Half an hour earlier.
"Teacher, aren't you going to leave?"
Dugu Yan saw that Su Wen had yet to depart, her dark green eyes somewhat confused.
"Hehe, of course I'll be leaving. But there's still something I need to do before I go..."
Su Wen showed a slight smile.
In the next instant, an immense spiritual force erupted from him, like a tidal wave, rippling out to cover every nook and cranny of the vast, underground city of Slaughter City.
A massive, vertical eye appeared, slowly materializing in midair. It cast a cold gaze over everything below.
Even the bloodthirsty, murderous denizens of Slaughter City found it hard to breathe, glancing up at the strange vision with mounting fear.
"What is that?!"
This underground city, previously lit only by a purple moon, now had an additional black-and-red vertical eye—surrounded by countless undulating tentacles, making the spectacle eerily bizarre.
Slaughter City was already fantastic and uncanny; even its inhabitants were left baffled by this sudden vision.
"Found it..."
Su Wen's gaze, almost as if it had taken the shape of that vertical eye, locked onto a plain, unremarkable house in the southwestern corner of the city.
A bloody skirmish erupted nearby, but soon, both sides gradually halted.
Heads rose, and those eyes stared right at them!
"Rakshasa Secret Realm!"
Su Wen broke into a smile.
Indeed, his reason for coming—not just to warn the Slaughter King or help Dugu Yan acquire the Deathgod Domain—also included a plan for this very place.
In the original novel, Bibi Dong entered Slaughter City after devouring Qian Xunji, obtained a secret inheritance in the Rakshasa Secret Realm, modified her own cultivation method, and thereby succeeded in inheriting the Rakshasa God's position.
The Rakshasa God and the Asura God are the world's two "evil intent" gods—opposing each other, locked in eternal rivalry.
Whenever the Asura God finds a successor, the Rakshasa God intervenes; this is why Tang Chen fell from grace.
Slaughter City itself shouldn't exist in the world—it is a byproduct of the powers of Asura God and Rakshasa God colliding and mixing, leaving behind a flawed creation.
And Bibi Dong, even after ascending as Rakshasa, eventually lost herself to madness, unable to control the god's evil intent.
Off topic.
When Su Wen shattered Bibi Dong's martial soul, he sensed a wisp of Rakshasa God's divine power inside her. It was weak, but no doubt a benefit she'd gained from the Secret Realm.
In other words, if Dugu Yan obtains the Deathgod Domain, then gets this faint wisp of Rakshasa divine power, and manages a trip into the Rakshasa Secret Realm...
She'd basically have the god position secured.
Buzz...
His divine sense swept deeper.
From within the Rakshasa Secret Realm, a suspicious spiritual ripple responded.
The world seemed to freeze.
Only Su Wen stood high above, the giant black-and-red eye looming behind, watching the mortal plane, while below, a figure condensed from purple smoke gazed silently back.
"May I ask which god you are?" The Rakshasa's divine sense broke the silence, a trace of surprise on its face.
In its eyes, Su Wen was the same kind of being.
After all, only a god's presence could be so intense that the Rakshasa itself could not sense its depths—the mortals below could never achieve this; the only explanation was that Su Wen's strength far exceeded expectations.
"God of Time and Space." Su Wen replied with a grin, borrowing the name of another.
"God of Time and Space?"
The Rakshasa God grew even more suspicious. "Forgive me, but I have never heard of a 'God of Time and Space' in the countless years I have been in the divine realm."
There was a God of Space—a mysterious, reclusive figure even in the divine realm—but no God of Time and Space.
"It's normal you haven't heard," Su Wen sighed. "I was around in the Dragon God's era, long before you became the Rakshasa God."
"Hiss—"
The Rakshasa God drew in a sharp breath; its demeanor instantly became more respectful.
Indeed—only someone from the same era as the Dragon God, a creator-level god-king, could be this inscrutable.
"Then, may I ask for what purpose you have come?" the Rakshasa God asked, its tone much gentler now.
"As the God of Time and Space, I exist in countless timelines. I can foresee the future... Rakshasa God, would you care to make a deal with me?"
Su Wen smiled.
"I'll help you kill the Asura God—but you give her... a trial."
"Huh?" The Rakshasa God's pupils shrank. "Such formidable talent—could she be even more gifted than..."
"You mean Bibi Dong?" Su Wen raised his palm, releasing waves of thick, purple fiendish energy.
"She's been dethroned?" The Rakshasa God belatedly realized.
It never cared for such details—its only goal was destruction of the Asura God. This hatred surpassed even that for the Angel God.
"Her talent is remarkable. Even if you hadn't said so, I'd have considered her..." The Rakshasa God nodded slightly.
Talent is the entrance ticket.
But this girl's gift far surpassed even Bibi Dong, whom the Rakshasa had once handpicked.
"And what does Your Excellency want with my god position?" The Rakshasa God asked.
"I have no fondness for the Asura God," Su Wen replied directly. "Throughout the divine realm, in every timeline, I have my own plans..."
The Rakshasa God's mind whirled.
Such a terrifying ability—even the law enforcers of the divine realm couldn't deal with this. No wonder the Asura God has been repeatedly tripped up.
"Are you threatening me?" the Rakshasa God frowned.
"I just want efficiency. I help you kill the Asura God; you give me the Rakshasa position... Fair exchange."
"Agreed." The Rakshasa God finally nodded. Before departing, it asked about the successor's fate, and to whom the Asura Godhood had gone.
Learning the answer, its anger grew.
Its chosen successor had been thoroughly thrashed.
Saying no more, it departed.
Splash~
With a wave of Su Wen's hand, the flow of time restored to normal.
This was why he could make even the Rakshasa God submit...
After saying farewell to Dugu Yan, he returned to the Heaven Dou Empire.
Qian Renxue had left to inherit the Angel God's trials. Reluctantly, she'd asked for a kiss before heading back to Spirit Hall. Su Wen sighed—her freshness was no match for the mature charm of a single woman who'd spent decades alone.
After becoming a god, Qian Renxue had truly let herself go.
Heaven Dou's emperor tried once more to crown him as national preceptor, but Su Wen refused. The empire wanted his name to deter Spirit Hall, even dreamt of expanding at the expense of Star Luo.
But Su Wen had no intention of playing their political games.
As for the Rakshasa God trial: as long as the Rakshasa God was sensible, all would go smoothly. If not, then Su Wen wouldn't hesitate to return in ten thousand years with overwhelming might. Even if the gods were warned, the Asura God couldn't do anything about it.
Buzz...
Upon Su Wen's return, entering the Sea God Pavilion after ten thousand years, a battle report reached his ears.
The Sun Moon Empire had breached the Mingdou Mountains, pushing north and breaking through several provinces. Their momentum was unstoppable, with no signs of abating. Though not as aggressively baring fangs at Shrek Academy as last time, their probing intentions were clear.
They continued to test Shrek's limits.
"Are we fighting?" Yan Shaozhe scratched his head, waiting for Su Wen's response.
Remarkably, the Sea God Pavilion had several new faces, all young, obviously promoted from Shrek's monitoring teams.
The old stalwarts who had long occupied leadership were decisively retired by Su Wen.
Let them retire in peace.
Shrek would not mistreat them, but neither would it let these old guard hog prime seats forever.
Injecting new blood signaled a faction's vitality.
Of course, everyone who could enter the Sea God Pavilion was at least a Spirit Douluo; paired with mecha, they could stand even with average Title Douluos.
"Let's fight. It's time to teach them a lesson."
Su Wen nodded, setting the tone.
But this time, unlike before, he wasn't planning to single-handedly flatten the enemy. That would be too much of a personal show—it was time for Shrek's 'fangs' to be revealed...
Such as the new 'blood' now present.
Whoosh~
A bright blue bird landed on Su Wen's hand, chattering for food.
Su Wen smiled, feeding it from his storage device, untying a letter from its leg, and opening it.
"..."
After reading, his expression grew odd.
"Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling are rallying strong powers to form an alliance against Sun Moon, but... apparently, we weren't invited?"
He looked at Yan Shaozhe.
"Don't look at me—not my fault," Yan Shaozhe shrugged. "After you snubbed Star Luo's parade, they knew your attitude toward this stuff. Not inviting you is reasonable."
"True," Su Wen nodded.
"Now that they're pressed against a wall, it's normal to make a last stand. But unfortunately... their 'allies' might not be true allies at all..."
Maple Leaf City, southern Heavenly Soul Empire. Now long since occupied by Sun Moon forces, its castle reduced to rubble.
Yet, several powerful figures approached, discussing something intensely.
Soon after, in a makeshift tent, the Poison Undying appeared, scanning the crowd with a smile: "You all know who I am. So let's cut the crap."
This stirred the assembly.
This one's credentials were unquestionable.
"This is Sun Yang Douluo—you all know him too."
"Our purpose is simple: to form an alliance, resist Sun Moon Empire's invasion together."
The words fell like a wet blanket.
"Shouldn't we ask Shrek Academy for help?" an elderly man with a white beard frowned. "Just us—can we really..."
"Heh! Is Shrek your dad? You like being a lapdog, huh?" Sun Yang Douluo fumed. "If they wanted to help, they would have shown up at the Star Luo parade or stepped in when Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling were getting trashed! They haven't done anything!!"
"Sun Yang, you—!"
The white-bearded man leapt up, embarrassed.
Sun Yang's anger was clear.
But the Poison Undying calmed everyone, smiling.
"I know Shrek. Xuanzi isn't up to the task; the new leader Su Wen is strong, but too young—he has no idea how potent Sun Moon's linked defensive soul tools are.
"Frankly, it was because of him... that Shrek has ended up like this.
"But there's nothing we can do; they elected a completely unfit head. For thousands of years, we haven't seen such an incompetent one."
Poison Undying took a deep breath.
"So, we rely on ourselves!
"Today's alliance starts with a few big powers—is that acceptable?"
...
The atmosphere was tense.
Poison Undying was confused—shouldn't everyone be clamoring for an alliance now that Shrek was out? Who else could they unite with?
Clap, clap, clap...
Sun Yang Douling broke the silence: "Since Poison Master is willing, of course we'll sign the treaty! I, Dou Ling Empire, agree!"
Silence returned. Smaller factions and minor powers watched, waiting for the big players to move before following.
But... Star Luo Empire and Angel Hall weren't moving?
"I think we'll pass," said a kindly elder in white robes.
"Qian Lingyun? Why?!"
"Divine will—no more to say." Qian Lingyun shook his head. "In short, Angel Hall will follow Sea God Pavilion Master Su Wen."
"You..."
Poison Undying was furious.
Then Star Luo's chief royal offering, cloaked in black, spoke up too.
"We, Star Luo, also won't sign."
"Ye Yu, you're mad!"
Poison Undying slapped the table, shaken, staring at the other.
"Shrek humiliated Star Luo, and you won't sign?!"
"We lost fairly. From now on, Star Luo will follow Shrek Academy."
He stood, bowing toward Shrek's direction.
"You, you all..."
Poison Undying felt completely defeated, slumping into his seat.
"Sun Yang, we'll need a new plan. Assassinate the Emperor of Sun Moon Empire, strike during their succession crisis—our opportunity!"
[Fast forward: risking everything for assassination in Mingdu...]
Who could have guessed—Star Luo and Angel Hall would so thoroughly swing to Shrek's side?
Meanwhile—
Clear Sky Sect.
Da Ming and Er Ming were deeply troubled.
The continent's situation was unpredictable, but Lord Tang San hadn't sent any instructions in some time.
Su Wen's meteoric rise was so terrifying, it made them tremble.
If they allowed this any longer, the opponent might become a god soon.
"Big Brother, what are you doing?" Er Ming watched as his brother headed to the sect's rear altar, totally confused.
"Contact the God Realm!"
"Wait for me!"
One after another, the two headed deep into Clear Sky's most secret area.
As arrays activated and energy poured in, their spiritual consciousnesses gradually reached the God Realm...
When they opened their eyes again, they were once more in the familiar Sea God Temple.
A blue-clad figure materialized before them.
A powerful Sea God sense swept across.
Da Ming and Er Ming quickly bowed deeply. "Master!"
Their counterpart remained silent, scrutinizing them, seemingly pondering something.
"I have an important report! The mortal Su Wen is now terrifyingly powerful—if you don't step in soon, he'll turn the world upside down!"
"Yes!" Er Ming chimed in.
"..."
But the figure still said nothing.
Da Ming broke out in a cold sweat. Was he angry at them for sneaking up here? Or disappointed in their slow progress finding Xiao Qi's spirit fragments?
"Master, we truly are doing everything to find Xiao Qi's spirit, but there are so many obstacles! If you don't intervene, Gu Yuena won't hand it over... The 'tool' is at Shrek. We could grab it, but..."
"..."
Still unsatisfied?
Da Ming grew increasingly anxious.
"Heh—so devoted to that beast, aren't you?"
Suddenly, a cold, unfamiliar female voice broke the silence. Not Tang San—nor Xiao Wu!
It sounded familiar, but neither could remember who.
Da Ming jerked his head up.
The stunningly beautiful girl before him, so familiar, but her eyes were now filled with an icy, murderous intent rather than the gentleness he remembered.
Wait a minute! Isn't this the Sea God Palace? What the hell is she doing here?