The Beginning of the End, A Path to Death! First Meeting with Gu Yue

"Very well, Master believes in you."

Watching the two beside her, Leng Yaozhu's dark red eyes flickered with a hint of reminiscence, though her expression remained slightly melancholy.

I, Na'er, will never be a loser! And I absolutely must not be merged again!

Na'er thought to herself. She was now an independent individual with her own thoughts and emotions; she absolutely could not become mere fusion material to return to the Silver Dragon King.

Jiang Xiu gazed out at the night sky beyond the cabin, a sharp glint flashing through his purple eyes from time to time.

If the Silver Dragon King never encountered Tang Wulin before her transformation and split, and that shared history no longer exists, will Gu Yue still directly seize the Golden Dragon King's essence within Tang Wulin?

But Tang Wulin still carries the divine sense left behind by the Tang God King, and those two are lurking in the shadows. I doubt Gu Yue and the others will succeed.

This era lacks a God Realm and the inheritance of divine positions; I must find another way.

As he speculated on the current situation, a clear plan began to emerge in Jiang Xiu's mind.

If possible, he had to obtain the Golden Dragon King's essence from within Tang Wulin.

During the era of the Legend of the Dragon King, among countless prodigies, only Tang Wulin, Gu Yue Na, and the Demon Empress had achieved godhood. And even then, aside from Tang Wulin and Gu Yue Na, who were destined to be gods, there was only the Demon Empress.

The number of prodigies in this era far exceeded those of ten thousand or twenty thousand years ago, and there were many Limit Douluos, yet the ceiling remained at the Limit Douluo level. Just as Underworld Emperor Harosa had said, this plane seemed to be shackled, making it impossible to take that final step.

Although his shadow was in the Abyss, his true body was on the Douluo Continent. With the opportunity for godhood right before him, he had no reason to give up.

As the saying goes, double pupils are the path to invincibility, and extra bones mean extra paths.

If his Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon could devour the Golden Dragon King's essence, it would surely undergo an unexpected transformation. After all, rumor had it that the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon was the ancestor of sub-dragons and the companion dragon king to the Dragon God.

"Tang Hao, A Yin, Tang San... what a troublesome bunch."

Jiang Xiu whispered in his heart, his eyes turning deep and unfathomable.

Over the four years he had spent expanding his Shadow Legion, he had also been continuously extracting memories from the Abyss Ants, especially those that had participated in the Abyssal Tide at Snow City four years ago.

In doing so, he had discovered many clues: that spatial rift was no accident, but the result of manipulation. In this era, few people were capable of such a feat.

"Things must be done step by step; there is no need to rush. When my strength is sufficient, all these conspiracies and schemes will vanish like smoke."

"And the beginning of all this shall start with Gu Yue tomorrow."

As the mecha continued to advance, the cockpit remained silent, each of the three lost in their own thoughts.

Douluo Continent.

Within an inexplicable space.

In this void hung the phantom of a heavy, massive hammer, alongside the phantom of a strange Blue Silver Grass. This particular Blue Silver Grass, however, was covered in peculiar golden patterns, appearing quite miraculous.

"Brother Hao, were you not too reckless with your intervention last time?"

A gentle female voice echoed through the space, and the Blue Silver Grass swayed slightly.

"Reckless? No! Wulin has already awakened, and that Deep Sea Demon Whale is nearing godhood. By showing weakness on the Abyssal front once more, we can make them lower their guard, ensuring the Abyssal Sage King—who is preparing to launch an all-out attack—is thoroughly convinced that no gods exist on our Douluo Continent."

Ripples spread around the massive hammer, and a dull voice followed.

"Furthermore, the ten-thousand-year grand plan arranged by Little San must not suffer any errors. Once that variable in Snow City appeared, it was already destined for death!"

"But Brother Hao, that Abyssal Tide caused so many deaths. Besides, did the Abyssal Sage King not detect traces of your intervention?"

The female voice spoke again, tinged with faint worry.

"Rest assured, A Yin. I have the contingency left by Little San to mask my presence; a first-tier god like the Abyssal Sage King cannot detect it. It is only a pity that the variable did not die, and I cannot intervene easily again."

"As for those who died, it is no great loss if they sacrificed themselves for Little San's ten-thousand-year plan."

A voice filled with regret mixed with indifference rang out, and a spark of electricity flickered over the hammer.

"By the way, A Yin, how is your mastery of the Douluo Plane's natural energy coming along?"

"The Golden Ancient Tree still possesses its own consciousness, and it remains connected to the nature of the Douluo Plane. Only when it is worn down can I replace it and take control of the natural energy," A Yin said softly after a moment of deliberation.

"Very well. There will be opportunities in the future. Little San has arranged everything; you and I can take our time. Besides, those two... those two brothers are there, so there is no need to worry."

Tang Hao's unquestionable voice echoed throughout the space.

"Understood!"

As the voice fell, the entire space returned to silence, with only the Blue Silver Grass swaying gently.

"So this is the East Sea. It looks quite nice."

Inside the tall East Sea Spirit Pagoda branch, Na'er stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire East Sea as she spoke with a smile.

As a major coastal city of the Sun Moon Federation, the East Sea possessed top-tier economic strength and geographical advantages, which was why it housed one of the eighteen major branches of the Spirit Pagoda.

"Prepare yourselves, you two. Gu Yue will be here soon."

Leng Yaozhu sat on the soft sofa behind them, her long, slender legs crossed, her graceful and mature charm fully on display.

"Don't worry, Master. Jiang Xiu is already prepared."

Na'er's beautiful eyes flickered as she beat Jiang Xiu to the punch, then she looked at him with a mischievous grin.

"Why don't you test her out yourself, Boss?"

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice from outside.

"Tower Master Leng, Gu Yue has arrived downstairs."

"Very well, just have her sent to the Battle Space."

Leng Yaozhu narrowed her eyes slightly as she called out.

"Understood!"

The person responded respectfully, their footsteps gradually fading away.

"Let's go, we should head over as well."

Leng Yaozhu stood up immediately, and Jiang Xiu and Na'er followed behind her as they walked out of the room.

Inside the silvery-white Battle Space.

A young girl with shoulder-length black hair and a slender figure stood in the center, her eyes as calm as autumn water, with flashes of brilliance crossing them from time to time.

My foolish Na'er, now that I have arrived, it is time to take over everything that is yours, including you.

Gu Yue whispered to herself, her eyes fixed ahead as if waiting for something.

Based on her assessment, the Vice Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda had already arrived, and she had long since sensed Na'er's aura, so she concluded that Na'er was the opponent she would face in this trial.

As for Na'er, she had at least nine different ways to defeat her.

Creak!

The door to the Battle Space opened, and a tall, upright youth stepped inside. The moment Gu Yue saw him, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

"Who are you?"

"The chief examiner is tired, so I'm the substitute."

Jiang Xiu's indifferent voice rang out.