Chapter 232: One Month Later
"For now, everyone needs to keep a low profile. Avoid going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt spirit beasts unless absolutely necessary. After all, a new powerhouse has emerged among the soul beasts."
"I fear our future relations with them will be far from peaceful."
After some deep contemplation, Mu En gave his final command.
The current human forces were in no condition to confront the Soul Beast race.
Unless several human gods reappeared, humanity would only continue to be oppressed—just as the soul beasts once had been for millennia.
"Understood, Elder Mu."
The members of the Sea God Pavilion nodded solemnly.
Having lived long lives, they fully grasped the gravity of the situation.
…
In a quiet street within Shrek City stood two figures—Snow Empress and Huo Yuhao.
Suddenly, two lights emerged from within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea.
It was the Skydream Iceworm and the Ice Empress.
"I didn't expect Bi Ji to be the first to break through the divine barrier. The Divine Stone truly allows soul beasts to escape the Divine Realm's surveillance, enabling them to become million-year-level beasts."
The Snow Empress looked up toward the distant stars, unable to calm her emotions.
Her lifelong ambition had been to reach the legendary million-year realm.
Yet due to the Divine Realm's restrictions, every breakthrough beyond a hundred thousand years brought heavenly tribulation—making it nearly impossible for a soul beast to reach that level.
So at that moment, Snow Empress could not help but envy Bi Ji's fortune.
Unfortunately, she hadn't had the courage to choose the Divine Stone herself.
After all, according to the Starry Auction Pavilion's explanation, there was only a one percent chance of success. She had not dared to gamble.
"See? That's what it means to truly ascend through strength, not like you—eating and sleeping your way into becoming a million-year soul beast."
The Ice Empress cast a cold glance at the Skydream Iceworm, her tone full of mockery.
When Bi Ji had unleashed her power earlier to block that black divine sword, they could all feel the overwhelming vitality bursting from her.
Even though both were soul beasts with life-based attributes, Bi Ji's power far surpassed the Skydream Iceworm's.
"Hmph, so what? We're both million-year soul beasts anyway. It's not that big of a difference."
The Skydream Iceworm replied calmly, though inwardly he was shaken.
So this was the power of a true million-year beast? Compared to that, his own "achievement" suddenly felt embarrassingly hollow.
Still, he reminded himself—he was, after all, the first soul beast on the Douluo Continent to reach the million-year level.
Huo Yuhao quietly listened to the exchange, deeply moved.
He recalled the moment the gigantic silver dragon had appeared, crushing the black divine sword with overwhelming might.
He couldn't begin to imagine just what kind of existence that dragon was. The Star Dou Great Forest was clearly far more unfathomable than anyone had ever realized.
Not only did it house the 800,000-year Beast God Di Tian, but also such a terrifying dragon god-beast.
"That silver dragon's injuries should be healed now."
"It won't be long before she leads the Soul Beast race to the Divine Realm. When that happens, should we get involved?"
The Skydream Iceworm's tone grew grave.
After all, he himself had once been betrayed by those very beasts, leading to his fall and eventual absorption as Huo Yuhao's spirit ring. He knew firsthand how terrifying the silver dragon's strength was.
"We'll decide when the time comes," the Ice Empress said impatiently. "Right now, the most important thing is to gain an opportunity from the Starry Auction Pavilion and become true million-year beasts ourselves—just like Bi Ji."
"Only then will we be strong enough to take part in the coming war between the Divine Realm and the soul beasts. Otherwise, even with our current power, we'd be nothing more than cannon fodder in a war of gods."
At her words, the Snow Empress and the others turned their gaze toward the Star Dou Great Forest and fell silent.
…
As Bi Ji's ascension to godhood drew to a close, the various major factions across Douluo Continent quietly adjusted their plans, adopting strategies similar to Shrek Academy's—avoiding conflict with the soul beasts at all costs.
…
Time passed quickly, and a month later, the entire continent had fallen into an unusual calm.
No power dared make a move, each focusing instead on preparing for the grand event hosted by the Starry Auction Pavilion.
Today was the long-awaited day of the auction, and all major factions from across Douluo Continent had gathered.
Not long before it began, a loud sound echoed from outside.
Soon after, a group of soul beasts led by Di Tian descended upon the Starry Auction Pavilion.
This time, Gu Yuena did not attend.
With Bi Ji, the true million-year soul beast, present, nothing unexpected was likely to occur.
As soon as the Soul Beasts entered, the assembled powerhouses—Mu En, Elder Xuan, Long Xiaoyao, Du Bushi, and others—all turned their gazes toward Bi Ji.
The instant they sensed her aura, their eyes widened slightly.
It was true—Bi Ji had indeed passed the Divine Stone's trial and become a genuine million-year soul beast.
The life energy radiating naturally from her body had reached an absolute state of vitality, leaving them silently astonished.
With Bi Ji's healing power, even if the Soul Beast race suffered great casualties, they could recover their strength in no time.
When the auction officially began, Jiang Li slowly stepped onto the stage. Today, he intended to preside over the event personally.
The crowd instantly shifted their attention to him.
They all recognized this man—the one who had shattered the precedent of soul masters taking ten thousand years to ascend to godhood.
What truly shocked them, however, was that he emitted no discernible aura at all.
That level of control could only mean one thing: Jiang Li's mastery of his own power had reached a divine level of perfection.
To the naked eye, he looked entirely ordinary—just like any other man.
"Bi Ji, can you sense what level his power truly is?"
Di Tian asked quietly, his gaze fixed upon Jiang Li.
He had sensed nothing from him, and only Bi Ji might be capable of detecting something deeper.
"All I can say is—bottomless. His strength feels… no weaker than the Master's."
Bi Ji focused intensely, trying to sense Jiang Li's aura.
What she felt was an abyss—vast, unfathomable, terrifyingly deep.
Too powerful!
"Hm?"
At that moment, Jiang Li naturally detected a probing divine sense directed at him.
He waved his hand slightly, releasing an invisible ripple that spread outward, instantly shattering Bi Ji's spiritual probe.
No one else noticed a thing.
Bi Ji felt the backlash and her expression changed subtly.
"He noticed my attempt to probe him."
She said softly, then withdrew her spiritual sense completely.
(END CHAPTER)
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