"Can we sit down and talk now?"
He looked up at the sky for a moment, then lowered his head to look at the group of Title Douluo who were trembling in fear. These were his future materials; he could not afford to waste them.
Although he had been caught off guard by Mu En's sudden strike and used as a punching bag, the vast, inexhaustible power he displayed had still delivered a tremendous shock to everyone present.
"Azure."
Buzz!
The third-generation Nuclear Ark within the azure halo behind him activated. Soul power at the Douluo level surged into the halo, awakening the martial soul housed within it.
Many soul masters use a summoning array or a soul incantation to activate their bloodline abilities when calling forth their martial soul.
Chen Fu engraved this summoning array into the external soul-power data wheel he named the Divine Ascension Halo. The Throne of Technomancy would be summoned directly within the halo and then operated by the [Azure] system program.
The reason the halo absorbed soul power directly was to spare his physical body from bearing the energy load. This allowed the martial soul to fully exert the power corresponding to that energy.
He prefixed it with "Divine Ascension" because he intended to use this single remaining soul ring to climb the road to godhood.
With only one soul ring left, there was no hope of becoming either a spell cultivator or a body cultivator. So he had to open a new domain with this ring—datafication, fixation, and systemization.
The Throne's continuous influence on matter made these possibilities real.
The system was still in development; for now, it offered simple functions such as soul-power engravings to monitor his rank at any time, and the ability to alter skill output limits based on the rotation of the halo.
With his current physical soul-power capacity at rank 66, and without any soul rings, he was able to force the halo to rotate six times for the skill [Impose], reaching level 6, which granted sixty-four times the consumption and analytical speed—breaking the traditional limit that required additional soul rings to strengthen skills.
However, since his innate ability was already related to accelerating microscopic matter control, he still was not a sufficient example. More experiments were needed.
If any soul skill could use the halo to share the load and increase its effect proportionally, that would be perfection.
Returning to the present—carried aloft by the massive energy produced from burning mass in the Nuclear Ark—Chen Fu hovered above the earth as everyone watched. He lifted his right hand slightly.
[Creator Mode Activated]
[Current computing load: 59.6%]
As the halo behind him instantly spun six full rotations, a massive amount of soil and dust rose into the air at his gesture and molded itself into a giant open-air meeting hall on the ground.
"This…"
Witnessing such godlike control over matter, the crowd was once again shaken.
Was this truly the power of someone capable of crafting god-creating soul tools? He was practically a born divine-level soul engineer.
This group of Title Douluo had come with their own agendas, but before they could even speak a word, they were shaken by his overwhelming might and absolute control, nearly forgetting why they came.
"Dean… what do we do?"
Qian Duoduo whispered beside Xuan Zi. He knew that once negotiations began, once all information connected, Shrek Academy would be finished.
They had originally planned to use "the evil soul tool that cuts soul rings" and the shared Divine Ascension relic site to incite conflict and chaos.
To the point that Shrek allowed others to come observe the outer ruins of their academy.
For example:
"See this soul tool wonder? It can truly create gods! The creator escaped—go catch him!"
Even if one could not truly become a god, merely nearing that level—as their Pavilion Master once did—was enough to drive anyone mad. It could have eased the God of the Sea crisis somewhat.
They did not care who won or lost. As long as the number of Title Douluo decreased, it was advantageous for Shrek.
And after all… they still had the Pavilion Master. If they could eliminate Long Xiaoyao and the other guardians, then recapture Chen Fu afterward—perfect.
Rather than let public opinion slowly erode Shrek from inside and out, it was better to reclaim the "half-god" technology and regain control of the soul master world's development.
Do you trust rumors of divine punishment, or do you trust the next-step "half-god" technology in our hands?
As for failing to seize it?
No matter what accidents occurred, they believed their powerful Pavilion Master—who could slay equal ranks without internal injury—would suppress all enemies.
But when Shrek led dozens of Title Douluo from across the continent to capture Chen Fu, they discovered that the gatekeeper boss… was their Pavilion Master who had mysteriously vanished.
The Pavilion Master indeed suppressed all enemies, including them.
"…Go down. Down there, at least there is still a sliver of hope."
Xuan Zi forced a stiff smile. From the moment Mu En grabbed his hand during the battle in the Sea God Pavilion, preventing him from acting, he should have realized something: the Pavilion Master who once led them through countless crises… was gone.
The last month the Pavilion Master spent at Shrek—was it warmth? Or merely completing his task?
Perhaps from the moment he met Xiao Tao… Xuan Zi had already been part of the plan.
When one holds a sharp blade, murderous intent arises.
Knowing how powerful the Pavilion Master was, they became greedy. They became wicked.
"Xuan Zi, you are the Pavilion Master."
Mu En's words from a few days ago echoed again.
"Is that your warning?"
"Why build the Sea God Pavilion?"
"Was it because Shrek was already doomed?"
So I had to come. Because I am the Pavilion Master, because I am the Dean. Even if Shrek is crushed before my eyes, I must face it.
Fortunately… he made the right choice.
For the strongest person alive, even if he said nothing, was still their former Pavilion Master.
But why… was it still Shrek?
Sitting at the head seat, Chen Fu watched the various faction leaders sit down and nodded to himself.
Shrek's influence was terrifying. Although part of it was due to him, it was remarkable that Shrek could summon so many powerful individuals from across the land.
Revealing Mu En's involvement carried immense meaning—strength, identity, and results.
Why Shrek?
Because this great power was simply too close.
Close enough to affect the operations surrounding the Star Dou Forest.
How could he allow another to sleep peacefully beside his pillow?
Furthermore, even though he never expressed it aloud, from the moment they confined him, had Shrek not already prepared for internal collapse?
From the moment they demanded he share his technologies, had they not anticipated the Soul Tool Department's defection?
If the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect dared to gamble everything to follow him, then Chen Fu would support them—and reward them with a brighter future.
The most frightening thing in the world is someone who receives kindness without realizing it.
Because such a person can unwittingly have everything taken from them in return.
First give, then take. First take, then give. No matter the form, balance must be restored in the end.
For example, when Chen Fu noticed the mottled soul inside that Spirit Eye youth, he only communicated through Tian Meng.
Because Tian Meng and the Star Dou shared karma, and thus shared karma with him. This contact was within manageable influence.
As for the gray soul, only after Huo Yuhao willingly followed Chen Fu did communication become possible.
"Everyone, let us make a deal."
"For instance, selling mature soul-ring-engraved soul tools."
And if they won't sell? Do not worry. Sales ambassador Long Xiaoyao will take action.
Countries gather power from the bottom up, but factions do not have to follow that rule.
Humans are adaptive. Those who possess productive resources tend to compromise.
So, disguise the Star Dou as a faction and quietly develop its lower ranks.
When the time is right,
Gather all the Title Douluo together,
Bang!
Close the door,
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three gunshots rang out from outside.
Wooo,
A distant horn blew.
A rebellion had begun.