Leng Yaozhu had certainly heard the legend of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
In the history of humankind, there had been two recorded one-million-year soul beasts: one was the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King from twenty thousand years ago, and the other was the Ice Silkworm Tianmeng from ten thousand years ago.
Perhaps it was because the name of the Spirit Ice Douluo wasn't as renowned as that of Tang San, the Sea God from twenty thousand years ago, or perhaps it was due to Tianmeng's combat strength being far inferior to that of other one-million-year soul beasts. In any case, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King was far more famous than the Ice Silkworm Tianmeng.
Whenever one mentioned a one-million-year soul beast, the first that came to mind was the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. It had become the symbol of all such beasts.
Although Leng Yaozhu had known for a long time that Lan Fozi was a soul beast in human form, she never expected her to be the daughter of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
Even more surprising was the hidden truth behind Tang San's hunt for the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King twenty thousand years ago. It turned out to be far more complicated than the version people loved to tell.
Whether it was the Shrek Academy's version or the Tang Sect's, they all praised the Sea God's valor—how, as a mere human, he hunted a one-million-year soul beast that was 99% divine, just a step away from becoming a god.
No one mentioned that the previous Sea God and the Asura God secretly plotted against the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, nor did they mention the original Shrek Seven Monsters ganging up on the beast.
So nowadays, everyone believed that it was Tang San alone who brought it down.
"I learned from the Ghost Emperor and the Dark Blood Fiend that they had been cooperating with the Spirit Pagoda on researching a drug. They said it was to suppress your mother's berserk state. I want to ask: is this research still necessary?" Leng Yaozhu took a deep breath. If, as Lan Fozi said, it was actually Asura Divine Power affecting the Empress's mental world, then nothing could possibly suppress it.
"No need. That drug was never meant to suppress Asura Divine Power. Its true purpose was to connect with that power, helping my mother ascend to godhood through slaughter." Lan Fozi shook her head. The Empress had already given up on that path, so the drug was now useless to her.
Though the research was a joint effort by the Holy Spirit Cult and the Spirit Pagoda, even the Ghost Emperor and the Dark Blood Fiend didn't know the drug's true purpose. The Spirit Pagoda was completely in the dark.
Only the Empress and Lan Fozi knew what it really did.
"Alright then. I'll have all those involved in the drug's development released and destroy all research results." Leng Yaozhu nodded.
"How about I take you to meet someone?" Xia Yi suddenly suggested after thinking for a moment.
"Who?" Leng Yaozhu asked, intrigued.
"Someone special. He should be helpful to your plan of creating a god realm. He can also help Fozi purge the Asura power from her father's soul core and find a suitable cultivation method for Xier," Xia Yi said seriously.
"Who could have that kind of power?" Leng Yaozhu was surprised.
"He's... basically my past life," Xia Yi replied, activating the Huangdi Neijing and opening the entrance to his spiritual world. He brought Leng Yaozhu, Lan Fozi, and Mu Xi into the bronze space within.
Surrounded by bronze walls and an endless starry sky above, Leng Yaozhu narrowed her eyes and asked, "This is where you imprisoned Yulai before, isn't it?"
"'Imprisoned' sounds a bit harsh." Xia Yi gave an awkward laugh. "Yulai got far more benefits here than you might imagine. She just didn't want to be in the spotlight."
"Mhm." Leng Yaozhu agreed. She knew Leng Yulai had avoided overshadowing her. Otherwise, Yulai's strength wouldn't be inferior to hers.
Even she couldn't see through Leng Yulai's true strength.
Her own Huangdi Sword had only reached the divine level thanks to Xia Yi's help. But Yulai's Dark Phoenix Feather had become a divine artifact on her own.
It wasn't that Xia Yi refused to help—he simply couldn't. If he forced an upgrade, it would have destroyed the feather's internal structure.
"This place... is amazing," Leng Yaozhu marveled at the starry sky above. Just as Leng Yulai had described, these stars were physical entities.
"If you have time, come here often. The more profound your cultivation, the deeper your comprehension here." A youth appeared before them.
"You can leave the courtyard now?" Xia Yi was surprised.
"As your spiritual power grows, my restrictions weaken." The youth chuckled.
"Alright then," Xia Yi nodded. "I actually need your help with something. Give us some guidance."
The youth glanced at Leng Yaozhu. "Creating a god realm is no easy task. The soul beasts made such quick progress because they absorbed massive amounts of Abyss energy, plus the residual power of the Dragon God from the Dragon Valley micro-world, not to mention the super artifact—Dragon God's Heart. Even so, it takes time. If you want to create your own god realm, energy is the first thing you need to consider. Without enough energy, even the best design is futile."
"Where in the Douluo Plane would I find that much power?" Xia Yi asked.
"If it's just a small god realm, I can help you find enough energy. But I know that's not what you want," Leng Yaozhu bit her lip.
"I understand your concerns. Fine." The youth raised his hand, and a beam of light shot into Leng Yaozhu's forehead. "You've cultivated Huangdi Neijing to this level—impressive. This is the third part, the Immortal Dao Chapter. Start cultivating it. That way, when the time comes and energy becomes available, you won't lose out to the soul beasts again."
"Wait, didn't you say before that the third part of Huangdi Neijing couldn't be cultivated in the Douluo Plane?" Xia Yi asked curiously.
"I have my ways." The youth smiled and looked at Leng Yaozhu. "Summon your True Phoenix Flame."
"Alright!" Leng Yaozhu nodded. Nine droplets of True Phoenix Flame slowly appeared around her.
"One is enough." The youth flicked a finger, and one droplet erupted into a blazing fire.
To Xia Yi's astonishment, the flames contained starry skies, ancient diagrams, mountains, rivers, and forests.
"No... He's copying this bronze space!" Xia Yi was shocked. Everything in the flame matched the space around them.
"All done. This drop of Phoenix Flame lets you bypass the Douluo Plane's restrictions. You can now cultivate the third part of Huangdi Neijing and won't be suppressed when trying to ascend." The youth chuckled.
"No way. I want the third part too!" Xia Yi suddenly demanded.
He didn't care about much else—but not getting this? Unacceptable.
He knew just how powerful Huangdi Neijing was. If Leng Yaozhu cultivated the third part and he didn't, wouldn't she just steamroll him forever?
"Let her teach you. If you can find your own way around the Douluo Plane's restrictions, then it's your skill." The youth grinned. He had no intention of helping Xia Yi.
"Hey, that's unfair! Aren't we technically the same person? Why are you helping others but not me?" Xia Yi looked aggrieved.
"You chose not to fuse with me. Now you walk your own path," the youth said. "If you didn't already have the second part in your body, I wouldn't even have taught you that."
He looked at the three girls. "They're different. Since they've chosen to follow you, it's our duty to help them grow."
"Fine, whatever you say." Xia Yi sighed, but he already had a plan.
"Alright, start cultivating. This will take a while to digest." The youth turned to Lan Fozi. "You can't cultivate Huangdi Neijing, but I have a divine skill—the Sea-Calming Rod Technique. If you learn it, you'll one day easily defeat the Sea God."
"Really?" Lan Fozi's eyes lit up. That meant she could avenge her father herself!
"Listen—although this isn't exclusive to humans like Huangdi Neijing, it's still one of the supreme techniques. If you learn it, you must guard the seas on behalf of humanity."
"What if humans slaughter sea beasts without reason?" Lan Fozi asked.
"I said to act impartially." He pointed at Leng Yaozhu. "She'll supervise you."
"Alright, I'll learn it." Lan Fozi nodded.
It wasn't elegant for a girl to wield a staff, but for revenge, she would.
"It's just a divine technique, but I've created a matching cultivation method for it, tailored to the Douluo Plane." The youth summoned Lan Fozi's eight-colored pearl and infused it with divine light, purging the Asura energy and imprinting the Sea-Calming Rod Technique.
Lan Fozi looked at him with hope. "Can I bring my mom here so you can teach her too?"
"Just pass what I gave you to her. If she doesn't like you, bring her here." The youth shrugged.
"Really?" Lan Fozi was thrilled.
"Would I lie to you?" He turned to Mu Xi.
"What do you want to learn?"
"I don't know..." Mu Xi looked lost.
"You're not suited for Huangdi Neijing, but since you like forging, I'll give you part of a Samādhi True Flame cultivation method I found in the Thirty-Three Heavens. It's excellent for refining tools and pills, and powerful in battle. You can get the full version later from your man."
He gave Xia Yi a mischievous look.
"Thirty-Three Heavens... I'm not at odds with them, am I?" Xia Yi asked cautiously.
"Not enemies—just conflicting interests." The youth smiled.
"What should Xier do to start?" Xia Yi asked.
"She's got a weak foundation. Let her stay. I'll teach her personally."
"That works." Xia Yi nodded. Then he asked, "Yue'er has Manipulate Creation, Fozi and her mom have Sea-Calming Rod, Zhu'er has Huangdi Neijing, and Xier gets Samādhi True Flame. What about Yulai? Don't play favorites."
"She already got hers long ago." The youth rolled his eyes. "Let me tell you—don't fall for your sister's fake sob stories again. When she left here, she was already at Second-Level Divine Origin Realm. She's been pretending to be injured just to play pitiful in front of you."
"Second-Level Divine Origin?!" Leng Yaozhu was stunned. She'd only just touched the threshold of Third-Level.
"You mean her injuries were fake?" Xia Yi's face darkened. "Damn you, Leng Yulai! You tricked me into giving up Lovesickness Heartbreak Red! Just wait till I get back—I'll discipline you properly!"
"Indeed! She's out of control!" Leng Yaozhu also gritted her teeth. She had worried about her for so long…
Now it felt like she'd been made a fool of.
(End of Chapter)