Of course, "Dragon Knight" was not something he could say out loud. Some things were best kept to oneself—speaking them aloud would only ruin the charm.
"Let's skip the 'Master' thing. I'm merely the inheritor of that person's legacy. Just call me by my name—Li Chang'an."
Li Chang'an smiled as he gently helped Gu Yuena up—taking the opportunity to casually touch her skin.
"I'll call you Chang'an, then." Gu Yuena agreed as she rose gracefully. After all, Li Chang'an was only at the Spirit King level. What they truly feared was the mysterious aura lingering around his martial soul.
"Chang'an, what do you think I should do next? Should I return to the God Realm, free the Golden Dragon King, merge with him, and resurrect the Dragon God to launch a counterattack?"
Now that her strength had been restored, Gu Yuena was seriously considering this path.
However, despite her words, Gu Yuena was not fully confident. After all, even the Dragon God had once led the spirit beasts and lost. What could she possibly achieve alone now?
Seeing her hesitation, Li Chang'an smiled, sat down casually, glanced up at the silver barrier above them, and asked:
"This barrier you've set up—it prevents the God Realm from detecting anything here, right?"
"Yes. It completely blocks the God Realm's ability to observe the Star Dou Great Forest."
Without this barrier, no matter how impressive Li Chang'an's background might have been, she wouldn't have dared show herself. If her injuries had been exposed, the gods would've hunted her down without hesitation.
"In that case, let me be blunt. Yue'er—hope you don't mind me calling you that—you know what would happen if you returned to the God Realm right now, don't you?"
Unconsciously, Li Chang'an had shortened the distance between them with a more intimate nickname. Gu Yuena didn't even notice.
"The five members of the God Realm Committee would hunt me down. A fight to the death."
Her voice was as cold and distant as ever, her beautiful eyes filled with a chilling intensity.
Given how the gods were now, they would undoubtedly kill a fragment of the Dragon God like her without mercy. They hadn't forgotten the chaos the Dragon God once brought to their realm. The last thing they wanted was for him to return.
"That's why I think you should remain in hiding. Preserve your strength—and wait for the right opportunity."
Li Chang'an's tone turned deep and serious.
"What opportunity?" Di Tian asked from the side, clearly confused.
"A Divine War. A war of the gods."
Li Chang'an replied with weight in his voice.
"Divine… war?" Gu Yuena repeated his words, waiting for him to explain.
She couldn't imagine what kind of scenario would lead to such a conflict, nor why it mattered to her.
"In fifteen years. Within fifteen years, a war between the gods will break out. That will be our chance."
Li Chang'an seemed lost in thought as he spoke.
He couldn't deny it—the most intense, chaotic clash of gods on the Douluo Continent had occurred in the final battle of Douluo I. That war reshaped the God Realm. It was then that Tang San began to truly take control.
And Li Chang'an… was waiting for that very moment. It would be the only chance for him to participate in the reshuffling of the gods. The only time he could flip the table and reshape the God Realm.
"You said… we?" Gu Yuena clearly picked up on the implication. Was he planning to get involved too? Whose side was he on?
"Yes, we. I'll be participating too. We'll be allies in that battle. I have my own reasons—reasons that won't let me stay out of it."
Li Chang'an smiled warmly. His handsome face was gentle and resolute.
Because if he didn't join that war—what would happen to his teacher? What about Qian Renxue? Or Hu Liena?
Right now, taking down Tang San was impossible. The gods above simply wouldn't allow it. So he would face Tang San head-on in that divine war—and protect the people he cared about.
Besides, with the deterrent force of the Pangu Axe behind him, there were many things the God Realm couldn't stop him from doing. And that was enough.
Gu Yuena, her fair and coldly beautiful face, stared deeply at Li Chang'an for a long moment—then nodded.
"Alright. I believe you. Fifteen years it is. That gives me time to fully adapt to my peak strength."
Li Chang'an was thrilled. She bought it. One more trump card to use against the God Realm!
In truth, Gu Yuena's agreement was the result of careful consideration. Whether it was the mysterious aura of his martial soul, the Origin Fruit he'd given her, or his claim to be the Dragon God's inheritor—it all marked him as extraordinary.
Moreover, she was well aware of their current strength—or lack thereof. Talk of storming the God Realm was just wishful thinking. She needed an opportunity—and if waiting for Li Chang'an's so-called "chance" gave her one, she would take it.
With everything settled, Gu Yuena ordered Di Tian and the other spirit beasts back to the Lake of Life to continue absorbing the Skydream Ice worm's energy. Xiao Wu went off to play with Er Ming. Only Li Chang'an and Gu Yuena remained where they stood.
Gu Yuena's long silver hair floated gently in the breeze. Having recovered her origin power, her aura and beauty had only become more extraordinary. Standing there, she seemed almost unreal to Li Chang'an—like a figure straight out of a painting.
And this only strengthened his resolve—to become a Dragon Knight.
"What is it, Yue'er? Is there something else?"
Li Chang'an wasn't clueless. Gu Yuena had clearly dismissed everyone else on purpose. She must have something to say.
She nodded, then, uncaring of the mud beneath her, sat down cross-legged across from him, her movements exuding a soft, elegant charm.
"I don't really understand why you gave me something so precious, but… thank you."
Her voice had lost its usual coldness and became softer. With that perfect face and her silver hair flowing behind her, she looked almost like the girl-next-door.
"From now on, whatever you ask of me—I will say yes."
Li Chang'an blinked, then suddenly asked with uncharacteristic seriousness:
"Then let's base our relationship on 'simple words, deep paths'."
"Alright." Gu Yuena nodded—but then paused.
"Wait… what does that mean?"
Li Chang'an chuckled inwardly. 'You might not understand now, but you'll get it eventually.'
Out loud, he calmly replied:
"'Simple words' means we speak less. 'Deep paths' means we share and explore each other's Dao—our truths, our cultivation, our destinies—until yours can intertwine with mine."
Gu Yuena paused, blinking in slight confusion. Why is it just my Dao connecting to his? Shouldn't it be both of ours? But she didn't question it. Maybe Li Chang'an had just misspoken.
Or maybe… she'd understand it later.
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T/N:
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