Dimensional Journey Starting from Douluo Dalu

Chapter 40: The Storm Brews Before the Rain Falls

As for cheating?

What a joke.

In all the myriad realms, can you name a single powerhouse who climbed to the peak purely by effort? No matter how hard you work, someone else works harder. No matter how talented you are, someone else is even more gifted. No matter how much you push yourself, someone else is more extreme.

If you truly want to reach the top, forget effort, talent, and competition. Those aren't the things that matter. In fact, they're not even necessary.

To reach the pinnacle, you need to cheat. Only by cheating can you catch up to—and surpass—those who started earlier, those born more gifted, those stronger than you.

Wu Tong didn't deny that he was cheating. In fact, he was proud of it.

—

While Wu Tong was confidently preaching the logic of "cheating is justice"...

Spirit City.

Pope's Hall.

"What? You're saying that beam of light from last night was caused by Dugu Bo?"

Bibi Dong sat on her majestic pope's throne, draped in ornate ceremonial robes, holding the scepter of divine authority. Her elegant face was filled with shock as she looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, who stood respectfully in the center of the hall.

Last night, after returning to Heaven Dou City, Dugu Bo had gone straight to Dugu Xin's grave and used a revival coin to bring him back to life.

But what no one expected was that as the revival activated, a pillar of light shot skyward—like a divine column linking heaven and earth. It lit up the pitch-black night, dazzling and conspicuous.

Almost every faction across the continent had seen it.

Only a few elite individuals could roughly pinpoint its location based on its direction. The rest simply marveled at the grandeur of the phenomenon.

As Dugu Bo's long-time rival—sometimes enemy, sometimes ally—Chrysanthemum Douluo was well aware of the Dugu family's territory. So the moment the light appeared, he guessed that Dugu Bo was responsible.

Thus, during today's court session, he reported his suspicion to Bibi Dong without hesitation.

The revelation shocked her.

Dugu Bo was a Titled Douluo outside of Spirit Hall's control, known throughout the continent as the Poison Douluo for his lethal, area-wide attacks. Naturally, he was flagged as a high-priority target in Spirit Hall's monitoring system.

But everyone in Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong included, knew that Dugu Bo absolutely did not have the power to summon a beam that connected heaven and earth.

Even someone like Qian Daoliu—an Ultimate Douluo—couldn't do such a thing.

'A divine light visible across the entire continent… A miracle… A god?'

As she listened to Yue Guan's theory, a chilling possibility surfaced in Bibi Dong's heart. Her expression turned grim.

"Yue Guan, take Gui Mei and go visit Dugu Bo. Get to the bottom of that light beam's true origin."

"Understood, Your Holiness. However… my relationship with that old poison freak isn't exactly friendly. We might end up fighting the moment we meet," Yue Guan said with a wry smile.

"Then let Gui Mei take the lead in the discussion. Do your best to get Dugu Bo talking." Bibi Dong sighed, understanding their old feud well enough not to push further.

"Yes."

Moments later, a beam of golden light and a streak of black shadow shot out from the Pope's Hall, flying toward Heaven Dou City.

…

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

"Feng Zhi, we just got word. That light pillar from last night—it's related to that old poison man."

A withered-looking old man spoke from the sofa, addressing a middle-aged man seated in the clan leader's position.

The speaker's body was emaciated, but his bones were shockingly large. His entire body seemed supported by nothing but a towering skeleton. His flesh was shriveled, eye sockets sunken deep into his skull, making him look like a walking skeleton in daylight—let alone at night. Sparse, straggly white hairs clung weakly to his scalp.

This was none other than one of the two great pillars of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan: Bone Douluo, Gu Rong.

"You think Feng Zhi didn't already know? He got the report way before you. What's the point of repeating it?"

Before the middle-aged man could respond, an elderly voice from across the room interjected mockingly.

There was only one person in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan who dared to openly roast Bone Douluo—and that was the other pillar of the sect, Sword Douluo, Chen Xin.

"Coward, what crap are you spouting? I was talking to Feng Zhi. Why are you interrupting?" Gu Rong didn't hold back either and snapped back immediately.

Watching these two bicker like children, the middle-aged man seated at the main position—none other than the person they both referred to as Ning Fengzhi—finally spoke up to mediate.

"Sword Uncle, Bone Uncle, please settle down. My sect's main hall isn't built to withstand the aftershocks if the two of you start fighting."

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, both Chen Xin and Gu Rong snorted in unison and turned their heads away, no longer looking at each other's irritating faces.

Watching the sect's two great elders behave like squabbling kids, Ning Fengzhi could only shake his head helplessly.

Then, gazing in the direction of Heaven Dou City, his eyes grew solemn.

"Poison Douluo, huh? That light pillar definitely wasn't created by Dugu Bo—he doesn't have that level of power. But he's definitely connected to it."

"Sword Uncle, accompany me to Heaven Dou City later. Let's go pay Poison Douluo a visit."

Half an hour later, a sword-shaped streak of light shot out from the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, flying swiftly toward Dugu Bo's location.

…

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace

Emperor Xue Ye read the secret report handed to him with an unreadable expression, then turned to a nearby eunuch and said, "Go. Summon the Crown Prince at once."

The eunuch bowed and retreated.

Not long after, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe arrived at his father's side.

"Royal Father, your son greets you. May I ask what matter required your summons?" Xue Qinghe bowed respectfully, addressing the ailing old man before him.

"Qinghe, are you aware of the light pillar from last night?" Emperor Xue Ye smiled faintly as he asked, clearly pleased with his son's steady demeanor.

"Replying to Father, of course I am. Nearly the entire capital has been discussing it since this morning. What I don't know is which expert could have produced such a divine phenomenon."

Xue Qinghe's tone was calm and composed.

"I just received word. That light beam last night is connected to Dugu Bo."

"Poison Douluo?" Xue Qinghe responded with mild surprise, repeating the name as if processing it.

"From what I know, while Poison Douluo is a powerful Titled Douluo, he shouldn't possess the ability to create a light pillar visible across the continent."

Xue Qinghe expressed his view in a reserved but clear tone.

"Exactly. Dugu Bo alone couldn't have done it. But since he's involved, he must know something."

"Qinghe, I want you to represent the royal family and visit Dugu Bo. Try to find out the truth behind that light."

Though Emperor Xue Ye acknowledged that his son's judgment made sense, he still issued the order.

"Yes, Father. I shall take my leave."

Xue Qinghe didn't refuse. He was also quite curious about the incident and accepted the task without hesitation.

After he left the room, Emperor Xue Ye sat up and looked out the window.

The once-clear sky was now shrouded in clouds, carrying an ominous, suffocating pressure.

Through that heavy gloom, Emperor Xue Ye seemed to glimpse the turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm surface—streams of unrest stirring violently, as if ready to erupt into a storm at any moment.

He sighed softly.

"The storm is coming."

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