A little earlier in time.
Not long after Gu Yuena and Bi Ji left the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.
"My Lady, do you really believe that girl's words?" The girl Bi Ji referred to was Ning Rongrong. From the perspective of a soul beast over tens of thousands of years old, a human teenager was still a child.
"Whether I believe it or not, what does it matter?" Gu Yuena gazed at the azure sky, where leisurely clouds drifted across her field of vision, yet they couldn't erase her melancholy. "There are many unclear parts in my memories."
"Especially regarding the Dragon God before I split from the Golden Dragon King, that…"
"Soul beasts being unable to become gods is a restriction set by a supreme being, and that knowledge exists in my memories."
"But I always thought it was a rule of the Divine Realm, not the Dragon God."
"But do you really believe it?" Bi Ji's face showed confusion. "She's human, after all. How much of what she says is true remains questionable."
Gu Yuena didn't refute, remaining silent for a while before saying, "It might be true, but it's also possible the Dragon God was set up."
"That girl is special—I mean Ning Rongrong. I'm very curious about the force behind her."
She couldn't use that power, but the moment she touched it, Gu Yuena discerned it was something beyond the ordinary divine power of the Divine Realm, closer to the essence of rules themselves.
"In any case, knowing she's not an enemy is a decent outcome."
"Isn't that why you came here?" Gu Yuena turned to Bi Ji.
"Y-Yes!" Bi Ji hesitated slightly. "It just feels like we're at a loss."
"The Yin-Yang Dual Soul Core, and the Dragon Tomb you mentioned, related to gods."
"Should we reveal that?"
"If humans get hold of those, for soul beasts…"
Bi Ji trailed off.
"Let's call it a desperate gamble," Gu Yuena said, understanding what Bi Ji left unsaid, and smiled. "If we fail, the Divine Realm probably won't let us off."
"What a painful choice!"
"Mm," Gu Yuena nodded. "Qian Renxue wants humans and soul beasts to coexist peacefully, and you hope for the same. Since…"
"The connection between soul beasts and humans, and the inability of soul beasts to become gods, both stem from rules set before the Dragon God's fall, then I will change that."
"My Lady…"
"No need to be too touched. I'm just making up for some things," Gu Yuena said. "I don't know what glimmer of hope the Dragon God saw, but from the moment of the split, I was no longer him."
"I am Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King, co-lord of soul beasts. My stance is naturally with the soul beasts. I could never betray them!"
"Thank you, My Lady." Bi Ji bowed her head. Who would dare say their boss betrayed soul beasts? That's nonsense!
Betray soul beasts for what? To be a love-struck fool like Bibi Dong?
It might be an illusion, but the clone of Gu Yuena seemed to have a bit more humanity compared to the main body sleeping in the Star Dou Forest.
"Hm?" Gu Yuena's delicate brows furrowed, her palm clenching slightly as specks of light rapidly gathered.
A silver-white Silver Dragon Spear appeared in her right hand.
Seeing Gu Yuena halt, Bi Ji was curious. "My Lady?"
"Don't mind me. Get out of here quickly and find a safe place to hide."
Before Bi Ji could respond, Gu Yuena grabbed her shoulder, her body radiating white light, and swiftly retreated.
"Boom—"
"Tch, this is…" Beads of cold sweat formed on Bi Ji's forehead.
The spot where they had stood exploded, forming a crater a kilometer wide.
The energy escaping from the pit was terrifying, making it hard for Bi Ji to breathe.
She was a level 99 pseudo-demigod Limit Douluo!
How could this be?
Suddenly, Bi Ji's pupils contracted sharply.
Not far from her and Gu Yuena stood a tall middle-aged man.
The man wore golden armor, his right hand gripping a sword brimming with intense killing intent.
The aura emanating from him and his blade, whether intentional or not, gave Bi Ji, a life-attributed soul beast, an overwhelming sense of suppression.
Meeting his water-blue eyes, devoid of any vitality, Bi Ji felt like a swan with its neck gripped, unable to move.
"Who… who are you? Why are you attacking us?" Bi Ji asked instinctively.
"Bi Ji, leave first!"
Gu Yuena released Bi Ji's hand, stepping forward to confront the middle-aged man.
Bi Ji gritted her teeth.
Knowing she'd only be a burden here, she enveloped herself in green soul power.
With a "whoosh," she transformed into a green light and shot toward the distant horizon.
The middle-aged man gave her a cold glance but didn't act, instead turning his gaze to Gu Yuena, sizing her up.
"According to the Divine Realm Committee's rules, gods should not linger on a planet."
"Come with me to face judgment!"
Divine Realm Committee?
Gu Yuena's pupils contracted, her heart skipping a beat.
But she quickly suppressed her agitation and said coldly, "I don't know about any Divine Realm Committee. And who are you?"
"I am Hypnos, Killing God Hypnos, the chief warrior under the Asura God King's throne," Hypnos said, his gaze icy and voice devoid of emotion. "Come with me for judgment, or I'll execute your death sentence!"
"Choose, native god!"
"High and mighty, utterly detestable. If the Divine Realm is full of people like you, the Asura God isn't much either."
Gu Yuena lightly raised her spear, shifting into a combat stance.
"Hmph! It seems you've chosen your path to death." Hypnos was already seething. He had previously set out for the Five Elements Continent to capture a native god.
But the Gods of Kindness and Evil had intercepted him, citing a lack of an official Divine Realm Committee appointment.
Now, he was on Douluo Star with a formal mission from the Asura God King and the Divine Realm Committee.
And someone dared to defy him.
If this wasn't a path to death, what was?
It didn't matter if he didn't bring her back alive. Once this woman was silenced, he could still complete the mission.
Afterward, he'd head to the Five Elements Continent to finish what he started.
A god appearing on the Five Elements Continent, using power so brazenly.
It was as if they didn't take the Divine Realm Committee or him, Hypnos, seriously.
As the right-hand man of the Asura God King, one of the five great God Kings, how could he allow such rule-breakers to exist?
But that could wait until he dealt with this. He also needed to investigate whether other gods were present, perhaps even the location of the missing Silver Dragon King.
Those two useless natives had mentioned something.
It might involve an existence of even greater power.
Hmph!
No matter how strong a native was, they couldn't match him, Killing God Hypnos.
With that thought, Hypnos refocused, his gaze growing colder. He let out a soft shout:
"Killing God Domain!"
"Spear Flash!"
Before the Killing God Domain could fully spread, a silver-white spear glowing with endless chilling light thrust toward him.
Hypnos was startled, retreating rapidly.
His Killing God Sword erupted with a cold aura.
"Blade of Killing Intent!"
As he retreated, Hypnos quickly locked onto the spear flash aimed at his chest with his divine sense.
The Killing God Sword turned into a white light, slashing directly.
However, in the next second, Gu Yuena's attack vanished from Hypnos's sight.
"What!?"
Hypnos was shocked, a chill rising in his heart.
"God-Seizing Art!"
Reacting, he unleashed his ultimate skill to its fullest. The exclusive divine skill of Killing God Hypnos stunned the divine sense and soul of anyone within its range, rendering them immobile.
Having stunned his opponent, Hypnos raised his Killing God Sword.
Seven "Kill" characters appeared.
The seven characters instantly merged into one.
"Seven Kills of Shock!"
Red bloodlight wrapped around the Killing God Sword, slashing fiercely toward Gu Yuena's position.
This move consumed his divine sense, but the opponent was too bizarre.
Hypnos didn't dare be careless, choosing to heavily injure the enemy first before planning his next move.
"Bang—"
The two attacks collided simultaneously.
Sword and spear, clashing with sword cries and spear hums, sent explosive light spreading outward.
The energy from the blast sent both Gu Yuena and Hypnos flying backward.
A long gash tore open in the sky, like a massive spatial rift.