Paths Diverge

Just as Gu Yue gradually gained the upper hand, trying to bind Na'er completely with the water and uncover the armor's secrets, two figures silently appeared on the cliffside where they had just fought.

They were Huo Yuhao and the Golden Dragon King, Jin, who had arrived through the teleportation array.

"Whoa, they really went at it? Pretty lively." Jin folded his arms with interest as he watched waves churn across the sea, silver light clashing against dark-gold armor. "These are the obsessive original body and the clone that developed thoughts of her own you mentioned? Interesting."

Huo Yuhao swept his gaze across the battlefield, frowning slightly. "Na'er's Emergency Battle Armor has activated. It looks like Gu Yue really didn't hold back. Gu Yue's state... seems more extreme than expected. Didn't she see another possibility in the changes Di Tian and the others underwent?"

"Extreme? It's far beyond that." Jin sneered, his eyes carrying a lofty sort of insight. "I'd say her obsession with the 'revival of the Dragon God' has completely muddled her head. Splitting oneself is a means, but creating a clone like hers—weak, unable to survive independently, yet possessing complete memories and emotions—and throwing her into the human world... that's one of the stupidest arrangements imaginable."

He paused, using himself as an example, his tone carrying both pride and calm analysis. "Look at Dark Gold and me. We split apart, and our power is divided by priority, seventy-thirty, but we share memories and have the same goal. At first, both of us wanted to escape and recover. Dark Gold has thirty percent of my power, enough to protect himself and even dominate this plane without relying on anyone. So our disagreements are mostly about style and specific strategies—different sides of the same me arguing with each other. There won't be any fundamental conflict in our core interests or ultimate goal."

He pointed at Na'er, who was struggling stubbornly in the sea, and Gu Yue, whose sharp aura concealed anger and agitation. "Now look at those two. Na'er has part of Gu Yue's memories. She knows she's a clone and knows the dragon clan's past, but she's too weak—so weak that she had to rely on humans, Tang Wulin's family, just to live safely. Through that long-term, deep dependence and emotional interaction, her 'purpose' naturally changed—from 'help the original body revive the Dragon God' to 'protect her current home and family.' And when the original body's orders threatened that new purpose, conflict became inevitable. So, the Silver Dragon King's move was truly... tsk, tsk. No wonder people say she's stupid."

Huo Yuhao nodded slightly as he listened to Jin's analysis. This seemingly rough Golden Dragon King possessed an exceptionally sharp and clear understanding when it came to fundamental matters of survival and the logic of power.

"That makes sense. But now isn't the time to analyze it. Let's separate them and take them away first. Di Tian and the others are still waiting for us to get back and continue grilling meat."

"Of course. And remember, I want double the grilled fish!" Jin emphasized his "payment," then grinned at the sea. "It's time this 'clever' Silver Dragon King learned what true dragon clan power looks like."

Before his words had even faded, Jin vanished from the cliffside.

The next instant, an invisible wall seemed to appear out of nowhere between the two women locked in battle, separating Gu Yue's controlled water currents from Na'er's fists. Then, a large hand covered in faint dark-gold light, yet seemingly containing endless strength, effortlessly pierced through Gu Yue's water-element defense and grabbed her wrist. Its other hand gently pressed against Na'er's shoulder armor, and a gentle yet irresistible force instantly calmed the turbulent energy within her armor, bringing her to a halt.

The Golden Dragon King, Jin, lifted Gu Yue and Na'er out of the seawater as easily as if they were chicks, one in each hand, and landed steadily on the shore. Seawater streamed down his muscular arms, but he paid it no mind.

Caught off guard, Gu Yue looked up in horror. When she saw his face—especially when she sensed the pure, domineering Golden Dragon King's Origin pressure emanating from deep within his bloodline, far surpassing even Di Tian's—she looked as though she had been struck by lightning and cried out, "You... you're... the Golden Dragon King?! How can you be here?! Weren't you supposed to be sealed in..."

Her words stopped abruptly, because although the Golden Dragon King before her possessed a terrifying aura, he did not seem to be complete. And... his condition was strange? What shocked her even more was that Huo Yuhao stood quietly not far away!

Jin gently pulled Na'er, whose strength was clearly exhausted and whose armor had dimmed, behind him. That protective gesture made Gu Yue's gaze tighten. Only then did Jin release Gu Yue's hand, leisurely patting away water stains that did not exist before looking down at her with undisguised mockery.

"What? Haven't seen me for tens of thousands of years, and you can't even recognize me anymore? Silver, it seems your eyesight has gotten worse too." He tapped his temple and grinned. "But your brain is even worse. That much is obvious. I'm different. Split or not, I haven't lost any of the vision or wisdom I should have."

Gu Yue quickly calmed down from her initial shock. The pride of the Silver Dragon King made her straighten her back, though before the Golden Dragon King's aura, she felt tremors and pressure originating from her bloodline. "Golden Dragon King, since you have escaped, then all the better! You and I were originally one. We should merge as soon as possible, reforge the Dragon God's body, and restore the supreme glory of our dragon clan! This clone..." She cast a cold glance at Na'er behind Jin. "And the power you have gained should all serve this goal!"

"Merge? Dragon God?" Jin seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world, but then his expression darkened. His voice became incomparably stern, even carrying a hint of warning. "Silver, I'm warning you. Put away those unrealistic fantasies! Leaving aside who would take the lead in the fusion—obviously me—do you think this is still back then? The Divine Realm has been targeted by the Void, and the seven Divine Realms are nearly gone! If you make such a huge commotion with the Dragon God now, are you tired of living? Do you want to serve yourself up to the Void as an appetizer?!"

"The Void?" Gu Yue furrowed her brows. The word made her instinctively uneasy, but the information she possessed was far inferior to Jin's, who had learned of the Divine Realm's upheaval through Huo Yuhao. "What is that? What happened to the Divine Realm?"

"I can't be bothered explaining it in detail. In short, if you want to live, stop thinking about restoring the Dragon God!" Jin waved his hand impatiently, then his tone became even sharper. "And Silver, look at what you've been doing all these years. Then look at what Di Tian and the others have been doing."

He pointed at Na'er's armor. "This technology, these materials—they were developed by Di Tian's people! Then look at the top brands in the human world: Emerald Court, Dark-Gold Heavy Peak, Violet Dragon Pavilion... which one doesn't have their influence behind it? They're learning from humans, making use of human rules, then influencing humans in return, opening up new room for survival and a new voice for soul beasts! It's slow, but steady, with deep roots!"

His gaze stabbed at Gu Yue like a sword. "And what about you, my Lady Silver Dragon King? Your so-called 'integrating into human society and understanding them' amounted to turning yourself into an apprentice with second-tier Soul Power, taking a human master, and playing house in the Spirit Pagoda? You call that control? You call that infiltration? You're killing me!"

Jin's merciless mockery made Gu Yue flush red with anger. "What do you know?! I'm gaining trust and getting close to the core! The Spirit Pagoda is key to the future of soul beasts!"

"Key my ass!" The Golden Dragon King cut her off without any courtesy, his tone full of contempt. "You think controlling the Spirit Pagoda means controlling the lifeline of soul beasts? Idiotic! I followed this kid"—he pointed at Huo Yuhao—"and looked through their database! What are they researching with everything they have? Artificial Soul Spirits! Their cultivation ages are getting higher and higher, and their effects are getting closer and closer to real soul rings! Once the technology matures a few decades from now and they can create Artificial Soul Spirits comparable to hundred-thousand-year soul rings, who will still risk their lives hunting soul beasts for soul rings? Aside from a few rare materials, what value will soul beasts have to them? Decoration? Pets?"

He stepped forward, his powerful presence making Gu Yue's breathing hitch. "Di Tian and the others are seeking a new path for soul beasts, one that isn't held hostage by the need for soul rings! Yet you're still immersed in the old era's thinking, dreaming of reviving the dragon clan by controlling an organization that is destined to gradually eliminate the need for soul beast rings? Silver, you're not only stubborn—you're laughably shortsighted! And you want to be the main body in the fusion? Dream on!"

"Enough!" Gu Yue could no longer endure the naked humiliation or the words that overturned everything she believed, especially coming from the Golden Dragon King. In her fury, disregarding the gap in their strength, the Silver Dragon King's Origin Power within her surged madly. A silver blade of light, condensed to the extreme and seeming capable of slicing through space, suddenly slashed at the Golden Dragon King alongside a clear dragon's roar!

This furious strike had nearly mobilized the limit of what power this incarnation could bear!

Facing an attack that would have made an ordinary Ultimate Douluo treat it with utmost caution, the Golden Dragon King, Jin, merely curled his lip, disdain flashing through his eyes.

"Trash."

He did not even use any flashy technique. He simply raised his right hand casually, spread his fingers, and reached forward!

Time seemed to slow at that moment. When the sharp silver blade of light touched the dark-gold glow at the edge of his palm, it melted away and vanished soundlessly like ice and snow beneath a blazing sun! It could not even stir a single ripple of energy!

The next instant, the Golden Dragon King's hand clamped around Gu Yue's neck like iron pincers, steadily and effortlessly lifting her entire body off the ground!

Absolute suppression by strength! A fundamental crushing at the level of laws!

Gu Yue's eyes widened, filled with disbelieving terror and shock. Beneath the Golden Dragon King's palm, all her power seemed completely sealed. Even struggling felt futile. The suffocating sensation and the instinctive fear deep in her bloodline when facing a higher existence instantly drowned her.

The Golden Dragon King leaned close, his icy gaze fixed on her panicked eyes. Each word struck her soul like a heavy hammer.

"For the sake of our shared origin, I'll spare you this time. Remember this, Silver Dragon King. Don't set your sights on Na'er and Tang Wulin again, and don't interfere with Di Tian and the others' path. Walk your broad road if you like, but if that broad road of yours dares to crash into my narrow bridge, or endangers this plane's stability"—Huo Yuhao's main instruction—"then I won't mind letting you experience what true 'Dragon God power' is ahead of schedule—though it will only be half of mine."

With that, he casually flung Gu Yue toward the nearby beach as if discarding trash.

Gu Yue staggered as she landed, clutching her throat and coughing violently. Her face was pale, and her gaze toward the Golden Dragon King was full of fear, humiliation, and a trace of confusion. Every word Jin had spoken had stabbed like a knife into her established understanding and plans.

Jin did not look at her again. He turned toward Huo Yuhao and the still-shaken Na'er, and his tone instantly returned to its previous casualness. "Done. Time to wrap up. Come on, little girl. Your brother is probably worried sick. And you, Huo Yuhao, don't forget my double serving of grilled fish!"

Huo Yuhao nodded and stepped forward to inspect Na'er. After confirming that she was merely exhausted and frightened, with no serious injuries, he helped her remove the Emergency Battle Armor whose energy had been depleted. Na'er clutched Huo Yuhao's sleeve tightly, looking at the despondent Gu Yue in the distance with complicated eyes. There was lingering fear, a trace of pity, but above all, determination.

Golden light enveloped the three of them again. Amid spatial ripples, they vanished from the Aolai City coast, leaving behind only Gu Yue slumped on the beach, unable to recover for a long time, and the unchanging sound of waves crashing against the shore.

In the direction of Star Dou, Di Tian and the others' gathering continued. The fragrance of grilled fish seemed to still be waiting for the diners' return. As for the Silver Dragon King Gu Yue's plans, after today, they would likely have to face a complete reexamination, or even... revision.