In the valley, an overwhelmingly violent dou qi erupted, roaring into the heavens.
Within the dark space, a monstrous vortex churned violently in the pool. As time passed, its rotation grew increasingly frenzied. Waves of dou qi battered the surrounding mountain walls with terrifying force, producing deafening booms that shook the earth.
Perhaps due to the immense dou qi fluctuations, dark clouds gathered above the valley, blotting out the once-clear sky. In mere moments, the sunny weather turned ominously overcast.
Before long, the dou qi absorbed by Gu He's body within the pool seemed to reach its peak.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, countless water jets erupted as if the pool had been struck by a barrage of bombs. The towering columns of water burst apart, drenching the dark space like a torrential downpour.
Then—A piercing cry, akin to a crane's call, suddenly echoed from the depths of the pool. Carrying an indomitable fighting spirit, the sound tore through the darkness, surged into the valley, and shot straight into the sky.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The heavens themselves seemed to resonate with the cry. Thunder cracked across the sky, silver lightning snakes danced wildly, and in an instant, rain poured down in sheets.
The sheer magnitude of the dou qi fluctuations distorted space itself, sending tremors through the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range. Cracks spiderwebbed across the valley floor, and the deafening roars of collapsing earth reverberated endlessly.
Deep within the mountains, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's eyes widened in shock as it stared toward the valley. Its massive beastly pupils trembled with dread.
"This must be… Dou Ancestor!"
"Someone is breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm!"
Rank 5 magical beasts sensed the oppressive aura emanating from the valley. They prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, not daring to lift their heads.
In Qingshan Town, countless townsfolk dropped to their knees, bowing toward the valley as if paying homage to a deity.
…
Eventually, the tremors subsided.
Boom!
At that moment, a colossal pillar of water descended from the sky, engulfing nearly the entire valley. Like a volcanic eruption, the torrent surged violently from the sky, crashing down upon the dou qi vortex and scattering it completely.
The towering water column, stretching hundreds of feet high, collapsed into a deluge that drenched the land, forming an endless curtain of rain between heaven and earth. The downpour hammered against the valley, each droplet striking with crisp clarity.
Then—As if sliced apart by an unseen force, the rain curtain split open, revealing a pristine path through the sky.
From within the parting storm, a mist-shrouded figure emerged—graceful, ethereal, like an immortal descending from exile.
Gu He stood suspended in the air, his presence exuding a refined yet overwhelming aura. The monstrous dou qi radiating from his body pierced the heavens like a divine sword.
"Dou Ancestor."
The words lingered in the air, whispered in awe by unseen observers.
Gu He remained motionless, yet the sheer majesty of his aura made the world itself quiver.
Dou Ancestor—the true dividing line among the continent's powerhouses. Only by reaching this realm could one be called strong.
With such strength, one could establish their own sect.
Even in the vast and competitive Central Plains, where experts were as numerous as trees in a forest, a Dou Ancestor could thrive with pride.
Now, Gu He had finally secured his place in this world.
Rumble…
The rain continued to fall, blanketing the valley in a ceaseless drizzle.
Standing high in the sky, Gu He no longer needed the wings of dou qi to remain aloft.
Treading the air—this was the hallmark of a Dou Ancestor.
For a long moment, the entire Magic Beast Mountain Range fell silent. Only the rhythmic patter of raindrops on leaves filled the air.
Above, Gu He remained still. The rain never touched him—an invisible barrier repelled every droplet half a foot from his body.
His eyes were closed, his aura vast and unyielding, as if he had become a statue of divine might.
Gradually, the storm abated. Warm sunlight spilled through the clouds once more, illuminating the freshly washed mountains in a serene glow.
Then—
A faint tremor.
Gu He's tightly shut eyes slowly opened.
Within those pitch-black depths, a surge of killing intent flickered to life.
He exhaled deeply, then turned his focus inward.
His body had undergone a complete transformation. His meridians had expanded more than tenfold, and even his bones were now encased in a crystalline layer of dou qi, faintly pulsing with light.
Clenching his fist, he threw a simple punch.
Boom!
The space around his fist distorted, and a sonic boom cracked through the air like thunder. The sheer force of that casual strike rivaled his full-powered Vermilion Bird Seal from before!
"Dou Ancestor and Dou Emperor are indeed worlds apart."
"My current strength should be stable at the Two-Star Dou Ancestor level. To skip a star… this must be the result of the dou qi pool's refinement."
Most newly ascended Dou Ancestor required time to stabilize their power, often taking years—even decades—to advance a single star. Yet Gu He had bypassed that entirely, directly reaching Two-Star.
A stroke of incredible fortune.
With a final glance at the valley below, Gu He took a step forward—
And descended from the sky, walking on air as if it were solid ground.
…
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