The First Temple of the Light God

Seeing this, Tiga stepped forward and gently lifted the dying Shyla. He leaped into the boundless reaches of space, hoping to help Shyla fulfill one last wish.

Just as they were about to reach deep space, a holy, warm golden beam of immeasurable breadth suddenly poured from the depths of the universe and enveloped Shyla.

At the sight of that supremely sacred light, Tiga slowly stepped back and suppressed his aura. He stood in reverent silence, like a believer gazing upon a god.

As the holy golden light washed over Shyla, the hideous layers of the mutated body peeled away. The harmful monster form vanished completely, leaving a sacred bird with dazzling wings and flawless golden plumage.

At the same time, the image of a soul slowly appeared above Shyla's head. It was Asami, who had died twenty years ago.

After twenty years separated by life and death, girl and bird were reunited at last.

In the boundless void, Asami's young voice rang out, clear and gentle enough to soothe the heart. "Go, Shyla!"

Golden light flared. The sacred bird spread its wings.

Carrying the young mistress Shyla had missed for so long, the bird soared along the holy beam into the vast depths of the universe. At last, the two became a streak of warm golden light that melted into the sea of stars.

Just as that golden streak was about to disappear beyond the edge of the Sky Curtain, a vast, indistinct figure slowly emerged deep within the starry void.

Its outline seemed immeasurable. Supreme holy light that could illuminate countless worlds surrounded it, and it carried the light and order of an entire universe. Its might was transcendent, its presence sacred beyond compare.

Though the figure stood perfectly still, it seemed to bear all the light in existence.

Billions of living beings on Douluo Star looked up in unison, straining to see the face of that supreme being through the Sky Curtain.

But no matter how hard they stared, they could make out only a hazy expanse of holy light.

Yet the same name appeared in every mind: the Light God!

While everyone was still absorbed in Shyla's transformation into a sacred bird and the appearance of a majestic figure resembling the Light God on the Sky Curtain...

After several days of travel, the gravely wounded Tang Chen finally reached Spirit City.

The guards at Spirit City's gates were all elite Soul Masters. With their keen eyes, they recognized Tang Chen at once.

"Your Excellency Tang Chen!"

Before the guards could question him, Tang Chen spoke in a hoarse, low voice tinged with exhaustion and cold resolve. "Inform Qian Daoliu that Tang Chen requests an audience."

At that, the guards dared not waste a moment.

One rushed off into Spirit Hall to deliver the message, while two respectfully led the wounded Tang Chen to its reception hall.

Tang Chen had barely taken a seat when hurried footsteps approached.

Qian Daoliu strode in wearing a snow-white ceremonial robe, his expression urgent and grave.

Several Spirit Hall elder worshipers followed close behind, along with Bibi Dong, whose ornate papal robes complemented her cool, striking bearing.

Their gazes fell on Tang Chen's missing left arm and pale, haggard face. Shock and anguish surged through Qian Daoliu's eyes. He hurried forward, his voice trembling despite himself. "Tang Chen! What happened? What happened to your arm? Who hurt you this badly?"

Seeing his old rival and closest friend in such a wretched state, Qian Daoliu was both furious and stunned.

Several names flashed through his mind: Di Tian, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, the Ice Empress, and the Evil Emperor.

Tang Chen raised a hand slightly, cutting off Qian Daoliu's questions. In a weak voice, he recounted the upheaval in Slaughter City. "A vampire has appeared deep within Slaughter City."

"A vampire? You mean the kind from the Ultraman Tiga World on the Sky Curtain?"

"Yes."

"That vampire did this to you? The vampires GUTS took down one by one with GUTS Hyper Guns were this strong?"

"This one is different from those on the Sky Curtain. Much stronger. We were evenly matched, but its ability to recover was astonishing."

"Even when I struck with the full power of the Clear Sky Hammer and inflicted grievous wounds, it healed completely within a few breaths. Only the killing power of the Asura Sword could restrain its body and suppress its regeneration."

Azure Luan Douluo, standing nearby, suddenly went pale. He hurried forward and said gravely, "Brother! According to the Sky Curtain, vampires can turn other creatures into their own kind. They can also sacrifice life force to awaken Vampire Monster Suranos!"

"Suranos serves Evil God Gatanozoa. His awakening will hasten Gatanozoa's. We must destroy this vampire as soon as possible."

"Yes. As soon as possible."

Qian Daoliu's expression turned grimmer than ever.

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, deep wariness flashing through her cool eyes.

They had all experienced a monster's strength firsthand.

And that was without even considering Evil God Gatanozoa, who had yet to appear.

If these vampires merely summoned Vampire Monster Suranos, Douluo Star would most likely be finished unless the gods of the Divine Realm descended.

Bibi Dong's gaze turned cold as she analyzed the situation. "The vampire already controls Slaughter City. Countless Soul Masters have fallen into its depths, and by now it has probably turned them all into vampires or Blood Slaves. I'm afraid we cannot destroy it on our own."

"At this point, we can only contact every faction." Qian Daoliu made his decision and issued a firm order. "Send word to Sea God Island, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, the Far North, the Two Great Empires of Heaven Dou and Star Luo, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Star Crown Sect, and every other faction with Titled Douluo. Have them gather at Spirit Hall in Spirit City!"

"We can't notify the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, can we?"

"Then have Sea God Island notify him."

"I'll go to Star Dou Great Forest myself and meet Di Tian. They have giant stone statues. If the worst happens, those might be able to deal with Vampire Monster Suranos."

"Good! But be quick."

Bibi Dong's brows drew tight, her voice urgent.

"Slaughter City may have a rule that allows entry but no exit, but no one knows whether that vampire can acquire Divine Slaughter's Domain and leave."

The time it took an incense stick to burn later, Azure Luan Douluo, Ghost Leopard Douluo, Ling Yuan Douluo, and other Titled Douluo and Soul Douluo known for their speed left Spirit City, heading to every corner of Douluo Continent.

By then, rumors of vampire sightings had already spread through the continent's eastern regions.

They sparked widespread panic across Douluo Continent.

The Sky Curtain had shown them that ten Demon Gods were hidden on Douluo Star.

But since those Demon Gods had not appeared in all these years, they were most likely sealed away.

Now that a vampire had appeared, however, Vampire Monster Suranos might soon awaken as well.

And Evil God Gatanozoa might awaken too.

For a time, countless people began to pray.

They prayed for the great factions to destroy the vampire quickly, and for the Light God to bring down divine power and protect them.

Apple Town stood on the edge of Star Dou Great Forest.

Soul Masters usually came to Apple Town for food, lodging, and supplies, resting briefly before venturing deeper into the forest.

Today, countless villagers and passing Soul Masters had gathered before a newly built, pure-white temple.

At the front of the crowd stood a beautiful woman with a gentle bearing.

She had a slender figure and kind eyes, and seemed untouched by the dust of the world.

Any high-ranking Ferocious Beast from Star Dou Great Forest would have recognized her at once. She was Bi Ji.

Bi Ji was the leader of the Emerald Swans. In Star Dou Great Forest, only Gu Yuena and Di Tian stood above her. With 540,000 years of cultivation, she was comparable to a level-99 support-type Limit Douluo.

She was known as "the strongest healing Soul Beast" and "the kindest Soul Beast."

For many years, Bi Ji had hoped to reconcile the grievances between humans and Soul Beasts. She longed for the two races to live in peace, free from slaughter, but had never found a path to make it happen.

Only when the Sky Curtain appeared did Bi Ji finally glimpse hope for reconciliation.

So lately, she had often slipped out of Star Dou Great Forest and led the residents of Apple Town in building Douluo Star's first Light God Temple.