A soft halo, like a mother's hand, gently caressed the delicate skin of the clouds and mist. The illusory space seemed to possess an exceptionally moving sense of tangibility. Faintly, a majestic palace stood tall, both illusory and real beneath the gentle halo's touch.
A figure stood quietly amidst the clouds and mist, gazing out into the boundless distance. The Heavenly Eye on his glabella bloomed with a magnificent radiance—encompassing all things, yet profoundly unfathomable; displaying soul-stirring beauty, yet showing cold indifference. It gave one a sense of momentary glory, an instant of life-and-death stillness.
Since Rong Nianbing left the God Realm, six more years had passed in the God Realm. During these six years, quite a few gods had been replaced, and these departing gods, combined with the exploration teams formed by the God Realm, would transmit news from other star systems in the universe back to the God Realm.
From these, the God Realm Committee learned that due to the spatial turbulence, many God Realms had either been destroyed or gone missing, causing the star systems governed by these God Realms to all become godless domains.
Because of this, the God Realm Committee made a resolution to begin expanding the God Realm's sphere of command, bringing those planes and star systems that had lost their God Realm's protection under the Douluo God Realm's jurisdiction.
Such a decision didn't receive too many voices of opposition. Of course, the "not much opposition" here referred to the planes and star systems being taken over. In fact, for the living beings of these planes and star systems, this matter couldn't be better!
The disappearance of their God Realm meant that they had no way to become gods. To become a godless powerhouse, unless the limits of their plane were broken; to become one with a divine throne, without a God Realm, they could only open up a new God Realm. Or else...
It was to let a new God Realm arrive!
The Douluo God Realm's decision perfectly aligned with their wishes.
For a time, the gods of the God Realm welcomed another massive surge. Currently, the God Realm had nine God Kings, forty-nine First-Class Gods, eight hundred and ten Second-Class Gods, sixteen thousand eight hundred Third-Class Gods, and ordinary divine officials and heavenly hunters could be said to be innumerable, making it a truly massive force.
To manage such a colossal cluster of star systems and gods, the God Realm Committee alone simply couldn't monitor the order of so many regions. Based on this, three years ago, Chen Junting had taken a different approach, using a massive amount of faith power to condense an avatar. Then, using the authority of the God Realm's core, he connected it with the various star systems and their plane spirits governed by the God Realm through the power of destiny.
Immediately after, he blew the avatar apart!
The explosion of the faith avatar was led by Chen Junting, turning every speck of the light of faith into a tiny cell-like entity, scattered across all the star systems and planes governed by the Douluo God Realm. In this way, whenever an imbalance of order appeared somewhere, or an attack from another plane was encountered, Chen Junting could detect it in time.
The only drawback was that it was too exhausting for his Heavenly Eye every day.
"Sigh, today is finally over."
The Heavenly Eye closed, and Chen Junting wearily rubbed his glabella.
Just as he was about to take out his phone to check if the novel he'd been following had updated, and to enjoy this rare moment of tranquility...
Very soon, this peace was shattered!
He had just pulled over a lounge chair and was about to lie down when his keen God King senses heard a series of "pitter-patter" running and commotion drawing closer from afar. A black silhouette suddenly burst out from below!
It was a large white bear. Its honest expression made one feel close to it, but when one noticed the mischievous smirk shifting to the corner of its mouth, one knew that this white bear was absolutely not as well-behaved as it seemed.
And more importantly, sitting on the white bear's back were two children who appeared to be only about five or six years old.
One was a boy with white hair, his clothes dirty from roughhousing, his face smudged with a bit of dirt. While riding the running white bear, he kept turning his head to look back, wearing a kind of... probably not very bright, carefree grin;
The other was a little girl with the exact same pink-blue hair as Wang Dong'er, timid yet excited—the kind of excitement that came from having done something bad.
Just one glance, and Chen Junting instantly had a stress response!
Right behind the large white bear, a massive bug with ten golden rings wrapped around its body—none other than the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm—was chasing while panting heavily, shouting loudly:
"Dongyu! Tianshuo! Be good and stop!"
"Little Bai! Why are you still messing around with them?!"
Though he said this, one could tell at a glance that the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was faking it. After all, who else would keep looking behind them while chasing someone, both on guard and slowing down?
At the same time, hearing the shouting behind him, the boy called "Tianshuo" turned his head first, even using both hands to pull on his own face, making a funny face. "No way! I've been practicing sword for so long, it's boring to death! Right, Dongyu... eh! Little Bai, why are you stop... ah!"
His excuse came to an abrupt halt when he felt Little Bai suddenly choose to slam on the brakes beneath him. And when the boy subconsciously turned his head and saw a white figure ahead, before he could react, he was carried forward by inertia.
"Ouch!"
With a thud, he face-planted squarely into the ground.
Because she was tightly gripping Little Bai's fur and didn't dare let go, "Dongyu," who was still sitting steadily on the bear's back, immediately poked her head out and asked with concern, "Brother Tianshuo, are you okay?"
"Hiss—I'm fine, how could anything be wrong."
In front of Dongyu, Tianshuo jumped right back up.
But Little Bai wasn't so lucky.
Because that white figure was none other than the Snow Empress! The moment she stopped Little Bai, the Snow Empress's gaze had already locked dead onto her child. After lifting Dongyu down from Little Bai's back, she went straight into a zero-frame windup, grabbing Little Bai's ear without the slightest hesitation!
"Mother Snow Empress, it hurts!"
"It hurts! You know it hurts!?"
"How old are you, Little Bai! To actually still mess around with Tianshuo and Dongyu! Ah! What are you trying to do!?"
"Ow—I was wrong, Mother Snow Empress."
Little Bai, whose ear was being firmly held by the Snow Empress and wouldn't let go, was still unwillingly struggling and protesting, but how could that be so easy?
At this time, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm also "happened to catch up." Seeing Little Bai with its ear firmly gripped, and glancing at the Snow Empress who was in a state of fury, he subconsciously shuddered.
So, in an awkward situation,
"Snow Empress, good afternoon..."
"It's not good at all!"
The Snow Empress coldly glanced at the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.
"Don't think I can't tell! You stand there too!"
Thus, a bizarre scene occurred.
Two little ones stood to the side, at a loss for what to do. A white bear lowered its head, covered its head with both paws, and squatted in place. And an Ice Silkworm, not allowed to transform into human form, was made to stand on its tail end as punishment.
Having witnessed this entire farce, Chen Junting slapped his own forehead with one hand, his eyes filled with helplessness. For a moment, he wanted to use his phone screen to block his line of sight.
He raised his finger and pointed at the still-flailing Tianshuo—his own son—but ultimately only sighed, his expression mixed with disbelief and the accustomed disdain of a familiar frustration.
He really wanted to pretend he didn't know this kid...
Right at this time, the Snow Empress had also finished scolding the curled-up Little Bai and the still-punished Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. She effortlessly picked up one in each hand—the two still-flailing little rascals—and flew up towards where Chen Junting was.
"Let me go! Auntie Xue (Snow)! I don't want to go up there!"
Chen Tianshuo flailed his arms and legs, trying to struggle.
As for Huo Dongyu...
Knowing she had no power to resist, she chose to "lie flat."
"Hehe..."
Amidst his struggles, Chen Tianshuo was finally carried by the Snow Empress to stand before Chen Junting. Looking at his old man's completely expressionless face, this kid still tried to get away with it by flashing a simple smile.
But...
"You little brat, you skipped class again! Didn't you!?"
As a household-name "brat," Chen Tianshuo's personality as he grew up was nothing like Chen Junting's or Ning Tian's.
Because both Chen Junting and Ning Tian were God Kings, and even his grand-teacher and two uncles were as well, plus Chen Junting had moved all his family and friends up to the God Realm. Under everyone's doting, especially the older generation from Shanyang Village and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Tianshuo had practically been spoiled from childhood. So he was extremely rambunctious, and what's more, he had to bring others along.
For example, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er's daughter—
Huo Dongyu!
One could say that their daughter inherited Wang Dong'er's beautiful appearance and Huo Yuhao's cute big eyes.
As for Chen Tianshuo...
At first, though this child was mischievous, he was merely energetic, and the scope of his mischief was basically confined to one area.
But ever since he entered the school founded by the God of Knowledge and met more companions there, his rambunctiousness had grown increasingly intense, and he began bringing people along—especially Huo Dongyu.
With the added bonus of being childhood sweethearts, he immediately brought her into the fold.
At this moment, Chen Junting grabbed his son, his smile equally merciless. He reached out a hand, gave a pinch, and grabbed Chen Tianshuo's lips tight.
"You still have the nerve to smile?"
A rhetorical question, followed by an inquiry. "I'm asking you, weren't you supposed to be studying at the academy and going to Teacher Ji Juechen to practice swordsmanship? Don't tell me... you forgot all of my instructions?"
Seeing the innocence and confusion in those big round eyes...
"Good grief! What acting!"
But the next second, his tone sharply shifted. "You little brat, not only do you not behave yourself, but you also drag Dongyu into it! You really deserve a beating!"
"I take full responsibility! I was the one who forced her to do it!"
Chen Tianshuo was being loyal, trying to take all the blame onto himself.
This moved Huo Dongyu to tears!
"Brother Tianshuo..."
His own son's words made Chen Junting's eye twitch.
How old are you?
How old is Dongyu?
But skipping class was absolutely unforgivable.
If he dared to skip class today, he'd dare to blow up the school tomorrow!
What's more...
Getting a beating from him now was actually a good thing.
Really!
Just as Chen Junting was rubbing his hands together, ready to step forward and properly "educate" his son on what "the harsh reality of society" meant, a slender figure was running rapidly towards them.
One look, and Chen Junting immediately chose to withdraw.
Replacing it was a look of pity directed at Chen Tianshuo.
The woman with shining golden hair had her tresses neatly tied into a single ponytail. A set of office attire, plus the flat-rimmed glasses on her nose bridge, made her appear capable and spirited.
Though the bright and gentle beauty of her youth was still faintly visible, in those spirited eyes, Ning Tian now carried the mature charm of a mother—something she hadn't had six years ago. She even appeared more dignified.
When she saw Little Bai and the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm being punished below, her eyebrow first ticked upward. Then, upon seeing her son beside Chen Junting, her expression instantly became "colorful," and her speed increased even more!
She was charging straight over!
"Chen—Tian—shuo—!" Ning Tian shouted with full vigor, her voice now carrying unmistakable fury!
Seeing this, Chen Junting immediately put on a stern face.
At this moment, as if driven by some instinct, Chen Tianshuo gave a jolt, and subconsciously, stiffly, called out, "M-mom..."
Ning Tian yanked her son over, inspecting him from top to bottom.
Of course, Huo Dongyu wasn't spared either.
Currently being inspected by Auntie, Huo Dongyu had long since known fear, wilting as she awaited judgment. In contrast, after his initial stiffness and fear, Chen Tianshuo was left with nothing but anxiety.
Carefully checking both children's arms and legs, after confirming that they were indeed unharmed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good, as long as you're fine..."
Ning Tian looked at the Snow Empress beside her and smiled:
"Sister Xue, please take little Yu and wait on the side for a moment. I just ran into Yuhao, he should be here soon."
The Snow Empress naturally wouldn't refuse, agreeing readily, "Alright."
Then Ning Tian turned her head, using a "kind and loving" gaze to look at her son, who was trembling in her grasp.
Right on cue, the Snow Empress covered Huo Dongyu's eyes with her hand.
And at this time, Ning Tian had already lifted Chen Tianshuo high up. Under Chen Junting's "ah, this again" gaze, she pressed the terrified Chen Tianshuo firmly onto her lap, swiftly pulled down his pants. And then what followed was...
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Continuous, crisp sounds of spanking, along with ghost-wailing, wolf-howling screams, instantly echoed throughout the surroundings.
"Waaah—! Mom, spare my life!!"
"Waaah—! Dad, save me!!"
"Save you!? In your dreams!"
No matter how much Chen Tianshuo hollered, it was completely ineffective against Ning Tian. When he begged Chen Junting for help, Ning Tian also cast her gaze towards him, and then said one sentence:
"Brother Junting, spank him together!"
"Alright!"
Without the slightest hesitation from Chen Junting, he pulled out a leather belt from goodness knows where.
Swish—
Under Chen Tianshuo's terrified gaze, Slap—
An even crisper sound rang out!
Accompanying it was an even more miserable cry.
There was no helping it. Three days without a spanking, and the kid would tear the roof off the house.
At this moment, listening from the side, Huo Dongyu's heart pounded with fear.
Only one thought remained in her mind:
[Brother Tianshuo is so pitiful...]
When Huo Yuhao finally rushed over,
"I'm here!"
But what he saw was Chen Tianshuo, who had just received a combined disciplinary session from the couple. As for his own daughter, she was standing obediently beside the Snow Empress. The two of them looked so well-behaved... the kind of obedient that couldn't possibly be more obedient.
As for the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm and Little Bai, who were still being punished by the Snow Empress, everyone subconsciously ignored them.
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