Disturbance Beneath the Lake, Invitation of the Silver Dragon

Ling Yun's strength had soared once again, yet he felt no complacency. He knew well that on this vast continent, Titled Douluo were not the pinnacle. Above them stood Ultimate Douluo, and even the legendary gods. Compared to that fleeting glimpse of the Silver Dragon King's Spiritual Sense, his current strength was still far from enough.

He continued cultivating in seclusion on the island at the lake's center, consolidating his cultivation while attempting to fuse the powers of the Chaos Dragon God and the Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor more deeply. Destruction and creation—two seemingly opposing powers—formed a subtle balance and cycle within him, mutually reinforcing each other as they grew together.

On this day, while he was immersed in cultivation, the entire Lake of Life suddenly shook violently! The island at the lake's center swayed fiercely, towering waves rose from the tranquil surface, and the dense life energy became chaotic and violent!

"What's happening?!" Xiao Wu cried out, hurriedly steadying herself against an ancient tree beside her.

The Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, let out an uneasy roar and stared vigilantly into the depths of the lake. The Sky Azure Bull Python, Da Ming, was also jolted awake from his healing. His enormous head emerged from the water, his eyes filled with gravity.

Ling Yun abruptly opened his eyes, his Spiritual Sense instantly probing toward the lakebed. He sensed an incomprehensibly immense yet extremely unstable energy erupting from the deepest part of the lake! That energy was filled with nobility, antiquity, sorrow, and... a trace of destruction!

It was the Silver Dragon King! Her condition seemed to have undergone a violent fluctuation!

"My Lord!" Da Ming and Er Ming called out anxiously at the same time.

Just then, a weak thought filled with pain and urgency entered Ling Yun's mind directly. "Human... Ling Yun... please... help me..."

It was the Silver Dragon King's voice! She was asking Ling Yun for help!

Ling Yun frowned deeply. The Silver Dragon King's condition was even worse than he had expected. This rampaging energy seemed to be caused by her source power losing control. If it was not guided, it might damage her foundation and could even spread across the entire Star Dou Great Forest!

"I'll take a look." Ling Yun made his decision at once. After saying this to the panicked Xiao Wu and the agitated Da Ming and Er Ming, his figure flashed, turning into a streak of light that plunged straight into the surging lake water.

Deep beneath the lake, the pressure was immense and the light dim. But for Ling Yun, whose strength had greatly improved, none of this was a problem. Following the source of the violent energy fluctuations, he swiftly descended.

The farther down he went, the denser the life energy became, nearly condensing into liquid. Yet the violent, sorrowful aura of destruction mixed within it also grew clearer. Powerful aquatic soul beasts began appearing around him, but upon sensing the majestic aura of the Chaos Dragon God emanating from Ling Yun, they all fled in terror.

At last, Ling Yun reached the lakebed. Before him lay a vast, strange space formed from countless crystal-like substances, radiating a gentle glow. At the center of the space, an incomparably enormous mass of silver light churned and twisted violently, like a soul struggling in agony. Within the light, he could vaguely see the phantom of an elegant yet majestic silver dragon. But at this moment, the phantom was covered in cracks, and its aura was extremely unstable.

This was the source core where the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, slept! For some reason—perhaps the recurrence of an old wound, or perhaps because she had sensed something—she had fallen into an extraordinarily dangerous state.

"Human... you came..." the Silver Dragon King's weak voice echoed in Ling Yun's mind. "My power... has lost control... the Dragon God's resentment and sorrow... are eroding my consciousness... help me... stabilize it..."

Ling Yun could sense that within the mass of silver light, aside from pure Dragon God power, there was also an extremely terrifying negative energy mixed in. It was filled with hatred toward the God Realm, the pain of being split apart, and despair for the future. It was this negative energy that had triggered the rampage of her source power.

"What should I do?" Ling Yun asked calmly. Though he possessed the Chaos Dragon God Martial Soul and held an extremely lofty status, he still did not dare let down his guard in the slightest when facing the Silver Dragon King's out-of-control source power.

"Use your power... guide it... soothe it..." the Silver Dragon King's voice came in fragments. "Your Martial Soul... possesses the traits of chaos and creation... perhaps it can... neutralize this resentment... be careful... do not suffer backlash..."

Ling Yun understood. His Chaos Dragon God Martial Soul possessed not only destruction, but also the qualities of acceptance and evolution. The Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor was the ultimate embodiment of life and healing. Combined, they might truly be able to help the Silver Dragon King in her current state.

He no longer hesitated. Sitting cross-legged at the edge of the crystal space, he circulated his cultivation method with all his strength. The dark golden radiance of the Chaos Dragon God Martial Soul and the emerald glow of the Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor lit up simultaneously, intertwining behind him into a strange scene of primordial chaos opening and life beginning to sprout.

Carefully, he guided his own power into a gentle, accepting stream of energy and slowly extended it toward the rampaging mass of silver light. He did not try to suppress or destroy that resentment. Instead, he attempted to understand it, accept it, and soothe it.

This was an extremely dangerous process. How immense were the Silver Dragon King's negative emotions? One misstep, and they could erode his mind or even turn against him. Ling Yun focused all his spiritual power, sinking his consciousness into a state of emptiness, as though he himself had become the chaos that embraced all things.

His stream of energy seeped into the violent silver sea like a gentle brook. At first, it was met with fierce rejection and impact. But gradually, the resentment-filled energy seemed to sense an aura of the same origin, yet older and more peaceful. Its resistance weakened somewhat.

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Yun blended the life energy of the Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor into it. Like spring rain, it nourished that withered and suffering soul. He seemed to hear the endless sorrow and loneliness buried deep within the Silver Dragon King's soul: longing for the age of the Dragon God, grief over the dwindling of her kin, fury at the injustice of the God Realm...

Time passed bit by bit. Fine beads of sweat seeped across Ling Yun's forehead, and his spiritual power was being consumed at an enormous rate. Yet he persisted, continuously guiding and soothing.

After an unknown amount of time, the violent mass of silver light finally began to calm. The cracks along its surface also started to slowly heal. That destructive resentment had not vanished, but it was temporarily suppressed and soothed.

The Silver Dragon King's phantom had stabilized considerably. She slowly opened her eyes, and the gaze she turned on Ling Yun was filled with complexity and... a trace of gratitude.

"Thank you, human... you have helped me once again." Her voice had regained its calm, though it was still weak.

Ling Yun withdrew his power and let out a long breath, his face somewhat pale. The process just now had also been an immense trial and tempering for him.

"It was nothing," Ling Yun said flatly. "Your injuries are severe. You need to rest and recover."

The Silver Dragon King fell silent for a moment before saying, "I do not have much time left. Sooner or later, the God Realm's gaze will fall upon this place again. Ling Yun, your rate of growth has exceeded my expectations. Perhaps... you truly are that variable."

She seemed to have made a decision and said solemnly, "I want to make a true deal with you."

Ling Yun's gaze sharpened. "What deal?"