Xuan Zi: The Phoenix God Is an Evil God. What, Is She Going to Come Through the Internet and Hit Me?

The argument on the Sky Screen was still raging.

In the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace.

Xu Yutian straightened his imperial robes, took a deep breath, and spoke first.

[Xu Yutian: Fellow Soul Engineers of the Spirit Hall Empire, I am Xu Yutian, emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.

The study of Soul Tools thrives on exchange! The Sun Moon Empire would welcome an in-depth academic discussion with the Soul Engineers of the Spirit Hall Empire!]

Xu Yutian, ruler of an empire, had entered the discussion himself. In his own eyes, he had struck a humble enough tone.

After all, they possessed technology ten thousand years ahead of his. That deserved respect.

He was sure the Spirit Hall Empire's Soul Engineers would be flattered and gladly agree.

Instead—

[Xu Yi, Director of the Spirit Hall Empire's Royal Academy of Sciences: Academic exchange?

Your Majesty, forgive me for asking, but have you ever seen a human hold a discussion with a Paramecium?]

Xu Yutian's expression froze.

[Xu Yi: Oh, right. At your level of Soul Guidance Technology, you probably haven't discovered paramecia yet.

Let me explain: a Paramecium is a tiny creature invisible to the naked eye.

And the gap in Soul Guidance Technology between your Sun Moon Continent and our Phoenix God Continent is even greater than the gap between a human and a Paramecium!

So, as President of the Royal Academy of Sciences, I see no reason for an exchange.]

In the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace.

Xu Yutian's eyes reddened with fury, and he panted like an ox.

"Insolence... Insolence! He dared call me a bug!"

"I'll—pfft!"

Blood seeped from the corner of Xu Yutian's mouth. The Palace Maid beside him went pale with fright and scrambled toward the door.

"An Imperial Physician! Summon an Imperial Physician, quickly!!!"

On the Chat Interface.

Seeing this, Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei seized his chance.

[Xu Jiawei: Director Xu, please calm yourself. The Sun Moon Empire has shown no manners; the Star Luo Empire is willing to apologize on its behalf.

My Star Luo Empire will offer the Spirit Hall Empire vast resources and Gold Soul Coins. All we ask is a scrap of your Soul Guidance Technology!

Even for the most basic blueprints, the Star Luo Empire is willing to offer a price that proves our sincerity!]

A message appeared on the Phoenix God Continent's Chat Interface.

[Golden Crocodile Douluo, Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall: The Star Luo Emperor? Not bad. Now that sounds a little more like business.

Unfortunately, my answer is the same as Director Xu's.

The Spirit Hall Empire has no need to trade with you!

When the Spirit Hall Empire unifies the world, everything on both the Douluo Continent and the Sun Moon Continent will belong to us anyway.

But if the Star Luo Empire is willing to submit to the Spirit Hall Empire, establish a Spirit Hall Branch in every city, and worship the all-knowing, all-powerful Phoenix God,

we might consider raising your technological level!

Whether you submit is up to you. Weigh your options carefully!]

Golden Crocodile Douluo's string of declarations sent an uproar through both the Douluo Continent and the Sun Moon Continent!

Good grief!

The Sun Moon Empire's emperor had personally requested an exchange and been called a Paramecium!

The Star Luo Empire's emperor had offered to pay, only to be rejected without mercy!

And to top it off, they had given him a condition: submit!

Establish Spirit Hall Branches across his empire and worship this so-called Phoenix God?

Wasn't the Spirit Hall Empire far too arrogant?

[Wu Ming: They're mad. They're actually mad enough to demand that an emperor submit with his entire empire!]

[Gongyang Mo: I've never seen a faction this arrogant... No, wait. I've seen them do it more than once today!]

[Ma Rulong: Then again, they do seem to have the power to back up that arrogance...]

[Dai Hao: Insolence! His Majesty is worth his weight in gold. Do you think he'll yield to your threats?]

Overbearing!

The Spirit Hall Empire's high-handedness stunned everyone!

But before anyone could absorb the shock,

a message bristling with hostility appeared in the Douluo Continent's chat.

[Xuan Zi: Hahahaha! Now I get it!

The Spirit Hall Empire? You really are the dregs of Spirit Hall!

And this Phoenix God of yours? Sounds like an evil god who crawled out of some forgotten corner!

Didn't you used to worship the Angel God? What happened—did she abandon you?

Ten thousand years ago, Spirit Hall committed countless atrocities and started a war that swept across the entire continent!

Shrek Academy stepped forward and joined forces with the Two Great Empires to cut out the cancer you'd become!

Our ancestor Tang San even slew two of Spirit Hall's evil Gods with his own hands!

If you ask me, there's no such thing as a Phoenix God!

Faith in the Sea God is the one true path!

And you heretics dare spout this nonsense across the Sky Screen?]

Shrek Academy, Sea God Island.

The more Xuan Zi wrote, the better he felt. He grabbed his wine gourd and took a long swig, satisfaction written all over his face.

Behind him, though, Mu En's frown deepened.

Sure enough, the instant that message appeared, the Phoenix God Continent's chat—

exploded!

[Long Zihuang, Sect Master of the Purple Radiance Sect: Insolence!!!]

[Feng Zhenhua, Divine Craftsman of the Royal Academy of Sciences: What old bastard dares blaspheme the Phoenix God, our ancestor?!]

[Dugu Cheng, Patriarch of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Family: Your Majesty, this wretch must be punished! Give the order, and I will lead the men of my clan to raze this so-called Shrek Academy!]

The Phoenix God Continent's entire chat channel seemed to burn with fury!

Atop the Divine Mountain, murderous light filled Empress Feng Ji ge's phoenix eyes, and her imperial robes snapped in the wind.

[Feng Ji ge: What audacity!!!

A mere ant at the Super Douluo level dares blaspheme the divine might of the Phoenix God, our ancestor?!

Does Shrek Academy want to find out whether the Spirit Hall Empire's sword is sharp?]

Yet Xuan Zi showed no fear in the face of Feng Ji ge's wrath.

[Xuan Zi: Hahahaha! Find out how strong you are? How?

Shrek Academy wiped out Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago. What, you hid on another continent, and now you dare come out barking?

If your Phoenix God is so powerful, why didn't he come save you ten thousand years ago?

Besides, what can you do no matter how angry you get?

Shrek Academy is far away on the Douluo Continent. Can you fly across that endless distance to confront me face-to-face?

Hahahaha!]

On Sea God Island, Mu En could no longer hold back.

"Xuan Zi, enough!"

He growled the words and clamped a hand on Xuan Zi's shoulder.

"Junior Granduncle?"

Xuan Zi stared at him, stunned.

"Be quiet. You are not to post another word on the Sky Screen!"

Mu En's expression was graver than ever.

"We know nothing of their true strength, and even I cannot fathom how they created that Sky Screen!"

"Until we understand what's happening, stop making reckless boasts!"

Xuan Zi waved a hand, utterly unconcerned.

"Junior Granduncle, you're too cautious."

"The way I see it, this Sky Screen might be a trick the people of the Phoenix God Continent cooked up just to scare us!"

"A Level-Twelve Fixed Soul Cannon Shell? The power to destroy the world?"

"I don't believe any of that flashy nonsense!"

"Soul Tools are external objects in the end. Can they compare to a Soul Master's century of cultivation?"

"And even if what they say is true, so what?"

Xuan Zi thrust out his chest, his face full of pride.

"Shrek Academy has the protection of our ancestor Tang San! We have the Sea God's Light standing guard!"

"We've stood for ten thousand years, as solid as a fortress of gold!"

"Whether it's the Phoenix God Continent or the Spirit Hall Empire, if they dare come looking for trouble..."

"their weapons will break and sink into the sand, and they'll never return!"

"My sword is plenty sharp, too!"

Every word rang out with iron certainty.

Mu En opened his mouth, but in the end, all that came out was a sigh.

He said nothing more.

Yet deep within his clouded eyes, a trace of unease flickered.