"Does Hell hold some kind of opportunity for Na'er?" Xu Yuan asked in response.
Lan Muzi replied, "I don't know the specifics, but Na'er went to Hell a long time ago. After that visit, her improvement was obvious. She spent three months recuperating in Shrek City before returning to Hell."
He looked at Xu Yuan, hesitated for a moment, and then added, "Na'er last returned almost three years ago, during the previous Sea God's Fate event. The last time we communicated with her, she mentioned she was training there and would return to Shrek City in about a year to decide whether to rejoin the inner court."
In just over a year, the next Sea God's Fate event would take place.
Lan Muzi stepped forward and patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder.
Xu Yuan's expression grew complex.
"I need to go to Hell. Is there anything I should be aware of?"
"When you get there, you'll see. Elder Zhuo has already established Hell City there. We've reached an agreement with Hell, and now we have a mutually beneficial relationship."
Xu Yuan's eyes widened in surprise.
Impressive.
Even though Shrek had sent so many powerhouses to deal with the Abyss, they hadn't stopped developing the Demon Plane.
It seemed that Shrek had laid a solid foundation here early on. They'd even opened up Hell and established friendly exchanges with them.
Hell was one of the nearest planes to Shrek in the Demon Plane. By establishing ties with Hell, Shrek's position here became more secure. Both sides could help each other, avoiding blockades from the Demon King of the Demon Plane.
Leaving Shrek City, Xu Yuan headed straight for Hell City.
There were three gates to Hell. Shrek had built Hell City at the central location, occupying and transforming the former Northern King's Castle into what it was now.
As for the original Northern King, because he had cooperated with Shrek early on, he wasn't purged. Instead, he was moved away from the vicinity of the Hell gates.
With Shrek's assistance, the Northern King traveled to the far western lands—a demon battlefield in the Demon Plane—seeking opportunities for bloodline transformation.
Xu Yuan didn't stay long in Hell City. He simply registered with the city's authorities, negotiated with the people of the Hell plane, and then entered Hell.
---
Hell.
Contrary to its name, the Hell plane wasn't a world filled with evil—it was teeming with vitality.
Passing through the Hell gate, Xu Yuan arrived in the Hell plane. Before him stood the Royal Legion of Hell.
Even in places guarded by the Royal Legion, amidst the oppressive and murderous aura, one could still sense a certain life force.
This was a world abundant in life energy.
The reason Hell was called Hell was that compared to the plane's original ecosystem, its current state was akin to Hell.
Alba had coveted the abundant life energy of the Hell plane but suffered a backlash. The anchor point Alba chose in this plane—the native ruler of Hell, who was also the destined child of this generation of the Hell plane—resisted his influence.
The Lord of Hell grew incredibly fast. It took him only fifteen years to reach the ninth rank, equivalent to becoming a Title Douluo at twenty-one on Douluo Planet—an impressive feat.
However, what was most astonishing wasn't his cultivation speed but his combat strength. Upon entering the ninth rank, he initially resisted the allure of Demon King Alba.
The Lord of Hell specialized in the mind system, possessing an extremely strong will. Even though Alba tried to tempt him through his demonic bloodline using his most primal powers, he couldn't open the Demon Gate.
Instead, the Lord of Hell realized the flaws of the demonic bloodline and directly abolished his own demonic heritage.
As a result, the Lord of Hell was injured and fell silent for three years, regressing to the sixth rank. However, his mind system advanced further. When his mind became strong enough, he restored his demonic bloodline.
He had no choice. During those three years, Alba located the Hell plane.
Though the Demon Gate wasn't opened by the Lord of Hell, Alba still managed to break through, albeit with limited strength.
Nine Hell gates opened, and nine Demon Lords relocated the Demon Gates, hiding them in nine regions of the Hell plane. Nine demon armies slaughtered everything in their paths.
In just three years, the Hell plane suffered heavy damage.
The Lord of Hell rebuilt his strength while hunting demons. He devoured the bloodlines of countless demons, restoring his bloodline and even ascending it without Alba's assistance, eventually reaching a level comparable to a Demon King.
Xu Yuan felt deeply moved as he learned all this.
Every world had its destined child, and every era had its protagonist.
The fact that the Lord of Hell could resist a Demon King and achieve Limit-level strength was proof of his extraordinary abilities.
Xu Yuan didn't linger long near the Royal Legion of Hell. He transformed into a five-colored light and vanished quickly.
Away from the military encampments, the life energy grew even stronger.
"This Hell… should have been paradise."
"The main races of this world are humans and beasts. The Lord of Hell is a beast race member who possesses four divine beast bloodlines. After mastering them, he combined them with his demonic bloodline to form his unique heritage."
The more Xu Yuan learned, the more he realized how extraordinary the Lord of Hell was.
The four divine beast bloodlines were dragon, phoenix, black tortoise, and white tiger—all top-tier bloodlines. On Douluo Planet, these bloodlines were considered supreme. Yet this Lord of Hell possessed all four and had mastered them.
"I wonder how he achieved it. If I get the chance, I'd like to exchange thoughts with this Lord of Hell."
Of course, Xu Yuan suspected the key lay in the demonic bloodline.
The compatibility of the demonic bloodline was undeniably strong. En Ye Hui had successfully integrated the Titan Ape bloodline, and there was almost no conflict between the two powerful bloodlines. Keep in mind, the Titan Ape bloodline wasn't exactly docile.
En Ye Hui wasn't the only example. In the Demon Plane, many demon races possessed hybrid bloodlines, combining multiple bloodline advantages.
The demonic bloodline was the foundation of the Lord of Hell, which was why he chose to reshape his demonic heritage when he rebuilt his strength.
The Hell gate connected to Hell City was not far from the holy city of Hell, where the Lord of Hell resided.
However, Xu Yuan didn't head toward the holy city.
From the person in charge, he learned Na'er's general location. For now, he didn't want to complicate things unnecessarily.
First, find Na'er.
---
Heading east.
After flying roughly 300 kilometers, Xu Yuan arrived at a region with an exceptionally high concentration of life energy.
Entering this area, Xu Yuan immediately sensed something special about it.
"Is this the Blood Tempering Pool of the Hell plane?"
Ahead, not far away, stretched a mountain range several kilometers wide.
Xu Yuan flew above the mountains and looked down. Within the valleys, numerous low-lying areas formed lakes.
The largest lake had a diameter of at least a kilometer. In this massive lake, Xu Yuan also sensed Na'er's presence.
Blood Tempering Pool.
This was a famous opportunity site in the Hell plane.
The Lord of Hell excelled in the mind system, but this system was something he stumbled upon by chance; it didn't belong to the Hell plane's original cultivation system.
In the Hell plane, humans and beasts weren't as antagonistic as soul masters and soul beasts on Douluo Planet, where soul rings required the killing of soul beasts.
The human race in the Hell plane practiced the bloodline system. These bloodlines were clearly related to the beast race. With each rank advancement, there was an opportunity to form a contract with a beast race member. Both parties cultivated together, benefiting each other.
At first glance, Xu Yuan thought it resembled the Taming Beast system. However, after careful understanding, he realized it was fundamentally different. Blood Masters didn't use contracted beasts as combat tools—they merely co-cultivated with the beasts, mutually promoting each other.
Blood Masters used human intelligence to develop the beasts' innate talents, while the beasts helped the Blood Masters purify their bloodlines and enhance their aptitude.
This process typically occurred for a period after each breakthrough, after which the contract would dissolve.
The Blood Tempering Pool was one of the few places outside of contracts that could refine and purify bloodlines.
Thus, the Blood Tempering Pools in the Tian Shan Mountain Range attracted large numbers of Blood Masters year-round.
Xu Yuan now understood why Na'er was staying here.
Na'er also possessed bloodline power.
"So, Na'er is strengthening her Silver Dragon King bloodline here?"
Before meeting Na'er, this was what Xu Yuan thought.
But after finding Na'er in the largest Blood Tempering Pool, Xu Yuan changed his mind.
Not only did Na'er lack a stronger dragon aura, but it was almost imperceptible.
"Senior Brother?" Na'er was surprised to see Xu Yuan.
"How did you get here?"
Although Na'er had contacted Shrek three months ago, she didn't know about Yun Ming's ascension. Xu Yuan briefly explained.
"Teacher became a god?" Na'er gasped.
Her jaw dropped in genuine astonishment.
With the memories of the Silver Dragon King, she fully understood how extraordinary it was for an ordinary cultivator to become a god.
Especially hearing from Xu Yuan that Yun Ming had simultaneously broken through three systems and, upon becoming a god, immediately blocked the Abyssal Sage—a 1st Class God-level enemy—Na'er was even more shocked.
Clearly, Yun Ming's future wouldn't stop at his current level.
This was the root of Na'er's amazement.
The Silver Dragon King inherited the power of the Dragon God to reach the God King level.
In reality, after enduring countless years with a damaged origin, even if she remastered her powers, it would be difficult for her to return to the God King realm. Reaching quasi-God King might be her limit.
Quasi-God King was just one step above 1st Class God.
"Na'er, what's going on with your bloodline?" Xu Yuan didn't dwell too much on Yun Ming's situation with Na'er but instead focused on her condition.
This trip was to discuss with Na'er how to resolve her entanglement with Gu Yue. Now, sensing Na'er's nearly dissipated dragon aura, Xu Yuan was deeply concerned.
"As for me, I've stripped away my bloodline power," Na'er said with a smile.
Her smile radiated happiness.
"Stripped away?"
"Yes, the Blood Tempering Pool refines and purifies bloodlines. But added by the Lord of Hell, the pool has gained a new use: abolishing and stripping bloodlines."
Hearing Na'er's explanation, Xu Yuan suddenly understood.
"So, you used the Blood Tempering Pool to strengthen your human blood essence while stripping away your Silver Dragon King bloodline, transferring it all into the Silver Dragon Spear?"
"Yes, I've infused all my bloodline power into my martial soul. Now my martial soul is stronger."
Xu Yuan frowned and asked, "Won't this make it easier for Gu Yue to absorb you? Although after being absorbed, your consciousness can remain."
Na'er wore a helpless expression.
"I don't know how you figured out my situation or discovered Gu Yue's identity."
She sighed.
"Everything I have ultimately comes from her. Though Senior Brother, you're right—I'm a completely new, independent individual. Still, this Silver Dragon Spear originated from her rib."
"Are you going to return it to her?" Xu Yuan frowned.
"Of course not. Although I'm fully human now, my martial soul is still my foundation. Without it, I would die."
Na'er shook her head.
Even if her martial soul was fused, her consciousness wouldn't return to Gu Yue, nor would her body integrate back into Gu Yue's.
Still, losing her foundation would mean her death.
"Oh well, I just want to tell her that I am me, not a clone she created. The bloodline power within me is what she gave me." Na'er continued, "As for how we'll interact in the future, I do have some ideas, like a Soul Fusion Technique."
"A Soul Fusion Technique?"
"Yes, I've infused all the power she gave me into the Silver Dragon Spear. Even if we fuse, I won't be harmed. Instead, our power fusion will proceed smoothly. If we can make this fusion temporary, it would essentially be like having a Soul Fusion Technique."
Temporary?
"I'm almost done. Once I strip away all the Silver Dragon King's bloodline power and infuse it into the Silver Dragon Spear, I'll use this Blood Tempering Pool to continue strengthening my own blood essence. I'll also use the Blood Master cultivation methods to establish a deeper contract with the Silver Dragon Spear."
Hmm?
First clarify boundaries, then deepen the connection?
Xu Yuan found it hard to understand this girl's train of thought.
"I plan to incorporate my own cultivation achievements into the Silver Dragon Spear. From now on, it won't be her original creation but a Silver Dragon Spear with my results infused."
Through Na'er's repeated explanations, Xu Yuan finally understood.
Na'er was carving out control over what belonged to Gu Yue. This was her preparation for negotiating with Gu Yue.
Her approach was indeed excellent, and highly feasible.
But wanting to wrest control of Gu Yue's rib—that required substantial groundwork.
"What do you mean by 'her rib'? It's just a portion of her origin power. My Silver Dragon Spear was originally created by the Dragon God. When the Gold and Silver Dragon Kings separated, the Silver Dragon Spear and Golden Dragon Spear already existed. The Golden Dragon Spear escaped the Gold Dragon King's control due to battles with gods in the divine realm, while the Silver Dragon Spear remained with the Silver Dragon King, eventually becoming her rib."
Na'er grinned.
Xu Yuan looked at her cheerful face and felt somewhat speechless.
Her words sounded so shameless.
"There's nothing I can do. I don't want to be absorbed by her."
Na'er put on a pitiful expression.
Only by thinking this way could she avoid being swayed by Gu Yue's idea: "You originally belong to me. Your destiny is to return to my body and merge with me again."
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