Douluo Continent: Little Huo Niang Taken Away by Di Tian

Although that epic battle, worthy of being recorded in history, has ended, the shock and aftershocks it brought continue to shroud Shrek City like the heaviest dark clouds.

The college remains closed, and the streets are deserted and eerily quiet.

Mu En personally received the four teams that arrived in succession. They were medical teams composed of the top healing and support-type soul masters from various countries, and four emperors: Emperor Xu Jiawei of Xingluo, Emperor Tianhun, Emperor Douling, and Emperor Xu Mu of Riyue.

The four emperors arrived without any ceremonial procession, accompanied only by a minimal number of Douluo guards, all with somber expressions.

Without saying much, Mu En nodded slightly in greeting and led them into the Sea God Pavilion, directly to the core space inside the Golden Tree, which had been transformed into a massive medical field.

On the twenty-five makeshift beds, twenty-five titled Douluo, who just a few days ago represented the pinnacle of human combat power, were now mostly weak and covered in wounds, still receiving treatment in a coma or semi-coma.

When the emperors appeared, several titled Douluo who were less seriously injured and conscious instinctively tried to struggle to their feet to pay their respects, but their monarchs quickly stepped forward and gently pressed them down.

"You are all the backbone of our human race, no need for formalities, just focus on healing." Xu Jiawei's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible sorrow.

The other three emperors made similar statements.

Jing Hongchen, Ye Yulin, and the others struggled to report, but Xu Mu waved his hand and glanced at their empty spaces, where they should have been equipped with top-level soul tools.

"Mr. Mu, we need to talk." Xu Mu turned to Mu En.

A moment later, on the top floor of the Sea God Pavilion, in a quiet and secluded room.

The emperors of the four empires, Shrek Academy's Moon, and Kong Mingde, who was pushed in in a wheelchair, sat in a circle.

Kong Mingde's face was still pale, and his soul power was severely depleted, but his eyes were clear and calm.

As one of the commanders who personally experienced the battlefield and persevered to the end, and also a prince of the Sun Moon Empire, he sits here to use his most direct and painful experience to present the highest decision-makers with a fact that they must accept.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesties, Elder Mu," Kong Mingde's voice was somewhat hoarse, yet every word was clear, "before discussing any future strategies, please allow me to first state the 'truth' of the battle a few days ago."

From the initial shock of the simultaneous unfolding of the ultimate dark realm and the ultimate light realm, to the terrifying power of the three complementary soul cores that overturned our understanding, to Di Tian's almost playful handling of the attack by twenty-five people, and finally, the "Dragon God Claw" that ended everything.

"...That's not a soul skill, or at least not entirely. It's...a power that transcends the current understanding of the soul master system. Compared to it, the difference between level 98 and level 95 isn't as significant as we imagine."

"Twenty-five peak Douluo, fighting in a gauntlet for nearly four hours, failed to make him show any real signs of fatigue. His counterattacks were precise and efficient, and in the end, he even showed mercy, ensuring that none of our troops were killed."

This wasn't luck; it was precise control born from an absolute disparity in strength. If he wanted to kill, none of us would survive. He didn't kill us for the sake of negotiation, for the sake of his so-called "Soul Pact" and "the future of both races."

The emperors understood the unspoken message: the combined might of humanity's most powerful forces was utterly insignificant before Di Tian.

"Souls..." The Heavenly Soul Emperor broke the silence first, "What that Electrox demonstrated... is it really feasible? To obtain a soul ring without killing a soul beast?"

"Based on the current display of the Spirit Pagoda and the example of Huo Yutong's soul, it is feasible." Mu En's voice carried a strange certainty. "This is the key to resolving the blood feud of ten thousand years and opening up a new path. Di Tian's challenge and overwhelming us with absolute strength is not for extermination, but to establish his authority and force us to sit down at the negotiating table and take this path seriously."

"If the Soul Spirit Technique becomes widespread, the Soul Master cultivation system will be completely transformed, and the relationship between Soul Beasts and humans will also be reshaped." Xu Jiawei's gaze was sharp. "The interests involved are enormous. Power needs to be redistributed."

"It's not just about the distribution of profits," Xu Mu sneered, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "It's about the reconstruction of order. In the past, acquiring spirit rings depended on hunting; spirit beasts were resources, and prey."

In the future, according to the laws of souls, soul beasts will become 'partners,' collaborators, and may even be... the dominant party in a contract.

The Star Dou Great Forest will no longer be merely a dangerous or resource-rich area, but a powerful force with an supreme ruler, requiring equal dialogue. The Four Great Empires… ha, perhaps it should be five.

He glanced at everyone and said, "Di Tian gave us seven days. These seven days are not for us to heal our injuries, but for us to think things through."

Think carefully about your approach when you go to the Star Dou Great Forest to conduct this inherently unequal "negotiation."

The Emperor of Douling looked worried and fearful: "But... if we agree to the Soul Spirit Pact, won't our human soul masters be subject to the control of soul beasts in the future? And if soul beasts use this opportunity to recuperate and grow stronger..."

"You won't agree?" Kong Mingde asked calmly, "Your Majesty, Emperor Douling, do we have a choice? The battle a few days ago was the choice."

As we all saw, the result of our refusal might have been that Di Tian would no longer hold back, or a beast tide sweeping across the continent.

But the soul, at least, is a way out, and perhaps even... a win-win situation, if handled properly.

"Kong Mingde is absolutely right," Mu En interjected. "Gentlemen, recognizing reality is the wise thing to do. The power of the Emperor is no longer something that a single nation or race can withstand."

Instead of fearing the future rise of powerful spirit beasts, we should seize the present and strive for the greatest rights for our human race during the establishment of the spirit system, laying a new foundation for balance.

This requires us to temporarily set aside our prejudices and, at least when facing Di Tian and the Soul Beast Alliance, to have a unified stance and bottom line.

Xu Jiawei pondered for a moment: "Does Elder Mu mean that the four countries need to reach a preliminary alliance here? And jointly formulate the bottom line for negotiations?"

"Not just the four kingdoms," Xu Mu corrected, a glint of light in his eyes. "It's the four kingdoms and Shrek Academy, and perhaps... we should also add the 'Spirit Pagoda.' Electrolux and Di Tian have a close relationship, and Huo Yutong is a key link. A new era, new rules, the old order must be broken, and new positions need to be confirmed."

"The most urgent task is to determine the bottom line for negotiations," the Heavenly Soul Emperor steered the conversation back on track. "First, the specific form of the Soul Spirit Contract must ensure the dominant position and safety of the Soul Master, at least maintaining equality, rather than a master-servant reversal. Second, a clear demarcation between the Soul Beast territory and the human territory, and a non-aggression pact. Third, the status and supervisory responsibilities of the Spirit Pagoda. Fourth, the scope of the dissemination of the Soul Spirit Technique, the methods of acquisition, and the costs..."

When the door to the secret room opened again, the rising sun had just dispelled the last vestiges of night.

The four emperors all wore expressions of deep weariness, but deep in their eyes, a decision had been made.

The seven-day period is fast approaching.