"It's even more than a hundred-thousand-year beast..." Yehui shook her head at her grandfather's confusion. She didn't know how to explain further.
"It's more than that…"
Yuanen Zhentian's face twitched, lost for words.
But it made sense—a being who could control a small world, a "domain lord" figure, must be akin to a god to mortals, maybe some ancient monster decided to reveal himself.
But in his eyes, there was a trace of awe.
It's said the God Realm was in decline; no one had become a god for ten thousand years. If one hoped for everlasting life, maybe this path, occupying a domain, controlling a plane—could become a new "Road to Godhood."
"Wrong guess..." Su Wen smiled blandly, seeing Zhentian's embarrassment. "Did you take me for a lucky upstart who seized this plane?"
"Er... who would dare say that? To command a small world takes more than just luck." Zhentian flattered sheepishly.
"Heh, well, you're still wrong." Su Wen gestured to the mighty Xuan Ji standing tall in the distance. "This little world—it belongs to him..."
"..."
Everyone stared—even the Crimson Mother was baffled.
Not sure what Su Wen was getting at.
"And it... belongs to me." Su Wen opened his palm, an ember-golden Poke Ball spinning in his hand.
As the case became transparent, revealing the golden world within—mountains, rivers, creatures—like holding a world in his hands.
"This is..." Zhentian began to realize, but got stuck.
"This world we're in—it's inside a Poke Ball?!"
Yehui, who had personally caught spirits, immediately understood. "A Poke Ball—a small world!!"
Two ideas, connected for the first time.
"Why don't our Poke Balls have such space?" Gu Yue asked suspiciously.
Their purple Poke Balls held modest little worlds within—mountains, rivers, pretty scenery—but still nothing as grand as Su Wen's.
"That's because you all have the 'nerfed' version..." Su Wen smiled.
Not that he was stingy, but the full version consumed insane amounts of energy—especially since, as spirits advanced, the world within would have to grow as well. Impossible to provide for every Poke Ball.
So only his Poke Ball kept the "full" abilities—the ones Di Tian and the others envied. The rest only retained the basic function—to recover spirit energy, a fixed territory where spirits could rest.
"Only my Poke Ball can do this," Su Wen grinned.
"Because—it is my martial spirit."
"..."
The place grew silent.
Well, that explained it.
Gu Yue looked on with undisguised envy.
She was even more jealous of Gu Yuena now.
Her boss could create whole worlds at will, with infinite control—how awesome was that?
Yehui felt a wave of realization.
So that was it...
Being able to catch and raise a pet beast was already an enormous boon, never mind her boss, whose martial spirit was the Poke Ball itself—with even more astonishing power.
Could her Black Night (dragon) have come from his world, too?!
Back at the forge.
Yehui was still a little dazed.
Not only did Boss give her essence blood, but even gave Grandpa some too—he'd distributed all the blood they'd taken from the Titan Giant Ape that night.
Grandpa was persuaded to come out of seclusion.
It all felt like a dream.
"Work hard at cultivation. When you reach Title Douluo, it'll be time to take revenge for your mother, your father, and the lost ones of your clan." Su Wen patted her shoulder.
"Mm!"
She nodded solemnly, her face pale but radiant with resolve.
Her short red hair had grown to her shoulders, giving her a surprising new beauty.
"Growing your hair now?"
"Mm..." Yehui nodded, a little sheepish.
Which girl doesn't want to be pretty? She kept it short before, since her future was so uncertain; she was always working part-time, no time to dress up. Now...
Seeing her boss uninterested, she headed quietly to her room.
Doesn't he like it?
But, she thought to herself, to him she's probably just a kid—not like those stunning, mature women he'd met before.
Guess I need to grow up fast...
"And what about the Crimson Mother?"
It was deep night.
Gu Yuena yawned, smirking.
"Let her go," Su Wen answered.
Today, the Poke Balls had been shown mainly for the Crimson Mother's sake. He'd thought of forcibly contracting her, but gave up—better she comes to him, seeking the contract.
Best if the Crimson Mother begged for it.
"And tonight...?" Gu Yuena threw an arm around his neck, winking.
"Fight!" Su Wen smirked.
"Let's, then!
"But help me warm up first..." Su Wen grinned, gently pressing her head down.
"Hmph, hope you're not all talk." Gu Yuena rolled her eyes and got to work.
Time passed.
Beauty with foaming mouth, throat bobbing, at last stood up and straddled him.
"You really do have weight..." Su Wen weighed her with a smile.
"Want a taste?"
Gu Yuena's red lips curled, lowering her head.
"Then call me Mama—"
Star Dou Forest.
Core zone.
Two Di Tians stood together, surrounded by fierce beasts, one a newly evolved version, the other the familiar Beast God.
Actually, they were one and the same dragon—but even now, the two Di Tians didn't talk, as if jealous of themselves.
They all knew: the master couldn't contract two "Di Tians" at once. Now that one was contracted, the other could only wait.
Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan, watched her "thousand-year husband" in complex silence.
Suddenly, a figure approached.
"Golden-haired Lion Mastiff? Did you find it?" Su Wen asked, amused.
"Reporting, my lord: In the Spirit Ascension Platform, there was a golden-haired lion mastiff. As Qiangu Dongfeng returned the platform's beasts to spirit world, I located it..."
The evolved Di Tian pointed at a gold-furred beast sprawled in the distance.
A lion-dog mix, covered in golden fur, black ghostly patterns on head and shoulders.
No mistaking it.
[Golden Hair Lion Mastiff]
[Cultivation: 12,000 years]
[Attribute: Strength (ultimate)]
[Potential: 9]
[Evaluation: The soul beast world's honey badger, ignores all bloodline suppression, strength rivaling or surpassing Behemoth, peerless body, top beast in the world...]
Su Wen tossed out a red-gold Poke Ball.
For his second martial spirit.
Ignoring bloodlines, all-attribute boost, a true berserker. Even now, with many powerful pets, it was well worth developing.
He threw the Poke Ball.
When the gap is wide, capture is instant—not even time for the lion mastiff to resist.
BZZZZT!
A beam of light shot up.
Quite a stir.
Su Wen nodded.
Hopefully it doesn't startle the God Realm... Oh right, there is no God Realm in this world...
[Golden Hair Lion Mastiff]→[Blazing Mane Lion Mastiff]→[Divine Flame War Mastiff]→[Final Hellwarden]
Berserker Blood Boil (Passive): All stats +100%, pain nerves burned (immune to stun), for every 10% HP lost, attack +20% (up to 200%)
Godslayer Fangs (Active): Attacks ignore divinity and bloodline (even gods), can tear divine flesh.
Law Deconstruction (Domain):
Battlefield becomes purgatory, attacks cause "rule collapse"; within, no bloodline limits or divine skills work...
"Whoa..."
Su Wen was speechless.
The first two skills were fierce but reasonable; classic berserker type.
But the last one—domain skill, Law Deconstruction...
That was crazy.
Drag enemies into purgatory, block all bloodline powers, block all divine skills—
What's left, pure physique?
Which means, even the Douluo world's highest-valued gods and bloodlines are utterly suppressed.
How did Tang Wulin win in the original? Dragon bloodline and god's son status, right?
No wonder he was Tang Wulin's strictest "father."
Su Wen shook his head.
Even after becoming a god, this thing would still be a nemesis to gods—unless you have an invincible body, if you rely on laws, this lion mastiff would eat you...
"My lord!"
A gold-browed, gold-haired young man knelt before Su Wen, filled with respect.
After that awakening, his combat power soared, as did his bloodline—felt like a dream.
And now, his 'honey badger' mentality subdued—he still wouldn't bare his fangs toward his lord.
"Not bad. Xuan Ji, if you get a chance, spar with him," Su Wen smiled at the golden lion mastiff.
"Looks able." Xuan Ji, too, turned into a burly man to size up the lion. "This guy's skills don't affect me. I like pure physical fights too." Both had cheat-level stats.
"So, what name to give you?"
Su Wen rarely looked pleased.
Time for name-giving, at last!
The lion mastiff perked up—surely with such a great master, it would get a fitting, awe-inspiring name.
Xuan Ji turned aside, not wanting to witness this.
Their master's naming skills were... well, unique...
"Goldie!"
At last, after much anticipation, Su Wen blurted out:
Everyone: "..."
Evolved Di Tian patted his chest in relief.
He was glad he already had a name...
Golden Lion Mastiff: "..."
After a long silence, it spoke up: "Lord, why not call me Jin'ao (Gold Mastiff)?"
"Fine," Su Wen nodded. "On par with my name. If you like it, use it. Anyway, it's part of your title."
"Thank you, my lord!!"
Jin'ao didn't risk arguing about who was better. For its future reputation, "Goldie" would have been a disaster...
"My lord's naming is always like this," Xuan Ji shook his head.
"They have no taste."
The other beasts all nodded in agreement.
"Little Jin, what are you mumbling?" Su Wen squinted at Xuan Ji shivering in the corner.
All the beasts suddenly looked at him with sympathy.
No wonder...
Turns out your real name was Little Jin (Goldie)…
That's no different from a stray dog...
Xuan Ji: "..."
Crap!