Rebirth as a Time Dragon

Ten years might not be particularly long for ordinary humans. Even for average dragons and other long-lived beings, it's just a nap's worth of time.

For eternal and immortal deities or quasi-divine beings, it's but a blink of an eye, a fleeting moment.

Before the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict began, the Nine-faced Dragon God, accompanied by the Metallic Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen, traversed every world, stepping across the endless planes. In just six years, the Nine-faced Dragon God had reacquainted himself with and regained control over the rules of the multiverse, returning to his peak state.

Such ancient top-tier deities, no matter how long they had been silent, could still recover their former power at an astonishing rate upon their return, shocking the entire world.

In the Hero's Domain, Dragon Court dimension, the Hall of Eternal Spirits.

The silver giant dragon, curled up in his lair, slowly opened his eyes. His platinum dragon pupils glowed brilliantly, deep and vast, as if reflecting the starry sky.

Due to prolonged sleep and absorption of life energy, Garon's biological level had almost risen again over these ten years. Though it remained at ninety, it was closer to ninety-one, approximately ninety point nine.

For both deities and quasi-divine beings, progress became increasingly difficult the further one advanced.

His current jump from ninety to ninety-one could equate to the growth between sixty and seventy, which was ten levels.

Even Garon couldn't achieve rapid progress now, but he wasn't disappointed. After all, he was not even three hundred years old, still in his prime. In the eyes of many immortal deities, this age was akin to a newborn.

In Garon's plan, achieving quasi-high divine power during his ancient dragon stage would be quite satisfactory.

Upon waking, Garon pondered the events of the past decade.

The Abyss remained chaotic.

Demon princes, demon lords, and malevolent deities were engaged in endless battles over the layers of the Abyss, akin to warlords in constant strife, engulfed in ceaseless warfare.

Reportedly, some demons, overwhelmed by the current state of the Abyss, developed severe aversion to the conflict and even chose to flee to the peaceful and serene Mount Celestia, voluntarily undergoing purification by the Holy Light, becoming rare demon paladins.

The Wild Gods, however, had been active.

When the Nine-faced Dragon God and the Lord of Terror were resurrected in the Blazing Hell, the long-dormant Wild Gods were exposed to the other deities.

The gods realized that the Wild Gods, who had been defeated in the primordial era, were planning a comeback to overthrow the divine rule.

But with the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict approaching, determining the future structure of the gods, their attention was more on the pact than on the Wild Gods. They increased their vigilance but took no formal action against them yet.

Once the Pact of Non-Conflict ended, the gods would begin dealing with the Wild Gods.

The Wild Gods, aware of their exposure, ceased hiding.

In the past decade, traces of Wild Gods' activities were found in various realms.

Dormant for long, the primordial Wild Gods began to surface gradually, reappearing in the world.

However, they caused no major destruction and often vanished quickly, not lingering in divine territories for long. The gods' focus remained on the Pact of Non-Conflict, so no real conflicts erupted yet.

However, various intelligent species grew increasingly fearful of the Wild Gods, recognizing them as terrifying forces wishing to destroy the world and life, and acknowledging their formidable power.

"The Lord of Terror... should have regained its power by now."

"Its strength seems to stem from primordial terror."

"Whether it's the fear of darkness in ordinary beings, the fear of light in dark beings, or even the terror harbored by gods or Wild Gods... all these different types of fear are its sustenance, its power source."

Every being, even gods, harbored fear of certain things.

Especially during wars, the terror between life and death was common, allowing the Lord of Terror to exhibit formidable combat power, being the top-tier of Wild Gods.

"Whether the Pact of Non-Conflict is won or lost."

"The Wild Gods must be dealt with."

Garon believed that the attack he suffered from the Goddess of Life was likely a disguise by a Wild God. Although he had no evidence, at his level of quasi-divine power, intuition often represented the truth.

The dragon war drew attention, serving as a perfect cover for the Wild Gods' secret actions.

However, even if the attack had nothing to do with the Wild Gods, they couldn't be allowed to roam freely anymore.

The Wild Gods sought to destroy life, shatter planes, and return the multiverse to its primordial state.

What was the primordial era like?

Garon had witnessed it during his time in the Valoran continent's alternate timeline.

Desolate, cold, lifeless, and devoid of vitality, the entire world was lifeless and dull.

Garon wasn't a traditional deity, so the extinction of countless lives and the lack of faith had no impact on him, but he disliked a boring and desolate world.

Like the Nine-faced Dragon God and Annan, Garon's predecessors were once Wild Gods. However, they fought against the Wild Gods who loved the lifeless environment and hated the vibrant world of life, finding the desolate world tiresome and dull.

Now, the term Wild Gods referred only to those who still longed for the primordial era.

As Garon pondered, his Force Dragon mate moved closer, entwining her tail with Garon's silver long tail.

The silver giant dragon turned his gaze to his mate.

Yuna blinked, her pale purple eyes meeting Garon's. In a soft, coquettish voice, she said, "Garon, according to you and the Dragon Lord, only one Time Dragon can exist in a timeline."

"But I want to have a Time Dragon baby with you."

"Is it really impossible?"

Yuna was now also in her prime.

For ordinary dragons, the prime stage was when they had the strongest desire to reproduce. Dragon couples often chose to lay their first clutch of eggs during this period. White Dragon Mother was an exception, as she had laid eggs before maturity without ever having true contact with a male dragon.

Now, nearing four hundred years old, White Dragon Mother remained a single dragon.

With Garon, the Dragon Lord, as a paragon, White Dragon Mother found ordinary dragons unworthy.

White Dragon Mother's mate selection criteria were set unreachably high.

Returning to the topic.

Even legendary dragon species, during their prime, were most eager to reproduce and have offspring. This was the best time for them, with their reproductive abilities at their peak.

Driven by dragon instincts, Yuna was eager to lay a clutch of eggs with Garon.

Garon shared the same desire, being in his prime and full of energy.

After pondering for a moment, under Yuna's heated gaze, Garon responded, "Having a Time Dragon baby is difficult. This timeline already has me, so another Time Dragon won't be born. If we combine, we should have a Force Dragon baby."

As far as Garon knew, all Time Dragons shared the same soul, essentially being himself.

If a Time Dragon baby were truly born, Garon would feel quite awkward with a child sharing his soul.

To be his own father and son at the same time?

Such an ethical relationship was too strange and avant-garde for Garon to accept.

"A Force Dragon baby is fine too."

Yuna leaned in, her faceplate touching Garon's, her voice tinged with light breaths.

Then, Garon, responding to the call for more dragon births, began the effort to create new legendary dragon species with his mate.

But this attempt didn't last long.

Because the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict was about to begin.

The duel between top-tier gods, especially of this caliber, couldn't be held in a prepared arena. The battle between the Nine-faced Dragon God and Haotian Shangdi would take place in the vast depths of the Astral Sea.

When the Pact of Non-Conflict was set, intelligent species in the Astral Sea began to evacuate.

In thirty years, due to the unique nature of the Astral Sea, most had already evacuated.

As for those who might still remain... they could only pray not to be caught in the crossfire.

On the eve of the Pact of Non-Conflict, Garon and Yuna halted their activities and projected their spiritual forms into the Astral Sea.

Upon arrival, Garon's vision shifted from the treasure-filled dragon's lair to the vast, beautiful silver void.

The Astral Sea was still as magnificent as ever, like an endless silver ocean, with countless silver points, streams, and vortices flickering and moving. The semi-transparent astral veins resembled a network of blood vessels, and multicolored pools of light dotted the landscape.

Streams of light passed through the Astral Sea, condensing into silent figures.

Ninety-nine percent were divine avatars.

Divine power filled the infinite space of the Astral Sea, fluctuating and surging, with divine light overshadowing the native silver glow, adding vibrant hues.

During the Shura duel, many gods descended in person.

Because in the duel between lesser and intermediate divine powers, the witnessing gods didn't need to worry about their safety due to the dueling field's constraints.

But this third and final duel between top-tier divine powers couldn't be compared. Especially since both combatants were not ordinary top-tier deities but were at the pinnacle of the divine hierarchy. Every word and action could spark speculation among the gods, and every move could shake the multiverse.

Except for top-tier deities, most gods arrived in avatar form.

Both Haotian Shangdi and the

 Nine-faced Dragon God had already arrived in the Astral Sea's depths.

Watching the Nine-faced Dragon God, who exuded an aura of inclusiveness, transcendence, and neutrality, many gods communicated through divine thought, exchanging countless ideas in an instant.

"I always thought the Nine-faced Dragon God Io was an ordinary chief deity, just stronger than the Metallic Dragon God or the Immortal Dragon Queen."

"But now it seems that's not the case."

When the Nine-faced Dragon God first resurrected, many gods didn't think much of it, believing that no matter how strong the dragon lord was, he couldn't compare to Haotian Shangdi.

Curious, many gods researched this ancient dragon deity.

They discovered they were completely wrong.

The Dragon of Rules, the World-shaping Dragon, the Lord of Gods... these titles preceding "dragon lord" indicated extraordinary status.

"The most formidable top-tier deity in the multiverse, versus the avatar of the God of Gods..."

"Who is stronger?"

With this question, the gods held their breath, focusing on the depths of the Astral Sea, where the two supreme deities stood.

They seemed to occupy the center of all attention.

"Garon, who do you think will win?"

Yuna, also here to watch, asked curiously, her eyes wide as she looked at Garon.

Garon thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say."

"If we compare the multiverse to an ordinary prime material world."

"Haotian Shangdi is like a deity from an outer plane, and the Nine-faced Dragon God is the top-tier native being."

"They are on the same level, making it impossible to predict the outcome."

Yuna nodded in realization, saying, "Since it's uncertain, I hope the dragon lord wins."

Force Dragons didn't involve themselves much with dragon affairs.

But they weren't foolish, understanding they were still part of the dragon race.

If the dragons gained dominance, legendary dragon species could still remain aloof and proud, untouched by the mundane.

But if the dragons declined... the inherently divine legendary dragons would attract countless covetous eyes, causing endless trouble, making their peaceful lives impossible.

Force Dragons couldn't hide from the world, and Prismatic Dragons couldn't immerse themselves in their beloved stories.

Of course, legendary dragon species were also important to the dragon race. Even if they were aloof and indifferent, their existence alone was a deterrent.

"Are there Force Dragons and Prismatic Dragons observing in secret?"

Garon squinted, looking at the silent figures in the silver void.

However, the battle between these two top-tier deities was too rare, attracting numerous divine avatars and quasi-divine beings, even from the Abyss.

In the past thirty years, every time the Pact of Non-Conflict began, the Abyss briefly calmed.

"With such a mix of beings, and so many divine avatars and quasi-divine presences."

"It would be hard to notice legendary dragon species here."

Garon shook his head slightly.

At the same time, Garon's eyes focused when he saw a giant figure.

In his view, the giant figure was a deity in person, not an avatar.

His eyes were like vast suns, deep and tranquil, with countless stars moving in a unique pattern on his body, reflecting a complete universe.

The former giant chief deity, the Father of All Worlds, Annan, known as the Creator alongside the World-shaper Io.

Due to Io's return and imminent duel with Haotian Shangdi, this reclusive Creator had left his microcosm to witness the Pact of Non-Conflict.

"Like the Star Forger Dragon King..."

Having seen the Star Forger Dragon King, Garon observed Annan, pondering.

In various timelines, similar powers were often wielded by different entities.

The Star Forger Dragon King's power to forge stars and create worlds might be the primordial power Annan wielded in the main timeline.

Noticing Garon's gaze, Annan turned, his expression gentle, and glanced at the silver giant dragon before looking back at Io and Haotian Shangdi.

Simultaneously, Io looked at Annan, their eyes meeting in mutual smiles.

As Annan once told the Dragon Gods, he had a good relationship with Io.

When building the multiverse's planar framework, one shaped the rules, the other created worlds. The World-shaping Dragon and the Creator had frequent interactions, exploring the mysteries of existence and aspiring to reach levels beyond top-tier deities. They had experimented many times but never succeeded.

They exchanged no words, merely a glance before Io turned his gaze to his opponent.

Time passed quietly.

The gods focused on the Astral Sea.

The time for the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict had arrived.

But the two top-tier deities hadn't made a move yet. Instead, they stared at each other, seeking the best opportunity, trying to find each other's weaknesses.

"Io, the completeness of the multiverse's rules, the world's vibrant life, you deserve much credit."

"I'm glad to see you resurrected and look forward to our battle."

Haotian Shangdi spoke.

In his ever-serene and deep purple-gold eyes, a hint of excitement appeared.

Io didn't show the reverence other deities did towards Haotian Shangdi, but neither was he arrogant. He calmly responded, "This is my first official battle since my return. I hope it satisfies you and rekindles my fighting spirit."

After a moment of observation, unable to find each other's weaknesses, the two deities, with a courteous greeting, simultaneously unleashed their top-tier divine power.

Io spread his wings, his white dragon scales glowing with various colors.

At the same time, the silver void of the Astral Sea trembled.

Crackling sounds echoed as countless rule chains intertwined, invisible to ordinary eyes, emerging from the silver background, converging on Io's body.

Io stood at the center of the endless rules, like the revered king of the Astral Sea.

The farthest corners of the Astral Sea were tinged with Io's aura.

Simultaneously, Io's body began to expand, becoming vast and majestic. Each scale, inscribed with rule imprints, was larger than the known largest stars, with his eyes surpassing the size of the biggest suns.

This was an unimaginably vast form.

Only intermediate divine powers could barely perceive Io's full form.

Even lesser deities, already incomprehensible to mortals, could only glimpse fragments of Io.

On the other side.

Haotian Shangdi's divine power surged, his purple-gold eyes shining like tangible light.

With hands behind his back, his noble imperial robe fluttered, expanding with his body.

Crackling sounds echoed as rule chains locked onto Haotian Shangdi.

Haotian Shangdi extended his hand.

A perfectly straight blade light pierced the Astral Sea, a flash causing many gods' eyes to sting. When their vision cleared, they saw a white straight line, its start and end unknown, imprinted in the Astral Sea, creating a miraculous sight.

Haotian Shangdi held a purple-gold divine sword.

The sword's edge was hidden, its body noble purple-gold, with three flamboyant characters engraved on the hilt in the script of the Heavenly Court.

[Tian Di Sword]

Wielding the Tian Di Sword, Haotian Shangdi shattered the rule chains.

Unhindered, he transformed into an equally vast form as Io.

Simultaneously, Haotian Shangdi slashed with the Tian Di Sword, locking onto Io.

Silently, a purple-gold sword light resembling a celestial river slashed towards Io, annihilating any star islands in its path.

In an instant, the sword light reached Io.

Io extended his claw, moving countless rule chains.

Rigid, solid, eternal, and heavy... all defensive rules glowed brilliantly, intertwining on Io's claw, forming imprints on each scale, pulsing with life.

Clang!

Io's claw met the purple-gold sword light.

A powerful shockwave swept the Astral Sea.

The purple-gold sword light shattered, and the rule imprints on Io's claw also cracked and faded.

In the first exchange, both sides were evenly matched.

Haotian Shangdi's eyes burned with growing battle intent.

"All heavens and worlds, I am the supreme heavenly principle, the center of the heavens."

He declared.

Thick, liquid-like purple-gold light surrounded Haotian Shangdi, rising and forming a ring behind him, with irregular protrusions.

This ring was called the Center of the Heavens.

Like the Tian Di Sword, the Center of the Heavens was a manifestation of Haotian Shangdi's power, part of him.

The Center of the Heavens began to turn.

Space warped.

The once distant Io was instantly moved to a sword's length from Haotian Shangdi.

As the Center of the Heavens turned, Haotian Shangdi swung the Tian Di Sword into the silver void of the Astral Sea. As Io was moved, the sword, with a dangerous arc, slashed at Io's neck.

The watching deities shivered.

This move was sudden and unanticipated. If they imagined themselves as Io, they felt they would be beheaded by Haotian Shangdi's sword, powerless to resist.

But Io, as if foreseeing it, extended his claw in advance, blocking his neck.

Sparks flew as the claw met the Tian Di Sword, layers of fine scales being cut, cracks spreading, with sacred blood staining the blade.

Simultaneously, Io's other claw, entwined with destructive rules, struck towards Haotian Shangdi's divine core.

The Center of the Heavens turned again.

Space twisted, and the coordinates in the Astral Sea shifted.

Haotian Shangdi and Io were separated, maintaining a distance.

Io flexed his claw.

Regenerative rule chains entered the scales cut by the Tian Di Sword, instantly restoring them.

Haot

ian Shangdi looked at his chest.

His imperial robe, adorned with sun, moon, stars, and mountains, had tears and faint bloodstains.

The Center of the Heavens had moved quickly, but Haotian Shangdi still suffered some injury.

The purple-gold light flickered and vanished.

The imperial robe was restored, the injury gone.

"The battle between Io and Haotian Shangdi seems intense."

"Who will win?"

Many gods wondered.

The duel showed neither a clear advantage nor disadvantage, unlike the previous rounds where the outcomes were one-sided, with clear distinctions between the strong and the weak.

Haotian Shangdi used the Center of the Heavens to continuously shift space.

Io tried to fix and control space with his mastery of spatial rules but couldn't fully negate the Center of the Heavens' influence.

Repeatedly, Haotian Shangdi moved Io to his attack point, dodging Io's counterattacks by shifting himself or Io.

For a short time, Haotian Shangdi held a slight advantage.

But turning this advantage into victory seemed impossible unless Io never deciphered the Center of the Heavens' ability, allowing Haotian Shangdi to slowly accumulate an edge.

After being moved again.

Io's scales bore new cracks, instantly regenerated.

Then, Io's eyes reflected countless rule chains, taking a deep breath.

Crackling sounds echoed.

Countless rule chains glowed brightly, and at this moment, even mortals could see the tangible world rules.

In urgent vibrations, the rule chains began wrapping around Io's body, merging into it as chain-like imprints.

Simultaneously.

Io's true dragon form began to change.

Each scale, filled with rule imprints, emitted an unimaginable density, causing space around Io to distort and collapse, despite not using relevant rules. This was merely due to his weight.

Not just space.

Garon squinted, seeing the time river around Io collapse.

Space and time twisted.

The silver giant dragon widened his eyes, trying to analyze the rules now on Io's body.

But just a glance made Garon feel his mind collapsing towards Io.

Breaking free, Garon gained some information.

The silver giant dragon gasped.

Each cubic centimeter of Io's body now held a terrifying mass of a hundred billion tons.

If it were just a hundred billion tons, it wouldn't be much, as Garon in full form far exceeded this weight.

But this weight was concentrated in a cubic centimeter, and Io's vast form, with eyes larger than the largest sun.

In the prime material plane, his mere presence would collapse the universe.

The gods watched in awe.

Why was Io called the Lord of Gods?

Because he could master all divine powers to their fullest.

For instance, the ability of gods to shape their forms through rule mastery.

Every deity could change into any desired form.

A stone, a flower, a dragon... a powerful god with the right authority could even become a sun.

But this form-shaping ability wasn't infinite, usually not used in combat.

Io, mastering rules, transformed his body into a super-dense form far exceeding neutron stars, while maintaining an unimaginable size, displaying extraordinary destructive power.

At this moment, Haotian Shangdi's face was solemn, the Center of the Heavens turning again.

Io stood firm, unyielding.

His terrifying mass suppressed the space he occupied.

The Center of the Heavens spun faster, almost a purple-gold light wheel.

Io was moved again.

But Haotian Shangdi stopped the Center of the Heavens, finding it too taxing to move Io, destabilizing his aura.

"I cannot match your mastery of the multiverse rules."

Haotian Shangdi praised.

Io calmly replied, "These rules were created by me."

Haotian Shangdi's purple-gold aura flared, burning like a raging flame.

The flame extended to the Tian Di Sword and the Center of the Heavens, melting them, covering Haotian Shangdi's body.

His form began to change.

In the gods' astonished gaze, the humanoid Haotian Shangdi vanished.

In his place was a divine, majestic five-clawed imperial dragon, its body long and serpentine like the Milky Way, radiating emperor's might, with brilliant purple-gold scales shining like tiny suns.

Roaring, the imperial dragon moved space, appearing before Io.

He extended a claw, striking Io's face.

All true dragons love close combat.

Io, intrigued, fought the imperial dragon.

In super-dense form, Io's claw crushed countless prime material worlds.

But as his claw hit the imperial dragon, its force was weakened by the purple-gold flame, though still shattering the scales, sending fragments larger than continents flying.

The imperial dragon's claws, sharp as the Tian Di Sword, left deep cuts on Io's scales.

Bang!

Io's head clashed with the imperial dragon, releasing a shockwave that could shatter lesser gods' bodies.

Claws and scales clashed, each impact shaking the Astral Sea.

Fortunately, the Astral Sea's vastness and resilience prevented it from collapsing like other outer planes would.

As time passed.

Io and Haotian Shangdi's battle intensified, reaching a fever pitch.

Both seemed to have infinite power, healing instantly from each other's wounds.

When gods battled, if the gap was wide, it ended quickly.

But when closely matched... it became difficult, lasting unimaginable lengths.

"It seems evenly matched."

"How long will this fight last?"

The gods marveled at Io and Haotian Shangdi's performance, realizing the difficulty in determining a winner.

Top-tier deities had incredible lifespans. Under these conditions, the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict might last thousands or even millions of years without a clear outcome.

But whether to end the battle wasn't for the gods to decide.

Io and Haotian Shangdi fought intensely, almost forgetting themselves. Each clash ignited their battle spirits, enjoying this rare duel with an equal.

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