"May I ask, Senior, how do you know this junior's previous life's name?"
Thunder God wasn't surprised; after all, he had directly revealed the other's previous name, which was the deepest secret in Chen Yi's heart, bar none.
"No need to panic; this seat has no malice toward you." Thunder God first reassured Chen Yi, then continued: "To be honest, the Thunder God before you has long since fallen. What's left is merely an indestructible obsession."
"Obsession?" An indestructible obsession? Good grief, could something so high-level appear in Douluo?
"No need to be surprised. As long as it's a world, its operating rules are largely similar. Though this universe is lower in status than others you know, it's still a world of supernatural great power. Such existences are not unusual."
After pondering, Thunder God used an explanation Chen Yi could understand at his level.
Chen Yi nodded in understanding. After all, it was a universe where immortality was possible; despite average combat power, it had everything it should.
"This junior has a few questions; I wonder if it's appropriate to ask?" After the chit-chat, it was time to get back on track.
"Ask freely."
Thunder God secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Since his birth, he had always been responsible for warfare; besides his childhood siblings, he rarely communicated with others. If Chen Yi didn't ask, it might have gone silent.
"This junior's first question: Senior seems to know me extremely well, and as an otherworldly visitor like me, shouldn't we be the ones you, as maintainers of this world, most need to eliminate? Could Senior please clarify?"
This involved his greatest secret, so Chen Yi dared not be careless.
Upon hearing this, Thunder God's face lost its earlier indifference, gaining some solemnity. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying an interpretation of the world's rules: "To this world, outsiders like you aren't inherently anomalies. As long as you don't harm the world, the world itself won't reject you—after all, such beings might bring new possibilities, even driving the world toward greater development.
"Therefore, as long as outsiders haven't committed crimes that shake the foundations, we usually won't intervene proactively."
Chen Yi finally relaxed. According to Thunder God, as long as he hadn't caused major catastrophes, they wouldn't act, so his safety was assured.
"As for why I know you so well, the reason is simple: these years, I've been residing in your sea of consciousness, never leaving." Thunder God continued, ignoring Chen Yi's changing expression, pausing before adding:
"More precisely, since you arrived in this universe, I've been here, so I've come into contact with your memories, whether intentionally or not."
As the words fell, Chen Yi's face turned very ugly. No one would like someone occupying their most important sea of consciousness. Not only had the other taken over, but he had also casually browsed his privacy.
This was something even uncles could tolerate, and aunts... could also tolerate.
No choice; he was a God King, and a thunder-type one known for power—the absolute ceiling of Douluo combat strength! He'd just have to endure it.
Seeming to hear Chen Yi's thoughts, Thunder God smiled lightly and explained: "Rest assured, this seat only browsed some of your previous life's experiences; I didn't pry into your privacy."
Hearing this, Chen Yi's expression improved slightly. Given the other's status, if he said he didn't, then he didn't—strong ones have their pride.
"Besides, this seat has already fallen; what are you afraid of?"
Fallen. Though Chen Yi had guessed when Thunder God mentioned obsession, hearing it directly still made him shudder.
"This junior is very curious: With Senior's strength, you should be unmatched in this universe; how could you fall?"
Speaking of his own death, Thunder God was unreserved, laughing freely:
"Though this seat considers my strength decent, it's not enough to be called unmatched. In this world, no one is truly invincible; even the Dragon God of old ended in defeat."
"Moreover, in the vast starry sky, there are countless unknown dangers; how many can avoid them all?"
"Not to mention, just take the Douluo plane you're on now: even if a god officer descends here, a slight misstep could lead to their fall."
That's true! Chen Yi thought; even ignoring the Silver Dragon King, Demon Empress and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King were only a god position away from true gods. An ordinary god officer descending would be lucky to survive against those two at full power.
"Then how did Senior fall?" Seeing Thunder God was easy to talk to, Chen Yi got bold.
"Heh, in the past, this seat left the God Realm to explore. During an expedition into a dangerous place, I exhausted my strength and died."
Thunder God's brief words sent chills through Chen Yi. Exhausted to death? Not an accidental fall. What kind of danger could exhaust a God King to death?
"No need to be surprised; when you reach my level, you'll know: the universe is vast, and God Kings are small."
Then, looking at Chen Yi with a gentle gaze: "Besides, I broke through to God King thanks to you, little guy."
"Ah, me?" Chen Yi pointed at himself incredulously. I helped someone break through to God King? Am I that amazing?
Seeing Chen Yi's disbelief, Thunder God couldn't help but chuckle, then after a few seconds said:
"Back then, I was in the strongest sequence below God King alongside the Dragon God. To glimpse the God King realm, I made a pact with the Dragon God to fight in the God Forbidden Zone, hoping to break through under extreme pressure."
"As you can guess, the Dragon God was stronger; after the battle, he broke through to God King, becoming the God Realm's sixth God King."
"Though I didn't reach God King, I broke the shackles of main god and condensed an eighth divine ring, stepping into quasi-God King. But the life-or-death battle with the Dragon God overdrew my origin; even breaking through to quasi-God King only delayed the injury."
"To extend my life and go further, I decided to venture into the outer domains for opportunities. Since my life was sustained solely by my god position, the God Realm Committee could only let me take it with me."
"In my final moments, I entered a spacetime storm, hoping to find remnants from some unlucky predecessors inside. But I overestimated myself; the terrifying power erupting from the storm's depths shredded my body, leaving only remnants of my soul wrapped around the god position, trying to escape."
"The result was predictable; even at my peak, it would have been hard, let alone as a soul remnant. In my despair, I sensed a thunder aura far superior in status to mine. I immediately resonated my god position with it, and with that power's help, I elevated the Thunder God position to God King level. With God King strength, I finally escaped."
"A thunder aura far superior in status to yours?" Chen Yi's eyes filled with confusion. According to Thunder God, he was clearly the source of this aura. But Chen Yi couldn't think of any connection he had to thunder power!
The only possible link was the lightning that had sent him here, but if that lightning was truly that powerful, how could he have survived?
Thunder God didn't answer, simply directing his gaze to the lake in front.
Seeing this, Chen Yi turned his eyes to the lake, and in one glance, he saw a colossal creature deep within.