The third Sky Screen had revealed everything.
When soul masters across the world learned that the Heaven Dou Empire possessed the Sea God's Divine Inheritance, they were all shocked.
Countless factions immediately sprang into action.
Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and others.
Meanwhile, on Sea God Island.
Bo Saixi gazed at the information on the Sky Screen, her eyes narrowing.
She prayed to the Sea God. The only response was a ray of golden light, and its meaning was clear: the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was meant for whoever was destined to obtain it. Now that its secret had been exposed, they could only take it back.
"Seven Holy Pillar Enshrined, heed my command. By order of Lord Sea God, retrieve the Vast Sea Universe Cover!"
"Yes!"
The situation across the world erupted into chaos.
Atop a mountain peak.
Li Xuan had no intention of getting involved. But just then—
[Ding!] [Detected divine consciousness descending upon Douluo Continent. System is crackling...]
"Has that damn system gone crazy again?"
Li Xuan knocked on the system.
[Ding! Host released the Sky Screen, revealing the Mystery of Becoming a God. Preparations for the God Examination to create a self-made divine position have begun!] [Absorbing divine radiance is essential to constructing a divine position. Host, please absorb a wisp of divine power as soon as possible!]
"What do you mean?!"
Li Xuan sat up straight.
[Seize the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and absorb the divine power on it. Crackle...]
The system turned idiotic again halfway through its sentence.
"Tsk!"
Li Xuan clicked his tongue. "I've been living on Douluo Continent for so many years, and you never said a word. But you just had to bring it up now. You really are a damn system!"
Seize the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?
For now, he was only Level 95.
Though he had deliberately suppressed his cultivation, he had never consumed any Spiritual Items from heaven and earth.
Still, snatching the Vast Sea Universe Cover from others wouldn't be easy.
He'd probably draw out the three strongest Titled Douluo on the continent.
He couldn't beat them.
"I give up!"
Li Xuan took out several Immortal Herbs. "I'd planned to wait until the God Examination began before consuming the Immortal Herbs and breaking through. Now I have no choice but to do it early."
The Heaven Dou Empire.
The Imperial Palace.
When the Sky Screen revealed that the Vast Sea Universe Cover was essential to becoming a god, the entire palace fell silent.
Bang! Emperor Xue Ye struck the armrest of his throne and ordered, "Guards! Bring me the Vast Sea Universe Cover at once!"
The Vast Sea Universe Cover.
It had been kept in the Heaven Dou Empire for years, and no one knew what it was for. No one had expected the Sky Screen to expose its purpose: it was essential to beginning the Sea God's God Examination.
Now, it had become the focus of everyone's attention.
Anyone who saw it would want to seize it.
In an instant, Emperor Xue Ye anticipated what would happen next. The powerful figures of every major faction would soon come pouring in.
They would force him to hand over the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
He couldn't protect it, and he didn't dare try.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was simply too tempting. Anyone in their right mind would want it.
Take Dugu Bo, for example. Though he was an honored guest of the Heaven Dou royal family, no one could bet that he wouldn't attack the royal family for the sake of this divine artifact.
Before long.
The Vast Sea Universe Cover was presented before Emperor Xue Ye.
The ministers and princes surrounding him looked at the object, which emitted a faint glow. They couldn't help feeling stirred.
This was something that could make a person a god!
Anyone who claimed not to be tempted would be lying.
But everyone present understood one thing: even if they got their hands on it, even if they made it recognize them as its master, they lacked the strength to withstand the pressure from all the major factions. They were doomed to die.
"My esteemed ministers,"
Emperor Xue Ye nodded. "What do you think we should do with this?"
Silence fell over the hall.
After a moment, Xue Beng stepped forward and made a suggestion. "Father, we can't hold on to this. We might as well use it to obtain benefits from the major factions."
"What benefits could be worth more than this divine artifact?"
"..."
Silence—
No one knew. No one could even estimate.
But they had no time to think it over. A soldier came rushing into the hall.
"Reporting to Your Majesty! The Seven—Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Master has arrived with two Titled Douluo and requests an audience!"
Whoosh—
The hall fell silent.
But that wasn't all. Another soldier stepped forward to report.
"Reporting to Your Majesty! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan requests an audience!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty! The Clear Sky Sect..."
"Spirit Hall..."
One announcement after another crashed through the hall like thunder, sinking everyone's spirits to the bottom.
It was no exaggeration to say that every faction on Douluo Continent had gathered here.
Today, no matter what, they would have to hand over the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
"Emperor Xue Ye, you seem troubled!"
Just as everyone was falling into despair, a voice reached their ears.
Emperor Xue Ye looked up and saw a tall, handsome young man in a Blood Profound Gold Robe standing in the hall. No one knew when he had appeared.
"Who—who are you?!"
Everyone panicked.
Li Xuan raised a hand, and an invisible wave of Soul Power calmed them.
"You may have heard my name: God-Slayer!"
Buzz—
Everyone's minds reeled.
"You—you're the God-Slaying Douluo?!"
Li Xuan raised a hand, and an invisible force wrenched the Vast Sea Universe Cover from Emperor Xue Ye's grasp.
"I didn't come here to waste words with you."
He narrowed his eyes and examined the Vast Sea Universe Cover, saying nothing.
The original novel seemed to have clearly stated that the Sea God had left a divine thought inside it, one that would appear at a critical moment. That must be the wisp of divine consciousness the system had mentioned.
Absorb it, and that should do the trick.
With that in mind,
Li Xuan was about to absorb the power of the Vast Sea Universe Cover.
Suddenly—
"Your Majesty, this is bad!"
"Countless soul beasts have appeared outside Heaven Dou City—and there are so many Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts!!!"
"What?!"
Even Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had come?!
Li Xuan's gaze sharpened.
Emperor Xue Ye hurried forward with a bow. "Your Excellency God-Slayer, my Heaven Dou Empire knows it can't keep the Vast Sea Universe Cover. But we don't want our people hurt, either. Would you..."
What he meant was that Li Xuan should contend with the others.
He should keep the royal family out of it.
Li Xuan swept his sleeve. "I took the Vast Sea Universe Cover, so I'll bear the consequences!"
With that, he vanished.
When he appeared again, he was already outside Heaven Dou City.
By now,
countless powerful figures had gathered outside the city.
Including soul beasts.
"Everyone, do you really intend to fight Spirit Hall for this?"
Spirit Hall had the most Titled Douluo present. At this point, there was no distinction between Pope's Palace and Worship Hall; they had all united.
"Heh."
The Titled Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect looked over and sneered. "Spirit Hall, hand the Vast Sea Universe Cover over to the Clear Sky Sect today, and we'll let bygones be bygones!"
"What an arrogant claim!"
A booming voice rang through the sky.
Every soul master present felt dizzy.
A towering figure stood at the edge of the horizon, his cold gaze sweeping across the crowd. An overwhelming pressure descended, leaving every Titled Douluo and Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast trembling with fear.
A Level 99 Titled Douluo.
Qian Daoliu!
"Qian Daoliu, do you really think this old man is dead?!"
Almost as soon as Qian Daoliu appeared, another vast wave of Soul Power surged forth, shattering the domain enveloped in angelic holy light.
Another Level 99 Titled Douluo.
Tang Chen!
The two peak powerhouses of the world faced each other, their bodies radiating brilliant holy light and bloody killing intent, dyeing the sky gold and crimson.
The scene didn't last long before a magnetic voice broke through it.
A vast divine light descended alongside it, enveloping both beams of light.
Then came the pressure unique to a Level 99 Titled Douluo.
Bo Saixi!
Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen immediately reined in their emotions and looked toward the graceful figure, their expressions complicated.
"Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen..."
Bo Saixi shook the Sea God Scepter and said slowly, "It's been a long time."
The major factions had already learned about Sea God Island from the Sky Screen.
It was a powerful force on Douluo Continent.
Even so, seeing it with their own eyes left them stunned.
They hadn't expected another Level 99 Titled Douluo to exist.
What a terrifying lineup!
Bo Saixi's gaze was piercing. "By order of the Sea God, I have come to retrieve the Vast Sea Universe Cover. Do you two truly intend to take it?"
"..."
Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen exchanged a glance but said nothing.
"Hahaha!"
"If this item has ended up here, then it belongs to whoever is strong enough to claim it!"
Rumble—
The winds and clouds shifted.
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts and turned to look in the same direction.
Behind the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, a vast shadow slowly emerged, blotting out the sky and blocking the sun. It descended amid flashes of dark lightning and rain.
"This is..."
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