The Content of the Deal

He looked at her stunned expression and said softly, "We still have to face it eventually."

Gu Yue looked at Tang Wulin, her voice hoarse. "You know."

"I know."

"I know you want to revive the Dragon Clan, revive the Soul Beasts."

"I know you came looking for the Dragon God's Core."

With every sentence he spoke, Gu Yue's face grew a shade paler.

Tang Wulin paused, then gave a bitter smile, though his voice remained gentle.

"I know... you want to kill me."

"Stop talking!"

Killing intent filled her eyes. "You know I want to kill you, and you still dared to appear before me!"

Tang Wulin looked at her. "Then do it."

In a flash of silver light, Gu Yue instantly arrived before him. Her fury twisted all the surrounding Elements, particles colliding and compressing as they erupted with incomparably powerful force.

She struck out with her palm. Nine Elements gathered in her hand. If that blow truly landed on Tang Wulin, he would undoubtedly die.

Tang Wulin did not move at all. He merely looked at her quietly, his eyes filled with tenderness. Gu Yue's heart trembled. He truly seemed not to care if she took his life.

"Get lost!" she shouted furiously. The nine gathered Elements instantly scattered, and she slapped Tang Wulin sideways. Yet in that instant, Tang Wulin suddenly grabbed her hand.

Pulled by him, she crashed directly into the Dragon God's Soul.

The Dragon God's Core in Tang Wulin's hand burst with light!

The two of them were swallowed directly by nine-colored radiance, turning into golden and silver streams of light that entered the dragon soul. The Dragon God's eyes suddenly lit up. The dragon soul spiraled skyward, its massive claws gripping the valley walls as it raised its head and let out a long roar.

Below the rift, the six people dropped to their knees in worship. Di Tian was trembling all over with excitement.

"Master... could Master have succeeded?!"

Gu Yue felt as though she had suddenly entered an endlessly long river.

She kept swimming, yet could never see its end.

She swam and swam until she felt exhausted, and only then did she discover specks of Golden Light within the river.

The Golden Light felt familiar and warm. She wanted to draw near it, so despite being utterly exhausted, she still instinctively swam after it.

The Golden Light guided her hand.

She saw a boy running across a training field in iron clothes, never uttering a single complaint despite the blazing sun.

She saw that boy use his frail body to block every ice spike, lifting a girl in his arms with a smile on his face.

She heard the girl's anguished cry, and for some reason, her own heart twisted with pain.

The Golden Light grew even brighter.

In the blink of an eye, they had all grown up. The girl gradually distanced herself from her former companions, yet still liked being with the boy.

The boy was rather foolish. Whenever the girl said something, it took him a long while to react.

Later, the girl even distanced herself from him.

Yet whenever she saw the confusion and sorrow in the boy's eyes, her face remained cold while her heart grieved for his grief. The words slipped from her lips involuntarily—"I'll enter the Inner Court with you."

The girl saw his radiant smile and smiled as well.

Gu Yue watched everything in confusion.

This did not seem to be her memory.

But was it truly not?

Then why did she feel exactly what that girl felt? Why did she seem to be there herself?

Were that girl's struggles and retreats not the very choice Gu Yue now had to face?

She heard someone calling her.

She followed the Golden Light forward.

She saw him smiling as he took her hand at Sea God Fate, then rode away from Sea God Lake on a Tyrant Dragon.

She saw the Godslayer Fixed Soul Guidance Projectile destroy Shrek City, and saw herself temporarily lose her memory in order to save him.

The Blood God Legion, the Dou Ling Blood Dragon going out of control, Five Gods' Battle against an entire nation, the martial marriage tournament, Shrek's revenge, the Plane war...

The scenes seemed to have been fast-forwarded, all crammed into her memories at once. She looked at those familiar yet unfamiliar memories, utterly at a loss.

Passing through the chaos, she saw him propose to her. She saw herself push him away and declare war on humanity.

She felt the rare relief she experienced when the Golden Dragon Spear pierced her heart, and she also felt the sorrow and regret in her heart when he resolutely followed her into death for love.

So she had regretted it too.

Gu Yue watched the two people in those memories sleeping in each other's arms.

Why had they ended up like this?

Gu Yue reached out, wanting to stop him from piercing her—yet a massive suction force seized her and violently dragged her out of the sea of memories.

Only when fingertips gently brushed across her face did she realize in a daze that she had long since been crying.

Mist clouded her eyes as she suddenly threw her arms around the person wiping away her tears.

Feeling his warmth, she burst into loud sobs.

He merely held her and gently patted her back.

"Stop crying. Aren't I right here?" Tang Wulin's heart ached from seeing her cry.

"You fool! Why couldn't you listen to me just once?" Tears filled Gu Yue's eyes as she glared at him.

Tang Wulin smiled faintly. "You never listened to me either. We're even."

Gu Yue punched him once and slowly calmed her emotions.

They were currently in a strange space. Their surroundings resembled an enormous mirror, reflecting the sky. Before them stood a towering ancient tree. Beside it was a gemstone gleaming with nine-colored radiance—the Dragon God's Heart.

Gu Yue's expression was complicated.

She was the Silver Dragon King. She knew more about the Dragon God than Tang Wulin did, so how could she fail to guess that this was the Dragon God's handiwork?

Tang Wulin sighed beside her. "I never expected this..."

Gu Yue smiled bitterly. "He truly deserves to be called a creator-level God."

Looking at the towering ancient tree, Tang Wulin said, "You can tell me what exactly you want us to do now, right?"

The ancient tree swayed, and an old man emerged from behind it, smiling at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin said, "You're the Tree Spirit?"

The old man nodded and praised, "You did very well."

Tang Wulin said, "I'm the one who should thank you."

The old man smiled. "This is merely our sincerity. Silver Dragon King, it has been a long time."

Light flickered in Gu Yue's eyes, and her expression shifted uncertainly. "You are the Sacred Tree Spirit from Dragon God's Realm back then?"

The old man stroked his beard. "Ah... this old man was young once too."

Gu Yue thought of the handsome and gentle man from back then, then looked at the stooped old man before her. She was somewhat shaken.

"Tell us," Tang Wulin said. "What exactly do you want us to do?"

The old man said, "He will have to discuss that with you personally."

Gu Yue stepped forward. "He's still alive!?"

Sorrow flashed through the old man's eyes. "Of course not. It is merely a wisp of his soul. As long as his obsession remains, his soul will not disperse..."

With a wave of his hand, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue felt as though their souls had been violently ripped from their bodies, instantly sucked into the Dragon God's Heart.

"You've come." A low voice awakened them.

Tang Wulin raised his head. A figure stood before them, his face impossible to make out. Nine-colored radiance enveloped his entire body. Even Tang Wulin's Divine Sense at the God Origin Realm showed faint signs of sublimating beneath that light, displaying just how exalted his status was.

Beside him, Gu Yue's voice trembled. "Dragon God."

The Dragon God seemed to smile. "Silver Dragon, you have suffered. Golden Dragon truly was a little too unruly."

The tears Gu Yue had finally stopped once more flowed down her face.

The Dragon God said, "There is no point dwelling on what happened back then. I know you have a plan to revive the Soul Beasts, but when I tried to peer into the future after your deaths, it was not bright."

Gu Yue froze. "So that is why you..."

The Dragon God said, "Yes. Your previous life truly existed, but it was also part of my deduction. That is why I could return you to the starting point once more. However, this is the last time."

Tang Wulin frowned. "Loading a save? You actually possess such an ability?"

"Though I was supreme, I could not balance the relationship between divine beasts and the Divine Realm. My decision back then pushed the fate of divine beasts into darkness. I bear an inescapable responsibility, so how could I simply let go and leave?" the Dragon God said calmly. "Even if I can no longer enter reincarnation, I must leave the Soul Beasts a way out. Those people in the Divine Realm feared that I would perish together with them, so they did not dare make any major moves. Otherwise, with the Silver Dragon on Douluo Continent, how could they have allowed her to continue existing?"

Gu Yue pondered. "So that was it."

The Dragon God turned to Tang Wulin. "You are the son of the current Asura God. I only wish to ask you this: do you approve of the Divine Realm?"

Tang Wulin fell silent.

He had never been in the Divine Realm. His only contact with it had been in his previous life, when Tang San used Sea God's Nine Trials to let him witness the divine war.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "But I don't think the Divine Realm's return can solve every problem."

The Dragon God said, "Correct. The Divine Realm can indeed regulate the balance of lower Planes, but that also completely strips those lower Planes of their potential to grow."

"The Abyss was drawn here by Tang San, causing a great catastrophe. Nearly all of Douluo Continent's strongest forces were dragged into it. If Little Tree and I had not intervened, then without the protection of the Divine Realm, and with Gods in The Abyss, Douluo would certainly have been devoured. What Tang San did was playing with fire."

"Yet since it has already been drawn here and the situation has stabilized, it can also be treated as an opportunity. You know what should be done."

Tang Wulin nodded.

The Dragon God said, "What I wish to discuss is still the matter of upgrading the lower Plane. Only when the entire Plane's power grows strong will you be able to turn Dragon Valley into a habitat where even non-dragon Soul Beasts can survive. And the power of laws within Dragon Valley will protect the Soul Beasts, allowing them to possess a peaceful refuge amid humanity's expansion."

"Silver Dragon, do you understand?"

"I understand." She gave a bitter smile. "So in the future you saw, the Soul Beasts would still have to live at others' mercy..."

The Dragon God sighed softly. "You have already done your best, but the Soul Beasts' innate flaws leave our development without lasting strength. It is too difficult to stand against humanity as equals."

"With Dragon Valley as a gathering place for Soul Beasts, it will avoid the threat posed by Soul Masters above five rings." Tang Wulin suddenly understood. "And with the Golden Ancient Tree here, after The Abyss is absorbed by Douluo, part of its energy can be allocated to Dragon Valley, increasing the stability of Dragon Valley's small Plane."

The Dragon God said, "That is the content of my deal with you. I am not so great. I only want to leave the Soul Beasts a path forward and find a good ending for the Silver Dragon."

Gu Yue's nose stung.

"Do not cry, Silver Dragon." The Dragon God said gently, "I will watch over you."

"Go back."

Nine-colored light wrapped around the two of them, and the small space melted away like a bubble.

When they opened their eyes again, the Dragon God's Soul had already vanished, leaving behind only a massive skeleton.

"Time is running out," Gu Yue said softly. "I should leave."

Tang Wulin handed the Dragon God's Heart to her. "Take it with you."

Gu Yue said, "I thought you wanted it."

Tang Wulin said, "What would I do with it?"

Gu Yue suddenly raised her head. "You're still staying in Dragon Valley?"

Tang Wulin pointed at the skeletons scattered everywhere. "They still need to be buried."

Tears shimmered in Gu Yue's eyes. "This should have been my responsibility."

Tang Wulin rubbed her head and pulled her into his arms. "What difference is there between you doing it and me doing it?"

Gu Yue hugged him back, burying her face against his shoulder, reluctant to let go.

Only when the rift in the sky began to tremble did she reluctantly release Tang Wulin.

She smiled bitterly. "I suddenly don't want to merge with Na'er."

No one wanted to share their lover with someone else.

Tang Wulin looked at her. "Gu Yue, you are the only one I have ever loved."

Gu Yue lowered her head. "I know."

"I'll think about it again." Silver light flickered around her. "Wait for me to return."

The next instant, she vanished from the valley.

Below the rift.

"What do we do? We can't hold on much longer!"

Di Tian gritted his teeth. "Even if we can't, we have to!"

Silver light flashed, and Gu Yue appeared before them. She said coldly, "Go!"

The six immediately transformed into streams of light and followed her out of Dragon Valley.

The rift closed.

The entire Dragon Valley shook violently.

At the mountaintop.

Figures appeared one after another atop the formation.

Elder Wu coughed up a mouthful of blood. The formation shattered with a boom and dispersed into the air.

Black One counted the people. "What happened?! Where's Yellow Three?!"

White Seven raised her hand. "He separated from me the moment he entered. I don't know where he went!"

She was especially grateful to that person for helping her break the seal. Because of it, she had received the nourishment of many dragon souls.

Elder Wu shook his head. "There is nothing we can do. The formation has shattered, and Dragon Valley has completely sealed itself off."

Black One gritted his teeth. "...The operation is over!"