Chapter 78 – The Sovereign's Consolidation
In the grand hall of the Supreme Pontiff, Lakan stood before the seated Elders and Bibi Dong. The atmosphere was thick with reverence. Ling Yue (now the Sun-Crested War Phoenix Douluo) stood at Rank 97, her aura radiating a heat that made the marble floor glow. Yue Guan and Ghost sat at Rank 96, their faces no longer showing the strain of age, but the vitality of youth.
"Elders," Lakan said, tossing a satchel onto the obsidian table. It clattered with the sound of a hundred jade vials. "The previous Mutya of Imperyo was just a warm-up. These are refined with the Chaos Qi of the Yin Yang Well. One pill per month. If you haven't broken through two ranks by next year, I'll assume you've retired and send you to the Diwa Academy to teach toddlers."
The Elders chuckled, though their eyes were wide with greed and awe. Lakan turned to Bibi Dong, offering a narcissistic wink. "And for you, my Queen, I have something that will make the Rakshasa's leftover resentment feel like a tickle."
Bibi Dong's face flushed—a memory of their naughty session in her sealed chamber resurfacing. She cleared her throat, regaining her regal composure. "The Empire thanks you, Holy Son. With this, the 'Five Shields' will truly become nothing more than paper walls."
••••••••
Lakan retreated to the private wings of the Academy to fulfill his promise to his inner circle.
In a room filled with the chilling mist of Absolute Zero, Lakan sat cross-legged behind Shui Bing'er.
"Ready, Snowflake?" Lakan teased, his hands resting on her shoulders. "It's time to give you a Sub-Dantian. Though, I suspect you just want me to touch you."
"Lakan! Be serious!" Bing'er huffed, though her ears were pink.
Suddenly, a chubby, white, glowing larva popped out of her forehead. Tianmeng, the Million-Year Ice Silk Worm, let out a squeaky yawn. "Hey, hey! Watch where you're putting those hands, kid! This is my host you're playing with!"
Lakan flicked Tianmeng's forehead with a burst of Chaos Qi, sending the worm spinning like a top. "Quiet, silk-snack. Adults are working. If you're good, I won't turn you into a literal sweater for Bing'er."
"You... you bully! Million-year-old bully!" Tianmeng grumbled, retreating into the spiritual sea.
Lakan's expression softened. He began the Sumpa(Vow) resonance. Using his Creation power, he didn't just give her energy; he mirrored her Ice Phoenix frequency. He inscribed the KA (ᜃ) and DA (ᜇ) glyphs on her lower abdomen, his fingers tracing patterns that made Bing'er's breath hitch. As the Sub-Dantian formed, a silver thread of light pulsed between them.
"The Moon guides the King," Lakan whispered, leaning in to kiss the nape of her neck. "And the King protects the Moon. You are now a piece of the 'ONE', Bing'er."
•••••••
Next was Zhu Zhuqing. The Narcissus-enhanced Mutya (using the Narcissus Jade Flesh Bone herb) had already turned her into a masterpiece of curves and lethal grace. Her chest and hips had filled out with a naughty fullness that even the tightest leather couldn't contain.
"You look like you're about to burst out of that outfit, Shadow," Lakan remarked, his gaze lingering on the swell of her bosom as she knelt before him. He really is having a hard time holding himself back when he looks at her.
Zhuqing didn't look away. Her feline eyes were hooded, filled with a primal devotion. "Then maybe you should help me out of it, Sovereign."
Lakan smirked. "In time. First, we forge the core."
He repeated the spiritual operation, but for Zhuqing, the focus was on Space and Agility. He used his Ten-Fold Blade-Wings to create a spatial vacuum around them. As he inscribed the Baybayin on her skin, the friction of their soul powers created a heat that felt electric.
By the time the Sub-Dantian was complete, Zhuqing was panting, her body glowing with a dark, iridescent sheen. Lakan didn't step back. He pulled her flush against his chest, his hands finding the curve of her waist. "You're getting dangerous, Zhuqing. Even I might have trouble keeping my hands off you during training."
•••••••
The next three years were a blur of expansion and myth-making.
Year 1: The Sovereign Diwa Academy was officially declared the highest authority in Soul Master education. Lakan, in a fit of humorous narcissism, commissioned a hundred-meter tall silver statue of himself at the entrance. The statue's eyes were made of Radiant Soul Crystals that lit up at night, acting as a lighthouse for the city. "If you can't see me, you're not looking hard enough," he joked during the unveiling.
Year 2: Baybayin became the official liturgical language of the Spirit Hall. Every new Soul Ring ceremony was conducted using Lakan's chants. The continent began to move away from the "Hunting" culture, as Lakan's Soul Spirit Conversion technique allowed masters to bond with spirits without killing them—earning him the title "Father of Spirits."
Year 3: Lakan's Wings of the First Dawn became a common sight in the sky. He would "step" through space, appearing in different cities to perform "Miracles" (refining herbs or healing Titled Douluos). He wasn't just a leader; he was a living god-brand.
Meanwhile, rumors drifted from across the western sea. A Young God with a Trident had appeared on a hidden island. The Sea God's desperate gambit had begun.
The Phoenix Sovereign's Status (Age 19)
• Rank: Level 79 (Peak Spirit Sage)
• Spirit Rings: (All Evolved to Prismatic/Calamity Grade)
• Soul Core: Bloodline Chaos Core (The ONE)
• Wings: Wings of the First Dawn (10 Autonomous Blades)
Lakan stood on the balcony of his private palace, looking toward the horizon. He felt the distant ripple of Tang San's growth, but he didn't feel fear. He felt an itch, the kind of itch you get when you're ready to finish a game you've already won.
"Three years of peace," Lakan said to the empty air, his double-pupils glowing. "I think it's time to remind the Sea God that the ocean is just a puddle compared to the Sky