Chapter 331: Gains, What Comes Next, and… a Gift?
Gu Yue sensed something unusual she had just felt a rule fluctuation unlike anything she had ever encountered before.
But there was no time to dwell on it. With her soul still intertwined with Han Li's, she could feel how his soul power was rapidly depleting from the struggle, even borrowing some of her strength in the process.
To ensure neither of them suffered damage, the time she had left was limited, so she focused her mind even further.
Finally, just as their soul power neared its threshold, a faint green glow emerged on Gu Yue's soul.
Just a sliver yet it sent a tremor through her spirit. It meant she had finally touched the power of creation. This was not just some newly comprehended law this was the dawn for the soul beast race.
From now on, by following this trace, she could reach it on her own. She would no longer need to rely on Han Li's unique abilities to perceive the rules.
"Congratulations."
Gu Yue stopped her observation. The red token engraved with the character "Han" fell into the palm of her right hand, and at the same time, Han Li's voice echoed in her mind, carrying a hint of joy.
"You too."
Gu Yue looked down at their clasped hands two faint green auras flickered softly.
As their divine power completed its final cycle, their soul energies swiftly withdrew back into themselves.
Their hands lingered for a moment before finally parting.
In that last exchange, she didn't sense the initial resistance Han Li had displayed. Even after they had separated, she could still feel a faint sense of closeness from his presence.
His aura remained pure despite the fact that both his divine power and soul had absorbed a significant portion of her essence.
Yet, she, who was far stronger than Han Li in every way, had clearly taken on his aura instead. It left her momentarily puzzled.
"Don't overthink it. Since both faith energy and celestial energy have been filtered through me before reaching you, you've essentially absorbed too much 'Han Li essence' in a short time."
Soul fusion didn't come without side effects. The moment Han Li saw her expression, he immediately understood what was on her mind.
And as someone who had always been cautious, even during their soul fusion, he had never neglected his filtration process. After so many years, it had already become second nature to him, requiring no conscious thought.
"Something about you feels… different."
Gu Yue nodded but then narrowed her eyes, scanning Han Li's now significantly stronger yet strangely off presence.
Han Li simply smiled and didn't respond directly.
"Soul fusion means our gains should be roughly the same, right? Either way, thanks. You saved me a lot of time."
At his fingertips, a faint crimson divine energy appeared. Its aura bore an uncanny resemblance to Gu Yue's divine power but with clear differences.
Han Li's divine power still centered around his Ice Fire origins, yet unlike hers, it wasn't balanced. The other elemental forces appeared as shimmering motes of various colors, scattered like stars within the vast river of his divine power, giving it an almost ethereal quality.
A closer look would reveal that his body itself had undergone the same transformation his new divine power was rapidly reshaping him, accelerating the completion of his divine body at an astonishing rate.
"Now, I'm even more convinced that you'll succeed."
From Gu Yue's perspective, the fragmented divine core of the Ice Fire Dragon Kings was rapidly dissolving within Han Li, wrapped in layers of faith energy.
As it was drawn into the energy core he referred to as a soul core, it was immediately converted into something new. By the time it was expelled again, it no longer carried the aura of the Dragon Kings it had become something wholly his.
Was this now a true divine core? Or even… a godhood? Gu Yue pondered.
Han Li simply chuckled without answering. His aura then suddenly vanished, retreating into himself, once again making him appear no different from an ordinary human harmless and unassuming.
If not for the lingering connection of their recently separated souls, Gu Yue might have truly mistaken him for just another mortal.
This strange contrast between her spiritual and physical senses left her feeling strangely uncomfortable.
"Looks like it won't be long before you're back to full strength."
Han Li, uninterested in discussing his own changes further, shifted his gaze toward Gu Yue.
"Yes… It almost doesn't feel real."
"Compared to what you've given me, all those thousands of years of slumber and struggle feel like a complete waste."
With the agonizing pain that had plagued her soul for millennia now gone, her remaining injuries would heal naturally over time. After scanning herself internally, Gu Yue sighed, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and self mockery.
"That's not entirely true. If you hadn't suffered those wounds for so long, you wouldn't have been able to grasp the power of creation this quickly."
Han Li's words could have been mistaken for a cruel joke, yet Gu Yue didn't seem to mind. She nodded in agreement.
No, it wasn't funny but it was true.
Her wounds had existed since the moment she was torn apart from the Dragon God. Unlike the Golden Dragon King, she lacked a powerful physical body to help sustain her soul. Instead, every time she used her elemental powers, she had been forced to endure unimaginable pain.
The battles that followed had only worsened her injuries, but in the end, all that suffering had greatly aided her comprehension of the power of creation it was almost ironic.
Of course, that didn't mean she would be thanking Shura for it.
Now that she had touched upon the power of creation, Gu Yue had a feeling that her progress in this domain would be rapid. Just like the elements she was born with, it felt natural an instinct.
"Earlier, when you left, you were planning to continue strengthening yourself, right? What about now? Are you still leaving?"
Gu Yue turned to look at Han Li, her voice calm as she asked the question.
"Yeah, I still have to make a trip. But… I'll have to revise some of my plans."
Han Li hated feeling weak. Right now, he was rapidly restoring his soul power by burning through faith energy, but his mind was already working through new possibilities.
"Are you going to Sea God Island to negotiate? If so, I doubt he'll be willing to let go so easily."
Gu Yue spoke casually it was the most logical course of action she could think of.
After all, the soul beasts of the ocean far outnumbered those on land. And given what she knew about Han Li, there was no way he would allow so much faith energy to be freely wasted even if those soul beasts were followers of a god.
At the same time, that same Sea God wouldn't be keen on losing his own sources of faith either.
"I'm going to the Extreme North first. I still need to send my people to continue their god trials. As for Sea God Island… if negotiations don't work out, I'll just flip the table."
Han Li chuckled and pulled out a bottle of juice, tossing it to Gu Yue. The chilled drink helped clear his mind.
The cool sensation flowing down his throat washed away his fatigue, and with it, his thoughts became sharper.
This unexpected leap in power had led him to reconsider his approach.
And things were already very different from the original story. His presence had set off a cascade of changes, and at this point, Sea God hadn't even managed to secure a spot in the divine hierarchy. With Destruction and the others around, there was no way he'd get that chance either.
To them, the Sea God was nothing more than a newly ascended deity neither powerful nor influential. He wasn't even on the same level as the outsider Rong Nianbing.
For now, the Sea God had neither the motivations nor the opportunity to align himself with Shura like in the original timeline.
That meant there was still a chance to negotiate. Even if it just meant getting the Sea God to leave of his own accord, that would already be a win.
But ultimately, he would have to assess the situation when the time came.
As for flipping the table? That was just a joke. He was nothing more than a weak, helpless soon to be Titled Douluo. No one should take his words seriously.
"If you're heading to the Extreme North, do you want Ditian to go with you? I already sent word, so the rulers over there should have received the message. But… they may not care."
Gu Yue took a sip of the juice its sweet, crisp taste was surprisingly refreshing, and she couldn't help but take another.
Her eyes flickered with a trace of authority. She was displeased with the rulers of the Extreme North, though she had momentarily forgotten that, just a few hours ago, she had instructed Ditian to focus on his own cultivation.
"Because they worship the Ice God?"
Han Li shot her a knowing look. For someone who had just learned about reclaiming faith energy, she seemed even more eager to take action than he was.
"That's part of it. But what's truly ridiculous is where did this so called 'Ice God' even come from? The Water God neither has the qualifications nor the guts to interfere in matters of this continent."
Gu Yue's frustration deepened as she spoke.
"Maybe the Sea God passed by?"
Han Li joked, but then he paused.
…Wait. That might actually be a possibility.
The divine roles in this world were already a mess, and it wasn't out of the question that this so called Ice God might actually be the Sea God in disguise.
After all, he had traveled across every ocean in search of faith energy.
It wouldn't be surprising if he had once shown up in the Extreme North.
…So then, was the Titan Snow Devil King his descendant?
And was that why Tang San, despite being half human and half soul beast, didn't seem to care about his own lineage?
Han Li's thoughts began to spiral in an unexpected direction.
This was something worth investigating.
"That's possible. In that case, Ditian definitely shouldn't appear. At least, not alongside you."
Han Li's joke had caused Gu Yue's expression to tighten into a frown.
Han Li opened his mouth but said nothing.
…Since when was he planning to bring Ditian along in the first place?
Silver Dragon King, you're getting a little too familiar here.
He knew the soul fusion from earlier was still affecting her at least for now.
"I'll handle it myself. You should focus on your recovery. Understanding the laws of creation will take time."
Han Li stood up, signaling his departure.
Keeping their relationship transactional was the best approach. Getting too close would only dull his blade.
Gu Yue stared at him for a moment, pressing her lips together.
She had… overstepped.
No wonder he had resisted the soul fusion so much.
But she was the stronger one here so why did it feel like she was the one at a disadvantage?
Han Li met her gaze calmly.
Then, a silver portal materialized before him.
"Alright, I'm off. If you need anything, just contact me through the jade token."
Without looking back, he raised a hand in farewell and stepped through the portal.
Just as it was about to close, Gu Yue's voice echoed through.
At the same time, something wrapped in divine energy dropped into Han Li's hand.
"If and I mean if you ever want to comprehend the power of creation for yourself, you can come find me."
"Leave Ditian out of it. But for now, take this. Consider it a gift. It might even help you in the Extreme North."
"You are the greatest hope for the soul beast race. And to our allies, we are never stingy. I look forward to your success."
The portal sealed shut, and Han Li's figure reappeared in his room in Tian Dou City.
He looked down.
In his palm was an exquisitely crafted silver necklace.
(End of Chapter)
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