Gu Xingyun nodded in determination. He turned back to the Lightning Spear. His hands wrapped around the weapon, and he closed his eyes.

Xiao Wu bounded over to them and leaned her head on her husband's shoulder. "Ge, the God of Storms isn't from Douluo Continent. Will Xingyun have to leave like Yong did?"

Tang San nodded. "Most likely."

"Then we just have to hope he can come back before Hu Liena finishes her Inheritance Trials."

The other Tyrants turned to look at them. "Wait... Hu Liena gained the approval of a God?"

"Yes. Although we don't know which God, her spirit evolved from the Charm Fox to the Three-Tailed Charm Fox. Whoever's guiding her knows her skills well. And ours."

Ming Yong frowned. "Senior, what do you mean?"

"Hu Liena challenged Xiao Wu and me in the bottom of Liuying Gorge a while back. Under the pressure of the Coexistence of Two Gods, her spirit evolved. I have a feeling that whoever's God seat she's inheriting, that God came from Douluo Continent."

"But there's only the Head Flamen of Spirit Empire and the Head Flamen of Haishen Island. Head Flamen Qian Daoliu is dead and the position hasn't been taken up by anyone else yet," Bai Shanxin began. "And Xiao Shen is still technically the Head Flamen of Haishen Island. She can't sacrifice for another God."

But what none of them knew, was that if a God not in the Divine Realm chose a successor, no Flamen would be needed for passing the ninth trial. Hence how Ru Zuanshi passed her God seat down to her daughter.

Fang Youyou frowned. "We need to figure out who's God seat Hu Liena is inheriting. We also need to stop her from becoming a God."

"I would doubt it's the Rakshasa God," Liao Suyin cut in. "Xiao Shen did everything in her power to prevent the return of the Rakshasa God. And Qian Renxue burned her Godhood and is dead. Hu Liena must have an entirely different God seat."

Tang San sighed, "I just worry that she's inheriting from another First Class God. If she does, she and Xiao Shen will give us a hard time."

At that moment a bright swirl of purple and gold exploded. Gu Xingyun stood, triumphant, holding the Lightning Spear in his hand.

Seventh Trial, Earn Approval of Divine Weapon: Lightning Spear, completed. Eighth Trial, Spirit Awakening, already completed. Ninth Trial, God of Storms Inheritance, begun.

<><><>

Hu Liena growled upon seeing that purple and gold light shoot out from the forest. She clutched the hilt of the Nine Stars Whip. The pressure on her was immense. Her eyebrows furrowed as sweat beaded on her forehead. But no matter what, she couldn't pull the Nine Stars Whip from its lodging.

Xie Yue and Yan leapt up to the top spire of Liuying Fortress. "Nana."

"That Crown Prince of Guang Kingdom has completed his next trial. I must not let him become a God before me."

"Nana," Xie Yue began. "Have you tried a blood sacrifice?"

Realization dawned on her. She released the divine weapon and bit her finger. Throwing a few drops of her blood at the Nine Stars Whip, the Golden Generation watched as it began to glow with white light. She grabbed the hilt again and pulled with all of her might. Finally, after a long and arduous fifteen minutes, the whip finally came free. White light beamed down around her.

Sixth Trial, Retrieve the Divine Weapon, completed. Seventh Trial, Second Spirit Awakening, begun.

Hu Liena frowned. "A second spirit awakening? I'm already a Three-Tailed Charm Fox. What--"

But then, she remembered an old legend. Xie Yue recalled it too. He turned to her. "Nana, could it be that Xiao Shen wants you to become the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox?"

She nodded slowly. "It must be. The Goddess of Nine Stars God seat is powerful. Maybe I can only fully control its power when I've become a Nine-Tailed Charm Fox."

Yan patted her shoulder. "That's good then. Laoshi would be proud of you."

Sadness filled the three's eyes as they thought about their teacher. After a moment, they broke from their reverie and jumped down, heading back inside Liuying Fortress to check up on their Holy Maiden.

Across the battlefield, the Golden Iron Triangle had seen this white light, and Flender had seen the divine weapon better than the other two. He shuddered. Liu Erlong glanced at him.

"You lazy Owl, what is it?"

"Aiya, Erlong, I just can't believe it."

"What? What was the divine weapon Hu Liena pulled out?" Yu Xiaogang asked quickly.

Flender pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and sighed sadly. He shook his head. "I fear we really have lost her."

"Who?" Liu Erlong demanded.

Sadness flooded his eyes as he murmured, "Xiao Shen. Hu Liena pulled out the Nine Stars Whip."

Horror filled the two beloveds' eyes. Liu Erlong shook her head in denial. "No, there's no way. Xiao Shen wouldn't already choose a successor. And the last person she'd choose is Hu Liena!"

Even Yu Xiaogang's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "It's one thing if she went to Spirit Empire to keep away from Xingyun. It's another thing that she's been going all out to fight us and now is guiding Hu Liena in her Inheritance Trials for the Goddess of Nine Stars God seat. What is Xiao Shen up to?"

At that moment, the Shrek Six Tyrants, Tang San, and Xiao Wu returned. Yu Xiaogang glanced at Xingyun.

"Good. You've gotten the divine weapon. What's your Eighth Trial?"

"It's already completed. It required the awakening of my spirit, which already happened when I fought Yong and Seniors. So I'm onto the Ninth and final Trial. But I seem to be stuck."

"What do you mean?" Liu Erlong asked.

Gu Xingyun shook his head. "Whereas Yong went to a different realm to complete his Ninth Trial, mine doesn't seem to require that. Right now, there's no instructions."

Tang San frowned. "You should need a Flamen to sacrifice their life for you to enter the Divine Realm and finish the God of Storms' requirements."

Flender rested a hand on Gu Xingyun's shoulder. "Why don't you go practice with that spear for a while? Who knows when Hu Liena will launch another attack."

The Golden Divine Lion nodded and walked off. His friends were about to go with him when Yu Xiaogang halted them.

"Wait."

"Grandmaster, what is it?"

The Golden Iron Triangle looked down at the ground. Sensing something was wrong, Xiao Wu murmured, "Mama?"

Liu Erlong swallowed. "Xiao San, we've figured out Hu Liena's Inheritance."

"Oh? Who's God seat is she inheriting?" Tang San asked.

Pain filled three pairs of eyes. Yu Xiaogang replied, "The Goddess of Nine Stars."

"XIAO SHEN'S GIVING UP HER GOD SEAT?! TO HU LIENA OF ALL PEOPLE?!"

Ning Fengzhi and Xue Beng were walking over and heard the Shrek Five Tyrants' outburst. "Xiao Shen is letting Hu Liena inherit the Goddess of Nine Stars position?"

Flender nodded. "I saw Hu Liena draw the Nine Stars Whip."

"No wonder Xiao Shen stole Hu Liena away that day and sent us to the gorge," Xiao Wu breathed.

Liu Erlong looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, Xiao Shen can't really have switched sides, could she?"

He sighed. "I don't know anymore. I can't surmise what's on her mind."

"If Xingyun finds out, won't he only want to kill her more?" Shu Jiaxiang wondered. "Why is Xiao Shen doing this?"

<><><>

Inside Liuying Fortress, Ru Shenqi sat meditating. Hu Liena sat behind her transferring spirit power to help heal her injuries faster. After four hours, Ru Shenqi's eyes finally opened. She turned and tipped her head.

"Thank you, Laoshi."

"Not at all. Xiao Shen, I've done it. I passed the Sixth Trial."

"That's good." Has Xingyun passed his Trial?

"Xiao Shen, our reinforcements will be here in a week. Until then, focus on recovering."

"Yes, Laoshi."

"Good. I'll leave you to rest then."

Hu Liena stood and exited the room. Ru Shenqi slowly stood and walked over to the balcony. She closed her eyes and sighed sadly.

Xingyun should be on his Eighth Trial now. I should go see what it is.

She teleported away and reappeared in the camp. Entering the tent for the Shrek Seven Devils, she gave Ma Hongjun, Bai Chenxiang, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar a shock.

"Xiao Shen?"

Pain flickered in her eyes, and she asked softly, "Where's Sect Leader and Laoshi ?"

Dai Mubai stepped forward. "Xiao San and Xiao Wu are talking with Grandmaster, Dean Flender, and Vice Dean Liu."

"Oh. Okay."

She turned to go. At that moment, Tang San and Xiao Wu entered the tent. They froze upon seeing the white-haired girl.

"Xiao Shen, what are you doing here?"

"What's Xingyun's Eighth Trial?"

Tang San replied, "He's already passed it. He's onto the Ninth Trial, God of Storms Inheritance, now."

Ru Shenqi choked back a sob. I didn't expect the end would come so soon. Forget it. As long as Xingyun can become a God, I don't care what happens to me.

"Alright. I should get going."

As she started past them, Xiao Wu caught her wrist. "Xiao Shen, why are you letting Hu Liena inherit your God seat?"

Her azure blue eyes fell on the couple as tears threatened to fall. "Sect Leader, Laoshi, I'm sorry."

She bowed her head and shot out of the tent. Teleporting back to her room in Liuying Gorge, she curled up in bed and cried herself to sleep.