That You-Have You Ever Thought of Becoming a God?
The Ice Dragon King True Spirit repeated these two words, his voice as soft as a sigh.
Its body, composed of pure ice energy, began to show fine cracks, like a fine piece of porcelain about to shatter.
"Hahaha..."
The Fire Dragon King True Spirit emitted a series of low, dry, and emotionless sounds, like the last flames exploding in ashes.
"What a... extinction... what a... god..."
Its Flame Body began to flicker and flash rapidly, like a candle struggling in the wind.
Lin Xia, who carried their final will and the imprint of their origin, clearly felt that moment, a despair colder than death emanating from the depths of their true spirit.
It wasn't anger, nor sadness, but a complete and utter despairing nihilism. The last pillar supporting their remaining will—the faint hope that their kind still existed—was utterly crushed by Gu Yuena's cold words.
Two intense tremors originating from the core of Lin Xia's Life Core suddenly erupted! They were deeper and more thorough than the previous pain! It was a grief of having one's bloodline roots completely severed!
The Ice Dragon King's mark conveyed an eternal Ice Seal stillness, while the Fire Dragon King's mark conveyed the utter desolation and ashes after everything Burn Up.
"Puff--!"
Lin Xia could no longer hold on. She coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with ice shards and scorching blood mist. Her body felt as if all the bones had been removed, and she collapsed limply backward.
The world before him was quickly swallowed by darkness. The last thing he saw was Ivysaur desperately stretching out its vines to try and wrap around his blurry shadow, and Gu Yuena's deep purple eyes, with a complex and unfathomable gaze directed at him.
Darkness descended completely.
Warmth.
This was Lin Xia's first feeling after regaining consciousness.
It felt as if the whole person was enveloped in the amniotic fluid of the mother's womb, and the gentle and vibrant energy seeped through every pore of the skin, continuously nourishing the meridians, bones and flesh that had once been on the verge of collapse in the hell of ice and fire.
The excruciating pain, the burning and freezing torture, seemed like a distant and vague Nightmare, leaving only a strange, Refresh lightness deep within the body.
He slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was somewhat hazy, as if through a layer of flowing jade. The clear, cool liquid enveloped him, and light refracted through the water's surface, forming soft beams of light.
He was floating in a tranquil lake, brimming with life.
The lakebed is not silt, but a smooth and warm base, like a jade-like surface, with strange aquatic plants faintly visible emitting a shimmering light.
"Lake of Life..."
Lin Xia understood immediately; this must be the core of the Star Dou Forest, the bottom of the Lake of Life.
Only such pure and vast Life Energy could have restored him from such terrible injuries in such a short time, and he even felt that his condition was better than before he was injured, and his Soul Power seemed to have become much more solid.
He subconsciously moved his fingers and arms to make sure there was no stiffness or pain, which put his mind at ease.
Immediately, an even stronger thought seized him—Master!
He suddenly looked up, his gaze sweeping eagerly around him. The clear lake water couldn't obstruct his view, but the underwater space was far more expansive than he had imagined. Beyond the area around him bathed in soft light, there was a deep, dark abyss that exuded an ancient and mysterious aura.
There was no familiar, noble figure of Bibi Dong, nor her powerful and chilling Soul Power fluctuations.
"Master?"
Lin Xia tried calling out in her heart, her voice sounding exceptionally clear in the still water, creating tiny bubbles, but she received no response.
A sense of unease instantly welled up inside me.
Where did the master go?
Where are Di Tian and the others?
Did something happen while I was unconscious?
Gu Yuena... that powerful being who inspired despair, how did she ultimately deal with her?
Just as Lin Xia's emotions were churning and he was preparing to use his Soul Power to explore further areas, a clear, ethereal voice, like moonlight piercing through ice crystals, rang out beside him without warning:
"Woke up?"
Lin Xia was startled and turned her head sharply in the direction of the sound.
Unbeknownst to him, the figure of the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena had already quietly stood in the lake water less than three steps away.
She was still wearing that silver dress that shimmered with starlight, her long silver hair flowing smoothly in the water, as if blending into the lake. Her deep, star-like purple eyes were calmly watching him, as if they could see through all the doubts and unease in his heart.
She didn't exude any pressure, but the absolute nobility and presence emanating from her very being made the Alto Mare submit, not daring to stir even the slightest ripple.
"Your Excellency the Silver Dragon King!"
Lin Xia immediately steadied herself in the water and bowed respectfully.
Facing this Master of Soul Beasts, he dared not be the slightest bit negligent. He suppressed his worry for his master and quickly asked:
"Excuse me, where is my master, Her Majesty Bibi Dong, now? May we... leave this place?"
His eyes held both hope and vigilance.
Gu Yuena's gaze seemed to linger on his face for a moment, as if assessing the extent of his recovery and his current state of mind.
Instead of answering Lin Xia's question directly, she gently raised her hand.
With a slight movement of her fingertips, a gentle yet irresistible force slowly lifted Lin Xia, freeing her from the embrace of the lake water, and placed her steadily on a dry platform on the lakebed that radiated a warm, jade-like luster.
The warm lake water that had enveloped him seemed to recede as if it possessed a spirit, leaving only a faint, comforting breath of life on his skin.
She herself seemed weightless, floating lightly to the edge of the platform, her gaze still fixed on Lin Xia, and calmly answered his first question.
"Don't worry. Your master is fine. This place is the core of the Lake of Life, where the water contains the purest life essence, which has miraculous effects on repairing damage and nourishing the body. That's why you recovered so quickly after soaking in it."
Knowing that his master was safe, Lin Xia felt a sense of relief, but Gu Yuena's avoidance of his question about leaving left him still on edge. He bowed again.
"Thank you so much for saving my life, and thank you for informing me of my master's safety. I wonder..."
He tried to ask about leaving again, but Gu Yuena interrupted him once more.
Her voice remained cool and detached, yet carried a hint of something unfathomable as she posed a seemingly unrelated question that could profoundly impact the future:
"Lin Xia, right?"
She confirmed it, and after seeing Lin Xia nod, her purple eyes seemed to Infiltrator time and space, gazing at him.
Have you thought about the future?
What about the future?
Lin Xia was taken aback by this sudden question and looked somewhat bewildered.
Having just survived a life-or-death ordeal and now finding himself in such a perilous situation, his mind was consumed by thoughts of escape and safety. He had no time to plan for the distant future. He instinctively shook his head and answered honestly:
"To be honest, Your Excellency, at this moment... I haven't thought that far ahead. I just want to recover as soon as possible, return to my master's side, and then... cultivate and grow in peace, become stronger, and protect myself and those around me."
His answer was simple and honest, reflecting the most genuine thoughts of most young Soul Master.
"Grow up peacefully..."
Gu Yuena repeated the word, her tone flat, revealing no hint of praise or criticism.
She took a barely perceptible half-step forward, and her imposing presence instantly became clear.
Her gaze sharpened, like an invisible probe piercing the depths of Lin Xia's soul, as she posed a second, even more impactful question.
"Then, have you ever thought about... becoming a god?"