Old Tang inwardly cursed his misfortune.
Even if targeting Xu Yuan was glaringly obvious, he could still justify it to himself, as only the three present would know. If Xu Yuan were eliminated, only two would remain.
But now, things were different. Yun Ming's perception had been brought in by Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan had amplified Yun Ming's presence—it wasn't a covert observation anymore. His energy signature was now overt.
Old Tang understood that if he acted against Xu Yuan, Yun Ming would undoubtedly discover the truth.
At this moment, he was operating through Tang Wulin's body, and Yun Ming would hold Tang Wulin accountable. Moreover, if Yun Ming also tried to forcefully enter this small world, no one could stop him, but the consequences would be even harder to control.
Yun Ming was, after all, the master of a generation. With Old Tang's main body absent and his power limited, he was unwilling to invite further complications.
Unless he wanted to use his second opportunity to act on Yun Ming.
In that case, Old Tang wouldn't have any means left to protect Tang Wulin—only his final contingency plan meant for the Abyssal threat would remain.
If Tang Wulin faced another life-or-death crisis in the future and this last resort had to be used, then the Abyssal's thousand-year grand plan would become a farce, truly dooming the entire Douluo Continent.
Gu Yue refrained from attacking Xu Yuan due to the dragon soul imprint in his possession, and Old Tang hesitated as well. Meanwhile, Xu Yuan had numerous dragon souls mobilizing the forces of heaven and earth to shield him.
Thus, at the center of this god-level battle, a mere Soul King like Xu Yuan stood unscathed.
Of course, Tang Wulin, a lowly Soul Elder, was also safe—but he was protected by Old Tang's power.
Xu Yuan's meticulous planning had effectively restrained both sides.
In fact, after Yun Ming's essence, energy, and spirit were linked by Xu Yuan, neither Gu Yue nor Old Tang had the desire to continue fighting, fearing further complications.
However, every time Old Tang prepared to withdraw his power, Gu Yue, unwilling to let go, clashed with him a few more times.
After sensing Old Tang's fatigue and a trace of anger, she decisively ceased her attacks. Amidst a flash of silver light, she vanished from the Dragon Valley.
Di Tian and his group of six also sensed Yun Ming's presence. After receiving a message from Gu Yue, they quickly departed with her.
Gu Yue mentally calculated the gains and losses of this operation.
She had lost thirty percent of the Dragon God's dragon soul energy, but it wasn't a significant issue—the lion's share remained with her. Moreover, she had successfully obtained the Dragon God's Heart, a near-divine artifact.
"That divine consciousness clearly sealed multiple opportunities to act, and I've almost exhausted its current power. The Golden Dragon King's origin is likely sealed within Tang Wulin's body, requiring his suppression. The remaining power probably can't achieve much. As for his remaining opportunities to act…"
Recalling the anger she had sensed from the divine consciousness earlier, Gu Yue made a rough estimation.
"One more time?"
Soon, she dismissed that thought.
"It's possible he deliberately feigned it; perhaps he has two chances, or even three."
Gu Yue's gaze turned icy.
"Hmph, three chances?
You'll have plenty of opportunities to exhaust them.
You're merely a fragment of divine consciousness, while I am the true and proper Silver Dragon King.
This time, I relied on the Dragon Valley to unleash power capable of opposing you, and it allowed me to gauge your strength level.
"Next time… if I recall correctly, there's been a recent surge in evil soul masters on the continent. Perhaps I can make use of them."
It wasn't as if only god-level power could deplete the energy of that divine consciousness.
Any fatal threat to Tang Wulin would force him to act!
Gu Yue's thoughts were cold and calculating, completely disregarding the years of camaraderie she'd shared with Tang Wulin as classmates.
---
Dragon Valley
The spatial turbulence raged.
Fortunately, with Xu Yuan's guidance and the assistance of the dragon souls, Yun Ming's essence, energy, and spirit suppressed the spatial disturbances.
Although the collapse of the channel connecting their space node to the Tang Sect's was unavoidable, they weren't swept away by spatial turbulence. Instead, they stabilized and reestablished contact with the Douluo Continent.
"Teacher, guide us out," Xu Yuan said.
Tang Wulin lowered his head, offering no objection.
He had just endured immense pain to barely absorb the eighth layer of the Golden Dragon King's seal. Exhausted, he needed rest.
Perhaps leaving the Dragon Valley was a good choice.
As for the thoughts he'd had when he first entered the graveyard about doing something for the dragon race—they were gone now.
The dragon souls were now gathered around Xu Yuan, clearly having found their own path forward.
Tang Wulin didn't know what this soul master without dragon bloodline could offer these dragon souls, but since they had already chosen, he saw no need to push further.
With the cooperation of Yun Ming and Xu Yuan, the Dragon Valley rapidly stabilized, maintaining its attachment to the Douluo Continent without being lost.
Yun Ming personally guided Xu Yuan and Tang Wulin out.
The other fighters who had entered the Dragon Valley had long since activated their dragon pearls and returned.
On the mountaintop where they had entered the Dragon Valley, the others who had exited earlier had already left. Only Yun Ming, Mu Ye, Hu Jie, Elder Wu, Xu Yuan, and Tang Wulin remained.
"You don't need to reveal anything about what happened in the Dragon Valley," Yun Ming said firmly, preemptively silencing the curious Elder Wu and Hu Jie.
Under his stern gaze, Elder Wu lowered his head, and Hu Jie instinctively shrank back.
"Follow me for now."
Yun Ming took Xu Yuan and Tang Wulin aside alone. After some thought, Mu Ye quickly followed.
"Little Yuan, Wulin, did you obtain the inheritance of the Dragon God?"
Xu Yuan didn't conceal anything, giving a brief summary.
"There was no Dragon God inheritance—only the dragon soul left behind by the Dragon God, which we three divided. The Silver Dragon King took the largest share, while Wulin and I each received some scraps."
When Yun Ming heard Xu Yuan refer to their portions as "scraps," he inwardly muttered.
They're definitely not scraps.
They might be smaller portions, but they're certainly not mere crumbs.
As for Tang Wulin—
Yun Ming could clearly sense the surging blood essence emanating from him now.
This blood essence was incredibly violent and powerful, even surpassing Xu Yuan's.
Having just absorbed the eighth layer of the Golden Dragon King's seal, Tang Wulin couldn't yet fully suppress it, making it very apparent to Yun Ming.
The benefits he had gained were undoubtedly substantial.
"If it's just dragon soul energy, that's manageable. Do you have any leads on the Silver Dragon King?" Yun Ming felt that the name Xu Yuan used was quite fitting.
"I don't know. She suddenly appeared," Xu Yuan replied with a look of confusion.
Tang Wulin was equally perplexed, completely unaware of the situation.
"Alas." Yun Ming sighed.
Very well, if they didn't want to say, he wouldn't press further.
Hesitating for a moment, Yun Ming ultimately didn't ask about the origins of that divine consciousness.
He already had a good idea.
He knew where the Silver Dragon King came from because he had seen Di Tian at the last moment. Di Tian's deference toward the Silver Dragon King clearly indicated that she stood with the soul beasts, hiding in the shadows and plotting something.
As for the divine consciousness within Tang Wulin, it gave off a familiar feeling.
There were only a few examples of individuals ascending to godhood on the continent.
"Teacher, once I handle a few more matters, we can return to the Federation."
"No rush. Since I'm here on the Star Luo Continent, I'll stay for a while longer," Yun Ming waved his hand dismissively, his tone suggesting a desire to linger here for an extended period.
As for the situation on the continent?
"Hmph, let the news spread if it must."
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