74: Chapter 74 Three Years and Three More
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Just as the trio of Gui Mengguan had predicted, during these three years, the entire Douluo Continent fell into a strange and prolonged state of tranquility.
The tragedy three years ago, where a Spirit Hall Spirit Master regiment was completely wiped out, had once left the entire human World in a state of panic. The defenses of the All-Continent Anti-Beast Alliance were built to be as solid as a fortress, and all factions were on guard day and night, fearing that the Vicious Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest would trample the human World.
But no one expected that after that earth-shattering warning, the Star Dou Great Forest would fall into complete silence.
Over these three years, Spirit hunting activities on the outskirts of Star Dou had long since returned to normal. There were even bold Spirit hunting teams who dared to venture together deep into the central region to find hundred-year and thousand-year Spirit Beasts, never again encountering the situation of being wiped out without a sound like back then. Never mind a World-destroying beast tide; even the frequent incidents of Spirit Beasts harming people in previous years had decreased by more than half.
As time went on, the Spirit Masters on the continent gradually relaxed their taut nerves.
The rumors slowly changed flavor, shifting from the initial panic over the top-tier Vicious Beasts of Star Dou to claims like, "Back then, it was Spirit Hall's own operational error that angered the Beast King of Star Dou and brought disaster upon themselves," and "It was just a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast that lived a bit longer; it's not nearly as terrifying as the rumors say."
Even the defenses of the Anti-Beast Alliance slowly downgraded from the initial level-one combat readiness to daily shifts. The two Great Empires withdrew more than half of their stationed Spirit Master legions, and the major Sects recalled their scouts from the field. Only Spirit Hall remained, persisting in its routine monitoring of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Similarly, those transmigrators and Rebirths scattered across the continent also fell into an unprecedented calm.
The expected mutual testing and killing did not occur, nor did anyone jump out early to snatch opportunities or rewrite the plot. It was as if everyone had agreed to lie low simultaneously.
Yu Tianmeng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect guarded the Sect's top resources and Cultivated behind closed doors. Aside from the Sect's necessary training, he almost never left the mountains.
Lin Mo's group in Spirit City also stayed within Spirit Hall. They neither contacted Shrek Academy early nor searched for other transmigrators, simply Cultivating and developing steadily.
Even Lin Yue, who was traveling alone, completely vanished into the crowd, and no one could track her movements anymore.
It seemed everyone had a tacit understanding: before Tang San, the core plot anchor, officially entered the main storyline, any early exposure or internal strife was a meaningless suicidal act.
Only by gripping their strength tightly and waiting for the moment the twelve-year-old Tang San stepped into Shrek Academy would the real show begin.
Deep within the Elder Hall of Spirit City, in a secret cultivation room, three figures walked out one after another.
Three years of closed-door Cultivation had allowed the three youths to shed their initial immaturity. The Soul Power fluctuations around them were steady and heavy, no longer resembling how they looked when they first entered Spirit Hall.
Gui Mengguan walked at the front, his Mental Energy condensed almost into substance. His eyes were clear and deep; even a casual glance could make one feel as if they were being completely seen through.
Over these three years, relying on the Divine Soul Foundation laid by the Mixed Origin Immortal Herb combined with the Mental Energy cultivation secret methods of the Elder Hall, his Soul Power had steadily broken through to the level fifty-two Spirit King Realm. His control over his Spirit had long since reached the Microscopic Realm; even a Titled Douluo would find it difficult to suppress him on a Mental Energy level.
Following closely behind was Qiangu Jue. His stature was much taller than three years ago, his muscles smooth yet full of explosive power. When he lightly tapped the Coiling Dragon Rod in his hand, the ground trembled slightly. The medicinal power of the strange velvet sky chrysanthemum had been completely refined by him, and both his Physical Body and Spirit had received ultimate tempering. He was now a level fifty-three attack system Battle Spirit King. With his brute strength combined with the overbearing Spirit Abilities of the Coiling Dragon Rod, he would dare to face even an ordinary Spirit Emperor head-on.
Walking at the very back was Oupai. His aura was restrained to the extreme, making him look like an ordinary youth. However, if one sensed carefully, they could find that the Soul Power circulating around him carried extreme penetration and explosive force.
“Three years, finally out of seclusion.” Qiangu Jue stretched his limbs, his joints making a series of popping sounds, his face full of satisfaction. “I didn't expect this seclusion to push me directly to the Spirit King Realm. The resources of the Elder Hall are truly ridiculous.”
“The calm of these three years can be considered to have given us a chance to breathe.” Gui Mengguan nodded slightly, his gaze looking out beyond Spirit City, his voice calm. “As we predicted, no one jumped out early to mess with the plot during these three years. It seems everyone is holding their breath and Cultivating, waiting for the node where Tang San enters Shrek.”
Oupai nodded. “Yeah, it’s like we all agreed. I just wonder if they’ll show up when the time comes.”
“That’s really hard to say.” Gui Mengguan chuckled, not showing the slightest surprise in his eyes. “Everyone is a transmigrator; no one is stupid. Jumping out early only makes you a target. Gripping your strength is the only hard truth. Now, the day Tang San turns twelve and the plot officially begins isn't far off.”
Qiangu Jue tightened his grip on the Coiling Dragon Rod, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “What’s there to fear? we haven't been idle these three years. With a Spirit King's cultivation, even if we really clash, we have the power to fight. Besides, we have Spirit Hall at our backs; we have much more confidence than those guys fighting alone.”
Unless their cheats are even more powerful than ours.
The three looked at each other, seeing determination in each other's eyes.
During these three years of lying low, they had not only raised their cultivation but also used the authority of the Elder Hall to understand the internal structure of Spirit Hall. They had established stable contact with the two Elders, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, and had already secured a firm foothold within the Spirit Hall system.
Compared to the caution and dilemma of three years ago, they now had the confidence to protect themselves in this chaotic situation and even influence the outcome.
At the same moment the three emerged from seclusion, within the Adjudicator Hall deep in Spirit Hall, a summons that would determine the future direction was quietly taking place.
The Adjudicator Hall was not as grand and ostentatious as the main hall. Twelve obsidian pillars engraved with dragon and lightning patterns supported the high dome. The light inside was dim, with only the night pearls at the top shedding a cold glow, making the entire hall look solemn and frigid, just like the woman sitting in the main seat.
Bibi Dong was dressed in a black adjudicator's robe with dark gold trim. Her beauty was peerless, yet her brow carried a coldness and majesty that saw through the World. Her Soul Power fluctuations were restrained, yet she possessed a pressure that would make even a Titled Douluo hold their breath. She was the Adjudicator Elder of Spirit Hall, the person with the most power below Qian Daoliu, and also the adoptive mother who had raised Alternative for a full six years.
Below, a young figure in black tight-fitting clothes stood with hands down, his posture as upright as a pine tree. It was Alternative.
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