Lin Yi's methods made Pei Qinhu and the others tense up. The Storm Battle Dragon was a demigod, after all. Across the Douluo Continent, he was the only one who had reached that level. Of course, as far as they knew, Lin Yi was merely a Titled Douluo at level ninety-nine.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on successfully killing the Storm Battle Dragon. The main storyline in the mortal realm is now complete. As a reward, you receive one Mysterious Gift Pack."
"A Mysterious Gift Pack?" Hearing the system's prompt in his mind, Lin Yi hadn't expected that killing the Storm Battle Dragon would bring a special reward. He was quite interested in this mysterious gift pack.
"Open the Mysterious Gift Pack!"
Lin Yi tried many times, but the system gave no further prompts. He could still see the gift pack sitting in the system, but no matter what he tried, it showed no sign of opening.
"What the hell? You give me a gift pack, but won't let me use it?"
Just as Lin Yi was feeling bewildered, he suddenly noticed the words written on the gift pack: "This gift pack cannot be opened in the mortal realm."
"It can't be opened in the mortal realm? Is this system messing with me?"
"Alliance Leader is mighty! Alliance Leader is mighty!"
While Lin Yi was still in midair, fretting over his inability to open the gift pack, Pei Qinhu and the others on the ground had already begun shouting. Hearing their cries, Lin Yi stopped thinking about the gift pack. It was still in the system, so he could take his time studying it when he got the chance.
"Everyone! You've all worked hard in today's battle."
"It was no trouble. This was all thanks to the Alliance Leader. We didn't help much at all," Zhang Xu said with a smile.
Lin Yi smiled faintly. "The Imperial Sky Sect deserves a great deal of credit for defeating the Storm Battle Dragon. Your sect's divine weapon, the Imperial Sky Sword, was a tremendous help. And it wasn't just your sect—all the sects under the alliance were instrumental in this battle. Without your help, I, Lin Yi, could never have defeated the Storm Battle Dragon."
Zhang Xu, Li Dongcheng, and the other sect masters didn't refuse. Since Lin Yi was willing to give them credit, why turn him down?
" Sect Master Zhang, the Imperial Sky Sword should be returned to its rightful owner."
"Alliance Leader Lin, this..."
Seeing Lin Yi hold out the Imperial Sky Sword to him with both hands, Zhang Xu hesitated to accept it. Lin Yi had retrieved the sword, and it could only unleash its full power in his hands. By rights, it ought to belong to Lin Yi.
Lin Yi could see Zhang Xu's hesitation. With the other sect masters watching, Zhang Xu certainly wouldn't dare accept the Imperial Sky Sword.
"Before the battle, I said I was only borrowing it. Now that our great enemy is dead, this sword should naturally be returned to the Imperial Sky Sect."
"But—"
"No buts. Take it!"
Faced with Lin Yi's forceful insistence, Zhang Xu could only do as he said and accept the Imperial Sky Sword.
"Sect Master Zhang, I may need your sect's help in a few days."
"If the Alliance Leader needs us, the Imperial Sky Sect will do everything in its power to help."
"Our sects are also willing to do everything we can!"
"Good! Then I'll be counting on all of you." Lin Yi cupped his hands toward Zhang Xu, Li Dongcheng, and the other sect masters. He then sent them away, leaving Pei Qinhu behind to clean up the aftermath. As for himself, he returned to his lodgings. After the battle just now, he'd sensed something in his spiritual world calling to him.
"Who's calling me?"
Lin Yi furrowed his brows and sat cross-legged on the bed. The instant he shattered the Storm Battle Dragon's soul, he'd sensed an aura unlike anything in the Douluo Continent. He suspected it had come from the Divine Realm, though he couldn't be sure.
Lin Yi closed his eyes and entered his spiritual world. It was blank all around, no different from usual. But just as he was about to leave, a golden light appeared within it.
"Lin Yi, wait."
Hearing someone call his name, Lin Yi stopped and looked toward the golden light. Within it stood a young man with black hair and blue eyes, holding a trident.
"Y-you're Tang San?"
"Heh. I didn't expect anyone on the Douluo Continent to still remember me."
Lin Yi was completely stunned. He'd only been guessing, but the person standing before him really was Sea God Tang San.
"Senior, why have you appeared in my spiritual world?"
"Well..."
Tang San was at a loss for words. The spiritual world was the most important place, after all. Trespassing in someone else's spiritual world really wasn't appropriate.
"Don't worry. I mean you no harm. I came to find you because you killed the Storm Battle Dragon."
"The Storm Battle Dragon? He deserved to die. Are you here to avenge him, Senior?"
Lin Yi grew extremely wary. He could fight someone at the demigod level, but if he faced a true god like Tang San, he wouldn't stand a chance.
"Heh. Avenge him? He wasn't worth it. It's just that, now that you've killed the Storm Battle Dragon, there's no one to take his vacant position in the Divine Realm. According to the Divine Realm's laws, that can't be allowed. I know you've reached the strength of a quasi-demigod, so you're fully capable of becoming a new god. Do you have any interest?"
"A new god? But..."
"Ding! New mission: Reach level 100, ascend to godhood, and enter the Divine Realm."
"Damn it! What kind of mission is this?"
Lin Yi was helpless. He'd thought he could live out his days peacefully on the Douluo Continent, but who could've guessed the system would give him a mission like this?
"What if I don't do it?"
"If you fail to complete the mission, you will lose everything and may even die suddenly."
"Bah! What kind of stupid system is this? Are you screwing with me?"
No matter how much Lin Yi cursed, the system paid him no more attention.
"Well? Have you made up your mind?"
Tang San's voice brought Lin Yi back to his senses. Looking at Tang San before him, Lin Yi sighed helplessly. Whether he wanted to or not, he had no choice.
"Fine! I'm willing."
"Excellent! You have a few choices now. First, accept the Sea God's Ten Trials. Second, succeed to the Dragon God's position vacated by the Storm Battle Dragon. You can choose."
Lin Yi didn't notice that, as soon as Tang San mentioned the Sea God's Ten Trials, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Brother, are you going to give up the Sea God's position?"
In the Sea God Hall in the Divine Realm, Xiao Wu sat beside Tang San. Hearing what he'd said, she asked softly. Tang San hurriedly covered her mouth. "Keep your voice down. Don't let Lin Yi hear you!"
Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue. She knew Tang San all too well. Ever since becoming the Sea God, he'd been cooped up in the Divine Realm. Even someone as steady as Tang San couldn't stand that!
"Lin Yi, make your decision."
"I want to succeed to the Dragon God's position!"
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