On the Sea God Island.
The sudden changes in the Demon Whale Sea immediately drew the attention of Bo Saixi and the Seven Holy Pillar Douluo.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was a formidable enemy of the Sea God Island, and the commotion he caused compelled them to take it seriously.
Hai Long Douluo's expression grew grave as he volunteered, "Great Elder, allow me to investigate the situation."
"No," Bo Saixi immediately rejected him, her face darkening. "I sensed divinity in that aura—the Deep Sea Demon Whale King seems to be undergoing a transformation."
If the other party truly ascended to godhood, the Sea God Island would surely perish today.
She immediately reported the situation to the Sea God in her mind, but after waiting for a long time, there was no response.
As the inheritor of the Asura God, everything happening to Ning Tianchen was beyond the Sea God's ability to perceive.
In the divine realm, the Sea God recalled the rules of the god realm and immediately went to the Divine Council.
Soul beasts were not allowed to ascend to godhood—this was a rule set by the divine realm.
Today, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had shown signs of taking the final step, and he had to eliminate this threat before it grew.
…
The light faded, and the million-year cultivation finally dissipated into nothingness.
A brilliant golden soul ring shone beneath Ning Tianchen's feet.
The realm the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had pursued his entire life was fully realized in the moment it transformed into a soul ring.
"Thank you," Ning Tianchen murmured softly.
This boundless power surged into his body, instantly raising his soul power level to 95. Moreover, the Asura God's power he had previously expended was now replenished.
The nearly hundred-meter-long body of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King now completely lost its vitality, falling into the sea and creating massive waves.
Beneath the surface of the water, a smaller whale-like soul beast slowly rose to the surface.
"The Demon Emperor?"
According to their agreement, he could only take one piece of flesh from the corpse, leaving the rest to the Demon Emperor.
The corpse of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast contained infinite power—even a Title Douluo consuming it could gain significant improvement.
But unfortunately, a lifeless corpse would quickly rot. Even if methods were used to prolong its preservation, the power within the flesh would gradually dissipate.
The Seven Kill Sword appeared in his hand.
After breaking through to become a Title Douluo, he could now walk on air without relying on the sword.
With a few swings of the Coiling Dragon Seven Kill Sword, a large chunk of flesh slid off the corpse.
A spirit tool on his finger lightly swept over it, storing the flesh inside.
The Demon Emperor's figure emerged from the water—unlike in the original timeline, her eyes held no hatred, only anticipation.
"You don't hate me?" Ning Tianchen asked.
The Demon Emperor chuckled. "I respect his choice."
With that, she dragged the corpse of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and sank into the depths of the ocean.
Ning Tianchen remained silent for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and flew toward the Manta Ray.
…
The commotion caused by the sacrifice lasted only a short time, and soon the Demon Whale Sea returned to calm.
In the Sea God Temple, Bo Saixi and the others, who had been waiting for the Sea God's response, still didn't dare to lower their guard.
The strength of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was unfathomable. Bo Saixi didn't dare to risk going herself, nor did she dare to send anyone else.
About an hour later, the Sea God finally responded to her.
Bo Saixi visibly relaxed. "The Sea God says the Deep Sea Demon Whale King has sacrificed himself, and the Sea God Island is no longer under threat."
Though it was good news, the Sea God's tone carried a hint of anxiety.
Bo Saixi didn't understand that losing such a major threat as the Deep Sea Demon Whale King would gradually reduce the Sea God's faith-based power—and this was the source of the Sea God's anxiety.
"Would a proud creature like the Deep Sea Demon Whale King willingly sacrifice himself?" If Hai Long Douluo hadn't heard it directly from Bo Saixi, he wouldn't have believed it even if he were beaten to death.
Hai Mao Douluo also expressed his concerns. "Who could withstand the power of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King?"
After all, the sacrificial power of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was no small matter. If the recipient's strength wasn't sufficient, they would undoubtedly be overwhelmed by this power.
This alone proved that another powerful individual had emerged on the continent!
The key issue was that this powerful individual's identity and attitude were unknown. For someone to receive the sacrifice of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, they must have reached some sort of agreement with him.
And this could very well be detrimental to the Sea God Island.
Thinking of this, Bo Saixi immediately made arrangements. "Everyone, strengthen the defense of the Sea God Island. Any suspicious or unfamiliar individuals must be reported to me immediately!"
…
Bo Saixi and the others' guesses were correct—the power of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was indeed as terrifying as they imagined.
The ninth soul ring Ning Tianchen obtained came with four soul skills; moreover, the million-year torso soul bone provided by the other party could even withstand divine-level attacks.
Although the ninth soul ring was obtained through sacrifice, it still counted as completing the divine trial.
After all, obtaining a million-year soul ring without bloodshed was also a testament to his strength.
"The seventh trial of the Asura has been completed with excess. By obtaining a million-year soul ring in a unique way, rewarded with a 20% increase in Asura affinity, an additional twenty thousand years added to the soul ring's age, and a special reward: the Divine Skill, Asura Domain."
The Killing God Domain underwent a complete transformation at this moment, with its power and coverage range receiving a full upgrade.
With Ning Tianchen possessing 100% Asura affinity, when activating the Asura Domain, the Asura Demon Sword in his hands became a true super-divine artifact, allowing him to use all divine skills.
The only downside was that before obtaining the god position, the divine power within his body would be difficult to replenish. Once used up, he'd be left powerless.
Upon returning to the Manta Ray, everyone immediately surrounded Ning Tianchen, asking about what had happened in the Demon Whale Sea.
Ning Tianchen casually brushed off their questions, then dispersed Chen Haobai and the sailors, explaining the situation to Ning Rongrong and the others.
"So you obtained a million-year soul ring?" Chen Huayu's mouth gaped wide open.
He hadn't even secured a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, yet Ning Tianchen already possessed a million-year soul ring—it was truly infuriating to compare oneself to others.
Ning Tianchen said, "I was quite surprised too. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King suddenly changed his mind; otherwise, I would've returned empty-handed."
As for why the other party changed their decision, he would likely never know.
After obtaining the soul ring, he had to retract his earlier statement.
The boost provided by the million-year soul ring wasn't just an enhancement—it caused a qualitative change in his strength.
At this moment, even facing Qian Daoliu or Bo Saixi, he was confident in defeating them.
Next, he needed to obtain eight soul rings for his second soul ring, break through to Level 99, and complete the final divine trial.
"Boss, can we see the million-year soul ring?" Chen Huayu was curious.
It wasn't just him—Feng Xiaotian and the others were equally curious.
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "There will be a chance to see it. A million-year soul ring carries a terrifying pressure—I'm afraid that if I activate it, the Manta Ray might fall apart."
Destroying the ship for no reason? That would be madness.
Upon hearing this, everyone let the matter drop.
...
With matters settled, the Manta Ray sailed full speed toward Hanhai City.
During the journey, Ning Tianchen distributed the flesh he had taken from the Deep Sea Demon Whale King for everyone to consume.
Ning Rongrong and the others' soul power levels all increased by one rank.
However, the energy within the flesh was extremely volatile—any soul master below the Soul Sage level who consumed it would inevitably explode and die.
Even Soul Sages could only consume a small amount.
The shelf life of the flesh was very short, and Ning Tianchen certainly wouldn't treat the remaining meat as a family heirloom.
Onboard, he had already decided on the recipients and planned to distribute it uniformly once they returned.
After more than ten days of sailing, the Manta Ray finally arrived at the port of Hanhai City.
Once off the ship, Ning Tianchen followed their prior agreement and gave each crew member additional compensation.
Having been away from the continent for two years, returning now left him with an overwhelming sense of disconnection, as if he had stepped into another world.
But before they could relax even for a moment, Bai He quickly approached them.
"Sect Leader, you've finally returned," Bai He exclaimed, both surprised and delighted.
After two years, his sect leader's strength had become unfathomably powerful.
As a member of the sect, the stronger their leader became, the greater the benefits they could reap.
"Let's talk while we walk," Ning Tianchen sighed deeply.
From Bai He's demeanor, he knew that many things had happened on the continent during his absence.
Bai He didn't rush to answer but instead noticed that two people were missing from the group. "Master, what about those two sisters?"
"It's a long story; I'll explain when we get back. But rest assured, they're safe."
Bai He tactfully refrained from asking further questions and immediately prepared a carriage to return with Ning Tianchen and the others to the sect.
Along the way, he briefly summarized the current situation on the continent. However, when it came to Tang San, he provided incredibly detailed information.
"The Tang Sect, huh."
Ning Tianchen wasn't surprised by the establishment of the Tang Sect.
What he hadn't anticipated was that Tang San would win over the Dragon Snake Family by agreeing to marry Meng Yiran.
Tang San himself surely wouldn't publicize such a marriage. The ones who spread this news were none other than the Peerless Dragon and Snake couple.
Meng Shu was no fool—how could he not know whether Tang San truly loved Meng Yiran?
But even if he didn't, so what? Tang San still agreed.
Meng Shu's actions were naturally to ensure that this matter was set in stone, guaranteeing that Tang San wouldn't abandon Meng Yiran in the future.
As for Tang San himself, he naturally couldn't oppose it. Otherwise, if the Dragon Snake Family changed their stance, wouldn't all their efforts be wasted?
"Tang San isn't exactly pure-hearted, claiming to only love that rabbit, right?" Oscar blinked, utterly confused.
During their time at Shrek Academy, he had interacted frequently with Tang San and was well aware of the latter's feelings.
Just a few years had passed—had Tang San already changed his mind?
Ning Tianchen waved it off. "It's just a marriage of convenience, nothing worth worrying about."
"However, the Tang Sect has recently gained significant momentum on the continent…"
Bai He pressed further, "Master, do you plan to take any action against the Tang Sect?"
Ning Fengzhi had already made it clear that there was no need to target the Tang Sect and that they should even covertly support them.
If Ning Tianchen insisted on taking action against them, Bai He felt it necessary to discuss it with Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I've been away from the continent for a while and am out of touch with the world. Making hasty decisions wouldn't benefit the sect's development."
Pausing for a moment, he turned to Bai He. "Elder Bai He, return to the sect ahead of us. Inform everyone that I will hold a prize distribution conference upon my return and reward everyone for their contributions to the sect over the years."
As subordinates, receiving rewards from their master was undoubtedly a great honor.
Bai He's breathing quickened as he hurriedly agreed.
After all, Ning Tianchen had previously brought back numerous soul bones for the sect. If they could receive even one, it would greatly aid their cultivation.
Moreover, Ning Tianchen wasn't an ordinary person—he wouldn't hand out trivial rewards.
It was clear that this dividend conference would feature many valuable items.
…
Bai He moved swiftly and reached Tian Dou City in just two days.
The news of Ning Tianchen's return quickly spread through the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Tianjian Sect.
Upon hearing the news, Ning Fengzhi finally let out a sigh of relief.
Half a month ago, the Balak Kingdom suddenly launched a full-scale war against the Star Luo Empire, catching the latter off guard and capturing several cities in a very short time.
How could the Star Luo Empire swallow this humiliation? They immediately mobilized a million troops and declared total war against the Heavenly Fighting Empire.
With the war underway, Ning Fengzhi found it increasingly difficult to manage. Now that Ning Tianchen had returned, it would alleviate some of the pressure.
Meanwhile…
As Ning Tianchen and his group traveled in their carriage, disciples from the intelligence department continually delivered updates.
The two empires were fully engaged in battle, and the situation on the battlefield was constantly changing. The battlefield had become a meat grinder, and in just a few days, tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides had perished.
Furthermore, both empires were continuously recruiting soldiers, suggesting that this war would continue until one side was annihilated.
Surprisingly, the Spirit Hall had not intervened. Bibi Dong had been in seclusion recently, leaving the day-to-day affairs of the Spirit Hall to her disciple Hu Liena.
As for Qian Renxue, Ning Tianchen had heard no news, likely because she was at a critical stage of her divine trial.
"This is troublesome," Ning Tianchen furrowed his brow.
The root of the problem lay in Xue Qinghe's inability to command the various kingdoms and duchies within the empire, leading to battles spiraling out of his control.
The Spirit Hall fanned the flames but refrained from direct involvement, indicating internal disagreements.
Calculating the timeline, it was clear that Bibi Dong's ascension to the position of the Goddess of Retribution was imminent.
Even if Qian Daoliu tried to intervene, once Bibi Dong became a god, the Spirit Hall would undoubtedly follow her orders.
"Tianchen, what should we do?" Ning Rongrong asked anxiously.
She had long heard of the horrors of war.
War not only caused countless innocent casualties but also left devastated cities that would take years to recover their former prosperity.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect relied on commerce for its foundation. With most cities on the continent suffering destruction, the sect would have to tighten its belt for the foreseeable future.
Most importantly, after Ning Fengzhi stepped down, she would become the sect leader. Could she lead the family to regain its former strength?
Feng Xiaotian spoke gravely. "Rongrong, asking Tianchen won't help. We've only just returned and are unaware of many details. We can only wait until we arrive and then discuss and decide."
Ning Tianchen reassured her. "Rongrong, don't worry. Focus on your cultivation."
Even he couldn't stop Bibi Dong from becoming a god.
Bibi Dong had long intended to ignite a full-scale war, so the battle between the two empires was inevitable.
All they could do now was accelerate their cultivation and complete the nine trials as soon as possible to inherit their godhood.
The atmosphere inside the carriage grew heavy.
In the days leading up to their return to Tian Dou City, the continuous updates on the war situation weighed heavily on their minds.
The Tian Dou Empire's army was pitifully weak. Numerous border cities had fallen, and in just a few days, they had been pushed back to Jialing Pass.
Though the Balak Kingdom's army was formidable, they showed no signs of reinforcements. Instead, they stood facing off against the Star Luo forces at White Tiger Pass.
"If Jialing Pass falls, the Tian Dou Empire will have no natural defenses. Tian Dou City will inevitably be breached sooner or later."
Ning Tianchen frowned and said, "Abandon the carriage. We must return to Tian Dou City as quickly as possible."
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