Chapter 463: Regretted Again

Earlier, in the Virtual World, Yangyuan Emperor was speaking with another Emperor.

This Emperor, who had a single horn on his head and black, arcane patterns on his face, was none other than Yangyuan Emperor’s good friend, the Golden Tiger Emperor.

"Yangyuan, the news about your Yangyuan Star Continent’s Solar System is still making the rounds," the Golden Tiger Emperor remarked.

The Solar System was part of the Yangyuan Star Continent, so when many powerful experts discussed the Ancestral Dragon’s corpse, they simply referred to the Yangyuan Star Continent as a whole.

After all, the Solar System was so small that many experts had no idea where it even was.

That was why they always included the Yangyuan Star Continent when mentioning the Ancestral Dragon’s corpse.

"However, that Luoyu and the genius from your Star Continent, Li Yang, are in major conflict. I think you should try to mediate," the Golden Tiger Emperor suggested.

Besides the Ancestral Dragon’s corpse, the other major topic of discussion was the affair between the genius Li Yang and Luoyu of the Zun Lie Clan.

After all, many Deities and Emperors had been present when Luoyu directly declared war on Li Yang.

Upon hearing this, Yangyuan Emperor replied nonchalantly, "This is a matter between Li Yang and Luoyu. It’s not my place to interfere. Since Luoyu declared war on Li Yang, he wouldn’t necessarily listen to me even if I did say something."

He was extremely cautious and utterly unwilling to get involved in this mess.

’Li Yang is, after all, just a genius. Even with his immense Talent, no one can be certain how far he’ll actually grow in the future.’

’He could perish along the way, get stuck at a bottleneck, or remain at the Divine Realm for the rest of his life... All of these are possibilities.’

’And the Zun Lie Clan? What is their status? To me, the Zun Lie Clan is a behemoth, and the Zun Lie Venerable is an existence who could kill me in an instant!’

He had lived for countless years, and his personality had only grown more cautious. He would absolutely refuse to get even slightly involved in trouble he ought to avoid.

"Suit yourself."

Hearing Yangyuan Emperor’s reply, the Golden Tiger Emperor shook his head.

In his view, it was still a good idea to befriend a genius like Li Yang. Who knew? Perhaps Li Yang would truly rise to power in the future.

If he just put in a good word, the Zun Lie Clan couldn’t possibly do anything to Yangyuan Emperor. But if he spoke up for Li Yang at a time like this, Li Yang would definitely take it to heart.

Providing help in a time of need was a kindness one would remember for a lifetime.

However, Yangyuan Emperor had his own ideas. The Golden Tiger Emperor could offer his advice, but he couldn’t force him to change his mind.

"Hm?"

Just then, both of their wrist devices suddenly chimed. Looking down, they saw they had received a message.

"Oh? Yangyuan, we both received a message at the exact same time. Could it be an internal message from the Sacred Hall? Did something happen?" the Golden Tiger Emperor asked, puzzled.

"I’m not sure." Yangyuan Emperor shook his head. He tapped open his wrist device, and a message immediately materialized in the air before him.

"Li Yang is undergoing a strength assessment on the Path of Divinity. He has passed the 39th step and is now within the space of the 40th step."

It was a short message, but upon reading it, Yangyuan Emperor froze.

’Li Yang is being tested? He passed the thirty-ninth step?’

Yangyuan Emperor stared at the message, stunned for a moment, before a look of utter disbelief flashed in his eyes.

’How is this possible?’

’I know exactly what the fortieth step of the Path of Divinity signifies! It means Li Yang must already possess the strength of a Deity!’

’Even the Human Race’s current number one genius, Mixed Void, couldn’t possibly pass this step right now!’

It wasn’t just him; the Golden Tiger Emperor beside him was also stunned.

"Li Yang... the fortieth step of the Path of Divinity? How is that possible? Even Mixed Void might not pass it within a century, right? Forget a century, it hasn’t even been two decades, and he passed?" the Golden Tiger Emperor exclaimed in utter shock.

The two of them exchanged a look.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The two of them vanished. The next moment, their consciousnesses descended into the space of the Path of Divinity.

’Did he pass or not?’

The moment he entered the stairway space, Yangyuan Emperor was desperate to know the result.

He had a complicated feeling in his heart. A part of him almost hoped Li Yang hadn’t passed. If he had, wouldn’t that prove that he, Yangyuan, was truly blind to see?

But as soon as he arrived, he heard the consciousnesses of the many powerful experts in the space buzzing with discussion.

"Haha, Yangyuan, you’re here too?"

"This Li Yang from your Yangyuan Star Continent is unbelievable! He actually passed the fortieth step of the Path of Divinity!"

"His Talent is off the charts! The Talent Li Yang has shown is even a whole tier above Mixed Void’s!"

"That’s right! Mixed Void’s Talent can be considered among the top one hundred in our Human Race, but Li Yang’s Talent is definitely in the top ten!"

The powerful experts discussed amongst themselves.

’He passed?’ Hearing the experts’ discussion, Yangyuan Emperor remained silent.

He watched the video feed. In it, the middle-aged man vanished, leaving Li Yang standing alone in the space.

’In just a little over a decade, Li Yang now has the strength to kill Deities?’

’A little over ten years ago, even though Li Yang passed the twelfth step of the Path of Divinity, his strength was still incredibly weak back then.’

’After all, passing twelve steps only meant he had strength on par with the World Realm.’

’And the World Realm, to beings like us, is completely insignificant—like an ant!’

’But now, after just a dozen years, Li Yang can kill Deities?’

’The ability to kill a Deity... that kind of power is far beyond the realm of the weak!’

"This Li Yang is truly incredible."

"Since he passed, Li Yang is sure to be taken as a disciple by a Dominator."

"Which Dominator do you think will descend?"

More voices echoed from all around.

To Yangyuan Emperor, however, these voices were incredibly grating.

’Never mind the past. More recently, when Luoyu threatened Li Yang using Earth, Li Yang came to me for help. If I had just been willing to say a word on his behalf, any unpleasantness between us would have vanished, and he would have been grateful.’

’But I refused. Instead, it was another person from the Yangyuan Star Continent, Emperor Sword Mark, who helped him.’

’At the time, I even thought that Emperor Sword Mark was too young and naive, that he didn’t understand how terrifying the Zun Lie Clan was.’

’Afterward, when Luoyu declared war on Li Yang, I turned a blind eye again, with no intention of speaking up for him.’

’And how long has it been since Li Yang asked for my help? Only a few months!’

’In just a few months, Li Yang has suddenly revealed such immense Talent!’

’A Talent ranked in the top ten of the Human Race’s entire history... With a Talent like that, as long as he isn’t cut down prematurely, he’s destined to become an Emperor!’

’Have all the decisions I’ve made been wrong?’

Yangyuan Emperor was speechless, unable to describe the feeling in his heart.

He recalled what the Golden Tiger Emperor had said earlier. ’If I spoke up for Li Yang, the Zun Lie Emperor family absolutely couldn’t do anything to me.’

’Even if Luoyu chose not to listen, or even ignored me, Li Yang would have found out about the gesture. He would have been grateful and would have remembered it always.’

’It was a gesture with practically no risk, but I was still unwilling to make it.’

And now, it seemed it was too late to get on good terms with Li Yang.