soul Master, regardless of their sect, had a face glowing with excitement and pride. Their leader's breakthrough meant their survival in this dangerous alien world was now significantly more secure, and the foundation for the great cause of human colonization of the Demon Plane was now firmly established!
The tension and oppression caused by the earlier phenomena were swept away, and the entire Demon Quelling City plunged into an ocean of celebration. The makeshift taverns were packed to capacity as Soul Masters raised their glasses to toast, dreaming of the future. Even the low-level demons lurking outside the city seemed intimidated by this sky-piercing momentum and the lingering, terrifying pressure, quietly retreating to a greater distance.
Amidst this jubilation, even Tang Chen, who spent his days in the forge and was practically married to his furnace and anvil, rarely emerged. He remained his usual heroic self, bare-chested with bulging muscles, but his eyes shone with a sharp gleam, and his aura was deep and heavy—he had remarkably reached Level 98! In the span of a year, his cultivation had not lagged behind.
The travel-worn Qian Daoliu also returned to Demon Quelling City with several newly purified angels. He remained as handsome as a deity with a holy temperament, but there was a touch of weariness and composure between his brows, and his eyes were firmer and deeper. His cultivation had also reached Level 98, and he was faintly stronger than Tang Chen, who was at the same level.
"Hahaha! Brother Yuanchen, congratulations! Level 99! You really know how to make a shocking entrance!" Tang Chen laughed as he walked up, patting Yu Yuanchen's shoulder hard with a booming voice, "I knew you, kid, could definitely do it!"
Yu Yuanchen smiled slightly, feeling the solid strength from Tang Chen's palm, and nodded: "Brother Tang's cultivation has also progressed rapidly; it seems you've gained quite a lot this year."
"That goes without saying!" Tang Chen raised his eyebrows proudly, lowering his voice with a hint of mystery, "Not just soul power, my forging technique has had a major breakthrough! I combined the barbaric casting methods of the demons with my Hundred Forging Essence Gold Technique to create something new! Once it's finished, I'll give you a surprise! I guarantee it will open your eyes!" He rubbed his hands together, his eyes flashing with the excitement of a craftsman discovering a new world.
Hearing this, a look of pleasant surprise appeared in Yu Yuanchen's eyes. He knew of Tang Chen's talent and persistence in forging. Being able to inherit the God of Strength and fuse it with alien technology to create a new path was definitely a major event that could change the landscape of equipment for Soul Masters on the continent! "Good! Then I shall wait for Brother Tang's surprise!"
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Tang Chen puffed out his chest even more proudly. His soul power fluctuated slightly, and a phantom of a giant hammer wreathed in power runes and exuding an ancient, heavy aura appeared behind him—it was the projection of the God of Strength's divine artifact!
"See that? Brother Yuanchen, Birdman Qian! Your buddy here is now a chosen one too! The God of Strength's position, pretty cool, right?" Tang Chen grinned. Although his tone remained rough, the pride of being recognized by a god and stepping onto the Path to Godhood could not be hidden.
Yu Yuanchen and the newly arrived Qian Daoliu looked at each other and smiled, both happy for their friend. Qian Daoliu said warmly: "Congratulations, Brother Tang, on receiving divine grace. The God of Strength governs power and combat; it is truly a perfect match for your Clear Sky Hammer."
At this moment, everyone noticed that Qian Daoliu had not returned alone. Behind him followed several "people" with white wings on their backs, dressed in simple white robes, their expressions tinged with shyness and reverence. The aura on them was pure and bright, originating from the same source as the Angel Martial Soul, but their strength was generally not high. The strongest among them was only four-winged, with an aura around the Soul Douluo level, while the rest were two-winged, equivalent to the Soul King or Soul Emperor level.
"Brother Qian, who are these?" Yu Yuanchen's gaze swept over these special beings, and he already had a guess in his heart.
A trace of comfort and solemnity appeared on Qian Daoliu's face as he explained: "Brother Yuanchen, these are my main achievements from this past year. They were originally biological weapons created in a filthy manner from the bloodlines of angels who had fallen due to demonic corruption. After I found them, I used the Angel Holy Light to guide them, helping them shed their corruption and return to the light. Now, they are true Holy Angels. Although their strength was diminished by the purification, they yearn for the light and are willing to follow me to protect order."
His gaze toward those angels carried a hint of pity and responsibility. Fallen Angels were high-level war weapons manufactured by demons; the two-winged ones were almost just cannon fodder without self-awareness, and purification would surely kill them. Only the four-winged and the rare six-winged (four-winged after purification) possessed enough intelligence to withstand the baptism of holy light and gain a new life.
Qian Daoliu had long since completed the requirements of his divine trial, but he continued to travel, just to save as many of these lost "compatriots" as possible. This kind of good deed, which went beyond the trial itself and came from the heart, unintentionally aligned even more with the true meaning of "redemption" of the Angel God, making his beliefs firmer and his cultivation improving naturally.
Yu Yuanchen nodded slightly, casting an approving look at Qian Daoliu. Being able to act according to one's heart rather than just for the sake of a trial was the true demeanor of a powerhouse. Qian Daoliu's persistence actually aligned with his inner self, invisibly practicing his own "Dao," so it was no wonder his cultivation had progressed so quickly.
After the celebration, everyone gathered in the council hall of the rebuilt City Lord's Mansion. Yu Yuanchen sat in the main seat. Although his aura was now restrained, the majestic and awe-inspiring presence he exuded grew even more profound. Bo Saixi, as a guest, also sat to the side, quietly observing everything.
Yu Yuanchen first listened to the detailed development report of Demon Quelling City over the past year. City construction, defensive fortifications, resource exploration, skirmishes with sporadic demons, and the application of new forged alloys—everything was in good order, demonstrating the strong adaptability and pioneering spirit of human Soul Masters. He expressed his satisfaction with this.
Subsequently, he asked about the hidden danger that had always weighed on his mind: "That escaped Shadow Demon King Demogorgon—has there been any movement from it this past year?"
Mentioning Demogorgon, Qian Daoliu's expression turned serious: "Brother Yuanchen, I was just about to report this. About half a year ago, while I was purifying a group of fallen angels in a place called the 'Shadow Canyon', I was ambushed by this fiend."
The crowd's expressions tightened.
Qian Daoliu continued: "At that time, it was hiding in ten thousand shadows and launched a sudden attack with strange and vicious methods. Fortunately, I carry the Angel Sacred Sword and have a keen sense for evil auras, and my martial soul is a natural counter, so I barely managed to withstand its first wave of attacks. During the exchange, I discovered that although this demon's strength was still formidable, it seemed... much weaker than in its prime. In particular, its ability to split shadows and switch between reality and illusion was far less troublesome than rumored. Relying on the advantage of my divine artifact, I circled with it for nearly a hundred rounds before finally forcing it back. It was heavily injured and fled into the depths of the shadows, and has not appeared since."
A flash of realization crossed Yu Yuanchen's eyes: "It seems that when I shattered most of its shadow clones, it truly suffered a major blow to its origin qi. Now that you have the divine artifact to counter it, Brother Daoliu, it shouldn't dare to show its face easily for a short time."
Tang Chen laughed and interjected: "Brother Yuanchen, if you ask me, that guy is probably hiding somewhere licking its wounds! Now that our Demon Quelling City is as solid as a fortress, with two Level 98 powerhouses like me and the Birdman here, plus the elites of this city and the constantly improving grand formation, even if it recovers, if it dares to provoke us, we'll make sure it never returns!"
He patted his chest and said heroically: "You just came out of seclusion, so you must be missing your family and friends on the continent. Feel free to go back to the Douluo Continent and take a look! We'll keep an eye on things here, and nothing will go wrong! Since we've established a foothold in this Demon Plane, we will never give it up again!"
Qian Daoliu also nodded gently and firmly: "Brother Tang is right. Brother Yuanchen, you have already given so much for the continent and for Demon Quelling City. Now that the overall situation is settled, Demogorgon is not a cause for concern, and we can handle the affairs within the city. You should go back and reunite with your family in peace; Miss Ye must have been waiting for you for a long time."
Listening to the sincere and confident words of his two best friends, and seeing the trust and support in the eyes of the elders and generals below, a warm current surged in Yu Yuanchen's heart. He truly missed Ye Zhilan, his grandfather, his father, and everything about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He had been in seclusion for a year to break through his bottleneck, his mind tense, and now that he had succeeded, his longing for his homeland and loved ones had become even stronger.
He carefully assessed the current situation: the defensive system of Demon Quelling City was complete, the resource supply line was stable, and both Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had reached the peak of Level 98, greatly increasing their strength, each with their own strengths, enough to handle most situations.
The escaped Demogorgon had suffered heavy losses and could not pose a fatal threat in the short term. Although there were many low-level demons in the Demon Plane, they were leaderless and could not form a large-scale effective attack. Although the arrival of Bo Saixi from Sea God Island introduced variables, her attitude seemed friendly for now, and her strength was also a significant combat force.
After pondering for a moment, Yu Yuanchen finally nodded slowly and made his decision: "Good. In that case, Demon Quelling City will be temporarily entrusted to you two brothers and all our comrades. I do need to return to the sect to handle some matters and spend some time with my family."
He looked at Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen and said solemnly: "For the city's defense, Brother Daoliu, please put in more effort; your Angel Martial Soul is the strongest counter to demons. For forging and the development of new equipment, Brother Tang is the expert. If there are important matters, you two can discuss and decide. If you encounter a strong enemy, prioritize preserving the city and our living strength; you may temporarily avoid the edge and wait for my return."
"Don't worry!" Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu replied in unison, their eyes full of responsibility.
Yu Yuanchen looked at Bo Saixi again and smiled: "Saintess Bo Saixi is new here and not yet familiar with the Demon Plane. If you need anything in the city or wish to go out for training, you can also seek the help of Brother Tang and Brother Daoliu."
Bo Saixi stood up and returned the salute gracefully: "Thank you for your concern, Young Sect Master. Bo Saixi understands."
With everything arranged, Yu Yuanchen did not delay. He stood up and bowed to everyone: "In that case, I shall take my leave first. Everyone, take care!"
"Farewell, Young Sect Master (Brother Yuanchen)!" everyone sent him off in unison.
Yu Yuanchen's figure flashed, turning into a faint purple-gold stream of light, instantly sweeping across the city and arriving at the entrance of the Planar Passage guarded by layers of formations. His thoughts stirred, and the thunder barrier at the entrance rippled, revealing a stable exit.
He took one last look at this majestic human city that had risen from the wasteland of the alien world, a flash of emotion and firmness in his eyes, and then stepped out, his figure disappearing into the light gate.
The journey home had begun. And Demon Quelling City, under the stewardship of powerhouses like Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, would continue to fulfill its mission as a bridgehead for humanity in the Demon Plane, welcoming the storms and glory of the future.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan