I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
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At this moment, Gu Yue's mood was extremely complicated.
She had almost witnessed Xu Yuan's cultivation journey—a path of rapid advancement that left no room for hope of surpassing him.
Sometimes, she even wondered if Xu Yuan was like her, a reincarnation of some God King, and perhaps even a more perfect one than her own.
However, no matter how hard she searched, she couldn't find any God King prototype that matched Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan's power system had always been highly individualized. If there really were such a God King, their powers would undoubtedly be distinctive. She wouldn't fail to make the connection.
As for completely developing a different power system during the process of re-cultivation?
Even if he were a reincarnated God King, what difference would it make?
That identity could only provide some insights.
In fact, his original powers might even interfere with his current cultivation.
After reviewing the God King information in her mind and finding no match for Xu Yuan, Gu Yue realized dwelling on this point was meaningless.
She turned her head and looked at the pattern sketched in the room.
"Compared to Xu Yuan, this Xu Zhi is even more terrifying."
Her movements slowed considerably. Even after learning about Yun Ming ascending to godhood, she hadn't yet reached the Stellar Phenomena. Upon hearing about the creation of the Underworld and Yun Ming becoming a god who occupied that space, she had remained at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters ever since.
During this long period, the uppermost echelons of the Spirit Pagoda were in the Underworld, making her infiltration of the Spirit Pagoda convenient. She nearly reviewed all the historical records of the Spirit Pagoda.
It was during this time that she finally uncovered the patterns left by Xu Zhi.
When Xu Zhi's findings were unearthed, they weren't just obtained by Yun Ming but also by Chen Xinjie and Qiangu Dongfeng.
Qiangu Dongfeng had been researching them, though he never imagined the true purpose of these patterns was to break through to God King level.
However, after studying these nine patterns for two and a half months, Gu Yue understood their purpose.
Subsequently, she became intrigued by Xu Zhi. After investigating the Spirit Pagoda's records, she learned about Xu Zhi—an ordinary person without any soul power.
"The process of Xu Zhi researching these nine God King diagrams can almost be definitively stated as occurring within the last ten years before his death. The key technical breakthroughs likely concentrated in the final five years. The possibility of him leaving other technical documents for Xu Yuan is slim. However, just these God King diagrams alone have provided the greatest foundation for Xu Yuan."
Gu Yue's heart surged.
The value of these God King diagrams was minimal for others. After all, nothing substantial could be researched from them, and even if results were achieved, the opportunity wouldn't exist. Not everyone had the qualification to attempt breaking through to God King level.
Expanding the territory ruled by the Douluo Divine Realm by tenfold, only one qualified candidate existed to attempt the God King realm.
Of course, in Gu Yue's eyes, there were now three.
Lost in thought, Gu Yue sensed Xu Yuan's presence not far from her meditation chamber.
She waved her hand, and the nine patterns retreated, transforming into streams of energy that merged into her forehead and eventually settled in her sea of spirit.
These God King diagrams had become the key to her return to the God King realm.
"It's been a while, and you've changed quite a bit."
Seeing Gu Yue, Xu Yuan's pupils slightly contracted.
Gu Yue's soul power level was astonishingly high.
She was only three levels lower than him.
Considering he was already at level 98, Gu Yue had actually reached level 95?
Xu Yuan was well aware that Gu Yue hadn't joined the Blood God Legion, hadn't absorbed Abyssal energy from there, nor had she cultivated using star energy.
Yet, even so, her cultivation progress far surpassed Tang Wulin's and was still catching up to him.
Of course, soul power levels were no longer important.
By now, Xu Yuan's strength had long surpassed the standards measurable by soul power.
His strength had already entered the normal divine level, nearing the True God level.
"You've changed quite a bit too. To maintain such a fast cultivation speed even in the Super Douluo realm, I can't imagine what level you'll ultimately reach." Gu Yue's gaze was complex.
With no hundred-level cap on soul power anymore, Xu Yuan wouldn't be stuck at level 99 either.
Moreover, Gu Yue knew that as Yun Ming's disciple, Xu Yuan was surely following Yun Ming's methods for cultivation.
Speaking of which, Gu Yue couldn't help but marvel at the surprises the Soul Master system had given her.
The path to godhood pioneered by Yun Ming, though difficult to break through, offered considerable assistance in the later stages. The harvest period was delayed, allowing the innate potential ceiling of soul masters to rise significantly.
Combined with Xu Zhi's God King diagrams, she finally gained the confidence to return to the God King realm.
It wasn't that a God King undergoing re-cultivation would naturally regain that realm; sorting out timelines was incredibly challenging, especially for someone like Gu Yue, whose first God King status wasn't achieved independently.
"I don't know whether I should call you Gu Yue or address you as the Silver Dragon King." Xu Yuan didn't bother with pleasantries and directly named the Silver Dragon King.
Gu Yue sighed.
"Indeed, you know my identity." She wasn't surprised.
Given that Na'er had consciously avoided her, it was natural for Xu Yuan to know about her situation.
"I know the basics of your and Na'er's situation. In my view, Na'er is a newly born individual." Xu Yuan looked at Gu Yue and spoke. "She carries your memories, but her body is a soul master form based on the Silver Dragon King, and her spiritual foundation is the personality that split off when you transformed."
Gu Yue remained silent.
She was well aware of her and Na'er's situation.
If it were before, she would have firmly reclaimed Na'er because Na'er had taken away a significant portion of her bloodline origin.
But now, this matter wasn't beyond negotiation.
Because she had more hope.
The path of martial soul mediums and the God King diagrams gave her more benefit than Na'er did.
"What are your thoughts on the soul beast race?"
Gu Yue didn't respond to Xu Yuan's topic about Na'er but instead asked another question.
"My opinion on the soul beast race isn't important." Xu Yuan said, "I know you want to revive the soul beast race. I have no stance on that."
"No matter how friendly I am to the soul beast race, it won't amount to anything against one phrase."
Gu Yue looked at Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan slowly spoke.
"Non-humans and humans have differing intentions."
"The soul beast and human races will inevitably not share the same mindset. With the existence of the soul master and soul beast systems, conflict between the two races is inevitable."
Conflict between two races was only natural—it was bound to happen.
"So, you came to negotiate with me regarding Na'er's issue, yet you're unwilling to give a promise?"
Gu Yue's gaze turned cold.
Xu Yuan helplessly shrugged.
"I bear no ill will toward the soul beasts."
"I can make a promise. Within my capabilities, I will provide some assistance and convenience for the revival of the soul beast race."
"But, as the ruler of the soul beast race, you should understand that even if I make a promise, as long as the power of the soul beast race doesn't surpass that of humans, the future of the soul beast race will still be painful."
"The Sea God of twenty thousand years ago had the strongest influence in the soul master world, and even now, twenty thousand years after becoming a god, he still has an indescribable impact on the soul master world. He claimed to inherit Yu Xiaogang's ideals and held goodwill toward the soul beast race, yet the soul beast race still declined."
Gu Yue fell silent.
Even if she regained her strength, she couldn't confidently say that the soul beast race could surpass humans in power.
The existence of Yun Ming and Xu Yuan acted as stabilizing forces for humanity, leaving her without confidence.
She lacked the assurance to intercept Xu Yuan and eliminate him before he fully matured.
"As long as the soul beast race cannot produce gods on its own, there will forever only be you as the sole powerful figure."
Xu Yuan pointed out the fatal issue.
Are there any soul beasts capable of becoming gods?
Yes!
Many.
Over the years, there were quite a few ferocious beasts among the soul beast race with the potential to ascend, even the Deep Sea Demon Whale King from twenty thousand years ago nearly succeeded.
Though destined to fail, the premise of failure was that the Sea God had schemed against him.
One could say that, under another deity, the inheritor might have been successfully parasitized by the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, allowing him to inherit the divine position as a human and achieve godhood.
Then there was Di Tian—if not for the heavenly tribulation, he could ascend at any time.
Several ferocious beasts under Di Tian also had a good chance of becoming gods.
Were it not for the heavenly tribulation, many soul beasts could achieve godhood.
Gu Yue fell silent again.
Each topic Xu Yuan brought up silenced her, hitting the weakest points of her and the soul beast race.
"Speaking of the heavenly tribulation, I'm actually curious about how it comes about." Xu Yuan adopted a serious reasoning demeanor and said, "Do God Kings really have the ability to impose disasters of this magnitude? Forcing all soul beasts to endure nine heavenly tribulations to become gods, and even greater calamities await upon ascension."
As he spoke, even Xu Yuan wore a pessimistic expression.
He truly sympathized with Di Tian.
"That's because you're unaware. The divine realm has its central hub, and with its power, God Kings can mobilize the entire divine realm's strength," Gu Yue said coldly.
"Oh? Then why does the heavenly tribulation still exist now that the divine realm has disappeared?"
Gu Yue was speechless.
"Don't harbor any illusions. You clearly know who is most capable of imposing this restriction on the soul beast race."
Xu Yuan's words nearly broke Gu Yue's composure.
How could she not know who was most capable?
But she couldn't fathom that person's motive.
"The revival of the soul beast race hinges on the emergence of divine beasts. However, the appearance of divine beasts requires breaking the mechanism of the heavenly tribulation. But who can accomplish that?"
"You are the overlord of the soul beasts, yet in reality, you are merely the master of the soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. Your lost power transformed into life energy, spawning numerous soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, making it the largest soul beast habitat on the Douluo continent."
Even if Gu Yue reclaimed Na'er's power, she couldn't re-attain God King status because she had suffered for tens of thousands of years, losing much of her origin. Her power loss was even more severe; except for her spiritual power, her soul power could hardly return to the God King level.
"To dismantle the mechanism of the heavenly tribulation, I feel the best and most feasible solution is the extinction of all dragon-related soul beast bloodlines."
Xu Yuan stroked his chin, looking at Gu Yue, and proposed slowly.
Gu Yue's face darkened.
Come to think of it, eradicating all bloodlines related to that person from back then might allow the soul beast race to truly ascend again.
But for the current soul beast race, this would be another disaster.
Moreover, Xu Yuan made one mistake—not just the extinction of dragon bloodlines but the extinction of all bloodlines from races that once produced divine beasts might eliminate the medium of the heavenly tribulation.
Thus, as time passed, the Douluo Star could breed a new generation of soul beasts, potentially giving rise to new divine beasts.
But how could that possibly happen?
"Of course, there's another possibility: the emergence of a being comparable to him or someone who has reached his level of mastery over the laws."
Xu Yuan didn't further provoke Gu Yue.
Gu Yue's expression softened slightly.
In front of her, the only one who could be considered comparable to that person was Xu Yuan.
And she believed Xu Yuan had that potential.
Of course, it was only potential.
And she only believed Xu Yuan had the latter potential.
"I can make a promise. As long as I am capable, I will eliminate the mechanism of the heavenly tribulation and restore the soul beast race's qualification to ascend to godhood."
Gu Yue's expression was complex.
She sighed.
"From now on, Na'er will just be Na'er. I will no longer demand her fusion with me, and our shared memories will be completely severed."
"Pleasure doing business with you." Xu Yuan smiled.
Honestly, this wasn't a burden for him.
The heavenly tribulation—this power wasn't weak.
If he could dismantle the core mechanism of the heavenly tribulation, it naturally meant he could master this power.
The essence of thunder was contained within his true body. If developed further, the heavenly tribulation might become part of his advanced power system.
"The Underworld is a small realm created by my teacher. My uncle told me you had plans to establish the Beast Platform there. I can have my teacher assist you somewhat."
"Thank you." Gu Yue didn't refuse.
The Beast Platform plan had been stalled for too long. Di Tian and the others had been impatient for a while.
At this point, even if that place was occupied by Yun Ming, it couldn't be helped.
Watching Xu Yuan leave, Gu Yue sighed again.
Her pre-transformation ambitions had been worn down too much.
From their first meeting until now, Xu Yuan had always been a step ahead.
No, it wasn't just one step anymore.
The suppression was too obvious.
Even as she began absorbing and integrating her former powers, she still couldn't sense Xu Yuan's limits. Unless they fought to the death, she had no confidence in stopping him.
"Master, he's gone?"
After Xu Yuan left, Di Tian dared to appear in Gu Yue's meditation chamber.
"The Beast Platform plan will restart. Three days from now, I will personally go to the Blood God Legion to participate in the construction of the Beast Platform." Gu Yue said.
"Yes, Master!" Di Tian exclaimed joyfully.
Although he didn't know what Xu Yuan had discussed with the master, the result of restarting the Beast Platform plan thrilled him.
Of course, he had concerns.
"Master, the Underworld is Yun Ming's small realm. If we—"
Gu Yue interrupted him, her tone cold.
"There's no need for any actions. The goal of the Beast Platform is solely to revive the soul beast race."
"The revival of the soul beast race isn't something that can be achieved overnight. Before that, we must first revive the extinct soul beast races and allow them to proliferate and grow stronger again."
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