Douluo Continent: The Twin Sons of the Styx River, Shaking the World and Destroying the Heavens

Chapter 166 Gluttony and Memory

However, as previously warned by the Heavenly Ranking, Shrek Academy's reputation wasn't that good.

However, the matter was still suppressed. For some unknown reason, everyone except the Sun Moon Empire had their memories erased, missing some of their memories, including those related to Tang San.

In other words, it is influenced by some force that has caused these changes, but the exact nature of these changes is still unknown.

Some memories have been lost, but Douluo Three Kingdoms has tried to find them, but to no avail.

In reality, this power comes from [memory]. It is likely that Douluo Continent's separation from the God Realm was not accidental, but rather a world enveloped by [fate].

Now there are two ways to die.

Abundance and Memory

The butterfly remained asleep, showing no sign of waking up.

Despite the recent damage to Shrek Academy's reputation, its masterful manipulation of public opinion has skillfully concealed these blemishes. Its millennia-old, glorious heritage cannot be easily shaken by a few storms; the world's trust in this legendary holy land remains as solid as a rock.

To attempt to uproot Shrek Academy's century-old foundation overnight is nothing short of a pipe dream. How could a reputation forged through millennia of trials and tribulations be so easily shattered by hasty planning?
Only with the tenacity of water dripping on stone can one gradually overcome obstacles, starting with the Heavenly Soul Empire as a breakthrough point—first spreading subtle rumors in the streets and alleys, then relying on word-of-mouth among the Soul Masters to let the negative impression spread like a poisonous vine. This plan is not only a thunderous retaliation against Xuanzi's actions, but also a way to clear away the biggest obstacle on the path of spreading faith.

After all, if Shrek Academy were allowed to overshadow the world, how could emerging forces take root and flourish on the continent?

In the survival rules of the Douluo Continent, ordinary people are merely discarded pawns on the edge of the chessboard. Even if they are fortunate enough to awaken a martial soul, without the blessing of innate soul power, they will be trapped in the mire of the mortal world for life, forever denied the brilliant world of soul masters. To the nobles who live high above, these ant-like beings are born with the labels of "tax puppets" and "war consumables." Those who truly dominate the changing winds and clouds of the continent are only the top soul masters who can tear apart the heavens and shake the mountains and rivers. They are the chess pieces that manipulate the world on the chessboard, able to rewrite the world's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing overall situation, overall structure, and overall dynamics) with a mere gesture.

Jing Hongchen wasn't prejudiced against ordinary people; it was just that the harsh reality was staring him in the face—in the Douluo Continent, where strength reigned supreme, the power of mortals was far too insignificant compared to that of Soul Masters. Throughout the continent's history, even the most powerful rebellions were always led by Soul Masters; armies composed of ordinary soldiers ultimately couldn't control the course of the war.

Among the four great empires, armies composed of mortals have historically been mediocre in combat, with the Sun Moon Empire being the only exception. Thanks to the ingenious invention of the sealed milk bottle, ordinary people were able to store soul power and thus control some soul tools. This innovation significantly enhanced the combat capabilities of mortal armies, making the Sun Moon Empire stand out in the military field and a force to be reckoned with among the four great empires.

Although it may not mean much to ordinary people, it is irresistible when there are so many of them.

Xiao Hongchen also knew about Xia Die's slumber and that it was the Duchess's doing.

Because of the fire that Polycia set on the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, the White Tiger Duke's Mansion is now only in name, with only Dai Huabin, Dai Yueheng, and Dai Luoli remaining.

However, Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng have passed the tests of the God of War and the God of Asura, so we'll have to wait and see what happens in the future.

On the other side, Xuanzi did not die after being knocked away. He encountered a huge valley, which was like the gaping maw of a glutton, making people feel very scared.

The moment Xuanzi was thrown back, his consciousness nearly collapsed amidst the excruciating pain. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself fallen into a strange valley. The cliffs on both sides resembled the bared fangs of an ancient beast, layers upon layers of shadows pressing down on the valley floor, shimmering the sunlight into tiny silver threads. Damp mist, carrying the scent of decaying leaves, rushed towards him, and the sound of stones tumbling down the cliffs echoed through the empty valley, like the deep roar of some lurking behemoth.

"Where is this..." A hoarse murmur escaped from his cracked lips, echoing brokenly against the cold rock wall. Xuanzi slowly rose, leaning against the damp stone wall, his fingertips touching the jagged cracks beneath the moss, as if touching his own riddled veins.

A metallic taste of blood welled up in his throat, and he coughed violently, the bloody fragments splattering onto the moss and spreading dark red: "Damn... Soul Beast..." Each word felt like a rusty gear grinding in his chest, tearing at the deepest parts of his body with excruciating pain. He remembered the dark shadow that had blasted him into the abyss, the shrill scream of claws tearing through the air still echoing in his ears.

“Sun and Moon…” He suddenly clenched his fist and slammed it against the stone wall, the flying shards cutting his palm. “I will make you pay the price!” His staggering figure stumbled into the depths of the tunnel, his tattered clothes fluttering in the draft, like a tattered battle flag. The wailing of the underground river seeped down from the crack above, intertwining with his heavy breathing to form the lament of a trapped beast.

Rounding a bend stalactite-strewn path, a colossal, dark gate abruptly came into view. Xuanzi's steps halted abruptly, his mud-caked boots slipping on the damp rock surface. The gate was at least two zhang tall, its surface covered with twisted runes that gleamed eerily against the backdrop of dark green moss. A broken bronze chain was embedded along its edge, dark red rust seeping from its holes, resembling dried blood.

“Strange,” he said, his fingers trembling slightly as he ran his hand over the cold stone door, his fingertips quivering as he touched a dent. “How could such man-made traces be hidden in this desolate valley?” The wind howled through the broken chains, and the runes suddenly glowed with a faint blue light, startling him so much that he took a half step back, his lower back slamming heavily against a sharp stalagmite.

Xuanzi held his breath, his gaze fixed on the stone door. He saw a thin crack appear in the center of the totem, from which thick, inky mist poured out, carrying a pungent, fishy stench. Wherever the mist reached, the moss on the ground withered instantly, turning into grayish-white debris.

Just as he hesitated whether to push open the stone door, a deep hum came from behind it, like the snoring of an ancient beast. Xuanzi's temples throbbed, and an inexplicable impulse surged within him, driving him to reach out and slowly place his hand on the stone door. The instant his fingertips touched the stone door, the entire valley suddenly trembled violently, and boulders rained down from the overhead rock face.

The stone gate slowly opened with a rumbling sound, revealing a deep, dark passage. At the end of the passage, several eerie green lights flickered, like the eyes of a wild beast.

Xuanzi gritted his teeth and stepped through the stone gate. Darkness rushed towards him as if it were a tangible force, with only the huge magic circle on the ground emitting a faint red light, outlining a strange shape in the heavy shadows.

The magic circle appeared to be drawn with mysterious blood flowing with golden light, its lines as intricate as a spider web. In the very center, a gigantic, gaping maw pattern sent chills down one's spine—layers upon layers of white fangs, the edges of which were densely packed with tiny teeth that seemed to open and close silently, revealing an insatiable greed.

Above the giant maw, a golden shield covered in runes floated. As the runes flickered, a dark shadow could be vaguely seen writhing and twisting beneath the shield, as if a colossal creature was imprisoned there, restlessly ramming against the seal.

A chill suddenly ran down Xuanzi's neck. Just as he was staring at the golden shield, a dull thud resounded. Ripples of red light spread across the surface of the magic array. He instinctively took a half-step back, his gaze fixed on the area beneath the shield. From the depths of darkness, a pair of dark green eyes slowly emerged, like bottomless, icy pools. Their chilling light pierced through the seal, striking his pupils directly. That gaze seemed to carry a tangible weight, making his breath catch in his throat.

Strangely, the violent impact had left no trace on the surface of the magic array. The flowing golden light remained unchanged, and the runes were still stable. Only those eyes exuded a chilling pressure, as if silently proclaiming the power and resentment of the sealed one.

Xuanzi seemed to hear the cry of a giant beast.

But Xuanzi couldn't understand his language at all.

[Storage Protection]

Damn it, this power's tenacity is truly tenacious. How long will you keep me trapped? One day, gluttony will use this as food to devour me.

It was another hard impact.

Suddenly, the creature seemed to have discovered Xuanzi.

There is an outsider, but it seems he cannot understand my language. However, if he cannot understand, then come and receive my power.

His gluttonous power circulated around the ground, but there was no one to serve as a vessel for it. However, now that someone has arrived, there's no need to worry about that anymore.

Suddenly, before Xuanzi could react, a sharp stone pierced through his body like a ghost. The stone was formed from the divine power of [Gluttony], and although it appeared to be a solid object, it pierced through his flesh without any resistance, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold.

"puff--"

With a muffled thud, the stone tip dissipated within his body. A strange swallowing sound suddenly echoed in the darkness, as if some enormous creature was greedily devouring something. Xuanzi's throat emitted gurgling, twisting sounds, sometimes aged and hoarse like a candle flickering in the wind, sometimes sharp and violent like the howl of a trapped beast.

In an instant, a foul-smelling black mist gushed out from his seven orifices, engulfing him completely like a tidal wave.

Within the black mist, chewing sounds rose and fell, as if countless invisible teeth were gnawing at his flesh and tearing at his soul. Xuanzi twisted his body, letting out a shrill scream that echoed in the darkness before being quickly swallowed by the black mist. As the last inhuman wail faded away, the surroundings returned to deathly silence, leaving only the black mist slowly churning in the air, as if nothing had ever happened.

After the thick black fog slowly dissipated like the receding tide, an unfamiliar figure stood in the center of the magic circle.

His once pale skin now had an eerie bluish-gray sheen, like ancient jade that had been soaking in a cold pool for a thousand years. His once clear eyes now flickered with deep black flames, each flash seeming to be accompanied by the roars of countless greedy souls.

Most chillingly, his mouth was torn open to his ears, revealing two rows of fine, sharp, serrated fangs that interlocked, saliva dripping down them and corroding the ground, creating wisps of white smoke. He was hunched over, his joints making a cracking, twisting sound, his neck turning unnaturally, like a wild beast yet to adapt to his new body.

Suddenly, a hoarse, low murmur broke the deathly silence, filled with endless longing and violence: "Hungry...so hungry..." Before the words were finished, he suddenly sprang up, his claws carving five deep marks into the rock wall. His eyes were fixed on a certain direction, and a chilling growl came from his throat, as if he would tear everything in his sight to shreds in the next second.

(End of this chapter)