Di Tian slowly clenched his hand.
"Soul Beasts finally have a true deity."
Gu Yuena looked toward the Sky Screen.
"He may not become an ally of the Soul Beasts."
Xiong Jun froze.
Gu Yuena withdrew her gaze.
"He has devoured far too many sea soul beasts."
"Even before becoming a god, he was bound by no clan."
"Now that he has divine authority, he will only act more as he pleases."
Di Tian fell silent.
Gu Yuena had spoken very plainly.
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's ascension was both an opportunity and a threat to the Soul Beast Clan.
The Far North.
Before the Ice Palace.
The Snow Empress held the Heavenly Frost Sword.
She watched the Sky-Devouring Demon God in the Sky Screen, the Snowflake Divine Seal between her brows flickering softly.
The Ice Empress stood beside her, her emerald eyes filled with shock.
"Sister Snow."
"He really has become a god."
"Yes."
The Snow Empress watched that purple-and-gold figure.
"His devouring origin has already formed divine authority."
The Ice Empress raised her scorpion tail.
"Then could he be stronger than you?"
"As I am now, I can only wield demigod-level combat power outside the Far North."
The Snow Empress did not evade the question.
"It can wield its full God Level combat power wherever it is."
The Ice Empress's expression grew serious.
"Then should we avoid him if we encounter him in the future?"
The Snow Empress looked at the Heavenly Frost Sword in her hand.
"If we are at sea, do not fight him."
"What if he comes to the Far North?"
"He may come."
The Snow Empress raised her eyes.
Sacred heavenly snow spread out from before the Ice Palace.
"The Far North is not a place he can devour at will."
The Ice Empress looked at the Divine Seal between the Snow Empress's brows and nodded gently.
"I'll stand with you."
The Snow Empress did not refuse.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder before the Ice Palace.
The Heavenly Frost Sword and the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's origin lit up at the same time.
The Soul Beasts of the Far North watched this scene from afar, their hearts settling somewhat.
The Far North had the Snow Empress.
The sea had the Sky-Devouring Demon God.
At the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent, two true Soul Beast deities had already emerged.
Outside Sunset Forest.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had returned to calm.
Crimson and azure spring water flowed slowly in the center of the valley.
Ning Xian stood beside the spring, looking up at the gradually fading Sky Screen.
Dugu Yan was still watching the sky.
As she recalled the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King unleashing his divine domain moments ago, a trace of worry entered her eyes.
"Senior."
"Yes?"
"He has become a god."
"I saw."
Ning Xian withdrew his gaze.
Dugu Yan turned her face toward him.
"Will he come to Sunset Forest?"
"No."
"How do you know, Senior?"
Ning Xian looked toward the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda.
Four layers of Xuanhuang patterns slowly flowed across the pagoda.
"He has only just obtained his divine position. Next, he will familiarize himself with his own power."
"Besides, the place he wants to visit most is Sea God Island."
Dugu Yan nodded gently.
"He wants revenge on Poseidon."
"That is one reason."
"There are others?"
"He wants to prove himself."
Ning Xian's tone was utterly calm.
"He has cultivated for over three hundred thousand years and devoured vast amounts of external origin."
"In the past, there were always those who believed his power was not pure enough."
"Now that he has become a god, he naturally wants to find an opponent who can prove his strength."
Dugu Bo walked over to the two of them.
"Senior, if the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King fights the Sea God again, who will win?"
Ning Xian glanced at the purple-and-gold divine light at the edge of the Sky Screen.
"The Sea God of today may not be here."
Dugu Bo understood immediately.
Back then, Poseidon had not yet entered the Divine Realm.
Now, the Sea God was already a deity of the Divine Realm.
What the Sky Screen showed were merely events of the past.
As for whether the present Poseidon would act, no one could be certain.
Ning Xian turned around.
The Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda transformed into a streak of Xuanhuang radiance and landed in his palm.
Inside the pagoda's fourth floor.
The two great Dragon Kings remained coiled within the crimson and azure patterns.
The origins of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had stabilized.
The two Dragon Kings' auras were more substantial than before.
Dugu Yan looked at the Ancient Tower.
"Senior, the Sky-Devouring Demon God has become a god."
"Aren't you worried?"
"Why should I be worried?"
Ning Xian closed his hand.
The Xuanhuang Ancient Tower vanished with it.
Dugu Yan blinked.
"He is a First-Level God."
"I know."
"It also commands the Devouring Rules."
"I know that too."
"Then why aren't you reacting at all, Senior?"
Ning Xian turned and walked toward the valley's exit.
"He hasn't come looking for me."
Dugu Yan hurried after him.
"What if he does?"
Ning Xian stopped.
Dugu Yan nearly bumped into him.
She lifted her face and looked at the white-robed figure right before her.
Ning Xian lowered his head and glanced at her.
"We'll talk when he comes."
Dugu Yan fell silent for two breaths.
"Senior, do you think he can't beat you?"
"I never said that."
"But you look like that's exactly what you think."
Ning Xian continued forward.
"His strength has indeed improved considerably since he became a god."
Dugu Yan followed beside him.
"Then will you fight him?"
"That depends on whether he is willing to listen to reason."
"What if he isn't?"
"Then I'll make him."
Dugu Bo paused in his steps when he heard those words.
He looked at Ning Xian's back.
The man had not stirred his soul power or released any aura.
Yet when Ning Xian spoke those words, Dugu Bo already had his answer.
The Sky-Devouring Demon God had indeed become a god.
But in Ning Xian's eyes, he was still merely someone whose attitude needed to be assessed first.
Above, in the Sky Screen.
The final line of golden text slowly faded.
[Sixth place on the Powerhouse Ranking: Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.] [Rewards fully distributed.] [Sky-Devouring Demon God, ascended to godhood.]
The living beings across the entire continent were still gazing up at the heavens.
No one knew whose name the Powerhouse Ranking would reveal next.
Nor did anyone know what changes the Sky-Devouring Demon God, now a First-Level God, would bring to the sea.
Ning Xian, however, had already walked out of the valley.
Dugu Yan caught his sleeve.
"Senior, where are we going next?"
"Back into the pagoda."
"Grandpa and I are staying on the first floor."
"Yes."
"You still won't let me go to the fourth floor?"
"Your cultivation is not high enough yet."
Dugu Yan glanced at him.
"When I become stronger, you mustn't forget."
Ning Xian did not look back.
"I'll remember."
Only then did Dugu Yan let go.
She followed beside Ning Xian toward the Xuanhuang Light Gate opened by the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda.
Behind them, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well flowed quietly.
In the distant sea, purple-and-gold divine light shot into the sky.
Yet Ning Xian's footsteps never stopped.
Outside Sunset Forest.
The Xuanhuang Light Gate slowly dissipated.
Ning Xian led Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan out of the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had already been taken into the Ancient Tower, and the forces of heat and cold in the valley had settled.
Dugu Yan glanced back.
"Senior, are we returning to Heaven Dou City now?"
"Yes."
Ning Xian put away the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda.
The ancient-looking silhouette of the pagoda transformed into a streak of Mystic Yellow Radiance and settled into his palm.
Dugu Bo cupped his hands.
"Senior, Yanyan's bloodline has yet to be reforged."
"We'll begin after returning to the city."
"I understand."
Dugu Yan followed beside Ning Xian.
Looking at the Ancient Bronze Small Tower in Ning Xian's hand, she recalled the two Dragon Kings on the fourth floor of the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda.
"Senior, how much longer will the Dragon Kings need to recover completely?"
"That depends on them."
"What if they leave the Ancient Tower after recovering?"
"They'll return."
Dugu Yan thought for a moment.
"Senior, aren't you worried they'll run away?"
Ning Xian glanced at her.
"They wouldn't dare."
Dugu Yan immediately closed her mouth.
The three continued along the mountain path.
Several days later.
Heaven Dou City appeared at the edge of their vision.
Banners unfurled in the wind atop the towering city walls.
People streamed endlessly outside the city gates.
Merchant caravans, Soul Masters, and commoners formed several lines, slowly entering the city.
Ning Xian did not linger.
He led Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan toward the city gates.
Just then.
A sudden commotion erupted ahead.
A carriage trimmed with gold stood in the middle of the street.
Several armored guards surrounded a commoner woman.
The woman wore a cloth skirt washed pale and held a bamboo basket in her arms.
A tall man stood before her.
He wore luxurious brocade robes, with a jade pendant hanging at his waist.
Several young nobles followed behind him.
"For me to invite you into my carriage is an honor."
Xue Beng reached for the woman's wrist.
The woman stepped back.
"Your Highness, please let me go."
"Let you go?"
Xue Beng looked at her with a frivolous smile.
"Since entering Heaven Dou City, you've never met someone as distinguished as me, have you?"
"As long as you accompany me back to my residence, I can give you more money than you could spend in a lifetime."
The woman clutched her bamboo basket.
"I'm not going."
Xue Beng's hand stopped in midair.
The surrounding passersby lowered their heads, not daring to watch any longer.
The guards behind Xue Beng immediately stepped forward.
One of them reached out and shoved the woman.
The woman lost her footing and struck a stone pillar beside the road.
The bamboo basket fell.
The few pieces of fruit inside rolled onto the street.
"His Highness asked you a question, and you dare refuse?"
The guard reached for the woman's hair.
A white figure approached from the end of the street.
Ning Xian stopped ten paces away.
Dugu Yan looked at the woman lying on the ground, her brows drawing together slightly.
"Senior, that man is Xue Beng of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family."
"Yes."
Ning Xian nodded.
"I heard."
He took a step forward.
The guards behind Xue Beng immediately drew their weapons.
"Stop!"
Ning Xian did not stop.
A guard swung his saber at him.
Before the blade could descend, the guard was already hurtling backward.
His armor split apart in midair.
He slammed into a wall beside the street, blood flowing from his mouth and nose.
The surrounding crowd quickly scattered.
Xue Beng's expression changed.
"You dare attack someone in Heaven Dou City?"
Ning Xian walked up to him.
"What family are you from?"
Xue Beng puffed out his chest.
"Xue Beng, Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"A prince?"
"Now that you know who I am, why aren't you kneeling?"
Ning Xian glanced at him.
"You harassed a commoner and tried to abduct her."
Xue Beng's expression turned ugly.
"She is nothing but a commoner."
"It's her good fortune that I've taken a fancy to her."
"Who the hell are you to meddle in my affairs?"
Ning Xian asked no more questions.
He raised his hand.
A streak of Mystic Yellow Radiance fell from his fingertip.
Xue Beng's body instantly froze.
The air around them grew still.
Xue Beng's eyes widened, the hand he had just raised frozen in midair.
Ning Xian turned around.
"Let's go."
Dugu Yan looked at Xue Beng.
"Senior, he's not dead yet."
"He will be in a moment."
As his words fell.
Xue Beng's body began to split from between his brows.
A line of blood extended down along the bridge of his nose.
Then his entire body exploded.
Flesh and shattered bones splattered across the street.
The jade pendant that marked his imperial status also shattered into several pieces in the pool of blood.
Ning Xian did not look back.
Dugu Bo hurried over, his gaze tightening slightly at the blood covering the ground.
"Senior, Xue Beng was a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, after all."
"I know."
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family won't let this rest."
"Then let them come."
Ning Xian strode forward.
Dugu Yan walked over to the commoner woman and picked up the scattered fruit, returning it to the bamboo basket.
Pale-faced, the woman lowered her head and took the basket.
"Thank you, miss."
"You're welcome."
Dugu Yan turned and caught up with Ning Xian.
In the middle of the street.
Xue Beng's remains still lay scattered in the pool of blood.
Ning Xian did not spare them another glance.
Inside Heaven Dou City.
Ning Xian walked along the street.
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan followed behind him.
What had just happened had already plunged the entire street into silence.
The passersby moved out of their way.
No one dared approach that patch of blood again.
Holding the bamboo basket, Dugu Yan hurried to Ning Xian's side.
She glanced at Ning Xian's profile.
Ning Xian's expression was calm, his pace entirely unchanged.
It was as though the person he had just killed was not the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, but an insignificant passerby.
Dugu Yan held back for a moment, but still spoke up.
"Senior."
"Yes."
"Why did you kill him outright just now?"
Ning Xian continued walking.
"He deserved to die."
Dugu Yan blinked.
"Just because he harassed a commoner?"
"He also tried to abduct her."
Ning Xian added.
Dugu Yan lowered her head to look at the bamboo basket in her arms.
The woman had already left the street.
Before leaving, she had kept bowing in the direction of Ning Xian and his two companions.
"But he was the Fourth Prince."
"I know."
"After you killed a prince, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family will come looking for trouble with you."
"Let them come."
Dugu Yan looked at Ning Xian.
Not a speck of blood stained Ning Xian's white robes.
His cuffs swayed gently with his steps, and the shadow of an ancient tower flashed in his palm before vanishing.
He had not even given the God Level Soul Beasts on the Heavenly Dao Ranking a second thought.
In his eyes, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family truly did not amount to much.
Dugu Yan pressed her lips together.
"Senior, aren't you worried?"
"Worried about what?"
"The Heaven Dou Empire sending powerful fighters to hunt you down."
"They won't find me."
Dugu Yan froze for a moment.
Ning Xian raised a hand and pointed ahead.
"Let's eat first."
Dugu Yan followed his gaze.
There was a restaurant beside the street.
Red lanterns hung from the three-story wooden building, and two stone lions stood before its entrance.
People came and went inside the restaurant, and the aroma of food wafted out through the doorway.
Watching Ning Xian's retreating figure, Dugu Yan hurried after him.
"Senior, you just killed a prince, and you're still in the mood to eat?"
"Killing doesn't interfere with eating."
Dugu Bo walked behind them.
Listening to their conversation, he let his gaze linger on Dugu Yan for a moment.
Ever since Ning Xian appeared, his granddaughter had stayed by his side.
In the past, she had approached everything with a measure of arrogance.
Now, she seemed like a different person.
Whenever Ning Xian spoke, she would immediately follow.
The three entered the restaurant.
The shopkeeper's expression changed the instant he saw Dugu Bo.
He recognized the Poison Douluo, whose name resounded throughout Heaven Dou City.
Not daring to ask any questions, the shopkeeper personally escorted the three to a private room on the second floor.
Before you continue