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Early the next morning, Gu Yuena had already recovered. Bai Xu, however, remained steadfast within the grand formation. His internal organs shattered and regenerated repeatedly, his essence and vitality flowing through his entire body like blood. Under relentless impact, his Eight Extraordinary Meridians finally began to loosen. Yet, it was clear that this ordeal would persist for a long time.
This, however, was the advantage of this evolutionary path—death was unlikely. Once one reached the level of the Five Elements Body or the Yin-Yang Body, unless an opponent completely annihilated their physical form, there would always be a sliver of a chance for revival.
Bai Xu's physique was now far stronger than before. Even the skies of the Demon Plane began to manifest strange phenomena—visions of sacred beasts, radiant and holy, yet also monstrous creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, wielding the power of the Five Elements as they wreaked havoc.
The line between sanctity and demonic force lay within a single thought.
"He intends to directly evolve into the Five Elements Body after unlocking his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, ascending to the heavens in a single step," Gu Yuena explained to the anxious Spirit of the Plane. "Send me back first. Bai Xu's will won't waver. Once he succeeds, you can return to the Douluo Continent."
"Alright." The Spirit of the Plane showed no joy, only concern as it gazed at Bai Xu.
Meanwhile, Di Tian and the others were still waging war across the Demon Plane. After ten days and nights of battle, ensuring Bai Xu's safety, they departed with the help of the Spirit of the Plane.
---
Spirit Pagoda Headquarters .
Qi Changping, representing the Federal Hawk Faction, arrived once more at the Spirit Pagoda to meet its current master—the Silver Dragon Douluo, Gu Yuena.
At the highest level of the pagoda, Gu Yuena sat comfortably in her chair, studying the leader of the Hawk Faction, who had been heavily suppressed in recent times. Mo Lan, a representative of the Dove Faction and a former councilor of Heaven Dou City, seemed to have connections with the current master of the Tang Sect. Recently, she had shown signs of becoming the next Speaker of the Federation. If nothing unexpected occurred, she would soon assume the position.
"Your Excellency Silver Dragon, Lord Bai Xu said... that you are someone to be trusted." After entering and confirming there were no eavesdroppers, Qi Changping cut straight to the point.
Gu Yuena replied simply, "Yes."
"Then, may I know when Lord Bai Xu will return? I've had my subordinates investigate the Tang Sect in secret and discovered that, just as he said, their techniques—the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Purple Demon Eyes, Mysterious Jade Hands, and Controlling Crane Catching Dragon—do not seem native to Douluo Continent. The Tang Sect has stood for twenty thousand years, yet no one has surpassed its legacy. Moreover, these are not self-created soul skills. Anyone who joins the Tang Sect and contributes enough can learn them. Rather than being original creations, they seem... foreign."
"Now that Lord Bai Xu's identity as an otherworldly demon has been exposed, the origins of the Tang Sect's founder, Tang San... upon reflection, it's clear he was not from Douluo Continent."
Gu Yuena was aware of this as well. However, the current situation was not something that could be resolved simply by pointing out the foreign nature of a few techniques. Tang San had taken root in Douluo for twenty thousand years—his influence ran deep. To completely eradicate his legacy, forceful measures would be necessary.
"I don't know when he will return. It could be soon, or it could take a long time. But I can tell you he is not dead," Gu Yuena said.
"Not dead... that's good! That's good!"
Qi Changping was but one among countless individuals on Douluo Continent. The true decisive force against the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy was not some chosen one, nor Gu Yuena, nor even Bai Xu—it was the Spirit of the Plane. As the wronged party who had suffered deeply at the hands of Douluo's gods, once it mustered the courage to stand before Tang Hao, the full truth would come to light.
People would see the true faces of the gods—they were not untouchable beings, but merely individuals slightly more powerful than ordinary soul masters.
If the plane ascended, soul masters might very well achieve godhood themselves.
And once godhood became attainable, it was uncertain whether those with the potential to ascend would continue standing with the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy.
Of course, if they did, Bai Xu would simply settle the score with them later.
Time passed swiftly. Three months later...
Bai Xu's eyes snapped open. The countless phenomena that had loomed over the Demon Plane retracted into his body. His injuries had long since healed, and the five-colored radiance flowing across his flesh signified that his meridian awakening had reached perfection. The Five Elements circulated through his entire being—his mortal form had been shed.
"Haah..."
He exhaled deeply, then casually flicked his hand, severing a mountain peak in the distance.
"Good..." Bai Xu felt refreshed, his spirit invigorated.
"My Lord?" A golden figure peeked out timidly, as if not recognizing him. "You... succeeded?"
"Mn. It was simple. With ample preparation, the success rate was high. Of course, without your help, it might have been a near-death ordeal." Bai Xu chuckled, though his words were not false. With external aid and sufficient resources, the near-immortality granted by the Five Elements Method made surviving such trials far easier.
"You've consumed half of the Demon Plane's origin energy. The grand formation also held out until the final step, but the Five Elements Flags are now dim and on the verge of shattering," the Spirit of the Plane reported.
"Mn. I'll refine new artifacts later."
"By the way... do you wish to return to Douluo Continent now?" Bai Xu stretched his body.
The Spirit of the Plane nodded.
"Why do you seem so reserved?" Bai Xu asked, puzzled.
The Spirit hesitated before admitting, "I'm afraid... that you might be like Tang San. What if you go back on your word and seize the position of Plane Sovereign for yourself?"
"Given precedent, your caution is understandable. But right now, I'm only one step away from the Five Elements Body. Whether you believe me or not, once my physique is complete... I'll help you return to Douluo."
Bai Xu sat cross-legged, his body slowly rising into the air. Using himself as the foundation, he activated the Heaven-Earth Five Directions Five Elements Grand Formation within his own body. As he formed hand seals, phantom images began to emerge—continents, oceans, mountains, the sun and moon...
Within the formation, a miniature world took shape. The sun and moon alternated, time flowed, and all things began to evolve. Life emerged and gradually developed. Strangely, every being within the formation—plants, animals, and eventually humans and soul beasts—contained their own primal runes.
As soul beasts grew stronger, their runes became increasingly intricate. They preyed upon humans. Then, soul masters appeared among humanity, cultivating soul power to resist the soul beasts. The Spirit of the Plane watched in astonishment—Bai Xu was reenacting the history of Douluo Continent.
The soul beasts manifested within the formation were all ones Bai Xu had studied before—common species like Blue Silver Grass, rare breeds like the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, and even dragonkin. A complete ecosystem was evolving within the grand formation.
---
Sun Moon Empire Capital.
Since the great battle that day, the massive crater spanning tens of thousands of meters had been partially repaired. Yet few dared to return and reside there. Currently, only high-ranking officials of the Federation were gathered in the capital's grand stadium.
Naturally, Tang Wulin, master of the Tang Sect and dean of Shrek Academy, was present. The War God Temple's master, the Federation's Speaker, and the current Spirit Pagoda master were also in attendance. After the Dove Faction opposed waging war against the Star Luo and Dou Ling Empires, the Federation had begun strict internal investigations to prevent another otherworldly demon like Bai Xu from emerging.
At the center of the stadium, Qiangu Dongfeng bowed his head. In a live broadcast to the entire Federation, he confessed his crimes. He admitted to colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult to destroy Shrek Academy, accepted responsibility for the deaths of millions in the explosion, and acknowledged his false accusations against Bai Xu. But none of that mattered anymore.
He would pay with his life for the lives lost.
Had he still been a Limit Douluo, his punishment might have been exile to the Abyss, where he would fight to his death on the battlefield. But after Bai Xu crippled his cultivation, his only remaining use was to serve as a sacrificial pawn.
*****
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