Chapter 44: The Might of the Divine, Life and Death in a Single Thought
The moment the Ice and Fire Dragon Souls materialized, an indescribably terrifying pressure, like a tangible tsunami, instantly swept through the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well valley. This was not mere Soul Power oppression, but a shivering sensation born from an absolute gap in life hierarchy and soul origin.
The seven powerhouses, who mere moments ago were bristling with hostility and imposing auras, now seemed to transform into tiny boats adrift in a raging storm under this vast divine might. Even breathing became immensely difficult. The radiant Soul Power glow surrounding them was forcefully suppressed back into their bodies, and the previously clashing, surging auras melted away like snow, vanishing without a trace.
Zhongli Wu, bearing the brunt of it, turned deathly pale, cold sweat instantly soaking through his back.
His pupils contracted violently as he stared fixedly at the two colossal dragon phantoms circling in the air, his mind churning with towering waves of shock.
'Divine level! That is absolutely power at the divine level! This girl... just what is her origin?!'
Endless regret surged in his heart. He had never imagined that this seemingly easy-to-handle little girl actually possessed such a terrifying trump card, directly summoning the dragon spirits slumbering within the spring!
The auras of these two dragon spirits far exceeded their comprehension, undoubtedly reaching the divine realm. Crushing them would be simpler than squashing ants.
In truth, Lei Chen, having already arranged for Mu En and other top powerhouses of the continent to cultivate their bodies here, felt assured in sending Wang Qiuer precisely because he had made thorough preparations.
This Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was formed from the fallen bodies of the Ice Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King. Deep within its core, it not only contained pure draconic power but also housed the unyielding dragon spirits of the two Dragon Kings.
Before their fall, the Frost and Fire Dragon Kings were both powerful First-Rank Deities. Even now, reduced to dragon spirits with less than a hundredth of their original power, they still retained strength at the divine level as a baseline. Dealing with these so-called powerhouses before them, who hadn't even touched the threshold of divinity, was more than sufficient, fully guaranteeing Wang Qiuer's absolute safety in this place.
Just as the seven were immobilized, not daring to move an inch under the dragon spirits' pressure, the Frost Dragon and Fire Dragon spirits did not launch an attack. Instead, their two pairs of enormous draconic eyes slowly turned, finally settling on the golden-haired, red-eyed girl below.
In the next moment, a scene occurred that left everyone dumbfounded.
The two dragon spirits, radiating boundless majesty and destructive aura, actually slowly lowered their proud heads. Their massive phantoms intimately coiled around Wang Qiuer, swirling. Intertwining halos of icy blue and crimson red set off the girl like a dragon emperor descended to the mortal world.
The Ice Dragon King's spirit even cautiously extended a dragon whisker condensed from frigid air, gently touching Wang Qiuer's arm, while the Fire Dragon spirit emitted a low, almost filial whimper.
'This... how is this possible?!'
Mu En's turbid eyes erupted with a light of utter disbelief. Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao exchanged a glance, each seeing profound shock in the other's eyes. Du Busi's jaw dropped open. Xuan Zi wore an expression of complete stupefaction. Kong Deming was nearly shocked out of his wits.
They utterly failed to comprehend why these two dragon spirits, clearly having reached the divine level, would show such a degree of affection and... submission towards a girl whose Soul Power fluctuations weren't particularly strong?
Just what was this girl's identity? Could she be the reincarnation of the Dragon God?!
Various speculations exploded like thunderclaps in the hearts of the seven, yet none dared to voice a question.
Surrounded intimately by the two dragon spirits, Wang Qiuer seemed to have anticipated this scene all along. She gently patted the Ice Dragon King phantom's whisker, then raised her pure yet cold ruby-red eyes. Her gaze pierced through the dragon spirits' protection, landing precisely on Zhongli Wu, whose face was ashen.
Locked by Wang Qiuer's indifferent gaze, Zhongli Wu felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head, his very soul trembling.
He had no doubt that with just a single thought from this girl, those two divine-level dragon spirits could instantly tear him to shreds, annihilating both body and soul!
Just as Zhongli Wu was nearly consumed by terror, Wang Qiuer's clear, cool voice rang out, shattering the deathly silence: 'You said earlier that it was the Plane Master who brought you here, allowing you to cultivate in this place?'
This plain inquiry sounded like heavenly music to Zhongli Wu's ears. He seemed to have grasped a lifeline and nodded frantically: 'Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Respected... young lady, it was indeed the Plane Master who gathered us here, permitting us to use this place's divine effects to temper our bodies!'
'A moment ago... a moment ago, this lowly one was blind and ignorant, offending you, young lady. This lowly one was foolish, blinded by greed, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth. I beg you, young lady, to be magnanimous and forgive this offense just once!'
He spoke extremely fast, his posture exceedingly humble, not a trace of his previous sinister arrogance remained—only the relief of a narrow escape and a A humble plea (humble plea).
Wang Qiuer looked at the now obsequious, constantly begging Zhongli Wu before her, her delicate brows slightly furrowing, a flash of unconcealed disgust in her eyes.
By nature pure, she detested this kind of person who bullied the weak, feared the strong, and harbored dark intentions. If it were up to her own temper, she would have directly ordered the Ice and Fire Dragon Souls to smash this offender who had dared to provoke her into dust to vent her anger.
However, recalling that Lei Chen must have had deep intentions and plans for arranging these people here to cultivate, she, though straightforward by nature, understood propriety. She did not wish to disrupt Lei Chen's plans because of her own momentary anger.
Thinking this, Wang Qiuer suppressed the displeasure in her heart, cast a cold glance at Zhongli Wu, and paid him no further mind.
She withdrew her gaze and instead looked at the two dragon spirits intimately coiling around her. With a light wave of her hand, the Ice and Fire Dragon Souls seemed to understand her intention. Emitting low dragon roars, their massive phantoms slowly sank back into the spring water, and the suffocating, terrifying pressure receded like a tide.
The valley returned to tranquility, but the shock left in the hearts of the seven powerhouses could not settle for a long time.
After this incident, no one dared to show the slightest contempt or negligence towards Wang Qiuer. Wang Qiuer, ignoring the complex gazes of the others, walked directly to the edge of the spring, took out the two clumps of immortal herb essence, and prepared to begin her own cultivation.
Watching Wang Qiuer completely ignore him and, as if no one else was present, begin refining the immortal herb essence using the energy of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zhongli Wu's taut nerves finally relaxed completely. A sense of exhaustion from his narrow escape instantly spread throughout his body. The robes on his back, long soaked through with cold sweat, clung tightly to his skin, bringing a chilling, clammy sensation.
However, alongside the relief, an uncontrollable, twisted jealousy and hatred gnawed at his heart like a venomous serpent.
He clenched his fists tightly, nails digging deep into his palms, bringing a sharp pain that was far less intense than the humiliation and resentment currently consuming him.
He, Zhongli Wu, the esteemed Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, a figure who commanded great influence across the continent, yet today, before a seemingly immature girl, his life and death hung entirely on her whim. He didn't even possess the qualification to make her take action; merely being ignored by her was already the best outcome!
This feeling of having his life held casually in another's hand, of being as weak and insignificant as an ant, was like the sharpest awl, brutally piercing the pride and ambition he had long relied upon for survival.
'Divine level...' Zhongli Wu roared silently in his heart, a near-mad flame igniting deep within his eyes. 'Only by stepping into the divine level can I grasp my own destiny! Today's humiliation will surely be washed away in the future with divine-level power!'