Why was it a smooth road?
At this very moment, words that had once left a deep impression seemed to ring in Yu Ci's ears: "'Cultivating nature and life in tandem, until one makes the leap over the Dragon Gate and gains the True Dragon Form, every step treads upon the Great Dao, hence the surname 'Dao.' Not drawing close to its own kind, but instead stealing vitality and seizing primordial qi... devouring the living breath and essence-blood of all things to fatten itself... hence the name 'Worm.' Put together, those are the two words: Dao Worm!"
Of course, Yu Ci had not forgotten those remarks about making choices for the Dao, either.
He had understood long ago that Yu Zhou's words had been describing He Qing's "Dao." Now he understood more and more clearly. This female cultivator before him would seize every element beneficial to her and discard everything that hindered her. She did everything cleanly and decisively, carrying her Dao of fish and dragon to its utmost extreme.
Yu Ci even felt a measure of admiration. "From the very beginning, you intended to carve away the vitality of my Yang God?"
"And there was also the oath not to harm you." He Qing not only admitted it, but thoughtfully reminded him.
So she had deceived Yu Zhou from the very start!
Yu Ci tugged at the corner of his mouth. He ought to have felt righteous indignation, yet in truth, that emotion merely stirred faintly before vanishing without a trace.
The reason was simple. His strength was no longer enough to bear any pressure beyond He Qing herself. Thus, he cast aside all unnecessary emotions, including righteous indignation, pride, regret, fear, and everything else he had once felt, focusing all his attention upon the great enemy before him.