**********
—Two weeks later—
Eternal Divine City,
It had been a month since Lev's attack, yet the world had already begun moving forward.
The former Heaven Dou Empire, along with its capital, Heaven Dou City, had been buried in the past and replaced by something entirely new—the Eternal Divine Empire, with the newly established Eternal Divine City serving as its center.
The rebuilding process had been slow at first, but after a month of relentless reconstruction and reshaping, the city had finally returned to normal. Its streets were once again filled with people, merchants, and travelers, while laughter and lively conversations could be heard throughout the city.
To an outsider, it was almost as though nothing significant had happened the previous month.
Yet everyone knew that everything had changed.
The empire they had once known was gone, and in its place stood a new one.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
Inside one of the grand halls of the palace, Lev and the individuals affiliated with the newly established empire had gathered for an important meeting. Their expressions were serious as they discussed the current state of the continent and the various matters concerning the newly formed empire.
"That's the end of my report, Your Majesty."
Ning Fengzhi respectfully lowered his head after finishing his report.
Since the establishment of the Eternal Divine Empire, he had been appointed as the Emperor's advisor. His primary responsibility was to oversee important matters, convey information, and assist Lev in managing the empire's affairs.
"Good. I'll leave these matters to you for the time being. I have some business to attend to in the Star Lou Empire."
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's report, the handsome young man sitting upon the throne calmly replied.
This person was none other than Lev, the newly crowned Emperor of the Eternal Divine Empire.
A month had passed since the destruction of the former Heaven Dou Empire, and in that short period, the reconstruction of the new palace had already been completed albeit temporarily as there might still be changes in the near future.
With Ning Fengzhi serving as their spokesperson, the clan had helped reassure the people of the city, convincing many of them to remain rather than flee. The citizens had complete trust in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, knowing that they would never support someone who intended to bring harm to them.
At the same time, the schemes of the former Emperor had also been brought to light.
The people gradually learned the truth—that the former Emperor had intended to use force against the very person who had exposed Spirit Hall's infiltration plan, all for his own benefit.
Upon learning the truth, the citizens naturally grew furious.
As a result, their distrust toward the former regime gradually turned into acceptance of Lev's rule. And as they witnessed the rapid progress of their newly established empire, that acceptance slowly transformed into genuine trust.
So far, none of them regretted their decision.
During the past month, countless changes have taken place.
The first was the construction of the temporary imperial palace, a magnificent structure personally designed by Lev himself.
Second, the Spirit Academies throughout the city had gradually merged together, eventually adopting the name Eternal Divine Academy to demonstrate their support for the new empire.
Even the Four Subsidiary Clans had been convinced to lend their assistance to Lev, openly announcing their support for the new Emperor.
Lastly, the army of the former empire, which had been stationed along the front lines, was gradually recalled. Under Lev's instructions, the soldiers were now being reorganized and restructured into a new imperial army.
For the entire month, Lev had devoted himself almost entirely to one thing—building and shaping his empire.
He had not even spared much attention to the neighboring Star Lou Empire or Spirit Hall. Those matters had been left to Dugu Bo and the others while he focused on stabilizing his newly acquired territory.
Now that the foundation of the Eternal Divine Empire had been established, however, Lev could finally turn his attention toward the matters he had previously set aside.
More importantly, he could finally fulfill the promise he had made.
"Your Majesty, although I have always known that you possess tremendous strength, I still hope that you can maintain a good relationship with the Star Lou Empire. With their support combined with your strength, I believe we may finally have a chance to stand against Spirit Hall."
A rough voice suddenly broke the silence.
An old man with grizzled hair and a beard spoke while looking toward Lev. His short hair stood upright like steel needles, giving him a particularly rugged appearance.
He was none other than Tai Tan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan.
"Well, that depends on their decision, Clan Head Tai."
Lev smiled calmly as he answered.
That was precisely why they had gathered today.
The relationship between the Eternal Divine Empire and the Star Lou Empire was extremely important, especially with Spirit Hall looming over the entire continent. However, whether that relationship could be maintained was ultimately conditional.
Hearing Lev's answer, Tai Tan and the others immediately remembered something important.
One of Lev's lovers was none other than Zhu Zhuqing, the daughter of the Zhu Family.
And that made the situation considerably more complicated.
After all, everyone present was well aware of the long-standing relationship between the Zhu Family and the Dai Family.
"I'll leave tomorrow morning. I won't return until I've finished my business there."
Lev had already made his decision.
He was finally ready to continue the mission he had set aside—and, more importantly, fulfill the promise he had made to Zhu Zhuqing two weeks ago.
"You're all dismissed."
With those words, Lev ended the meeting.
"Be careful, Your Majesty."
Ning Fengzhi, Tai Tan, and the others respectfully bade him farewell before leaving the hall.
None of them attempted to argue or question his decision.
After all, they were speaking to Lev.
He was no ordinary young man.
He was the man who had single-handedly brought down an entire empire.
That fact alone was enough to make even the most powerful individuals think twice before opposing his decisions.
Once everyone had left, Lev rose from his throne.
Without wasting any more time, he turned around and headed toward the place where Tsunade and the others were staying.
*****
Palace Hall,
After finally being freed from his duties, Lev at last had some time to spend with his lovers.
Inside one of the halls in the palace, Tsunade was taking care of the tailed beasts while Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan quietly cultivated in a corner.
"Master, you're back."
The moment Tsunade noticed Lev, she stopped what she was doing and immediately walked over to him before wrapping her arms around him in an embrace.
The tailed beasts also noticed their master and happily rushed over, affectionately rubbing their heads against his legs.
"Mmmm."
Lev smiled before leaning down and kissing Tsunade's forehead.
He then found a comfortable seat on the sofa, with Tsunade settling beside him. The two soon began sharing a passionate kiss while, one by one, the tailed beasts quietly left the room and headed elsewhere.
Not long afterward, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan opened their eyes.
Their gazes immediately landed on Lev and Tsunade making out on the sofa.
The two women exchanged a glance.
They sighed helplessly before standing up and walking over, eventually pouncing onto the two of them without hesitation.
Seeing the three beautiful women around him, Lev couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Who wouldn't feel happy having such beautiful women in his arms?
More importantly, he was pleased to see that the three of them were getting along well with one another, especially Dugu Yan, who had only recently become part of their family.
Although a month had already passed, Dugu Yan still hadn't officially been added to Lev's harem members. Nevertheless, she had already accepted the reality that she couldn't have Lev all to herself.
There were still moments when jealousy surfaced whenever she saw him being affectionate with the others, but after spending an entire month together, those feelings no longer bothered her as much as they once had.
"Let's have lunch before eating dessert."
Lev grinned mischievously as he embraced the three women.
The constant influence of his overwhelming lust had already faded considerably. Or, to be more precise, he had finally learned how to keep it under control.
There were still times when his desires became difficult to suppress, especially with Dugu Yan, Tsunade, and Zhu Zhuqing constantly by his side. However, the three women also helped keep him grounded and prevented his desires from completely taking control of him.
Hearing Lev's words, Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan immediately became excited.
Their faces flushed as they understood the hidden meaning behind his words.
It wasn't the first time the four of them had shared such intimate moments together, yet even the mere thought of doing so was enough to make their hearts race.
With that decided, Lev headed toward his private kitchen.
The others quickly followed and volunteered to help him prepare the meal.
After all, they wanted to finish lunch as quickly as possible.
**********
—Night—
Lev's Room,
With little left to attend to during the day, Lev and the others spent their time together inside the palace. They played around, trained the Pokémon, and occasionally meditated, enjoying the rare opportunity to simply relax without having to worry about the affairs of the empire.
As night finally descended, they returned to Lev's room to rest.
"Zhuqing, I've already established the necessary foundation to our empire. We'll leave tomorrow and head to your family."
Lev spoke while gently caressing Zhu Zhuqing's cheek.
"Mmm."
Zhu Zhuqing, who was lying on Lev's right side, quietly nodded. She already knew that the time had finally come.
"Yan Yan, do you want to come with us?"
Lev turned toward Dugu Yan, who was lying on his left side.
"Can I come?"
Dugu Yan looked up at him, her eyes lighting up with anticipation.
This would be their first time traveling together, and she was genuinely excited at the thought of accompanying them. Although she had already become Lev's woman, she still felt somewhat awkward about their relationship, especially since they had yet to take the final step together, unlike Zhu Zhuqing and Tsunade.
"Hahaha, of course."
Lev laughed warmly before gently patting her head.
That simple gesture immediately made Dugu Yan smile.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, who was lying comfortably against Lev's chest, couldn't help but giggle when she noticed his reaction to Dugu Yan's closeness.
"Hehehe."
She already knew what was happening.
Ever since Dugu Yan had started sleeping with them, situations like this had become increasingly common. Tsunade had long since learned how to deal with Lev whenever his desires became difficult to control.
Without saying anything further, Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing moved closer to Lev while he and Dugu Yan continued exchanging affectionate kisses.
The atmosphere within the room gradually became warmer as the four of them lost themselves in their intimate moment.
Time quietly passed.
Eventually, the clock reached exactly 12 A.M., marking the beginning of a new day.
**********
—The next day—
Just as Lev had said, he and the others were now on their way to the Star Lou Empire.
They had decided to depart at noon, as Lev still had a few matters to settle that morning. Before leaving, he met with Ning Fengzhi and entrusted him with several tasks, including responsibilities that needed to be handled by each of the Clan Heads.
After making sure everything was properly arranged, Lev finally put the affairs of the Eternal Divine Empire aside.
Together with his lovers, he embarked on their journey toward the Star Lou Empire.
A new destination awaited them.
And with it, another exciting story and adventure.
*****
Star Lou Empire,
Inside the main hall of the Dai Family Palace, a man sat upon his throne, surrounded by five individuals whose identities were known to the members of the Dai Family.
A serious discussion had been taking place for quite some time, and the atmosphere inside the hall had grown increasingly tense.
"It's already been a month. I've sent numerous messages requesting a meeting with the new Emperor, yet we still haven't received a response. Can any of you give me a reason for this?"
Emperor Dai frowned as he looked around at the people gathered before him.
"Your Majesty, I believe the new Emperor is simply too inexperienced. We know that he is still young, after all. Perhaps he is unable to handle the weight and responsibilities that come with being an Emperor."
One of the men spoke confidently, his tone carrying a hint of disdain toward Lev.
"Your Majesty, why don't we simply force our way in and invade while they're still establishing their foundation? This is an excellent opportunity for us to crush his forces and absorb their territory into the Star Lou Empire."
Another man proposed, his words filled with malice.
"Can you use your brain for once?"
A third man immediately interrupted, his expression filled with disapproval.
"How exactly do you propose that we invade someone who single-handedly confronted an entire empire and killed its Emperor? Don't be stupid."
"Hmph! Do you really believe that some brat like him could actually destroy an entire empire by himself?"
The previous man snorted coldly.
"We only know that the Heaven Dou Empire no longer exists. We weren't there to witness what actually happened. As for those rumors about a dragon-like spirit beast appearing, they're obviously exaggerated. How could a human possibly tame a spirit beast of that level?"
"Even if we didn't witness it ourselves, how do you explain the overwhelming suppression we felt that day?"
Another man calmly questioned, looking at the two men who were arguing with each other.
His words immediately silenced the entire hall.
The five men, including Emperor Dai himself, fell silent.
They all remembered that day.
They might not have personally witnessed what happened in the Heaven Dou Empire, but they had all felt that terrifying presence.
No matter how much they wanted to doubt the rumors, they couldn't simply ignore what they had experienced themselves.
"Enough."
Emperor Dai sighed, ending the argument before it could continue.
"I'll send another messenger to the Eternal Divine Empire. This time, I want them to deliver our request directly to the new Emperor."
His expression remained solemn as he considered the situation.
The five men gradually calmed down before nodding.
Although they each held different opinions regarding how the Star Lou Empire should deal with the newly established Eternal Divine Empire, they ultimately shared one thing in common.
They would respect the Emperor's decision.
**********
—Three days later—
Star Lou Empire,
After three days of traveling, Lev and the others finally arrived in a city near the center of the Star Lou Empire.
Thanks to their incredible speed and the fact that they traveled almost nonstop, they had managed to cover a considerable distance in just three days and were now relatively close to their destination.
**********
—Noon—
Restaurant,
Inside a luxurious restaurant in the city, four youths could be seen sitting together and enjoying their meal.
Although they were eating as casually as any ordinary group of travelers, they had already become the center of attention.
Whether they were Spirit Masters or ordinary civilians, almost everyone who passed by couldn't help but glance in their direction with curiosity.
After all, their appearances and demeanor made it difficult for them to go unnoticed.
"Zhuqing, are you excited to see your family?"
Lev suddenly asked, turning his attention toward Zhu Zhuqing.
It had been many years since she had last seen her family, so he was curious about how she felt now that they were finally approaching the Zhu Family.
"Hmmm... I guess I am. I do miss them a little."
Zhu Zhuqing casually replied after thinking about it for a moment.
Living alongside Lev had given her the happiest period of her life, and because of that, many of the things that once occupied her thoughts no longer seemed as important.
Nevertheless, when she thought about her mother, a small sense of anticipation still welled up within her.
She was looking forward to seeing her again.
The four of them continued chatting for a while before eventually finishing their meal.
Since they had been traveling almost nonstop for the past three days, they decided to find a hotel where they could properly rest for the day.
After checking into a suitable hotel, they spent some time wandering around the city before finally returning to rest.
Tomorrow, they will continue their journey.
*****
Zhu Family Palace,
Meanwhile, inside the Zhu Family Palace, an unexpected piece of news had caused a mixture of surprise and happiness among the people who heard it.
"Are you certain?"
The Head of the Zhu Family asked once again, his expression filled with surprise.
Beside him, another person also wore a happy expression upon hearing the news.
"Yes. According to the report, Young Miss Zhuqing was spotted in a neighboring city. She was traveling together with three other youths."
The man delivering the report respectfully answered.
The Zhu Family Head remained silent for a moment before waving his hand.
"Leave."
"Yes, Patriarch."
The man bowed before immediately departing.
Once he was gone, the Zhu Family Head leaned back and began thinking.
'It's good that Zhuqing has finally returned. But who are those three youths traveling with her?'
His expression became slightly complicated.
'Hmm... I suppose we'll find out once she comes home.'
The fact that Zhu Zhuqing had suddenly appeared after being gone for so long was already surprising enough.
What puzzled him even more, however, was the fate of the people he had sent to retrieve her a month ago.
Every single one of them had mysteriously disappeared.
Even now, there has been no news regarding their whereabouts.
Despite that, the Zhu Family Head couldn't help but feel relieved.
At least Zhu Zhuqing was finally coming home.
As for the three youths accompanying her...
He would simply wait until they arrived and see for himself who they were.
**********
—The next day—
After having breakfast, Lev and the others continued their journey toward the Zhu Family Palace. They intended to arrive before noon, and after approximately three hours of traveling, they finally reached their destination.
The moment the palace came into view, Lev, Tsunade, and Dugu Yan couldn't help but admire its grandeur.
The Zhu Family truly deserved its reputation as one of the greatest clans in the Star Lou Empire. Their palace was enormous, its magnificent architecture reflecting the wealth and influence the clan had accumulated over generations.
"Zhuqing, we're finally here."
Lev turned toward Zhu Zhuqing and smiled.
On the other hand, Zhu Zhuqing stared silently at the magnificent palace before her, a complicated mixture of emotions appearing in her eyes.
"Mmmm."
She quietly nodded.
After a moment, the group approached the entrance and was about to enter when a man dressed in the typical attire of a Spirit Master suddenly appeared before them.
"Greetings, Young Miss. The Clan Head has been expecting you in the main hall."
The man respectfully greeted Zhu Zhuqing before shifting his attention toward the people accompanying her.
His expression immediately became more serious.
He had already received instructions regarding how he should deal with Zhu Zhuqing's companions.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
She immediately understood that the man was likely one of her father's subordinates.
She then turned toward Lev and the others, intending to lead them inside.
However, the man suddenly stepped forward and stopped them.
"I'm sorry, Young Miss, but the Clan Head was only expecting you. Your companions were not included in his summons."
The man spoke apologetically.
Although he didn't fully understand the situation, he had received his orders directly from the Emperor himself. As a subordinate, all he could do was follow them.
"T-This..."
Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed.
Her expression immediately became conflicted as she glanced toward Lev.
She couldn't help but suspect that her father was behind this arrangement.
She wanted to apologize to Lev and the others, but before she could say anything, something terrifying happened.
Lev was still smiling.
But the moment the man's eyes met his...
The world around the Spirit Master seemed to disappear.
It was as if his very consciousness had been plunged into an endless abyss.
His body froze completely.
He wanted to move.
He wanted to look away.
But he couldn't.
An overwhelming sense of fear instantly seized his mind, making every instinct within him scream that he was facing something far beyond his understanding.
Despite being a Spirit Saint, he couldn't even move a single finger.
Lev simply stared at him.
After a moment, he smiled calmly.
"Looks like it's okay now, Zhuqing."
The pressure disappeared.
The cloaked man suddenly regained control of his body.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded without hesitation and led Lev, Tsunade, and Dugu Yan into the palace.
At this moment, there wasn't even the slightest trace of fear in her heart.
Instead, anger was beginning to build within her.
The moment she saw the man blocking Lev and the others from entering, she already understood that her father had no intention of properly meeting them.
That realization left a particularly unpleasant impression on her.
Meanwhile, after the group disappeared into the palace, the cloaked Spirit Master finally collapsed.
His knees struck the ground as he desperately gasped for air.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his face, and he soon began vomiting from the overwhelming fear that still lingered in his mind.
'T-That young man...'
The man trembled violently.
'I'm a Spirit Saint, yet I couldn't even stand my ground against him. I couldn't move my body at all!'
His face was filled with disbelief.
'J-Just who is that person?'
He had never experienced such overwhelming fear in his entire life.
The young man hadn't even attacked him.
He had merely looked at him.
Yet that single gaze had been enough to completely crush his will to resist.
The Spirit Master couldn't help but shudder at the thought.
'What kind of monster did the Young Miss bring back with her...?'
*****
Zhu Family Palace,
Upon entering the main hall of the Zhu Family Palace, the first thing Lev and the others noticed was the fierce gaze of an imposing man sitting upon the throne.
Just from the way he looked at them, it was obvious that they were far from welcome.
"Father, I'm back."
Zhu Zhuqing greeted the man confidently.
Her father, however, didn't respond immediately.
His brows remained furrowed as he stared at Lev and the others.
Earlier, he had specifically ordered one of his subordinates to receive Zhu Zhuqing alone and prevent her companions from entering the palace.
Yet somehow, all three of them had still made it inside.
He couldn't help but wonder what had happened.
"Father!"
Zhu Zhuqing called out again, this time with a noticeable hint of displeasure in her voice.
Hearing her, her father finally snapped out of his thoughts.
"It's good that you're back, Zhuqing. I thought you wouldn't return after leaving with someone."
His voice carried a trace of displeasure.
"Fortunately, Dai Mubai informed me about your sudden appearance. Otherwise, I might have thought that something had happened to you."
He then shifted his attention toward the people standing behind her.
"I see you've brought companions with you. Why don't you introduce them to me?"
His eyes lingered on Lev and the others.
He was curious about exactly who these people were—especially the young man who had somehow managed to bypass the instructions he had given his subordinate.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
She turned around and began introducing Tsunade and Dugu Yan first before finally turning toward Lev.
A bright smile appeared on her face.
She looked at him with undisguised affection, grateful for all the memories, happiness, and experiences he had brought into her life.
"This is Lev."
Her voice was filled with pride and determination.
"He is the person I love, and the person I intend to follow for the rest of my life."
The moment those words left her mouth, the atmosphere inside the hall changed.
"Lev...?"
Zhu Zhuqing's father repeated the name.
His expression instantly darkened.
A terrifying wave of Spirit Power suddenly erupted from his body, spreading throughout the entire hall.
He had finally come face-to-face with the person he believed had taken his daughter away for all these years.
His gaze became icy as he directed the entirety of his pressure toward Lev, intending to overwhelm him through sheer force.
Zhu Zhuqing was caught completely off guard by the sudden outburst.
She immediately bit her lip and released her Martial Soul.
Seven Spirit Rings appeared around her body.
She quickly stepped forward and used her own Spirit Power to resist her father's pressure.
"Father, stop!"
But her father completely ignored her.
His attention remained fixed on Lev as he continued increasing the pressure.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan's expression changed.
She immediately released her own Spirit Rings and stepped beside Zhu Zhuqing, helping her withstand the overwhelming pressure.
She had no idea what had caused the conflict to escalate so quickly.
But now that things had reached this point, there was no way she could simply stand by and watch.
For a while, the two sides remained locked in a battle of Spirit Power.
The atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly oppressive.
Then—
Tsunade, who had remained silent from the beginning, finally stepped forward.
She had been watching everything quietly, but she had reached the limit of her patience.
"Master..."
She turned toward Lev.
"May I?"
Lev glanced at her before calmly nodding.
Tsunade smiled faintly.
The next instant, the power she had been concealing suddenly erupted.
The atmosphere inside the entire hall changed in an instant.
The temperature plummeted.
A bone-chilling cold swept through the surroundings, causing the previously oppressive atmosphere to be replaced by an entirely different kind of pressure.
Zhuqing's father immediately stopped.
His expression became extremely grim as he stared at Tsunade.
His heart began pounding violently.
Cold sweat slowly formed across his back.
For the first time since the confrontation began, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan were equally stunned.
They had always been curious about Tsunade's true strength.
Until now, however, she had never seriously revealed it in front of them.
Now, they finally understood.
The innocent-looking woman they had always known was hiding a terrifying power beneath that calm exterior.
Tsunade slowly turned her gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing's father.
Her usually gentle expression had disappeared completely.
"Did you really think you could bully us with that measly power of yours?"
Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion.
Then, with an overwhelming pressure that filled the entire hall, she spoke one final command.
"Kneel."