Bi Ji led Zhongli and Chen Xin through the lush, ancient trails of the Star Dou Great Forest, the air shimmering with spiritual energy. Eventually, the trees parted, revealing a wide expanse of clear water that sparkled under the celestial light—the Lake of Life.
Chen Xin's eyes widened in awe. The air here was different—thicker with life, purer, deeper, and teeming with spiritual presence.
All around the lake, soul beasts of immense age and power emerged from the forest: elegant deer with crystalline antlers, titanic serpents coiled in the shadows, and towering apes with golden fur. Many lowered their heads respectfully as Bi Ji passed.
Chen Xin could feel their strength—they were not ordinary beasts. They were ancient… terrifyingly so.
Then he saw them.
Xiong Jun, the 460,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, radiating primal aggression;
Scarlet King, the Three-Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff, his red mane glowing like flame. Whose eyes burned with brutal intelligence.
A chill ran down Chen Xin's spine. His instincts screamed danger, but none of them made a move against Zhongli. In fact… they all seemed to respect him—fear him.
His curiosity burned. "Master… what is your connection to these soul beasts? And why has no one ever heard of soul beasts over 100,000 years?"
Zhongli gave a faint smile, filled with centuries of knowing."Let's just say… my connection with soul beasts is complicated."
As they walked beside the lake, Zhongli shared there history—of the hidden clans of soul beasts, the wars with gods and pacts that shaped the continent, and his own presence in the deepest wilds of the forest. He revealed how few humans had ever dared to step into the core regions—not even Titled Douluo could endure the pressure of the Great Beasts.
"That's why," Zhongli added, "information about them is limited. Only groups like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or Spirit Hall possess partial knowledge."
He glanced at Chen Xin.
"You see, even Spirit Hall's law against overhunting soul beasts has its reasons. Overhunting throws off the balance of nature… and worse, it draws the wrath of beings from the center of this forest. Beings the world is not ready to face."
Chen Xin absorbed every word, though a bitter note remained in his heart. He still resented Qian Daoliu for killing his father… yet he couldn't deny that Spirit Hall's decisions weren't entirely blind.
Then he remembered something—a moment that had changed his life.
Flashback:
That day, beneath a moonlit sky, Zhongli had asked,"Would you like to see your parents again?"
Chen Xin froze. He felt like he had misheard.
"M-Master… are you really saying you can bring them back?"
Zhongli nodded calmly.
Excitement filled Chen Xin's heart—a lifetime of grief and loss suddenly replaced with hope.
But as Zhongli began the resurrection ritual, he paused.
There was… resistance. He could easily forcefully resurrect them.
Curious, he summoned the soul of Chen Jianjun instead.
From the mist emerged a spectral figure—tall, calm, with long silver hair and a faint stubble. He looked like an older version of Chen Xin.
"Son…" the figure said softly.
"Father!" Chen Xin cried, rushing forward—but his arms passed through the spirit.
A pang of sadness hit his heart, but his father gently placed a ghostly hand on his head—soothing him with a gesture of love that transcended life and death.
Chen Xin told him everything—his training, Zhongli, his dreams.
Chen Jianjun listened with pride, tears glistening in his spectral eyes. Then, he turned to Zhongli and bowed low."Thank you… for taking my son as your disciple."
Zhongli nodded, but asked,"You're resisting the resurrection. Why?"
Chen Jianjun smiled sadly."My wife and I have been watching over our son from the other side. I knew you would bring us back… but I wanted Chen Xin to have a goal. Something to strive for. If we return too soon, I feared he would lose his edge."
Chen Xin stood stunned at his father's words.
Zhongli, however, replied with calm certainty,
"You need not worry. He will become a god—resurrection or not."
Chen Jianjun's eyes widened. He looked at Zhongli not as a man, but as something far greater—a divine figure walking among mortals.
Finally, the ritual completed, and Chen Jianjun and his wife returned to life.
They chose to live quietly in a small village, away from the chaos of Spirit Hall and empires.
Chen Jianjun taught swordsmanship to children, while his wife tended to the village with kindness.
Meanwhile, Chen Xin trained harder than ever—not just to become stronger, but to prove worthy of the one who guided him… and the ones who now lived again because of that guidance.
From that moment on, his dream was no longer revenge… but divinity.
Flashback End
As they arrived at the heart of the Lake of Life, Zhongli's gaze settled on the figures already waiting for him.
Standing at the center were Di Tian and Gu Yuena, their presences as calm and commanding as ever. But beside them were others—beings even older, even more powerful.
The Dragon God, still radiant with divine might, stood at the forefront. Beside him stood two beings whose aura resonated with immense ancient energy: the Darkness Dragon King and the Light Dragon King—both once lost to history, now restored.
Zhongli's gaze softened slightly as his eyes moved to the side.
There, standing quietly, were two female figures he instantly recognized.
Akari, daughter of the Space Dragon King, and beside her, her own daughter, Tomoe. Both wore calm expressions, but their eyes held awe—and a subtle tremble of restrained emotion.
They had already heard the truth.
The Dragon God had told them everything—the history of the Dragon Clan's fall, Zhongli's role in resurrecting the lost Dragon Kings, and the possibility that even their own lost kin might yet return.
To them, seeing the Darkness and Light Dragon Kings alive again was more than just a miracle—it was a message of hope.
Chen Xin stood silently behind Zhongli, but curiosity tugged at his heart. He leaned toward Bi Ji and whispered,
"Who are they?"
Bi Ji smiled gently and explained everything—the identities of the divine dragons, the history of the Dragon God's descendants, and the legacy Zhongli now walked among.
The more Chen Xin listened, the more he began to truly understand:
His teacher wasn't merely strong. He was a figure interwoven with myth and creation itself.
And if Zhongli said Chen Xin could become a god, perhaps… it wasn't just praise. It was destiny.
The Dragon God gestured toward the two female dragons and spoke with warmth,
"This is Akari, daughter of the Space Dragon King. And with her is her daughter, Tomoe. I summoned all surviving descendants of the Dragon Kings for this meeting."
Zhongli nodded calmly.
At that moment, Akari and Tomoe stepped forward, dropping to one knee with synchronized grace.
"Your Highness," they said in unison, bowing their heads in reverence.
Zhongli raised a hand, his voice calm but commanding."There is no need to kneel. And you may address me plainly."
Their wariness didn't fade completely—after all, Zhongli now stood above even the Dragon God in their eyes. But a nod from the Dragon God reassured them. They rose to their feet, still unsure how to express their hopes aloud.
But Zhongli saw through them. His voice was gentle."I already know what you desire. And yes—it is possible."
Akari's breath caught in her throat. Tomoe's eyes widened in disbelief, then slowly brimmed with quiet joy.
Around them, the Dragon Clan members shared soft smiles. They knew what this meant. Akari and Tomoe had waited eons for a chance to see their father and grandfather again. And now, the impossible had become real.
Then, Gu Yuena stepped forward, breaking the silence."We are expecting leaders of several soul beast clans to arrive shortly—Snake, Plant, and Ice."
Zhongli nodded in acknowledgment.
Di Tian added, his tone respectful but tinged with concern,"My Lord, there is one issue I must raise."
Zhongli turned toward him. "Go on."
Di Tian continued,"It concerns the Spider Spirit Beast Clan. Their leader… she is known as the Black Spider of Calamity. After reaching 700,000 years of cultivation, her breakthrough came with a cursed mutation. It drove her mad—filled with endless hunger. She devoured all in her path, unable to control herself."
He paused briefly."I sealed her away with my own power. But the seal is weakening. She is beginning to awaken again."
Zhongli didn't waver. His answer came without hesitation."I will help her regain her mind."
Bi Ji, Di Tian, and the others were relieved by his words. The Spider Clan, though feared, had always mourned their leader's descent into madness. And now, with Zhongli's promise, there was hope that she might return—not as a beast of destruction, but as their sovereign once more.
Deep in the forest, the Spider Clan, listening through their envoys, felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Their Lady had not been forgotten.
As the crowd gathered near the Lake of Life, Zhongli extended both hands, ethereal flames flickering upon his palms—not scorching, but cool, ghostly, and filled with divine resonance.
Without a word, he cast the flames into the ground. The earth shimmered and rippled like water, and from within that supernatural vortex, three radiant silhouettes began to emerge.
First to rise was a tall figure with shoulder-length purple hair and piercing amber eyes. His aura shimmered with the fabric of cosmic vastness, the space between stars condensed into form.
"Tsukito, the Space Dragon King,"Bi ji whispered softly, awe returning to her voice.
Next, beside him appeared a composed figure with burgundy hair, braided along the right, and deep, reflective green eyes. A faint shackle hung from his left ear, softly glowing—a lingering remnant of imprisonment long past.
"Thyrsos, the Time Dragon King," murmured Di Tian.
Finally, with a burst of golden energy and flowing heat, a third figure erupted from the flames. Towering and muscular, with wavy blonde hair cascading below his shoulders and striking blue eyes, he radiated youthful might and legacy.
"That must be…" Chen Xin began.
"Nova," Zhongli finished. "Son of Thyrsos. The Flame of Time."
As the three fully stepped into the present, the surrounding dragons felt a collective pull in their hearts. These were not merely ancient kings—they were comrades, legends, and kin thought lost forever.
Akari, upon seeing Tsukito, could not hold back.
"Father…" she whispered, voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.
Beside her, Tomoe silently clutched her hand, overwhelmed by emotion, unable to speak.
Eruhaben, Dragon God explained everything to the three resurrected individuals. They were in shock and awe.
As Tsukito's eyes softened, and he stepped forward slowly, lifting a hand toward Akari and resting it against her cheek, a warm and familiar gesture.
"You've grown strong, Akari. You've endured much. I'm proud."
Tomoe stepped forward hesitantly.
"Grandfather…?"
Tsukito knelt slightly, placing a gentle hand on her head."And you are his legacy. I will never leave again."
Nova, seeing the family reunite, turned his gaze to the others, then toward Thyrsos.
The Dragon Prince, Roan, approached and stood before Thyrsos. For a moment, silence passed between them—then Roan clasped his arm, firm and brotherly.
"It's good to see you again, Thyrsos. We all know… none of what happened was your fault."
Thyrsos gave a rare smile, replying,
"Thank you, Roan. I never doubted your heart."
The Dragon God, Eruhben, nodded in approval, his expression unreadable but content. Around them, Albis and Apollon, the Dragon Kings of Darkness and Light, gave small bows of respect and relief.
Zhongli watched the moment quietly, as if giving space to what needed to happen.