Ever since the mysterious Ranking Screen had formed above Douluo Continent and begun its rankings,
the gods of the Divine Realm, including every Second-Level Deity,
had watched the mortal realm through the God Realm Committee's enormous screen.
But the Soul Masters ranked earlier, along with their rewards,
had amounted to little more than mortals squabbling in the eyes of gods who commanded the laws of the world and lived without end.
Many gods had shaken their heads and called it boring.
Then the dark green stone gate in the Demon-Sealing Land appeared, along with two remnants of power that had endured across the ages,
and the mood in the committee hall changed at once.
Qian Yuhan gazed at the Ranking Screen and murmured, momentarily lost in thought:
"Twenty thousand years... It brings back memories.
Lan Yu and I fought side by side on Douluo Continent back then. Putting that monster down for good took no small effort."
Poseidon, the Sea God beside her, perked up and chuckled:
"Yu Han, so that's the seal you and Lan Yu set together?
Pure life force combined with your angelic holy power. No wonder it kept that evil creature's remnant soul pinned down for twenty thousand years."
Qian Yuhan gathered her thoughts and gave Poseidon a cool glance, but said nothing.
Meanwhile, the God of Evil sat in the seat of honor, staring at the twisting dark green mist on the Ranking Screen. He spoke slowly:
"Power over supreme evil, time, and space...
The purity of that Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Evil God Origin is impressive.
Even after you killed it, leaving only a wisp of its soul, it endured twenty thousand years of life and holy power wearing it away.
If you hadn't forcibly slain it back then, that monster might truly have had a chance to become a beast god."
At the God of Evil's words, the God of Destruction beside him gave a disdainful snort:
"Hmph. It was just a beast that got cut down.
If Lan Yu had already become a god back then, he could have erased its Evil God Origin completely. It would never have survived until today."
As the God of Destruction saw it, Qian Yuhan had ascended to the Divine Realm shortly after becoming a god and forgotten the Demon-Sealing Land.
Otherwise, Azure Luan Douluo would never have faced such a calamity twenty thousand years later.
In truth, however, Lan Yu had done it deliberately.
As long as the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's origin remained sealed and suppressed, another Dark Demon Evil God Tiger could never be born.
It was only after that origin was released
that another Dark Demon Evil God Tiger appeared on Douluo Continent.
The images on the Ranking Screen shifted again.
[After barely escaping with his life, Azure Luan Douluo returned to Spirit Hall. Knowing he lacked strength, he devoted himself to secluded cultivation and withdrew from worldly affairs.]
[Seasons passed. Azure Luan Douluo sat motionless amid howling winds, broke through countless life-or-death trials, and saw his Soul Power soar.]
[Level 95, Level 96... until at last, it stopped at Peak Level 97.
He became the Third Offering of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, renowned across the continent.]
Watching twenty thousand years of his cultivation unfold on the Ranking Screen, Azure Luan Douluo let out a long breath and said with a touch of emotion:
"If not for that brush with death, I might never have found the resolve to risk everything.
But I've been stuck at Peak Level 97 for years. Taking another step has proved difficult."
Golden Crocodile Douluo patted him on the shoulder and sighed:
"You've done well, Third Brother.
That gulf between Level 97 and Level 98 has stopped countless extraordinary talents."
Just then, a holy golden glow intertwined with dark green light of life above the Ranking Screen.
It formed an enormous display, and a grand voice rang across Douluo Continent.
[Ranking complete. Azure Luan Douluo's exclusive rewards will now be granted.]
[Reward one: Soul Power Level increases by one without a bottleneck, reaching Peak Level 98 directly.]
[Reward two: Azure Luan Origin undergoes rebirth, and Martial Soul evolves into the God-Rank Martial Soul "Nine-Heavens Azure Luan."
Innate Domain awakened: "Azure Luan Domain."]
Boom!
As soon as the voice fell silent, two dazzling beams of divine light pierced the void and descended into Spirit Hall's Worship Hall,
enveloping Azure Luan Douluo.
His whole body shook. He could clearly feel the once-unbreakable bottleneck at Level 97 crumble in an instant.
Soul Power surged through him like a raging river, carrying him straight to Peak Level 98!
And that was not all. A colossal divine bird appeared behind him, larger than before, Nine-Color Divine Light flowing across its wings.
Its clear cry rang through the heavens, and a terrifying storm domain swept through the entire Worship Hall.
Mighty Lion Douluo's eyes widened. He cried out:
"What terrifying pressure!
Third Brother's Martial Soul... it really evolved into a God-Rank Martial Soul!"
Joy and astonishment flashed through Qian Daoliu's eyes as he said slowly:
"Peak Level 98 Soul Power, a God-Rank Martial Soul, and an Innate Domain.
Third Brother, your combat strength may already rival a Limit Douluo's!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo burst out laughing.
"Rival? He might surpass one!
If I fought Third Brother now,
that speed and domain alone would give me plenty of trouble.
Congratulations, Third Brother!"
With that, Azure Luan Douluo's strength had surpassed even Golden Crocodile's!
Azure Luan Douluo opened his eyes. Feeling the boundless power within him, he bowed deeply to the Ranking Screen.
"Thank you for this blessing."
Inside Sunset Forest.
The Fire Dragon King watched the Ranking Screen and clicked his tongue in wonder.
"Whoever is behind that Ranking Screen is remarkable. A casual gesture was enough to evolve a mortal's Martial Soul and raise his Soul Power.
My lord, Azure Luan now ranks among the strongest mortals."
Lan Yu nodded slightly, his expression calm.
"Peak Level 98, plus a God-Rank Martial Soul. Few on this continent can match him now.
But this is only the beginning. The rewards to come may be even more astonishing."
The Water Dragon King said thoughtfully from beside him:
"His Martial Soul Evolution also owes something to what you and that woman did back then, my lord.
Without the life and holy power left by your seal protecting his origin, he could never have undergone this rebirth today."
Lan Yu smiled without comment and returned his gaze to the Ranking Screen.
At the God Realm Committee.
Poseidon watched Azure Luan Douluo's strength soar on the Ranking Screen. Stroking his chin, he teased:
"Yu Han, that junior of yours has good luck.
He stumbled into the benefits you and Lan Yu left behind, and now disaster has turned into fortune. He's crossed straight into the ranks of God-Rank Martial Souls."
Qian Yuhan looked at the noble, graceful Nine-Heavens Azure Luan on the screen. A trace of satisfaction softened her cold face.
"Nine-Heavens Azure Luan... He has made good use of the Angel Clan's protection.
Unfortunately, if he wants to become a god, this still won't be enough."
The God of Destruction snorted, his tone as indifferent as ever.
"Become a god?
Without a Godhood to bear their power, mortals remain mortals.
Still, even I can't quite fathom what this Ranking Screen can do."
Before you continue