Deep Sea Demon Whale Clan

Xian Lin'er's face was pale. "At this rate, Di Tian's cultivation has probably already surpassed eight hundred thousand years—he may even have reached nine hundred thousand years!"

Xuan Zi shot to his feet. "We must convene a continental conference immediately! Facing a Star Dou Great Forest like this, the human forces have to unite!"

Mu En nodded slowly. "Send word to the Body Sect, the Clear Sky Sect, and the major empires. Tell them Shrek Academy requests an emergency continental conference to discuss how to deal with the Star Dou Great Forest."

Sun Moon Empire, Mingde Hall.

Jing Hongchen had completely lost his former composure. He roared at his subordinates, "Activate every surveillance Soul Tool at once! I want to know exactly how many beings like this the Star Dou Great Forest has right now!"

"Hall Master,"

a researcher said in a trembling voice, "if the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest generally possess cultivation like this, then our Level 9 Soul Tools..."

Jing Hongchen's face turned ashen. He knew what the researcher wanted to say.

In the face of absolute power, the advantage of Soul Tools was rapidly vanishing.

Holy Spirit Cult Headquarters.

Zhongli Wu, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao looked at one another in silence, each seeing deep wariness in the others' eyes.

"Five hundred and ninety thousand years,"

Zhongli Wu murmured. "Cultivation like this... it's rising too quickly!"

Ye Xishui cut in. "Now isn't the time to think about that. Halt all activity around the Star Dou Great Forest immediately. Until we've found out the truth about that mysterious expert, do not act rashly."

Star Dou Great Forest, Core Area.

Xiong Jun felt the surging power within his body and roared excitedly, "Five hundred and seventy thousand years! Hahaha, I finally broke through the five-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-year mark!"

The Myriad Demon King was not as openly expressive as Xiong Jun.

But countless demon eyes also flickered with excited light. "I successfully broke through to six hundred thousand years, and I didn't even need to undergo a lightning tribulation."

Bi Ji smiled gently. "Congratulations to you both. It seems Lu Zun's grace has benefited us all greatly."

The Myriad Demon King stood with his hands behind his back, an arrogant smile on his lips. "This is only the beginning. Once the Top Ten are announced, humanity will truly understand the Star Dou Great Forest's current strength."

Lu Chen and Gu Yuena exchanged a smile, satisfied with the improvements of their subordinates.

Gu Yuena said softly, "It seems our existence truly has changed the structure of this world."

Lu Chen nodded. "That's a good thing. Only by displaying enough strength can we secure the status Soul Beasts deserve."

With Xiong Jun and the Myriad Demon King making the Ranking list, every human force reached a consensus.

The Star Dou Great Forest truly had a method for rapidly increasing Soul Beasts' cultivation.

And that method very likely came from that mysterious Soul Beast expert.

For a time, every major force urgently adjusted its strategy toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Some chose to temporarily retreat, while others prepared to take the initiative and build friendly ties.

And still others were secretly planning deeper schemes.

After announcing eleventh place, the golden Ranking list began gathering light once more.

The Top Ten of the Ranking list were about to be revealed, and everyone held their breath.

They knew the true main event was only just beginning.

The Clear Sky Sect, hidden away among the clouds and mist, was not at peace at this moment either.

Niu Tian stood with his hands behind his back atop a mountain peak, his gaze seeming to pierce through the clouds and land upon the Golden Ranking.

His steady voice carried a trace of knowing gravity. "The strength of the original Ten Great Ferocious Beasts has undergone earth-shaking changes."

"It seems Di Tian and the others truly found an extraordinary opportunity. Or rather, it was that person's methods."

He turned slightly to Titan beside him and said, "Second Brother, pass down the order. Have the sect disciples reduce outings as much as possible for the time being, and especially avoid conflict with the Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"After we discuss this, we may need to personally make a trip to Star Dou, to meet Di Tian and probe that person's true state."

In Niu Tian's heart, maintaining the sect's stability and seeking the truth were equally important.

When Titan heard this, he waved his massive fists, his voice like thunder. "Don't worry, Big Brother! I know what matters. But if those fellows from Star Dou dare use this to stir up trouble, these fists of mine aren't just for show!"

Though he appeared eager for battle, caution also showed in his eyes.

The Clear Sky Sect's strategy leaned toward observing for now and avoiding conflict.

At the same time, they would actively seek dialogue with the upper levels of the Star Dou Great Forest to uncover the truth.

Inside the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.

Xu Tianran leaned back in his wheelchair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

The information on the Golden Ranking stirred waves in his heart.

He took a deep breath and said to Ju Zi and his trusted aides beside him, "The strength of the Star Dou Great Forest's ferocious beasts has surged wildly. Such speed of improvement is unheard of."

"This can never be explained by any ordinary opportunity. It must be connected to the Supreme Bloodlines that appeared before, such as the 'Kunpeng' and the 'Void Divine Dragon.'"

A calculating gleam flickered in Xu Tianran's eyes. "For the empire, this is a crisis—but it may not be an opportunity as well."

"If we can glimpse even a sliver of its secrets and apply them to the training of our empire's Soul Engineers, or to the strengthening of Soul Tools..."

He paused, his tone turning cold and stern. "Pass down my order to Mingde Hall. Intensify monitoring of the energy fluctuations in the Star Dou Great Forest, especially around the Lake of Life."

"At the same time, suspend all military probing plans aimed at the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Before we understand the background and intentions of that mysterious soul beast, it would be unwise for the empire to become its enemy head-on."

He looked toward Ju Zi and added, "Our cooperation with the Holy Spirit Cult must also become more cautious. Those lunatics might do something foolish and drag the empire down with them."

Xu Tianran's decision embodied pragmatism.

In the face of absolute strength, he chose to endure for now and observe from the shadows.

And to seek out possible technological breakthroughs.

Douluo Continent Soul Beast Power Ranking, tenth place: Demon Empress!

The tenth line of the Golden Ranking.

Suddenly lit up with a deep blue-black radiance, profound as an abyssal sea.

A vast, matchless whale silhouette slowly emerged, as though it could devour all light.

Its entire body was covered in dark-blue scales, its single eye like an abyss, and terrifying ocean storms and Destruction Aura coiled around it.

Its might was so overwhelming that even the land soul beasts that had appeared before seemed to pale in comparison!

Name: Demon Empress

Affiliation: Sea Domain (the true overlord of the deep sea)

Cultivation Years: 600,000 years

Bloodline Level: Top-tier (Deep Sea Demon Whale, incarnation of the ocean's destruction)

Combat Power Assessment: Controls the vast Power of the Ocean. Its body itself is a natural disaster, capable of raising tsunamis ten thousand zhang high and stirring deep-sea whirlpools. Its single eye contains destructive energy, making it nearly invincible within the ocean. Its Comprehensive Combat Power far surpasses that of ordinary 600,000-year soul beasts, and it is one of the absolute rulers of the ocean. Comprehensive assessment: ranked tenth.

Reward: Ocean Authority strengthened, Soul Beast Year Increase of 55,000 years, Deep Sea Domain advanced, gains a trace of Origin of Destruction!

"Demon Empress? Six hundred thousand years!!"

"Sea Domain. It's actually a soul beast from the Sea Domain!"

"Deep Sea Demon Whale—could this be the one from ten thousand years ago...?"

The entire continent, whether humans or soul beasts, was shocked by the sudden appearance of this top-tier overlord from the ocean.

Six hundred thousand years of cultivation.

And the title of "Demon Empress"—all of it displayed her supreme status and power.