Sea God Island.
"It's been a while. And this place hasn't changed a bit."
Yunlong stepped on the pearly white sand of the Sea God Island and looked up, gazing into the lush forest and discovering the Sea God Temple where the person he wanted to meet lived.
A beautiful woman.
And also his assumed daughter, if she still exists.
Yunlong glanced around and saw a middle-aged man sitting with a fishing rod on the edge of a cliff. It was Bing Chun, who's father and grandfather of Chu Yunxi and Chu Xiaoyu.
Without alerting Bing Chun, Yunlong arrived at his side and sat down calmly.
"What the fuck-!" Bing Chun was startled because someone bypassed his spiritual sense and appeared at his side abruptly.
He glanced to the left and saw a familiar-looking face. Even though the handsome man before his eyes appears to be older, he could see the resemblance to the cheeky young man who disappeared alongside his daughter and granddaughter three years ago.
"Y-You, Yunlong! You have returned?"
Yunlong smiled and nodded, "Yeah, just recently."
"Well, a month ago, to be exact."
"Don't you feel it when a wave of Divine Energy sweeps over the Douluo Continent and the island near it?"
Bing Chun was speechless because he thought that was a divine phenomenon. Who wouldn't think so as a brilliant golden light suddenly traveled across the horizon and blessed everyone?
In civilians' eyes, they received a blessing to cultivate because Yunlong granted them Spirit Energy. People who previously awakened martial souls but don't possess a sliver of Spirit Energy can become Spirit Masters now.
Well, it still depends on their innate talents. And some people are too old to start their journey as Spirit Masters.
Of course, people who are already Spirit Masters received even more benefits as their cultivation speed increased by twofold. Some lucky fellows even experienced the 2nd Awakening because of Yunlong's Divinity.
The Divinity of Miracle is strong, you know?
"Wait, does that mean Yunxi and Xiaoyu have returned too?" Bing Chun questioned with an exhilarated expression.
Bibi Dong hasn't seen them for three years now. He just got reunited with his daughter and granddaughter at the time, but ultimately separated again.
Yunlong smiled and replied, "They are."
"The Bright Spirit Empire's envoy didn't inform Sea God Island about this?"
"With the satellite and developed technology, such things should be spread in just a few seconds, no?"
Upon hearing Yunlong's replies, an awkward expression formed on Bing Chun's face. He could only sigh because the relationship between Bright Spirit Empire and Sea God Island became awkward three years ago.
Bing Chun laughed helplessly and uttered, "Bibi Dong-! I mean, the Empress hasn't told you about the isolation, huh?"
"Isolation?"
Bing Chun sighed and explained, "Yes, isolation. Even though the Sea God Island is part of the Bright Spirit Empire, it was shunned by the Empress because the God Trials you received were "inherently." sabotaged."
"She was more irritated toward Bo Saixi as she was useless as the Sea God's Representative. As the observer of Sea God's Trials, one should have known when something is out of reach Bibi Dong commented when coming to the island three years ago."
"She was angry because her one and only son disappeared to an unknown place." Bing Chun eyed Yunlong.
Yunlong chuckled in defeat and asked, "And then?"
Bibi Dong's anger is understandable, but Bo Saixi is powerless too.
After all, the Three Gods influenced that trials.
Ice God.
Sea God.
And Asura God.
Sea God and Asura God appeared to help him, but Yunlong wasn't sure yet. After becoming God himself, Yunlong discovered that divine-related things are more complicated.
One thing could lead to the universe's destruction, like how Douluo Dalu-101 became nothing but cosmic dust.
How did Yunlong know this? He left his Heavenly God's Mark there.
Listening to Bing Chun's story, Yunlong could only shake his head and glance at the Sea God Temple.
Bing Chun followed Yunlong's gaze and commented, "Bo Saixi has been shutting herself inside the Sea God for three years. She promised Bibi Dong to find your location through her Divination Technique and would share them with me as mediator."
"I might obtain Ice God's legacy by accident, but she will be stronger than me. Using Divination Technique recklessly for three years will shave her life force a lot, which requires extreme determination."
"I don't know how much life force she had left, but even Sea God's blessing wouldn't help her."
"She needs a miracle."
"Then she will get a miracle," Yunlong answered calmly.
Bing Chun frowned and criticized, "If only it is that easy, brat."
"You're not a god."
"I am. I am a god, old man." Yunlong disappeared from Bing Chun's side and fled to Sea God Temple.
"Go visit the Bright Spirit Empire Palace. You have a lot of things to catch up on about us, especially with Yunxi and Xiaoyu." Yunlong's voice appeared inside Bing Chun's head, leaving him in disbelief.
Bing Chun stood there silently and felt the overwhelming sensation disappear gradually. "Hah." A bitter laugh escaped his mouth.
"He's not even thirty and reached the Realm of God already."
"Aih, these old bones of mine can't compare."
Staring at the Sea God Temple, Bing Chun wore a defeated expression and mumbled, "At least I'm reassured that Yunxi and Xiaoyu would do just fine on his side."
...
...
Yunlong looked down at the Nine Heavens Steps and smiled because these stairs were a God's Artifact capable of twisting time and space spiritually.
Why so? It's because Kaguya told him she met with their children from the future, which means his children experience God's Trials in Nine Heaven Steps.
However, the probability of that happening is less than 0.0001%.
If Kaguya's luck didn't spark at that time, she wouldn't experience it.
Yunlong's eyes turned into golden rinnegan briefly as he observed the Nine Heaven Steps, smiling in realization.
"I see, so that's how it works." Yunlong satisfied his curiosity and turned around, looking up at the majestic-looking Sea God Island.
It still looked the same, but Yunlong could feel the sorrowful aura from within.
Yunlong stood before the massive metallic door made of gold and blue-colored mineral, pushing with his bare hands something he couldn't do in the past.
He stepped inside and saw a white-haired woman bowing on the ground, holding her hands like praying for something. Her pale and unhealthy face makes Yunlong's chest throb in pain.
"Please, Sea God. Great Ancestor..." A wishful voice escaped her dry throat.
"Please show me Yunlong's whereabouts."
"Please tell me if he was okay or not."
She teared up and whispered, "It's been three years."
"Please..."
"Ah..."
"Why!"
"Why am I so POWERLESS!" Bo Saixi couldn't contain her frustration and cried in despair.
"If only I were more powerful! More decisive! More useful!"
"They won't disappear!"
"HE won't disappear and is unknown to fate..."
"I'm sorry, Bibi Dong. I made a promise I couldn't fulfill."
Bo Saixi lay down and stared at the sunlight penetrating the Sea God Temple from above. Her formerly blue eyes have become lackluster and brimmed with blurriness.
A silhouette entered her blurry vision. It was the hallucination of a red-eyed young man with deep black hair.
"Yunlong, you're here?"
Yunlong nodded and answered, "I'm here, Saixi."
"No, you're not here. It is just a hallucination." Bo Saixi returned with a bitter expression.
She pouted and added, "It would be nice if Mommy... I mean, Kaguya was here too."
Yunlong held Bo Saixi's frail-looking hand and slowly pulled her into his embrace, hugging her gently. "What about this? Do you think I'm still an illusion created by your mind?"
"Bo Saixi, I'm back. Everyone is back."
"Y-Y-Yunlong, you're real?" Bo Saixi's eyes widened in shock.
"Am I not dreaming right now?"
"No, you're not. Here is a proof of that." Yunlong kissed Bo Saixi's lips carefully, recovering her physical and mental condition with his Divinity.
Bo Saixi melted and felt a rush of warm energy invading her body, making her feel comfortable. She let out a moan and hugged Yunlong with a longing expression.
"Yunlong."
"Yunlong."
"Yunlong."
"Yunlong."
"Yunlong."
"Yunlong."
"Yunlong~!" Bo Saixi cried in happiness.
It wasn't a dream.
Yunlong has finally returned.
"If I could return sooner, I would. But the situation on my side was more troublesome." Yunlong replied, giving Bo Saixi a gentle caress on the cheek. The rosy color has returned to her complexion.
"You have suffered a lot, Bo Saixi. It's my fault."
"No! I-It's not your fault." The stern Bo Saixi is no more. She was happy Yunlong came back.
She couldn't contain her emotion and smiled like it was the happiest day of her life.
"No, I could tell you're still blaming yourself." Yunlong gripped Bo Saixi's hand with slightly more power, jolting her awake.
"That's why..."
"Let me ease you, Saixi."
"Eh?" Bo Saixi watched Yunlong envelop her with his godly body, causing her to moan.
"Mm, Yunlong~!"