Famed Throughout the World, Their Separate Paths
Douluo Continent, Spirit City.
When the earth-shattering news of the expedition to the Demon Plane, the slaying of the Great Demon Kings, and the successful establishment of the human outpost "Demon Quelling City" in another world was brought back by the victorious high command of the allied Coalition Army, the entire continent was in an uproar!
The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, and reaching the ears of all the major sects, families, and Soul Master Academy. At first, it was disbelief, then shock, and finally, it turned into a tsunami of ecstatic joy and pride!
A counterattack against another dimension! Slaying Demigod Level Demon King! Establishing a city in the demon's lair! Any one of these achievements would be an epic feat worthy of being recorded in history and shining through the ages! And now, these feats have been accomplished by the Soul Master of their era!
The Seven Great Sects jointly announced, and the Spirit Hall proclaimed to the world, releasing a detailed battle report on this expedition. The report highlighted Yu Yuanchen's unparalleled prowess in single-handedly defeating the Great Demon Kings— Salvos, Adost, Anat, Baroque; Qian Chongxiao's heroic figure wielding the Angel Sacred Sword to confront the Demon King head-on; the valiant fighting of young prodigies like Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu; and the fearlessness and sacrifice of all the Soul Master who participated in the expedition...
One by one, these stories and events quickly became household names through official channels, storytellers in taverns and teahouses, and word-of-mouth transmission among wandering Soul Master.
Yu Yuanchen's name once again resounded throughout the heavens, reaching an unprecedented height! He was no longer merely a leader of the younger generation, no longer just the Young Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but was revered as the "Thunder Dragon God" and the "Demon Quelling Venerable," becoming a living legend throughout the Douluo Continent, a guardian deity in the hearts of countless Soul Master and even ordinary people! His portrait was hung in the squares of major cities, and his deeds were compiled into poems and sung. The prestige of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also reached its zenith, and it had become a sacred place in the hearts of Soul Master all over the world.
Those Soul Master who accompanied him on his expedition, whether sect Sect Master, Elder, or ordinary Soul Sage and Soul Douluo, all had their names solemnly engraved on the newly erected "Expeditionary Heroes Monument" in Spirit City, to be revered for eternity. In this life, what one seeks is nothing more than fame and fortune. For these powerful figures already standing at the pinnacle of the continent, "leaving their mark on history" was undoubtedly the greatest temptation and glory. Now, they had achieved it. Their families and sects, too, gained unparalleled honor as a result.
The entire Soul Master World across the continent was immersed in an atmosphere of excitement and progress. The feat of exploring other dimensions seemed to have opened a door to a new world for all Soul Master, allowing them to see the possibility of transcending the mortal realm and conquering all heavens! A vibrant spirit and a drive for progress spread in the hearts of Soul Master across the continent.
Amidst this sea of celebration, Ye Zhilan quietly returned to the Ye Family Beast Taming Research Institute, located near the Star Dou Great Forest. She declined invitations to various celebrations, her mind already focused on her research. Gu Yuena (the Silver Dragon King's avatar) had already urged her several times through secret communication, showing great interest in the unique biological system of the Demon Plane.
Ye Zhilan had a premonition that there might be some unknown connection between demonic creatures and Soul Beast, and even with the Way of Beast Taming she was researching. This would be a completely new and challenging research direction, and a series of key topics such as Soul Beast Contract and Bloodline Evolution were waiting for her to lead and advance.
Her experiences in the Demon Plane gave her a deeper understanding of the diversity of Life forms, which might provide new inspiration for the Way of Beast Taming. She knew that while personal glory was certainly gratifying, promoting the progress of the entire Soul Master World and even the Soul Beast race was a more lasting achievement.
In contrast to the jubilation on the mainland, those who remained in the Demon Quelling City of the Demon Plane faced more realistic and severe challenges.
The Demon Quelling City is beginning to take shape. Craftsmen and Soul Master from the Douluo Continent, under the organization of the powerful figures left behind by various sects, are working day and night to reinforce the city walls, build houses, and set up various defensive, spirit-gathering, and Purification formations. Outside the city, on the cleared land, some tender green seedlings are stubbornly growing—these are special Blue Silver Grass seeds that people have sown and treated with Ye Zhilan's Life energy. They are working hard to improve this barren land.
Within the Demon Quelling City, basic defensive fortifications and living facilities are already in place, but outside the city lies a vast, unknown, and dangerous demon territory. Although low-ranking demons dare not approach the city, they still lurk in the distance, and occasionally small groups of demons launch probing attacks. Environmental modification, resource exploration, and dealing with the remaining demon forces all require a great deal of effort.
Qian Daoliu walked along the newly built city walls of Demon Quelling City, which emanated a faint, Purification Holy Light, his brow furrowed. The Angel Mark between his brows felt slightly warm, and a clear Divine Examination message lingered in his mind:
[The Fifth Trial of the Angels: Glory Shall Not Be Profaned (Part Two)]
[Assessment Content: Find and Purification ten Fallen Angel. Guide them with Angel Holy Light to shed their fallen bloodlines and return to the light. If they harbor good intentions and are willing to receive the baptism of Holy Light, their bloodlines can be elevated; if they are deeply evil and resist Purification, then use swift and decisive measures to completely Purification their existence.]
[Evaluation period: Three years.]
[Assessment Reward: God Position affinity increased by 15%, partial unlocking of the Angel Sacred Sword's power.]
"Fallen Angel..." Qian Daoliu murmured to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his golden eyes. These beings, originally of the same origin, were created with Angel Bloodline due to the blasphemy of demons. They are both a disgrace to the Angel Clan and, from a certain perspective, victims.
The Divine Examination required "guidance" rather than "punishment," reflecting the mercy of the Angel God. However, the requirement of "complete Purification if it fails" also demonstrates the Divine Might as a prison, with an ironclad rule of showing no mercy to the incorrigible.
He gently stroked the longsword radiating a warm, Holy Light on his back— the Angel Sacred Sword. Before his departure, his father, Qian Chongxiao, had entrusted this divine artifact inherited from the Spirit Hall to him for self-defense, solemnly instructing him. "Liuer, the matter of the Fallen Angel concerns the very foundation of our clan's honor; you must be extremely cautious. With the Holy Sword in hand, you must uphold justice, but also retain a heart of compassion."
"Father, I understand." Qian Daoliu a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination. He bid farewell to the affairs of the city, shouldered the Angel Sacred Sword, and transformed into a golden light, silently leaving Demon Quelling City. He stealthily made his way towards the area where Fallen Angel might be active, a place he had obtained from searching the souls of demon captives. His Fifth Trial was destined to be a path full of thorns and trials.
Meanwhile, in the city's Forging Workshop, a bustling scene unfolded. Tang Chen, shirtless, his bronze muscles bulging and sweat pouring down his face, was repeatedly hammering a dark red metal blank covered in strange patterns, which he had seized from a high-ranking demon commander. Sparks flew everywhere, and the metal emitted a low, humming sound, almost like that of a living being.
"Damn, this demon's forging technique is something else!" Tang Chen dropped his hammer and picked up a cooled metal shard to examine closely. The shard was extremely hard and possessed an exceptional affinity and conductivity for dark and fire energy, far surpassing ordinary metals. "It's actually quenched with demonic blood, smelted with Fel Energy, and then solidified with demonic runes... The method is a bit unorthodox, but the approach, the effect..."
Excitement gleamed in Tang Chen's eyes. While his previously developed "Hundred Forging Essence Gold Technique" could enhance metal's performance, it primarily focused on purifying the material and optimizing its structure. The demon's forging technique, however, seemed to emphasize "empowerment" and "enchantment," directly solidifying powerful evil energy into the metal, giving it innate special abilities. Although this power attribute was incompatible with human Soul Master, its underlying concept was extremely inspiring.
"If we could extract its essence and discard its dross, combining this concept of 'energy solidification' with my Hundred Forging Essence Gold Technique, and then replacing Fel Energy with Soul Power or Bloodline Power..." A bold idea formed in Tang Chen's mind. He seemed to see a path to a higher level of forging! If successful, perhaps in the future, human Soul Master could also possess standardized equipment comparable to or even surpassing top-tier Soul Tool!
He immediately summoned several elite blacksmiths from the Clear Sky Sect and the Blacksmith Association who had accompanied the army. They disassembled and studied the captured demon equipment one by one, and combined it with his previous forging experience, beginning tireless experiments. In the workshops of Demon Quelling City, the clanging of hammering and the occasional small energy explosions became a unique background sound. Tang Chen's state of "skill approaching the Dao" became increasingly stable and profound through repeated practice.
At this moment, in the center of Demon Quelling City, on the top floor of the tallest Meditation Tower, which had drawn upon the Thunder Power.
Yu Yuanchen sat cross-legged in the center of the tower, his aura completely contained, as if he had merged with the entire tower, the Demon Quelling City beneath his feet, and the surrounding Demon Plane. He was not in deep seclusion, but rather in a mysterious state of "enlightenment".
His Spiritual Power, like invisible tentacles, meticulously sensed and analyzed everything in the Demon Plane. The raging, chaotic Fire Element, the Fel Energy containing a strange Life Force within the filth, the spatial structure and laws that seemed similar to, yet subtly followed, a deeper commonality with, the Douluo Continent ...
"So that's how it is..." Yu Yuanchen gradually understood.
In the Douluo Continent, the Thunder Law he comprehended Extreme Yang and Extreme Hardness, dominating Destruction and Life Force, leaning more towards order and creation. However, here in the Demon Plane, the thunder (if the raging Destruction energy storms can be called thunder) is filled with absolute Destruction, chaos, and annihilation. The two seem contradictory, but in reality, they are both manifestations of the Thunder Law under different environments and different origins. Like water, it can nourish all things, or it can cause a raging flood.
"The ' Ultimate Soul Core ' I pursue must be all-encompassing, embracing all laws into one. It must not only possess the order and Life Force of Douluo Thunder, but also understand and even control the Destruction and chaos of this demonic thunder. Only when Yin-Yang are in harmony, and Life and Death cycle endlessly, can it be perfect."
He also grasped the Space Law of this place. The Demon Plane could connect to other dimensions relatively easily, not because its spatial barriers were weak, but because its spatial structure was more "permeable" and "aggressive," as if it were born with the attribute of outward expansion. This was quite different from the relatively stable and introverted spatial structure of the Douluo Continent. Through refining and perceiving the body of the Hell Gate, Yu Yuanchen's understanding of space was also rapidly improving, touching upon the deeper mysteries of "plane traversal" and "spatial anchoring."
"My domain, the ' Heavenly Tribulation Sacred Dragon Domain,' might be able to take this opportunity to incorporate a trace of the spatial characteristics of the Demon Plane, giving it not only the power to suppress and Destruction, but also the wondrous abilities of 'imprisonment,' 'exile,' and even rudimentary 'realm traversal'..."
A multitude of insights came rushing in. Yu Yuanchen originally thought he had grasped a certain level of the laws, but after coming into contact with the "stones from other mountains" of this other dimension, they all revealed new facets, allowing him to see a broader and deeper path. His Soul Power flowed slowly within his body, his Blood Essence and qi surged endlessly, his Soul Core rotated faster, and the tentacles of his Spiritual Power explored towards a more microscopic and essential level of rules.
The bottleneck between level Level 98 and 99, that seemingly indestructible barrier, now seemed to be... traceable in Yu Yuanchen's perception. He needed time, more insights, and to thoroughly digest this "new knowledge" from another dimension and integrate it into his own system.
The construction of Demon Quelling City is progressing steadily. Qian Daoliu embarked on the path of Purification. Tang Chen is engrossed in New Forging Method. Meanwhile, Yu Yuanchen is taking a solid and crucial step towards the supreme God-level Realm in the Meditation Tower.
The colonial era of the Demon Plane has officially begun amidst glory and challenges. And the legend of Yu Yuanchen and his companions continues to be written.