Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

Ah Yin's life in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was far from ideal.

As soon as the three figures and one beast landed in the basin, Gu Yue's gaze fell upon two Blue Silver Grasses. Though they shared the same region, their fates were vastly different. With her sharp vision, Gu Yue immediately discerned what was happening to Ah Yin. Han Li was forcibly infusing her with energy, heedless of the damage it caused—piling on years of cultivation with little regard for the consequences. The purpose wasn't hard to guess.

A flicker of anger rose in her eyes. Even though they had agreed to cooperate, Han Li's actions were something she found difficult to accept. She turned her head coldly to look at him, silently demanding an explanation.

"She had a child with my enemy after she took human form. Oh, right—I forgot to mention that her son was chosen by the God of Asura as a pawn of fate. I killed him not too long ago. And now, one of my people needs a soul ring," Han Li said, spreading his hands and speaking casually.

Gu Yue's pupils contracted at the mention of the God of Asura, and her body trembled slightly as if the Asura Demon Sword had once again appeared before her. Beside her, Di Tian had begun telepathic communication. Using methods of the Myriad Demon King, they had gathered significant information from the continent, though Di Tian hadn't previously deemed it important enough to mention. He knew of Ah Yin—or rather, he knew of her unilaterally, having seen her more than once before she left the Blue Silver Forest.

"Are you sure he's completely dead? The gods of the Divine Realm are notoriously treacherous."

Gu Yue, initially ready to defend Ah Yin, now looked at the struggling Blue Silver Emperor with a hint of killing intent after receiving information from both directions. Her tone had shifted slightly, though it wasn't immediately obvious. Still, Han Li detected a trace of resentment in her voice.

"Of course. I always do things thoroughly. In fact, by the end, the God of Asura had already abandoned him—but I didn't."

Han Li's smile remained as warm as when they first met, yet to Gu Yue, it now seemed far more agreeable. What had once seemed deceitful now appeared brave and cunning. Perhaps it was all a matter of perspective.

Han Li ensured that Ah Yin couldn't hear them. Some things were better left unknown; it would only add to her suffering. In this regard, Han Li was quite considerate. He was never stingy with a bit of kindness toward his tools. Whether it was Ah Yin or Xiao Wu, he never made things too difficult for them. At the very least, when they died, they believed they had achieved something and that their own will had played a role.

"Here? May I set up my recovery space here?"

Gu Yue suddenly turned to Han Li. Her decision to descend wasn't solely about Ah Yin; she had sensed something else.

"Sure."

After a brief pause, Han Li nodded in agreement. It seemed her life had indeed been hard, to the point where she couldn't bear to give up even a small amount of immortal energy.

After using the plane's consciousness to convert faith power into immortal energy—or rather, after replicating the Slaughter City's formation—Han Li had realized something. The existence of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well wasn't due solely to the two Dragon Kings of Ice and Fire. The God of Asura had tampered with it; otherwise, no matter how powerful the site of the Dragon Kings' deaths, divine realm immortal herbs wouldn't grow here.

Immortal herbs absorbed a type of energy unique to the Divine Realm—immortal energy. Divine power does not equal immortal energy; it's a one-way transformation, with no reverse conversion.

Due to Han Li's unique circumstances, the plane's upgrade was tied to him, allowing him to convert faith into immortal energy, albeit with some loss. It was like having a mini Divine Realm hub. Others, however, weren't so fortunate. Gu Yue's recovery space, naturally, wouldn't work.

But in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the immortal herbs thrived and even matured. If this wasn't the work of the God of Asura, Han Li would drink the entire well dry on the spot.

Indeed, the place had been tampered with. Although the conversion rate was poor, it could still produce trace amounts of immortal energy. Combined with the contributions of the two Dragon Kings, it simulated the Divine Realm environment, allowing the immortal herbs to survive.

Since Han Li took over the area, however, the God of Asura had made no further moves. Han Li, protective of his resources, had tightly sealed the place, so there was no interference from the Divine Realm. Perhaps the God of Asura had already made his stance clear, which was why the Divine Realm Committee wasn't surprised that Han Li was slowly transforming into a divine form. In truth, though, Han Li's progress far exceeded their expectations.

Han Li pondered for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Gu Yue, as a new idea came to him.

"How about we make another deal?"

Gu Yue, pleased he had agreed to her request, glanced at him and nodded.

"Alright, what kind of deal?"

Han Li got straight to the point.

"I can help you convert half of your faith power into immortal energy. That way, with both divine power and soul power working together, your recovery will be even faster."

Han Li noticed the joy in Gu Yue's eyes and paused briefly before continuing.

"Of course, the price you'll have to pay is to open up the rules you control and understand and guide me to accelerate my comprehension. How about it?"

Han Li wasn't sure how powerful the qualitative leap promised by the plane's consciousness when he crossed the Divine Gate would be, but he knew one thing: striving to improve himself was never wrong. And right in front of him was the best possible teacher. As the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yue was naturally capable of controlling seven elements. (Note: There's some inconsistency in the original setting, but I'll go with the commonly accepted version.)

Water, fire, earth, wind, light, darkness, and space—among these, there were more than a few that Han Li could use as references. Having a teacher organize the material for him was faster than studying on his own once his good son fell asleep. After all, his fastest improvements had always come from absorbing the insights of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings.

"Deal."

Gu Yue didn't hesitate at all and agreed decisively. For her, there was practically no downside. Mastering elements and rules wasn't something that would diminish by teaching Han Li. Besides, she was confident that even if Han Li learned quickly, their degree of control over the same powers would vary greatly. Her origins alone ensured her starting point was where many, even gods, would end.

"Great, a pleasure working with you."

"A pleasure working with you."

They briefly clasped hands, then quickly released each other. Both were quite satisfied with the arrangement.

In Gu Yue's eyes, the fact that Han Li dared to maintain prolonged contact with her proved that this ally could be trusted—not to mention, he could provide high-quality resources to aid her recovery. To Han Li, this silver-haired, purple-eyed dragon was like the Golden Fleece—a goldmine brimming with untapped potential. It would be a waste not to take advantage, and she seemed more than willing. Who knows, maybe this was the epitome of beasts who shall never be slaves, unless they're offered food and shelter.

Nearby, Di Tian could only remain silent as the two of them completely ignored his presence.

"So, when are you moving? When will the connection be established? I may need to leave for a few days soon."

Seeing that the deal was finalized, Han Li didn't waste any more words and directly looked at Gu Yue, asking.

"Any time. I just need to make a quick trip back."

Gu Yue finally acknowledged her subordinate standing beside her with a glance. Since she was moving, there was no need to hold onto the Star Dou Forest, and her followers could come along to enjoy the benefits as well.

Di Tian bowed slightly to show he had no objections. Moving was nothing new to him—he had originally come down from the Divine Realm, after all. Following his lord was his duty.

"The sooner, the better. Let's set off immediately. It should take about two days."

After a moment of thought, Gu Yue factored in various considerations and offered a flexible time frame, seeking Han Li's approval with her gaze.

"Alright, that works. But let's head to the outskirts first. The rules here aren't strong enough yet to withstand your full power."

Han Li flipped his wrist, and a jade stone appeared in his hand. After glancing at Gu Yue, his fingers glowed as he quickly carved into the stone. In just a moment, a small figurine of Gu Yue was formed.

"This is a new communication tool. When you're ready to come over, or when you're nearby, use this to contact me."

He handed the item to Gu Yue. The previous jade token he had given to Di Tian had been forcibly modified by her, rendering it useless. To Han Li, it was akin to a user account being deleted, so he had to provide a new means of contact.

"You might as well make one for me too. My lord will likely spend most of her time in cultivation."

Seeing his actions, Di Tian proactively suggested, casting a glance at the new jade figurine. He wouldn't admit it, but he also liked shiny things.

"Alright."

Han Li glanced at him and didn't refuse. With another flick of his wrist, he produced a handful of variously colored jade tokens and gemstones, which he held out.

"Go ahead, pick one."

Di Tian looked at the identical tokens in Han Li's hand, each differing only in color, and then at the lifelike jade figurine in his lord's hand. Silently, he chose an obsidian token and tucked it into his pocket. To be honest, he wanted one like that figurine. No dragon could refuse it. But from Han Li's expression, it was clear he had no intention of offering one.

And in front of his lord, how could Di Tian dare to make such a request? His lord's item naturally had to be more advanced than his own.

Seeing that Di Tian had made his choice, Han Li put away the remaining tokens. He had made a bunch of these while practicing, after all. As for Gu Yue's figurine, it wasn't really that he was treating her specially. It was simply that, as his future teacher and leader, she deserved something more distinguished.

In time, as he progressed in his studies, he'd slowly offer her more. She'd probably be grateful for it too.