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Three Days Later.
Bright City.
After three days of deliberation, the Federation ultimately decided to initiate contact with Bai Xu first. If possible, they aimed to ease tensions between the two sides. If not, they would have no choice but to brace themselves for the worst-case scenario.
Moreover, the Federation was not without its trump card—the last remaining God-Slaying Soul Guidance Shell of the twelfth rank was still in their possession.
The delegation to the Demon Plane included:
- The Smiling Douluo, representing the Tang Sect,
- The Qilin Douluo, representing Shrek Academy,
- The Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, representing the Spirit Pagoda,
- The Sky Transcending Douluo, representing the military and the War God Hall,
- Mo Lan, a dovish representative of the Federal Parliament.
And finally, the War God Douluo, Qiangu Dieting. Among them, the Sky Transcending Douluo was the leader of the group.
It was clear that the major factions had sent deputies, deliberately avoiding individuals who might provoke conflict with Bai Xu.
"Yuanen, begin," Tang Wulin instructed Yuanen Yehui.
"Understood."
Her dark wings unfurled once more as her ninth soul ring shimmered. The Gate of Demons began to open—a luminous portal roughly ten meters tall awaited their entry.
Chen Xinjie watched silently from the side. Truthfully, he was deeply concerned about Yue'er. Moreover, the Federation owed Shrek Academy a debt—the theft of two God-Slaying Soul Guidance Shells was a failure the Federation and the War God Hall could not absolve themselves of. If they were to make amends, the only option left was the last remaining twelfth-ranked fixed-type God-Slaying Soul Guidance Shell.
The six of them stepped into the light gate, traversing the planar passage before landing in a remote area of the Demon Continent.
"Is that... the Otherworldly Demon?"
Mo Lan gasped in awe as she gazed at the colossal five-colored radiant sun looming over the continent's center—Bai Xu resided within it.
Despite the immense distance, the figure within seemed like the supreme ruler of the Demon Plane, its presence vividly imprinted in the minds of all six visitors. Even Quasi-God-level Limit Douluos were powerless to resist. The situation had escalated to its most dire point—Bai Xu's strength had likely grown even more formidable.
"Let's go. It's time to meet this individual," said the Sky Transcending Douluo, Guan Yue.
Back then, he had not taken action against Bai Xu because he had not been in Bright City. By sheer coincidence, he now had the opportunity to stand before the Otherworldly Demon.
"My lord is in deep cultivation. It would be best if you did not disturb him..."
A crisp voice echoed around them as space rippled gently. A golden figure emerged—a child who appeared no older than twelve.
Guan Yue remained composed and bowed slightly. "And you are...?"
It seemed the Otherworldly Demon was not alone.
"You'll find out soon enough. If you're not here for a fight, then wait quietly."
The Plane's Will gazed at the five-colored sun with a hint of melancholy. The day it had long awaited was finally approaching.
Sure enough, moments later—
A figure descended from the radiant sun, landing gracefully before them.
"I sense sincerity and calm in your demeanor. You've come without killing intent—only to talk?" Bai Xu asked softly.
"Yes, sir. We believe there may have been misunderstandings between you and the Douluo Continent. We represent the Federation and its major factions and wish to discuss matters with you. Any past grievances can be compensated for," Mo Lan replied earnestly, her voice steady and her eyes unwavering. This was her forte.
Originally, she had not been qualified to attend—Federal Speaker Qi Changping held greater authority. However, Qi had declined, passing the responsibility to this dovish representative.
"There are no misunderstandings. From your perspective, I have indeed set my sights on Douluo Continent."
Hiss—
The group collectively held their breath, cold sweat dripping down their backs.
"Moreover, my arrival was not baseless, nor was it premeditated. I was summoned here." Bai Xu chuckled, glancing at the Plane's Will. "Explain it to your people. If they accept it, all will be well. If not... well, you may have to initiate a purge once you reclaim your position."
Guan Yue stared in confusion at the golden figure. The relationship between this childlike entity and Bai Xu was clearly significant. From the sound of it, this being had been the one to summon the Otherworldly Demon.
"Very well."
The Plane's Will took over, cutting straight to the point:
"Regardless of how you react, you must relay my words back. Soon, the lord and I will descend upon Douluo in person. When that time comes... none of those usurpers will escape justice!"
"Please, speak freely," Mo Lan said, sensing the gravity of the situation. The waters ran deep—perhaps too deep for a mere parliamentarian like herself to navigate.
The Plane's Will sighed and began its tale:
"I was once the master of the Douluo Plane, reduced to this state because my position was stolen from me."
!!!!!!
The group staggered back in shock, though none dared interrupt.
"And it all traces back to one man—the founder of the Tang Sect, revered across Douluo, the God of the Seas who ascended to divinity twenty thousand years ago... Tang San. He, too, was an Otherworldly Demon."
"What?! That's impossible!!!" The Smiling Douluo, the Tang Sect's representative from the Star Luo Empire, was the first to lose composure. Tang San was the very foundation of the Tang Sect's faith, their spiritual pillar.
"Hmph. Did you truly believe the Tang Sect could stand unshaken for tens of thousands of years without reason? Have you ever encountered anything like the Mysterious Heaven Skill or the Purple Demon Eyes in Douluo's history? These were all techniques Tang San brought with him when he crossed into this world."
Ignoring the outburst, the Plane's Will continued:
"At the time, I had not yet developed sentience and paid little attention to this Otherworldly Demon. A Plane's Will exists to maintain ecological balance and ensure the world's longevity. But ten thousand years later, I foresaw the inevitable collapse of the relationship between soul masters and soul beasts. Without resolving the issue of soul rings, soul beasts would eventually face extinction. So... I gambled everything and birthed the child of destiny—the one you now revere as the Spirit Ice Douluo, Huo Yuhao."
"Yet I never imagined Tang San had already set his sights on him, intending to mold him into his successor in the Divine Realm. Huo Yuhao's wife, the Dragon Butterfly Douluo, had been by his side since childhood, guiding him every step of the way. In the end, as the God-King had planned, this prodigious youth was absorbed into the Tang family. Even then, I could have endured it. After all, Huo Yuhao fulfilled my expectations by creating the concept of soul spirits. Though incomplete, it alleviated some of the tension between humans and soul beasts. But Tang San's schemes did not end there."
"His ambitions ran far deeper. After Huo Yuhao's ascension, soul tool technology advanced at an unprecedented rate. Humanity grew increasingly reckless, exploiting natural resources without restraint. At this stage, the Plane should have unleashed calamities as punishment... but Tang San's father, Tang Hao, seized my position as the master of Douluo. His mother, A'Yin, became the Plane's life core. From that moment, Douluo was entirely under the Tang family's control. Tang Hao, being human, naturally favored humanity. He turned a blind eye to human society's excesses, allowing you to strip the continent bare to forge those three God-Slaying Soul Guidance Shells. Soul beasts were confined to the Star Dou Fortress, while the Extreme North was reduced to barren wasteland."
"He knew humanity's greed would inevitably lead to unchecked technological advancement—a path nearly impossible to reverse, destined to drain the Plane's resources and hasten its decline. The unfilled void in the sky stands as irrefutable proof. Unfortunately, during my struggle against Tang Hao, I gained a sliver of sentience. Isolated and helpless, I prayed to the heavens... and summoned the lord before you. This is the truth in its entirety."
Silence fell over the group. Guan Yue's face was ashen—he wanted nothing more than to return and report this earth-shattering revelation to the Federation.
"How can we trust you?" Mo Lan asked. After all, this involved Tang San, the God of the Seas—a name too revered, too untouchable in Douluo's history. To claim he was an Otherworldly Demon was unthinkable.
"You don't have to. But when you return, deliver this message to Tang Hao and the Tang family: 'Every thought and action sows a cause; every future endured reaps its effect. The cycle of karma is unbroken, and justice will be served—if not by my lord, then by another.'"
"Hahahaha! So that's how it is! All these millennia of struggle, and we were nothing but pawns in that family's game!" Qiangu Dieting laughed maniacally. Even if he died now, learning this secret would have made it worthwhile.
"Bai Xu!" He stepped forward, his eyes burning with resolve. "My son, Dongfeng, wronged you in the past. He provoked you and paid with his life. As for the battle between my Qiangu family and you... I bear full responsibility. I came today to settle this debt."
"Oh? And how do you propose to settle it?" Bai Xu replied coolly.
"That day, I forced my son Qingfeng to act against his will. My great-grandson Zhangting also slighted you. I am willing to die to atone—I only ask that you spare my Qiangu bloodline!"
Qiangu Dieting's meaning was clear: his life in exchange for his family's survival.
"Then kill yourself." Bai Xu's response was merciless.
Without hesitation, Qiangu Dieting grinned, channeling his soul power into a blade—and plunged it into his own heart. With his dying breath, he murmured:
"To hear such a secret before death... I have no regrets. But how ironic... For millennia, the people of Douluo fought tooth and nail for divinity, unaware that someone had long been seated above, watching us scramble like fools..."