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Gu Yuena wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked at Ye Lan. "Ye Lan, I dreamed of a future involving the Spirit Soul system."
"I saw a future where, because of that system, soul beasts were slaughtered indiscriminately by humans until they were driven to extinction!"
"I dreamed of humanity surrounding the Star Dou Great Forest... of myself kneeling before a human God King."
"I dreamed of so much—of a future consumed by utter despair!!!"
"The unease in my heart drove me to try and control everything in this world. That is why I committed those wrongs. I was so close... just a hair's breadth away."
"If you hadn't stopped me, I would have spent countless years in regret!!!"
Gu Yuena's heartfelt confession made Ye Lan realize that, at this moment, she was still just a young girl at heart.
When the Silver Dragon King originally fled to the Douluo Star through the spatial turbulence, her severe injuries forced her consciousness into a slumber that lasted for eons. Throughout those countless years, she slept to recover, bearing a singular, heavy mission: to become the Dragon God and revive the soul beast race.
Having spent those ages in slumber, Gu Yuena had never experienced the beauty of the world before being forced to shoulder the fate of her entire species.
Faced with a dream of such a hopeless future for soul beasts, she must have been overwhelmed by self-reproach. After all, that desperate future wasn't just a dream.
Ye Lan knew that once the hypocritical Tang San became the God King, he would never allow the soul beast race to achieve godhood. He remembered that the beasts who had "contributed" by becoming Tang San's spirit rings were merely granted the status of God Officers to serve as his daughter's bodyguards. Even his wife, Xiao Wu, was reduced to nothing more than a sheath for Tang San's sword.
Given Tang San's nature, Ye Lan believed that the moment he ascended to the position of God King, he likely set his sights on the Silver Dragon King and the combined Dragon God power of the Gold and Silver Dragons.
Through Gu Yuena's words and careful questioning, Ye Lan finally understood the future of the Douluo Continent after Tang San's ascension.
---
In that future, the Douluo Continent suffered an invasion from the Abyss.
Over a period of ten thousand years, countless humans sacrificed themselves to resist the Abyssal intrusion. Generation after generation marched to the front lines, fighting for the sake of the Douluo Star. These sacrifices created a tapestry of life, death, and sorrow, birthing many "Douluo Heroes."
However, this epic struggle spanning over six millennia wasn't the result of the Abyssal plane accidentally colliding with the Douluo Star. It was Tang San's "Ten-Thousand-Year Plan," a scheme he had plotted for twenty years from the divine realm.
This plan was, in reality, designed to consume the lives of countless humans so that Tang Hao could seize control and become the Plane Seed of the Douluo world. This "Ten-Thousand-Year Plan" led to the deaths of millions during the Abyssal invasion.
God only knows how many people died on the Douluo Star during those six thousand years. And who did this plan ultimately benefit? No one but his father and mother.
Of course, the Ah Yin of that future was merely a love-struck fool deceived by Tang Hao, unlike the Ye'er of the present.
Once the plan succeeded, the Tang family emerged as the greatest winners, leaving behind a continent filled with wronged souls. Tang San's family merely performed a symbolic resurrection for those who participated in the final battle.
But what about the heroes and common folk who died during those six thousand years? Their souls had long since drifted into oblivion. By resurrecting only the victims of the final battle, they managed to gloss over six millennia of slaughter.
And yet, under the weight of such "divine" authority, the Douluo Continent continued to revere Tang San as the greatest God King in history.
One could only say: as expected of the "Pure and Noble" God King Tang San!
(The so-called Ten-Thousand-Year Plan is quite ironic; to glorify Tang San, it was framed as a ten-thousand-year plot, but in Divine Realm time, it was only about twenty years.)
---
"Gu Yuena, the future you spoke of will never become reality," Ye Lan said firmly.
"Why?" Gu Yuena's purple eyes widened.
"Because the future you dreamed of did not have me in it. With me here, this 'God King Tang San' is nothing more than a triviality!" Ye Lan declared with absolute certainty.
Looking into Ye Lan's confident, orange-gold dragon pupils, Gu Yuena's heart gradually found peace.
"Ye Lan, is there some connection between us? Why do I feel so familiar with you, even though my memory tells me this is our first meeting?"
"More importantly, it's only after making contact with you that I've been able to recall these blurred, forgotten fragments of memory. Originally, I didn't know about the Sea God's deeds or the deeper details of the continent's future. But after meeting you, I remembered so much!"
Ye Lan looked at the confused Gu Yuena. In truth, he didn't know why she was dreaming of future memories either. Perhaps it was a side effect of the distorted space-time?
"I don't know why, but what matters most is the now! The Divine Realm has been swept away by spatial turbulence. In its current state, it is no longer fit for gods. As for a new Divine Realm, I already have a plan in mind."
"You're right! The present is what matters!!" Gu Yuena's eyes lit up. "And Sea God Tang San! Though I don't know why the records show his appearance has become so ordinary, if we kill him now, that future can never happen! Now that the Divine Realm is gone, we don't have to fear the Sea God or the Asura God!"
Ye Lan patted Gu Yuena's head, comforting her. "Don't worry, I will deal with Tang San. You've likely heard of the enmity between us; the Clear Sky Clan's destruction began because of him and his father. I won't let Sea God Tang San off easily."
Gu Yuena nodded heavily. "I understand!!" She gave Ye Lan a heartfelt smile. "Ye Lan, thank you!! Now, I finally feel like the real Gu Yuena!!"
Seeing her smile, Ye Lan's gaze faltered for a moment. Just as the atmosphere turned warm and intimate, the space beside them fluctuated.
Noticing the movement, Gu Yuena quickly suppressed the blush on her face and used her elemental control to wipe away any trace of tears.
"Ye Lan!!!"
Qian Renxue and Ye Lingling immediately threw themselves into Ye Lan's arms. Qian Renxue shot a suspicious glance at the now-composed Gu Yuena. Weren't these two just fighting fiercely? How did they look like nothing had happened?
Ye Lingling, noticing a hint of nervousness in Ye Lan's dragon eyes, couldn't help but curse inwardly: This big flirt.
She tightened her grip on his arm and asked, "Ye Lan, are you okay?"
As she spoke, a rain of Nine-Hearted Saint Begonia flowers drifted out. Countless pink and gold petals fell upon everyone, with the thickest concentration landing on Ye Lan and Gu Yuena.
Feeling the terrifying life force within the petals, Gu Yuena looked at the beautiful blue-haired girl and felt an instinctive wave of goodwill toward her. Ye Lan, seeing that Gu Yuena was also receiving Lingling's healing, gave his partner a silent thumbs-up.
Qian Daoliu looked at Ye Lan with pride. As expected of his grandson-in-law! Xue'er had great vision; such a terrifying existence as Gu Yuena had actually been subdued by him! Moreover, looking at them now, wasn't he using an "emotional" strategy?
Thinking this, Qian Daoliu's eyes became filled with gossip. Sensing the look, Ye Lan scratched his head awkwardly. What is Grandpa Qian thinking? I defeated her fair and square!
Ye Lan then quickly used his "Formless Form" ability to secretly hold Bibi Dong's hand. Feeling the warmth of his invisible hand, the jealousy in Bibi Dong's heart vanished instantly. Seeing her expression brighten, Ye Lan praised his soul skill—Formless Form, you are truly the best!
---
Another spatial fluctuation occurred as Di Tian emerged, leading the Title Douluos of the Sun Moon Empire and the Myriad Beast Team. Di Tian glanced at Gu Yuena's injuries and her expression, letting out a sigh of relief. He had been afraid the two would actually kill each other.
Before Di Tian could speak, a handsome young man with blue hair lunged forward. With a slide-kneel, Xu Chen skidded right in front of Ye Lan, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Ye... Ye... God Ye! Please forgive my previous impudence toward you and my... uh, first and second sisters-in-law!"
"You are a great man, please don't take it to heart! I can see that you and the sisters-in-law are a match made in heaven! A perfect union! Two hearts beating as one! A harmony of phoenixes! Bound by deep affection! To grow old together..."
"Alright, alright!! I forgive you," Ye Lan waved him off, his head spinning from the flattery.
Xu Chen exhaled in relief. But then, Qian Renxue snorted coldly. "Between Lingling and me, who is the 'first' and who is the 'second'?"
"..." Xu Chen froze, stammering, terrified that a wrong answer would result in being cleaved by her sword. The crowd burst into laughter at his plight.
Once the laughter died down, Tian Feng led Tian Long, Xu Haoran, and Xu Beiming to help Xu Chen up. They bowed deeply. "Lord Ye Lan! Please forgive our recklessness. If you cannot find it in your heart to forgive us, we only ask that you do not take it out on the Sun Moon Empire."
All five members of the Sun Moon royalty bowed at a ninety-degree angle to Ye Lan, Qian Daoliu, and Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong waved her hand. "Our positions were simply different; there is no blood feud. There is no need for this."
"Thank you, Your Holiness!!" they replied gratefully.
Just then, Du Desi—bare-chested and rippling with golden-toned muscles—knelt before Ye Lan with total sincerity. "Lord Ye Lan! Please accept me as your disciple!!!!"
"After seeing your full power, I feel only shame and admiration! You are merely a Soul Saint, yet your life force exceeds mine by countless margins! I have studied your various martial soul theories... I have lived many years, but I never imagined such profound concepts could come from someone so young! The one who knows more is the master! Please, Master, do not mind your disciple's age!!!"
Looking at the fervent and sincere Du Desi, Ye Lan thought of Huo Wu's Body Martial Soul. With Du Desi's background in the Body Sect, he could help her grow. "Very well! I accept you as my disciple."
Du Desi kowtowed three times heavily and offered a token with both hands. "Master! I have nothing else to repay you with. Please accept the Body Sect!"
Ye Lan waved it away. "No need for that. You should continue to manage the Body Sect."
"Thank you, Master!!" Du Desi shouted.
The Sun Moon royalty looked on with envy as their empire's number one Limit Douluo bowed to a young man. Their gazes toward Du Desi were complicated, wishing they could take his place, yet cursing him for his shamelessness given he was nearly a century old.
The Bear-Tyrant Douluo and the Three-Headed Scarlet Mastiff also shuffled forward. One dog and one bear, both wearing fawning expressions.
Ye Lan looked at the two "treasures" and remembered his pets in Spirit City. "Fine, fine. I happen to have two pets, Big Orange and Bear Two. You two can be their 'poop-scoopers.'"
"What is a poop-scooper?" the Bear-Tyrant Douluo asked, confused.
"Nothing much. Bear Two is a bear, and Big Orange is a tiger. Just spend time playing with them."
The Bear-Tyrant Douluo thumped his chest. "I am a bear too!! I'm good at this!!"
The Scarlet King Douluo squeezed in. "I'm a dog!! A tiger has four legs, just like me!!"
Seeing them tamed, Gu Yuena nodded in satisfaction. Only Ye Lan could make these violent beasts so compliant.
---
Di Tian stepped forward. "Ye Lan, thank you. If you hadn't stopped the Lord, she might have strayed too far down the wrong path. You defeated her as a Soul Saint; I believe that under your leadership, soul beasts and humans can go much further together!! I look forward to the future you described. I believe you can create that place of peace."
"In my capacity as the Emperor of the Myriad Beast Empire, I surrender to you!"
"From this day forward, Douluo shall have only one nation!!"
"The war between Heaven Dou and the Myriad Beasts is over! The war between humans and soul beasts is over! I hope that under your lead, every sentient being can enjoy peace!!!"
Looking at the solemn Di Tian, Ye Lan took Gu Yuena's hand. "I promise that under my lead, I will return the Douluo Continent to a land of tranquility, where all beings of free will shall coexist in peace!!"
"From now on, there is only one nation: *The Douluo Empire!!*"
Xu Haoran and his group immediately knelt. "Lord Ye Lan is right!! There is only one nation! The Sun Moon Empire is no more; it shall henceforth be the Sun Moon Province of the Douluo Empire!!"
Du Desi twitched at the sight. It was his first time seeing a royal family lead the charge in surrendering!
Ye Lan nodded. "A province is unnecessary. From now on, the Sun Moon Empire shall be the Sun Moon Kingdom, a vassal to the Douluo Empire."
"Thank you, Lord Ye Lan!!!" The five were overjoyed.
Gu Yuena felt the warmth of Ye Lan's hand and declared, "As the Co-Lord of Soul Beasts, I decree that no sentient soul beast shall actively attack or hunt other sentient soul beasts or humans!!"
"Di Tian obeys!"
"Evil Eye obeys!"
"Medusa obeys!"
"Frost Wolf obeys!"
Every soul beast present knelt on one knee, accepting the command of Gu Yuena.
(End of Chapter)