By the azure lakeshore, a man quietly stirred the clear, life-filled water with his fingertips. Ripples spread across the mirror-still blue surface, shimmering with a faint glow beneath the moonlight.
On the opposite shore, seven or eight humanoid figures had gathered together. Behind them, enormous shadows shifted faintly within the towering forest.
Through the clear, dark-blue water, Chen Fu met the gaze of a pair of golden dragon eyes, filled with majesty and oppression, deep within the shadowy lakebed.
"So that was it."
How greedy.
With Soul Rings and Soul Bones already secured, could there also be undiscovered spiritual medicines and Immortal Herbs somewhere?
After all, those were the Soul Master's three standard moves...
Chen Fu sorted through and pieced together all the fragmented information. One incomprehensible matter after another was resolved, and a truth that left one rather silent emerged before him.
Why did those who got rich first always want to seal off the path for those who came later?
"What are you talking about?"
A trace of irritation flashed through the dazzling golden eyes of the silver dragon beneath the lake. Before this human, she always felt constrained at every turn.
"Do you want to make a wedding dress for someone else?"
The basic structure and general history of the God Realm had been introduced during the Divine Trial: one needed to know the decision-makers of the God Realm, its rules and regulations, and the political correctness established under the Dragon God's deterrence. The God of Craftsmanship had practically been cultivating him as a junior, though their paths of technical development differed greatly. Even knowing that Chen Fu had his own Divine Path, he still wanted to toss him a few Divine Positions. After all, kindred spirits were hard to find.
"How dare you!"
The burly figure, built like an iron tower, stepped forward, sending a surge of shockwaves across the lake.
At first hearing, those words did seem somewhat ambiguous.
Chen Fu swept a sidelong glance over him, then looked directly into Gu Yuena's golden eyes.
"When the decision-makers are talking, do subordinates interrupting at will count as insolence?"
"Stand down!"
A deep, majestic dragon roar exploded through the forest. Listening carefully, one could even hear a trace of anger within it.
".Yes!"
The Iron Tower Man, who normally submitted to no one and barely even listened when Di Tian spoke, was as obedient as a harmless bear cub before this silver dragon who had suddenly appeared.
"Human, explain your words."
"Before I explain, I would first like to confirm something. Your Majesty, are you the Silver Dragon King?"
The air seemed to fall unnaturally silent at once. The heavy atmosphere was suffocating.
"Are you certain that human whose physical body has become half-divine can protect you?"
A gap split open across the dark lake surface. Rows of watery steps condensed in midair as the stunning silver-haired girl walked from the lakebed to stand before Chen Fu. Her dazzling purple eyes settled upon his ink-black pupils.
"Before seeing you, perhaps. After seeing you, there is no need, Your Majesty."
Chen Fu nodded respectfully toward the beautiful silver-haired, purple-eyed girl.
"Now, can you tell me what information you know? And why you came to join forces with the Soul Beasts to Found a Nation?"
Chen Fu nodded and glanced around at the twenty-odd Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts nearby. What deserved particular attention were the humanoid Fierce Beasts. Among the tall incarnations stood a Cold-Qi Twin-Tailed Loli, whose mood clearly was not very good.
"You saw what happened over in Shrek City, didn't you? The Divine Path of this world has been blocked."
"Yes. Continue."
Of course she knew. If she had not feared being discovered, she would have even wanted to watch the live stream in person.
"At first, I found His actions difficult, even impossible, to understand—until I saw you." Shrek Academy's praise of Him had, under subtle influence, given Chen Fu the slightest instinctive goodwill toward Him.
"Your Majesty, do you truly believe you hid yourself that well?"
Seeing Gu Yuena's face stiffen slightly, Chen Fu continued.
"Even when the Sea God Pavilion Master became a god through his physical body, He still stopped him. That means He does not want anyone in this world to become a god—or rather, He does not want anyone who is not one of His own to become a god."
"In other words, He does not want to surrender ownership of this world. Do you know why?"
Beneath the quiet starry sky, the man silently watched the girl, who gave off a faint glow in the moonlight.
"This is His vegetable garden. I am an insect, and you..."
"A god-tier humanoid Immortal Herb."
The evening breeze lifted the girl's silver hair, while her once-dazzling eyes merely reflected the splendor of the stars.
From the moment Chen Fu saw Gu Yuena, he understood the Divine Punishment he had never been able to figure out. He was practically covered in buffs, and the executor of his Ascension was the Sea God Pavilion Master, yet he had still suffered Divine Punishment. Why?
Was it merely because he had refused to follow His arrangements in the Imperial Auspicious Beast incident? Other than the god who controlled this world, who else could directly know his memories from his previous life?
And considering the Divine Thought Crystal that Youlan had discovered and captured within the Golden Ancient Tree's spiritual soul body, had He truly locked the world away and treated it as His own?
If all gods were as shameless as you, would there still be any gods left? So after you rose to power, did you patch the bug of "gods caring too much about their dignity"? And manually patch it from outside the Realm Wall?
No wonder the World Will would rather gamble on an unknown future with me than let you, this "Plane Lord God," remain here.
"The Realm Wall can hold for thirty years at most. So this is my opportunity—and yours as well."
"..."
After a long silence, the silver-haired girl finally recovered. She had thought she had hidden herself well, never expecting that she was merely a clown in someone else's vegetable garden. Perhaps, if He had not feared her unknown symbiotic connection with that person, she, this god-tier humanoid Immortal Herb, would already have been used.
"The Plane Instrument of the God Realm Committee can directly open the Realm Wall."
Gu Yuena provided a crucial piece of information.
"Oh? How does one use it?"
Chen Fu had already had a related guess, so he was not overly surprised.
"It requires joint authorization from the God Realm Committee to be used." Gu Yuena had known this information ever since she was still in the God Realm.
"Then it's fine."
The tension Chen Fu had been holding immediately eased.
Given the Sea God's completely reckless meddling with the plane, getting unanimous approval from the Committee was basically impossible. Besides, there was also the furious God of Craftsmanship, as well as the Destruction God King, who was said to stand apart as his own faction.
"Then that will do."
Seeing Chen Fu so certain, Gu Yuena also relaxed.
"Tell me how you intend to Found a Nation. Since I have already agreed to help you, so long as it is not excessive, I will do my best to meet your demands."
The information she had received from Chen Fu had largely settled Gu Yuena's mind, so she was prepared to hear the ideas of this human, who seemed to be filled with miracles from head to toe.
Chen Fu gestured for the humanoid Fierce Beasts by the shore to come closer, then sat cross-legged before the beasts.
As for the dozen or so Soul Beasts that could not take human form, they could stay off to the side. They were simply too large.
Looking at the humanoid Fierce Beasts before him, each of whom had restrained their aura somewhat, Chen Fu let his gaze pass over them one by one.
His gaze lingered briefly on the beautiful green-haired woman in green, then moved to the loli at the side, who was radiating cold air and looked displeased. Only then did Chen Fu speak.
"Tell me your thoughts first."
Chen Fu felt he should first see whether this group of high-ranking Soul Beasts, who seemed to be the only ones with brains, actually had any brains.
"Make use of our top-level military advantage, as well as Soul Tools that greatly restrain Soul Masters, and directly kill every Titled Douluo."
"Attack directly!"
"We have fewer people. Won't the casualties be too high?"
"I'll listen to Di Tian!"
"Me too!"
Chen Fu subconsciously glanced at the Iron Tower Man, the incarnation of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, and immediately stopped holding out any hope. Perhaps Di Tian had not lived those extra hundreds of thousands of years for nothing after all.
"What about you, Your Majesty?"
Chen Fu turned his gaze toward this being who had lived even longer.
"Join the Limit Douluo and Demigod by your side, then kill them directly!"
Chen Fu and Gu Yuena had more than twenty top-tier powerhouses between them, with nearly all of the strongest among them gathered here. If they were willing to pay the price, they could slaughter all hundred-plus Titled Douluo on the continent.
"...From now on, listen more, watch more, and ask Ning Yi more. As for the next plan, please refrain from offering suggestions. Thank you."
Killing them would be easy enough, but how would they rule afterward? With Ning Yi's hundred-odd people? Or with Soul Beasts who became ecstatic after receiving some idiotic title?
In the end, compromises still had to be made, leaving the empire with a hollow foundation and the seeds of disaster.
"Strategic defense. Gather civilians. Develop technology. Enlighten beast intelligence. Sweep through the four nations."
If there was to be reform, then reform it completely amid blood and fire!
For the stability of the Realm Wall, gods could not be born on the continent for now, as that would accelerate the depletion of the Realm Wall's energy. Therefore, Chen Fu needed to accumulate a batch of Ascension seeds in the Douluo World.
As for the soil in which those seeds would grow, it could only be war of blood and fire!
Even the Titled Douluo whom Di Tian and the others had spoken of "slaughtering all over again" would be participants in this selection.
"I call this plan: Refining God."
Gods were forged through blood and fire. When the Realm Wall finally broke open, the entire world would ascend as gods!
"The mad plan carried out in that mad era was known by many names in later generations. Among them, the author's favorite was: the Conquest of Refining God."
--Examination of the "Refining God" Era
PS: I need a nice name for a special organization's framework. I want to freeload while standing tall with my hands on my hips.
Thanks to Rouji Congdan for the 500 reward, and thanks to Haotian Jinque Supreme Qixiao Heavenly Emperor for the 100 reward. (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ By the way, did that name really need so many prefixes?
Thanks to my good brothers for the monthly votes and recommendation votes. (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ
Brothers, I'm about to take off! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! I'm in the top twenty of the new book rankings! I'm a newbie monster, hahaha!
Please give me monthly votes. (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ
Please let the great ones reward this child a little. (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ
I'll update properly. The war arc was deeply influenced by Imposter, so it should not be too bad. Charge, charge, charge! I want to be a newbie monster! (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ
Before you continue