Chapter 334: The Era of the Douluo God Realm – Part 24: Merging with the Dao
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The Heavenly Dao is omnipresent, yet nowhere to be found.
This was how the concept of the Heavenly Dao was described.
Upon reflection, it perfectly aligned with the nature of the Plane Consciousness. In a sense, the World Consciousness was equivalent to the Heavenly Dao, as it influenced every aspect of Douluo Star's operation.
Moreover, from their previous conversation, it seemed that the Dragon God had also been nurtured by the World Consciousness.
Though Ye Wen had inherited the position of the Sea God—a first-tier god—he had ascended step by step from the level of a divine official, so he fully understood the challenges involved.
In the era of the Dragon God, life was primitive and brutal—described best as "eating raw meat and drinking blood." For a being of God King-level strength to emerge in such an environment was highly illogical.
However, if the Dragon God's identity were that of the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao, it would make much more sense. Unfortunately, the once-naïve Plane Consciousness hadn't anticipated that the Dragon God would betray it, leading to a situation where the tail grew too big to control. The Dragon God ruthlessly exploited the planet, leaving the Plane Consciousness severely drained and wounded.
What a tragic story -_-||
After pondering the role of the Plane Consciousness for a while, Ye Wen suddenly became curious about the unique relationship between Snow Empress and the Plane Consciousness. If the two were to merge into one, what would the result be? Would Douluo Star give birth to a Sage of the Heavenly Dao?
Thus, Ye Wen asked curiously, "Snow Empress, if you were to merge with the Plane Consciousness, what changes would occur to you?"
Ye Wen's question clearly touched upon a blind spot in Snow Empress's knowledge. Her gaze grew hazy for a moment before she fell into a daze, but she quickly regained her clarity.
"According to the Plane Consciousness, I would become completely bound to Douluo Star, and my cultivation would forcibly ascend to the God King realm."
This was indeed similar to the state of a Sage of the Heavenly Dao. Though their power would increase, they would be locked into a fixed domain. Naturally cultivated strength was far superior; artificially accelerated growth always came with risks.
However, Ye Wen soon furrowed his brow again.
He was well aware of the true value of the God King realm. Many of the newly ascended God Kings under his guidance had reached that level through his teachings.
At the initial stages of godhood, one could steadily progress by accumulating resources or relentlessly focusing on the concepts tied to their divine position. But the God King realm was different—it required a special kind of compatibility.
Even though Ye Wen had pioneered the concept of shared divine positions and distributed some qualifications for God King-level divine cores, without the necessary compatibility, the divine position would be useless.
This was why the God Kings of the old god realm couldn't casually pass on their divine cores to others—they had to impose strict trials.
Handing over the divine core wouldn't help if the recipient lacked the necessary traits. At best, they'd only reach the level of a first-tier god, which other God Kings wouldn't accept.
If someone wanted to leave, they had to find a suitable successor. Otherwise, the pressure would fall on those who remained, like Ye Wen himself.
Based on his research so far, Ye Wen was almost certain that there was no method to forcibly elevate a first-tier god to the God King realm.
His curiosity piqued again, Ye Wen asked, "Snow Empress, ask the Plane Consciousness how it plans to forcibly elevate you.
If this method could be generalized, it might accelerate the accumulation of Douluo Star's essence. Perhaps in another ten thousand years, I could upgrade Douluo Star into a divine star."
But to his surprise, Snow Empress gently shook her head and replied,
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Master.
The reason I can be forcibly elevated to the God King realm upon merging with the Plane Consciousness is that I am essentially the embodiment of the Plane Consciousness itself. Moreover, the Plane Consciousness has already mastered a rule to the level of the God King realm, and part of that rule overlaps with my Snow Path."
Though Ye Wen was somewhat disappointed by the lack of a broader application, he was accustomed to such outcomes.
However, he became curious about the rule Snow Empress practiced and continued asking,
"What rule does the Plane Consciousness cultivate? How does it align with your Snow Path?"
Initially, Snow Empress felt some resistance to her impending fate, but upon reflection, it didn't seem so bad. While solitary independence had its charm, Snow Empress's years of loneliness had left her yearning for familial warmth. Thus, her mindset was now calm as she replied to Ye Wen.
"According to the Plane Consciousness, it cultivates the Path of Reincarnation.
One aspect of it governs the cycle of the four seasons, and my Snow Path is contained within the winter principle."
Hearing this, Ye Wen inwardly gasped. Though it wasn't the Six Paths of Reincarnation from his previous life, it was still astonishing.
On closer thought, wasn't the Heavenly Dao represented by the Plane Consciousness responsible for governing the seasonal and life cycles of Douluo Star?
Still, Ye Wen suspected that the Path of Reincarnation wasn't so simple. It likely intertwined with the supreme Time Dao. After all, the cycle of all things was inseparable from the passage of time. If the Plane Consciousness truly commanded such power, it would indeed be terrifying.
Though Ye Wen himself had mastered spatial laws and partial temporal laws, even that small portion of temporal mastery allowed him to reverse life and death—a testament to its immense power.
Fortunately, they were now all on the same side.
Ye Wen then resumed his conversation with Snow Empress, easing the earlier awkwardness.
Finally, under Ye Wen's envious gaze, Snow Empress began to emanate a soft platinum-white light. Her presence soared, accompanied by celestial phenomena. The entire sky of Douluo Star was bathed in brilliant golden light, as if celebrating Snow Empress's ascension to God King status and her becoming the ruler of Douluo Star.
"So this is the God King realm," Ye Wen remarked with admiration.
If the Plane Consciousness had awakened earlier and merged with him, perhaps Ye Wen wouldn't have had to endure the painstaking journey of cultivation or navigate the treacherous waters of the god realm. He could have ascended directly, relying on the strength of Douluo Star's Heavenly Dao Sage. With the power of his long-unused ultimate finishing move, Ye Wen estimated he could have directly faced off against the five God Kings of the god realm.
But Ye Wen dismissed the thought. Back then, with unclear power disparities, he wouldn't have risked his life recklessly.
Thus, he harbored no regrets. Besides, merging with the Dao came at a cost—the obligation to remain bound to Douluo Star. Ye Wen didn't want to lock himself here permanently, not even partially.
Though Snow Empress had broken through to the God King realm, Ye Wen could still sense that she had barely crossed the threshold. She had a long journey ahead.
To reassure the Plane Consciousness, Ye Wen and Snow Empress held a grand wedding ceremony.
The union of two God King-level beings naturally carried extraordinary significance.
For an entire month after the wedding, the entire Douluo Star was filled with joyous celebration.
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