Could Gu Yuena truly be the true ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest? The true Beast God?
Once this thought surfaced in Ji Xuanqiu's mind, it couldn't be suppressed.
He and the other Tower higher-ups looked toward the head of the right side, only to see Gu Yuena sitting calmly, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders, her expression indifferent, paying no heed to their gazes.
She simply shook her head with a smile at Leng Yaozhu and said gently, "Teacher, there's no need."
Leng Yaozhu was taken aback and was about to persuade her further when Gu Yuena raised her eyes slightly, and a majesty beyond the mortal realm suddenly appeared in those purple pupils.
"I am the sovereign of the Star Dou spirit beasts!"
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear, like a blade of ice: "Now that I have returned, the authority of the Star Dou faction within the Spirit Transmission Tower shall naturally be wielded by me!"
Since Yuhao had returned, there was no need for her to hide within the Tower any longer.
The moment her words fell, a dragon's might originating from the depths of her bloodline erupted like an invisible tidal wave, sweeping through the entire hall!
Those with beast martial souls shuddered, feeling as if their martial souls had been seized by an invisible giant claw, trembling in terror. The spirit beast experts also tensed, feeling their bloodlines quiver—a submission rooted in the depths of their very being.
In that moment, to many, Gu Yuena appeared as a god of judgment, her presence overwhelming, her Silver Dragon King bloodline fully revealed.
Fortunately, this bloodline pressure came and went quickly. Gu Yuena withdrew it in an instant, precisely measured so as not to embarrass anyone.
As she withdrew her pressure, Emperor Tian was the first to rise, bowing deeply to Gu Yuena. "Emperor Tian obeys your command, my lord!"
Not just Emperor Tian—all the Star Dou spirit beast experts on the right side—Bi Ji, Xiong Jun, Ten Thousand Demon King, Zi Ji—rose together and bowed.
"Star Dou faction obeys your command, my lord!"
Their movements were synchronized, without a moment's hesitation.
That was the etiquette of subjects to their sovereign.
Just moments ago, Huo Yuhao had made a high-profile return as the Spirit-Ice Douluo, and even Spirit Souls like Skydream had received honor and respect.
Now that their sovereign intended to formally step onto the Douluo stage in her own identity, how could the Star Dou faction fall behind?
Though they might be close to Gu Yuena, offering the highest honors at this moment was their duty as her subjects.
The hall fell into absolute silence. Everyone held their breath, watching the line of bowing Savage Beasts. Their gazes toward Gu Yuena instantly shifted, barely concealing their shock.
They had never imagined that even someone as powerful as Emperor Tian wasn't the true ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest—that this deity was the supreme sovereign revered by all Star Dou spirit beasts.
Even Ji Xuanqiu, who'd already suspected something, felt his heart tremble violently, taking a long moment to suppress his surging shock.
Yet at the same time, more questions surfaced in his mind.
That Gu Yuena was the true Beast God of Star Dou was now beyond doubt. But precisely because of that, he found it even harder to understand—weren't spirit beasts unable to become deities?
How had she managed it? Reincarnation through human form?
But whether among the current Ten Great Savage Beasts or the past ones, they knew the whereabouts of almost all. Who was this person?
Her bloodline pressure was draconic—was she a true dragon whose bloodline surpassed Emperor Tian's?
While Ji Xuanqiu was filled with questions, Gu Yuena had already looked up at Emperor Tian and the others, her tone flat.
"Sit."
Emperor Tian and the others straightened and silently sat down. No one spoke again, but that unified action seemed to say it all—
From this day forward, the Star Dou faction's center of power had officially been transferred.
Only then did Leng Yaozhu snap back from the series of shocks. She stared at Gu Yuena, feeling that the sheer volume of information she'd received today was overwhelming.
She'd certainly noticed Gu Yuena's seating arrangement but had assumed it was due to her being Huo Yuhao's partner—nothing worth dwelling on.
Who could have guessed Gu Yuena was the Star Dou sovereign?
And with that answer, she also understood why Gu Yuena didn't need her position. As the Star Dou sovereign, she naturally had her own inheritance to manage.
"As you can all see," Huo Yuhao spoke up at this point, "Gu Yuena is the sovereign of the Star Dou spirit beasts. From today onward, she will hold all authority of the Star Dou faction within the Spirit Transmission Tower."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Leng Yaozhu. "Effective immediately, Emperor Tian's Deputy Tower Master position will be transferred to her. Emperor Tian will remain as the Star Dou branch Tower Master, assisting her. Does anyone have objections?"
Though Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised that Emperor Tian and Gu Yuena had chosen this moment to transfer positions, since it was their own decision, he naturally wouldn't oppose it.
"I have no objections." As the one who'd wanted to transfer her position, Leng Yaozhu noticed Huo Yuhao's gaze on her and sighed softly. She didn't object, but she cast a slightly reproachful look at Gu Yuena.
She had planned to step down and pass her Deputy Tower Master position to her disciple, fulfilling a long-held wish.
And then this bombshell had dropped—couldn't she have taken over her position before revealing all this?
Before her disciple grew up, she was Deputy Tower Master. After her disciple grew up, she was still Deputy Tower Master. It seemed she'd raised this disciple for nothing.
In that moment, Leng Yaozhu suddenly understood how Zhen Hua must have felt.
Gu Yuena seemed to sense Leng Yaozhu's gaze, turning to her with a slight, apologetic smile.
Though she could have taken over Leng Yaozhu's position, her identity would eventually be exposed—and the embarrassment would be inevitable. Moreover, in her current situation, like Huo Yuhao, she needed to prioritize improving her strength and was destined to be an absentee leader.
Even if she took over Emperor Tian's position now, Emperor Tian would still handle the day-to-day affairs. Today's move was more about clarifying her status and position. She, Huo Yuhao, and Emperor Tian all understood this.
If she took Leng Yaozhu's position, Leng Yaozhu still wouldn't be able to retire—it would be no different from now.
"I'll just find a successor for Teacher myself." Gu Yuena looked toward a certain girl who'd been hiding like an ostrich, a slight smile curving at her lips.
Gu Ruiqiu, you're it!
After Leng Yaozhu spoke, no one else in the hall voiced an objection.
The Tower higher-ups had swallowed their shock, finding no reason to object. After all, this was an internal decision of the Star Dou faction. Even Tower Master Emperor Tian had bowed—what could anyone else say? Moreover, Gu Yuena's strength and status were undeniable—she was a deity and the Spirit-Ice Ancestor's partner, making her their ancestor as well. For both practical and ethical reasons, there was no ground for opposition.
To object at this point would be to challenge the Spirit-Ice Ancestor, Gu Yuena, Emperor Tian, and the others—pure idiocy.
Soul-Calming Douluo thought this, glancing at Gu Yuena, then at Snow Empress, before finally looking at Huo Yuhao with a strange expression.
Speaking of which, Tower Master Gu Yuena, as the Star Dou sovereign, had a close relationship with the Spirit-Ice Ancestor.
And Tower Master Snow Empress, as the Extreme North sovereign, also had a close relationship with the Spirit-Ice Ancestor.
Could it be that, as the unofficial histories claimed, the Ancestor had gained the support of the two major spirit beast sanctuaries by... sacrificing himself and using a "honey trap"?
Soul-Calming Douluo thought of the book titles he'd seen in his daughter Zhao Yao's collection, his thoughts racing.
Previously, he'd scoffed at such notions, finding them utter nonsense. After all, though Snow Empress and the Ancestor were close—even called "Mistress" by Su Tong, suggesting a marital relationship—Emperor Tian and the Ancestor weren't that close.
But now, knowing that the true Beast God was actually Gu Yuena, and that she was equally close to Huo Yuhao, that theory wasn't entirely impossible.
And if that were truly the case, the Ancestor had truly gone to great lengths to promote the Spirit Soul system and establish the Tower.
Soul-Calming Douluo coughed, quickly suppressing those messy thoughts.
Why was he thinking about such things? How could he gossip about his predecessors?
It was all Zhao Yao's fault,she'd made him read those ridiculous unofficial histories and rumors.
When he got home today, he'd make sure she truly experienced what "a father's love is as solid as a mountain" meant!
"Then this matter is settled."
Huo Yuhao continued. "However, Gu Yuena's identity should not be publicly revealed for now. You may keep it in mind."
Gu Yuena blinked, looking at Huo Yuhao with questioning eyes.
With the attention currently on me, Na'er, you should stay hidden for now.
Huo Yuhao smiled and transmitted: You're our trump card now.
With the commotion of his apotheosis and a series of high-profile moves, most enemies' attention was now focused on him.
They might not completely ignore Gu Yuena, but they'd certainly place her in a secondary position. There was no need to actively expose her identity and let enemies focus on her in advance.
Gu Yuena's confusion faded, a slight smile curving at her lips as she said no more.
The Tower higher-ups also nodded, suppressing their swirling thoughts.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao's gaze returned to the assembly.
"If there are no other questions, let's move on to the main topic."
To be honest, many present still had questions,about the Fire God's whereabouts, the Divine Realm's fate, and some even suspected Gu Ruiqiu's identity after Gu Yuena's revelation.
After all, previously everyone had simply assumed Gu Yuena was a reincarnated deity possessing the daughter of the Gu family—a perfectly logical explanation. But now that Gu Yuena's identity as the Star Dou sovereign with genuine dragon bloodline pressure was revealed, Gu Ruiqiu—supposedly from a "family" and possessing the Golden Dragon martial soul—became far more ambiguous.
But these questions weren't urgent, no need to ask them now.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao nodded slightly. He tapped the conference table, and a light screen unfolded behind him.
A full topographical map of the Douling Continent appeared. Mountains, rivers, and all the Holy Spirit Cult strongholds known from the Demon Emperor's and Dark Department's intelligence were marked.
"The Holy Spirit Cult has entrenched itself on the Douling Continent for years, secretly colluding with the Abyss Plane." His voice was low and cold. "Their ultimate goal is to blood-sacrifice the entire Douling Empire's population—using millions of lives as offerings to help their higher-ups become deities while fully opening the Abyss Passage."
At this, the temperature in the hall plummeted.
Whether they knew of this or not, the Tower higher-ups all showed cold expressions.
Such acts were an outrage against all sentient beings.
"If they succeed, not only will the Douling Continent be devastated, but the Abyss army will pour in. Even if the Federation is strong, the entire Douluo Continent will become a hell."
Huo Yuhao's gaze swept across the room, his voice heavy. "So I have decided to personally lead all Title Douluo-level and above experts of the Spirit Transmission Tower to the Douling Continent to annihilate the Holy Spirit Cult in one strike!"
The conference room's atmosphere sharpened instantly.
Title-level and above, deploying in full force—this was an unprecedented operation for the Tower.
Qianku Dongfeng rose first: "The entire Tower is ready to follow the Ancestor into battle!"
Ji Xuanqiu also rose, cupping his hands: "I am willing to follow the Ancestor into battle!"
Seizing the opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty, Li Mengjie shot to her feet, her fervor undiminished: "With the Ancestor's return, the Holy Spirit Cult and Abyss Plane are nothing but dirt! We are willing to follow the Ancestor and crush Douling!"
In an instant, the conference room was filled with fervor, voices rising in a tide.
Huo Yuhao watched this scene with satisfaction, then raised his hand to silence them. His gaze swept across the room as he began assigning roles: "Snow Empress, Gu Yuena, Emperor Tian, Bi Ji, Xiong Jun, Qianku Dongfeng, Ji Xuanqiu, Han Tianyi, Soul-Calming Douluo, Sea Princess—you will accompany me."
Those named accepted their orders one by one. This list included over half of the Tower's Limit Douluo. Only Leng Yaozhu, Ten Thousand Demon King, Qianku Qingfeng, Qianku Dicing, and the not-yet-recovered Su Tong and Ye Guyi were not on the expedition list.
Only then did everyone realize—their Tower's Limit Douluo count had already reached such a terrifying number. Not counting the Ancestor himself, a full ten Limit Douluo would accompany him, while six still remained behind.
Truly terrifying.
Someone couldn't help swallowing nervously.
With such combat power,could they literally sink the Douling Continent?
It felt like the Holy Spirit Cult was receiving far more than they deserved.
"Leng Yaozhu, select half of the Tower's Title Douluo currently in inactive positions to accompany us. Afterwards, remain at Mingdu headquarters to hold the rear."
Huo Yuhao looked at her. "After we leave, the entire Tower will be under your command—ensure everything runs smoothly."
Leng Yaozhu took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
"Branch Tower Masters accompanying me will have their deputies manage branch affairs temporarily, with handover upon the campaign's conclusion."
Huo Yuhao's gaze swept over everyone, and he said solemnly: "Is everyone clear?"
"Yes!"
Everyone nodded. Then Han Tianyi asked, "Ancestor, after we completely eliminate the Holy Spirit Cult on Douling, what should we do with the Douling Empire? If left unattended, they might be used by the Cult again."
Huo Yuhao said, "On that point, there's no need to worry. Our battle will shatter Douling's will to resist. The Federation will take the opportunity to dispatch the North Sea Legion, the Southern Corps, and the War Temple, coordinating with the Dark Department to fully incorporate the Douling Continent into Federation territory. I will also send personnel to establish a Spirit Transmission Tower branch there to guard against the Holy Spirit Cult."
Han Tianyi nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing no further questions, Huo Yuhao said, "Dismissed. Gather here in three days. We march for Douling!"
Everyone rose, bowed solemnly, and filed out.
As for Soul-Calming Douluo, after leaving the conference room, he ignored all pleasantries and urgings to stay, hurrying home with swift steps.
His face was ashen, but hidden in his eyes was a murderous "paternal love."
He meant what he said—today, he'd make his daughter truly experience what "a father's love is as solid as a mountain" meant!