Quest Maker: 425

Title: The Dragon Within

“Xie Yue! What is that?” A group of girls crowd the boy between their lessons as he glances at the sky, noticing a dreadful vortex brewing above them. Others in their class feel nostalgic as one of the boys gasps, “Isn’t it like the time when Sage God saved us from Sea God?”

Others nod in agreement as Xie Yue thins his lips. He didn’t know what was happening, but the mood back home had been tense the last few days. Even Sister Wu doesn’t have time to play as she spends her time in her room, meditating or sparring with others, getting used to her human form, and learning better ways to utilize her Spirit Skills under Aunty Bibi and Grandpa’s teaching. Aunty Bei is the same. Surprisingly, even Linda trains a lot! So, instead of feeling left out, Xie Yue listened to his father’s words and trained. Sure, he doesn’t have a spirit ring yet. He can get one, but his mother and Uncle Sun are oddly insistent about training his body and mind.

So, he finds himself under Big Sister Violet’s care. But it’s rather painful. Whatever Sister Violet does, it feels like someone is stabbing pins in his head. He cried the first few times, but his mother and father didn’t spare him a glance or console him. They were near him those few times, of course. But they were busy jotting something and conversing to themselves. Xie Yue knew then that pain under their collective guidance was the last thing his parents would bat an eye on. So, Xie Yue stopped crying. It’s actually embarrassing if there isn’t anyone to console him! He would rather suck it up like a man than whine!

And that’s where he is, training his mind and body. His teachers would say something about him not getting a Spirit Ring, with a few students already making their way to the middle stages of the Spirit Master realm with their first Spirit Ring if not for what his household represents.

“Mom told me it’s going to be a little disturbing,” Xie Yue mutters before returning to his position. It’s great they don’t have to spend time inside their classrooms studying about plants. Not only would it be hard to concentrate, but he has enough theory lessons back home. Seriously, who gives his mother those stacks of notes?

Aunty Bibi? Maybe Aunt Yuehua?

---

Sea Lance City.

“Oh?” Qian Daoliu looks up at the sky while deep frying his specialty within his stall. His gaze only lingers on the scene for a few seconds before he lowers the heat and calmly leans back in his seat.

‘I wish I could help, but there isn’t any required. All I can do is help out with simple things~, like making notes and letting Bibi focus on the more meaningful training programs for Wu and others. They definitely grew by leaps and bounds now that they train appropriately.’

The first team has built teamwork and practices that let them make the best use of each other. So, Bibi Dong decided the same for Xiao Wu, Bei, Bi Ji, Bing Bing, Snow, Ja Yin, Violet, and Xiao Bai. Lan Ruo, Saixi, and Zi Ji insist on avoiding falling under Bibi’s control. Sure, Daoliu and Bibi Dong heard about their thoughts on what Ja Sun planned. Maybe making the team is a fruitless endeavor in the long run for most, but Bibi Dong believed in using everything she could. She wouldn’t make such efforts for outsiders. And even if the next team doesn’t work out, Bibi Dong believes others would still benefit.

“Oh, well. I wonder if Yue’er is grateful for the energy I spend to draft notes for him. It will be helpful to others in the long run, too.”

---

“We have interesting company,” Ah-Yin glances at the vortex, narrowing her eyes. “Am I the only one who feels something behind that ‘curtain?’”

“They feel somewhat like Rakshasa,” Bibi Dong sighs softly, presiding over the situation as a massive array hovers above the Yin-Yang Well.

“Uwaah! It’s so scary!” A fearful voice bursts within Ah-Yin as the Blue Silver Goddess hears Yin-Yang Petals. “Why do I have to be around so many scary things?! And are you sure Ja Sun wouldn’t destroy the pond?”

“It’s too valuable to destroy,” Yin smiles, consoling her Spirit Soul. “Don’t worry. He won’t bet with his earnings.”

“I suppose THOSE beings are here because it’s equally intriguing to them,” Bibi Dong smiles. “I can’t believe that while we are trying to reach the top, he is about to ‘reconstruct’ himself to accommodate even more power. It would be disgusting if I were his enemy.”

Ah-Yin glances over at Bibi Dong.

“Yes?” The latter inquires as Yin’s gaze rests on Dong’s slightly more curvaceous body before huffing. “Something tells me he wouldn’t have let you remain his enemy for long.”

Bibi Dong rolls her eyes, “No wonder Ja Sun said you’re more devious. Your mind’s filled with weird stuff even at such a crucial moment. It’s only right you were the one who made that joke.”

“He told you?!” Yin’s eyes widen.

“I paid a good price for that information,” Bibi Dong grins.

“Tch.”

---

Ja Sun looks at the vortex, surrounded by different arrays, “Do you think we will invoke a tribulation worth destroying the planet alongside us if I get greedier and try to attain all the power without giving anything up?”

“It will end in an instant,” Gu Yuena eases her breathing as she sits cross-legged opposite him. “The Heavenly Presence is ‘viscous’ enough to fracture the Divine Realm above the mortal one. As opposed to its intent when a Spirit Beast evolves, an actual descent of Heaven will vaporize everything. I suppose it will be painless.” She opens her eyes, allowing a goading smile over her pink lips. “Would you like to do just that?”

Ja Sun and Gu Yuena are one of the few beings who can look beyond the curtain when it thins as such. He feels multiple Divine Intents settling on them. But these Divine Intentions cannot pass the curtain of the mortal realm to interact with the mortals without facing a just price from the Heavenly Laws.

“What is it?” Yuena inquires as he shakes his head. “I just felt my goals falter.” He remarks bluntly. “For a moment, I wanted to give it all up and relax with Liang and Baihe.” Arrays and runes begin glowing around him. The runes to exchange his life to accommodate another Martial Soul is Yuena’s ingenuity. She spent years perfecting the Array before Ja Sun tweaked it slightly to utilize it with the Destiny Defiance Array and make the process easier.

“But I also remember why I’m doing all of it.”

“For your family?” Yuena smirks.

Ja Sun chuckles without replying. “Sure, that’s one of the two reasons. Ah,” he exhales heartily. “What peace can do someone, huh? Are you ready? Consider this a professional courtesy from someone who respects a brilliant mind.” His third eye snaps open, revealing an intense look as arrays shine brightly. “You have a choice to merge with neither I nor the Golden Dragon. You would go down as your own being. But unlike the Golden Dragon, if you go through with me, you won’t fade away—but you WILL be mine.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I would think it’s a Sexual gesture,” Yuena smiles. “Unfortunately, I do know you. I hope you have enough life to sacrifice to make me yours.”

“Oh, I do,” Ja Sun claps his hands together as anyone outside the array save for the spectating Gods close their eyes due to the sheer Divine Intent and Energy emerging from the Array. They need a catalyst to ensure Ja Sun can ‘consume’ a Divine Monster, and the reserve of Soul Origin inside the Island’s Core isn’t enough! No. Yuena’s Silver Spear appears between them before cracking apart. The spear contained every bit of Yuena’s Immortal Qi before it could escape her being once she fell from the Divine Realm. She planned to use the Spear for other things, but such is the fate of a loser. Her resources are for him to utilize.

“Your hand,” she hears him speak. The back of her ‘paw’ lands atop his open palm as he mutters, “Well, I’ve had my fun. But the girls will put me through a wringer for every prank after we get out.”

“Speak for yourself, Otherworldly Traveller,” Yuena chuckles. “I will emerge from this more powerful than ever and free from my connection with the fallen Dragon God.”

“I bet I could take you out even in my weakened state.”

“You did that quite a lot, giving others a handicap while defeating them. Sure, I accept the challenge.”

“As if I will actually fight. I stand to earn nothing.”

“Is my respect not enough?”

“No.” Ja Sun replies unhesitatingly.

---

“So,” Angel sneers. “This is how humans reciprocate our kindness.”

The group of Gods neared their entire roster since they were interested to see someone with three Martial Souls getting born. Angel played the host for these First and Second Rate Divine Beings. Golden Clouds decorate the vivid blue sky of her dimension as everyone rests atop a massive Golden Cloud. There is no land in her Dimension or lakes. The clouds themselves are made from True Sun Flames, fashioned into fluffy clouds, demonstrating her skills.

“And how is your pathetic excuse of ‘Divine Forge’ going? I hear you have yet to construct another Divine Weapon.”

Poseidon’s eyes twitch as he snorts in reply, refraining from divulging any information that would give others an edge over his rapidly completing Divine Weapon. Unlike at the early stages of Mortal Realm, once one hits Rank 70, one will find that Tool-Type Martial Souls have an edge over Animal-Type Martial Souls. Maybe it is due to the innate advantage of humanity over the beasts. Such an advantage carries on as one’s Tool-Type Martial Soul transforms into a Divine Weapon the second one crosses over. It doesn’t mean the Gods’ Martial Soul separates from them. No. They have their martial souls enhanced like the Beast-Type Gods AND have a Divine Weapon. That is why Divine Entities like Poseidon, Angel, and Asura did not mind leaving such an inheritance behind for their descendants with the ploy of garnering faith. Now? Sage Island’s Faith filters through Ja Sun, and the rest worship Qian Xunji.

The cost of creating a Divine Weapon from scratch is quite hefty, and the Gods who left such inheritance in their home planets did not mind forking out the expenses once. Angel has a new Divine Weapon—and so did Poseidon until he sacrificed it for an Avatar Tribulation. Creating another Divine Weapon without a massive pool of Immortal Qi, like the fallen Silver Dragon King, is bound to dent the ‘Barbarian’s’ reserves of Faith and Qi, not to mention acquiring Divine Material to mitigate such losses.

While the First and Second Rate Gods continued to converse amongst themselves, the God Kings continued their private conversation.

“I worry that the Golden Dragon King might attempt to break his seal once he senses Gu Yuena’s decision,” Goddess of Life frowns with the usual kindness in her green eyes as she glances at Asura. “We must fortify the seal.”

“It’s fine,” God of Evil chuckles. “We did all we could during the war. Fortifying the seal itself may allow ‘Goldie’ to understand how seals work. Just look at his ‘Sister.’ That array invokes the Heavenly Law of Causality by exchanging life for going beyond the world’s limit. Imagine that—negotiating with Heaven. What do you think, Hui?”

“Don’t refer to me with such familiarity,” God of Destruction snorts. “And there is a sense in remaining cautious of the Golden Dragon King. We understand his brute strength and mind, but his remaining capabilities are not privy to us.”

“And these are the times where there are plenty of defiers,” Goddess of Kindness narrows her eyes. “I can’t believe someone is willing to have children with Spirit Beasts.”

“It’s an apt case of attractive personality,” God of Evil shrugs. “Those women do have LARGE personalities.” His chuckle earns him glares from the two Goddesses as he glances at Asura. “But I have a doubt. Asura, why are those Spatial tears still not closed? First, the Beast Sage, and now the kid in those Hammer-wielding brutes—how many otherworldly travelers do we need before you let up?”

“Those tears are necessary,” Asura replies calmly. “As long as we remain free of those warlocks, we are fine. If we close the realm, it will eventually implode on itself because of the state the war left us in. It’ll be ages before the Realm heals completely.”

“Oh,” the curious noise from the Goddess of Kindness attracts the remaining God King’s attention onto the mortal realm as they watch feel the Heavenly Intent descend and ‘snatch’ something from Ja Sun before allowing Gu Yuena’s being to turn into motes of resplendent silver glow.”

*Drrr*

The Divine Realm trembles alongside this border space as other Gods flinch. The brutal presence of a Divine Dragon shocks them before the Goddess of Kindness sends word to calm them.

“So, it’s starting,” Hui Mie sighs. “As the Realm healed, it would have alleviated the Mortal Realm to a higher quality, allowing others to reach Godhood without becoming genuine articles. But I smell the shift of era.”

“There will be conflict,” Asura mutters as he glances at the spectating Blood God. “Some people are too determined and ambitious for their own good.”

“Like us,” God of Evil snickers. “Besides, we are the ones who thought of favoring humans. Sure. Without our interference, the Heavenly Trend would prefer the beasts, but it would leave multiple paths for humanity. After all, Spirit Beasts ‘Provide’ to nature while Humans know only to take. And now? Heaven might favor the Beast’s ‘True’ Empress, lending a hand to the human with the power to tend to Equality itself. Truly,” he sighs. “What is Poseidon thinking still bearing a grudge?”

“To each their own,” Hue Mie closes his eyes.

***

Alternate Title: Xie Yue Really Having His Harem Arc; Growing Up From A Kid; Xie Yue Realizing Tears Won’t Work On His Mother Anymore; Adversaries Do Make a Man; Training Galore; Bibi Dong’s Back; Who The Hell Write These Notes!; Qian Daoliu: I Wonder If I Can Be More Efficient By Learning To Write With Both Hands; The Eye of Vortex; Divine Presence; Devouring Dragon; The Interfered Trend; Angel’s Space; Spent Resources; The Trembling Golden Dragon; The Era of Defiers; Dem Gals Do Have Large Personalities; Ja Sun Is Cool As Long As It’s Human Enough