After leaving the Star Luo Hotel, Xia Yi took Gu Yue and Lan Fozi straight to the Spirit Pagoda.
"So he's still afraid of death after all. Does he think that hiding in the Spirit Pagoda means Yun Ming wouldn't dare to force his way in? Well, I suppose that is indeed a solution," the Divine Domain Douluo, En Ci, said coldly.
Upon arriving at the Spirit Pagoda, Xia Yi requested a cultivation room.
"You stay here and keep watch to prevent anyone from barging in. Yue'er and I are going to the Tianhu Domain," Xia Yi said to Lan Fozi.
"Be careful." Lan Fozi glanced at Xia Yi, then, as if afraid of being misunderstood, hurriedly added, "Protect Gu Yue."
"Yue'er is my wife; of course, I will protect her well." Xia Yi chuckled as he pulled Gu Yue into an embrace.
Gu Yue rolled her eyes at Xia Yi before summoning the seven-colored Sky Sovereign Cauldron. In the next instant, it directly absorbed both her and Xia Yi into it.
The following moment, the seven-colored Sky Sovereign Cauldron disappeared into the void.
When Xia Yi and Gu Yue reappeared, they were inside the Dragon Valley's small world.
The Dragon Valley had not disappeared; instead, it had been refined into the Sky Sovereign Cauldron.
Within the Dragon Valley, the powerful dragon souls had once again fallen into slumber. Without sufficient energy to sustain them, they could only maintain the stability of their souls by remaining dormant.
Gu Yue awakened the Dark Dragon King, instructing him to communicate with the Tianhu's sacrificial altar to transport her and Xia Yi there.
The altar for the worship of Heaven was located inside a thousand-meter-tall crystal mountain composed entirely of diamond-like crystals within the Heavenly Fox Domain.
Since the Dark Dragon King could not leave the Dragon Valley's small world, he could only send a portion of his power each time.
However, Xia Yi and Gu Yue had no such limitations.
As the Dark Dragon King communicated with the Dark Dragon King's core inside the altar, a black portal slowly opened above the crystalline mountain.
"This aura… It's Heaven!" At the altar's side, Xin Yuekui raised her head to look at the portal above.
The moment she saw the portal, her gaze became fervent.
Having worshiped Heaven for years, she was absolutely certain that this portal was formed by the power of Heaven itself.
"Is this Heaven's true descent?" Xin Yuekui swallowed nervously, her eyes burning with zeal. She immediately knelt before the portal and proclaimed loudly, "Great Heaven, your High Priestess, the Heavenly Fox Douluo Xin Yuekui, welcomes your arrival!"
Xin Yuekui's title was Heavenly Fox Douluo, while her younger sister's title was Spirit Fox Douluo.
The two sisters were both Super Douluos at rank 97.
Having long devoted herself to the worship of Heaven, Xin Yuekui was well aware of its immense power.
She held the utmost reverence for Heaven.
Moreover, without Heaven, the Heavenly Fox Domain would have been destroyed by the Star Luo Empire long ago.
"I am not your Heaven," Xia Yi said as he emerged from the portal with Gu Yue.
Xin Yuekui was momentarily stunned upon seeing Xia Yi, but she quickly recovered and exclaimed loudly, "You are the Angel, Xia Yi!"
"Angel?" Xia Yi was taken aback.
"Yes, you are the Angel, Heaven's Messenger! Heaven did not deceive us—you have indeed come to the Heavenly Fox Domain!" Xin Yuekui's eyes turned slightly red with emotion. Heaven had foretold Xia Yi's arrival, and now he was here.
If Heaven's prophecy was true, then it also meant that Xia Yi would help the strong of the Heavenly Fox Domain break through to the Limit Douluo level.
Both Tian Kui Douluo and Ten Punishment Douluo were just one step away from reaching the Limit Douluo realm. If they both broke through, the Tianhu Domain would no longer have to endure the oppression of the Star Luo Empire.
Even if they couldn't counterattack the Star Luo Empire, they would at least be able to deter them.
"Fine, Angel it is. Stand up," Xia Yi said with a smile, unconcerned.
"Thank you, Angel! May I ask, have you come to help us break free from the suppression of the world's laws so that we can also reach the Limit Douluo level?" Xin Yuekui asked eagerly as she rose.
"Helping you overcome the world's suppression isn't an issue, but I need time to determine why the rules of the Douluo Continent's world are suppressing you in the first place," Xia Yi shook his head before continuing, "I'm actually here to save your lives."
"Save our lives?" Xin Yuekui was startled and quickly asked, "Is the Star Luo Empire planning to launch a large-scale attack on us?"
"No, it's the Sun-Moon Federation that is planning a large-scale invasion of the Star Luo Empire," Xia Yi explained.
"The Sun-Moon Federation is attacking the Star Luo Empire?" Xin Yuekui's eyes flickered with a hint of joy. "Angel, are you asking us to ally with the Sun-Moon Federation?"
"The Sun-Moon Federation will not ally with you." Xia Yi shook his head. "The Federation is deploying five grand legions simultaneously, determined to unify the continent. After crushing the Star Luo Empire, they will certainly continue westward to attack the Heavenly Fox Domain. Once the entire Star Luo Continent is pacified, they will leave some forces to garrison it, while the remaining army will head north across the ocean to invade the Dou Ling Continent."
Xia Yi sighed. "The Sun-Moon Federation has resolved to unify the Douluo Plane. Otherwise, deploying five grand legions for just the Douluo Continent would be excessive."
Hearing this, Xin Yuekui's expression changed instantly. She couldn't help but ask, "Angel, have you come to help us resist the Sun-Moon Federation's army?"
"No, I've come to persuade you to surrender," Xia Yi replied.
"Surrender? No! Impossible! Even if I agreed, my sister, as well as Tian Kui and Shi Xing, would never accept it!" Xin Yuekui almost reflexively objected.
If they had been willing to surrender, they would have done so to the Star Luo Empire long ago.
Why would they have resisted for so many years otherwise?
"Listen to me. The Sun-Moon Federation is not like the Star Luo Empire. You cannot resist them. Even the Holy Spirit Cult does not dare to confront them head-on," Xia Yi sighed and continued, "If you surrender voluntarily and assist the Federation in dealing with the Star Luo Empire, you can negotiate terms with them."
"Terms? What kind of terms?" Xin Yuekui asked.
"For example, after the Star Luo Empire is destroyed, the Star Luo Continent can revert to its original name—Eight Kings Domain. While the Eight Kings Domain will nominally belong to the Sun-Moon Federation, its resources will be shared, and it will be granted full autonomy, obeying orders but not commands," Xia Yi explained.
"Resource sharing and obeying orders but not commands…" Xin Yuekui's expression darkened.
"The Sun-Moon Federation's main reasons for unification are twofold: resources and the ability to mobilize the entire continent's strength in case of an Abyss Plane invasion. These two points are non-negotiable. However, for other matters, as long as your demands aren't excessive, the Federation should be open to discussion," Xia Yi said.
"Let me ask you—are these Heaven's wishes?" Xin Yuekui abruptly lifted her head.
"You can think of it that way," Xia Yi nodded before adding, "In reality, you have no alternative. If you refuse to surrender, your only choice is to ally with the Star Luo Empire. I can assure you that even if you join forces, you will not be able to defeat the Sun-Moon Federation. Even if you somehow win, the Star Luo Empire will likely turn on you once you're severely weakened."
"I can't decide this alone. I need to discuss it with the others," Xin Yuekui said.
"Go ahead. But let me remind you—this morning, two people crossed the Tianmu Mountains from the Star Luo Empire. They are Shrek Academy students and currently hold the status of exchange group members from the Sun-Moon Federation. Before you make a decision, you should ensure their safety. If the Star Luo Empire's spies find them first, you should know the consequences," Xia Yi warned.
"You mean the Star Luo Empire will use our name to kill them, cutting off our path to retreat?" Xin Yuekui asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Star Luo Empire sent them to the Heavenly Fox Domain for this very purpose," Xia Yi said grimly.
"I understand." Xin Yuekui's gaze turned cold. "Angel, please wait. I will inform the others."
"Go ahead," Xia Yi nodded.
(End of Chapter)