Tang Wutong had self-awareness. In Huo Yuhao's eyes, she was essentially a "prisoner"—her influence wasn't that great.
And while Da Ming and Er Ming didn't have a life-or-death grudge with Huo Yuhao, they had still obstructed him and opposed him. For no apparent reason, why would he give her the chance to persuade her two fathers?
Because he was kind?
"I've already given the main reason—our grievances aren't deep enough to necessarily make us mortal enemies."
Huo Yuhao's tone was flat. "Of course, if you find that reason insufficient, you can also consider it as me exchanging their lives for a favor."
"A favor?"
Tang Wutong blinked, her thoughts turning quickly, and she immediately understood: "You need Uncle Oscar's abilities?"
She was only a wisp of divine consciousness—Huo Yuhao clearly didn't need her help with anything. But behind her, there were two deities.
Ning Rongrong's support abilities worked even on God Kings. Oscar's various support abilities had countless ingenious applications—some didn't even require him to appear in person to be effective.
Even if Huo Yuhao was effectively imprisoning Oscar and the others, if he reached an agreement with Oscar, he could borrow his abilities without releasing him—and the uses would be considerable.
If Huo Yuhao's goal was to exchange sparing Da Ming and Er Ming for Oscar and the others' goodwill, Tang Wutong could understand that.
Huo Yuhao didn't deny it.
He did need Oscar and the others' cooperation, but his main purpose wasn't to borrow their power for combat—it was for research.
Setting aside Ning Rongrong, Oscar's abilities were highly suitable as research material for "Creation."
Though Oscar's abilities came from the Mirror Shadow Beast, as a second-class deity, his abilities had certainly evolved—far surpassing an ordinary Mirror Shadow Beast's.
Once he reached a certain level, studying Oscar's abilities would not only advance his "Creation" research but also grant him the broken ability of Replication Sausages. Why not?
Of course, for now, Oscar's Replication Sausages could also serve as a trump card against the Abyss.
Even if Oscar's current strength was insufficient, the Replication Sausage's mechanism was primarily tied to blood. As long as there was blood from a powerful being, Oscar could create those broken Replication Sausages. And having withdrawn from the Divine Realm War, surely they had divine blood from powerful deities on hand.
As for whether the user could wield those abilities, or whether they'd die from the strain—that had nothing to do with Oscar.
So in essence, Tang Wutong's thinking wasn't wrong.
Seeing Huo Yuhao tacitly agree, Tang Wutong nodded thoughtfully and didn't dwell on the matter further.
Afterward, she watched as Huo Yuhao, Emperor Tian, and the others settled the details of their departure. Only after everyone had dispersed did she approach Huo Yuhao and say, "I've wanted to ask you a question for a while, but I couldn't find you."
Huo Yuhao: "What is it?"
"It's about Wu Lin." Tang Wutong took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Huo Yuhao. "I want to know how you plan to handle the Golden Dragon King's divine core on him."
Because she was only a divine consciousness, she hadn't actually known what happened in the Divine Realm after she, Ning Rongrong, and the others left. So she hadn't known about the Golden Dragon King's divine core and the seals.
However, after arriving at the Spirit Transmission Tower, she'd secretly observed Tang Wulin for a while and noticed the Golden Dragon King bloodline on him, which had raised her suspicions.
After much deliberation, she'd asked Huo Yuhao and the others and learned the general situation.
But at the time, she'd been too shocked by the revelation that the Golden Dragon King's core was inside her brother to ask how they planned to handle it.
The Golden Dragon King's divine core, though lacking the power of the Golden Dragon King at his peak, still touched the half-step God King level—extremely valuable. She couldn't guess Huo Yuhao and the others' intentions for it.
Did they plan to let Wu Lin inherit that power, or—
"The Golden Dragon King's divine core?" Huo Yuhao glanced at Gu Yuena. "We plan to wait until Wu Lin has broken through to a certain seal level, then peel off the core."
"Is that so? That's not bad." Tang Wutong looked relieved.
Seeing this, Gu Yuena raised an eyebrow and asked, "The Golden Dragon King's divine core is your brother's shortcut to godhood. Aren't you upset that we're removing it?"
"Opportunities are worthless without the life to enjoy them." Tang Wutong shook her head, her tone calm. "No matter how precious that thing is, it's still a ticking time bomb. Staying inside Wu Lin, who knows when it might explode. If you're willing to help him remove it and take on that trouble, it might actually be a good thing for him."
In Tang Wutong's view, if Huo Yuhao—a foreign God King—was willing to help Wu Lin digest the Golden Dragon King divine core's power, that would be the best outcome. Wu Lin wouldn't just be free from mortal danger—he'd soar on that power.
And if Huo Yuhao wasn't planning to do that, then at the very least, removing the core would let Wu Lin live safely from then on.
Either outcome wasn't bad—certainly better than letting Wu Lin break the seals on his own, facing who knew what mortal risks.
That power came from the Golden Dragon King after all. Having witnessed the Golden Dragon King's terror firsthand, she wouldn't underestimate it.
Seeing Tang Wutong's open attitude, Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted slightly. "You and Wu Lin think alike. It's good that you can see it that way."
His last words carried a distant look, as if piercing through space to somewhere far away.
As long as the Dragon God could potentially return, anyone other than the Dragon God's divine seat inheritor holding the Golden Dragon King's divine core would likely be walking into a trap.
In the original story, Tang Wulin had finally broken through the eighteenth seal under the Crimson Mother's pressure and obtained the Golden Dragon King's full power—and then he had it for less than a day.
That very day, his bloodline was stripped and given to Lan Xuanyu to become the Dragon God.
Though his cultivation level was preserved, there was still an odd feeling to it—as if Tang Wulin's entire journey had been building up to benefit someone else.
He'd suffered plenty breaking the seals, finally reaching the end when he should have enjoyed the fruits of the Golden Dragon King bloodline. But before he could enjoy much, pop—the bloodline was gone.
Indeed, it was best to avoid Dragon God-related power if possible. Otherwise, there was always the feeling of inexplicably becoming a clown.
Tang Wutong felt his words and expression were odd and was about to ask, but Huo Yuhao clearly had no intention of elaborating. He changed the subject: "You're asking about the Golden Dragon King's divine core now—has something happened with Wu Lin?"
Tang Wutong's expression grew serious. "Earlier, Wu Lin was sent to guard the Abyss Passage and absorbed a large amount of Abyss energy, seemingly breaking through a seal. Not long ago, he returned to the Tower and absorbed his third Spirit Soul, undergoing a secondary martial soul awakening—his foundation greatly increased. At this rate, the eleventh seal should already be breakable."
Speaking of this, Tang Wutong looked at Huo Yuhao with concern. "And according to you, the Golden Dragon King's seals become more dangerous to break the further you go. His breakthrough speed is too fast. That's why I'm worried and came to ask."
The Golden Dragon King's seals weren't meant to be broken as quickly as possible—they could be deadly. So Tang Wulin usually accumulated enough foundation until he could no longer suppress it before breaking a seal.
But even so, the speed still made Tang Wutong uneasy, fearing that continuing like this would cause problems.
Huo Yuhao recalled his agreement with Tang Wulin and felt somewhat awkward.
During the Blood God Legion period, he'd been incredibly busy—resisting the Abyss Saint Lord, capturing the Demon Emperor, and forging his Chaos Dharma Body. He'd completely forgotten about Wu Lin.
He should have brought Wu Lin back to contract the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Soul. But he'd been so focused on secluding himself to forge his body and achieve the Chaos Dharma Body that Wu Lin had ended up taking leave from the Blood God Legion and coming back on his own to contract the Spirit Soul.
Fortunately, he'd given prior notice to the Tower, so the process hadn't been held up. Otherwise, Wu Lin would have had to wait even longer.
"I see."
Huo Yuhao spoke. "But only the tenth seal—it shouldn't be a problem. Once he breaks through to the twelfth seal, we'll move to peel off the Golden Dragon King's divine core. Of course, if you're still worried, I'll go see Wu Lin later."
"I understand. Thank you." Tang Wutong breathed a sigh of relief and left with light steps.
She now needed to think carefully about how to persuade her two fathers when she met them.
She also needed to consider the matter of reuniting with Tang Wulin.
Right now, Tang Wulin had a happy family life. Honestly, she was deeply conflicted about whether to tell him the truth about his origins.
Watching her figure disappear, Huo Yuhao, Gu Yuena, and Snow Empress exchanged glances. Snow Empress spoke first: "He's already reached the tenth seal—not far from the twelfth. Are you ready to peel off the divine core?"
Gu Yuena mused, "The core isn't fully integrated with him. Once he breaks through the twelfth seal, I should be mostly recovered. With the Dragon God's Heart and the gaps between the different God King seals, peeling off the core shouldn't be too difficult. The real trouble is the Golden Dragon King's consciousness—it probably won't be happy about me devouring his power."
Huo Yuhao said calmly, "There's no rush. Worst case, we keep him sealed until the timing's right, then face him together."
Though Tang Wulin often spoke with the Golden Dragon King, trying to "reform" him, Huo Yuhao knew words alone wouldn't be enough.
Even Naruto's Nine-Tails hadn't been tamed by talk alone—combat had played its part.
And Wu Lin currently couldn't suppress the Golden Dragon King's consciousness with force—that would require their intervention.
Unlike the Nine-Tails, the Golden Dragon King's consciousness resided in the final seal, representing half-step God King power. To obtain all his strength, one needed power approaching that level.
Gu Yuena nodded, then smiled. "I was thinking the same. I plan to wait until I'm fully recovered to my peak—the half-step God King level—before absorbing the Golden Dragon King's divine core."
At that point, she should be able to leap to become one of the top existences below God King.
"As long as you have a plan."
Huo Yuhao looked at her with some emotion. "But thinking about it, after you become a deity, your advancement will probably be much faster than mine."
At the half-step God King level, absorbing the Golden Dragon King's divine core's power above the divine level would likely push her straight past Level 140, making her a quasi-God King—not far from true God King.
If she went even further and directly devoured the Dragon God's Heart super-divine artifact, she could leap to God King in one bound.
After all, the Dragon God's Heart was the Dragon God's dragon core—like the Golden Dragon King's core, a crystallized portion of the Dragon God's God King-level power. Pushing a quasi-God King with Dragon God bloodline to God King would clearly be no problem—and she'd be a powerful God King at that, though not reaching the Dragon God's supreme God King level.
One could say that while the Dragon God path had its pitfalls, it definitely had enough resources to reach God King. In that regard, Gu Yuena would have a much easier time than Huo Yuhao.
Gu Yuena blinked and smiled. "Surpassing you in cultivation? That wouldn't be bad. Once I surpass you, I can guard your path to God King—or even establish a Divine Realm early, letting you all cultivate faster."
A perfected Saint Body guarding the Western Emperor's path in gender-swapped version? I'm the Western Emperor?
Huo Yuhao felt speechless.
Su Tong, who'd been quietly listening, frowned slightly, sensing something off.
Were Gu Yuena Mistress's words ambiguous?
Seeing Huo Yuhao's helpless expression, Gu Yuena covered her smile, then said softly, "Yuhao, all I need is the Golden Dragon King bloodline. If you need it, you can take the part of the divine core that represents cultivation. There's plenty of the Dragon God's power in the Dragon Valley—I can become a God King with many resources. Don't worry about me."
"No need. Those powers will take you further if used on you. They wouldn't benefit me as much. And if you can become a God King with the resources you have, I'd prefer you stay away from the Dragon God's power in the Dragon Valley." Huo Yuhao's expression grew serious.
The Dragon Valley contained the Dragon God's remnant consciousness. Though it hadn't possessed Lan Xuanyu in the original, Gu Yuena—as the Dragon God's other half—might be affected by contact. The Dragon God's attitude toward the Silver Dragon King inheriting his power was unknown.
If unnecessary, Gu Yuena, who already carried the Dragon God bloodline, should stay far from the Dragon Valley.
"And the Golden Dragon King's divine core and the Dragon God's Heart."
Huo Yuhao gazed at her solemnly.
"If possible, I'd like you to slow down in absorbing their power—give me time to grow strong enough to support you."
Gu Yuena's path was smooth, but also fraught with hidden dangers—the risks listed earlier aside.
After absorbing the Golden Dragon King's divine core and Dragon God's Heart, Gu Yuena would inevitably trigger the Dragon God's divine trials.
And how dangerous those trials were needed no elaboration. Even if Huo Yuhao had the answers to pass them and could tell Gu Yuena, he didn't think she'd have an easy time.
In the original story, when Lan Xuanyu became the Dragon God, his rampage had been contained by a dozen God Kings from the Great Divine Realm. They didn't have that luxury here.
So if they couldn't keep Gu Yuena awake during the trials, she'd become something more dangerous than the Crimson Mother—possibly even a Heaven-Punishing God-like entity, a mad God King driven by destructive urges, rejected and hunted by the entire universe.
Gu Yuena had chosen the title Haoyue. Huo Yuhao didn't want her to truly become another Haoyue, repeating the God-Imprint Throne's ending.
So prevention started now.
Until he had the ability to support her, Huo Yuhao wouldn't let Gu Yuena touch the Dragon God's divine seat.
Worst case, they'd abandon the seat altogether—if they could reach God King by draining the old Dragon God's power, they could create their own divine seat. Why obsess over that thing?
Gu Yuena was briefly taken aback, gazing at the serious, slightly authoritative look in Huo Yuhao's eyes. A softness flickered through hers. She didn't argue, only giving a soft "mm."
Watching the warm atmosphere, Su Tong blinked, her expression somewhat odd.
Perhaps she was overthinking.
Though Teacher's reasoning was sound, combined with that earlier exchange about "surpassing you would be nice," she couldn't help feeling that behind his righteous words lay a subtle obsession—Teacher didn't want Gu Yuena Mistress to truly "surpass" him in cultivation and protect him.
Quite the chauvinist.
Was it because he'd been eating Snow Mistress's soft rice for too long and didn't want to add another chapter to that history?
Su Tong's inner theater was running wild, but her face remained impassive as she silently averted her gaze.
Some things were better left unspoken—that was a good disciple's duty. Mental note: material for unofficial histories +1, but sadly, she couldn't write it anymore.