Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

Lan Yue God King didn't care about Bei Feng God King's petty thoughts, but a newly promoted God King was indeed worth paying attention to.

"I don't know how strong he is..." The God King Lanyue was more concerned about his actual combat strength. "His life path is relatively weak in killing in the early stages, but he is extremely strong in self-preservation and support. If he can really reach a high level, he probably won't even need to be at the second level. He will be of great benefit to the overall strategy of my Mother River... provided that he truly belongs to us."

He pondered for a moment, the sharp glint in his eyes slightly diminishing.

"Let's wait and see. Let's see how he reports to Lord Zongfu, and how Lord Zongfu arranges things. If he is truly a comrade devoted to the Dao, without any ulterior motives, then I, Lanyue, will welcome him. But if he harbors ulterior motives..." Beneath him, on the throne of the War Tomb, countless remnants of soldiers emitted a low hum, as if echoing his lingering killing intent. "Hmph!"

……

Mother River World is a vibrant, verdant land where vines intertwine like an ancient jungle.

This is where Qing Teng Hou (Lord Qing Teng) cultivates in seclusion.

In the center of the valley, a towering "Eternal Green Vine" stands majestically, its trunk exceeding ten thousand miles in diameter, its height immeasurable, and its entire body resembling a carving of azure divine jade. Its vines and leaves cover the entire sky, cascading down with boundless life essence.

At this moment, Qing Teng Hou was sitting cross-legged at the fork of the thickest main vine, surrounded by a rich azure life radiance. His aura had clearly reached the limit of the peak of the Chaos Realm, and he even faintly touched the barrier of the God King.

His face remained refined, but between his brows was a lingering anxiety and... an indescribable weariness.

Tens of millions of epochs have passed!

Ever since he sensed a breakthrough opportunity, he has been searching for it to break through that final barrier.

However, the realm of the God-King is not easy to attain.
That barrier, though seemingly as thin as a cicada's wing, was in fact as solid as the boundary of the source world.

No matter how hard he tried to grasp the essence, he always lacked that crucial, mysterious "light of inspiration" or "opportunity." His accumulation of knowledge was already sufficient, and his understanding of the Way of Life had reached the pinnacle of the Chaos Realm, yet he simply couldn't take that final step.

He could even feel that his Dao heart had become partially obscured due to his inability to break through for so long. The torment of having the dawn in front of him but being unable to reach it almost eroded his Dao heart, which had been steadfast for countless epochs.

Beep beep beep~~~~
A blue vine-shaped token, symbolizing high-level communication with the Mother River of Life, emanated from his waist and vibrated slightly.

Qing Teng Hou subconsciously focused his attention on it.

The next moment, he was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

His refined face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale. His pupils dilated uncontrollably, filled with disbelief, shock, bewilderment, and a trace of... rapidly spreading, deep-seated bitterness and self-mockery.

"Gu You...he...he's already a God-King?!"

The message was brief, yet it was like the sharpest icicle, piercing his most sensitive and vulnerable heart at that moment.

Ancient and secluded!

That junior, who had only recently entered the Chaos Realm, needed his own introduction to meet the two God-Kings, Qing'ai and Lanyue, hundreds of epochs ago!

That person, whom I once mentored as a "senior" and who was considered a promising "potential stock" for the future!
that……

just now……

The other party is already a god-king.

Meanwhile, he was still struggling in the mire of the peak of the Chaos Realm, with no way out.

"Haha...hahaha..." Qing Teng Hou suddenly laughed softly. His laughter was initially dry, then it carried an indescribable desolation and sorrow. "I have cultivated in vain for countless years, trapped in this realm...he has only existed for a few hundred epochs, yet he has already ascended to the God-King realm...is this the difference? Talent? Opportunity? Or...I have simply chosen the wrong path?"

His Dao heart trembled violently, and the steady life radiance around his body began to become disordered and fluctuate, even showing faint signs of collapse and backlash.

The "Eternal Green Vine" that he had nurtured seemed to sense the dramatic change in its master's mood. Countless vines moved without wind, emitting a rustling mournful sound, and the originally lush green leaves also became somewhat dull.

That's a huge blow!
This is not merely a difference in strength and status, but also an almost cruel denial of his countless eons of relentless pursuit.

……

Xuanhu City, Qingwu Palace.

After reassuring his disciples and Daoist partners and giving them a brief explanation, Gu You received a cyan leaf-shaped talisman from the core of the Mother River of Life, radiating a warm and vast Daoist aura of life.

The talisman moved without wind, hovering in front of him, and a calm yet undeniably majestic voice resounded directly in Gu You's sea of ​​consciousness: "Gu You God King, now that you have revealed your realm, you should come to the 'Mother River Source Palace' for an audience."

It was the voice of the God-King Munefu.

What's meant to happen will happen eventually.

Gu You remained calm, having anticipated this. With a flicker, he transformed into a stream of chaotic light and, following the guidance of the command token, vanished instantly from the Qingwu Palace.

Mother River World, Mother River Source Palace.

This is not a palace in the traditional sense, but a primordial space-time woven and evolved from endless laws of life. The Origin Palace itself is the core space inside a "World Tree" whose roots penetrate the world, whose branches and leaves block out the sky, and whose trunk is like a pillar of heaven.

The dome is a flowing galaxy of life, the ground is a warm and smooth life crystal, and the air is filled not only with rich life essence, but also with countless pale golden runes that are visible to the naked eye and represent different branches of the laws of life, dancing like elves.

At this moment, in this vast and sacred space, around a long table of cyan crystal with the core annual ring pattern of the World Tree, figures with auras that are either vast, profound, sharp, or obscure have gathered.

They are the true core of the Mother River of Life, standing above countless Chaos Realms and Eternal True Gods—the God Kings!

The main position is left vacant, clearly reserved for the God King Zongfu.

Seated at the head of the left was a man clad in dark gold armor, his physique as imposing as a mountain, his aura like a dormant volcano, his eyes sharp enough to cleave through the chaos. Even just sitting there, he exuded an aura of clashing swords and the ethereal sounds of battle; he was none other than the renowned Lan Yue God King, famous for his formidable fighting prowess and awe-inspiring presence across the Origin Continent. He closed his eyes to meditate, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the crystal tabletop, producing a dull, drum-like sound.

Beside Lan Yue, the God-King, stood Qing Ai, a gentle and graceful woman dressed in an elegant cyan dress. Her gaze softly followed the life runes dancing in the air; occasionally, with a light tap of her fingertips, a rune would become more vibrant, radiating a purifying and soothing rhythm. She and Lan Yue, one gentle and the other strong, were the right-hand women of the God-King Zong Fu.

On the right, at the head of the group, stood a colossal figure, so imposing that even seated he resembled a small mountain. His skin gleamed with a rocky, bluish-gray sheen, and his face, though seemingly simple, exuded an unparalleled aura of immense power. This was King Yu Fu, a sworn brother of King Zong Fu, and in terms of direct combat strength, he was said to be no less than Zong Fu!

He was holding a piece of meat from an unknown animal leg, gnawing on it with relish, completely oblivious to the sacred atmosphere around him.

Below the God King Yufu sat a handsome man with a gloomy face, gleaming eyes, and a faint gray aura swirling around him like a venomous snake. He was the God King of the Nether Bone, skilled in unorthodox methods such as life-and-death transformation, curses, and poisons. He was eccentric and few within the Mother River were willing to be close to him.

On the other side of the long table, there were several god-kings.

Wind Ripple God-King, a female god-king whose aura is as ethereal as the wind and whose figure seems to disappear into the air at any moment, cultivates the Great Dao of the Origin of Wind, whose speed is unparalleled in the Mother River, and is responsible for intelligence and surveillance.

Ironwood God King, an old man who seemed to have been reborn from the ashes, had a weathered face but his eyes were full of vitality. He was an expert in the combination of plant life and life energy, and was skilled in cultivation and defense. Thunder God King, a powerful figure with a fiery temper who had fought in dangerous places for many years, cultivated the Great Dao of Thunder Origin and was extremely powerful in killing. At this moment, he had only condensed an avatar here.

In addition, there were two or three other locations where the aura was even more obscure, as if it had merged with this primordial space-time of life. It was almost impossible to detect without special perception. These were the more low-key or inconvenient god-kings within the Mother River.

At the end of the long table, near the entrance, the North Wind God King sat upright, his face slightly gloomy and unnatural.

He had previously "visited" Xuanhu City with the intention of "making a deal" but was rebuffed. Now that Gu You had been formally summoned as a God-King, he felt quite embarrassed.

hum-

The space rippled slightly, gentle yet dignified.

At the head of the long table, a figure in a simple black robe appeared silently.

His face was ordinary, and his smile was gentle, but when he appeared, all the flying life runes in the entire Mother River Source Palace seemed to become more orderly and joyful, and even the World Tree seemed to sway gently, drooping more life radiance.

"Lord Sofu!"

"Zongfu!"

"Brother Zongfu!"

All the god-kings, including Yu Fu who was gnawing on meat and Lan Yue who had his eyes closed, stopped what they were doing, stood up and paid their respects, speaking in a respectful tone.

This is the prestige of the Lord of the River of Life.

"Please be seated." King Zongfu smiled and waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over each of the kings present. He paused briefly on Lanyue, Qing'ai, and Yufu, nodded, and then looked towards the palace gate. "I have gathered you all here today to welcome a newly promoted fellow cultivator—King Guyou."

The voice just fell.

At the palace gate, the vine archway, naturally formed by the laws of life, rippled.

A figure dressed in a simple gray linen robe, exuding a refined and restrained aura, slowly walked in.

It is indeed ancient and secluded.

In an instant, the gazes of all the god-kings—gentle, sharp, curious, scrutinizing, cold, and indifferent—all focused on him.

Gu You seemed oblivious to all the gazes directed at him, his steps calm and his breathing steady. He walked to the long table, facing the God King Zongfu in the main seat, as well as the other God Kings on either side, and bowed respectfully, his voice clear and peaceful: "Gu You greets Lord Zongfu and fellow Daoists."

Neither humble nor arrogant, one's demeanor naturally exudes composure.

The God-King Zongfu showed no emotion, and slightly raised his hand: "Fellow Daoist Guyou, please take a seat." He pointed to an empty seat on the right side of the long table, between the God-King Minggu and the God-King Tiemu.

Gu You sat down as instructed, his expression calm.

"Fellow Daoist Gu You cultivates the Great Dao of Life. He joined my Mother River hundreds of epochs ago and has been cultivating in seclusion in Xuanhu City until recently, when he finally revealed the realm of a God-King." God-King Zongfu introduced him briefly, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "From this day forward, Fellow Daoist Gu You is officially a core member of my Mother River of Life, enjoying the powers and responsibilities of a God-King. Everyone, do you have anything to say?"

The atmosphere became slightly tense.

Lan Yue God-King spoke first, his voice like the clash of metal: "Gu You, you concealed your strength and cultivated in seclusion in my Mother River territory for hundreds of epochs. Now you have revealed yourself and ascended directly to the God-King level... There should be an explanation for this." He asked directly and without any politeness, representing the doubts in the hearts of many God-Kings.

Gu You looked at Lan Yue and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Lan Yue, my Dao lies in the origin of life, seeking evolution and transcendence. When I first joined the Mother River, I sincerely sought like-minded people and resources to aid my cultivation. I concealed my strength, firstly to avoid unnecessary external disturbances, and secondly to focus on myself and solidify my Dao foundation. I had no other intentions. Now that my realm is initially solidified, I should be frank and share the Great Dao with you all."

He paused, then added, "In terms of contributions to the Mother River, I am indeed not as long-standing and profound as you fellow Daoists, but the future is long, and I am willing to do my best."

The Azure Mist God King spoke at the opportune moment, his voice gentle, easing the atmosphere: "Fellow Daoist Gu You has a pure heart and is focused on cultivation, making him a role model for us all. The Great Dao of Life is vast, and having another fellow Daoist to study it is a blessing for my Mother River. The past has already been explained, so there is no need to mention it again. Fellow Daoist Gu You, welcome."

Yu Fu God King laughed heartily, his voice booming: "Anyone who can become a God King in just a few hundred epochs is no worse than me and Zong Fu! Who cares why he was hiding his abilities before? As long as he has the skill, that's enough! Gu You, you can come and spar with me sometime in the future, let me see if your Dao of Life can take a beating!" As he spoke, he waved his arm, which was thicker than a normal person's thigh.

The Netherworld Bone God King gave a sinister smile, his voice high-pitched: "The Great Dao of Life... it's quite common. I just don't know if it's truly capable, or just all show and no substance?"

Gu You glanced at him, but did not get angry. He simply said, "If Fellow Daoist Ming Gu is interested, we can exchange skills and verify our understanding in the future."

The Wind Ripple God-King's figure was elusive, as if she might turn into the wind and disappear at any moment. She said softly, "Now that the Ancient Nether God-King has revealed herself, according to the rules, she should have corresponding authority and obligations. Lord Zongfu must have already made arrangements."

A smile appeared on the weathered face of the Ironwood God King, and he nodded to Gu You as a friendly gesture.

Those few god-kings with obscure auras remained silent, as if they were merely bystanders.

The avatar of the North Wind God King coughed lightly, trying to make his tone sound natural: "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Gu You. There was a slight misunderstanding before, I hope you can forgive me."

Circumstances dictate that he had no choice but to yield.

After taking in everyone's reactions, the God-King Zongfu slowly spoke: "I am aware of Fellow Daoist Guyou's sincerity. Since we are fellow practitioners, we should treat each other equally."

He looked at Gu You and said formally, “Gu You, if you are willing to rule the country, we can help you carve out a territory on the edge to establish a third-rate country. If you are not willing to rule the country, you can get 3% of the total tax revenue of the Mother River World.”

Even though it's a third-rate kingdom, the Mother River World can still help Gu You seize it on the outskirts. However, the subsequent defense and expansion will depend on Gu You himself.

"I choose 3% of the resources." Gu You didn't hesitate and made his choice directly. A third-rate country is useless; it's a waste of energy and, being isolated on the periphery, requires constant vigilance against attacks from the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom.

On the contrary, the 3% tax share may seem small, but it actually represents a significant amount of resources!

The River of Life has permeated more than 30% of the territory of the Origin Continent, and the resources it has collected are enormous. Looking around, even if there are still God-Kings hiding, Gu You dares to assert that the number of God-King level experts in the River of Life will not exceed 15!
Different strengths lead to different treatment. Zongfu God-King definitely receives far more than 3% in tax revenue. Judging from the expressions of the God-Kings around him, 3% should be normal, neither more nor less.

"Very good. You may study the first three volumes of the 'Myriad Spirits Longevity Chart,' which is the core inheritance of the Mother River. If the Mother River needs your help in any matter, I hope you will not refuse. What do you say?" The God King Zongfu was not surprised by Gu You's choice, because most of the God Kings of the Mother River had grudges against the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom. They gathered together to stick together for mutual support, and no one wanted to go to a foreign land alone.

Gu You rose and bowed solemnly: "Your Excellency Zongfu's kindness is witnessed by all fellow Daoists. Gu You will certainly abide by the agreement and advance and retreat together with the Mother River." He didn't know what this "Myriad Spirits Longevity Diagram" was, but since it was called a core inheritance, it couldn't be too bad.

"Good!" King Zongfu nodded in satisfaction, waving his hand to conjure cups of nectar condensed from the essence of life. "Everyone, let's drink from this cup together. Welcome, Fellow Daoist Gu You!"

"Welcome, Fellow Daoist Gu You!" Lan Yue Divine King raised his cup, his sharp eyes softening slightly.

"Welcome." The Azure Mist God-King smiled and raised his glass.

"Drink!" King Yufu picked up a wooden bucket that was bigger than his head.

The other god-kings also raised their glasses in greeting. (End of Chapter)