Just beyond the outer fringe of Star Dou Forest, Zhongli stood quietly, his golden eyes scanning the mist-shrouded trees. The air here was thick with ancient energy, and he could feel it shifting—reacting to something. The mark on his palm began to glow faintly, resonating with the forest itself.
He muttered under his breath, "It works quickly…"
From the depths of the forest, he could feel it—not just one, but multiple powerful presences awakening. Among them was a distinct aura that caught his attention: one saturated in darkness, yet touched by a trace of light heading his way.
"Di Tian…" Zhongli thought. "The son of the Dark Dragon King and the Light Dragon King. Born of contradiction—darkness and light fused into one."
Suddenly, the trees parted and a mighty presence emerged.
Di Tian, in his humanoid form, strode forward, his imposing figure exuding raw authority. His sharp golden eyes immediately locked onto Zhongli—and then widened ever so slightly. He could feel it: a pressure, subtle but overwhelming, radiating from this man.
Zhongli offered a calm smile."Di Tian, leader of the Ten Great Savage Beasts. It's a pleasure to meet a loyal and wise protector of the forest."
He tilted his head gently. "You've come to escort me to the Lake of Life, haven't you? I assume the Silver Dragon King is waiting."
Di Tian halted in his tracks.
"How does he know?" he thought, his wariness sharpening. "No human has ever seen the Silver Dragon King… let alone entered the core region of Star Dou Forest."
He narrowed his eyes. "How do you know that name?"
Zhongli's smile deepened with quiet confidence."From the moment I stepped into this world, I came to know its truths. Its people, its beasts, its pain—its past and future."
Then, he slowly raised his palm. The mark of the Dragon God glowed brightly, and a divine aura surged forth.
Di Tian stepped back in shock, instinctively half-kneeling from the pressure alone.
Zhongli spoke softly."I spoke with the Dragon God. He entrusted me with a message. A final wish. To help those he left behind."
Suddenly, the phantom of the Dragon God emerged from the mark—a faint but majestic projection of divine might. Its voice echoed, carrying a weight of memory and authority:
"Child of the Darkness Dragon King and Light Dragon King... Bring him to the Silver Dragon King."
Di Tian's breath caught in his throat.
He knelt fully this time—out of instinct, reverence, and awe."Yes… My Lord."
A second later, Di Tian rose and bowed slightly to Zhongli."Please follow me."
Without hesitation, Di Tian turned and respectfully led Zhongli through the dense, ancient paths of the Star Dou Forest, heading toward the Lake of Life.
Zhongli walked silently beside him, amber eyes half-lidded in thought, absorbing the energy of the land. This world—this time—was still adjusting to his presence, but he was already piecing together the fragments of the era.
From what he could feel, this was a pivotal moment in Douluo history."This must be the generation where Bo Saixi reigns over the seas, Qian Daoliu commands the skies, and Tang Chen walks the land…"
He narrowed his gaze thoughtfully."Qian Daoliu... probably around sixty. Grand Priest of Spirit Hall. Rank 99, Limit Douluo. And Tang Chen... slightly younger. Also a Limit Douluo, but chosen by Asura to inherit his power."
Zhongli could feel the shifting threads of fate. He knew it was only a matter of time before those key figures—Tang Chen, Bo Saixi, maybe even Qian Daoliu—were drawn toward his presence.
What intrigued him, though, were the inconsistencies in what he remembered from his previous life."Tang Chen… a monstrous genius who created the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes and reached the Limit Douluo rank through sheer effort. But there's something off…"
Zhongli frowned."Despite being stronger and more influential, Tang Chen was not considered the youngest Titled Douluo. That title went to his son, Tang Hao. Why? The numbers don't add up."
There was also the strange fact that after the Clear Sky Clan went into seclusion, they somehow emerged having produced multiple Titled Douluo, far more than expected. When Ning Fengzhi himself clarified the fact, it took a lot of resources to cultivate a Titled Douluo. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan even after being the richest was unable to produce one,but somehow Clear Sky Clan produced multiple.
It raised a question that had circulated in certain speculative circles back in Zhongli's past life."Evil Soul Masters..." he mused, "Dark Spirit users who cultivate through forbidden means—infant remains, spirit draining, blood sacrifices…"
And then, Zhongli hummed and thought.
"It wasn't entirely a conspiracy."
"The Clear Sky Clan did have a method. A dark method. They drained spirit masters of their soul energy to enhance their own cultivation." The implications were staggering. The so-called paragons of strength and justice weren't as clean as they painted themselves.
They ran away from Spirit Hall leaving the 4 great subsidiary Clans behind to face Spirit Halls wrath— They didn't dare fight back, and especially in seclusion they gained multiple Titled Douluo Dalu's—suddenly made a grim kind of sense.
Zhongli hummed in thought, the corners of his lips tugging ever so slightly."So… the righteous hammer of the continent wasn't so righteous after all."
He didn't judge them harshly—every era had its own compromises. Just like Qian Daoliu comprised with Bibi Dong, even though he knew she killed his son. He knew what his son did, but end of the day the situation was for Qian Renxue.
He continued walking beside Di Tian, the mark of the Dragon God pulsing faintly on his skin, drawing closer to the ancient lake and the being waiting for him there.
A/N: Love interests are not decided, it could be a harem.
1) Bo Saixi
2) Zhu Zhuqing
3) Ning Rongrong
4) Bibi dong
5) Shui Bing'er
6)Shui Yue'er
7) Bi ji
8) Gu Yena