Only then did Wang Nan realize that when he absorbed his ninth spirit ring, the Silver Dragon King had already begun preparing his path to godhood.
"The God Realm was originally created by the Dragon God. Achieving godhood by using the power once wielded by the Dragon God is naturally the most convenient path. When you successfully unleashed your ninth Spirit Ability, you had already stepped onto the path of becoming the God of Creation."
Wang Nan frowned slightly as he listened. "According to you, Destruction and Creation are the Dragon God's most fundamental powers. Then the power of Creation is also the foundation of all your strength, right? If I become the God of Creation, then you—"
At this point, Wang Nan suddenly understood.
Ever since the Silver Dragon King's injuries had been healed by life gold, her power had already surpassed that of the entire Douluo Continent. At that time, she had neither cultivated nor entered deep slumber again.
However, after he unleashed his ninth Spirit Ability in Shrek City with Mu En's assistance, Gu Yue had begun seclusion, and for a full two years.
That was not cultivation.
It was because he had comprehended a trace of the power of Creation that originally belonged to her.
Or rather, from that moment onward, he had unknowingly begun competing with Gu Yue for a God Position.
"This is all for the God Realm," Gu Yue sighed softly. "Since things have reached this point, I will no longer hide it from you. Our Spirit Beast race is a race cursed by Heaven, while only humans are truly favored by Heaven and Earth."
"Even if I were to reclaim the Dragon God Position, I still could not achieve what the Dragon God once wished to accomplish. Moreover, the original Dragon God made too many mistakes and no longer desires to inherit the Dragon God Position."
"So what you want me to achieve is not merely becoming the God of Creation. Accepting the power of Creation is only the first step, isn't it?" Wang Nan asked calmly.
"Yes." Gu Yue nodded. "Pure humans cannot inherit the Dragon God Position, but human Gods can wield the power once possessed by the Dragon God. The power of Creation, as one of the Dragon God's Origin powers, places the God of Creation above even a God King."
"When you enter the God Realm, you can then obtain the power of Destruction from the Golden Dragon King. With both powers in hand, even without inheriting the Dragon God Position, you will already possess the Dragon God's full might."
"You humans are favored by Heaven and Earth. With such power, you can naturally guide the God Realm toward further progress."
Wang Nan quietly observed Gu Yue.
In her human form, the Silver Dragon King did not exude an overwhelming aura. She looked like an ordinary young girl, someone who might casually leave with a neighbor boy at any moment.
Yet the depth of her scheme revealed a faint shadow of the former Dragon God.
As the Dragon God, the ruler of the God Realm, even after being split into two, the remaining consciousness still sought to guide the God Realm forward, even at the cost of relinquishing its own power.
Though she resided in the Mortal World, she resembled a true God King far more than most beings in the God Realm.
Gu Yue did not conceal her voice. Di Tian, standing beside her, heard every word clearly, yet his expression remained unchanged.
He had already sensed something amiss during Gu Yue's first seclusion. Her words merely confirmed his suspicions.
"You already have your own path in your heart," Gu Yue said, looking directly into Wang Nan's eyes. "But what I have prepared for you is another path, one that stands above all Gods, allowing you to become a true God King."
"Before you condense your third Soul Core, you must think carefully about which path you wish to choose."
Wang Nan fell silent.
After a brief pause, he walked to the edge of the Life Lake, sat down cross-legged, and gently closed his eyes. The Coiling Dragon Staff rested horizontally before him.
His own path, or the Silver Dragon King's power.
Which should he choose?
Of course, he wanted both.
Having made his decision, Wang Nan was no longer influenced by external temptation. The power of a God King was indeed alluring, but he had never believed his own path would be inferior to another's.
That quiet confidence was an innate pride he had never needed to display.
Still, since he had already grasped a trace of the power of Creation, Wang Nan did not reject it.
Others' stones could polish one's own jade.
Though he knew the direction he wished to take, he had never truly cultivated Law. Reaching that level was never simple.
This wisp of Creation power, comprehended unknowingly, could serve as a bridge, helping him understand the power of Gods, a power that transcended this World.
With his immense mental force, past experiences surfaced clearly in his mind. The strange aura he had sensed when unleashing his ninth Spirit Ability returned to his awareness.
It was the power of Creation, similar to life, yet fundamentally different.
Without realizing it, Wang Nan's consciousness entered deep meditation. His thoughts accelerated under the influence of that power.
As he meditated, the Coiling Dragon Staff in his grasp began to glow, its aura shifting repeatedly.
Gu Yue sensed the change and looked toward his hand.
Beside the golden Coiling Dragon Staff, under the influence of its "break" attribute, the surrounding space cracked. Elemental power, Heaven and Earth Origin power, and even the Laws of Heaven and Earth shattered.
This was Wang Nan's intent, the foundation of the Unbending Staff Technique, and the most essential attribute of the Coiling Dragon Staff: the power to break all things.
Yet after shattering, those forces did not descend into chaos.
Instead, they moved in perfect order, slowly resonating with the rhythm of the Coiling Dragon Staff.
"Success…"
Far away, on Sea God Island, Huo Yuhao's aura gradually stabilized.
Although most of the Snow Empress's seven-hundred-thousand-year cultivation had been sealed, the remaining power still pushed his spirit power to the threshold of Rank 89. With one final step, he would enter the realm of a Titled Douluo.
"Snow Empress!"
Within the Sea of Spirit, the Snow Empress used Huo Yuhao's powerful mental force to condense a figure, forming a cold and elegant woman.
Hearing the Ice Empress's call, the Snow Empress revealed a faint smile.
"Greetings, Snow Empress. I am Tianmeng." Facing the former overlord of the Extreme North, even in their current similar state, the Tianmeng Iceworm became noticeably serious.
"You were the one who first proposed becoming a God?" the Snow Empress asked calmly.
Tianmeng nodded vigorously.
"Becoming a God…" The Snow Empress fell silent for a moment. Her cultivation was far higher, and she understood better than anyone how difficult that final step truly was.
"Never mind, Bing'er. It's good to see you again."
"Me too, Snow Empress."
Huo Yuhao naturally perceived everything happening within the Sea of Spirit. He always felt that the relationship between the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress was not simple, but for now, he could not quite understand it. He assumed it was merely a reunion of old companions.
Yet when it came to becoming a God…
Huo Yuhao unconsciously lifted his gaze.
He now bore the expectations of many. Could he truly fulfill that shared wish?