The bet wasn't even over, yet the Sea God had already surrendered? This left Ye Hao completely shocked. They had clearly agreed on the terms - how could he change his mind now?
"Poseidon acted on impulse in the heat of the moment. Now that he's come to his senses and seen Tang San's true character, he's filled with deep regret," the Death God explained with evident amusement, his grin stretching wide. This was the ultimate victory without having to fight.
"What about the bet then?" Ye Hao asked. Since the Sea God had conceded, presumably the wager would be void.
"The bet remains valid. Poseidon plans to lower the difficulty of the Sea God's trials to push Tang San off the island sooner. Once he leaves, you can intercept and kill him at Sea God Island's outskirts," the Death God continued. "Poseidon's poor judgment is his own fault. I warned him, but he stubbornly insisted. Now it's too late for regrets."
"Seems the Sea God still cares about saving face," Ye Hao remarked with a knowing smile. A bet made before the five Godkings couldn't be abandoned without consequences. An open admission of defeat now would be too humiliating. Instead, by lowering the trial difficulty and having Tang San die at Ye Hao's hands, it could be framed as a simple miscalculation - minimizing damage to the Sea God's reputation.
"More like clinging to dignity while suffering. I'm absolutely delighted today," the Death God cackled with glee.
After the Death God departed, Ye Hao hoisted the massive scythe onto his shoulder and strode confidently from the shrine. Now that he had claimed the Death God's Scythe, he only needed to reach Rank 90. Once Zhu Zhu, Zhu'er and the Xie Hu completed their sacrifices, his soul bones would fall perfectly into place. As for the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King - that would require some advance preparation.
"You did it! You pulled out the scythe! Congratulations!" Xiao Hong beamed as Ye Hao returned with the imposing weapon resting on his shoulder. This critical step meant he was closer than ever to achieving godhood. The Death God's return to the world was now imminent.
"I'm in excellent spirits today. Do we have any of that leftover rabbit meat from last time?" Ye Hao asked.
"Just a little," came the reply.
Wasting food was unacceptable. The finest ingredients required only the simplest preparation - just a campfire and basic grill, with the glistening rabbit legs sizzling with mouthwatering aroma.
"The older the rabbit, the more texture the meat has," Ye Hao commented as he devoured his portion with gusto, grease smearing across his lips.
"When do you plan to deal with Tang San? The Death God may have declared victory, but leaving him alive remains a dangerous variable," Xiao Hong asked between bites.
"Don't worry," Ye Hao reassured her. "Tang San is already struggling as it is. I'm particularly looking forward to his fifth trial - I wonder what illusion Sea Illusion Douluo will trap him in. My guess? It'll recreate the moment I killed Xiao Wu. That's one memory he can never erase."
On Sea God Island, Tang San activated his seventh soul ring as usual - obtained from a 20,000-year-old sea grass he'd spent three days hunting at the island's remote edges. Grass was still grass, after all. Having missed the God-bestowed soul ring, he'd had no choice but to settle. Without it, his first trial might have dragged on indefinitely.
As he stepped onto the 200th stair, the Sea God's voice suddenly echoed in his mind - majestic yet oddly rushed. "Sea God's First Trial - Complete."
Just like that. Tang San froze in place. That was it? Where was his reward? "Wasn't I supposed to reach the 333rd step? I'm only at 200!" he protested internally.
"Second Trial: Break through the Ringed Sea's blockade. Time limit: Six months," the voice continued.
Though completely baffled by the abrupt completion, Tang San tried to rationalize it: "Every trial brings me closer to godhood. Maybe the Sea God took pity on my efforts and granted me special consideration." With this flimsy self-assurance, he set off toward the second trial location.
In the Sea God Temple, Bo Saixi frowned in confusion. "What is the Sea God thinking?" Tang San had cleared the trial instantly, despite being a full third short of the goal. She remembered her own arduous journey to complete the Red-Level Eight Trials and earn her position as High Priestess. The disparity left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Suddenly, a beam of azure light descended from the Sea God's throne, piercing her forehead with divine revelation. After a long moment of absorption, understanding dawned. "So that's the plan. The Sea God wants Tang San gone - let Ye Hao kill him off the island to spare Sea God Island from further chaos."
"The Sea God's wisdom is boundless," Bo Saixi bowed in acceptance of the decree. Expediting Tang San's departure had become paramount. She couldn't allow history to repeat itself - not after the tragedy of Sea Horse Douluo's death.
"Summon Xiao Bai and the six Guardian Douluo to me at once," she commanded.
Responding immediately to her summons, the six guardians sensed the call simultaneously. Like streaks of light, they shot toward the temple without hesitation.
Meanwhile, in the waters near Sea God Mountain, a massive 20-meter-long Great White Shark breached the surface - Xiao Bai, the Demon Soul Great White Shark King, both the Sea God's mount and guardian of the island's surrounding waters. In human form, she cut a striking figure with long gray hair, piercing blue-gray eyes, and an alluring physique that exuded wild, untamed charm.
"The High Priest summons me... Could it be about the heir's trials?" she wondered before diving back beneath the waves, resuming her shark form as she swam purposefully toward the mountain.
Time flowed like water, and before anyone realized it, a full year had slipped by.
At Spirit Hall, Ye Hao sat in deep meditation, eyes closed, his aura steady and controlled. Currently at Rank 88, he stood just two steps away from achieving Titled Douluo status. Once there, his eighth trial would officially commence.
"Breakthrough - Rank 89," he noted internally as he felt the familiar shattering of internal barriers, his soul power surging forward in response.
"Just one more rank. Three or four months at most, and the eighth trial begins," he calculated with quiet satisfaction. Just as this thought crossed his mind, a disciple hurried in with urgent news to deliver.
"Young Master, urgent news from the Star Luo Empire—Crown Prince Dai Mubai is rushing toward the capital under cover of night."
The capital, formerly known as Heaven Dou City, had been renamed after the establishment of the Spirit Empire. With the Heaven Dou Empire consigned to history, its capital had naturally ceased to exist.
"Dai Mubai is coming to our Spirit Empire?" Ye Hao stroked his chin. "How bold of him. It's been nearly five years since the last Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. If I recall correctly, they made a five-year pact to reunite at Shrek Academy, no matter where they were. Time flies—five years have passed in the blink of an eye."
Ye Hao waved his hand, dismissing the disciple.
"Since I have nothing better to do, I might as well visit the capital. Dai Mubai is now the Star Luo Crown Prince. Capturing him would force the Star Luo Empire to surrender."
Over the years, tensions between the Spirit Empire and Star Luo Empire had escalated, with frequent skirmishes bringing them to the brink of all-out war. The Star Luo Empire was no pushover—their military might was terrifying. Had it not been for Spirit Hall's covert interventions maintaining balance, Star Luo might have already conquered the Heaven Dou Empire and unified the continent.
With his mind made up, Ye Hao vanished without a trace.
Life in Spirit Hall had become monotonous. Over the past year, Ye Hao had focused entirely on preparing for his breakthrough to Titled Douluo. It was time to step out—progress couldn't be made by staying cooped up. Perhaps this excursion would yield unexpected gains.
---
Capital City, Shrek Academy
The once-prestigious institution now lay in ruins. The grounds were overgrown, the grand iron gates rusted and decayed, thick vines strangling the crumbling walls. The glory days were long gone.
Shrek Academy had known brilliance, but after producing the likes of Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, everything had changed.
At the academy's entrance, three figures stood surveying the devastation.
"Five years... The academy has changed so much," sighed the leanest of the trio.
"Time spares no one," remarked the handsome blond man. "Even scattered to the winds, we kept our promise."
"Do you think Tang San will show?" The stocky youth clenched his fists, his hatred for Tang San palpable.
"Tang San!" The blond man's eyes flashed coldly. "If he dares come, I'll kill him myself!"
Oscar sighed. "Let's just go in. Don't even mention Tang San—I've washed my hands of him."
The three were Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun, reuniting after five years. The once-legendary Shrek Seven Monsters had fractured completely—Tai Long dead, Jiang Zhu missing, Tang San vanished, and Xiao Wu captured by Spirit Hall (likely executed).
With a screech, Dai Mubai pushed open the rusted gates. The corroded hinges gave way, sending the doors crashing down in a cloud of dust.
Dead leaves swirled through the deserted courtyard. An eerie silence hung over the abandoned campus.
"Nobody here?"
"Looks like it's been empty for years."
"After Dean Flender was killed by Tang San, even Teacher Zhao Wuji left. He serves as a general in my Star Luo Empire now."
Following Flender's death, the faculty had scattered. Zhao Wuji had sought refuge with Dai Mubai. The three exchanged helpless glances at the academy's tragic fate.
---
Meanwhile, Ye Hao had already arrived at Shrek's back mountain.
"What a wasteland," he mused. "With Flender gone, Shrek Academy is finished. Even the teachers abandoned it. Perfect—we'll reclaim this place and establish a Spirit Academy here."
The once-scenic mountainside was now choked with weeds. The little wooden cabin stood dilapidated, its roof sagging.
Creak—
The cabin door swung open.
"You!"
"You!"
Ye Hao and the cabin's occupant stared at each other in mutual recognition.
"Ye Hao! How dare you return to Shrek Academy!" Liu Erlong's face twisted with rage. Five years had aged her considerably, especially after Ye Hao destroyed her martial soul and reduced her to an ordinary woman.
"I wondered who was squatting here. Liu Erlong, why haven't you moved on? Shrek Academy is dead."
"Spare me your mockery!" Liu Erlong spat. "You destroyed everything! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's thousands of lives—all slaughtered by your hand! I've never forgotten this hatred!"
"Then come kill me," Ye Hao said indifferently. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan brought this upon themselves. Yu Xiaogang overstepped by trying to destroy Spirit Hall. I merely returned the favor."
He had no interest in further conversation.
"Don't you dare slander Xiaogang! He's dead—can't you let him rest in peace?" Liu Erlong trembled with fury, powerless as a commoner against Ye Hao. Even at her peak, she'd been no match for him.
"Death doesn't erase infamy. I'll erect a monument documenting Yu Xiaogang's crimes, ensuring history remembers him as the fool he was," Ye Hao said coldly.
Liu Erlong nearly choked on her rage, her entire body shaking.
"Why are you really here?" she demanded through gritted teeth.
"They've arrived."
Ignoring her, Ye Hao's gaze shifted toward three approaching figures—Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun walking shoulder-to-shoulder through the desolate campus.
Suddenly, the trio froze mid-step. Their eyes widened in shock before they broke into a sprint, martial souls erupting as they launched attacks—White Tiger's Light Wave and Phoenix Fireline streaking toward Ye Hao!
"Five years, and you've only gotten weaker."
Ye Hao shook his head, casually deflecting both assaults with a single raised hand.
"What?!" The three stared in disbelief.
"Three Soul Kings. Congratulations—you've reached the level I was at five years ago."
Ye Hao studied them with amusement. Against an 89th-ranked Soul Douluo like himself, their two yellow, two purple, and one black soul rings were pitiful. Without immortal herbs, this was their limit.
"Ye Hao! Did you destroy the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" Oscar's eyes burned red. When he'd returned, the school lay in ruins, Ning Rongrong gone without a trace.
"Indeed," Ye Hao confirmed without hesitation. His real prize stood before him—the Star Luo Crown Prince was far more valuable.