Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

Chen Hao smiled, a smile that was both bitter and warm.

Su Chen walked over to Li Yang and Zhang Wan and checked their injuries. The effects of the snow ginseng were still working, and their injuries were healing quickly, much better than expected.

“Let’s go home,” Su Chen said. “The mission is complete; it’s time to report to Lady Qian Renxue.”

The group moved slowly through the snow and ice, heading south. The snowstorm in the far north gradually subsided, and a rainbow appeared in the sky, stretching across the ice field, like a triumphant road paved for them.

##Tiandou City, Heroic Academy
Half a month later, the team finally returned to Tiandou City.

Qian Renxue personally went to the city gate to greet them. When she saw the thirty-three young students walking into the city gate with Su Chen and Ares, she rarely showed a smile.

"Welcome home." Qian Renxue's voice wasn't loud, but every word was as warm as a spring breeze.

"My lord, mission accomplished." Su Chen knelt on one knee and presented the jade box containing the remaining snow ginseng and a recording soul tool with both hands. "The Void Cult's base in the far north has been destroyed. This is the research data we collected."

Qian Renxue took the jade box and soul tool, and nodded gently: "Get up, you've all worked hard. I've already had hot water and food prepared. Go and rest first, and we'll celebrate properly at the victory banquet tonight."

The students cheered with joy, all the hard work and fatigue of the past few days vanishing in that instant. They helped each other into the academy, smiles on their faces.

Su Chen didn't go to rest; he followed Qian Renxue into the office.

“You did a great job.” Qian Renxue sat behind her desk, her fingers tapping lightly on the surface. “The Void Cult’s base in the far north is one of their most important research bases. Destroying it will halt their research on the power of nothingness for at least three years.”

“But the High Priest of Nothingness escaped,” Su Chen said. “And he said a few words to us that I think are very important.”

"What?"

"He said that the Lord of Nothingness will not let us go. The Cult of Nothingness will not let us go. The Heavenly Dou Empire will be destroyed, and everyone will die."

Qian Renxue stopped tapping, her expression turning serious. She remained silent for a long time before raising her head and looking into Su Chen's eyes.

"What do you think the Lord of Nothingness is?"

Su Chen thought for a moment and said, "At first I thought that the Lord of Nothingness they referred to was a powerful person, such as the Pope or the leader of the sect. But after this mission, I have a new idea."

"what idea?"

“The Lord of Nothingness might not be a single person,” Su Chen said. “It’s a power, a will, something that transcends the existence of living beings. I sensed a lot of resentment within that black sphere—the souls of those killed by the Cult of Nothingness, sealed within it, becoming nourishment for the power of nothingness. If the Cult of Nothingness has such research bases in many places, all doing the same thing, then could these resentments, when gathered together, form something… terrifying?”

Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the table again, this time quickly, indicating her unease. "Your guess coincides with our intelligence analysis," Qian Renxue said. "What the Void Cult is doing may not just be researching the power of nothingness, but creating something else entirely. An existence formed from countless resentments and the power of nothingness, an existence powerful enough to destroy the entire continent."

“We need to stop them,” Su Chen said.

“It’s already underway.” Qian Renxue stood up, walked to the window, and looked at Tian Dou City outside. “The Tian Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Spirit Hall have reached an agreement to jointly fight against the Void Cult. But that’s not enough. The Void Cult’s power is too great. Their bases are spread throughout the entire continent, and some are even on overseas islands. We need to destroy them one by one. It will take time, it will take strength, and it will take sacrifices.”

She turned around and looked at Su Chen: "Do you know why I established the Academy of Heroes and Martyrs?"

Su Chen shook his head.

“Because the ordinary Soul Master training system is too slow,” Qian Renxue said. “It takes at least thirty years for a Soul Master to go from awakening their Martial Soul to becoming a Soul Saint. We don’t have thirty years, we might not even have three. So I need a new training method, a way to quickly cultivate strong individuals.”

“The Heroes’ Academy is such an attempt.” Qian Renxue’s eyes gleamed. “Through actual combat, through pressure, and through the tempering of life and death, the students break through their limits in the shortest possible time and awaken the true power of their martial spirit. Chen Hao’s awakening of the Will of the Sun during this mission is the best example. Without this mission, he might never have awakened it in his entire life.”

“But this is dangerous,” Su Chen said.

“I know,” Qian Renxue said. “That’s why I made you my strategist. Because you can not only protect them, but also teach them how to survive in danger. You’re not an ordinary teacher; you are their guardian.”

Su Chen fell silent. He recalled the various dangers of the mission, how Chen Hao almost had his soul extracted, how Lin Xue was nearly killed by the shockwave, and how Ares's arm was broken. A heavy feeling settled in his heart—a worry for the trainees, and a self-doubt—could he truly protect them?
"Don't overthink it." Qian Renxue seemed to see through his thoughts. "You've done very well. Go and rest. I have an important decision to announce at the celebration banquet tonight."

"What decision?"

You'll find out then.

Evening, at the auditorium of the Martyrs' Academy
The auditorium was decorated like a banquet hall, with long tables laden with various delicacies, including roast meat, seafood, desserts, fruits, and a variety of drinks and alcoholic beverages. The students changed into clean clothes and sat around the long tables, chatting and laughing in a lively atmosphere.

Su Chen sat to Qian Renxue's right, and Ares to her left. Ares' right arm had been reattached, but it was still in a cast and hanging around his neck, making him look somewhat comical.

"Come, let's raise a glass." Qian Renxue stood up, raised her glass, and said, "Cheers to our heroes!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses at the same time and drank them down in one gulp.

The banquet proceeded in a joyful atmosphere, with trainees toasting each other and sharing anecdotes and thrilling moments from their missions. Chen Hao was surrounded by a group of trainees who wanted him to demonstrate the Will of the Sun. He scratched his head sheepishly and said that his soul power had not yet recovered and he could not perform.

Lin Xue sat in the corner, quietly eating fruit. Her Shadow Cat Martial Soul made her habitually hide in the shadows, even at the victory celebration banquet.

Su Chen, holding a wine glass, walked up to Lin Xue: "This mission owes a lot to you." (End of Chapter)