Douluo Continent (Anime) World.
"Welcome, inheritor Dai Mubai, to the Land of Inheritance."
"I am the Death God, Hadina."
With only three days remaining until the opening of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, Dai Mubai broke through to rank 70.
His plan was to complete the tournament first, then find a suitable spirit ring to advance to the Spirit Saint rank. After all, time was tight, and this was the most practical route.
But when he achieved rank 70, an unexpected event occurred.
Dai Mubai suddenly felt multiple gazes fixed upon him. These presences were so overwhelming that he dared not offend any of them.
In the next instant, time seemed to freeze, and he found himself standing on a pitch-black platform.
Surrounded by black mist and void, this platform—about thirty meters in diameter—was his only foothold.
Moments later, he heard a voice—Hadina's voice.
Whether it was an illusion or not, the echo in her tone made it sound grand and otherworldly.
"Death God? Hadina?"
Dai Mubai was dumbfounded.
Who was this Death God?
Across all versions of Douluo Continent, there had never been a mention of her name. Was she some obscure minor deity?
Hadina: "…"
"Inheritor, Dai Mubai?"
Although surprised, Dai Mubai wasn't foolish. He quickly understood that this Death God had chosen him as her inheritor.
But did he truly want to accept her divine position?
Who knew what level of god she was?
Initially, Dai Mubai had considered alternatives. If creating his own divine position failed, he could risk everything in the Slaughter City. As for that so-called War God? Forget it! A mere second-tier deity—Dai Mubai would never settle for such mediocrity.
"Inheritor Dai Mubai, I am Hadina, the original Death God of this universe. All souls in this starry sky, even those of gods, ultimately fall under my domain."
"My status is equivalent to that of a Creator God, and my strength is closest to the one who originally created this starry sky."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's body stiffened, and his mouth twitched.
The Dragon God had only created the Douluo Divine Realm and the dimensions under its jurisdiction.
But the Creator God of this starry sky? That was an entirely different level of power.
And Hadina claimed to be on par with that Creator God.
Thinking this through, Dai Mubai couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
Maybe… just maybe… this is one fight I shouldn't try to win.
"Wait, can you read my thoughts?"
"Yes. In front of me, your mind is as clear as a blank sheet of paper."
"However, rest assured, I cannot see your memories. They seem to be encrypted in some way."
Hadina answered frankly without any hesitation.
Dai Mubai: "…"
Noticing his hesitation, Hadina continued:
"Accepting my inheritance comes with no constraints. You still have your other martial spirit, with which you can strive, fight, and prove yourself.
"When you reach my current level of power, you can proudly claim it was all your own effort. Nothing will have been handed to you."
"No one can say you relied on charity."
Dai Mubai froze. He didn't know how to respond.
Hadina didn't mind his silence and explained further.
"I've been in this starry sky long enough. If not for your awakening of my shadow, I might still be dormant."
"My shadow? That dark silhouette… cough, no offense, great deity!"
Dai Mubai's lips twitched. He hadn't expected his evolved Nether Envoy martial spirit to be connected to Hadina.
The Nether Envoy—clad in black stockings and wielding a scythe—was actually her shadow?
"Have you made up your mind? Will you accept my inheritance?"
Hadina didn't dwell on his comment about the black stockings. She wore them, after all, and he wasn't wrong.
"I will!"
Dai Mubai nodded decisively.
Hadina had laid it all out; refusing now would seem ungrateful.
Besides, he still had his other martial spirit to pursue his dreams.
Creating a divine position wasn't off the table either!
"Good. However, a trial is still necessary. We'll do it according to Douluo Continent's traditions."
At that moment, Dai Mubai realized just how much he despised Douluo Continent's traditions.
Before he could react, a massive gray scythe, with a handle alone measuring 2.5 meters, slashed toward him.
Dai Mubai couldn't dodge in time. The scythe transformed into a beam of light and merged into his forehead, leaving an imprint of a long-handled scythe there.
"This is my divine weapon, as well as a portion of my authority. You must pass the trial to fully wield it."
Dai Mubai nodded, though he couldn't help but wonder what kind of trial awaited him.
Before he could think further, everything went black, and he found himself back in his room at Shrek Academy in Heaven Dou City.
A cold, clear voice echoed in his mind:
"First Trial of the Death God's Nine Trials: Win the championship of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. Time remaining: one year."
"Reward: Two divine-bestowed spirit rings, 10% Death God compatibility, and all spirit ring years increased by 10,000."
"You may preemptively claim one divine-bestowed spirit ring to break through."
Dai Mubai scratched his head in disbelief.
The first trial was… this easy?
Given his current strength, even without his teammates, winning the tournament was as simple as reaching into his pocket.
This wasn't a trial—it was a formality!
"Preemptively claim a divine-bestowed spirit ring!"
Dai Mubai mentally voiced his request, unsure if it would work.
In the next instant, a gray beam of light emerged from his forehead, condensing into a gray orb in his palm.
Dai Mubai quickly deduced how Hadina managed this.
She must have stored the reward in her divine weapon ahead of time, ready to be dispensed when needed.
Without further hesitation, Dai Mubai sat cross-legged and summoned his White Tiger Sacred King martial spirit. Crushing the gray orb in his hand, he began absorbing the divine-bestowed spirit ring.
Although Hadina had no martial spirit or spirit rings of her own, creating such rings using energy was a simple task for her.
Time passed. Dai Mubai spent two full days absorbing the divine-bestowed spirit ring, pushing his limits.
360,000 years.
That was the age of the spirit ring Dai Mubai successfully absorbed at rank 70.
(End of Chapter)