Douluo Continent.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire stood as equals, while Spirit Hall stood high above, looking down on all living beings.
On this continent, all things were inferior; only Martial Souls were supreme.
Soul Scholars, Soul Masters, Soul Grandmasters... all the way to the legendary, lofty Titled Douluos.
Then, on this day, the sky, which had been clear moments before, suddenly changed.
A vast, boundless screen of light appeared from nowhere, stretching across the entire sky above Douluo Continent.
In an instant, whether in bustling Spirit City or remote Holy Soul Village, everyone who looked up could clearly see this shocking sight.
At the same time, a grand voice rang out from the Sky Screen, reaching the ears of every living being on Douluo Continent.
[Exploration of the Renegade Immortal World begins!] [Explorers will be randomly selected from Douluo Continent and sent to the Renegade Immortal World to seek opportunities. Their entire journey will be livestreamed!] [There are countless opportunities here, with spirit herbs scattered everywhere. You may even attain eternal life and hold the stars in your hand!] [Those selected may choose to return at any time after surviving for a full year in the Renegade Immortal World, bringing back any treasures, techniques, and cultivation they have gained!] [Countdown: Random selection begins in fifteen minutes!]
As soon as the voice faded, all of Douluo Continent erupted into a frenzy.
"Eternal life? Holding the stars in your hand? How could that be possible!"
"What kind of place is this Renegade Immortal World? Could it really be more powerful than Spirit Hall?"
"If we just survive a year, we can bring back treasures?"
"Random selection? If that's true, even ordinary people like us can break through our limits!"
For a time, countless commoners and Soul Masters excitedly discussed it in every street and alley.
Meanwhile, in Spirit Hall.
The grand hall was spacious and brightly lit, with rows of towering Angel Statues standing on either side.
Yet at that moment, the atmosphere inside Pope Palace was unusually quiet.
Pope Bibi Dong sat on her throne, dressed in a luxurious golden gown and wearing a purple-gold crown. A thoughtful expression graced her breathtaking face.
She held a scepter studded with jewels, lightly tapping it against the floor.
As she looked at the enormous screen of light that completely blocked the sky, Bibi Dong's heart was far from calm.
"The Renegade Immortal World? Eternal life?"
Bibi Dong's red lips parted as she murmured softly.
As one of the strongest people on Douluo Continent, she knew all too well how difficult it was to cultivate to the Titled Douluo level.
After breaking through Level 90, every further level required years, sometimes even more than a decade, of painstaking cultivation.
Yet the voice from the Sky Screen spoke of eternal life so casually, as if it were an ordinary matter in that so-called Renegade Immortal World.
"If what the Sky Screen says is true, this is absolutely my chance to unify the continent and even ascend to godhood!"
Two other figures stood below the steps.
The figure on the left was entirely shrouded in black mist: Gui Mei. The one on the right had an eerie appearance and fair skin: Yue Guan.
"Your Holiness the Pope, the origin of this screen of light is unknown. I fear it may be a trap." Yue Guan bowed slightly, his shrill voice echoing through the hall.
Bibi Dong glanced at him and replied evenly, "This power has covered the entire continent. Even I can't sense where it comes from."
"Who on Douluo Continent do you think is powerful enough to set up such a deception?"
At that, Gui Mei fell silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice. "Your Holiness the Pope, do you mean that everything the Sky Screen says is true?"
Bibi Dong rose to her feet and slowly descended the steps of the hall.
"Whether it's true or false, it's a variable."
"If an explorer is selected and brings back the treasures and techniques of the so-called Renegade Immortal World, the balance of power across the continent will be overturned."
"The two great empires and those sects will surely take action as well."
She stopped and turned to look at the two men. "Pass down the order. Have the Spirit Hall branches throughout the land keep a close watch."
"If anyone from Spirit Hall is selected, they must be protected at all costs."
"If a Soul Master from another faction is selected, then the moment they return, we must find out everything we can about the Renegade Immortal World."
"Understood!"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei answered in unison.
Meanwhile, in Fasinuo Province of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Outside a remote little village stood a somewhat dilapidated academy.
The sign above its gate bore the words "Shrek Academy."
The sun shone brightly over the training field.
Tang San tipped his head back, purple light glimmering in his eyes.
He was using the Purple Demon Eye, trying to discern the truth behind the Sky Screen.
But after staring at it for a while, his eyes only began to ache. He couldn't see through the screen's material, nor could he sense any fluctuation of Soul Power.
"How exactly did this thing appear..." Tang San turned his gaze away, his mind full of questions.
Xiao Wu stood beside Tang San, clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands.
She gazed at the sky, her little face tense with worry, and whispered, "Brother, that Sky Screen gives me a really dangerous feeling. The Renegade Immortal World sounds so scary."
Nearby, Dai Mubai stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his golden hair catching the sunlight.
Hearing Xiao Wu, he couldn't help laughing. "Xiao Wu, don't scare yourself."
"Whatever kind of world it is, having opportunities is always a good thing."
As he spoke, Dai Mubai stroked his chin, a look of anticipation crossing his face. He turned to Ma Hongjun beside him. "Fatty, since there are so many people in this Renegade Immortal World, do you think the women there are even prettier than the ones on Douluo Continent?"
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up at once, and he nodded again and again. "Boss Dai is right!"
"The Sky Screen said people in the Renegade Immortal World can live forever."
"The girls there must all be as beautiful as fairies!"
"If I get selected, I'll find a few fairies to marry and let off some steam, hehehe..."
Oscar rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Fatty, can't you think about anything else?"
"What if they're all man-eating monsters?"
As the group bickered, footsteps came from nearby.
A middle-aged man with a short, flat haircut approached, his hands clasped behind his back.
His face was stiff, his brows furrowed. It was Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. Flender and Zhao Wuji followed behind him, both looking uncertain.
When Grandmaster arrived, Tang San hurried forward and asked respectfully, "Teacher, what do you think of the Sky Screen and the Renegade Immortal World it mentioned?"
Yu Xiaogang stopped, raised his head to look at the Sky Screen, then spoke:
"Xiao San, you're still too young. It's easy for you to be misled by appearances like this."
With that, Yu Xiaogang turned to face the students before him. He struck a pose like a statesman surveying the land and began his analysis.
"I've spent decades studying Martial Soul Theory and put forward the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul."
"I can tell you with complete confidence that the rules of Douluo Continent are absolute."
"To gain great power, one must rely on awakening a Martial Soul and attaching Soul Rings. That is an ironclad law that cannot be defied!"
Yu Xiaogang spoke loudly, brimming with confidence.
"The Sky Screen says the Renegade Immortal World can grant eternal life and let people hold the stars in their hands? Utter nonsense!"
"Even the legendary Level 99 Peerless Douluos live only a few hundred years."
"Who could live forever?"
"It simply makes no sense."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai couldn't help interrupting him. "Grandmaster, then what's going on with the Sky Screen?"
"Everyone on the continent can see it."
Faced with Dai Mubai's question, Yu Xiaogang waved a hand, looking as though he had already seen through everything.
"It's easy enough to explain."
"In my view, this is nothing more than a massive illusion created by some Titled Douluo with a rare illusion-type Martial Soul."
"Their goal may simply be to spread panic across the continent."
After speaking, he patted Tang San on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Xiao San, remember: there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters."
"Even if another world really exists, its cultivation system definitely can't compare to that of the Soul Masters on Douluo Continent."
"If it came to a fight, all we Soul Masters would have to do is release our Martial Souls and Soul Skills, and we could crush them."
"So you have no need to fear the Renegade Immortal World."
After hearing Grandmaster's lengthy analysis, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others felt he made sense. Their worries faded away.
Flender and Zhao Wuji nodded along, too, convinced by how thoroughly Grandmaster had explained things.
It wasn't just the human world. Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, the Sky Screen had caused a commotion as well.
The water of the Lake of Life was crystal clear, surrounded by towering ancient trees.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the lake.
Splash!
The lake's tranquil surface suddenly churned, water spraying everywhere as an enormous bull's head emerged.
Two thick horns grew from its head, while its body, submerged in the lake, coiled like a giant azure dragon.
It was the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Sky Azure Bull Python, Da Ming.
Da Ming lifted its enormous head and gazed at the screen of light in the sky. Its eyes, round as lanterns, were filled with confusion.
On the lakeshore sat a giant ape as large as a hill.
Black fur covered its body, and its bulging muscles radiated a savage strength.
The Titan Giant Ape Er Ming reached up with a huge hand and scratched his head. In a deep voice, he asked, "Big Brother, what's that glowing thing in the sky?"
"Just looking at it makes me feel restless."
"And where exactly is that Renegade Immortal World it mentioned?"
Da Ming slowly exhaled, and a veil of mist formed in the air around it.
Then its deep voice echoed through the empty valley. "I've lived for a hundred thousand years, but I've never seen anything like this."
"The aura radiating from this screen is strange. It's not Soul Power at all."
"As for the Renegade Immortal World it says can grant eternal life..."
Da Ming paused, as though something on its mind had suddenly come back to it.
Meanwhile, Er Ming slammed a fist into the ground beside him, making the surrounding trees rustle wildly.
"Eternal life?"