The Temple of Destruction.
It was as grand as any other God King's palace, but carried less delicate beauty and more heavy solemnity.
A figure sat inside the main hall, fingers hovering over a white chess piece. After pausing, a glint of thought passed through his eyes. After a long silence, he shook his head helplessly.
"I lost."
Looking up at the elf-like girl sitting across from him, his gaze softened.
"Alright, what do you want?"
"Daddy, I want to join the war! I want to make unmatched contributions! Right now, Mama Juzi is leading the Fire Phoenix Legion and has already advanced into the Seventh Galaxy. Mama Ye's Angel Legion is also on standby in the Eighth Galaxy—it's totally safe!"
The girl stood up lightly and came behind Xu Cheng, massaging his shoulders with both hands and a flattering smile.
"Also, Uncle Golden Dragon King is fighting in the Seventh Galaxy too. Let me go, please~ It's super safe…"
"You want to make legendary achievements?" Xu Cheng looked at her with amusement, glancing over gently. The girl looked slightly guilty under his gaze.
"Fine, fine."
Xu Cheng waved his hand.
"If you want to go have fun, just go. No need to wrap it up in such grand talk. We agreed beforehand, after all. I won't go back on my word."
"Yay! Thanks, Daddy!"
The girl gave him a joyful hug and a big kiss on the cheek, then ran off happily.
"So, you finally agreed to let her go?"
A tall, graceful figure appeared behind him. Xu Lexuan looked at Xu Cheng with warm eyes. After years together, the two had developed a deep, unspoken bond.
"She's almost ten. We can't keep her confined in the Divine Realm forever. Right now, the Sun Moon Empire controls four of the thirteen major galaxies. The one she's going to is under Juzi's watch—fairly safe. Still, I can't believe it's been nearly ten years since she became a god."
Xu Cheng stood up and gestured, making the chessboard and pieces vanish into thin air.
Xu Lexuan naturally wrapped her arms around his, resting her head on his chest like a delicate bird.
"Yes, ten years already. The growth of the mortal world has far exceeded my expectations. Humanity's potential is truly limitless. At this rate, conquering the universe doesn't seem impossible anymore."
"Mm…"
Xu Cheng nodded slightly.
One day in the Divine Realm equals one year in the mortal world.
So in these ten years, the mortal realm has experienced 3,000 years. In the original timeline, this would be when the Abyss Plane arrives and humanity is shackled by gods, trapped on Douluo Star, with limited development and forced to defend passively.
But in this lifetime—
Humanity has already broken out of their home galaxy, piloting interstellar battleships, poised to dominate the universe.
The Sun Moon Empire now spans four galaxies.
Even the Mother of the Abyss's plane was annihilated—one shot from a Star-Annihilation Cannon, and if that wasn't enough, two shots would do. It was compressed into a black hole and stored in the Divine Realm as foundational energy for expansion.
Xu Cheng enjoyed the softness of the woman beside him.
The Goddess of the Moon, an ancient First-Level God, had a perfect match with her martial soul.
The God of the Sun originally intended to pass his divinity to Xu Cheng, but with two divine seats already, Xu Cheng gave it to Xu Tianzhen. Ma Xiaotao also expressed interest, but she was targeted by the God of Lust, whose nature matched her martial soul, so she accepted that inheritance.
Interestingly, after Ma Xiaotao accepted the God of Lust's inheritance, it evolved into the God of Desire, with power nearly rivaling a God King. She led the Sacred Sect and, together with Sun Moon Empire forces, conquered many regions—her name alone instilled fear.
She was nearly on par with the illusory image of the Emperor Xu Cheng.
Wang Qiuer inherited the Golden Dragon King's legacy. For soul beasts, especially dragons, there's another path: the Silver and Golden Dragon Kings were born gods—they only need ancestral memory to ascend.
Even the Beast God Di Tian recently inherited the title of Dark Dragon King, one of the Nine Dragon Kings.
Axiao became the God of Machinery and Soul Guidance, his strength increasing as soul tech improved. Now at God King level, he crafted life metal, infused it into warships, and personally led the First Legion, conquering a beast-controlled star system.
Ji Juechen ascended as the Sword God, a First-Level God, going wild across galaxies challenging the strongest—living his dream as a sword fanatic.
Nana inherited the Ghost God title, also a First-Level God.
Xu Jiujing became the Star Crown God, a completely self-created god. With the rapid expansion of the Divine Realm, the number of First-Level Gods has multiplied several times.
The once-terrifying chaotic space-time flow no longer threatened the developed Divine Realm. The protective membrane remained only to safeguard fringe planets from being lost or invaded.
"Honestly," Xu Lexuan said softly, "it wasn't until humans left Douluo Star that I realized how vast the universe is. Even the Divine Realm… isn't the end."
"There are still so many planets where humans are oppressed. It's heartbreaking."
She sighed.
She had seen firsthand the inhumane lives of humans on other planets—treated worse than livestock, caged and bred by stronger races like demons, bugs, or beasts. On Douluo Star, such conditions would be unthinkable.
"Thankfully, we have you, Your Majesty," she said teasingly.
"So, Captain, are we setting sail?" Xu Cheng smiled.
"You're the worst~" she blushed, gently hitting his chest.
"Captain" was a title she hadn't heard in a long time. After hundreds of warships were produced, she retired and gave command to Juzi, staying in the Divine Realm as a full-time housewife.
But as seasoned companions, they had their tacit understanding.
Xu Cheng picked her up and walked back into the hall.
Watching the slowly closing doors behind them—
Xu Keke scrunched her nose.
"Hmph! Not even a proper send-off. Think I'm a burden, huh? Just waiting for me to leave to start your business…"
"Whatever! Frontline battlefield, here I come!"
"Charge!!"
Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy
Located on Douluo Star, at the center of the Eleventh Major Galaxy, the academy spanned multiple planets. As the empire expanded into space, the school offered new space-oriented courses:
Mecha combat
Mecha theory
Hands-on warship operations
Unlike any other academy, this school produced Emperor Xu Cheng, its most prestigious headmaster: the first human to become a Soul-Guiding God, Xiao Hongchen, along with other frontline powerhouses.
Despite being "just" an academy, its influence was immense.
It even provided real decommissioned warships for student training, and students were regularly taught by legends like Xiao Hongchen—making it the top institution for all humans in the Eleventh Galaxy.
Since Emperor Xu Cheng's ascension, humans gained a voice in the Divine Realm. Unshackled, soul-guiding tech exploded. Soul devices up to level 15 were developed. Currently, only Xiao Hongchen had reached level 15, but level 12 and 13 soul engineers were common.
Even this academy alone had two 13th-level engineers—comparable to mid-tier gods.
Though humans were still physically the weakest race, soul-guiding tech emphasized group tactics. A team-operated warship could destroy a planet.
A Level-15 Star-Annihilation Cannon could threaten a God King's life.
That's how humanity secured and rapidly expanded from the Eleventh Galaxy.
"Another year of admissions."
At the academy gate, a middle-aged man watched the long line of students and parents.
"These are the lifeblood of the empire—flowing into the legions, becoming their pillars."
"The current army commanders all came from this academy, right?" asked a petite, graceful woman beside him.
"Indeed." He nodded.
"With the emperor's recent decree to conquer the Seventh Galaxy, the war there is fierce. If we weren't assigned here, I'd really want to go."
"Now that we're gods with endless lifespans, we have time." Keke shook her head.
"As academy inspectors and leaders, our job's no joke. This place has become massive, and millions across galaxies dream of studying here. Helping Juzi with logistics is the least we can do."
"Too bad we were lifted up by the emperor. Unlike Ji Juechen—he created his own godhood and rampaged through galaxies. Even Ziyan complained about him last time, haha." Lin Xi laughed.
"Back then, the Golden Generation was the real deal. Xu Cheng, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Nana… all at least level-9 engineers. Many have passed, but we were lucky to rise with them. Now, even ordinary people can live 200 years, Title Douluos over 1,000."
Lin Xi stretched.
"Alright, time to select students."
He noticed a few instructors approaching.
"From trillions of applicants, we've narrowed it to 10,000… and we'll pick just 3,000 true prodigies. What a luxury." Keke sighed.
"Not all are wasted—90% of the rejected still enter other imperial academies. Resources may be slightly less, but they specialize in their fields."
"Vice Deans, the students are ready. Shall we begin the evaluation?"
"Begin." Keke's expression turned serious.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Star Dou Great Forest
Bear Lord glared at Xiaobai, full of grievance, and roared:
"You're just a mere hundred-thousand-year soul beast! Why are you above me?! Why are you the Bear God, second only to one?! I object!!"
"My dad is Xu Cheng," Xiaobai said casually, picking her ear.
"I'm second only to Di Tian in the forest. In combat, even he may not match me! I'm ranked fourth among the Ten Ferocious Beasts!"
"My dad is Xu Cheng," she replied with a smack of her lips.
"My master is the Silver Dragon King, one of the original gods!"
"My dad… is Xu Cheng." Xiaobai's expression was flat.
Bear Lord: "…"
"Waaahhhh~~ (╥﹏╥)"
"Alright, stop crying."
Xiaobai patted his shoulder.
"I'm a third-level god, but I can appoint subordinates. I've created three Bear Lords. You'll be… number one."
"Waaahhhhh~"
Bear Lord cried even harder.
"Enough," came Snow Empress's cold voice. She glanced at Xiaobai, who immediately snapped to attention and darted to her side like a loyal husky.
"Xiaobai, acting spoiled again!"
At her side, a small, delicate girl stuck out her tongue.
"Little sister, you don't know… He always bullied me, just 'cause he's older by a few hundred thousand years! If I didn't hide up north, and if Mom didn't protect me, I'd have been tormented."
"Does it still hurt, Xiaobai?"
The girl looked concerned and stroked his fur.
"I'll blow on it! He's a bully! A big meanie! I'll ask Daddy to beat him up!"
Seeing her so upset, Xiaobai shivered. Secretly glancing at Silver Dragon King, who was speaking to Snow Empress, he noticed she was already watching—her gaze was clear.
His pupils shrank.
"If this gets back to the Divine Realm… I might lose my godhood!"
"Cough cough, I'm fine! We should be generous, right? Wanna go for a ride? Hop on!"
"Yay~!"
Seeing the girl forget everything quickly, Xiaobai let out a deep sigh of relief.
Gotta show off my divine status, right?Otherwise, what's the point of rising to glory in silence?
(End of Chapter)