Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

The fusion of their souls did not mean that the permissions each possessed were fully open to the other. At that moment, Han Li was under immense pressure, channeling the power of the rules with all his might, revealing the world as he saw it to Gu Yue, with no reservations.

Fortunately, the faith he had previously received from the soul beast race had brought him closer to the rules, lightening the burden of wielding his authority. His soul was also improving rapidly. Yet, to help Gu Yue access the power of creation more directly, he was trying to strip away—or rather, separate—other interfering rules, allowing her to face them directly. This was his way of returning the favor.

This unexpected incident had indeed significantly boosted his strength, but these uncontrollable factors left Han Li feeling a bit uneasy. It wasn't that he disliked fortuitous encounters; he simply preferred to be in control. The sudden fusion of their souls made him feel like he was losing that control.

More importantly, despite sealing his memories, the fact that his thoughts and emotions were fully exposed to another person made him feel somewhat embarrassed. It felt like standing naked before someone, his mind too active for his comfort. This was also why Gu Yue could often hear him cursing the power of luck.

Yes, he cursed the will of the plane, but it was also a way for him to deflect attention. Only by doing this could he hide more of his thoughts. Of course, some things inevitably slipped through, like the thoughts Gu Yue had overheard.

Han Li didn't see himself as a good person. While he might label and vilify others when it came time to act, he never did so under the guise of justice—it was always for the sake of greater interests. He wasn't entirely sure whether this current situation had been influenced by the power of luck.

Even though he controlled the will of the plane, he hadn't discovered any so-called rule of fate in the Douluo Continent. Manipulating the power of luck did not equate to controlling the rule of fate. He could manipulate luck, but he'd long realized that there was no such rule in this world.

The power of luck affected the paths of all living beings, but no specific rule governed it. Perhaps this was his path forward? Han Li had considered this possibility more than once. Yet, he'd always lingered at the threshold. Since he had first glimpsed the power of luck tangibly, he'd studied it without truly comprehending it.

Apart from improving his luck—finding more money and almost always obtaining soul bones when hunting soul beasts—luck seemed to exist independently of both living beings and the rules, which at times drove him to frustration. Still, though he cursed, he had work to do.

Under Gu Yue's surprised gaze, Han Li linked their powers of luck. "Consider it payment. I don't like owing favors. Even if things fall apart later, at least this way, I won't feel guilty about betraying you."

Han Li's voice echoed in Gu Yue's mind. At the same time, the rules tied to the power of creation grew clearer to her, and she felt a newfound intimacy with them.

He wasn't a traditional lord of a plane. Typically, someone in his position would possess some authority, but they wouldn't have this level of power. Even their soul power—or rather, divine power—would, at best, only rival that of a second-rank god.

A thought crossed Gu Yue's mind, reflecting on Han Li. She could finally see it now, and she wouldn't waste this chance. Next time, Han Li might be less willing—he disliked this kind of soul fusion.

Gu Yue felt a bit perplexed. She didn't quite understand why he disliked it. This fusion was highly beneficial for increasing their strength, and besides, wasn't it pleasant?

However, her mind was soon fully immersed in comprehending the power of creation. Han Li caught her final emotion before she delved into the rules, detecting a faint trace of hidden grievance.

Han Li remained silent. This was a fundamental difference in their perspectives, as well as in their personalities. What could he say? In Gu Yue's view, aside from power and bloodline influences, her grasp of concepts like morality and ethics was minimal. He, however, had his values and worldview.

Now that her influence on him had been minimized, he finally felt more comfortable, with fewer chaotic thoughts filling his mind. What came from Gu Yue's side now were mostly her ever-deepening insights into the rules.

Han Li wasn't surprised by this and tried his best to block his thoughts and emotions. Although he hadn't fully read the entire series before he transmigrated, he knew enough to understand that her very existence embodied the power of creation.

As the possessor of the Dragon God's creation godhood, it would be absurd if she couldn't comprehend the power of creation. It was only her severe injuries that had kept her focused solely on the elemental powers she'd inherited.

But wait. How had she realized this only now? If it was for recovery, shouldn't she have thought of it sooner? After all, he had already provided her with faith power and immortal energy. Logically, if she aimed to resist the Divine Realm, she should have, as he previously speculated, concentrated on rules with greater destructive power.

Han Li's pupils dilated slightly as he glanced absentmindedly at the massive cloud of luck above them, which had somehow linked them together.

Could it be that they had already been influenced without realizing it?

Just then, he noticed a subtle shift in the power of luck.

Golden mist began to churn, like cotton spun on a loom, coming to life. One by one, golden threads wove into a net, forming a garment that draped around the outer layer of his soul.

Fate.

The word rose from the depths of his heart, and everything felt so natural, so inevitable.

He closed his eyes, and on the surface of his soul, the golden threads grew even more vibrant before quickly fading, as though merging seamlessly into his very being. Meanwhile, Gu Yue, whose soul was still intertwined with his, remained completely unaware, still absorbed in her understanding of the power of creation.

Perhaps it was just a moment, or perhaps a long time had passed, but eventually, Han Li opened his eyes. A trace of contemplation lingered in his gaze. It seemed as though he had realized something, yet also as if he hadn't.

As the golden threads of luck fused into his body, every experience he'd had since arriving in this world played out like frames in a rapidly flashing sequence. Unlike before, he could now see threads of varying intensities connecting to every person he encountered. And as he drew near, these threads would twist and shift to some degree. The closer they were to him, the more pronounced these changes became.

When he had released the simplified version of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he had detached himself, observing everything from above, as though looking down from outside the planet. At that moment, even the planet itself began to reflect these subtle shifts. Two darkened areas remained—Han Li recognized them instantly. One represented the future Sun-Moon Continent, and the other was the ocean, which he had deliberately ignored. Yet, even over the ocean, faint lights began to flicker.

Then, he woke up.

The corners of his mouth curled involuntarily. In that moment, he wanted to laugh—a hearty, almost maniacal laugh. But he held it in. That kind of laugh should be saved for when everything is truly settled.

Sensing the continuous insights rising from Gu Yue's side, he glanced at her. Even in soul form, she frowned with concentration. Han Li's eyes flickered, and a blood-red token with the character "Han," which he didn't particularly value, emerged from his soul and gently floated to rest on Gu Yue's forehead.

Her soul trembled, shrinking instinctively in fear. But when she sensed it was only Han Li's aura, devoid of Asura God's power, her eyes brightened. Her spiritual power wrapped around the token, and she refocused fully on the exposed power of creation.

Han Li's Deathgod Domain contained a trace of Asura God's power. Though he had cleansed it of Asura's presence through sacrifice, converting it into a force under his control, a faint essence of slaughter and judgment remained. While it wasn't as direct as the rule of destruction, slaughter opposed life as well. And now, he was using it to help Gu Yue provoke a reaction from the power of creation. This shift in the rules would deepen her comprehension.

In this state, he could stir the rule of destruction slightly, but doing so would rapidly deplete his soul power, leaving little time for Gu Yue's understanding. Moreover, there was another reason—the rule of destruction had left no mark on the continent. Even under concealment, he wasn't certain destruction wouldn't cast its gaze here. In contrast, he had used the Deathgod Domain multiple times, unnoticed, a classic case of hiding in plain sight.

Gu Yue, stimulating the power of slaughter, continually touched upon the power of creation. The light in her eyes grew brighter and brighter—she was close; she was almost there.

In Han Li's eyes, her very being resonated with the power of creation, drawing nearer and nearer, though she was entirely unaware of it. Could it be that she was too close to the mountain to see it? He mused. Was this too an expression of fate?

Han Li smiled as he observed. His soul power remained intertwined with hers, and the insights flowing from her soul continued to stream into his mind. He could feel her joy, while his thoughts remained detached, with nothing being transmitted back to her. Though he couldn't fully control it, this was a passive application of the power of fate, and he was already experimenting with these new changes within himself.

It was a strange sensation. In the next moment, Han Li chose to actively withdraw from this state, once again savoring the feeling of their souls fused, sharing in the joy emanating from Gu Yue.