Chapter 87: Killed?

[Douluo Calendar, December 14, 2028 – Heaven Dou Empire's Prime Minister, Ji Xiang, declares war on the Spirit Hall.]

[Douluo Calendar, March 15, 2029 – Spirit Hall is annihilated. That same year, the Star Luo Empire is annexed, and the Heaven Dou Empire unifies the continent. Under Ji Xiang's governance, a golden age begins.]

[Douluo Calendar, October 23, 2029 – The hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, undergo their tribulation. Thunderclouds cover half the sky, and the tribulation lasts for three days and three nights. Both beasts are severely wounded and near death.]

[Douluo Calendar, November 11, 2029 – The Heaven Dou Empire announces the "God-Extermination Campaign," ceasing all worship of deities.]

[…]

…

In the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial palace, Qian Renxue's expression was complicated. That woman was actually dead…

And the Spirit Hall she had grown up in had completely vanished due to a few of Zhou Sheng'an's disciples.

Though she had preserved the Worship Hall and some loyalists, at least on the surface, the Spirit Hall had been erased from history's pages.

This drastic change left her dazed for a long time.

Dark Qian Renxue sneered coldly and said, "Do you see now? We were all wrong. Sheng'an is the greatest treasure. With him, we can have everything!"

"But… have you noticed? There's something wrong with Sheng'an. The version of him in the simulation—I understand him less and less…"

Qian Renxue sighed, a trace of fear flashing in her eyes.

…

The scene shifted to a humble thatched hut.

More than six years had passed, yet the hut remained unchanged.

But within it, Qian Renxue could clearly sense that something had shifted. The atmosphere had changed, and the source of it all was Zhou Sheng'an.

Zhou Sheng'an sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, his back facing the doorway.

Qian Renxue quietly gazed at him, an indescribable emotion welling up inside her. Reverence? Admiration? Or the fear and insignificance a mere mortal felt before a god?

She could no longer see through Zhou Sheng'an, especially after Da Ming and Er Ming had been gravely injured, left on the verge of death.

"Sir Zhou, the immortal herbs Poison Douluo left behind… they should be able to heal Da Ming and Er Ming, right? Why haven't I seen them?" Qian Renxue forced a smile, nervously watching Zhou Sheng'an's back.

Speaking to him carried a weight.

She was only making conversation—otherwise, Zhou Sheng'an had been shut in his room for more than ten days, neither eating nor stepping outside, as if he had entered a strange state.

"They have gone where they were meant to go."

"What do you think of gods?"

Zhou Sheng'an suddenly asked.

Qian Renxue froze slightly, suddenly realizing that he had likely known her identity all along.

"Gods… Soul Masters can ascend to godhood at level one hundred. That means gods are essentially just powerful individuals, right?" she responded hesitantly.

Zhou Sheng'an remained silent for a moment, making Qian Renxue's nerves tighten.

"Yes, gods are merely powerful beings with selfish desires. But above gods… could there exist an even higher existence?"

Zhou Sheng'an sighed.

Qian Renxue gazed at his back, and for a brief moment, she felt as if his figure wavered—or rather, the entire world around him trembled.

She instinctively took half a step back.

In her eyes, Zhou Sheng'an had become a source of danger.

In this situation, she didn't even dare to tease him anymore!

…

"Zhuqing! That crazy woman, Bibi Dong, is finally dead! Hahaha! And she was killed by my two younger brothers! Hmph, let's see if she ever dares to come after me again!"

Xiao Wu excitedly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's arm.

Zhu Zhuqing curled her lips into a smile, her cold and stunning face radiating an almost breathtaking beauty.

"If the simulation isn't over, then she wasn't the one who activated it. Xiao Wu, you should still be careful. There are other players inside—you'd best not reveal your identity."

Xiao Wu nodded with a grin. "I know! Besides, I don't even need to reveal my identity. Teacher is incredible—he found me right away and even gave me some guidance."

"What did you say? Teacher found you?" Zhu Zhuqing was momentarily stunned.

Xiao Wu said, "Yep! I was really surprised too. One day, Teacher just appeared in front of me and told me that he had transformed Da Ming and Er Ming, letting them start over in human form, and asked me to take care of them."

"But… weren't they already hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?" Zhu Zhuqing frowned.

Xiao Wu nodded. "That's right, but they failed their hundred-thousand-year tribulation. So, Teacher gave them a chance to restart as humans. Sigh… I can't believe both Da Ming and Er Ming failed…"

Before she could finish speaking, she noticed Zhu Zhuqing's widened eyes and suddenly realized something.

Da Ming and Er Ming had been learning from their teacher. No matter how foolish they were, how could they possibly fail even a two-hundred-thousand-year tribulation?

Forced to start over as humans?

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing quickly pulled up the historical records.

Soon, they discovered Prime Minister Ji Xiang's decree—overturning all divine legacies across the continent, abolishing the worship of gods…

This was an act of great defiance.

Xiao Wu suddenly covered her mouth and exchanged glances with Zhu Zhuqing.

They had realized something terrifying—on the path for soul beasts to attain godhood, it seemed that they were being targeted by the gods themselves!

In other words, any beast that did not transform into a human and restart had no future!

Xiao Wu's face instantly turned pale. "Da Ming… Er Ming…"

Zhu Zhuqing took her hand and reassured her, "Teacher is a genius. He will definitely find a solution!"

…

Moon Pavilion.

Tang Yuehua was momentarily dazed as she exited the simulation, frowning in confusion. "Bibi Dong is already dead… so why are there still Titled Douluos watching over Zhou Sheng'an? Their strength hasn't diminished at all?"

She rubbed her temples and sighed.

She had been delighted when Bibi Dong suddenly died, thinking it was finally her turn to act.

But now, the Spirit Hall still refused to disappear?!

"Well, it makes sense. I had the Titled Douluos of the Clear Sky Sect assist Heaven Dou in suppressing the Spirit Hall. Some were killed, but those were just their publicly known identities."

"In other words… the Spirit Hall still has a hidden force… or maybe, another player?"

Tang Yuehua felt exhausted. The Spirit Hall was unbelievably persistent!

…

Pope Palace.

Bibi Dong's expression was as dark as iron.

She stared at the line in the records stating that she had been assassinated.

Taking a deep breath, her chest rose and fell before she slowly exhaled, suppressing the burning rage within her.

In the simulation, she had nearly ascended to godhood!

And yet, she had been cut down before she could take that crucial step, ruining her golden opportunity!

If she had reached level one hundred in the simulation, it would have drastically shortened the time needed in reality.

But now…

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth and said coldly, "Two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts… Ji Xiang… I will remember you!"

At that moment, the historical records before her suddenly updated again.

[Douluo Calendar, December 15, 2029 – A movement has emerged within the Heaven Dou Empire, calling for Prime Minister Ji Xiang to ascend as Emperor. Many officials and citizens support this notion.]

[Douluo Calendar, December 23, 2029 – Qian Daoliu attempts to assassinate Zhou Sheng'an. Zhou Sheng'an… has gone missing.]