Chapter 490 - 251: Ascension (Part 2)

At the same time, beyond Jinyang, within the Weishui River.

"Hmm!?"

The mighty Weishui River flows unceasingly, faintly accompanied by dragon roars, mist rising and billowing, all eyes on the Jinyang Land.

Not just Weishui, but around Jinyang, the ghosts and gods all watch.

"This is..."

"Absorbing Hidden Dragon Fortune!"

"Is he going further?"

"Looks like he can’t hold back anymore."

"Locked on three sides, the Hidden Dragon gathers forces, advance or die, how can he wait for death?"

"The war is not far off..."

Watching the dragon within Jinyang Prefecture exhaling cyan Qi, changes flicker in the eyes of the deities.

In today’s world, dragons and serpents rise, and Hidden Dragons occupy various places, Jinyang Prefecture is no exception.

The Hidden Dragon of Jinyang is Li Mubai. After the great battle in Jinyang, this place became his personal land, no longer following the Court’s orders, establishing his own prefecture, appointing civil and military officials, even cutting off incense offerings to the Xiao-Chen Imperial Family.

This approach made him a Hidden Dragon, his aura transforming into a Cyan Flood Dragon, though not comparable to Xiao Ye who occupies the surroundings of Jinling Jinhua and Weishui River, he still shows nail and claw.

"Humph!"

"As he pleases, such methods!"

"That Golden Sun God is too greedy."

"The nature of Dragon Qi, only I reign supreme, how can it allow such plundering?"

"His control over Jinyang..."

The deities watch closely, only to see the Jinyang Flood Dragon exhaling cyan Qi, channeling it into the Yin Department’s magic realm, enhancing the Divine Dao Golden Light, truly using Dragon Qi to assist Divine Power.

This is common practice, even Xiao Chen’s Restoration Ascension Hidden Dragon has assisted the Weishui River Dragon Monarch this way.

However, Xiao Chen’s Hidden Dragon assistance felt more like a reward, offering just a bit, without much detriment to himself.

As of now...

"Rooar!!"

The Flood Dragon exhaling cyan Qi, suddenly withered, its form shrinking considerably, soon turning around, hidden within the clouds, vanishing.

Severe damage to the fortune!

Witnessing this, all sides were left aghast.

The nature of Dragon Qi, only I reign supreme, cannot tolerate equals, let alone being plundered and devoured.

Previously, Xiao Chen’s Hidden Dragon offered just a bit of fortune as assistance to the Weishui River Dragon Monarch, similar to a reward, giving little, more would not be asked, otherwise there would certainly be repercussions later.

Now this Hidden Dragon of Jinyang acts as if giving freely to the Golden Sun God, even risking great fortune loss to fortify the god’s power.

This is illogical.

How could a Hidden Dragon have such a disposition?

What tricks does this Golden Sun God actually possess?

All are left in awe, continuing to watch.

Turning to Shen Hex...

Hidden Dragon Fortune, pure cyan, enters, and Shen Hex remains unyielding, transforming it into Divine Power, integrated into the Divine Seal.

Suddenly, the Divine Seal shifts, shining brightly, illuminating the hall, even the entire temple, like a grand sun, dazzling the Underworld.

"Divine Monarch!?"

Outside the temple, within the magic realm, numerous divine spirits are shocked by this power.

Shen Hex, however, remains indifferent, fully focused on operating the True Dao Scripture, with the Divine Dao Golden Seal floating alongside.

Massive Divine Power condenses within, presenting various phenomena, sun, moon, stars, flora, mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, alongside the myriad aspects of life in this Jinyang Prefecture.

Divine Dao ascends, connecting heaven and earth, sensing the Great Dao, achieving oneself, ultimately condensing authority.

In this process, Shen Hex distinctly feels the deepening connection with heaven and earth, with the "Great Dao", not just physically, but also subtly touching upon concepts.

These are principles, laws, the essence of the world.

Then, unexpectedly, the Divine Seal trembles violently, instead of growing, it contracts inward, shrinking several times.

Volume decreases, quality enhances, Divine Power increases, authority gains weight.

Inside the Divine Seal, Divine Text appears, forming the Divine Dao Talisman.

Heaven-Appointed Fourth-Grade Jinyang Prefecture City God—Heavenly Mirror Country Guardian King!

With an elevation to Fourth-Grade Extreme Realm, the title changes accordingly, from People Ascending Fortune Prestige Spirit Lord to Heavenly Mirror Country Guardian King!

Formerly a Duke, now a Marquis.

The highest position of Prefecture City God is Fourth-Grade, exceeding the rank, Marquis is the limit, achieving Marquis requires reaching Third-Grade, becoming Great God incarnate.

However, Shen Hex now surpasses this limit, attaining Marquis as Fourth-Grade.

The reasons include accumulation over a century, Jinyang Prefecture under his vigorous management and Professional Effect enhancement, rapid population growth, increases in followers, prosperity across industries, from a prefecture it becomes almost a province-sized entity, sufficient to support a Third-Grade Great God.

Another assistance is from the profession, generally, deities cannot absorb large amounts of Dragon Qi, because Dragon Qi is supremely exalted, cannot tolerate others taking shares, forced seizing leads to resistance, potential future retribution or directly falling out.

Like the Weishui River Dragon Monarch and Xiao Chen’s Hidden Dragon, even Xiao Ye knew that assisting Weishui River Dragon Monarch equates to assisting himself, while splitting fortune, instinctively arises disgust, even transforming into hostility.

This is the nature of Dragon Qi, don’t bother reasoning, it cares not, in essence, splitting my fortune, it’s unacceptable.

Li Mubai is now also a Hidden Dragon and possesses Dragon Qi, but to him it’s at one’s disposal without resistance.

Reasons include loyalty in part, but mainly due to Professional Power, as Ziwei Star Lord, he has absolute control over those with supporting stars in their destiny, even exceeding Dragon Qi’s nature.

Though Li Mubai is a Hidden Dragon, he is fundamentally a subordinate, Celestial Halberd within the destiny, assisting Ziwei.

Thus, Li Mubai’s Dragon Qi doesn’t resist, instead striving to assist him.

Coupled with All-Purpose Incense, Earth Golden Body, Human Path Merits, etc., achieving Third-Grade in this elevation is more than sufficient.

Sadly, his scripture is incomplete, lacking the Dharma Gate for condensing Third-Grade Divine Seal.

He can only seek alternatives, striving to refine the Divine Seal, holding Marquis as Fourth-Grade.

Though unable to achieve Third-Grade, forging such a foundation remains significant.

Shen Hex sits on the throne, emitting boundless radiance, surrounded by mist, even thunder rolls, light-born day, moon, stars, seemingly merging with heaven and earth, extending outward, the entire temple, entire Dao Field, even the whole of Jinyang, linked as one, commanded at will.

Golden Body to this extent, is no longer a Yin Soul form, but a Yang God body, able to bypass yin-yang barriers, manifest truly before humans.

This is the power of a Fourth-Grade God.

Transforming yin into yang, achieving a divine body.

Further advancement, achieving Third-Grade, can transcend death to life, Yang God spawning fleshly body.

At that stage, deities are indistinguishable from living beings, completely breaking free from the curse of "Endless Calamity Yin Spirit Hardly Enters Sagehood", even uniting with mortals, birthing divine offspring.

In this world, numerous legends speak of encounters with divine beings, love affairs in Wu Mountain, birthing offspring, later becoming Saint Kings, creating achievements.

These are endeavors by those Third-Grade Great Gods.

Shen Hex isn’t so unscrupulous, nor intends to woo proper women, nor has ambitions to create another dynasty, achieving True Dragon Venerable.

Why achieve True Dragon?

Unless he enters reincarnation himself, contends for the dragon, otherwise another’s dragon, what’s my benefit, help me ascend together?

Preferring to be a chicken head rather than a phoenix tail!

This Divine Dao below, like Taiyuan Realm, has potential left to exploit, Shen Hex isn’t eager to ascend.

If unwilling to ascend, naturally there’s no intention to cultivate True Dragon, hence gladly accepting Li Mubai’s Dragon Qi supply, unbothered by Hidden Dragon fortune loss.

Actually, with an idea in mind, not planning to open a new Human World Dynasty, trapped in the historical cyclical reincarnation, repeatedly contending for the dragon.

He seeks... to end this cycle!

Yet this is challenging, implicating many, affecting extensively, after all "Dragon Contention" is the cake of Great Gods, even Upper Realm Heavenly Gods, not easily moved.

Hence Shen Hex’s idea remains tucked inside.

"Take it one step at a time."

"First solve the Lanruo Ghost Realm, then break the current stalemate."

"Organize the army, prepare for battle!"