Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

"Xiaolong, go prepare some clean water. Remember, plenty of clean water, otherwise it will be very troublesome to clean up once the blood congeals."

Old Master Tong glanced at Granny Rong. "Why do you seem so skilled at this?"

Rong Momo remained silent.

This wasn't the first time she'd done something like this.

……

Fearing that flying at high altitudes would attract the Sun Moon Empire's long-range attack soul tools, Shrek and his group could only travel inside the Western Hills.

The people who came this time were all quite powerful, with several Super Douluo among them. They traveled forward without encountering any significant obstacles from the Sun Moon Empire's pursuers, traversing mountains and valleys, and soon penetrated deep into the western mountains.

The night was deep, and mist filled the sparse woods, occasionally punctuated by eerie chirping sounds.

It was at this moment that an eerie atmosphere began to emerge.

Along the way, starting with Huo Yuhao and Xuanzi, everyone gradually realized that they were not only going in circles, but their perception had also been greatly weakened.

Even though it felt like I had walked a long way, when I looked back, the road I came from seemed so close.

The fog overhead, like a cage, confined them here.

Even Xuanzi couldn't fly. He tried many times, and each time he took to the air, it was as if the entire sky was against him, with a tremendous pressure descending from the sky and forcibly suppressing him back down.

The pressure was so intense that it exceeded the limits of human capability. He estimated that even a Limit Douluo like Long Xiaoyao would be helpless here.

Xuanzi sat with the Shrek Seven Devils—oh, now there are six—and ate his favorite chicken leg while saying:

"We can only take it one step at a time now. Our food and water should last us ten days. But if we still can't find a way out in ten days..."

At this point, a fierce look flashed across Xuanzi's face, and he looked up at the sky again.

His meaning was clear: if he couldn't find a way out, he would do whatever it took to break through to the sky; perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.

The fierce look in his eyes was quickly masked by exhaustion. Xuanzi took a big bite of the chicken leg, as if he wanted to chew up and swallow all his anxiety.

While they were talking, suddenly, a warning sign arose.

Everyone instinctively looked in one direction, and then a golden and silver halo, like a tide, surged from the shadows in the distance and instantly covered everyone.

Everyone instinctively used their best defensive abilities, but the overwhelming golden and silver light did not have any impact on them. However, a strange feeling permeated everyone's heart.

Soon, a strong pulling force began to emanate from the golden and silver light. The weaker cultivators were immediately pulled aside and thrown about, their bodies involuntarily drifting into the depths of the halo.

About fifteen minutes later, suddenly, the light in front of them brightened abruptly, and they had emerged from the thick fog.

"This is……"

Almost everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

The scene before them was so dreamlike that they wondered if they were still in reality.

This is a vast lake, nestled among mountains, with crystal-clear water.

The most peculiar thing is that the lake water is actually gold and silver in color. In the center of the lake, there is a circular golden lake surface, as bright as the sun.

Around it, a crescent moon of silver shone, nestled against the golden, sun-shaped lake, radiating a silvery glow that was both cool and gentle.

The golden sun and silver moon shine together.

In the next instant, they were drawn by that magical power to the center of the lake, above the golden sun and silver moon.

Everyone was covered by a layer of gold and silver light, and everything around them was constantly changing as if the world were spinning.

Space is distorted, time is disordered, and light and shadow are shifting.

Even with his eyes closed, Huo Yuhao still felt dizzy.

The stronger a person's mental strength is, the greater the stimulation they seem to receive. Countless fragmented images surge through their mind, making it impossible to distinguish between memories and hallucinations.

Finally, as the dizziness gradually subsided, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes again.

He seemed to have entered a transparent world, where everything around him looked as if it were made of gold and silver crystal. His body was inside a bubble, but his footing was on a huge circular platform.

By this time, the round platform was already full of people. Besides him, there were Wang Dong'er, Wang Qiu'er, Bei Bei, and others.

Everyone's face was filled with confusion and wariness. They looked at each other, but no one could explain what had happened.

Suddenly, a narrow beam of golden light shot out from the center of the circular platform, rapidly rotating around it. Like the hands of a clock, the golden light swept precisely across each circle, carrying a sense of judgment.

"Love and destiny intertwine, a true adventure unfolds. Open—"

A very gentle-sounding male voice rang in his ears, carrying a hint of curiosity and amusement.

"Huh? This scent is so familiar."

The voice seemed to be recalling something.

"Have you ever met a guy named Electrolux?"

Huo Yuhao immediately pursed his lips.

……

[The first principle of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heavenly Treasure Record: Never let someone you cannot fully trust know your true strength.]

……

"No."

"Oh."

The voice seemed somewhat disappointed, but quickly regained its previous enthusiasm.

It seems they're not acquaintances, so we can play along with Tianxu's suggestion.

Zhongli Yuan thought to himself.

So, the game begins in the authentic and unbiased Qiankun Wenqing Valley.

-----------------

Not long after, the sounds in the hall ceased, leaving a chilling silence.

At the gates of the imperial city, the number of civil and military officials who had gathered after hearing the news continued to increase, forming a dense, dark mass.

Everyone's face was filled with an indescribable mix of anxiety and anticipation. They were anxious because they didn't know what had happened inside the hall, and they were looking forward to the upcoming power transition.

They naturally saw those wondrous lights traversing the night sky. Some were worried about how to handle the previous Mingdu explosion, while others were saddened by the national mourning bells that had resounded throughout Mingdu, representing the death of Xu Guoyi.

But without exception, the one thing they were most concerned about was:

When this imperial city reopens, who will sit upon the supreme throne representing the Sun and Moon Empire?

Will the Regent inherit the throne without any surprises? Or will the ambitious Third Prince leap over the dragon gate at the last moment? Or perhaps...?

The Kong family has finally set their sights on the throne.

In the midst of this anxious wait, with a creak, the majestic vermilion gate of the Sun and Moon Imperial City slowly opened.

The sound was particularly jarring in the silence, like some ancient summons, drawing everyone's attention.

Behind them, along an axis that is located at the very center of the entire city of Mingdu and also at the very center of the entire Sun Moon Empire, several gates of different shapes and meanings open up.

Layer upon layer, like a staircase leading to the kingdom of God, it appears especially solemn in the night.

Countless pairs of eager eyes peered inward, past the heavy gates, past the high-energy compression array shimmering with iridescent light, past the heavily armed Guardian Soul Master Corps, past...

They bypassed the dozens of palace servants and, under Rong Momo's command, splashed blood into the hall, which then flowed out like a waterfall.

The blood flowed down the steps, meandering like a river on the gold bricks, gleaming with a dark red luster under the moonlight.

Some people couldn't help but gag, some turned pale, and some had their legs go weak and could barely stand.

When the temple doors reopened, the main hall had turned a bloody red.

Xu Guoyi's body has been collected and placed in the coffin in the center.

Below, Kong Deming, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao bowed down in turn, their postures respectful and devout.

Ye Yulin, Jing Hongchen, and the leaders and deputy leaders of the six Guardians of the Nation, along with other ninth-level Soul Masters, Zhong Liwu, Yin Baifa, Nan Shuishui, and other high-ranking members of the Holy Spirit Cult, stood on either side, forming an insurmountable human wall.

At this moment, there were far more than a hundred Soul Rings shimmering within the hall!

Among them were beings that were hundreds of thousands of years old. Their dazzling light mingled with the blinding crimson color inside the hall, creating a chilling and awe-inspiring effect.

Purple, black, red, and other colors of spirit rings swirled in the air, turning the entire hall into a scene of carnage.

Xu Tianzhen and Kong Tianxu both ascended to the throne.

The ministers, who usually kept their emotions hidden, now all wore expressions of fear.

What's going on? Did the Kong family finally usurp the throne? Or...?

Countless thoughts swirled in their minds, but no one dared to voice them.

Kong Deming straightened his clothes, slowly stepped out from the ranks, stood beneath the steps, bowed towards the throne, and said loudly:

"Fellow colleagues, I am Kong Deming. You have all witnessed the massive explosion on Pyongyang Avenue and the attack on the Royal Palace. I have some extremely unfortunate news to announce to you—"

His voice, aged yet deep, echoed in the spacious hall, every word clearly audible:

"Shrek Academy, in collusion with the three kingdoms of Tianhun, Xingluo, and Douling, bribed Xu Guozhong to launch an inhumane terrorist attack on my capital city and the imperial palace. The late Emperor Xu Guoyi, the regent prince Xu Tianran, and all the princes perished in this attack. I am deeply saddened to hear this tragic news."

A terrorist attack from all sides, the evil spirit master, the emperor and all the princes perished? This is made up...

Some people were already twitching with barely suppressed apprehension, but no one dared to voice their doubts.

Kong Deming's gaze swept over the crowd.

"But a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, especially at this critical time, a benevolent ruler is needed to succeed to the throne and stabilize the people's hearts. Fortunately, before his death, the late emperor left an oral instruction for the regent, which the regent's wife is asked to convey."

"Oral edicts from the late Emperor and the Regent—"

She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall:

"The throne will be passed to Princess Tianzhen."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent; even breathing seemed to stop.

Ju Zi raised the silk scroll above her head, turned to face the throne, and bowed, saying:

"The late Emperor has passed away, and your humble servant respectfully requests—"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a ritualistic solemnity:

"The new emperor has ascended the throne!"