"What was that just now, Beast God?"
Zi Ji, dressed in a flowing purple gown, approached Di Tian from behind.
"It seemed like that bloodline. A top-tier dragon bloodline, the Golden Dragon, just like our master's." Di Tian murmured, his tone tinged with awe. Legends told of the Golden Dragon and Silver Dragon clans, supreme royalty among dragons, though they had gradually vanished over the eons.
The Golden Dragon and Silver Dragon were considered the royal bloodlines of dragonkind. The Dragon God's unparalleled power had come from simultaneously inheriting the abilities of both—akin to the human concept of twin martial souls.
Currently, only the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon King were supposed to possess these supreme bloodlines.
"Could he be... the Golden Dragon King?" Zi Ji's voice dropped to a whisper, her heart pounding with disbelief.
Di Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, was rarely suppressed by any bloodline. If even he admitted such a possibility, there was little room for doubt.
"Perhaps. I don't know for sure." Di Tian shook his head, his expression clouded with confusion. Though Qian Ran's aura was weak, if the Golden Dragon King had used some means to escape the Divine Realm, his low cultivation might make sense.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have checked in with Goddess Gu Yuena."
"Ding! Host will now receive a random Supreme Artifact as a reward."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the ultimate version of the Mad God Armor. Note: The Mad God Armor has been modified to suit the host's needs. Anyone with an Angel Spirit and Angelic Power can now use it."
"The Mad God Armor? Isn't that from the Mad God universe?" Qian Ran was astonished.
The Mad God Armor was a legendary artifact crafted by the Father God himself in the Mad God universe. Its power was relative, scaling with the strength of its user.
Many worlds within the multiverse conceptualized by Tang Jia San Shao shared interconnected cosmologies. For instance, Huo Yuhao in Soul Land II once inherited the Emotions God legacy from Rong Nianbing of The Magic Chef of Ice and Fire. However, the pseudo-Supreme Artifact Seven Blades of the Seven Luminaries did not pass to Huo Yuhao; instead, he evolved his Eye of Destiny into the Supreme Artifact Eternal Eye.
The Mad God Armor far outstripped standard artifacts in utility. Even with Qian Ran's current level of cultivation, he could use it, and the armor's power would grow alongside him.
Originally, the Mad God Armor in the Mad God universe was exclusive to the Mad God and those who inherited his legacy. With the system's modifications, it was now effectively an Angel Armor.
"Supreme Artifacts are leagues beyond ordinary artifacts. If I upgrade my Golden Dragon Spear to the Dragon God Spear, and my Spirit Eye evolves into the Eternal Eye, I'd have three distinct Supreme Artifacts." Qian Ran marveled in his thoughts. He was particularly thrilled, as armor-type Supreme Artifacts were exceedingly rare and luxurious.
The Supreme Artifacts wielded by the five highest gods of the Divine Realm were all offensive tools. With a defensive artifact like the Mad God Armor, which also greatly enhanced combat capabilities, Qian Ran would enjoy an immense advantage in battle.
In the ethereal Silver Dragon Palace, the enormous dragon form of Gu Yuena transformed into a stunning young woman.
Her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, reaching all the way to her ankles. The strands shimmered with a crystalline luster, as though woven from silver light. Her violet eyes were mesmerizing, framed by long, curling lashes, and her gaze—especially when tinged with confusion—evoked a tender, protective instinct.
"You are not the Golden Dragon King. Who are you? How can you possess the Golden Dragon bloodline?"
Her violet eyes locked onto Qian Ran, scrutinizing him intently. After a long silence, disappointment flickered across Gu Yuena's face.
When she first sensed the aura of the Golden Dragon from him, she truly believed that the Golden Dragon King had used some ingenious means to escape the Divine Realm. However, a closer examination revealed that Qian Ran could not possibly be the Golden Dragon King.
"Apologies, but that is my secret. I refuse to answer."
"Oh? Do you wish to die?"
Gu Yuena's frosty gaze grew sharper, a hint of killing intent flashing within. For years, no one had dared defy her.
"Silver Dragon King, you need to understand that I am not your subordinate. We're here to propose a collaboration, nothing more." Qian Ran's tone was calm, unyielding. He was confident Gu Yuena wouldn't kill him out of mere anger. As the inheritor of the Dragon God's wisdom, she wouldn't act rashly.
"Collaboration?"
"Indeed. I hope the Silver Dragon King will help repair Xue'er's godhood. As compensation, we will assist you in obtaining the Golden Dragon King's essence in the future."
"Are you joking? You want me to expend divine power to help her?" Gu Yuena frowned. With a glance, she could discern Qian Renxue's current state. Once the Angel God, Qian Renxue's shattered godhood had reduced her to a Title Douluo's strength. If her godhood were restored, she could regain her divine power after a period of nurturing.
Wait—there was more than just the Angel God's power within Qian Renxue. Another potent force lingered. If her godhood were repaired, she would likely become far stronger than the average first-class god. Her ultimate strength would depend on how well she could harmonize and wield these two forces.
"Are you suggesting I oppose the Divine Realm? Even you must realize how impossible that is. The longer I delay, the more impossible it becomes." Qian Ran spoke with calculated patience, fully aware of Gu Yuena's desires.
Not even the Dragon God in his prime could have withstood the might of the Divine Realm's gods.
Previously, the Dragon God had many followers, but now, the Divine Realm held none of his power. The five highest gods of the Divine Realm were formidable. Although Tang San would later suppress the other four highest gods and turn the Divine Realm into his personal domain, that would only happen after resolving the Dragon God issue.
"I can help you. But how do I know I can trust you? Humans are the most despicable creatures." Gu Yuena hesitated, clearly tempted.
If soul beasts could ascend to godhood more easily, she would have already helped Di Tian and the others.
After all, who truly desires to fight alone?
Qian Renxue was indeed a promising ally. At worst, her long-standing enmity with Divine Realm Enforcer Tang San was a leverage point. The problem was whether Qian Renxue could be trusted not to betray them later.
"I require Qian Renxue to swear an oath: until I obtain the Golden Dragon King's essence, she must assist me unconditionally. Failure to comply will result in rejection by the universe's elemental forces, reducing her to a cripple. I'll teach you the incantation."
"I have no objections." Qian Renxue smiled softly, her lips parting like cherry blossoms.
For her, regaining her divine power was worth any cost. She had no intention of deceiving Gu Yuena, nor did she consider herself someone who would betray an agreement.
Repairing her godhood would demand a significant expenditure of Gu Yuena's essence power, a challenging feat. If Gu Yuena were too eager to help, Qian Renxue might even suspect ulterior motives.
Qian Ran frowned slightly but said nothing. Without such measures, earning Gu Yuena's trust would indeed be difficult. With the system's support, he wasn't worried about her playing tricks.
(End of Chapter)