National Fate

“God Kings? And two of them at that?”

Upon hearing this, Dustin couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

After the battle in West Lucozia against Poseidon, he had learned the hard way that the God Kings of the Pantheon were far from ordinary.

One God King alone had pushed him to the brink, and he had barely managed to secure a difficult victory.

If two God Kings were to attack together, it wouldn’t just be a matter of winning --- he might not even escape with his life.

“That’s right. Both God King Zeus and God Queen Hera have entered the realm. Their strength surpasses even that of Poseidon. If they ambush you together, I fear your chances are slim,” Margaret said gravely.

She knew Dustin was incredibly powerful, but he was still too young.

And with Zeus and Hera being world-class top-tier powerhouses, surviving an encounter with the two of them would be near impossible.

The reason the Pantheon dispatched two God Kings at once was likely because they sensed Dustin’s terrifying potential.

If given a few more years to grow, he would become unstoppable --- by then, even the Pantheon would be helpless against him.

“Well, this is quite the headache.”

Dustin rested his chin in his hand, his expression thoughtful.

Two God Kings stronger than Poseidon… he clearly wasn’t ready to face them yet.

“I have two suggestions. Want to hear them?” Margaret asked suddenly.

“Oh? What are they?” Dustin raised an eyebrow.

“First, avoid confrontation. Find a place to hide,” Margaret offered.

As long as Zeus and Hera couldn’t find him, there would be no danger.

“Stonia isn’t too big or too small. Even if I hide, with the Pantheon’s resources, it’s only a matter of time before they find my trail,” Dustin said with a shake of his head.

The Pantheon had a global presence and one of the best intelligence networks in the world. Hiding alone clearly wouldn’t cut it.

“You’re right. The Pantheon wouldn’t have trouble locating you. But if you hide in Longhu Mountain, even if they know your whereabouts, they wouldn’t dare approach,” Margaret said with a subtle smile.

With Zhang Xuanji --- the Earthly Immortal --- present, the Pantheon wouldn’t dare cross the line.

During the previous Longhu Mountain incident, the Pantheon had suffered heavy losses. The newly ascended God King Bailey, along with many top-tier experts from various countries, had all died at Zhang Xuanji’s hands.

That battle forced the Pantheon to declare Longhu Mountain a forbidden zone, not daring to provoke it again.

So, if Dustin hid there, Zeus and Hera wouldn’t dare come close.

“Hiding in Longhu Mountain is safe, sure, but I can’t hide forever. I can’t live like a turtle in its shell,” Dustin said, shaking his head.

“Longhu Mountain is nourished by the Dragon Vein. With your talent, you could reach the peak in just three years. By then, you wouldn’t need to fear the Pantheon anymore,” Margaret said earnestly.

“Any other options?” Dustin didn’t answer directly but pressed further.

Unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to spend years hiding like a coward.

Besides, even if he could hide, his friends and loved ones might not be able to. If Zeus and Hera couldn’t find him and targeted them instead, it would be disastrous.

“The second method is riskier --- and it involves the power of the Dragon Vein,” Margaret said, as if anticipating his refusal and choosing not to press the first option.

“I mentioned before that the Dragon Vein is tied to national fate. Once fully gathered, it can stabilize the imperial foundation. Beyond that, it can aid martial cultivation. If you can absorb all five strands of the Dragon Source, your power will skyrocket. By then, even ascending to the Earthly Immortal realm wouldn’t be out of the question.”

“Absorbing the Dragon Source?”

Dustin frowned slightly. He had heard this claim before, but he still had concerns.

Would doing so negatively impact the national fortune? Would it bring suffering to the people of Dragonmarsh?

He wasn’t a saint, but he absolutely couldn’t do anything that would harm the people.

“No need to worry.”

Seeing through his thoughts, Margaret smiled and explained, “The Dragon Vein can’t be refined or destroyed. After you absorb it, Dragonmarsh won’t suffer any adverse effects. On the contrary, it will actually benefit the country.”

“Not only can it boost your strength, it will greatly enhance your personal luck. As long as you’re alive, the nation’s fate will remain strong.”

“So what you’re saying is… I’ll be carrying the national fate of the entire Dragonmarsh?” Dustin’s expression grew serious.

“You could put it that way,” Margaret nodded.

“That sounds way too risky,” Dustin frowned again.

That kind of burden… he wasn’t sure he could handle it.

“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even consider it. But I trust your character. Entrusting the nation’s fate to you is the best choice --- for you, for me, and for all of Dragonmarsh,” Margaret said solemnly.

She was a disciple of the Celestial Observatory and skilled in fate-reading.

In her eyes, Dustin was someone with immense natural fortune --- every move he made would influence the rise and fall of Dragonmarsh.

Channeling the national fate into Dustin not only helped him when he needed it most, but after being nourished through him, the country’s fortune would become even stronger.

In other words, it was a win-win.

Whether for public duty or personal reasons, she believed it was worth the risk. - Ton