The Beginning of the Story

"Teacher! When will today's training end? My legs are going numb! I feel like I'm losing all sensation in them." A three-year-old child sat cross-legged, looking miserable as he spoke in an exhausted tone to the transparent, elderly figure floating beside him.

However, the child's ears were slightly pointed.

The child's hair was a gradient, primarily red (or orange-red), with yellow, green (and even a hint of pink/purple) transitions, making for a rich, colorful appearance.

From the roots to the tips (or across different sections of hair), there was a transition from red to yellow to green (and pink/purple), leaning toward a vibrant, multi-colored gradient style (resembling a rainbow-like gradient, with red, yellow, and green as the core colors).

More intuitively, the base tone of the hair was red (orange-red), with some strands (especially at the ends and sides) extending into yellow, green, and even a small amount of pink/purple, creating an overall multi-colored gradient effect (primarily red to yellow to green, accented with pink/purple).

"Hey, Phoenix King! Don't try to act cute with me! Speak properly! I know you, you little rascal, you're full of tricks. If I hadn't checked your soul fluctuations and found them perfectly rounded and unified, I would have thought you were some drama-loving adult who had possessed this body."

"Don't think you can fool me! I am Medicine Elder, Yao Chen, Medicine Venerable, and the number one alchemist of the Dou Qi Continent!" Medicine Elder did not buy Phoenix King's act at all, even sternly rebuking him.

"Hehe, Teacher, look at what you're saying. I don't have that kind of ability." Phoenix King said with a thick skin.

"Phoenix King!" Medicine Elder then took a deep breath and said, "My requirements for you aren't very high. First of all, this isn't the Dou Qi Continent; this is the Douluo Continent, which is different from my original world. Here, humans cultivate Martial Souls and Spirit Power, and Spirit Beasts also use Spirit Power. Unlike the Dou Qi Continent, I don't expect you to use Dou Qi immediately, but you must first forge a strong body so you can cultivate Spirit Power, and then cultivate Dou Qi once you can sense it. My requirements for you aren't high; I only ask that you become a powerhouse so you won't be bullied by others."

Although Medicine Elder spoke strictly, he was still very good to his student. "Now, keep circulating your energy. If you don't finish thirty cycles today, you'll have to do double." Medicine Elder then flicked his left hand, and a burst of energy struck Phoenix King's knee, correcting his posture.

"Aiya, I know, Master." Seeing that acting cute was useless, Phoenix King had no choice but to close his eyes and continue practicing the technique.

Although he's a bit strict, he's truly good to me. Phoenix King then calmed his mind and began to execute the technique.

As Phoenix King's breathing gradually steadied, the room grew quiet, and a ray of afternoon sunlight refracted through the window into the room.

Medicine Elder watched Phoenix King training and began to recall his past—before he had transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, when he was not a soul body but possessed a physical form, a famous powerhouse on the Dou Qi Continent capable of founding his own sect.

Although there was still a large gap between him and the top-tier forces, he was already considered among the first-rate powers.

It was just that compared to the peak forces, such as the ancient eight clans behind the scenes in the Central Plains, he was still far behind.

But it was still a very formidable force, and he had founded the Star Meteor Pavilion with his friends.

He had also taken on a disciple, and to teach him, Medicine Elder had even neglected his own romances, despite there being many people around him who held him in high regard.

It could be said that Medicine Elder had given a lot for this disciple, and he had trusted him deeply. This disciple was Phoenix King's senior brother, the unfilial Han Feng, whom Medicine Elder now viewed with such disdain.

Heaven-tier Dou Technique—Backstab.

The creator of this technique was, after all, someone capable of easily wounding an existence nearing a Half-Saint.

"Teacher! Please, for the sake of your disciple, just die!" A long blade shimmering with eerie light pierced through Medicine Elder's chest. Han Feng, with a ferocious expression, held onto Medicine Elder tightly. He felt like a malevolent ghost.

"You..." Medicine Elder could hardly believe it, looking at the blood-stained blade in his chest. Looking at his beloved disciple Han Feng, to whom he had given everything, he wondered how this could be the result.

Before Medicine Elder died and turned into a soul body, he never imagined that his most cherished disciple, Han Feng, would collude with the Soul Hall to ambush him. Caught off guard, Medicine Elder's physical body was destroyed, but in his desperation, he used a secret technique to escape and hide within a ring.

It was the very ring Phoenix King was wearing now. He had hidden inside it, escaping their pursuit.

Unexpectedly, while traveling through a space-time wormhole, he accidentally fell out and arrived on the Douluo Continent, coming to Phoenix King's side.

Originally, Medicine Elder would have needed to sleep for a long time and absorb a large amount of Dou Qi or energy to slowly recover. However, the energy that erupted when Phoenix King awakened directly helped Medicine Elder absorb enough energy to wake up.

Medicine Elder observed him slowly. At first, he only taught Phoenix King some methods to strengthen his body. Later, as Phoenix King reached the age of three, it was through this period of companionship that Medicine Elder was able to move past the trauma of being betrayed by his closest disciple and agreed to take Phoenix King as his student.

Otherwise, given the psychological state Medicine Elder was in after being betrayed by his most beloved disciple, he would never have taken another student. After all, having experienced betrayal, one carries scars, making it difficult to trust again. If Phoenix King had the same personality as his unfilial disciple Han Feng, he would surely suffer another betrayal.

But through his observations during this time, Medicine Elder discovered that Phoenix King was a very kind child who was very good to his own people. Simply put, he was good to those who were good to him. It was this simple personality that made Medicine Elder realize that Phoenix King would not be the next Han Feng.

"Knock, knock, knock." A series of knocks interrupted Medicine Elder's memories.

"Matriarch, are you in?" a deep, masculine voice asked.

"I'm getting old; I always love to reminisce about the past. Let him in," Medicine Elder said with a smile.

"Come in." Phoenix King then opened the door directly, and a man walked in.

The strength of the man before them, if he were on the Dou Qi Continent, would already be considered a Dou Wang-level powerhouse.

And he was someone approaching the level of a Dou Huang.

"Master Medicine Elder, you are lecturing the Matriarch again."

"Uncle Di Tian, can you please stop calling me Matriarch? I am a man. Being addressed like that feels really strange."

Phoenix King didn't know what to say either. Facing these fierce beasts of the Star Dou Forest, being addressed as Matriarch felt bizarre; he was clearly male, yet he was forced to accept such a title.

"You are the spouse of the Lord. Now that the Star Dou Forest is led by the Lord, if the Lord is the King, then you are naturally the Queen. Therefore, it is only right to call you Matriarch."

Hearing Di Tian's reply, Phoenix King was left speechless. But what could he do? They were currently relying on the Star Dou Forest for their livelihood.

They were relying on the power of the Star Dou Forest to begin their development.

"How are your cultivation techniques coming along? By the way, does Miss Gu Yuena still need pills from me? She should be mostly recovered by now, right?" Medicine Elder asked.

"She is much better. Thank you for your help during this time, Master Medicine Elder. The Lord's injuries are almost completely healed, and our strength has gradually grown much stronger as well."

The Gu Yuena that Medicine Elder spoke of was the true leader of the Star Dou Forest, the heroine of Legend of the Dragon King, and the legendary "Giving-Away Dragon King" who was famous throughout the continent.

Phoenix King had been wearing the ring since he was born, and at that time, Medicine Elder had absorbed the energy released during Phoenix King's birth, allowing him to exist continuously without needing to absorb further power.

Moreover, he could sense that the newly born Phoenix King possessed only physical strength and no Dou Qi.

Medicine Elder had immediately discerned that Phoenix King's true form was a Heavenly Demon Phoenix, a famous magical beast of the Dou Qi Continent. The Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan, ranked second among the three great families, were descendants of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix.

At first, Medicine Elder had assumed he was still in the Dou Qi Continent, intending to observe his surroundings and find an opportunity to slowly recover.

He had wanted to observe Phoenix King more closely, but he hadn't expected Di Tian to appear.

Seeing the strongest combatant from the mortal realm of the second Douluo Continent book, Medicine Elder immediately judged the other's strength to be at least at the Dou Wang level.

He couldn't understand how someone with dragon blood, who didn't look young, was only a Dou Wang. At that age, most Void Ancient Dragons would already be Dou Zongs or Dou Zuns.

Even if his bloodline were inferior to a Void Ancient Dragon's, he should at least be a Dou Huang at this age, right?

Yet he was only a Dou Wang, and it seemed he was being suppressed by something.

It felt as though he should have been able to reach the Dou Huang level, but was being held back.

Medicine Elder had chosen not to reveal himself at that time; he wanted to see what this Di Tian intended to do. To his surprise, Di Tian didn't harm Phoenix King, but instead brought him deep into the Star Dou Forest.

Following Di Tian, Medicine Elder gradually discovered that this did not seem to be the Dou Qi Continent, but another continent—or rather, another world.

After further observation, he confirmed that this world was indeed not the Dou Qi Continent.

His observations also revealed that the beast race of this world was far inferior to the magical beasts of his own.

The combat power of a 100,000-year soul beast was at most that of a Dou Ling. In the Dou Qi Continent, countless 100,000-year magical beasts could become Tier 9 beasts or even Dou Dis.

Yet the 100,000-year soul beasts of this world were only at the level of a Dou Ling or even a Da Dou Shi. It was simply absurd.

Upon reaching the interior of the Star Dou Forest and seeing the Silver Dragon King with his own eyes, Medicine Elder judged her to be at least a Dou Zun the moment he saw her. However, due to her injuries, being able to exert the combat power of a Dou Huang was already quite impressive.

Then, seeing the numerous beasts kneeling before the Silver Dragon King and hearing them call her an avatar of the Dragon God—well, although he had never seen a god, if an avatar of the Dragon God was only at the level of a Dou Zong, then that Dragon God was at most a half-step Dou Zun.

Unexpectedly, the Silver Dragon King directly "discovered" Medicine Elder hiding within the ring.

With no other choice, Medicine Elder had to reveal himself.

He confessed that he came from the Dou Qi Continent, and the two sides exchanged information to understand their respective situations. Medicine Elder explained how he had been betrayed by his disciple, turned into a soul entity, and accidentally arrived in this world.

He also explained some of the cultivation systems and related data of the Dou Qi Continent.

However, when the Silver Dragon King heard this, it was as if she had heard it all before.

Subsequently, the Silver Dragon King explained the situation of the Douluo Continent, including the state of their soul beasts.

Hearing this, Medicine Elder felt it made sense. No wonder Di Tian had the potential to break through to Dou Huang but was suppressed at Dou Wang; it was because he was being suppressed by the God Realm, preventing him from becoming a god.

If that was the case, then the strength of the gods in the God Realm was at most between the Dou Huang and Dou Zong levels.

After understanding this, Medicine Elder couldn't help but scoff that the powerhouses of this world were too weak; in his world, they would be nothing more than roadside trash.

Gu Yuena then expressed a desire to cooperate with Medicine Elder, hoping he would teach them about power, and offered to provide most of the medicinal resources of the Star Dou Forest to help him recover.

She also warned that if the God Realm discovered Medicine Elder, the consequences would be dire.

Gu Yuena said: "The rulers of the God Realm develop by absorbing the mental energy of the lower realms, keeping the humans there in constant worship. They rule over 108 worlds. Every living being in these 108 worlds, whether human or beast, must worship the God Realm; this is the driving force of their development."

"If anyone hinders their development, they are destroyed."

"The Douluo Continent once developed a Soul Guidance Empire. They possessed special items like Soul Guidance Devices that could bring about progress."

"At that time, humans had actually begun to consider peaceful coexistence with soul beasts, hoping to develop a method where martial souls could grow stronger without needing to hunt soul beasts for soul rings."

"But once the God Realm noticed, they were displeased."

"They directly intervened and destroyed the Soul Guidance Empire. The era where humans and soul beasts could have first begun to reconcile was thus extinguished."

"You are from another civilization. While I don't know which world your Dou Qi Continent belongs to, the problem is that once you are discovered by the God Realm—if you were at your peak, I don't think you would fear them, but you are very weak right now."

"If you are discovered, you will only be treated as a resource. All the knowledge in your brain will be stolen, and your power will be taken. Once you have no value left, your end will come."

"The God Realm is not a benevolent entity. I can tell you clearly: if you want to return to your original world, cooperation is your best choice. I will not stop you from returning; in fact, I can provide you with help."

"But the God Realm will not negotiate with you. They are accustomed to being high and mighty; how could they ever allow someone to overthrow their rule?"

"And once they learn of a world stronger than theirs, they will choose to grow stronger slowly, and then turn that world into their slave. This is something they will certainly do. They will not allow anyone to be stronger than them. If someone appears, they will find a way to surpass them, then re-conquer that world, and then castrate the potential of its people."

After hearing Gu Yuena's explanation, Medicine Elder roughly understood what the God Realm was. Although he didn't believe that a group of people who were at most Dou Huang or Dou Zong level could possibly defeat the Dou Qi Continent, he realized that in his current weakened state, he certainly couldn't withstand their combined attacks.

Therefore, cooperation was the best choice.

Gu Yuena even offered a small piece of Life Gold to help Medicine Elder recover slowly; after all, the treasures in the Douluo Continent capable of restoring the soul were truly too scarce.

As for Phoenix King, Gu Yuena stated directly that she wanted him to become her consort.

Medicine Elder was shocked upon hearing this, but after careful consideration, he suddenly felt it wasn't such a problem after all. The reason was simple: Gu Yuena was of the Dragon race, and although the soul beasts of this world were not as powerful as the magical beasts of the Dou Qi Continent, they still craved the bloodlines of the strong.

Phoenix King belonged to the Heavenly Demon Phoenix clan, a descendant of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. His bloodline was a dimensional strike against the Douluo Continent; if Gu Yuena wanted to have children with him, it was possible to produce an outstanding beast race lineage.

This was understandable.

Di Tian didn't say anything either. When he first saw Phoenix King, he had discovered that the latter's beast bloodline was incredibly formidable—even some ten-thousand-year soul beasts would be suppressed by it. If it weren't for the fact that Phoenix King was still in his youth, Di Tian suspected he would have been suppressed as well.

Phoenix King didn't say much after learning he was to join the soul beast faction. He was indeed a beast now, but strictly speaking, he was a magical beast. Why he had arrived in the Douluo Continent, he didn't know.

He had originally been a college student, transmigrated into this world due to an accident in his previous life, and unexpectedly reincarnated as a Heavenly Demon Phoenix. Arriving in the Douluo Continent had left him quite bewildered.

Regardless, he was already on the boat now, so what else could he do?

Moreover, what Gu Yuena said made sense. If Medicine Elder were discovered, he wouldn't have a good ending, let alone a magical beast like himself. Although he wasn't a soul beast, he was still of the beast race; how could he expect a good outcome?

If discovered by those Celestial Dragons of the God Realm, the consequences would be unimaginable. The only way out was to overthrow the God Realm, that world-governing body.

Only by tying those heartless, wealthy villains of the God Realm to crosses, shooting them to death with arrows, or even using more cruel methods to finish off those gods, could they finally be at peace.

Back to the present.

"We have already contacted the powerful soul beasts of the Far North. The Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North—Snow Empress, Ice Empress, and Titan Snow Demon King—along with some of their subordinates, have all agreed to cooperate with us. I have already given them the Humanoid Transformation Pill."

"This way, they won't have to endure being struck by lightning anymore."

Di Tian had already begun contacting the soul beasts of the Far North. After all, besides the soul beasts of the Star Dou Forest, there were those in the Far North and the sea soul beasts, though most of the latter worshipped Sea God Poseidon.

They were difficult to win over, so the Far North was the only viable option.

"Honestly, your world clearly has many excellent medicinal herbs and the potential to refine many superior pills, yet you haven't developed a pharmacology system. You've lived for so long without making any progress... Sigh."

Medicine Elder spoke his true thoughts. If the Douluo Continent lacked the medicinal materials to refine pills like those of the Dou Qi Continent, he wouldn't say anything.

However, Medicine Elder was capable of refining excellent pills, even reaching the seventh grade, which proved that the Douluo Continent was capable of alchemy. If the soul beasts began to develop it, perhaps they could even produce pills like the Humanoid Transformation Pill themselves.

Yet, they refused to develop it properly. Medicine Elder had discovered the flaw of the soul beasts: they only believed in their primitive strength and didn't know how to develop other forms of power.

Furthermore, Gu Yuena had clearly witnessed the ancient Soul Guidance Empire; she could have seized the technology of the Soul Guidance Empire to bolster the power of the soul beasts.

During his time in the Douluo Continent, Medicine Elder had come into contact with Soul Guidance Devices. After understanding what they were, he had to admit that they had immense room for development.

They could even be used for reinforcement or developed for civilian use; using them to help soul beasts grow stronger was entirely feasible.

But the soul beasts didn't do it. Wasn't this too arrogant and conceited?

"What Medicine Elder says is correct. However, are you certain you must let our Matriarch go to the human world to study? With your guidance and these abundant resources, we can help the Matriarch become a god in time."

"We can help the Matriarch grow stronger, and once she becomes a god and helps you recover half of your peak strength, we will be able to crush the gods."

"Going to the human world is to learn more knowledge and gather information, to let us understand more powers, and to see if we can recruit some talent. Besides, there are some things that only humans possess."

Medicine Elder said.

Phoenix King didn't know what to say after hearing this.

He felt that if they were to recruit, it would be best to target the Spirit Hall. After all, they possessed a Tier 1 God inheritance. One had to know that the Angel God was a Tier 1 God, capable of going head-to-head with the Sea God—and the Sea God was a Tier 1 God who possessed a Super Divine Tool.

Therefore, if they were to go to the human world to learn and recruit, the Spirit Hall was the best choice. Of course, there might be hidden factions. According to Legend of the Dragon King, the Douluo Continent and other continents did indeed have deeply hidden families that remained concealed to preserve their legacies, and their strength was not to be underestimated.

In this era, the Douluo Continent should also have those hidden families with strong legacies. Recruiting them to seize divine positions would be quite feasible.

For example, they could target the divine position originally intended for Tang San. Recruiting a hidden expert or genius to snatch it away and turn them into an ally would be quite interesting.

Or they could seize the divine positions of the other six Shrek monsters. Having more manpower would provide help when dealing with the God Realm.

In that case, Tang San and his group wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble. After all, without divine positions or god-level strength, they would be nothing more than ants.

Just like Dou Di—no matter how many Dou Sheng there were, they couldn't pile up to kill a Dou Di.