Formulating Plans

The change in his soul aura, the change in his appearance, and the soul talent that let him sense a Chief Sovereign's surveillance—each was an incredible life-saving ability. The strongest means of survival in this world was undoubtedly one's own strength, but the world was full of surprises. This soul talent would undoubtedly make Hodan even better at staying alive.

Hodan studied his abilities for a long time, but found nothing else. He was already quite satisfied. With this talent, his foreknowledge, and the knowledge he'd brought from another world, he was confident he could become powerful and find his way home.

Hodan changed his Fate God Clone into his old appearance from Earth, then had it merge with the gray mist to alter his aura, making his soul aura more like the one he'd had back on Earth. Seeing the familiar face of his Fate God Clone, Hodan felt momentarily dazed. It was like looking in a mirror: he was still on Earth, and he was about to start a family.

Hodan shook his head, clearing away his muddled thoughts.

"What am I thinking? This is the brutal Coiling Dragon World. I'd better hurry up and cultivate until I'm stronger," Hodan mocked himself. "Then I can get home sooner."

In the end, Hodan gave up his Earthly appearance and aura. He didn't want the secret of his ability to change his soul aura exposed just yet; it would make him feel very unsafe. Besides, this ability might save his life someday, or even help him accomplish something special.

Hodan's original body and clone settled back down and immersed themselves in cultivation, hoping to grow stronger quickly and gain the strength to protect themselves before pursuing anything else.

Having confirmed his talent on the Yulan Continent, Hodan didn't waste any more time. It was time to start making plans. He truly didn't have much time left. When he'd read the novel, he hadn't thought much of the protagonist reaching Paragon strength in three thousand years. But now that he was the one cultivating, he finally understood how difficult the path was. Even his Fate God Clone was only a Lowgod, still worlds away from becoming a Paragon.

Hodan left the ice house and flew straight toward the interior of the Yulan Continent. This time, he didn't sense anyone watching him, but he paid it no mind. He wouldn't be doing anything for a while. For now, he only wanted to confirm the current era on the Yulan Continent and learn about recent events. He'd wait until Beirut's attention had waned before taking action.

The Yulan Continent was tiny, not much larger than Earth. The gravity of a Material Plane was practically negligible compared to that of a Higher Plane. With Hodan's Mid-God strength, he could probably fly around the entire continent in less than an hour at full speed. And with a sweep of his divine sense, the whole continent appeared in his mind. Of course, he didn't dare probe the Dark Forest.

Hodan's divine sense picked up two relatively powerful forces. One was like a furnace; the other had a distinctive quality much like his Fate God Clone and radiated the aura of life. He knew they belonged to the Yulan Continent's publicly known powerhouses: the fire-attribute Lowgod War God, and the Life Law Lowgod, the High Priest.

When Hodan's divine sense swept over them, they didn't feel a thing. After all, his Mid-God divine sense was a level above a Lowgod's. They also lacked a talent like his, so naturally they couldn't detect his probing.

There was no one better than a god-level powerhouse to tell him about the Yulan Continent's latest developments.

Hodan considered it and decided to fly toward the High Priest. After all, dealing with a woman was more pleasant than dealing with a rough man. By Earthling standards, the High Priest was a little old, but with the endless lifespans of Saint-level and higher beings in the Coiling Dragon World, she was barely an adult. Besides, beauty was justice—(*︾▽︾).

And when he'd read the book, Hodan had really disliked the War God. He had no strength, yet loved to act cool. As Adkins had said, how could a Lowgod who'd become a god by refining a Divine Spark call himself the War God? It was only because Beirut's family hadn't taken issue with it. On any other plane, with strength like the War God's, he'd have been reduced to dust for claiming such a title.

Before long, Hodan reached the place where the High Priest lived.

"Look, a Saint-level expert!"

"Someone's flying over!"

The people of the Yulan Empire assumed Hodan was a Saint-level expert. After all, the only publicly known gods were in the O'Brien Empire and the Yulan Empire, while the Dark Forest belonged to the king of the magical beasts.

Hodan ignored them and flew straight toward the place where the High Priest cultivated in seclusion. But the High Priest's disciples wouldn't stand for it. This was the High Priest's mountain residence. She was a god-level powerhouse. Even Saint-level experts who came to visit had to walk up the mountain from below. Who would just fly straight in? Did he think he was the War God?

As the High Priest's disciples, they'd seen the War God before. This person clearly wasn't him, yet he dared to act so brazenly? The disciples prepared to swarm him, seize the insolent man, and hand him over to the High Priest.

Hodan paid no attention to these ants beneath the god-level. He had to admit he was adapting well. In the Coiling Dragon World, strength ruled. If you were strong enough, no one could stop you from doing whatever you wanted. The law? It was merely the strong showing mercy to the weak.

Hodan released his Divine Domain. The disciples who flew toward him, intending to seize him, froze in midair as if someone had pressed a pause button.

Silence!

A terrifying, oppressive silence.

Unprecedented shock filled the High Priest's disciples' eyes. Then shock turned to fear—boundless fear.

"A god! A god-level powerhouse!" one disciple exclaimed in disbelief.

"Impossible! This can't be! Aren't there only three god-level powerhouses right now? And there hasn't been any recent sign of someone becoming a god. This can't be!"

Even the dimmest among them now knew they'd picked a fight with someone they shouldn't have. They'd dared to attack a god-level powerhouse, someone as far above them as the High Priest and the War God.

Even if they were killed, no one would avenge them. People would simply say they'd been killed for showing disrespect to a god-level powerhouse. The High Priest wouldn't pick a fight with one on their behalf. They were only her disciples, not her family.

Hodan casually waved a hand, and the disciples flew backward. The terrible oppression vanished.

Hodan wasn't worried about displeasing Beirut. They had been the ones who tried to attack him first, and he hadn't killed them—only sent them flying.

This was also about upholding the dignity of god-level powerhouses. A Saint-level ant couldn't provoke one without paying any price. Otherwise, where would their dignity be?

Only because Beirut was here would he spare them. With a Plane Overseer from any other plane, they'd either have been killed on the spot or locked away in the Plane Prison to learn what it meant to wish they were dead.

Every Material Plane had a corresponding prison plane. If Saint-level or god-level powerhouses angered the Plane Overseer, they would be locked in the Plane Prison.

Make no mistake: Plane Overseers had the strength and authority to do this. With a few special exceptions, a Plane Overseer was the strongest being in that Material Plane. Otherwise, how could they subdue an entire Material Plane?

But the Yulan Continent was precisely one of those special planes. With Beirut here, he was the one who controlled this Material Plane. Hodan had no say in it.

The fluctuations in Hodan's divine power reached the High Priest, who could no longer remain seated. Her divine sense hadn't detected him, which meant the newcomer was at least a Mid-God.

Good heavens! When had a Mid-God appeared on the Yulan Continent? And why was he flying straight toward her? The High Priest had been cultivating at home and hadn't provoked anyone.

The High Priest flew out. Seeing that her disciples had only been sent flying and weren't hurt, she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for showing mercy, my lord. May I ask your name?"

Before Hodan stood the High Priest, elegant and composed, her silver hair flowing and her mask glimmering green. Her voice was soft and quite androgynous. It was hard to tell whether she was a man or a woman just from her voice. But to Hodan's senses, the High Priest was a woman, confirming that his earlier guess had been right.

"So this is the High Priest's way of welcoming guests?" Hodan said calmly, with no awareness at all that he was the unwelcome guest.

Though the High Priest didn't want to entertain an unwelcome guest like Hodan, she was weaker than him, so all she could do was smile. "It was Catherine's mistake. Please, come inside."

With that, she led Hodan to her residence. Seeing the High Priest bring him inside, the disciples gradually dispersed, though they remained stunned that another god-level powerhouse had appeared on the Yulan Continent.