The Choice

"A wise choice. Wait, what did you say?"

Tang San had thought Lin Yi would accept the Sea God's ten trials without hesitation and take his place. After all, the Sea God was one of the Divine Realm's principal gods, while the Dragon God was no match for him.

Lin Yi's choice echoed throughout the Sea God Hall. Xiao Wu giggled. "Brother, looks like your plan has fallen through!"

"Ahem." Tang San coughed awkwardly. "Lin Yi, are you sure? Taking the Dragon God's place isn't as simple as you think. Reaching level 100 through your own cultivation won't be easy. If you accept the Sea God Inheritance and take the Sea God's ten trials, with your current strength, you could pass them quite easily."

"Is reaching level 100 that hard?"

Tang San had expected Lin Yi to back down and accept the Sea God Inheritance, but his words left him dumbfounded. Had breaking through level 100 somehow become easy these days?

Tang San knew that Lin Yi had already reached level 99, with one foot in the demigod realm. What he didn't know was that Lin Yi's true level was now 99.9999—in other words, he was infinitely close to godhood.

"Senior Tang San, I've made up my mind. I'll take the Dragon God's place! As for the Sea God's, you can keep sitting in it!"

Lin Yi chuckled. How could he not know what Tang San was thinking? He simply wanted Lin Yi to become the next Sea God so he could finally retire. Lin Yi had no intention of doing that. After all, Tang San's deeds were legendary throughout the Douluo Continent, and Lin Yi had long hoped to face him in a fair fight one day.

"Well, then. I respect your decision."

As Tang San finished speaking, the golden light vanished from Lin Yi's mental world.

"Brother, your plan has fallen through! I can't believe Lin Yi would give up the Sea God Inheritance. Sigh, who knows how long we'll have to wait for another suitable successor to the Sea God?"

Xiao Wu sighed helplessly. She was now the Asura God of the Divine Realm and had guarded it alongside Tang San for who knew how long. She had already chosen her own successor, but Tang San still hadn't found a suitable candidate for the Sea God's throne. At long last, Lin Yi had come along—only to choose the Dragon God's place instead.

"I should never have told him about the Dragon God!" Tang San said, deeply frustrated.

Seeing his dismay, Xiao Wu took his hand and comforted him. "Don't worry, brother. We've guarded the Divine Realm for hundreds of years already. What's the harm in continuing?"

"But Er Ming..."

"The Asura God's trials aren't that simple. Even if Er Ming breaks through level 100, passes the trials, and takes my place as the Asura God, do you really think the Divine Realm could drive me out with you here?"

Hearing Xiao Wu's words, Tang San smiled. Xiao Wu's reputation rang throughout the Divine Realm. Even if she ceased to be the Asura God, what harm would there be in her staying on as the Sea God's wife?

Lin Yi withdrew from the mental world and slowly opened his eyes. He had just finished his battle with the Storm Battle Dragon, and now another enormous challenge had come his way. Although he was currently at level 99.999, reaching level 100 truly wouldn't be easy.

"To break through level 100, it looks like I'll really need help from the various sects."

Lin Yi had long guessed things would come to this. That was why, after the battle ended, he had given Zhang Xu and the other sect masters a heads-up. If Tang San's divine consciousness hadn't entered his mental world, he might not have made that choice. After all, it would drain a great deal of their Soul Power.

"Alliance Leader! Alliance Leader!"

Pei Qinhu's voice came from outside. Lin Yi rose and walked out of the room.

"Has the battlefield been dealt with?"

"Yes. We've wiped out all the Storm Battle Dragon's remaining followers. The Storm Battle Dragon is now a thing of the past on the Douluo Continent."

Lin Yi nodded. "Pei Qinhu, summon the leaders of the various sects. I have something to discuss."

"Yes."

Pei Qinhu was about to leave, but Lin Yi stopped him. After a moment's thought, he said, "The battle just ended. Let them rest for a while first."

Lin Yi wasn't in a hurry. The new mission system had set no time limit, which meant he could break through to level 100 whenever he wanted, so long as he was still alive. But Pei Qinhu's next words left him dumbfounded.

"Alliance Leader, three months have already passed since your battle with the Storm Battle Dragon. The various sects have had plenty of time to recover."

"Three months? How is that possible?" Lin Yi stared at Pei Qinhu, eyes wide. He'd only just entered the mental world, and spent no more than an hour there. How could three months have passed?

"Uh, that's right, Alliance Leader. You haven't eaten or drunk anything for three months. We thought you were in seclusion. Did you not know?"

Lin Yi gave a wry smile. He hadn't expected his exchange of divine consciousness with Tang San to take three months, but he couldn't very well explain what had happened.

"Heh, I must have lost track of time. Then do as I said earlier. I'll wait for you all in the main hall."

At Lin Yi's command, Pei Qinhu immediately disappeared from view. By the time Lin Yi reached the main hall, Zhang Xu, Li Dongcheng, and the other sect leaders had already arrived.

"Everyone, I know it was rather abrupt to summon you all so urgently, but there's something I need your help with."

"Just say the word, Alliance Leader, and we'll do everything we can!" Zhang Xu, Li Dongcheng, and the others replied in unison.

Lin Yi smiled and nodded, wasting no time. "Since you're all so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush. After the battle ended, I received a summons from the God King. I need to break through level 100 and take the Storm Battle Dragon's place in the Divine Realm, but that won't be easy. I'll need your help."

"A summons from the God King? Break through level 100?!"

At those words, the sect leaders all stared wide-eyed. On the Douluo Continent, the only way to break through level 100 was to find a god and inherit their divinity.

"Alliance Leader, what do we need to do?"

Li Dongcheng didn't hesitate for a moment. Without Lin Yi's help, there was no way he could have become a Four-Clawed Golden Dragon. He could never repay such a great favor—not for himself, nor for his sect.

"I need you all to lend me your Soul Power. The Soul Power of the Douluo Continent is negligible to me now. Only with the help of the Titled Douluos' Soul Power will I have a chance to break through level 100. But this may leave you weakened for a while. Rest assured, that's the only drawback."

"Fine! I, Li Dongcheng, agree!"

Seeing Li Dongcheng agree without hesitation, Zhang Xu hurriedly spoke up to say he was willing too. The others might have hesitated before, but now they could only agree. After all, Lin Yi was not only their Alliance Leader, but also their benefactor.