East Sea Warmth

In the dense forest on the outskirts of Eastsea City, space rippled violently as four figures slowly stepped out.

The moment they landed, the Time and Space Dragon Kings, who had suppressed their emotions for ages, could not help but release a trace of the supreme pressure of the ancient Dragon Clan.

Fluctuations of the laws of time swept across a hundred miles, while spatial ripples stretched through the mountains and woods. The pure aura of the Dragon God's origin spread without restraint. Even a mere wisp was enough to make all soul beasts across the Douluo Continent tremble.

Within a hidden courtyard on the outskirts of Eastsea City, the Beast God Di Tian sat cross-legged, black dragon power circulating slowly around him as he guarded Gu Yue and Na'er within the courtyard.

As the Silver Dragon King's most loyal subordinate, he had long followed Gu Yue to Eastsea City, hiding in the shadows to protect her. (The legendary king of pressure resistance, indeed.)

The instant that familiar ancient dragon pressure and the unfamiliar aura of the Golden Dragon King's origin reached him, Di Tian abruptly opened his eyes, his golden pupils filled with shock and disbelief.

He recognized the auras of the Time Dragon King and Space Dragon King at once—those were the two most "loyal" first-generation Dragon Kings beneath the Dragon God, Dragon Clan kings who had fallen ten thousand years ago!

What shook him even more was the Golden Dragon King's origin aura, sharing the same source as his master, as well as that incomparably familiar Underworld pressure that transcended life and death—it was Li Chen, who had disappeared for nearly half a month!

Over the past half month, Li Chen had vanished from the world. He had not contacted the Spirit Pagoda, Leng Yaozhu, or Gu Yue and Na'er.

Gu Yue had used the entire intelligence network of the soul beast faction, yet she had failed to uncover even the slightest trace of him.

Di Tian did not dare delay in the slightest. He instantly turned into a streak of black light, shot out of the courtyard, and sped toward the source of the auras.

In only a few breaths, he arrived in the forest and saw Li Chen's group of four.

The instant he saw the Time and Space Dragon Kings, reverence surged from the depths of Di Tian's bloodline. He immediately bowed in salute. The pressure of the Dragon Kings made even this Limit Douluo tremble inwardly. "This junior, Di Tian of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King lineage, pays respects to the two Dragon King lords!" (Strictly speaking, he should call them uncles, but Uncle Time? That feels strangely odd.)

He then turned to Li Chen, his attitude becoming even more respectful, though it carried a trace of barely concealed urgency. "Greetings, Lord of the Underworld. Upon sensing your aura, my master ordered me to come welcome you at once. You had vanished without word for half a month. My master and Miss Na'er have both been worrying about you."

Li Chen nodded faintly, his face devoid of excess expression as he went straight to the point. "I came this time because of the Dragon God's origin. I need to speak with Gu Yue and Na'er in person. There are too many eyes and ears here. Find an absolutely sealed space where no outside party can spy on us."

"Yes!"

Di Tian accepted the order without hesitation. With a raise of his hand, the vast Soul Power of a Limit Douluo erupted. Drawing upon his own origin, he forcibly tore open an independent Soul Power Space above the forest. (In a sense, Di Tian's strength is a mystery. In Douluo 2, he was trapped by Xuanzi; in Douluo 3, he was at the top; in Douluo 4, he could contend with a god around level 110 using Dragon God Claw.)

This space completely isolated all outside observation. Its internal laws were stable enough to withstand the impact of god-level power. Even a Title Douluo would be unable to detect anything within it.

"Lord Li Chen, Dragon King lords, please." Di Tian bowed and led the way, entering the Soul Power Space first.

Li Chen entered after him with Electrolux, the Time Dragon King, and the Space Dragon King. The moment they entered, they saw two figures already waiting at the center of the space.

The girl in the purple dress was cold and ethereal, a faint elemental glow lingering around her. She was Gu Yue, and Na'er, dressed in white, stood beside her.

Gu Yue slowly stepped forward. Her purple eyes remained filled with complicated emotions as she looked at his noticeably thinner figure and asked softly, "Where exactly did you go during this half month? Everyone was worried about you."

She did not question him, only asked quietly, yet the concern in her eyes could not be concealed.

They had known each other for years. Li Chen had never left without a word like this, disappearing for half a month without any news.

She had even wondered whether he had suffered an accident while touching the Underworld inheritance, or whether some powerful enemy had trapped him. She had been unable to rest day or night.

"I went to handle a matter concerning the Dragon Clan and the entire Douluo Plane." Li Chen looked at her, his eyes full of seriousness. He did not explain the past any further and went straight to the matter at hand. "I brought something back for you this time."

Before his words had faded, the Time and Space Dragon Kings stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Gu Yue in unison. Their voices choked with emotion, carrying the longing and loyalty of countless ages. "This subject, the Time Dragon King (Space Dragon King), pays respects to my master! After ages beyond measure, we may finally serve the Dragon God again!" (The two dragons should actually be loyal to the Dragon God. I do not really understand that part in Douluo 4, so consider this my personal setting. After all, everyone knows Di Tian's loyalty; there is no reason for them to be less loyal than him.)

Gu Yue raised her hand, and gentle elemental power lifted the two of them. Even her voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremble. "Seniors... you are still alive?"

"Thanks to Lord Li Chen, our remnant souls were able to linger in the Underworld. Only today could we see our master again." The Time Dragon King bowed as he answered, his tone filled with reverence.

Gu Yue's gaze fell upon Li Chen again, the confusion in her eyes deepening.

She vaguely sensed that what Li Chen had done during his half-month disappearance was far more earth-shattering than she had imagined.

After calming the two Dragon Kings, Gu Yue took a deep breath, looked at Li Chen, and asked solemnly, "You said you brought us something. What exactly is it?"

"Mm." Li Chen nodded slowly. With a lift of his hand, light flashed in his palm, and an incomparably dazzling diamond-shaped divine crystal slowly emerged.

The brilliant golden divine light was gentle and warm, yet it carried a boundless holy pressure of the Dragon God. The instant it appeared, the entire Soul Power Space trembled faintly, resonating with the auras on Gu Yue and Na'er in the most profound way, from the depths of their bloodlines.

Gu Yue's pupils suddenly contracted, and her aura instantly lost control. The laws of the seven elements surged madly around her as utter shock covered her face. "The Golden Dragon King's Origin Divine Core?! How is that possible?! Wasn't the Golden Dragon King's origin always sealed inside Tang Wulin?!"

She finally understood what Li Chen had gone off to do without a word during the past half month.

He had actually breached the seal Tang San had left behind and stripped this core Golden Dragon King Divine Core from Tang Wulin's body!

She did not even dare imagine how many dangers lay behind this act.

Tang San's divine consciousness left within Tang Wulin, along with Tang Hao, who lived in seclusion on the Douluo Continent—either one was an ultimate powerhouse capable of shaking the entire continent. How many life-and-death dangers had Li Chen endured to strip this Divine Core from their hands intact?

Li Chen watched their shocked expressions, his face remaining calm. His fingers lightly brushed over the surface of the Divine Core as he said indifferently, "That's right. This is the Golden Dragon King's Origin Divine Core. Half a month ago, I joined forces with the Douluo Plane Spirit, defeated Tang San's descending divine consciousness head-on, shattered Tang Hao's lower-realm body, and completely stripped this core Divine Core from Tang Wulin's body."

He spoke lightly of it, but merely thinking about the near-death dangers involved made Gu Yue's heart pound in fear. She looked at Li Chen, her lips moving as countless words clogged her throat. In the end, they became only one sentence. "Are you insane? Do you know how dangerous that was? One misstep, and not even your divine soul would have remained!"

"I know." Li Chen looked at her, his tone calm but resolute. "But as long as this Divine Core remains inside Tang Wulin, it is a disaster waiting to happen. Tang San treats it as a chess piece to control the Douluo Continent, using it to lock Tang Wulin's life into place while also restraining you and plotting against the entire Dragon Clan. Only by taking it out can this scheme truly be broken."

"This Golden Dragon King Origin Divine Core originally belongs to the Dragon Clan and the Dragon God's inheritance. Gu Yue, you bear the blood-deep hatred of countless soul beasts, and your heart has accumulated resentment and anger for innumerable years. Once you fuse with the Golden Dragon King's origin of destruction, you could easily be consumed by its power and repeat the ancient Dragon God's fate of losing control."

Gu Yue nodded silently. How could she not understand? The hatred in her heart ran too deep, and the Golden Dragon King's Power of Destruction was too tyrannical. If the two merged, she had no confidence that she could preserve her true heart.

This was also the core reason why, after discovering the Golden Dragon King Divine Core, she had never forcibly tried to seize the Golden Dragon King's power within Tang Wulin. (Personal setting: otherwise, there is no way she, with God King-level spiritual power, could not defeat Tang San's divine consciousness and Tang Hao. Anyone who saw what happened to Tang San in the God Realm would know.)

"But Na'er is different." Li Chen turned his gaze toward Na'er, his tone gentle yet firm. "Na'er was separated from you. She carries all your tenderness, kindness, and pure divine soul. She has no hatred, no obsession, only the purest Dragon God origin. Only she can perfectly neutralize the Golden Dragon King's destructive power, safely inherit this origin power, and avoid any risk of losing control."

Gu Yue looked at Li Chen, her eyes filled with emotion.

Only at this moment did she understand that Li Chen had risked his life to retrieve the Golden Dragon King Divine Core for her and Na'er, to give the Dragon Clan a stable future, so they would no longer have to live under the God Realm's schemes or bear the risk of losing control.

But at that moment, Li Chen changed the subject. Looking at Gu Yue, he said seriously, "However, before I give the Golden Dragon King Divine Core to Na'er, I have one request that I need you to agree to."

Gu Yue was slightly stunned, then spoke without hesitation. "Say it. As long as I can do it, I will agree."

Li Chen had risked his life to retrieve this Dragon Clan treasure for them. Let alone one request—even ten or a hundred requests—she would not frown in the slightest.

"I need two origin items from you." Li Chen's tone was incomparably solemn, without the slightest hint of jest. "First, a wisp of your own pure Silver Dragon King origin bloodline. Second, a thread of the core divine power from your Creation Divine Core."

The moment he said this, Di Tian's expression drastically changed. Even the Time and Space Dragon Kings frowned slightly, confusion appearing on their faces.

The Silver Dragon King's origin bloodline and the core divine power of the Creation Divine Core were Gu Yue's foundation, the core basis of the Dragon God's yin aspect.

A single drop of origin blood essence would cost her at least a hundred years of cultivation; a thread of the Creation Divine Core's core divine power would damage the origin of her divine soul. At best, her cultivation would plummet. At worst, it would affect the foundation for the Dragon God's future resurrection. They were absolutely not things that could be given away lightly.

"Lord Li Chen, you must not!" Di Tian could not help stepping forward, bowing as he tried to dissuade him. "My master's origin bloodline and Creation Divine Core are the foundation of the Dragon Clan and must never be divided lightly! The slightest mistake could damage her origin and bring irreversible ruin!"

Yet Gu Yue raised a hand to stop Di Tian. Her purple eyes remained fixed on Li Chen, and without any hesitation, she only asked calmly, "I can give them to you. But I want to know what you need these two things for."

She believed Li Chen would never harm her, but she also understood the weight of these two origin items.

Li Chen would never ask for them without reason. He surely had his purpose.

Li Chen looked at her and slowly gave the explanation he had prepared long ago. "I need these two things first for Na'er. Although Na'er is your incarnation, the foundation of her bloodline has always been incomplete. Without your origin Silver Dragon King bloodline, even if the Golden Dragon King Divine Core has already been purified, there is still a risk of imbalance between yin and yang when she fuses with it. Once that balance is lost, Na'er's divine soul will be eroded by the Power of Destruction."

"Second, the Golden Dragon King Divine Core is the ultimate origin of destruction. Even after purification, it still retains the innate nature of the laws of destruction. It must be wrapped in the core divine power of your Creation Divine Core to achieve mutual generation of yin and yang, a perfect balance between creation and destruction. After Na'er fuses with it, not only will she not lose control, she will be able to perfectly inherit the Dragon God's complete origin in one step, without leaving behind any hidden danger."

"Most importantly, the Artificial Dragon God—did the Dragon God truly die? Back then, even the Nine Great Dragon Kings and all the gods of the God Realm joining forces could not kill the Dragon God. If the Dragon God had not voluntarily stopped struggling, could the Golden and Silver Dragon Kings have been born? Where did the Dragon God's divine position go? Could it still be in the Dragon God's hands?"

His words were flawless, every sentence focused on Na'er and the Dragon Clan. Upon hearing them, the opposition on Di Tian's face instantly vanished, leaving behind only guilt and shame for having wrongly suspected Li Chen.

The Time and Space Dragon Kings also sighed in relief, their gazes toward Li Chen becoming even more admiring.

Gu Yue looked at him, and the doubt in her eyes gradually faded, leaving only deep emotion.

Seeing Li Chen's open and sincere gaze, Gu Yue no longer hesitated in the slightest. She said softly, "Alright. I will give them to you."

As her words fell, she pressed a hand against her chest and frowned slightly. The Silver Dragon King's origin within her circulated at full force as she forcibly expelled a dazzling drop of silver blood essence.

Within that drop of blood essence flowed the purest Silver Dragon King origin bloodline, carrying vast life force. It was the foundation of her ten thousand years of cultivation. The instant it appeared, the life aura throughout the space became several times richer.

Immediately afterward, she closed her eyes. Gentle silver light once again appeared at her fingertips, her brow knitting tighter as fine sweat beaded across her forehead. After several full breaths, a thread of divine power carrying the aura of creation slowly condensed at her fingertips. It was the core power of her Creation Divine Core, the most precious origin of the Dragon God's yin aspect. The instant it condensed, her aura weakened somewhat.

She did not hesitate in the slightest before raising her hand and offering both treasures to Li Chen.

Li Chen reached out and accepted them. The instant his fingers touched the silver blood essence and Divine Power of Creation, he clearly felt the vast origin contained within them, as well as the weakness in Gu Yue's aura. His heart tightened slightly as he said, "Don't worry. In the future, I will compensate you many times over for the origin you have lost."

"No need." Gu Yue gently shook her head and looked at him as she spoke softly. "You have done so much for the Dragon Clan. This small loss is nothing."

Li Chen smiled and said no more. He first separated an extremely tiny wisp from the pure Silver Dragon King origin bloodline, sending out gentle silver light as he slowly fused it into Na'er's body. Na'er did not resist in the slightest. Their bloodlines shared the same source, and they merged perfectly at once. Her aura immediately became more solid, and the foundation of her Silver Dragon King bloodline was completely restored.

He securely sealed away the vast majority of the origin blood essence, along with that thread of the Creation Divine Core's core divine power. These were the core foundations of his Artificial Dragon God plan.

Next, he spread out the reserved thread of Divine Power of Creation and perfectly wrapped it around the Golden Dragon King Divine Core. The Divine Power of Creation and the origin of destruction instantly formed a perfect balance of yin and yang. Purple-gold and silver-white divine light intertwined, without the slightest rejection.

"Na'er, don't be afraid. Relax your mind." Li Chen looked at Na'er.

Na'er nodded firmly, closed her eyes, and completely opened her mind.

With a wave of Li Chen's hand, the Golden Dragon King Divine Core, perfectly wrapped in Divine Power of Creation, slowly floated toward Na'er. It stopped at the center of her brow and gradually merged into her body.

The instant the Divine Core entered her body, golden and silver divine light surged explosively, sweeping across the entire Soul Power Space.

The Golden Dragon King's power of destructive creation and the Silver Dragon King's life-element power blended perfectly within Na'er. Yin and yang became one, and the Dragon God's origin was completely perfected.

There was no rampage, no backlash, no loss of control. Everything was unbelievably steady.

Gu Yue stood nearby, continuously sending out gentle elemental power to stabilize Na'er's aura. The Time and Space Dragon Kings acted at the same time, using the laws of time and space to steady the spatial order and prevent the power from leaking out. Electrolux also released a ray of Undead Divine Light to protect Na'er's divine soul, ensuring that no power could harm her.

Li Chen stood at the front, using the power of the Death God Position to set up a barrier that firmly protected everyone. His gaze never left Na'er, and he did not relax in the slightest.

Under everyone's protection, Na'er perfectly fused with the Golden Dragon King Divine Core. Purple-gold Golden Dragon King patterns flowed in her left eye, while silver-white Silver Dragon King patterns flowed in her right. Her body radiated incomparably noble Dragon God pressure, yet it also carried pure kindness, without the slightest violent aura.

The orthodox Dragon God was now complete.

At the very moment Na'er inherited the Golden Dragon King's origin and the Dragon God's yin-yang resonance swept across the continent, inside the boys' dormitory of Shrek Branch Academy in Eastsea City—

Tang Wulin sat cross-legged on his bed, circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill as he cultivated and tried to break through to the Soul Grandmaster realm. (I think so? Wulin's realm has always been rather confusing.) The ancient Clear Sky Sect bloodline that had been suppressed for years by the Golden Dragon King's power completely erupted and awakened at that moment.

Excruciating pain swept through Tang Wulin's body. He let out a suppressed roar as his meridians swelled, golden dragon scales covering his entire body while his bloodline boiled without end.

An extreme swelling pain came from his right palm, as if something was about to burst forth from his bloodline.

"Wulin! What's wrong with you?!"

Xie Xie, beside him, was startled and hurriedly rushed over, his face full of anxiety.

"Don't come closer!" Tang Wulin gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as he stared fixedly at his right hand.

Light flashed in his palm. A small hammer, completely black and covered in ancient patterns, slowly condensed into shape.

The little hammer was only the size of a palm, but the instant it appeared, it released a vast, heavy, indestructible terrifying pressure. The air in the entire dormitory seemed to freeze beneath the hammer's weight.

This was not his Blue Silver Grass martial soul!

This was a brand-new second martial soul, one he had been born with!

"Th-this... is this the Clear Sky Hammer?!" Xie Xie's eyes widened as he cried out in disbelief, his face filled with shock. "The number one tool martial soul on the continent, the inherited martial soul of the Clear Sky Sect!" (Old Xie finally woke up.)

Within the Soul Power Space outside Eastsea City, the divine light filling the sky slowly faded, and Na'er gradually opened her eyes, her aura stable and complete.

Gu Yue looked at Li Chen and solemnly bowed to him, her tone incomparably sincere. "Li Chen, thank you. The Dragon Clan will never forget this kindness. From now on, whether it concerns the Underworld or anything else you need, the entire Dragon Clan will obey without a second word."

Li Chen reached out to help her up. Looking at her, he smiled and said, "There is no need to say such things between us."

He was the Lord of the Underworld, and she was the Co-Ruler of Soul Beasts. Their positions were naturally opposed, and fate should have made them enemies. Yet after years together at the Spirit Pagoda, protecting each other, covering for each other, and sharing an unspoken understanding, their bond had long surpassed every rule and destiny in the world.

The setting sun passed through the barrier of the Soul Power Space, casting down gentle golden light.

Li Chen looked at the scene before him. His fingers gently rubbed the Silver Dragon King's origin blood essence and Divine Power of Creation sealed within the Underworld space, and a trace of determination flashed through his eyes.