Knights descend upon Douluo Continent; death awaits if they do not fight.

"First, recall all disciples who are currently outside the area. For those who cannot be recalled, send a message warning them to be careful."

"Secondly, the sect's defensive formations must be kept active day and night. Guards must be on duty in shifts, and no slackening is allowed."

"Third, starting tomorrow, everyone must cultivate with all their might. Those below the Title Douluo level will be assessed monthly. Those above the Title Douluo level will spar with each other and must not slack off."

"Fourth—" Yu Yuanzhen's gaze swept over Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin: "You two, from today onwards, you will spar with me every day."

Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.

To spar with the clan leader?

That's a level 95 Title Douluo!

"What, scared?" Yu Yuanzhen asked calmly.

"We're not afraid!" they both answered in unison.

"It's good that you're not afraid." Yu Yuanzhen nodded. "In that world, the rules say that anyone can be chosen. If you are chosen, I hope you can come back alive."

He paused for a moment, then his voice lowered.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan must not die out."

Silence fell over the main hall.

No one speaks.

Because everyone understands the weight of those words.

Their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is the number one beast spirit sect in the world, one of the three upper sects, and a force standing at the top of the Douluo Continent.

But that world doesn't care about any of that.

In that world, it only matters whether you can survive.

If you survive, come back.

If I cannot live—

You die.

Your opponent has arrived.

Then, your people, your relatives, your friends, may die at the hands of the monsters you summoned.

These are the rules.

Cruel rules.

"Alright, everyone, you may leave." Yu Yuanzhen waved his hand. "Tianheng, stay."

The crowd dispersed.

Yu Tianheng stood still, waiting for the old patriarch's instructions.

Yu Yuanzhen stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Who taught you to say those things just now?"

Yu Tianheng was taken aback: "No one taught me, I figured it out myself."

"You came up with that yourself?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Yu Yuanzhen's eyes, then he nodded: "That's right. Being able to figure these things out on your own is much better than those fools who only know how to be blindly confident."

He walked up to Yu Tianheng and patted him on the shoulder.

"Remember, Tianheng. In that world, it's either you die or I live. There is no other way."

"If you are selected, the first thing you should do after you go in is not to think about winning, but to think about surviving."

"Only by staying alive can you have a chance to win."

"Dead, nothing remains."

Yu Tianheng nodded solemnly: "Yes, clan leader."

"And—" Yu Yuanzhen suddenly lowered his voice, "Be careful of your second uncle."

Yu Tianheng's pupils contracted slightly.

"He's been like this lately..." Yu Yuanzhen shook his head: "Never mind, maybe I'm just overthinking it. Go on."

Yu Tianheng turned and left.

As he walked out of the main hall, he looked back once more.

The old patriarch stood alone at the door, gazing at the night sky, his back view appearing somewhat...lonely.

At that moment, Yu Tianheng suddenly remembered a question—

If the clan leader is chosen, will he survive?

he does not know.

But he knew that no matter who was chosen, the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan could not fall.

Because they are the number one beast spirit in the world.

Because they have passed down their tradition for ten thousand years.

Because of them—

We will not lose to anyone.

Thunder still roars in Thunder Canyon.

Yu Tianheng looked up at the night sky, where the Knight World hovered in the void.

He clenched his fist.

Fight or die.

Then let's fight.

Then--

Come back alive.

---

Haotianzong

The Haotian Sect, which has been in seclusion for five years, now has everyone standing in front of its mountain gate tonight.

Tang Xiao stood at the very front, gazing at the sky.

Behind him were seven titled Douluo.

This is all the wealth of the Haotian Sect.

"Sect Master," an elder whispered, "shouldn't we do something?"

Tang Xiao remained silent for a while.

"What can we do?" he said. "That world is beyond our reach. Those rules are beyond our control. What can we do?"

Everyone fell silent.

"But we can wait," Tang Xiao said calmly. "Wait until that world truly arrives, until that rule truly takes effect, until our people are chosen—and then, let them come back alive."

He turned around and looked at his people behind him.

"From now on, everyone shall focus on cultivation. Those below the Title Douluo level will be assessed monthly. Those above the Title Douluo level shall spar with each other to improve their combat experience."

"yes!"

"Furthermore—" Tang Xiao paused for a moment, "Send people down the mountain to inquire about Tang Hao's whereabouts. He is the hope of our Haotian Sect."

The group accepted the order and left.

Tang Xiao stood alone in front of the mountain gate, gazing at the night sky.

Where are you, mistress?

Do you realize that the world has changed?

---

Slaughter City

This place is hell.

Therefore, when that rule came into effect, the people in the City of Slaughter were actually the calmest.

Bloody Mary continued to be drunk, the killings continued, and the deaths continued.

Only occasionally would someone look up at the sky and grin.

"Fight or die?" a blood-soaked fallen man laughed maniacally. "Isn't that what we've always been doing?"

"That world," another said, licking the blood from his blade, "sounds more interesting than this one."

"Go if you're interested," someone scoffed. "You can go once you're selected."

"I'd like to go." The fallen man's eyes gleamed with madness. "To meet that god of death sitting on the throne—he's killed over three thousand people? I've killed several hundred myself, maybe I can even exchange a few blows with him."

A burst of wild laughter erupted from the crowd.

In the city of slaughter, there is no fear.

Only madness.

Let's wait and see.

The King of Slaughter sat on his throne, drinking the Bloody Mary freshly served by his men, a look of anticipation on his lips.

If he is chosen, he will truly experience firsthand what the killing rules of that world are like.

---

Poseidon Island

Poseidon stood before the temple of Neptune, gazing at the churning sea.

She heard that sound too.

That rule—says "even God is no exception."

Lord Poseidon, can you hear me?

Can you... defy that rule?

She closed her eyes and felt the power of the sea god flowing through her body.

It remains powerful.

It remains vast.

But—is that enough?

she does not know.

All she knew was that from now on, this world would no longer be the same world.

.....

Shrek Academy

Flander sat in the dean's office, drinking one glass of wine after another.

Zhao Wuji squatted in the corner, without saying a word.

Several old monsters, including Shao Xin, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin, were also present, each with a solemn expression on their face.

"Old Zhao," Flander suddenly spoke up, "you said, if those children are chosen..."

"No, they won't be that unlucky," Zhao Wuji interrupted him.

"What if?"

Zhao Wuji remained silent.

Yes, what if?

What if Dai Mubai is chosen? What if Tang San is chosen? What if Xiao Wu is chosen? What if Rongrong, Zhu Qing, Xiao Ao, Fatty—what if any one of them is chosen?

"I'll go in," Zhao Wuji suddenly said.

Flanders looked at him.

"I'll go in and fight for them. Even if I die, I'll die for them."

Flanders was silent for a moment, then raised his glass.

Count me in.

The other old monsters also stood up.

"Count me in too."

They are teachers at Shrek Academy.

Those children are their students.

When students are in trouble, teachers step up.

It is justified.

---

Deep within the Starry Sky Forest.

Xiao Wu stood by the lake, gazing at the sky.

Erming and Daming stood guard beside her, one on the left and one on the right, like two mountains.

"Sister Xiaowu," Erming said in a muffled voice, "that world..."

"I know," Xiao Wu said softly.

She remembered the man sitting on the mountain of corpses.

I remember those eyes.

There was something familiar in those eyes.

lonely.

A profound loneliness.

Just like the five years she waited for Tang San in this forest.

"Brother..." she murmured, "Where are you?"

On the other side of the forest, Tang San was leading the Spirit Hall's troops toward them.

He didn't know that Xiao Wu was right in front of him.

Unbeknownst to him, a hunt was about to begin.

He was even more unaware—

The person sitting on the throne is watching all of this.

Watching this impending conflict unfold.

Watching these ants struggle.

Waiting—

The first person to step into his world.

...