"The Dragon God descends upon the world?!!"
In the dark, pitch-black first layer of the Abyss, a pair of eyes suddenly opened wide, a glimmer of shock flickering through them. Having been on this planet for so long, he naturally had some understanding of its history.
The very creator of this entire starfield was the Dragon God.
A being of such a level would be at least at the Divine King realm!
If this group truly managed to resurrect the Dragon God, then there'd be little point in invasions—waiting for death would be easier.
It might even implicate his own race.
After all, the entire Abyssal Plane was formed from forty percent of the energy split off from his mother race's Deep Crimson Plane, following the mother's orders, devouring worlds…
Yet, risk and opportunity always coexist.
If he could devour the not-yet-fully-evolved Dragon God, then the Abyssal Plane might finally complete its evolution! He himself would cross that threshold—truly becoming a Divine King!
And then…
The Abyssal Holy Monarch's mouth twitched. What did that old fellow mean?
Only notify but not let in?
"Spirit of the Plane, what exactly is your intention?" The Abyssal Holy Monarch's brow furrowed slightly. Hands clasped behind his back, his long white hair flowed freely, his handsome face and those deep, entirely black, pupil-less eyes sizing up the image of Tang Hao on the communication device.
"If you want to use another's hand for the kill, then you'd better be prepared for the blade turning back on you. There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you keep acting so secretive, I won't even be interested in this Dragon God anymore. Anyway, after it comes out, you'll be the first to die."
"Hmph, don't try to trap me with words." Tang Hao snapped coldly, the panic in his expression slowly fading, rationality regaining control.
This was driving the tiger to swallow the wolf!
After devouring the Plane Spirit, his strength had indeed reached Second Level God, but the backlash suffered was severe, so even to reach the standard realm of an ordinary Second Level God would be difficult in a short time (in the original late in the book, Tang Hao would appear and hammer the Holy Monarch to death—though aided by others, his recovered peak strength was certainly at about First Level God; even now, he shouldn't be too weak).
If the opponent was allowed in and managed to devour the Dragon God, he'd be the next in danger.
And to fully recover from his injuries and return to peak fighting strength, he'd need at least several more decades...
"You can pick any one layer's emperor. I'll arrange to have someone go easy on him, let him enter the continent, and become the vessel for your descent," Tang Hao said after a short pause.
"Hmph…"
The Abyssal Holy Monarch snorted softly. Having weighed the pros and cons, he broke into a smile: "Fine."
Holy Spirit Cult.
Also deep in a pitch-black cave.
The Demon Empress awakened, her cold eyes locked onto the spectral projection of Tang Hao.
That beast Tang San who murdered her husband—and now, even the whole God Realm had disappeared, giving her this chance for revenge.
But this "Plane Spirit"... was Tang San's father.
Naturally, she hated him to the core, but her strength itself was no match.
"Fine."
She spat out a cold breath.
Still, what shocked her more was—Dragon God, resurrection, how could that be possible?
Yet a crazier thought flashed through her mind: if I could devour the Dragon God, wouldn't that mean my great revenge would be fulfilled?
She could overturn all of Douluo Star, annihilating the human race that beast Tang San protected!
"Hahahahahaha…"
Sharp laughter echoed from within the cavern.
A figure in black slowly stood, feminine form revealed beneath the robes. A breeze fluttered her cloak, exposing intricate, strange, pale-purple markings along her neck.
"Ghost Emperor!"
She called softly.
But her voice slipped away into silence, no reply.
"Hm?" The Demon Empress frowned, transmitting a message through a unique method, "Ghost Emperor!"
Still no response.
Dead silence.
"Ghost Emperor! I am awake! Show yourself!!"
"Ghost Emperor?!!"
But the other end remained silent.
Only the Demon Empress, utterly bewildered, remained in the cave.
Where had her most capable subordinate gone?!
"Such despicable tactics."
Electrolux appeared midair, stroking his beard and chuckling.
"With the Dragon God's core being absorbed, of course he's anxious..." Su Wen replied offhandedly. "After all, Tang San's millennia-old scheme—all of it came down to the Dragon Clan."
"So what are we going to do?" Electrolux asked, completely at ease.
"..."
"Heh, my corporeal form isn't easy to move, and with my rank, forcibly crossing over would risk major trouble with your time-space. What could I possibly do?" Electrolux shrugged.
"Then we fight."
Su Wen stood up slowly.
His gaze lifted, seemingly piercing Space Dragon Valley, locking eyes with Tang Hao directly.
His combat strength hadn't reached the divine level.
But if pushed, he could drag the whole Dragon Valley back ten thousand years in time.
Each link led to another—directly wrap the Dragon Valley with Gu Yuena's Pokéball and escape.
Of course, that was the worst case.
Gu Yuena was absorbing the Dragon God's heart at a crucial time; a single misstep in a time jump could mean disaster.
"Gather up the remains, don't slack off." Su Wen tapped Gu Yue gently on the head.
"Ouch~"
The girl pouted, displeased.
"I'm not slacking!"
"..."
"Don't need my help?" Gu Yue called after Su Wen as he walked away.
Even in human form, with seventy percent of the Silver Dragon power in her, she was definitely a heavyweight.
"No need, bury your dragon bones well. If Gu Yuena finds out you're goofing off, she'll beat you up." Su Wen grinned back.
"Hmph~"
Gu Yue snorted.
"Not good! The Abyssal Plane is rioting!"
"Several S-rank Abyssal Channels have detected unrest!"
"Awaiting orders!"
"Awaiting orders!!"
The alarm echoed throughout the Blood God Legion's base.
The Blood God Legion had two divisions: the Blood Division on the front lines, always in bloody battle with abyssal beings; and the Divine Division, supporting with mecha and maintaining weaponry.
Each division had five regiments.
Here was the First Regiment of the Blood Division.
"Awaiting your orders!!"
"Awaiting orders!"
Regimental Commander Chen Han's eyes were bloodshot, starting at the screens showing thousands of abyssal creatures pouring out. His fists clenched tight, but no matter how he called on the comms, no response came from the other end.
Judging by these abyssal creatures' appearances, they numbered from the 108th layer down to the 3rd.
Even the legendary Abyssal Spirit Dragons of the second layer, ancient beasts spoken of only in textbooks, now appeared in numbers.
The First Regiment's warriors, struck by dragon breath, withered instantly, life force rapidly drained.
Like flowers withering.
Yet, still they fought on.
"Commander, these beasts are attacking! The men are dying in droves!" An urgent voice came over the comm.
"..."
Chen Han slammed his hands on the table, standing abruptly.
"There's no retreat! With communications cut off by the enemy, our only choice is to fight to the death!"
"What?" came the shocked reply.
"Phew…"
Chen Han looked up at the sky, his expression mixed.
He'd long sensed something was wrong, but never imagined this…
The higher-ups had colluded with the Abyssal Plane.
There could be no other explanation.
They were merely the cannon fodder for this "Catastrophe"—the real show was yet to come.
But…
It chilled his heart.
"Fight to the death!!!"
He roared, leading his regiment in a charge.
But in the next moment, a terrifying roar shattered all hopes—
An Abyssal Spirit Dragon, nearly ten meters long, crawled slowly from the abyssal portal, grinning like death incarnate.
"This is…" Chen Han's pupils shrank, blood running cold.
"Spirit Emperor!!!"
Blood God Legion Headquarters.
Within a military tent.
"Requesting support!!!"
A communication device relayed a hysterical scream, but it was soon drowned out by the greater sounds of battle. Screams, roars, and then, only the unnerving, bone-chilling sound of abyssal creatures gnawing on corpses.
"Cao Dezhi!"
"Have you gone mad?!" Legion Commander Zhang Huanyun yelled, jabbing his finger at Cao Dezhi's face.
"Sorry. But… I had no other choice. This is for humanity's future." Cao Dezhi spoke quietly, fully aware of how inhuman this was—a total betrayal of the Blood God Legion.
Until today, anyone who dared say something like that to his face would likely have been killed instantly by him.
But…
This was the founder of the Tang Sect, Tang San's father.
Now, the planet's guardian spirit.
Confused as he was, he couldn't resist.
"..."
"Heh, heh heh…" Zhang Huanyun laughed in disbelief, wrenching Cao Dezhi's collar, gritting his teeth, "You repeatedly interrupted my transmissions, even forcibly suppressed me—fine, fine, I'll see you at a military tribunal, but right now, explain yourself! 'Guardian of the planet?'"
"You call letting in the abyssal monsters to slaughter civilians 'guarding'?!"
"Sorry, no comment." Cao Dezhi replied flatly.
"Go to hell!"
Zhang Huanyun slapped him hard. Cao Dezhi didn't dodge, taking the blow squarely. His face swelled instantly, lips bleeding.
All the other senior officers—Blood-2 through Blood-9—watched in silence.
It was less that they hadn't called this a rebellion, more that… they dared not.
An unspoken fear.
If even Blood One betrayed the Legion, just how deep did enemy infiltration run?
"This isn't over!" Zhang Huanyun stared daggers at Cao Dezhi.
If not for the latter's overwhelming strength, Zhang would have executed him on the spot.
Now that the abyssal spirit dragon had appeared, heading for the continent's heart, it might spark total calamity.
"History will remember this day you created—a day of massacre!" Zhang spat one last glare.
"..."
Cao Dezhi hung his head, fists clenched tight.
Clearly, he was not as unfeeling as he let on.
But that person was...
I can't be wrong.
"What's going on?!"
Star Luo Empire.
Imperial palace.
Listening to his daughter's report, Dai Tianling was stunned. He'd spoken to Su Wen before and rather liked the man—he seemed reasonable enough.
Not the arrogant or overbearing type.
Yet...
"Ah…" Dai Tianling sighed, exchanging a glance with the elderly man beside him. "Looks like we really pissed him off."
"I'd say his impression of the Tang Sect and the Shrek side isn't very good," En Ci pondered, stroking his greying beard after making a move in their Go game.
"Just listen to his choice of words. When he uses 'stray dogs,' it's certainly not meant as a compliment."
"What would you suggest, teacher?" Dai Tianling asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I'll sit and watch." En Ci smiled.
Seeing the emperor's speechlessness, he shook his head: "Honestly now, are we any closer to the Tang Sect or Shrek than anyone else?"
"The Sun Moon Federation's higher-ups don't like Shrek or Tang Sect at all, never mind the Spirit Pagoda."
"If he hates them, that's his business. Are you going to get involved?"
"..."
"You mean…" Dai Tianling realized something.
"He isn't trampling us, only the Tang Sect. As long as he doesn't play both sides, he's worthy of our loyalty."
"We're in a tough spot—it's not like we can afford to offend anyone," En Ci chuckled.
Dai Tianling: "…"
"Teacher, can you not be so pessimistic?"
"Even I, the Divine Domain Douluo, can't beat the Heartless Douluo—what about the Unfeeling Douluo? Both are monsters. Is there anyone else who could stand against them?"
"Uh…"
Dai Tianling choked up.
He managed a wry nod. "You're right."
"But we can avoid offending Su Wen, and Tang Sect isn't entitled to blame us… We do have some strength." En Ci declared.
"What about Yun'er?" Dai Tianling hesitated. "Should we break with the Tang Sect?"
"Uh…"
Before En Ci could answer, a red indicator flashed on the communicator.
Dai Tianling paused, his face growing serious.
At his level, the communicator's private network was beyond the reach of an ordinary person or soul master—anyone contacting him directly would have to be one of the continent's true greats.
"Heartless Douluo—Cao Dezhi… defected?!!"
But the next moment—
His pupils shook violently.
"It's from Zhang Huanyun!!!"
"I see it too…" En Ci was just as stunned.
It was a ludicrous development.
Not unlike saying that the Abyssal Holy Monarch had always been a sleeper agent.
"It seems to be true…"
The master and apprentice exchanged glances.
The video contained not just the entirety of Cao Dezhi's actions—cutting all communications and forcibly suppressing everyone—but also vast numbers of abyssal monsters.
"Retreat, evacuate now!!" Dai Tianling bellowed.
"Damned Tang Sect, I'll deal with them myself!"
"Our priority is to guard against the abyssal incursion…" En Ci's face was grave.
"I've heard they crossed the ocean, heading for us."
"God damn it all…" Dai Tianling completely lost it.
"Ah." En Ci shook his head.
What a damn mess.
"Wait, are they all after him?" Dai Yun'er timidly interjected, voicing an even crazier theory.
"That person who just entered Dragon Valley—"
"Hm?!!"
...