“Royal gods? And two of them?” Dustin frowned at the news.
His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn’t send weaklings into the field.
One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn’t even the question. He’d be lucky just to make it out alive.
“That’s right,” Grace said solemnly. “The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They’re even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim.”
She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young.
Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren’t just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.
The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him.
“Well, that complicates things.” Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.
Two royal gods, and both were stronger than Poseidon. They were far beyond what he could handle right now.
“I’ve got two suggestions,” Grace said suddenly. “Do you want to hear them?”
“Oh?” Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear it.”
“First one-lay low. Find a place to hide for now,” she suggested.
As long as Zeus and Hera couldn’t track him down, he’d stay safe.
“Oakvale isn’t huge, but it’s not exactly small either,” Dustin replied. “With the Hall of Gods’ influence, even if I go into hiding, it’s only a matter of time before they find me.”
The Hall of Gods has eyes everywhere, and their intel network is one of the best. Clearly, hiding wasn’t the solution.
“You’re right.” Grace nodded. “It’s not hard for them to find you. But if you hid in Sacred Wrym Summit, and even if they knew where you were, they wouldn’t dare get close.” She smiled faintly.
With a terrestrial immortal like Arion guarding the place, even the Hall of Gods wouldn’t dare step out of line.
The battle at Sacred Wrym Summit had cost them dearly. Bailey-their newly crowned royal god-and a squad of top-tier elites from several nations had all been wiped out by Arion alone.
Since then, the Hall of Gods had blacklisted the region and declared it off-limits. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to try again.
“Hiding out at the summit might keep me safe, but I can’t stay holed up forever. I’m not going to spend the next few years burrowed away like a coward.” Dustin shook his head.
“The Sacred Wrym Summit had Dracan force. With your talent, you’d only need three to five years to reach a full breakthrough. Once you reach that level, you won’t have to fear the Hall of Gods anymore,” Grace said.
“Any other options?” Dustin asked while avoiding a direct response.
To him, hiding for years wasn’t something he wanted unless it was absolutely necessary. And even if he managed to hide, what about his friends and family?
If Zeus and Hera can’t find him, they might pursue those close to him, which could turn into a real problem.
Grace seemed to have anticipated his response and didn’t try to persuade him further. Instead, she got straight to the point.
“The second option is riskier and involves the Dracan essence,” she said. “I’ve mentioned before that the Dracan essence is tied to the nation’s fate. Once it’s collected, it can stabilize the government.
“But beyond that, it can also help martial artists with their training. If you absorb all five sources of the Dracan essence, your cultivation will improve dramatically. At that point, you might even have a shot at reaching the level of terrestial immortals.”
“Absorb the Dracan essence?” Dustin frowned slightly.
He had heard of this before, but still had some reservations. Would this affect the fate of the nation? Could it bring ruin to Dragonmarsh?
He wasn’t a saint, but he wouldn’t do something to harm the people.
“You don’t need to worry too much.” Grace seemed to sense his hesitation and smiled.
She added, “The Dracan essence can’t be refined. Once you absorb it, Dragonmarsh won’t be affected negatively. On the contrary, it will not only boost your cultivation but also significantly enhance your luck. As long as you’re alive,. Dragonmarsh will be fine.”
“So, you mean I’d be carrying the entire nation’s fate on my shoulders?” Dustin’s face turned serious.
“That’s one way to look at it.” She nodded.
“That sounds too risky.”
He frowned. That was a huge burden, and he wasn’t sure he could carry it.
“If it were anyone else, I’d say no. But I trust your character. Putting the fate of the nation in your hands-it’s the right choice. For me, for you, and Dragonmarsh,” Grace said earnestly.
She was a disciple of the Regal Observatory and skilled in the art of Astral Gazing. In her eyes, Dustin was destined for greatness. Every step he took shifted the tides of Dragonmarsh’s fate.
When the nation’s destiny passed into his hands, it would give him strength in critical moments. And as he absorbed its power, Dragonmarsh wouldn’t just endure -it would flourish.
In other words, it was a win-win situation. For personal and political reasons, she believed the risk was worth it.
