But before that, the Sky Screen opened a dungeon.
This dungeon gave the entire Douluo Continent an opportunity—the chance to come into contact with the Plasma Spark.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Yu Xiaogang stared at the Sky Screen, still shaken to the core.
Earlier, when he'd seen Belial turn into that after touching the Plasma Spark, he'd assumed that the Plasma Spark couldn't be used directly.
So his interest in it had diminished by more than half.
But he hadn't expected that the way to use the Plasma Spark was to earn its recognition.
Just look at Ultraman Zero. Once he'd gained the Plasma Spark's recognition, he'd utterly overwhelmed Belial.
Who knew how powerful he'd become if he could earn the Plasma Spark's recognition?
Yu Xiaogang wasn't the only one thinking this way.
Perhaps the Sky Screen wanted the people of Douluo Continent to understand their place.
So, after the latest rundown ended, it opened this dungeon.
[Plasma Spark Dungeon] [Those willing may sign up to take on the challenge] [Several participants will be chosen at random] [Challenge: Touch the Plasma Spark and earn its recognition] [Reward: Your body will be transformed and evolved by the Plasma Spark] [Failure: You will be automatically transported back to Douluo Continent. Your body will remain unharmed, but your soul will suffer backlash from the evil thoughts in your heart (effect lasts one hour)]
At the sight of the dungeon, many people grew eager to give it a try.
Yu Xiaogang, too, rubbed his hands in anticipation.
Though his Martial Soul had mutated for the worse, he'd spent his whole life studying Martial Souls and growing stronger through them.
Even though he'd been born a good-for-nothing, he'd worked tirelessly to change his standing.
Born among the common folk, he'd clawed his way up.
Unyielding and tenacious, strong-willed and indomitable, with astounding talent to boot.
Yu Xiaogang was certain that, given his life experience and spirit, he would surely earn the Plasma Spark's recognition.
He'd also seen the battle between Ultraman Ginga and Alien Empera.
But his own strength was too weak, and he couldn't make much sense of what he'd seen.
All he knew was that Ultraman Ginga had unleashed the Cosmo Miracle Beam, a technique that could only be used by the Ultra Six Brothers working together.
Judging by that alone, he thought Ultraman Ginga was indeed powerful.
But if he could earn the Plasma Spark's recognition, perhaps he'd become even stronger than Ultraman Ginga.
Over in the Soul Beast camp.
When they heard they could find out whether the Plasma Spark would recognize them, many Soul Beasts cheered with excitement.
And even failure came with only such a minor penalty.
Quite a few signed up.
Gu Yuena, Di Tian, and Xiong Jun were among them, without exception.
All three signed up.
This was their chance to stake everything.
Di Tian looked at Gu Yuena, who had signed up as well, and said:
"Your Majesty cares deeply for the Soul Beasts. If you're chosen, the Plasma Spark will surely recognize you. Then the day of the Soul Beasts' rise will have come."
Gu Yuena smiled awkwardly.
She wasn't confident at all.
If even an Ultraman's character had struggled to earn the Plasma Spark's recognition, then no one on all of Douluo Continent was likely to be worthy of it.
But as long as she had the chance to try, Gu Yuena wouldn't let it pass her by.
She was only a little worried about Di Tian.
From Belial's earlier performance, it seemed that anyone who touched the Plasma Spark without earning its recognition would suffer backlash from the evil thoughts in their heart.
If Di Tian were consumed by those thoughts, she had no idea how fiercely he'd rant about going to war with humanity for that one hour.
But if she were chosen and failed, she would need to be prepared, too.
So Gu Yuena said to Di Tian and Xiong Jun:
"If I fail and come back with my personality changed, you must stop me from doing anything strange until the hour is up."
Di Tian and Xiong Jun both replied:
"We understand, Your Majesty."
Inside the Reception Room.
Xiao Che looked at Qian Renxue.
"Do you want to give it a try? Though there's no chance you'll succeed."
Then he turned to Bibi Dong, who looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
"You'd better not even think about it. I'm afraid you'll come back raving mad, and I won't be able to deal with you."
Xiao Che didn't mean that he couldn't handle Bibi Dong.
He was only worried that he might accidentally beat her to death.
After hearing that, the last sliver of hope Bibi Dong had vanished.
She could only turn away with a gloomy expression and stare blankly at the Sky Screen.
Qian Renxue, by contrast, was visibly excited.
Her ultimate goal in getting close to Xiao Che was to go to the Land of Light and undergo the Plasma Spark's baptism.
This challenge might let her skip straight to the finish line. She could actually touch the Plasma Spark.
Even a powerful being like Belial had coveted the Plasma Spark.
She couldn't imagine how powerful she'd become if she earned its recognition.
Before long, the Sky Screen announced the results of its selection.
[Participants: Qian Renxue; Gu Yuena; Yu Xiaogang]
As the one who had summoned the Sky Screen, Xiao Che could make a little arrangement behind the scenes and ensure Qian Renxue was chosen.
The Soul Beasts saw that the common ruler of their kind had been selected, and watched with anticipation as they offered their congratulations.
When Yu Xiaogang saw that he'd been chosen, he grinned so broadly he could barely close his mouth.
The people in the Heaven Dou Imperial Family hurried to the room where Yu Xiaogang was staying as soon as they saw he'd been chosen.
Until then, not a soul had paid him any attention. Some had even laughed at him when he'd been scared out of his wits.
But now Yu Xiaogang had once again become a powerful figure they could curry favor with.
One by one, they started vying for his attention.
But just as they began to move, Xue Beng stood up with a huge smile on his face.
A short-haired man with a black robe and a full beard walked in.
"Congratulations, Grandmaster!"
"Grandmaster, you've been chosen twice. Surely you'll succeed this time!"
"Grandmaster, I have a granddaughter. Perhaps you'd be interested..."
Xue Beng stood up and bowed to Yu Xiaogang once again.
"Grandmaster, you truly are an auspicious omen for the Heaven Dou Empire. You've been chosen twice, and this time you're sure to return with good news."
Yu Xiaogang nodded. He was very pleased with their reactions.
Once he returned with the Plasma Spark's power, he was sure even Ultraman Ginga would bow to him.
Those nobles and ministers were only putting on a show. Almost none of them thought Yu Xiaogang could succeed.
But what if he did? What if the Plasma Spark happened to like someone like him?
There was nothing to lose by praising him a little. They could always turn their backs on him afterward; they had thick enough skin for that.
Soon, the three people chosen by the Sky Screen turned into balls of light and entered it.
Qian Renxue went first.
She walked across a floor smooth as a mirror.
The dazzling, radiant Plasma Spark before her left her gaze hazy.
"This is what I've been seeking, what I've yearned for most..."
Just sensing it was enough to make her understand how immense the Plasma Spark's power was.
Before long, Qian Renxue was swallowed by the light.
The instant her hand touched the Plasma Spark—
Qian Renxue's vision shifted.
She was back in the Reception Room, with Xiao Che and Bibi Dong watching her.
She'd failed.
The next second, Qian Renxue suddenly sank to the floor, her head bowed so low that no one could see her expression.
Bibi Dong stood up and watched her with concern.
When Bibi Dong approached Qian Renxue, wanting to see what was wrong—
A tear fell to the floor.
Qian Renxue lifted her head, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
Her face crumpled in grievance, and she cried out:
"I'm so tired! I quit! I'm not becoming a god anymore! I don't care about the Worship Hall or the Spirit Hall!"
At the same time, elsewhere...
In the Soul Beast camp.
Gu Yuena had also returned after failing.
When she came back, she acted just like Qian Renxue.
But she quickly got to her feet, crying as she tried to rush outside to find Ultraman Ginga.
"Let's surrender! Why are we even fighting?! Whatever happens, happens!"
If Di Tian and Xiong Jun hadn't held her back, Gu Yuena would already have charged into the Worship Hall.
The first two had both reacted like that.
But Yu Xiaogang...
Before you continue