Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

……

After a brief farewell to Poseidon, Xuanming activated his spatial powers and led everyone away from Poseidon Island.

The space shifted, and in the next moment, everyone appeared above Wuhun City.

Looking down at the magnificent city below, which was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, and feeling the hustle and bustle and vitality that was completely different from Poseidon Island, Hu Liena and the others showed complicated expressions.

After being away for several years, I'm finally back.

After a simple welcome dinner, they were eager to go home and visit their families.

Ning Rongrong was the first to jump up; she had long missed her father, Ning Fengzhi, and her two grandfathers. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was now deeply intertwined with the Spirit Empire, and its sect leader, Ning Fengzhi, held the prestigious position of Prime Minister, wielding immense power and influence. The Sword and Bone Douluos also held high positions within the Elder Hall.

Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu's families joined the Martial Soul Empire early on, seizing the opportunity, and now hold a respectable position within the empire, making it convenient for them to return home.

Dugu Yan's grandfather, Dugu Bo, was "invited" to Wuhun City and joined the Elder Hall early in the expansion of the Wuhun Empire because of his terrifying poison skills which had a huge impact on the war.

Although it was somewhat coercive, Bibi Dong still granted him ample courtesy and freedom, so Dugu Bo was happy to have some peace and quiet and could focus on his research into poisons. Dugu Yan, of course, went to find her grandfather.

Watching their companions go off to reunite with their families, Hu Liena, Xiao Wu, A Rou, A Yin, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, and the four ferocious beasts stayed with Xuan Ming.

Xiao Wu and A Rou depend on each other for survival; their "home" is each other and the place where Xuan Ming resides. Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia lineage is a single-lineage family with few members and relatively weak relationships. Since her grandmother's death, she has been devoted to Xuan Ming.

Zhu Zhuqing's situation was the most unique. Her family was far away in the Star Luo Empire, a place where ruthless competition and fratricide were the norm. There, she felt no warmth of family, only cold calculation and the pressure of survival. To her, that so-called "family" had long since become a dead name.

Wherever Xuanming is, that's her home.

As for Ah Yin, needless to say, she had even begun to regret being resurrected as a "young lady," because in this form she could no longer cling to Xuan Ming and act coquettishly all day long without any restraint as before.

"Let's go." Xuanming didn't say much and led everyone directly towards the Papal Palace in the center of the city.

The group walked along the wide streets of Wuhun City. Several years had passed, and Wuhun City had changed a great deal. The streets were cleaner, and many buildings and facilities featuring soul tools had appeared on both sides. Pedestrians hurried along, but the former fervor had diminished, replaced by a greater sense of order.

However, Xiao Wu keenly noticed that the pedestrians along the way all looked at Xuan Ming with extremely strange expressions.

It was a complex emotion mixed with awe, fear, curiosity, and even a hint of... indescribable feelings.

Many people, upon seeing this group from afar, instinctively lowered their heads and quickened their pace to avoid them, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Hu Liena's senses were even more acute; she could even faintly hear some hushed whispers:
"Look! It's...it's His Majesty!"

Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't look around!

"Her Majesty the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor appeared together today?"

"..."

His Majesty?

A flicker of surprise and confusion crossed Hu Liena's alluring eyes. It was common knowledge that her teacher, Bibi Dong, was the Empress of the Spirit Empire. But where did this title "Your Majesty the Emperor" come from? Could it refer to… Xuan Ming?
Ah Yin's senses were also extremely sharp. She blinked her azure eyes, grabbed Xuan Ming's sleeve, tilted her head back, and asked in a tone filled with natural innocence and curiosity, "Xuan Ming, Xuan Ming! Why do they call you Your Majesty the Emperor? When did you become the Emperor of the Martial Soul Empire? Where is Sister Dong'er?"

Her question was direct, and although her voice wasn't loud, everyone present heard it clearly. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and even the four ferocious beasts pricked up their ears, and even Hu Liena cast an inquiring glance.

Over the years, they have stayed on Seagod Island, while Xuanming and Guyuena have been traveling around because of the divine examination. They don't know much about what's happening on this continent.

Xuanming paused slightly, glanced at Ah Yin with her innocent face, and said calmly, "I did not become emperor."

"Then why do they call you that?" Ah Yin persisted.

Xuanming rubbed his temples, looking a bit of a headache, and explained, "Ever since the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, my relationship with her has been the focus of gossip among outsiders."

He paused, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Especially a few years ago when I returned to the mainland and used the Killing Battle Soul to destroy the fortresses on the border of the two great empires and the defenses of the capital, and then Bibi Dong launched an iron-fisted purge within the Martial Soul Empire, somehow, these messy nicknames started to circulate."

"Some say I am the man behind Bibi Dong, the true ruler of the Spirit Empire. Others say that she and I are the two pillars of the empire, with equal status, so one is called Empress and the other Emperor. There are even more outrageous rumors... In short, it's all a mess."

After listening, Ah Yin tilted her head and thought for a moment, then blinked her pure and innocent eyes and said in a tone as if she had discovered the truth, "But... all of this seems to be true, doesn't it? You and Sister Dong'er were originally in that kind of relationship!"

Xuan Ming: "..."

He was speechless at Ah Yin's "naive" honesty and didn't know how to refute her for a moment.

But what does this inexplicable emperor have to do with him?

……

Ning Rongrong bid farewell to Xuanming and her companions, her heart filled with excitement and trepidation as she headed towards the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's encampment in the city, following the directions given by Xuanming.

As the capital of the Spirit Empire, Spirit City has become larger and more orderly after several years of construction.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's headquarters, which is also the Imperial Prime Minister's residence, is located in a quiet and heavily guarded area in the west of the city.

When Ning Rongrong appeared in front of the sect gate, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School disciples on duty were first stunned, and then burst into great joy!

"It's Miss! Miss is back!"

"Quickly! Go and report to the sect leader! Miss is back!"

The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire mansion.

Ning Rongrong entered this "home" that was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, under the excited, curious, and somewhat awe-inspiring gazes of many disciples.

Before long, the sound of rushing wind and fluctuations of soul power came from outside the mansion!
Ning Fengzhi, who was inspecting military camps and handling government affairs outside the city, immediately dropped everything and rushed back with Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo who was by his side, after receiving the news of his daughter's return!

Almost simultaneously, a sharp and unparalleled sword light descended from the sky and landed in the courtyard of the mansion. It was none other than Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had rushed back from the sword training ground outside the city after sensing Ning Rongrong's aura!
"Rongrong! Where is my Rongrong?!" Ning Fengzhi's anxious and trembling voice came in even before he arrived.

When he rushed into the hall and saw the graceful figure standing in the center, he stopped abruptly.

The girl in front of me was dressed in a simple and neat outfit. Her skin was a healthy wheat color. She stood tall and straight like a pine tree. Her eyes were firm and bright. She exuded a solid and powerful soul force. Where was there any trace of the delicate and weak little princess who needed to be cared for at all times?
Is this...is this still his daughter, Ning Rongrong? (End of Chapter)