Chapter 311: Visitors from Beyond the Realm
"Follow the trail of that aura," Jiang Li said coldly. "Find its source. And remember—whoever dares to move against me—bring them to me alive."
"Yes, Pavilion Master."
The Soul Heaven Emperor bowed slightly and vanished in a streak of light.
Once he left, Jiang Li turned toward the invisible system interface only he could see and asked in his mind, "System, can you identify the origin of that power?"
[Ding! Detected aura originates from the Blood God Realm. The powerful entity known as the Blood Demon was hunted down and fell into the turbulent flow of time and space. He accidentally descended onto Douluo Continent, grievously wounded. To recover his power, he must devour the continent's plane core.]
[He has formed a pact with the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's wife—the Demon Empress. The Blood Demon aids her in growing stronger for revenge, while she assists him in seizing Douluo Continent's source power.]
"So that's how it is," Jiang Li mused. "A stranded outsider—and he even recruited a native filled with hatred."
A faintly amused smile tugged at his lips. "Interesting. Their target is Tang San. That actually saves me some effort."
He had little interest in meddling with Douluo Continent's affairs, but if someone else wanted to fight Tang San, he had no reason to intervene. Watching the chaos unfold only benefited him.
As for the corrupted plane core—he could easily reclaim it afterward if needed.
In fact, he was curious to see how many "auction points" this clash between the Blood God Realm and Douluo Continent might yield.
"Very well, let them make their move."
With that, Jiang Li withdrew his divine sense and ignored the matter entirely.
…
Meanwhile, the Soul Heaven Emperor followed the blood‑colored trail all the way to the far eastern reaches of Douluo Continent.
The land there was a desolate wasteland—nothing but endless stone plains and frigid gales. Yet the spatial fluctuations were unusually strong.
Extending his divine perception, he soon locked onto an area shrouded by an invisible barrier.
Inside that barrier, the Demon Empress and the Blood Demon were deep in discussion.
"We must quicken the pace," the Demon Empress said darkly. "It feels as if someone was probing us just now."
Though the sensation had only lasted a split second, her instincts screamed danger.
Once, she would have dismissed any threat from Douluo Continent.
But since the rise of the Star Auction Pavilion, things had changed. More and more powerful beings had emerged, shifting the balance she once understood.
The Silver Dragon King, in particular, was said to be unfathomably strong. If that being learned that she, a soul beast, was colluding with an outsider to corrupt the plane's core, the Silver Dragon King would never spare her.
Bright red light flickered in the Blood Demon's skeletal eyes. "Relax. My barrier stands. Even a God King wouldn't sense us. Once I've devoured enough power to regain my peak, not only Tang San— even the Divine Realm's so‑called deities—will be powerless before us."
Then his tone sharpened. "Someone's here!"
He turned sharply toward the barrier's edge. Outside stood a majestic figure cloaked in purple‑gold light, gazing at them calmly.
"What immense pressure…"
Cold dread rippled through the Blood Demon. The aura emanating from that man rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, that of those who had once hunted him across worlds.
Instinctively, he called upon his blood energy, cloaking both himself and the Demon Empress in crimson fog. Their bodies and auras vanished entirely—erased, even the spatial ripples gone.
The Soul Heaven Emperor frowned at the empty space ahead.
He could tell someone was there—but not exactly where. The concealment was nearly perfect.
"Hm?"
Unamused, he expanded his divine consciousness. In an instant he pierced the veil, revealing their precise hiding spot.
If his power hadn't already surpassed this plane's limits, he might truly have been fooled.
Just as he prepared to tear open the barrier, a familiar voice echoed within his mind.
"Do not pursue. Return."
Recognizing Jiang Li's command, the Soul Heaven Emperor paused, bowed respectfully to the air, and departed like a streak of light.
Only when his presence completely faded did the Blood Demon and the Demon Empress reappear, both visibly shaken.
"Who… who was that?" the Demon Empress gasped. The sensation she'd felt under his gaze had been like death itself.
The Blood Demon's skeletal eyes burned grimly. "I don't know. But his power far exceeds any being I've seen on this continent."
He turned to her. "You've lived here long enough—have you ever seen such an existence before?"
The Demon Empress thought for a few moments, then her face paled. "Could it be… someone from the Star Auction Pavilion?"
"The Star Auction Pavilion?" the Blood Demon repeated.
"They're the ones who offered up the Human Altar," she explained. "They trade in impossibly powerful artifacts and divine relics. No one knows where they came from. I once thought their luck was simply extraordinary—but perhaps they too are outsiders from another plane."
The Blood Demon's eyes widened in realization.
If the Pavilion truly were from another realm—and possessed beings that strong—then their scheme was in grave danger.
"No choice. We must accelerate the plan!" he snarled. "If the Pavilion turns their eyes toward us, we're finished. We'll corrupt the plane faster—draw in all faith energy we can. The sooner I heal, the better!"
The Demon Empress nodded grimly. "Understood. I'll contact the soul master factions under my control—have them increase offerings to the altar. We need more faith energy!"
Without delay, the two set to work.
The gray currents within the Human Altar surged anew, their pollution of the plane core speeding up dramatically.
Across Douluo Continent, faint instabilities rippled through the ambient soul power. The storm gathering in secret was growing stronger by the hour.
…
In the Divine Realm, Tang San suddenly felt the disturbance in the plane's origin deepen. His brows furrowed tightly.
Staring toward Douluo Continent, a sense of dread gnawed at his heart.
"The corruption has worsened," he muttered. "It seems they've begun their move."
He turned to the assembled God Kings behind him. "Prepare yourselves—it looks like we must act sooner than planned."
The God of Kindness frowned. "Tang San, do not act recklessly. We still don't know who we face. The stability of the plane core affects even the Divine Realm. If we blunder now, the consequences could be catastrophic."
"There's no time," Tang San said firmly. "If we wait any longer, Douluo's foundation will collapse completely."
"Do you wish to watch as the continent's core is devoured? When the Divine Realm itself starts to tremble, don't say I didn't warn you!"
Silence fell over the hall. The other God Kings exchanged grave looks, their eyes fixed on the phantom image of Douluo Continent hovering above them.
They weighed their choices carefully. To strike now might expose them; to wait meant certain disaster.
They could all feel it—the corruption spreading faster than before.
If nothing was done, within a year the plane's source energy would be completely consumed.
(END CHAPTER)
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