Swear by the Luo River

After detonating the Sword of Separation, Qian Gu Huang Yu and Gu Yuena's subsequent conversation went much more smoothly.

Gu Yuena no longer carried her initial aggressive momentum and instead yielded at every turn.

The soul beasts could no longer withstand further losses. Gu Yuena especially could not fall; if she perished, the soul beasts would truly have no future.

Seeing the atmosphere between them ease, Qian Gu Huang Yu smiled. "Then we should be able to have a proper talk now."

The tension in Gu Yuena's heart also dissipated considerably. "As we should."

A hint of delight appeared in Di Tian's golden eyes, but Qian Ren Xue at the side felt awkward. So I'm the only pure-blooded human here? Doesn't that make me a traitor to humanity?

But clearly, Miss Qian Ren Xue's opinion was not important.

The future was utterly dark! (Sorrowful)

"However, before discussing the specifics, I think we should first form an alliance and swear that we will not betray one another."

This time, Qian Gu Huang Yu did not refer to herself as "I, the sovereign," but simply used "I." Her attitude had clearly softened, making it easier to close the distance between herself and Gu Yuena.

I've already dispelled Gu Yuena's intention to attack me. Next, I need to build mutual trust.

Qian Gu Huang Yu established a new goal.

Gu Yuena raised a delicate brow. "How am I supposed to trust you?"

Given Gu Yuena's pride, once she made a promise, she would never go back on it. But she did not dare assume Qian Gu Huang Yu would do the same.

Gu Yuena did not know which God Realm Qian Gu Huang Yu came from, nor what its culture was like. Judging from the Dragon God's memories, there were places where people mocked poverty but not promiscuity, and took pride in breaking their word.

Qian Gu Huang Yu could not help but laugh. "What, do you need me to swear by the Luo River?"

"The Luo River? What is that?" Di Tian asked curiously. He had once traveled the world, yet he had never heard of any so-called Luo River.

Qian Gu Huang Yu smiled and explained, "It is the name of a place in a plane I saw in my previous life. There, swearing by the Luo River symbolizes an unbreakable oath."

I swear not to retaliate against you ≠ I won't send someone to kill you. That inequality wins instantly.

"Rest easy. At least before becoming Supreme God Kings, I don't think we have any reason to turn against each other. After all, this plane once had a God Realm. What if the God Realm returns someday?" Qian Gu Huang Yu said.

"I was presumptuous," Gu Yuena said.

Afterward, Gu Yuena and Qian Gu Huang Yu went through a few simple rituals, officially declaring the alliance between the two sides established.

The treaty was quite simple: neither side could directly or indirectly harm the other in any way; resources would be shared to a certain extent, intelligence exchanged, and each side would cooperate with the other's actions.

The alliance between them would end the moment both Gu Yuena and Qian Gu Huang Yu became Supreme God Kings.

Seeing that she had successfully lured Gu Yuena aboard her pirate ship, Qian Gu Huang Yu was in high spirits. As long as her disguise was not exposed, the crisis could be declared over.

"To celebrate the founding of our alliance, how about a drink?"

Without waiting for Gu Yuena and Di Tian to respond, Qian Gu Huang Yu directly retrieved a golden wine jug and four golden goblets from the Gate of Babylon.

It was the fine wine Golden Shining Shining had used to entertain the King of the Dull Hair and the Emperor at the gathering of three kings.

"Come, have a taste. Wine meant only for gods."

Bright red wine flowed from the jug, and its rich fragrance immediately filled the entire space. Soon, all four golden goblets were full. Qian Gu Huang Yu handed them in turn to Gu Yuena, Di Tian, and Qian Ren Xue. The pair of dragon wings behind Qian Gu Huang Yu flapped together, lifting her into the air so that her gaze was level with Gu Yuena's.

There was no helping it. She was the only one present with the appearance of a child, and she was simply too short. When she had handed them the goblets earlier, they had to bend down to receive them, leaving Qian Gu Huang Yu's face dark.

Qian Gu Huang Yu was the first to raise her golden goblet. Lightning seemed to flicker within her wine-red eyes, filled with both excitement and anticipation. "To the new era!"

Perhaps infected by Qian Gu Huang Yu's enthusiasm, Gu Yuena also raised her golden goblet. Their cups clinked together with a crisp ring.

"To the new era!"

However, the new era Qian Gu Huang Yu looked forward to and the new era Gu Yuena looked forward to were not the same at all. But that was a matter for later.

Seeing their leaders take the lead, Di Tian and Qian Ren Xue naturally joined in as well.

After clinking glasses, everyone drained the wine in their golden goblets in one gulp.

Savoring the taste of the wine, Di Tian praised it. "Even in the Dragon God Realm back then, there may not have been wine this delicious."

If even Di Tian had never tasted it, there was no need to mention Qian Ren Xue. "This is the best wine I've ever had."

"The taste is indeed good, but I still want to try your Spring of Life." Now that the alliance had been formed, Gu Yuena once again set her sights on Qian Gu Huang Yu's Holy Grail of Youth.

Fine wine was good, but it was not practical!

Qian Gu Huang Yu did not refuse, merely smiling. "Shouldn't you at least give us somewhere to sit first?"

Gu Yuena also felt that she had been discourteous after hearing that. After all, they were no longer enemies.

Gu Yuena lightly raised her jade-like hand, and four chairs formed of rock, along with a round table, grew out of thin air from the ground beneath them.

Everyone took their seats, and Qian Gu Huang Yu also fulfilled Gu Yuena's wish to taste the Spring of Youth.

"Come to think of it, I'm not very familiar with the laws of this plane yet. I should have concealed it—how did you sense that I had it?" Qian Gu Huang Yu was quite curious. She had taken out the Holy Grail of Youth in the Spirit Pagoda more than once, yet even Bei Gong Li, a quasi-god, had failed to notice it. Gu Yuena, however, had directly sent Di Tian to capture her.

Nourished by god-level life energy, Gu Yuena delightedly felt her internal injuries gradually improving. A blush spread across her originally pale, beautiful face, making her appear even more delicate and enchanting.

"Although the quality of the Spring of Youth you can create with your current strength has only barely reached the threshold of god-level, it still carries a god-level aura. Perhaps the divine artifact helps suppress that aura when you use the Holy Grail of Youth, but I still noticed it. Don't forget, I have already broken through to godhood."

Qian Gu Huang Yu raised a delicate brow. "So as my cultivation improves and the quality of the Spring of Youth I pour from the Holy Grail of Youth gets higher and higher, it will become easier for others to discover it?"

"Yes." As she spoke, Gu Yuena handed Qian Gu Huang Yu a dragon scale.

Qian Gu Huang Yu reached out to take it and examined the dragon scale carefully.

The scale was diamond-shaped and emitted a crystalline silver glow. It was exquisitely beautiful.

Gu Yuena explained, "This is one of my scales. I placed some methods on it that can help conceal your aura."

"Thank you." Qian Gu Huang Yu naturally did not refuse Gu Yuena's gift.

Afterward, Gu Yuena explained her plans to Qian Gu Huang Yu. With the power of the Spring of Youth, Gu Yuena would only need two years to emerge from seclusion ahead of schedule. After leaving seclusion, Gu Yuena's plan would be the same as in the original story: enter the human world and take control of the Spirit Pagoda.

(End of chapter)