*****
God Realm,
The moment Gu Yuena resurfaced on the Douluo Continent, her presence was immediately sensed by the five God Kings residing in the God Realm.
Such an event was of enormous importance.
The Silver Dragon King had finally revealed herself after hiding for so long.
The five God Kings quickly gathered once again to discuss how they should deal with this unexpected development.
"Asura, how should we deal with this situation? The Silver Dragon King has appeared on the continent."
A man who appeared to be in his thirties spoke first.
He had short, dark-red hair that stood upright like steel needles, giving him an imposing appearance. His features were exceptionally striking, though his complexion was somewhat pale. A faint red light continuously flickered within his eyes.
He was the Evil God King.
"Tsk. There's no need to discuss something like this."
Another God King interrupted impatiently.
"We all want the same thing. Let's simply descend to the continent and kill her immediately."
They had been searching everywhere for the Silver Dragon King's whereabouts, never expecting that she had been hiding on the Douluo Continent all along.
Asura God King remained silent for a moment, calmly looking at the others.
He was equally concerned about what was happening on the continent, especially now that the Silver Dragon King had finally revealed herself.
"Let's make some preparations first."
His voice was calm but carried authority.
"We aren't dealing with the Silver Dragon King alone."
"That's right."
Another God King nodded.
"There's also that human named Lev."
His expression became somewhat serious.
"This is only a possibility, but what if the Silver Dragon King and that human decide to cooperate? What should we do then?"
The possibility was not completely unreasonable.
In fact, the Silver Dragon King revealing herself so openly might even be connected to Lev's existence.
Hearing this, the other God Kings fell into contemplation.
It was certainly possible.
They had already known for some time that Lev possessed a soul beast as one of his companions. However, they still couldn't understand why such a strange and powerful human would choose to side with the Silver Dragon King.
Even if he did decide to cooperate with her, why would he willingly make an enemy of the God Realm?
"Furthermore, Lev has already demonstrated extraordinary potential."
Asura God King's expression became somewhat complicated.
He had long hoped that Lev would eventually inherit his Divine Position.
If Lev truly became an ally of the Silver Dragon King, however, that possibility would disappear.
"Hmmm... First that human named Lev, and now the Silver Dragon King."
One of the God Kings couldn't help but sigh.
"The current era of the continent is truly strange."
They had witnessed countless eras throughout the long history of the Douluo Continent.
Civilizations had risen and fallen.
Powerful experts had appeared and disappeared.
Yet this particular era felt completely different from everything they had witnessed before.
There was the mysterious human named Lev, whose strength had already exceeded their expectations.
And now the Silver Dragon King had suddenly resurfaced.
As the God Kings continued contemplating the situation, they eventually turned their attention toward Asura God King.
Among the five God Kings, he possessed the highest authority.
Therefore, his decision would determine their next course of action.
Asura God King remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"First, send some of the people currently undergoing the tests for various Divine Positions to the continent."
His expression became serious.
"Have them investigate what is happening there, especially regarding that human named Lev."
He paused before continuing.
"Depending on what we discover and what decision Lev has made, we will act immediately."
A faint coldness appeared in his eyes.
"Even if it means sacrificing a promising candidate in the process."
Asura God King didn't want to jump to conclusions.
He didn't want to believe that Lev was connected to the Silver Dragon King.
After all, he had long considered Lev an ideal candidate to inherit his Divine Position.
He had hoped for that outcome for a very long time.
And he sincerely hoped that Lev wouldn't force him to make a different choice.
**********
—Six months later—
Eternal Divine Palace,
Another six months passed.
During that time, not much had changed in terms of the overall situation, but the progress and development of the Eternal Divine Continent had been astonishing.
Under Lev's reign, the continent had developed at an unprecedented pace. With the support of the people who had chosen to stand beside him, countless changes had been implemented, and the once-divided continent was steadily becoming a prosperous and unified realm.
Meanwhile, within one of the training grounds of the Eternal Divine Palace, Lev was engaged in a sparring battle against Bibi Dong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu simultaneously.
For the past six months, the four women had done nothing but train.
Day after day, they pushed themselves to their limits under Lev's guidance, focusing entirely on becoming stronger.
At present, all four were drenched in sweat, their breathing heavy after another intense exchange.
"That's enough for today."
Lev finally brought the training session to an end.
"You've all done well. Rest for now."
The four women nodded as they tried to catch their breath.
Lev then turned around and walked toward Gu Yuena and Tsunade, who had been watching the entire training session from the side.
The moment Tsunade saw him approaching, she immediately stood up and handed him a bottle of water.
"Here."
Lev smiled warmly at her before accepting it.
"Thanks."
He quickly drank the water.
However, just as he finished, his expression suddenly changed.
Lev paused.
He could sense several powerful presences approaching the Eternal Divine Palace from different directions.
And judging from their auras, every single one of them had reached the level of an Extreme Douluo.
Such a level of strength was already considered almost mythical by ordinary Soul Masters.
Lev narrowed his eyes.
'Looks like they finally decided to make their move.'
"Lev."
Gu Yuena suddenly called out to him.
She had also sensed the approaching figures.
After spending the past year with Lev and becoming more familiar with the situation, she immediately understood who they were.
Unlike Lev, however, Gu Yuena could sense something else.
She could identify the Divine Power surrounding them and determine which Gods the newcomers served.
"They're here."
Gu Yuena's expression became serious.
Lev simply looked at her and nodded.
"Everyone, we have some visitors coming."
He turned toward Bibi Dong and the others.
"Why don't you head upstairs first and wash up? You've all worked hard enough for today."
His tone remained casual.
There was no reason to alarm them.
At the moment, the situation wasn't serious enough to require everyone to become involved, and Lev preferred to make the incoming guests feel as though their arrival wasn't particularly important.
Zhu Zhuqing and the others nodded.
They were exhausted and covered in sweat after their training, so they had no reason to refuse.
"Alright."
The women began leaving the training area.
Only Bibi Dong remained behind.
She had already noticed the subtle change in Lev's expression.
Something was clearly happening.
Bibi Dong looked between Lev and Gu Yuena, her instincts telling her that these so-called visitors were anything but ordinary.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing and the others disappear from sight, Lev turned toward Bibi Dong.
He decided to let her stay.
"Tsunade, you should go with them."
Tsunade nodded before following after the others.
Once they were gone, only Lev, Bibi Dong, and Gu Yuena remained.
The three exchanged glances before heading toward the main palace hall.
They would wait there.
Soon, the visitors would arrive.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace Hall,
Sitting upon their respective thrones, Lev, Gu Yuena, and Bibi Dong calmly looked toward the three figures who had just entered the palace hall.
Lev already had a good idea of who they were.
In fact, one of them was a person he knew all too well.
Qian Daoliu.
Qian Renxue's grandfather.
The other two were equally extraordinary.
The first was an incredibly beautiful woman dressed in a long white-and-red gown adorned with intricate silver decorations. A golden crown resembling a halo rested upon her head, matching the golden scepter she carried.
Her ocean-blue hair flowed down her back like cascading water, reaching all the way toward the ground.
Her clear blue eyes were deep and mysterious, seemingly containing the wisdom and experiences accumulated throughout countless years.
She was Bo Saixi, the High Priest of Sea God Island.
The final person was a tall and well-built man.
He possessed spiked black hair that reached his shoulders, pale skin, and a domineering grin that seemed to radiate fearlessness and confidence.
His presence alone exuded an aura of overwhelming power.
Tang Chen.
Lev calmly observed the three of them before speaking.
"Did you know that ever since this palace was built, no one except me, the people I chose, and those personally permitted by me has ever set foot inside?"
His tone was calm but carried an unmistakable warning.
"The three of you are certainly exceptional, considering that all of you are Extreme Douluos. However, you'd better have a good reason for coming here."
Lev leaned slightly against his throne.
"Otherwise, I'll be forced to take action."
His eyes narrowed.
"Speak. What's your purpose?"
He wasn't ignorant of what was happening.
In fact, he already had a general idea of why the three Extreme Douluos had been sent here.
He simply wanted to hear the answer directly from them.
Meanwhile, the three visitors were also looking at one another with complicated expressions.
None of them had expected to meet under such circumstances.
They had a long history together, yet after so many years, fate had brought the three of them together once again in such an unexpected manner.
Bo Saixi was the first to step forward.
"I am Bo Saixi, and I've come here under the orders of the Sea God."
Although she had questions of her own, the Sea God's command naturally took priority.
Tang Chen followed shortly afterward.
"Tang Chen. I'm here under the orders of the Asura God."
His introduction was brief.
The sudden communication from the Asura God King had been unexpected, but he had ultimately decided to follow the command.
Finally, Qian Daoliu bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty, I am also here under the orders of the Angel God."
He spoke politely despite the complicated relationship between himself and Lev.
Qian Daoliu had no desire to meet Lev again, but he couldn't disobey the Angel God's command.
Lev nodded slightly.
"Then what did your Gods order you to do?"
His question was direct.
Before either Bo Saixi or Qian Daoliu could answer, Tang Chen's expression darkened.
He had already reached the limit of his patience.
Perhaps his long stay in the Slaughter City, a place governed by almost no laws, had gradually affected his temperament.
"Kid."
Tang Chen's voice became cold.
"I don't know who you are, and I don't care whether you're an Emperor or not. But you'd better stop acting arrogantly in front of me."
A deathly aura suddenly erupted from his body.
Tang Chen was accustomed to being respected as the Lord of the Slaughter City.
He had never tolerated someone treating him with such arrogance.
Qian Daoliu glanced at Tang Chen and shook his head.
He understood Tang Chen's personality, but he also knew Lev far better than Tang Chen did.
Just thinking about the consequences of Tang Chen's words made Qian Daoliu feel a little amused.
'You really shouldn't have said that.'
Bo Saixi, meanwhile, was shocked.
She had known Tang Chen for a long time, but his current attitude was noticeably different from the man she remembered.
Still, despite her surprise, she couldn't help but become curious about how this young Emperor would respond.
Although Seagod Island was far from the Eternal Divine Empire, she had still heard about the changes taking place throughout the continent.
The information wasn't always accurate, but it was enough for her to understand that the person standing before them was anything but ordinary.
"A mere Extreme Douluo wants to intimidate me with that pitiful aura?"
Lev looked at Tang Chen with a faint smile.
"Interesting."
The next instant, an overwhelming pressure erupted from Lev.
His Spirit Pressure descended like an invisible mountain, instantly crushing the aura Tang Chen had released.
Qian Daoliu wasn't particularly surprised.
He had already expected Lev to possess this level of strength.
All he could do was silently pray that Tang Chen wouldn't continue provoking him.
'Just stop while you can.'
Bo Saixi, however, was completely stunned.
The pressure she was sensing was coming from a young man who appeared to be barely past his youth.
Only then did she truly understand how important this mission was.
Three Extreme Douluos had been dispatched merely to meet and communicate with one person.
That alone spoke volumes about Lev's strength.
Fortunately, Lev's overwhelming pressure was directed solely at Tang Chen.
Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu weren't targeted, allowing them to remain standing relatively comfortably.
Even so, they could still feel the terrifying weight of the pressure by observing Tang Chen.
His knees slammed against the floor.
His hands were planted firmly on the ground, desperately supporting his body and preventing himself from collapsing completely.
The veins across his arms and forehead bulged as he struggled against the invisible pressure.
Tang Chen's earlier anger and arrogance had vanished.
In their place was nothing but shock.
And beneath that shock was something he hadn't experienced in countless years.
Fear.
It was the first time in his life that he had been humiliated so thoroughly.
What made it even more devastating was that the person responsible was someone who appeared to be several generations younger than him.
Lev simply smiled as he looked down at Tang Chen.
He then shifted his gaze toward Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu.
He still didn't retract the Spirit Haki pressing down upon Tang Chen.
The two of them had remained calm and reasonable from the beginning.
That made them far more suitable for a conversation.
"Now..."
Lev's gaze settled upon Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu.
"Let's continue."
"Speak."
Lev's voice remained calm as he looked toward the two of them.
Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu exchanged glances, silently deciding who should speak first.
"God Poseidon wanted to know whether you have any connection with the Spirit Beasts, especially the Silver Dragon King."
Bo Saixi spoke first, relaying Poseidon's message exactly as she had been instructed.
There was no hidden meaning behind her words and no additional explanation.
"It is the same for me, Your Majesty."
Qian Daoliu followed.
The Angel God had given him essentially the same order, even though he already knew that Lev had a 100,000-year-old spirit beast as one of his lovers.
"So that's what this is about."
Lev smiled faintly.
"Well, are the three of you blind?"
He looked at them with amusement.
"How could you not have noticed that the Silver Dragon King was already standing right in front of you?"
Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu froze.
They exchanged confused glances, clearly unable to understand what Lev meant.
Then—
A powerful aura suddenly emerged from beside Lev.
Both of them instantly felt the presence of a Spirit Beast.
Not an ordinary Spirit Beast.
A terrifyingly powerful one.
Their instincts screamed at them to retreat.
Yet their bodies refused to move.
They could only slowly turn their heads toward the person sitting beside Lev.
Their eyes widened.
The beautiful woman they had previously assumed to be merely another companion of the Emperor was now revealing an aura that was unmistakably familiar.
"The Silver Dragon King you were asking about is standing right in front of you."
Lev calmly gestured toward Gu Yuena.
"Is that enough to answer your questions?"
Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu stared at Gu Yuena in disbelief.
They had never imagined that the Silver Dragon King had been sitting beside Lev the entire time.
Worse yet, she had been listening to their conversation from the very beginning.
Neither of them had detected her true identity.
For a moment, neither knew how to react.
Then Bo Saixi immediately moved into a fighting stance.
Poseidon had already warned her that a confrontation might occur after meeting the Emperor, and she had prepared herself accordingly.
Her equipment instantly appeared around her as she prepared for battle.
Qian Daoliu, however, remained still.
The Angel God had also given him orders, but he had already made his decision long ago.
He had no intention of fighting Lev.
Even if refusing the Angel God's command placed him in danger, he wasn't willing to throw his life away.
"I'm not in the mood to fight."
Lev's voice immediately cut through the tense atmosphere.
"You can leave here alive."
His expression became serious.
"And when you return, tell the Gods you serve that the Silver Dragon King is my woman."
He paused.
"If they want to kill her, they'll have to deal with me first."
The declaration caused Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu to widen their eyes.
The Silver Dragon King was already Lev's woman?
Their minds struggled to process the revelation.
How?
When?
How had such a thing even happened?
But those questions weren't nearly as shocking as the realization behind Lev's words.
He was willing to wage war against the Gods for Gu Yuena.
"A-Are you insane?!"
Bo Saixi couldn't help but shout.
"You're talking about Gods!"
Her voice was filled with disbelief.
She knew exactly how terrifying the Gods were.
Even the Silver Dragon King at her peak would face an extremely dangerous battle against them, let alone a human Emperor.
"You've no idea what you're saying!"
"Then let them come."
Lev's response was completely nonchalant.
"And we'll see."
He then retracted the Spirit Haki that had been suppressing Tang Chen.
The moment the pressure disappeared, Tang Chen immediately took several deep breaths, his body trembling slightly as he struggled to stabilize himself.
He glared at Lev with fury.
However, he didn't make a move.
After experiencing Lev's overwhelming strength firsthand, Tang Chen knew that attacking him now would be no different from throwing his life away.
"You can leave now."
Lev looked toward the three of them.
"Tell your Gods that I'll be waiting."
Bo Saixi stared at Lev for several seconds.
She could tell that he wasn't bluffing.
He was completely serious.
She took a deep breath before calming herself down. Then, she stepped toward Tang Chen and helped him stand.
She wanted to leave this dangerous place as quickly as possible.
"Your Majesty..."
Qian Daoliu suddenly spoke.
"Can you really deal with them?"
There was genuine curiosity in his voice.
Qian Daoliu admired Lev.
In his eyes, Lev was perhaps the only person who could truly be described as a once-in-an-era genius.
Yet hearing that Lev intended to fight against the Gods simply because they threatened the woman he loved still seemed incomprehensible to him.
Lev merely smiled.
He didn't answer.
Qian Daoliu could only sigh.
He then helped Tang Chen as well, and the three visitors soon disappeared from the palace hall.
Once they were gone, Gu Yuena finally spoke.
"Lev, why didn't you just kill them?"
She had been restraining herself from attacking the three visitors from the beginning.
She could sense the Divine Power surrounding them.
Just sensing the presence of the Gods she hated the most had already made her want to eliminate them immediately.
"Killing them wouldn't give me anything useful."
Lev calmly answered.
"And I'm not someone who casually kills people."
Gu Yuena looked at him for a moment before saying nothing more.
Just then, the door on the opposite side of the hall suddenly opened.
Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, and Bibi Dong entered the hall together.
All of them wore bright smiles, their fresh appearances making the entire hall seem livelier.
"Master, where are the guests?"
Tsunade curiously looked around.
She and the others had hurriedly washed themselves because they wanted to see the visitors who had been granted permission to enter the Eternal Divine Palace.
After all, only people specifically permitted by Lev could enter this place.
"They already left."
Lev answered casually.
"They only stayed long enough to say a few words."
Tsunade and the others exchanged confused looks.
They had expected something far more interesting.
Since there was nothing particularly urgent left for them to do that day, Lev soon made another suggestion.
"How about we go out and relax for a while?"
He glanced toward the others.
"Let's head to the Star Dou Great Forest."
The suggestion was immediately accepted.
Gu Yuena and Xiao Wu were particularly enthusiastic about the idea.
With the matter regarding the Gods temporarily settled, there was no reason for everyone to remain cooped up inside the palace.
For now, they could enjoy one last peaceful day before the storm finally arrived.
*****
God Realm,
Meanwhile, the five great God Kings had gathered once again after receiving the report from the people they had sent to the Douluo Continent to investigate Lev.
In fact, they had already assembled in one place, waiting for the report to arrive.
"To think that this human would actually choose to side with the Silver Dragon King."
Asura God King couldn't help but sigh.
"What a pity."
He had never expected Lev to openly take the Silver Dragon King's side, much less declare that he would fight the Gods for her.
Asura God King couldn't help but wonder whether the Silver Dragon King had somehow influenced or manipulated Lev into defying the Gods.
"It can't be helped."
He eventually shook his head.
"Let's make the necessary preparations. Call upon all the capable Gods and send them to the continent as soon as possible."
The other God Kings nodded.
They knew that Lev's strength was extraordinary, and they also understood the restrictions that would be imposed upon them if they descended directly onto the continent.
Because of that, they needed the cooperation of some of the lower-ranked Gods first.
Those Gods would be sent ahead to test the extent of Lev's strength and determine how dangerous he truly was.
However, this plan would take time.
There were still preparations that needed to be completed before the God Kings themselves could descend.
The other God Kings eventually nodded before departing in different directions.
Asura God King remained behind for a moment.
He lowered his gaze and muttered softly,
"A pity indeed."
*****
Seagod Island,
Meanwhile, Bo Saixi was waiting for further news when she suddenly widened her eyes upon receiving another message from God Poseidon.
After hearing what had happened, she could only let out a helpless sigh.
The Douluo Continent was about to descend into chaos once again.
And somehow, Lev was once again at the center of it all.
*****
Slaughter City,
Tang Chen clenched his fists after receiving the message.
He still remembered the helplessness he had experienced when facing Lev.
He had once considered himself one of the strongest beings on the continent.
Yet before Lev, he couldn't even stand properly.
Now, after hearing that the Gods would soon descend to the continent to deal with Lev, a fierce anticipation appeared in his eyes.
He wanted to join them.
He wanted to personally kill Lev and erase the humiliation he had suffered.
*****
Elder's Palace,
Qian Daoliu, on the other hand, remained calm after receiving the news.
He wasn't particularly worried.
For some reason, he firmly believed that Lev wouldn't make such a declaration if he wasn't confident in his ability to back it up.
The entire continent was at stake now.
Therefore, Lev must have already prepared some kind of plan.
"Is there something wrong?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly asked upon noticing Qian Daoliu's silence.
"Hmm..."
Qian Daoliu looked toward the outside of the Elder's Palace.
"The continent will once again fall into chaos."
His voice was calm, but his eyes carried a hint of solemnity.
"And it will happen soon."
*****
Star Dou Great Forest,
Not long after leaving the Eternal Divine Palace, Lev and the others arrived at the core of the Star Dou Great Forest.
For most of them, this was their first time entering this mysterious territory.
Aside from Gu Yuena and Xiao Wu, everyone else was completely stunned upon seeing that such a place existed within the continent.
The moment they entered the core area, they immediately felt countless gazes falling upon them.
Several powerful Spirit Beasts were watching them from the surrounding area.
Their auras were incredibly powerful—far beyond what Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and the others could currently contend with.
However, the moment those Spirit Beasts saw Lev, they immediately greeted him respectfully.
Seeing this, the others gradually relaxed.
They no longer felt threatened.
The group didn't linger around the area and soon headed toward the house Lev had renovated for Xiao Wu.
They decided to stay there until nightfall.
For now, it was a perfect day to relax.
The storm that was coming was still far away.
*****
Outside the house,
After settling down, everyone decided to have a picnic beside the pond.
The peaceful atmosphere was completely different from the tension surrounding the continent.
Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu were busy playing with and taking care of their respective Tailed Beast companions.
Meanwhile, Salamander and his group had chosen to remain deeper within the core area of the forest.
They were far more interested in finding powerful opponents to fight.
"Lev, could we also have companions like them?"
Bibi Dong suddenly asked.
She couldn't help but feel a little envious while watching Zhu Zhuqing and the others interact with their Tailed Beast companions.
Gu Yuena also turned toward Lev.
There was a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
Although she was far older than everyone else and normally wouldn't care about something like this, she was nevertheless curious.
She wanted one as well.
Though, unlike the others, she had an entirely different reason for wanting such a companion.
"Right."
Lev suddenly realized something.
"I completely forgot about that."
He smiled.
"Don't worry. In fact, I've already prepared companions for both of you a long time ago."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lev summoned two Tailed Beasts from his summoning space.
Two massive figures emerged from the summoning circles.
One possessed a powerful, horse-like appearance with five tails.
The other was an enormous creature resembling a giant ox with eight tails.
They were Kokuo, the Five-Tails, and Gyuki, the Eight-Tails.
Both Tailed Beasts looked around in surprise after suddenly being summoned.
Lev then looked toward them.
"Kokuo, from now on, you'll accompany Dong'er."
He shifted his gaze toward Gyuki.
"And you, Gyuki, will stay with Yu'er."
He then looked toward Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena.
"Dong'er, Yu'er, the two of you will be responsible for taking care of them from now on."
Kokuo and Gyuki immediately understood their master's words.
The two Tailed Beasts then approached their respective new companions.
Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena were equally surprised.
However, their surprise soon turned into happiness.
They now had their own Tailed Beast companions.
At the very least, they no longer had to feel envious whenever they saw Zhu Zhuqing and the others playing with theirs.
Lev looked around at everyone.
Seeing the happy expressions on their faces, an idea suddenly came to mind.
"Now that we've come this far..."
A mischievous smile slowly appeared on his face.
"I might as well summon a new batch of companions."
With that thought, Lev became curious about what kind of summons he would obtain next.