Bo Saixi Surrenders!

Bo Saixi's heart jolted, and she stared at him in disbelief.

"How could mortals ever hope to reach the realm of the gods!"

"Whether I'm talking nonsense, you'll know once you try."

Gu Sheng's smile faded.

His body trembled slightly, and nine brilliant golden Soul Rings surged up from beneath his feet, radiating an incomparable nobility and domineering power.

In that instant, the azure sky was dyed pure gold.

A torrent of golden divine power, several times greater than Bo Saixi's, spread wildly in every direction like a tsunami.

The vast oceanic force Bo Saixi had summoned began to collapse across a wide area the moment it touched this golden divine power.

The once-gentle seawater seemed to have encountered its natural enemy and frantically retreated.

"This... what is this?!"

Bo Saixi's pupils contracted sharply, and the hand gripping her scepter trembled despite herself.

She could feel that the power emanating from Gu Sheng was no ordinary Soul Power. It was divine power, the kind only a true god could possess!

And the rank of this divine power was terrifyingly high.

"Sea God's Light, Endless Ocean!"

Bo Saixi dared not hold anything back. She let out a clear, ringing cry.

She slammed the Golden Scepter in her hand against the surface of the sea.

Boom!

The waters within a radius of a hundred miles surged at her command, forming nine colossal water dragons a thousand meters long. With the force to shatter heaven and earth, they lunged viciously at Gu Sheng in the sky.

Every water dragon was infused with dense Sea God's Light.

Even Qian Daoliu would never dare to take such an attack head-on.

Facing the terrifying assault that blotted out the sky, Gu Sheng simply raised his right hand.

A colossal sword wreathed in pure golden flames appeared in his palm out of thin air.

The Sword of Holy Spirit.

"Cleave."

Gu Sheng casually swung his sword downward.

A golden sword beam thousands of meters long tore through the void like divine punishment splitting open heaven and earth.

Boom!

The golden sword beam collided with the nine water dragons.

There was no drawn-out stalemate. The moment the enormous water dragons touched the golden sword beam, the Holy Spirit Fire clinging to it instantly vaporized them.

White mist billowed across the entire sea.

But the golden sword beam lost none of its momentum. With an unstoppable edge, it reached Bo Saixi in an instant.

"Not good!"

Bo Saixi's face changed drastically.

She could feel the terrifying power contained in that strike. It was enough to erase her from existence.

"Sea God Descent!"

Bo Saixi shrieked as the Soul Power in her body and the Sea God's Divine Sense burned wildly.

The Sea God Phantom behind her blazed with light. Its trident swept out in a desperate attempt to stop the golden sword beam.

Boom!

Amid a deafening crash, the golden sword beam slammed into the phantom of the Sea God Trident.

The violent shock waves swept across the entire Sea God Island.

Countless coconut trees were uprooted, and the beach along the coast was carved several meters deep.

Crack.

The crisp sound of something breaking rang out across the silent battlefield, all the more piercing for it.

Under the horrified gazes of the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo, the gigantic Sea God Phantom's trident shattered bit by bit beneath the golden sword beam.

"Pfft!"

The Sea God Phantom crumbled. Bo Saixi took a heavy blow and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Her body fell helplessly from the sky like a kite with its strings cut, crashing hard onto the beach.

Dust billowed around her.

Bo Saixi struggled to rise, but her bones felt as if they were about to shatter. Her Soul Power was in utter disarray, impossible to command.

The Golden Scepter in her hand was now covered in fine cracks, its light dim.

One sword strike.

With just one strike, the High Priestess, nearly invincible at sea, had been defeated.

Golden light drifted down from the sky.

Gu Sheng stepped through the air and walked toward Bo Saixi, looking down at her from above.

The Sword of Holy Spirit in his hand shimmered with golden swordlight, its tip pointed at Bo Saixi's fair throat.

"Bo Saixi, you've lost."

Gu Sheng's voice was calm, yet carried an absolute, domineering authority over life and death.

Bo Saixi looked at the golden blade hovering before her throat and gave a bitter smile.

She had lost, utterly and completely.

Faced with absolute power, even borrowing the strength of the sea had left her as helpless as an ant.

"W-who... who are you, really?"

Bo Saixi murmured in a daze.

"I told you. I am the Saint Spirit King of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Gu Sheng's expression remained impassive.

"Now I'll ask you again: will Sea God Island submit, or be destroyed?"

At the word "destroyed," the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo standing in the distance turned deathly pale.

They wanted to charge forward and fight to the death, but the lingering pressure emanating from Gu Sheng kept them pinned in place.

Bo Saixi looked at the Sacred Pillar Guardians who had followed her for so many years, then at the people of Sea God Island, trembling amid the shock waves.

She knew that if she refused, this young man before her would wipe the entire island off the map without a moment's hesitation.

His eyes were too cold. They held the indifference of someone who regarded all living beings as grass.

"I... am willing to submit."

Bo Saixi lowered her noble head, her voice thick with bitterness and helplessness.

For the sake of Sea God Island's legacy and its people, she had no choice but to yield.

"A wise choice."

Gu Sheng smiled faintly, and the Sword of Holy Spirit in his hand dissolved into golden light.

He extended his right hand and lightly tapped the air with his index finger.

A wisp of golden divine power formed an intricate rune and instantly sank into Bo Saixi's forehead.

Bo Saixi's delicate body trembled slightly. She felt an invisible shackle settle deep within her soul.

"This is a soul brand. As long as you harbor no thoughts of rebellion, it won't affect you."

Gu Sheng spoke coolly.

"From this day forward, Sea God Island will submit to the Heaven Dou Empire. You will remain High Priestess and continue to manage all affairs on the island. But your master is me."

"Yes, Master."

Bo Saixi forced the words out, her face pale.

"Sea Horse, take some people and rebuild the Island Protection Barrier. From now on, all of Sea God Island's resources are to be given to the empire first."

Gu Sheng turned to Sea Horse Douluo.

Sea Horse Douluo glanced at Gu Sheng fearfully, then lowered his head in resignation.

"Yes. I will obey the Saint King's command."

Now that even the High Priestess had submitted, her subordinates had no room to resist.

Gu Sheng nodded with satisfaction.

"Bo Saixi, take me to see the Sea God Hall."

"Yes."

Bo Saixi answered and struggled to her feet, leading the way.

Heaven Dou City, the imperial palace.

Half a month later.

After visiting Sea God Island and stabilizing the situation there, Gu Sheng returned to Heaven Dou City.

It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun had painted the towering palaces gold and crimson.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Qian Renxue sat behind a broad writing desk, wearily rubbing her temples.

A mountain of memorials was stacked neatly across the desk.

Since ascending the throne, she had dealt with every manner of affair in the Heaven Dou Empire each day, and had grown a little thinner.

Creak.

The door to the Imperial Study opened gently.

Qian Renxue looked up impatiently, ready to scold whoever had entered without knocking.

But when she saw the visitor's pure golden hair and peerlessly handsome face, her irritation vanished in an instant, replaced by delighted surprise.

"Dear!"

Qian Renxue cried out and rose from the throne. Forgetting all imperial decorum, she hurried down the steps and threw herself into Gu Sheng's arms.

Gu Sheng held her affectionately and closed the door with his foot.

"What, you missed me after just half a month?"

Gu Sheng carried her to a nearby couch and sat down, settling her on his lap.

Qian Renxue wrapped both arms around his neck and pouted aggrievedly.

"You were gone for half a month and didn't send me a single letter. How could I not miss you?"

"And these memorials are endless. They're giving me a headache."

Seeing his wife's coy, affectionate look, Gu Sheng couldn't help chuckling.

"All right, I'm back now, aren't I?"

"The matter on Sea God Island is settled. That stretch of sea is now part of the Heaven Dou Empire's territory too."

Qian Renxue's mouth fell open in astonishment.

"Sea God Island... really submitted? And Bo Saixi...?"

"She lost to me, and now she's submitted. Sea God Island is our backyard now."

Gu Sheng said it as casually as if he were talking about something trivial.

Qian Renxue gazed at him, her eyes full of adoring love.

"Dear, you're incredible."

She leaned forward and gave Gu Sheng a hard kiss on the cheek.

Gu Sheng's eyes darkened slightly, and his large hand tightened around her slender waist.

"Words aren't enough. I've spent the past half month exposed to wind and sleeping under the stars. Shouldn't my wife give me a proper reward?"

Qian Renxue's pretty face turned scarlet, and she shot him a bashful, reproachful look.

"B-but we're in the Imperial Study. A minister could come in to report at any moment."

"Who would dare interrupt us?"

Gu Sheng domineeringly sealed her red lips with his.

"Mmm..."

Qian Renxue let out a soft moan and soon melted into his arms, letting him do as he pleased.

Outside the window, the sun sank behind the mountains, and night quietly fell.

The next day.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, spilling across the broad bed in the bedchamber.

Qian Renxue opened her eyes lazily, aching all over and unwilling to move even a finger.

Last night, Gu Sheng had been like an inexhaustible beast, carrying on until she had begged for mercy countless times before he finally let her go.

She turned her head. The place beside her was empty, but still held a trace of warmth.

"Dear?"

Qian Renxue called out in confusion.

"You're awake?"

Gu Sheng emerged from behind the screen wearing a loose white robe. In his hands was a steaming bowl of rice porridge.

Seeing him, Qian Renxue bashfully pulled up the quilt and wrapped herself up tightly.

"It's all your fault. I was late to court again today."

Gu Sheng carried the porridge to the bedside and sat down, looking at her with amusement.

"So what if you're late? At worst, just skip court today. Who would dare object?"

"How can I do that? I'm the Empress. I have to set an example."

Qian Renxue huffed in displeasure, though the corners of her mouth still curled upward.

"All right, drink your porridge first. I had the imperial kitchen make it especially for you."

Gu Sheng scooped up a small spoonful, blew on it gently, and held it to her lips.

Qian Renxue watched his gentle, attentive manner, and the little temper in her heart vanished without a trace.

She obediently opened her mouth and drank the porridge.

"Is it sweet?"

"Mm, sweet."

Qian Renxue smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes curving into crescent moons.

"Husband, once things have settled down in the empire, shall we go for a stroll in Sunset Forest?"

"Grandpa says the scenery there is actually quite lovely."

Gu Sheng looked at her fondly.

"Of course. Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you."

Sunlight spilled over them, gilding their figures with a faint golden sheen.

With the slaughter and schemes of the outside world left behind, at that moment they were simply the most ordinary and happiest couple in the world.

Qian Renxue swallowed the last mouthful of sweet porridge and let out a satisfied sigh.

Gu Sheng took the empty bowl and casually set it on the white jade table beside the bed.

"Sunset Forest is nothing like the imperial palace. It's full of snakes, bugs, rats, and all sorts of vermin. Can you, our delicate Empress, really put up with that?"

Gu Sheng turned around and, as he did, gave the tip of her dainty nose a playful squeeze.

Qian Renxue smacked his hand away in annoyance and raised an eyebrow.

"Don't underestimate me, Husband. I'm a Soul Saint, after all. What ordinary wild beast could get close to me?"

"Besides, won't you be there to protect me?"

As she spoke, she leaned against him, soft and boneless in his arms.

Gu Sheng willingly pulled her close, his warm palm gently stroking her back.

"That's true. With me here, not even a god could hurt you in the slightest, let alone some mere Soul Beast."

Hearing his domineering words, Qian Renxue felt sweetness bloom in her heart.

She looked up, her wide eyes shining as she gazed straight at Gu Sheng.

"Husband, you said yesterday that Sea God Island had submitted. Does Bo Saixi truly obey you now?"

"Of course. I've planted a soul brand on her. She can't stir up any trouble."

Gu Sheng said it as if it were nothing.

Qian Renxue traced little circles on his chest with her fingertip, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Husband, you really are amazing. Even a renowned powerhouse like her could only bow down and submit to you."

"But is she beautiful?"

The sudden question made Gu Sheng pause.

He lowered his head and met Qian Renxue's probing, faintly jealous gaze.

Gu Sheng chuckled and wrapped his arms more snugly around her slender waist.

"Is my wife jealous?"

"I'm not."

Qian Renxue stubbornly turned her head away, but burrowed deeper into Gu Sheng's arms.

"I've just heard Grandpa mention her before, so I was curious."

"In my eyes, no matter how many women there are in this world, none can compare to my Xue'er—not even by a fraction."

Gu Sheng leaned close to her ear and spoke softly.

His warm breath brushed her neck, and Qian Renxue felt half her body go weak.

Her cheeks flushed, and she gave his chest a coquettish little punch.

"Since when did you learn to be so smooth-tongued, Husband? I wonder where you picked that up."

"Do I need to practice? When I'm talking to my own wife, I'm only speaking from the heart."

Gu Sheng caught her mischievous little hand and gently kissed it.

Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat, and bashfulness nearly spilled from her eyes.

She tried to pull her hand back, but Gu Sheng held it fast, leaving her unable to move.

"Husband, it's already broad daylight. Let go of me."