Gu Yuejin watched the crimson pillar of light hurtling toward him, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.
He didn't use any flashy soul skills. He simply raised his right hand, golden light roiling in his palm like molten lava.
Bang!
A dull boom rang out.
The pillar of blazing light, powerful enough to melt steel, was crushed in his bare hand and scattered into sparks.
"This... This is impossible!"
Youyou shrieked, its branches trembling wildly. "Human, you actually caught the power of Yangquan with your bare hand?!"
Though it looked a little goofy, it wasn't stupid.
When its attack failed, it immediately realized the human before it was no ordinary foe.
"Take one more step, and you'll die!"
Youyou's voice turned shrill and piercing. The pink barrier around it thickened in an instant. "Trespassers will be punished by Heaven!"
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"
Behind him, Huo Yuhao watched the enormous flower speaking human language, surprise flashing in his eyes.
But the surprise lasted only an instant.
After all, the Sea of Consciousness within him was home to Snow Empress and Ice Empress, two true powerhouses, as well as a million-year-old mascot.
By comparison, a hundred-thousand-year-old flower didn't seem like much.
"A hundred thousand years?"
Gu Yuejin scoffed, bluntly exposing Youyou's true nature.
"Yuhao, don't let this thing fool you."
"These plants are basically good-for-nothings who've cultivated for only about ten thousand years."
"They just happen to live in the blessed land of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, where they've been taking pills every day and were forcibly boosted to the hundred-thousand-year level."
"They've got cultivation but no combat strength, and they've never endured the trials of a Heavenly Tribulation."
As he spoke, Gu Yuejin glanced at Youyou, his tone teasing.
"To put it simply, they're a bunch of overfed greenhouse flowers."
"You... How do you know?!"
Youyou was utterly stunned.
This was the greatest secret of the plant Soul Beasts. Aside from that person from long ago, no outsider knew about it!
Just who was this human?
"I know more than you can imagine."
Gu Yuejin gave it no chance to catch its breath. The golden light around him grew ever brighter.
"Yuhao, watch closely."
"This is the true potential of the Body Martial Soul!"
Boom!
His Seventh Soul Ring lit up in an instant.
It was a blood-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"
In a flash, Gu Yuejin grew to a hundred meters tall, transforming into a golden giant.
His terrifying Bloodline Power surged skyward like smoke, punching a huge hole through the seven-colored poisonous clouds above.
Before the golden giant, the enormous Aromatic Silk Beauty looked as tiny as a weed.
"A... a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?!"
Feeling the despairing pressure, Youyou finally panicked.
It could tell this human really would kill it!
"Help! Someone's tearing down our home!"
"A Jiao! Eight Angles! ...Get out here and do something! Or we're all going to die!"
As Youyou's desperate cries rang out,
the entire valley erupted into chaos.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several powerful auras burst forth at once.
"Who dares harm Youyou!"
Beside the blazing red Yangquan, a cabbage-like plant, crimson all over and seemingly carved from fire, suddenly swelled in size. Countless fireballs rained down on Gu Yuejin like meteors.
Infernal Delicate Apricot!
"Human, leave at once!"
Beside the Extreme Cold Ice Spring, a white grass shaped like an eight-pointed star emanated Extreme Cold, turning into countless icicles that sealed off every possible escape route.
Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass!
On a nearby cliff face, another Immortal Herb, transparent all over and shaped like an eye, opened its "eye."
Several Immortal Herbs had joined the fight, their combined momentum immense. Even an ordinary Titled Douluo would probably have to avoid their edge.
Yet Gu Yuejin, now a golden giant, only sneered coldly and didn't retreat an inch.
He swept out one enormous hand, and golden light blazed in all directions.
"A bunch of rabble, and you think you can stop me?"
Meanwhile,
in the Divine Realm, at Cloud Deep Unknown Abode.
There were no seasons here, only an eternal, gentle glow. Palaces towered amid the drifting clouds, appearing and disappearing from view.
Inside a luxurious palace dominated by blue and gold,
a man in blue robes, his long hair hanging to his ankles, stood with his hands behind his back. Through the clouds before him, he seemed to be watching some corner of the lower realm.
He was none other than the current God Realm Enforcer, the Sea God, Tang San.
But at that moment, his face, renowned for its "purity and incorruptibility," was clouded with anger.
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes... What's going on there?"
"The spiritual imprint I left behind was triggered? And that aura... It's completely cut off?"
Just as he was about to use his divine sense to investigate by force,
Hum—
Two terrifying surges of divine power suddenly descended.
On the left, a mass of purple clouds filled with the aura of destruction appeared, and a stern-looking man in purple robes slowly emerged from within.
The God of Destruction.
On the right, a verdant glow brimming with life appeared, followed by a woman in a green dress, her smile gentle.
The Goddess of Life.
"Tang San."
The God of Destruction's voice was low and hoarse, carrying unquestionable authority. "Were you just interfering with the lower realm?"
Tang San's heart skipped a beat, but his face immediately shifted to an innocent, bewildered expression.
"Senior, you misunderstand."
"I merely sensed that something might have happened to the sect I left behind in the lower realm, so I took a brief look."
"The rules of the Divine Realm are strict. As an enforcer, how could I knowingly break them?"
His words were impeccably polished. Someone else might have believed him.
But the God of Destruction wasn't buying it.
"Hmph. Don't try that with me."
The God of Destruction stared coldly at him. "The flow of fortune on the Douluo Continent has been abnormal lately, especially around that so-called 'rising star.' He's closely connected to you."
"Tang San, don't think I don't know what you're scheming."
"The Divine Realm must not interfere with the lower realm. That's an ironclad rule."
The Goddess of Life spoke up as well, though her tone was gentle. "Sea God, the God of Destruction may be blunt, but he's acting to preserve order in the Divine Realm."
"To avoid any suspicion, your authority to monitor the Douluo Continent is suspended for one year, effective immediately."
"This is for your own good."
"What?!"
Tang San's expression shifted. A flash of anger crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
"Since you've both decided, I'll obey."
He bowed slightly, putting on a convincing show of deference.
"Hmph. Mind your conduct."
The God of Destruction gave him a long look, snorted, and turned into purple mist as he left.
The Goddess of Life sighed and disappeared as well.
Only after their auras had completely vanished did the deference on Tang San's face disappear, replaced by a look of pure malice and resentment.
Bang!
He slammed his palm onto the jade table before him, and the precious Divine Realm jade shattered into dust.
"Destruction... How dare you throw your weight around!"
"You dare strip me of my authority to monitor the lower realm and ruin my ten-thousand-year plan!"
Tang San gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot and his breathing ragged. He looked like a madman.
By his original script, Huo Yuhao should already have been under his control, a pawn he could use to seize control of the Divine Realm and suppress the God of Destruction.
But now, not only had Huo Yuhao slipped out of his grasp, something had gone wrong at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes as well.
With his authority to monitor the lower realm revoked, he couldn't intervene directly—or even observe what was happening.
"That variable... has sealed his own fate!"
Tang San paced back and forth across the hall, his expression shifting unpredictably.
Since he couldn't get anywhere in the Divine Realm, he could only use the pieces he'd left behind in the lower realm.
"Da Ming, Er Ming..."
Tang San looked toward the direction of the Clear Sky Sect, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Looks like it's time to get in touch with the Clear Sky Sect."
"Some things don't require me to act personally. There'll always be someone willing to do it for me."
Before you continue