Chapter 233: A New Chapter - The Growing Spirit Beast race
A considerable amount of time had passed since the Dragon Valley Small World completely merged into the Douluo Plane, transforming into the "Dragon Realm."
Following the earth-shattering world fusion event propelled by the combined efforts of two God Kings, the development of the Douluo Plane entered a new, more stable, and orderly track.
The structure of five realms coexisting—God, Mortal, Netherworld, Demon, and Dragon—was completely solidified. Boundaries were clear, Laws complemented each other, and under the rule and mediation of Lei Chen, the Dual God King Plane Master, a grand, ceaseless, and infinitely potential system was formed.
The God Realm hung high above, its Law's radiant light flowing, appearing increasingly prosperous. The majestic divine halls belonging to the First-Rank Deities were magnificent, while the halls of Second-Rank and Third-Rank Deities dotted the realm like stars. Numerous divine officials traveled back and forth on patrol, handling the God Realm's growing daily affairs and the responsibility of monitoring and guiding the Lower Realms. The entire God Realm was orderly and vibrant under Lei Chen's indirect but omnipresent will.
The Mortal Realm, serving as the Foundation, saw hundreds of millions of living beings thriving. Under the denser Heaven and Earth Origin Qi and the improving Law environment, civilization continued to advance, and powerful Soul Masters emerged generation after generation. However, the overall order maintained a dynamic balance and development within the subtle guidance of several First-Rank Deities and the 'general peace' framework established by the God Realm.
The Netherworld and the Demon Realm, under the stewardship of Electrolux and Du Busi respectively, fulfilled their functions of collecting souls, maintaining Reincarnation, and accommodating specific energies as controllable Trial Grounds, forming an indispensable part of the overall order.
The recently integrated Dragon Realm, however, saw the most attention-grabbing development.
The Dragon Realm itself was the condensation of the essence of the ancient Dragon Clan civilization. Its internal Laws formed their own system. Furthermore, due to the complete return and stewardship of the God King-level powerhouse Gu Yuena, its status, upon merging into the Douluo Plane, did not diminish. Instead, it became even more stable and profound by connecting to the Origin of the main Plane and receiving continuous nourishment. In a sense, it already possessed an independence and height comparable to the nascent God Realm.
As the undisputed Sovereign of the Dragon Realm, not long after the world fusion was complete, the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena formally summoned Di Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, who had followed her faithfully for countless ages, in the core of the Dragon Realm—the "Silver Dragon King Hall," which evolved from the highest Peak of the original Dragon Valley mountain range and was now eternally shrouded in seven-colored dragon light.
The hall was vast, constructed from a silver crystal substance that seemed neither jade nor gold. Seven-colored rainbow light flowed naturally across the dome, manifesting images of the four elements—earth, fire, water, wind, light, and dark space. The four walls were adorned with magnificent murals depicting ten thousand Dragons paying homage and ancient Dragons waging war, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.
Gu Yuena sat upon the simple yet supremely regal silver-white throne at the far end of the hall. Her silver dress flowed like moonlight, her beauty unparalleled, and the rise and fall of elements were reflected in her eyes as they opened and closed. Wang Qiu'er stood alertly to the side and behind her throne, dressed in a striking gold and red combat outfit, displaying heroic spirit.
Di Tian stood respectfully bowed in the center of the hall, his dark gold vertical pupils filled with absolute reverence.
"Di Tian," Gu Yuena's ethereal voice echoed clearly and majestively throughout the hall, "The Dragon Realm is established; it is the new Foundation and Origin for our Dragon Clan in this Plane. For all matters within the Realm, capable assistance is needed for governance and coordination."
She slightly raised her hand, and a point of silver-white divine light, pure to the extreme, containing the will of the Dragon Clan Sovereign and partial authority over the Realm's Origin, condensed at her fingertip, transforming into a complex, profound, three-dimensional divine rune shaped like a coiled Black Dragon.
"You have followed me to this day, your efforts and merits are great, and your loyalty unwavering. Now, in the name of the Silver Dragon King and Master of the Dragon Realm, I confer upon you the God Position of 'Black Dragon King' of the Dragon Realm, responsible for the Dragon Realm's conquest, defense, and punishment. You shall rank as a First-rank Deity!"
As her voice fell, the silver-black dragon-shaped divine rune turned into a streak of light and merged into Di Tian's brow.
"Boom!"
Di Tian's body shook violently, black light erupting around him. His already formidable Dragon Might surged and sublimated at an astonishing speed.
Behind him, the Void faintly revealed a massive Black Dragon Dharma Image, its eyes like dark gold stars, its scales flashing with metallic cold light. It let out a silent roar toward the sky. Within the Dragon Realm, the Laws belonging to 'Darkness' resonated spontaneously, and streams of pure Black Dragon divine force separated from the Realm's Origin, pouring into Di Tian's body.
His Second-Rank Deity status, previously conferred by Lei Chen, was completely replaced by this First-level God, which was more compatible with his Bloodline essence and contained the recognition of the Dragon Realm's Origin. His 'assignment' was transferred from the God Realm to the Dragon Realm.
A moment later, the divine light subsided. Di Tian felt the vast, surging First-Rank divine force within him, faintly echoing the entire Dragon Realm, along with a clearer mastery over the Laws of Darkness. He was too excited to restrain himself.
He heavily knelt on one knee, his head deeply bowed: "Di Tian thanks the Master for this grace! I will certainly exert all my strength to guard the Dragon Realm and pledge allegiance to the Master, willing to die ten thousand times!"
Gu Yuena nodded slightly: "From today onward, you shall relinquish your duties in the God Realm and focus entirely on the affairs of the Dragon Realm. I will discuss this matter with the Plane Master on the God Realm's side."
Di Tian naturally had no objection. Being able to return to his Master's command, take charge of an important post in the Dragon Realm, and obtain a true First-rank Deity status was far more in line with his heart's desire and Bloodline mission than serving as a Second-Rank Deity in the God Realm.
Soon after, Gu Yuena used her God King will to convey the matter of Di Tian's God Position transfer to the center of the God Realm. Lei Chen was naturally pleased to see this happen.
After dealing with Di Tian's matter, Gu Yuena devoted most of her energy to cultivating the Spirit Beast race, especially the top Soul Beasts within the Dragon Realm and on the Douluo Continent.
As the inheritor of half the Dragon God's power and the co-lord of Soul Beasts, she deeply understood that the current Spirit Beast race suffered from declining legacies and a scarcity of top combat power. Now that she had ascended to God King status and the Dragon Realm had returned, with resources and a Law environment far surpassing the past, it was the golden age to vigorously Cultivate her direct lineage and enhance the strength of the entire race.
She personally screened a batch of top Soul Beasts with outstanding talent, profound Foundations, and firm Heart-Nature, most of whom were over one hundred thousand years old, and even several hundred thousand years old Vicious Beasts.
Gu Yuena bestowed upon them pure Dragon Power Origin and precious ancient Dragon Clan Legacy according to their respective attributes and potential. Occasionally, she even personally intervened, using her God King might to refine their Bloodlines, ignite their potential, and opened some Secret Realms unique to the Dragon Realm that could greatly accelerate Cultivation.
Under the dedicated nurturing of a God King-level existence and the frantic allocation of Dragon Realm resources, these Vicious Beasts, already standing at the Peak of the mortal world, entered a period of explosive growth in strength!
Several years later, a total of three Vicious Beasts successfully broke through to the million-year level. And every time a Soul Beast broke through to the million-year level, it provoked the interrogation of the Heaven and Earth Laws. The vast and terrifying tribulation clouds would arrive on schedule, and the destructive lightning, permeated with an aura of annihilation, would condense in the firmament, emitting a Heavenly Might that made even Deities feel dread.
However, just as the tribulation clouds brewed to their Peak and the destructive lightning was about to strike—
Lei Chen, seated in the central hall of the God Realm, would slowly open his eyes, a flash of purple-gold lightning disappearing in his gaze.
He didn't even need to rise; with a mere thought, he pointed from afar, his God King authority connecting Heaven and Earth.
The terrifying tribulation clouds, capable of causing any newly ascended million-year Soul Beast to suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, acted as if they had encountered a bottomless abyss. All the lightning, all the will of destruction, and all the power of Law interrogation, under the traction of a higher-level, more fundamental lightning authority, transformed into streams of incomparably pure, liquid-like purple-gold lightning. They crossed the spatial barrier, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, all pouring into the God Realm, into Lei Chen's body, finally merging into his thunder god rune, which had already advanced to the God King level.
"Rumble..."
Inside the Thunder God Position, the vast and boundless 'Thunder Pool' rippled slightly, the water level rising a fraction, its color becoming deeper. The Dao Rhyme of creation and destruction contained within it also seemed richer. Although the lightning originating from the Soul Beast Heavenly Tribulation did not bring a significant boost from a single absorption to the current Thunder God Position, it excelled in purity, Origin, and was continuous.
"Another one..." Lei Chen felt the subtle yet undeniable growth in the Foundation of the Thunder God Position, a barely perceptible arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Every time a Soul Beast safely underwent Tribulation under his protection, he would gain a portion of pure Tribulation Lightning sustenance. Accumulating little by little built a tower; this continuous 'income' had a subtle yet indispensable benefit for solidifying and nurturing the God King-level Thunder God Position.
Gu Yuena sensed in the Dragon Realm that every Heavenly Tribulation was easily absorbed by Lei Chen, and the Soul Beasts remained safe. Her exquisitely beautiful face remained calm. She was happy to see this: the Soul Beasts gained preservation and development, Lei Chen gained cultivation sustenance, and the overall power of the Plane increased—this was the most stable win-win cycle.