In the Divine Realm, inside the Asura God Temple.
After the Shrek Seven Devils had given their all to rescue the gravely injured Tang San from the ruins of Spirit City, an especially heavy atmosphere had settled over the temple.
The once-glorious Asura God King now sat cross-legged on his throne, blood-red divine light flickering around him.
Whenever divine power circulated through his body, the frigid force from the Underworld would stir, eroding his meridians like countless tiny, sharp needles.
Tang San's face was gloomy, and his eyes were full of barely concealed anger.
This time, his defeat had been utterly humiliating!
As the Divine Realm's Asura God King, Tang San had once believed that, with enough power at his command, he could handle any unforeseen development on the Douluo Continent.
But the appearance of White Impermanence Yue Guan had shattered that belief.
His opponent had not only possessed a bizarre means of suppressing Asura Divine Power, but had also toyed with him in battle, leading him step by step into a trap.
In the end, Tang San had even needed the Shrek Seven Devils to join forces and rescue him before he could barely preserve his dignity.
For the ever-arrogant Tang San, it was an unprecedented setback.
Angry as he was, however, Tang San was no fool.
After this battle, he had finally realized one fact.
Beyond the heavens lay more heavens; beyond the strong stood those stronger still.
The Divine Realm was powerful, but it was by no means the only top-tier power among the myriad worlds.
And he, Tang San, was not an invincible being who could do as he pleased!
"The Underworld..."
Tang San slowly uttered the words, a flash of deep wariness passing through his eyes.
White Impermanence Yue Guan alone had driven him to such a state.
Now Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo had appeared as well, capable of suppressing countless evil souls with the Soul-Summoning Banner.
If the Underworld had other beings on the level of God Kings, the situation facing the Divine Realm would likely be even more dangerous than he had imagined.
At that thought, Tang San's gaze gradually shifted to the Shrek Seven Devils beside him.
Xiao Wu and the others had just been through a harrowing rescue. Though they were each regulating their breathing, they still could not hide the worry on their faces.
Xiao Wu in particular watched Tang San's injuries, which had yet to heal, her eyes full of concern.
"Third Brother, focus on recovering for now."
"Strange as the Underworld is, as long as we work together, we'll find a way to deal with it."
Xiao Wu spoke softly.
Tang San did not answer immediately.
After a moment's silence, he suddenly raised his head, a flash of resolve in his eyes.
"We need Teacher's help."
At those words, the Shrek Seven Devils all looked at Tang San.
Tang San continued, "Teacher Yu Xiaogang has spent many years studying Martial Soul Theory and has a profound understanding of the Douluo Continent's Soul Master system. The power the Underworld has displayed has exceeded our expectations. If we want to find a way to deal with them, Teacher might be able to offer a crucial insight."
"More importantly, we have to make Teacher a member of the Divine Realm."
"As long as Teacher can enter the Divine Realm and receive the support of its resources, it will be much easier for him to study the Underworld's power and help us deal with the coming crisis."
Tang San's voice grew firmer.
Since he could not suppress Yue Guan on his own, he would seek more help.
Since the Underworld's foundations were unfathomable, he had to strengthen the Divine Realm as quickly as possible.
As Tang San saw it, there was nothing shameful about that.
A true expert would never stop advancing because of a single defeat.
On the contrary, making use of every available source of strength was the key to solving the problem.
Besides, Yu Xiaogang was his teacher.
The Divine Realm needed talent, and his teacher needed a broader world. Both sides could help each other flourish.
"I agree!"
Dai Mubai was the first to nod.
"Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang is Third Brother's teacher, after all. Since he has such a solid theoretical foundation, bringing him into the Divine Realm will give us more help too."
Oscar and Ma Hongjun also voiced their agreement.
Although Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing did not say much, they approved of the decision as well.
For them, the most important thing now was to find a way to oppose the Underworld as soon as possible.
Since Yu Xiaogang might be the key to breaking the deadlock, there was naturally no reason to object to bringing him into the Divine Realm.
Xiao Wu went so far as to take Tang San's hand.
"Third Brother, whatever you do, I'll support you."
With everyone's approval, Tang San finally let out a slow breath.
"Good."
"In that case, let's bring Teacher to the Divine Realm!"
Once Tang San had made his decision, a strand of divine sense swiftly crossed space toward Shrek Academy on the Douluo Continent.
Meanwhile, the heavenly screen continued to show Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo suppressing the evil souls.
The Soul-Summoning Banner snapped in the wind as thousands upon thousands of evil ghosts bowed their heads.
That power, seemingly capable of suppressing the nine netherworlds and judging sinful souls, weighed ever more heavily on the Shrek Seven Devils.
They had once believed that becoming gods meant standing at the pinnacle of the world.
But now it seemed that the so-called Divine Realm was merely one power in a far broader world.
If they could not change the situation in time, what awaited them would likely be an unforeseeable catastrophe.
And while Tang San was planning to strengthen the Divine Realm, the other four God Kings had not been idle either.
Deep within the Divine Realm, the Destruction God King and the Goddess of Life stood side by side, their gazes fixed firmly on Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo on the heavenly screen.
The Destruction God King in particular watched closely.
When the Soul-Summoning Banner released boundless yin Qi and suppressed every evil soul filling the sky, his expression changed noticeably.
As the God King who wielded authority over destruction, his perception of destructive presence far surpassed that of ordinary gods.
And within the power Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo had displayed, he had actually sensed a law of destruction entirely different from that of the Divine Realm.
It was neither simple slaughter nor an energy blast in the ordinary sense.
It was more like judgment upon the souls of the dead, a reckoning for sins, and the complete suppression of some kind of existence itself.
The Destruction God King remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
"A being like that is merely one member of the Underworld."
His voice was low, carrying a hint of barely concealed gravity.
"It seems we really did underestimate the Underworld before."
The Goddess of Life nodded gently.
"Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo were both Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent, yet now they possess such great power. If the Underworld has more beings like them, its overall strength is probably far beyond our estimates."
At this, the Goddess of Life frowned slightly.
"More importantly, the system of power they command doesn't seem to depend on the Divine Realm's Godhood Inheritance."
That was the most unsettling part.
The Divine Realm was able to maintain its rule largely because of the close connection between godhoods, divine power, and the Divine Realm's order.
But the Underworld had clearly forged a different path.
If that power could continue to be passed on, and even draw more of the dead into its ranks as yin gods, where did the limits of the Underworld's growth lie?
The Destruction God King did not answer.
But his eyes had already said it all.
The Divine Realm had to reassess the Underworld.
It even had to prepare a response in advance.
If the two sides could maintain peace, that would naturally be the best outcome.
But if the Underworld continued to expand and even affected the Divine Realm's authority across the various planes, they could no longer sit by and do nothing as they had before.
"We need to learn the truth about the Underworld's foundations."
The Destruction God King spoke in a deep voice.
The Goddess of Life nodded.
"At the same time, we also need to consider how to use the Underworld's existence to maintain the Divine Realm's influence."
The two God Kings each had their own plans.
The Evil God King and the God King of Goodness, however, clearly had entirely different ideas.
"Why think so much about it?"
The Evil God King snorted, his expression still somewhat arrogant.
"Yue Guan being able to suppress Tang San doesn't mean he can suppress me. When we actually fight, we'll see who's stronger!"
In his view, Tang San's defeat was worth taking seriously, but it was not enough to make every God King in the Divine Realm afraid.
As a God King, he naturally had his own pride.
Hearing this, the God King of Goodness also nodded slightly.
"That's right. We can only know how strong the Underworld really is after we've had actual contact with them. If we can negotiate, that would be best; if not, then strength will decide the outcome."
Even so, neither of them rashly proposed attacking the Underworld immediately.
After all, the power Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo had displayed was enough to prove that the Underworld was no one they could handle as they pleased.
Besides, even Tang San had already been defeated.
If they acted rashly, they might not get the result they wanted.
While the gods of the Divine Realm each harbored their own thoughts, the situation on the Douluo Continent was also quietly changing.
Above the ruins of Spirit City.
Qian Renxue watched the scene of Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo suppressing the evil souls on the heavenly screen, unable to look away for a long time.
That familiar figure left her both awestruck and filled with a sense of closeness.
Ghost Douluo had once been an important elder of Spirit Hall.
Now, however, he had become a powerful deity of the Underworld in his capacity as Black Impermanence.
That was enough to show that the Underworld did more than simply take in the dead.
It could even grant the former experts of Spirit Hall power far beyond what they had possessed in life!
Qian Renxue slowly clenched her fists, golden Angel Divine Power flowing around her fingertips.
"So that's how it is..."
She finally understood why Yue Guan had been able to suppress Tang San so easily.
She also finally understood why Spirit Hall had been able to carry on in another form.
In that case, why should Spirit Hall continue to struggle alone?
The Douluo Continent was no longer the familiar world it had once been.
The Divine Realm stood high above, Tang San held the godhood of Asura, and the Shrek Seven Devils each possessed a divine inheritance.
Spirit Hall, glorious as it had once been, had long since lost its original foundation.
If it wanted to rise again, Qian Renxue alone was clearly far from enough.
But the Underworld was different.
Bibi Dong was there, as were Qian Daoliu, Yue Guan, and Ghost Douluo.
Those who had once guarded Spirit Hall were now carrying on their old beliefs in new roles.
Qian Renxue raised her head, her gaze gradually growing resolute.
"In that case..."
"It is time for my Spirit Hall to truly become part of the Underworld."
She did not hesitate in the slightest.
For Qian Renxue, this was not abandoning Spirit Hall, but allowing it to carry on in another form.
When White Impermanence Yue Guan heard her words, a gratified smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Xue'er, it's for the best that you've come to understand this."
He knew perfectly well just how powerful the Underworld was.
If Spirit Hall wanted to rise again, joining the Underworld was undoubtedly its best choice.
Moreover, the Underworld had already taken in many of Spirit Hall's former experts.
If Qian Renxue wished to join, naturally no one would stand in her way.
At that moment, inside the Underworld's Fengdu Grand Hall, Qian Daoliu also learned of Qian Renxue's decision.
The Angel Douluo, who had once protected Spirit Hall for many years, immediately showed a measure of relief.
His granddaughter was finally no longer bearing everything alone.
Qian Daoliu stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Chen Yuan on the throne.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully request that Spirit Hall formally join the Underworld and become a part of it!"
His voice was solemn, every word clear.
For Qian Daoliu, this was more than a question of which power Spirit Hall belonged to.
It also meant that Spirit Hall's legacy could finally continue in a new world.
Seated upright on the throne, Chen Yuan could not help but smile slightly at his words.
"Qian Daoliu, you and I have long been family. Why stand on such ceremony?"
He raised a hand and waved it, sending vast yin Qi swirling through the hall and forming countless mysterious runes.
"Everyone from Spirit Hall is already a member of the Underworld."
"As for Qian Renxue, if she wishes to return, the Underworld will naturally welcome her."
Hearing Chen Yuan's answer, Qian Daoliu was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
At that moment, the last stone weighing on his heart finally fell away.
The Spirit Hall's future finally had a new direction.
And with Chen Yuan's personal acknowledgment, the image on the sky screen changed as well.
In the dark void, Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo held the Soul-Summoning Banner, with countless evil souls prostrate behind him.
That majestic voice once again resounded through heaven and earth.
[For Black Impermanence Ghost Douluo, his most powerful weapon was the Soul-Summoning Banner in his hand!]
[This banner was made to suppress evil souls and capture sinister spirits. It was the most powerful bane of evil souls in the world!]