Risky Approach

Since Shui Meiyin knew that a confrontation with Aerion would only result in certain defeat, she decided to start with a soul battle, her greatest strength.

"Big Brother Aerion's soul is extremely pure... which is why it's so easy to enter."

Pure soul? Yes, this King's soul is as pure as they come.

Aerion nodded.

"That isn't the best thing, if only you were more of a devil, this would never happen. But this means that she is running straight into my trap which leads to the completion of my masterplan, kekeke. You need not worry."

Aerion closed his eyes and entered his inner world.

"Are you going to crush her with brute force?" Aerion inquired

"Hmm, that's an uncivilized approach, unworthy of a magnanimous God like myself. There are better ways... I'll just send a few memories her way."

"What memories are we talking about, exactly? After all, there are some I'd rather not share."

"No, no, it'll be one of those profound beast slaughters. She'll be terrified of you after that and you'll win this soul battle easily."

"But won't her image of me worsen? She'll think less of me after this."

"Eh, why do you care about how some fifteen-year-old views you? Could it be that... alright, I'll use something else. She won't think less of you, I swear on my honour as an Ancestral God. She's piercing through all of the defences rather swiftly so I must act now rather than later!"

Aerion nodded. "I leave it to you then."

Although he said that he'd leave it to him, he still paid special attention and observed every move. Aerion was rather confused when Rotias did absolutely nothing to defend his mind. He welcomed Shui Meiyin right in.

"What are you doing? At this point, she'll know everything about me." Aerion frowned.

"Shh, little dragon, this is all part of the Masterplan! Since you left this sacred duty to me, then I won't fail you."

Rotias made a few old memories resurface.

The Long Night... Daenerys, Margaery and Izanami all at once...

"Ah~~~~~~~~" Shui Meiyin let out a scream the moment she saw what he saw.

Aerion then realised what Rotias had just done. A few drops of sweat dripped down his forehead... he had indirectly tainted Shui Meiyin! Although it was Rotias' doing, he was the one who was going to bear all the blame!

The Great Realm King of the Glazed Light Realm is going to slaughter me... and rightfully so...

"This was part of your masterplan!?"

"Can't an Ancestral God have his fun once in a while?"

"Bastard..."

"Relax, it's checkmate, she definitely lost. I spared you the effort of using any of your souls. In actuality, it was Meiyin who decided to see those memories so it isn't either of our faults."

"If this results in some troubles in the future..."

"No, I would never intentionally harm you since I reside in your body and you bear my hopes of a glorious return. It isn't hard to understand how some women work after millions of years observing them... this event will benefit you, I'm almost certain."

Suddenly, Shui Meiyin's soul invasion completely crumbled under the might of Rotias' troops. They effortlessly dragged her out of his soul world and he was free once more. However, his inner world remained an empty void as usual. He wondered why...

Am I truly this dark on the inside? That can't be right...

"It might just be that the fire hasn't been lit yet, you are still restrained by your morals. Wrath, ambition and ruthlessness... you have all these things but it's not potent enough to make a difference. Your true potential cannot be realised unless your entire being burns with fire. That's only what I believe, so it isn't necessarily true."

Hmph, it matters not. I have slightly more important troubles to deal with currently.

He opened his eyes.

"Y-you..."

Aerion sighed. "Forgive me, Lady Meiyin."

Within a single moment, he closed the distance between them and knocked her unconscious. One would expect the victor of a Conferred Gods Group battle to be exhilarated or at the very least satisfied with the result, but Aerion's face was slightly pale as he wasn't proud of what had occurred.

"Shui Meiyin has entered a state of consciousness and so, she will join the Losers Group. Aerion Targaryen wins, he will proceed to the next round of the Conferred Gods Group." Qu Hui announced.

Aerion swiftly walked away from the Conferred God Stage and avoided every single person in his path. He needed some time to reflect on his actions, no Rotias' actions... and how he should proceed after this. He fell into his bed and sighed once again.

Did you have to do that, Rotias?

"Don't put much thought into it, it'll all play out just fine."

...

I've survived through countless trials and tribulations, what's one Glazed Light Realm to me? In the end, all star realms will be under my banner.

"You're thinking of it the wrong way. I simply made Meiyin like you just that bit more... now you have another future wife! You remember what your dear friend told you, right? An Emperor should have as many as he wants."

So you're saying it will have a positive effect instead of a negative one? That is hard to believe.

"Hmph, you'll see."

Aerion didn't dwell on it for too long, so he left his room and decided to get some fresh air. His entire time in the Eternal Heaven Realm was spent competing in the Profound God Convention and nothing else. He had a badge which let him explore the Realm freely so it would be a waste to not make use of it.

However, he didn't go far before he felt something strange.

Am I being followed, Rotias?

"Mhm, by a beautiful lass, no less."

Aerion turned around and looked everywhere but he could not see this beautiful lass.

Are you playing with me?

"No, she's just extremely good at hiding. With your eyes, you should be able to see her if you wanted to."

Aerion flew towards a location which was rather empty and far from the Conferred God Stage, where most of the people were concentrated at this time.

Am I still being followed?

"Yes, you are."

This lass is relentless... I suppose she has earned a surprise.

Rinnegan.

He turned around and looked upwards. "You are not invisible to me... Brahma Monarch Goddess."

The Brahma Monarch Goddess? Am I eyes deceiving me? A Peak Divine Master, so she's not someone I should offend but I'm the one being offended currently... why me, of all people? Stalking a Snow Song Realm disciple should be beneath her.

But... maybe, I can use this event to my advantage!

Even if I intend to kill her father, Qianye Fantian, that doesn't mean I can turn down an opportunity to have a connection with the Brahma Monarch God Realm. It is the strongest King Realm in the Eastern Divine Region, after all. Conquering it first would make things easier.

"So you can see me... but only with those eyes, how interesting."

"May I ask why you're following me?" Aerion smiled. "It can't be because I charmed you with my most striking appearance, can it? Honestly, I wouldn't mind having the beautiful Brahma Monarch Goddess as my wife."

"You are not worthy, hmph."

"Are you sure about that?" Aerion smiled once more. "Perhaps, I am unworthy now. But, after a few years, you might just be unworthy of this Emperor."

"What makes you think that? There isn't a single man who is worthy of me... yet I'll be unworthy of you?"

I have to get her interested... this is risky but with great risks, comes a great reward! Besides, would she reveal this secret to the public? Other people would have their eyes on me, after all. And if she decides to do something devious, I have the ultimate teleportation device at my side.

Hmph, this King fears nothing!

"I'm the heavenly genius who triggered the eleven rounds of tribulation lightning... do you know what that means? My potential is limitless and far surpasses the ceiling of the True God Realm!"

The Brahma Monarch God Realm is known for its ambition and obsession with cultivation, the Brahma Monarch Goddess shouldn't stray too far from those core beliefs as she is the successor to the Brahma Heaven God Emperor.

"Is that so?"

Aerion felt her golden eyes narrow in on his own. Both her tone and glare were rather cold and unsettling but he shrugged it off.

"Whether you choose to believe me or not is, in the end, your decision. Although, if you fail to make the correct decision, you may find yourself in a pit of deep regret in the future when the people around me reach the higher realms of cultivation alongside with this Emperor. In that scenario, you would remain chained to the Divine Master Realm... how unfortunate."

At that moment, he felt the pressure of a Divine Master. Aerion used Kamui to negate the attack. He entered that visible state and so, was unaffected by anything happening in the Eternal Heaven Realm.

"Hmm?" The Brahma Monarch Goddess took a closer look at Aerion. He still stood as tall as ever, proud and unfazed by her pressure. It was as if the pressure didn't exist in the first place.

"I suppose that you need some sort of proof before fully trusting my words, I would expect no less of you. No matter what you try or do, everything will go straight through me. It is an ability the Heavens themselves granted me after surviving the eleventh round of tribulation lightning... and this..."

A wonderful lie, but it might work.

Kamui.

Aerion looked at her hand and attempted to damage it through the use of Kamui. It worked, slightly. A small cut appeared on her hand... even Aerion was slightly surprised that he was able to wound a Peak Divine Master, even if it was practically nothing to her.

"You can damage me as an early-stage Divine King?" The Brahma Monarch Goddess couldn't believe it, such a thing was absurd.

"Yes, I can. There's more proof if you need it."

"Go on."

...

Am I showing off too much? Damn it, it's all or nothing at this point... I've come this far so I won't back away! This King fears nothing.

Aerion started to fuse the Phoenix Flames and the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon into the Ice Flame.

Qianye Ying'er's eyes widened with every moment as Aerion came closer and closer to perfectly putting the two together. His eyes were closed as he placed all of his concentration into the fusion. After several minutes, he finally opened his eyes as the perfect Ice Flame emerged from his hands.

"By showing me all this... what did you want?"

"The protection of the Brahma Monarch God Realm along with a beautiful wife, of course. Am I not up to your standard?"

The Brahma Monarch Goddess smiled. "I'll settle this matter with my Royal Father... we will meet again soon enough."

And so, she disappeared from his sight.

"She is an extremely dangerous person, Aerion... are you sure about this?" Rotias seemed slightly hesitant.

This arrangement will come to my benefit and besides, I can see that she has already taken a liking to me.

"Hmm, do you know that the person Jasmine hates most is this exact Brahma Monarch Goddess?"

Huh, are you serious!?

"Yes... I am."

Hmph, this doesn't change my plans. My ambition cannot be stopped by anything, nevermind some petty feud!

"This... this I like." Rotias approvingly nodded. "Yes, this is how a true conqueror should act."

Aerion absorbed the Ice Flame and returned to the Conferred God Stage. Robb's match should be starting soon and he didn't want to miss it.