Collaborative training breaks the deadlock; the mainland unites to build a shield.

The next morning, on the Nishen Training Ground in the Star Dou Great Forest, black god-defying runes and fifteen streams of energy intertwined to form a brilliant curtain of light. With the battle vows still echoing in their ears, the Heroines had all assembled to begin collaborative training for the synchronization of their God-Defying Forms and the God-Defying Grand Array—this was the core preparation plan formulated by Su Chen, aimed at perfectly linking The women's God-Defying Power with the grand array, transforming "individual strength" into "overall invincibility."

On the training ground, Su Chen set the simulation target as a "God Realm Middle God squad + Sacred Power raid," divided into four modules: Raid Group, Attack Group, Control Group, and Support Group. He simultaneously tested the array's energy conduction, amplification adaptation, and defensive transition capabilities.

"Raid Group, go first!" Su Chen ordered. Zhu Zhuqing's Reversal Shadow · Instant Realm Form was the first to unfold; as her black shadow wings flapped, her figure merged into the array's shadow channel. Xiao Wu's Nishen Soft Bone · World Shattering Form followed closely, her pink and black rabbit-ear wings slicing through the air. Hanabi's God-Defying Byakugan · Void-Slicing Form turned into a red, white, and black stream of light, and the three of them instantly appeared behind the simulated targets.

"God-Defying Shadow Claw!" Zhu Zhuqing's claws carried the power to tear through space, striking at the simulated Middle God's defensive barrier. Xiao Wu's Eight Segments of World Shattering Throw erupted, pink and black energy accompanied by spatial cracks slamming heavily into the barrier. Hanabi's void-slicing blade unleashed a two-colored blade qi, landing precisely on a weak point of the barrier. Three loud bangs erupted simultaneously, and cracks appeared on the simulated barrier, but it did not completely shatter—there was a 0.3-second delay in the energy transmission through the array's shadow channel, causing the three attacks to fail to synchronize perfectly.

"Stop!" Su Chen raised his hand to terminate the training, his black God-Defying Power turning into a light screen that froze the simulated targets. "An energy transmission delay of 0.3 seconds may seem short, but it's enough for a High God to react. Ah Yin, optimize the shadow nodes of the blue silver vine network and use life energy to strengthen conduction efficiency; Ning Rongrong, further increase the precision of the Ten Thousand Times Amplification, focusing on the exact moment of the Raid Group's attack."

Ah Yin's blue and black blue silver vines immediately spread to the shadow nodes on the training ground, injecting pale blue life energy into them, making the nodes' glow more solid. Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda adjusted its angle, its golden amplification light like a precision laser, locking onto the attack trajectories of the three.

"Try again!" The three launched another raid. This time, the energy delay in the shadow channel completely vanished. Zhu Zhuqing's claws, Xiao Wu's throw, and Hanabi's blade qi synchronized perfectly. With a "crack," the simulated barrier shattered instantly, and the simulated Middle God was heavily wounded by their joint attack.

"Beautiful!" A green healing aura swirled in Karin's palm as she cheered excitedly. "Next, it's time for our Control Group and Attack Group to cooperate!"

Qing Lin's Nishen Snake Emperor · Ten Thousand Snake Command Form unfolded, her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils flashing as tens of thousands of black-patterned venomous snakes surged from the array's energy nodes, Binding the remaining simulated targets. Kushina's Nishen Uzumaki · Boundary Sealing Form activated, a red, white, and black vortex sealing the simulated targets' Sacred Power, rendering them unable to resist. Yun Yun's Nishen Wind Sovereign · World-Breaking Wind Form expanded, black and white Wind Blades forming a storm that tore through space. Xiao Xun Er's Nishen Flame Maiden · Heaven Burning Phoenix Fire turned into a colorful phantom, burning the simulated targets' divine soul. Zi Yan's Nishen Dragon Phoenix · World Burning Form released purple-black dragon flames, intertwining with the Phoenix Fire into a god-incinerating blaze that completely consumed the controlled simulated targets.

The cooperation of the Support Group was equally crucial: Xiao Yi Xian's Power of Ten Thousand Poisons Symbiosis turned into a pale green light screen covering the entire field, corroding any stray Sacred Power. Karin's healing power flowed through the blue silver vine network, ready to heal her companions at any time. Ah Yin's blue silver vines entwined every corner of the training ground, transmitting energy in real-time. Ning Rongrong's Ten Thousand Times Amplification constantly covered all four modules, allowing everyone's God-Defying Power to be exerted to the limit.

The training lasted the entire morning, with the Heroines constantly exposing and solving problems: from attack rhythms being out of sync to perfect synchronization, from excessive energy loss to precise control, and from defensive gaps to seamless coverage. The collaborative efficiency between their God-Defying Forms and the grand array grew higher and higher. Su Chen stood by the training ground, his eyes full of gratification—in the great battle three months from now, this team would be the sharpest sword and the strongest shield of the Douluo Continent.

Meanwhile, preparations for war were also in full swing across the Douluo Continent.

On the capital square of the Heaven Dou Empire, commoners formed long lines to donate life-energy-containing ores, Spirit Beast inner cores, and other materials treasured in their homes. A white-haired old man tremblingly took out a fist-sized Blue Silver Crystal from his robes—he had picked it up at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest when he was young and had always kept it as a family heirloom, but now he handed it to the Nishen Legion's collection officer without hesitation: "Lord Su Chen and the goddesses are protecting our peace; we cannot remain idle. I hope this small thing can contribute to the grand array."

The collection officer took the crystal and bowed solemnly: "Thank you, elder! Your sentiment will turn into the power of the God-Defying Grand Array to protect everyone."

On the bulletin boards around the square, the latest announcements of the god-defying order were posted, detailing information such as "how to coordinate with the array to transmit energy," "how to protect oneself when encountering God Realm soldiers," and "the locations of underground shelters." The commoners gathered around, listening intently to the explanations from Nishen Academy students; there was no fear on their faces, only firm conviction.

On the border of the Star Luo Empire, Qing Lin's Ten Thousand Snake Legion and human soldiers were conducting energy transmission drills. Bear-type Spirit Beasts injected their spirit power into the blue silver vine network, while soldiers used the god-defying rune weapons in their hands to guide the energy in the network to form attacks. The snake swarm entwined around the soldiers, forming energy shields to resist simulated Sacred Power attacks. A young soldier said excitedly: "With the cooperation of the grand array and our Spirit Beast brothers, even if God Realm soldiers come, we won't be afraid!"

On the playground of the Nishen Academy, the students of the Youth God-Defying Squad were learning how to become "mobile support nodes" for the array under Qian Renxue's guidance. Holding simple god-defying rune devices, they injected their own weak God-Defying Power into the blue silver vine network; though the energy was limited, it could replenish the array at critical moments or transmit emergency messages. Lin Hao led the students, practicing the energy injection and message transmission processes over and over again. Sweat soaked their clothes, but not a single person complained or grew tired.

Meanwhile, at the relief house in Cangyun Town, Xiao Ling's condition still showed no improvement. He curled up by the bed, staring blankly out the window with hollow eyes. The sunlight shone on him through the window, but he had no reaction, as if he could not feel the warmth. An old nanny brought him a bowl of thin porridge and carefully fed it to him; his mouth moved mechanically, and food dripped from the corners of his mouth, which he didn't even know to wipe.

"Sigh, what a sin," the old nanny muttered softly while wiping the corners of his mouth. "Everyone outside is preparing for war, yet you've become like this. If you had taken the right path back then, maybe you could have contributed to the continent now, instead of ending up in this state."

A weak "he-he" sound came from Xiao Ling's throat, as if in response, or perhaps just an unconscious groan. In his mind, only fragmented painful memories remained; those things concerning dignity, talent, and ambition had long been completely swallowed by the numbness of the bottom tier.

That afternoon, Zhu Zhuqing returned from scouting the edge of the spatial barrier. A trace of golden Sacred Power residue clung to her shadow wings, and her expression was grave: "Su Chen, the God Realm's Sacred Resonance Array is one-third complete, and the energy fluctuations are getting stronger. I also found that they have placed a large number of sacred runes outside the spatial barrier, seemingly reinforcing the cracks to prevent us from launching a preemptive strike."

Su Chen's gaze turned solemn: "It seems the God Realm has also taken precautions. We cannot rush into a raid; we can only continue to strengthen the grand array and improve our collaborative combat power. Hinata, increase the observation of the Sacred Resonance Array from now on. If you discover any abnormality in their energy fluctuations, report it immediately."

"Understood!" Hinata's God-Defying Byakugan flashed with black and white light, and the scene outside the spatial barrier clearly appeared in her white pupils.

At dusk, a patrol from the Nishen Legion discovered an abnormality on the barren hill outside Cangyun Town—Xiao Ling's grave had been disturbed, the weeds on top had been trampled, and the wooden marker had been knocked aside. The patrol captain immediately reported to Su Chen, who sent Zhu Zhuqing to investigate.

Zhu Zhuqing's figure instantly appeared on the barren hill. With a flap of her shadow wings, she finished inspecting the area around the grave. She found that the grave had not been dug up; someone had merely stayed in front of it, leaving a trail of shallow footprints and a broken Shrek Academy badge.

"It's Flender." Zhu Zhuqing recognized the badge at a glance. She returned to the Nishen Hall and reported to Su Chen, "It was likely Flender who came to visit Xiao Ling and knocked over the wooden marker in his agitation."

Su Chen nodded, not caring much: "Have the patrol set the wooden marker back up and leave him be. Xiao Ling's end is already certain; Flender's mourning cannot change anything."

As the night deepened, the glow of the God-Defying Grand Array became even more brilliant. The God-Defying Power of the fifteen Heroines intertwined within the array, echoing the energy nodes across the continent to form an indestructible energy barrier. Su Chen stood on the Star Observation Platform, looking at the golden light growing brighter in the sky, and thought to himself: "In three months, we will definitely be able to hold out."

On the other side of the spatial barrier, the Angel God, Sea God, and Asura God stood in the center of the Sacred Resonance Array. They felt the Sacred Power continuously gathering within the array, their faces filled with confident smiles.

"Three months from now, the God Defier will surely die!" The Angel God's voice carried a cold killing intent. "The Douluo Continent will eventually become an appendage of the God Realm!"

"When the time comes, all God-Defying Power will be purified, and those humans who side with Spirit Beasts will receive the most severe punishment!" The Sea God's trident spun in his hand, his blue Water God power fluctuating strongly.

The Asura God did not speak, but the bloodthirsty light in his eyes grew thicker—he was already impatient to feel the God Defier's blood and to tear apart those so-called "God-Defying Forms."

Preparations on the Douluo Continent continued, with a tense yet determined atmosphere permeating the air. The Heroines' collaborative training became more and more synchronized, the God-Defying Grand Array's power grew stronger, the commoners were united as one, the Spirit Beasts were poised for action, and the Youth God-Defying Squad was high-spirited—everyone was waiting, waiting for the final showdown with the God Realm Enforcers, and waiting to use their God-Defying Power to protect the freedom and peace of this land.