On the screen, the Star Dou Fortress—claimed to withstand a rank-nine fixed soul-guided shell and endure successive attacks from savage beasts—was cracking apart!
Above the Star Dou Forest, the simulated sky created by soul-guided devices fractured like a broken glass mirror, with dense, web-like cracks spreading across it.
"Crack!"
With a resounding shatter, a black, razor-sharp dragon claw burst through the simulated sky.
The complete failure of the soul-guided camouflage device revealed its true form, with sparks of electricity flickering like lightning, emitting ear-piercing "Zzzzt! Zzzzt!" noises.
Immediately after, another black dragon claw shot out, reflecting a dazzling brilliance under the real sunlight.
The two claws tore apart the illusionary sky, accompanied by a deafening dragon roar that echoed across the heavens, as the simulated sky dissolved into a mirage of the past.
Metal fragments of the soul-guided devices rained toward the ground, flickering with lingering illusions from before—A golden sunset, towering ancient trees, a vast azure sky…
At this moment, under the real sky, the Star Dou Forest revealed its true form.
Even though only its core area remained, the actual Star Dou Forest was far more vibrant than the fabricated illusion.
More precisely, the simulated sky had never been just an illusion—these were living plant-type soul beasts, an inseparable part of the soul beast race itself.
At this moment, alongside the lingering reverberation of the dragon's mighty roar, countless beastly howls once again surged beyond the fortress.
In the past three thousand years, such a phenomenon had never occurred. The roars carried complex emotions—excitement, rage, vengeance, and more.
At this moment, the owner of the dragon's roar finally revealed his true form.
A colossal black dragon, spanning a thousand meters in length, hovered above the Star Dou Forest.
Its massive wings, stretching a hundred meters across, flapped powerfully, blocking out the sky and sun, stirring up violent winds, and sending sand and stones flying.
Its signature golden dragon eyes proclaimed its identity—the one who had reigned as the king of soul beasts for countless ages—the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, Di Tian!
His golden pupils shifted, locking onto the core of the Star Dou Fortress—its energy relay hub.
Even with the thick alloy walls of the fortress as a barrier, the Titled Douluo guarding the site felt an unbearable chill wash over them. Their blood seemed to freeze under that piercing gaze.
Teeth chattering uncontrollably, one of them shouted in terror:
"Beast tide! Beast tide!"
"All personnel, evacuate the Star Dou Fortress immediately!"
"Hurry!"
Beast tide—A term that had disappeared from human society for over three thousand years.
A term that only existed in textbooks and ancient records, written in black and white.
Yet today, this very term burst forth once more from the mouths of human soul masters.
Inside the Star Dou Fortress, orders regarding the "beast tide" and "fortress evacuation" were quickly issued.
But just as these orders began being relayed, they were abruptly cut short.
"Clang!"
The fortress's ceiling—reinforced with high-tier soul-guided formation arrays—suddenly caved in, visibly crumbling and shattering.
"Slash!"
A sharp dragon claw ripped through the fortress's core hub, collapsing the entire internal structure.
The soul masters stationed inside the fortress were completely paralyzed under the crushing weight of the dragon's might. As the fortress caved in, they perished one by one.
A senior elder of the Spirit Pagoda, a Title Douluo-level master and three-word battle armor user, had barely reached the fortress exit when a razor-sharp dragon claw pierced through his chest in a single strike.
The dragon claw's tip bored straight through his body, draining his life force completely, extinguishing his vitality.
A revered individual in the human world, a high-ranking elder of the Spirit Pagoda—gone, without even the chance to summon his battle armor.
Yet, the Star Dou Fortress's energy hub wasn't Di Tian's main target.
He had crushed it only to gain leverage for his next move—And stepping on a Titled Douluo was nothing more than an afterthought.
With a powerful leap, the colossal dragon ascended into the sky.
His wings unfurled, shaking the earth. Gale-force winds roared, lifting dust and debris into the air.
The thousand-meter-long dragon body streaked across the heavens with an unstoppable presence, heading straight for the Spirit Pagoda headquarters!
Behind him, the unveiled Star Dou Forest underwent a ferocious transformation.
Plants grew wildly, twisting and expanding at an unnatural rate.
Vines crept over the now half-ruined Star Dou Fortress, while blooming buds unfurled, replacing the steel walls with a verdant jungle—returning it to its primal, forested state.
Meanwhile, at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters—
Leisurely enjoying himself, Qian Gu Dong Feng sipped an expensive glass of champagne alongside his trusted subordinates.
"Cheers!"
The crisp clinking of crystal glasses rang through the air, as a lively atmosphere filled the private lounge.
"Congratulations, Pagoda Master! The recent campaign against the evil soul masters was a great success, winning you immense public support."
"Under the upheaval within the Federal Parliament, we have secured additional seats, all thanks to your unparalleled wisdom and leadership!"
Listening to his subordinates' unreserved flattery, Qian Gu Dong Feng basked in satisfaction.
He felt as if his very soul was floating in ecstasy.
Having not dispersed the alcohol with soul power, his face was flushed, and his steps swayed slightly.
"Hahaha!"
"A toast to all of us!"
"The Spirit Pagoda headquarters stands as the tallest structure on the continent, and soon, our Spirit Pagoda will become the most powerful organization in the world!"
"When that day comes, every one of you here will be immortalized in history as great contributors!"
"I promise you this—just as the Tang Sect honors the stories of the Thousand-Hand Douluo and the Spirit Ice Douluo, we shall establish the 'Spirit Pagoda Pavilion'!"
"Our statues, portraits, and deeds will be enshrined together in that hall!"
Just as the celebration reached its climax, a secretary barged into the lounge, completely disregarding protocol.
"Pagoda Master!"
Qian Gu Dong Feng, his good mood disrupted, was naturally displeased.
However, upon recognizing the intruder, he refrained from immediate reprimand—
Because this was the secretary for urgent matters, not the one for trivial affairs.
This secretary would never interrupt unless something truly critical had occurred.
Sobering up slightly, he asked, "Speak."
"The Star Dou Fortress has sent an urgent report—The Star Dou Forest has erupted into a full-scale beast tide!"
At that moment, Qian Gu Dong Feng instantly sobered up, evaporating all traces of alcohol with his soul power.
"Connect me to the stationed elder at the Star Dou Fortress—immediately!"
However, the secretary's expression darkened as he hesitated before answering with a strained voice:
"We have lost all contact with the Star Dou Fortress. I fear… I fear it has already fallen."
Qian Gu Dong Feng's face twisted in rage. His first thought was utter disbelief—was this secretary joking?!
The Star Dou Fortress, strengthened by the Spirit Pagoda for three thousand years,Fallen in the time it took to relay a single message?!
Before he could lash out and demand a proper report—
"BOOM!"
A thunderous explosion shook the entire Spirit Pagoda tower.
The entire structure trembled violently, abruptly shattering Qian Gu Dong Feng's train of thought.
Caught off guard, his body staggered uncontrollably, swaying along with the trembling tower.
(End of Chapter)