The first time Hong Fei saw this orange skill card, he was like the Grandpa sitting on the subway looking at his phone. Become the true Panther God? Is it useful? The Panther God, who had been in power for countless years, was killed by me. You want me to become it? Are you also thinking of bullying me? The ability to transform into a Black Panther is quite miraculous.
Hong Fei has always been a pure human. Even Dragon Power didn't make scales or a tail grow on him. Before, he only felt like a dragon in his Soul. If one could transform into different races, it would be quite interesting, and the experience should be very novel. However, transforming into a Black Panther through an extremely painful process? Forget it.
Transforming into a dragon would be more like it. It's 'dragon', not 'Jackie Chan'. In short, Hong Fei never truly believed Bast was a god. She was more like a Leopard Demon: enormous in size, speaking human language, and even casting Demonic Winds. What part of that doesn't fit? You can't even defeat me, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a god?
At most, you're just a demon, and you can't even transform into human form. Pfft! If Bast could transform into a human, with a pair of firm, smooth long legs and a proud, towering chest, and then crawl on the ground, looking pitifully and charmingly begging for mercy, then perhaps Master Hong might spare her leopard life. Of course, it could also be: 'Bold demon! I can tell at a glance you're not human. How dare you show off such petty tricks before an expert? Great Mighty Dragon!' The key is, he really can summon a dragon! Getting back to the main topic, Bast is too weak. Moreover, Hong Fei's mind has never contained the various special concepts associated with the term 'god'. Whether it's Bast, Loki, or even Thor and Odin, and so on.
In front of Master Hong, they are simply life forms different from humans. To put it nicely, they are unknown alien species; to put it bluntly, they are no different from dogs and cats. In summary: they are not human. Hong Fei would respect others due to their charismatic personality or strong abilities, but the reason would never be: 'He is a god'.
There has never been any savior, nor do we rely on gods or emperors! Continuing to the second note, Hong Fei was a bit puzzled. He had already killed the living one, so why fear a remnant Soul? Even if a trace of Soul was extracted to forge the Ten Rings, I could still completely destroy you! Cough... That's what I say, but Hong Fei still remained cautious.
Upon reaching the third note, Hong Fei finally perked up. You can use Dragon Power to purify it into a blank Divinity. Divinity is a rather profound concept, which, when expanded, means "Divine Status."
It can generally be regarded as the core of a deity's power. Most of a god's power is dependent on or revolves around their Divinity.
To use a perhaps not entirely appropriate analogy, Thor, who possesses Divinity and whose Divine power functions normally, can wield Mjolnir, while Thor, who has lost his Divinity or whose Divine power is sealed, becomes an ordinary Asgardian.
The former is because Thor's Divinity as the God of Thunder is in a normal state, allowing him to wield Mjolnir, not because he wields Mjolnir that he is Thor. Of course, as of now, Thor has not fully realized this point. Divinity grants power to deities, but also imposes certain limitations, as most of the power a deity can wield is closely related to their Divinity. For example, Loki.
His Divinity traits include evil, trickery, deception, lies, and so on, which is why he excels in illusions. However, when using other Tesseracts, he appears rather weak, perhaps even less effective than if he were to stab someone with a small knife up close. However, Loki is not always that weak.
The original Loki transformed all of Asgard into an illusion so perfect it blurred the line between reality and deception—could such power ever be called weak? And when that same Loki refined falsehood into truth, ascending to become the God of Stories, a deity woven from pure concept—was that weakness? Divinity binds as much as it empowers, defining the limits of a god's domain.
Yet it's also an open road. Divine authority grants strength directly, and within its sanctioned boundaries, growth becomes possible. The path might be arduous, but the principle holds true. Every choice carries its price and its reward—each must decide their own balance. So what, then, is a "blank Divinity"?
The fighter jet touched down at Sokovia's Sky Base. Before the wheels even settled, Hong Fei's eyes snapped open.
He spotted Ulysses Klaue instantly—the man hunched in a corner, pupils darting like a rat caught in torchlight. Hong Fei jabbed a finger toward him.
"Who let him up here?"
Klaue's face went slack with terror. Every head turned.
Jessica shrugged.
"Walked up on his own, I think. Want me to toss him overboard?"
"No, please don't!"
Klaue's wail drew grins from the others.
The jet landed. Hong Fei strode out, Klaue scrambling after him like a kicked dog. As his boots hit the Sky Base's platform, the smuggler exhaled hard—then scurried to Hong Fei's elbow.
"Boss, what—what else do you need from me?"
Hong Fei didn't look at him.
"What can you do?"
"Anything! I swear—"
"Go have a baby, then."
Klaue's jaw dropped.
A pat on the shoulder, almost friendly.
"Stop embarrassing yourself. Go assist Ivan. Keep your crew in line. I'll call when you're useful—until then, don't make me regret letting you breathe. Clear?"
"Crystal!"
Klaue nodded so fast his neck creaked.
He'd never be part of the inner circle. Too weak. Too undisciplined. But releasing him empty-handed? That wasn't Hong Fei's style. And the man knew too much now anyway—better to keep him as a glorified errand boy.
Hong Fei stepped off the platform's edge.
The clouds parted below. Five seconds of freefall, then the White Dragon's spine rose to meet him, scales glinting like polished bone. They pierced the cloud layer together, banking toward the castle. Hong Fei dismounted midair—the dragon twisted, plunging into the lake below. Water exploded upward in a column, ripples rolling toward Blackwater Town's half-built docks.
Construction crews gaped. Phones came out, recording the spectacle before it vanished. Within minutes, footage flooded the net.
The world already knew where the Dragon King lived. Knew he kept a White Dragon. Neither fact mattered anymore—not when his true stronghold, the Dragon Palace, remained inviolate no matter how many came searching.
Yet the rumors drew crowds anyway. Tourists flocked to Sokovia, hoping for a glimpse of scales or sovereign. They couldn't approach the castle, but Blackwater Town thrived on their coin. The government-owned airport reaped the benefits, its runways jammed with charter flights.
It is said that they plan to expand the airport to accommodate more tourists, but their expansion can only be toward the city—every inch beyond the tarmac belongs to Hong Fei.
At the castle gates, two lion statues smoldered in the sunlight. Not stone: living flesh, manes crackling with ember-light, fangs bared in permanent snarls.
The lions stood nearly two meters at the shoulder, dwarfing their ordinary counterparts in both size and majesty. These were the mated pair Hong Fei had brought from the Dragon Palace. When he entered, they barely cracked open an eyelid before feigning sleep again. Nearby, a cluster of snow-white foxes tumbled across the grass in playful abandon.
Two nine-tailed elders nuzzled affectionately, oblivious to Hong Fei's arrival. Their litter of kits—each sporting varying tail counts—suddenly perked up. They bounded to his side in a flurry of white fur, darting around his legs like living ribbons. The entire nine-tailed clan made their home here. Above them, twin streaks of fire streaked across the sky.
The phoenixes spread their wings in effortless glide, trailing undying flames from their magnificent tails. Their crystalline calls echoed through the mountain peaks. Deeper within the grounds, fuzzy-winged creatures without discernible faces flitted about, while qilin-like beasts ambled through the gardens.
Though people came and went through the castle gates, the magical creatures showed no fear—interacting freely when approached. Many nodded or smiled at Hong Fei as he passed. The place brimmed with warmth now, a stark contrast to its former austerity. Upstairs, he found Dr. Helen Cho waiting in his chambers.
The moment the door opened, she set aside both her laptop and the white fox cub in her lap.
"You're back!"
Her smile outshone the morning sun. Hong Fei watched the cub leap from her arms to the balcony railing, then vanish into thin air with a playful bound. His eyebrow arched.
"Relax," Helen laughed, "they're quite capable little things."
"Mm."
"Everything go smoothly?"
"Like clockwork. No complications."
"Good."
Her fingers plucked at his armored shoulder.
"You're home now. Out of this tin can."
Hong Fei hesitated only a heartbeat before the armor retracted, leaving him bare-chested save for a loincloth.
Helen's eyes narrowed.
"'No complications,' he says—while missing half his clothes!"
She fetched a robe and draped it over his shoulders herself.
"Did you see Blackwater Town on your way in?"
"Swarming with people. Why?"
"The construction crews keep complaining. Too many tourists slowing their progress."
"Evict them."
Helen's nose wrinkled.
"That's terribly rude."
The eager glint in her eye betrayed her. Hong Fei crossed his arms.
"Out with it, then."
Her face lit up.
"Why fight the tide? Let's develop Blackwater into a proper theme park!"
"...What theme?"
His stomach sank.
Helen's eyes sparkled like gemstones.
"Superheroes!"
Hong Fei's left eyelid developed a twitch. Superheroes? More like super-villains.
She caught the micro-expression instantly. Leaning forward, she braced her hands on his chair arms, bringing their faces level. Her hair cascaded around them like a silk curtain.
"I know that look. You don't think you're a hero, do you?"
He scratched his cheek, gaze sliding away.
"I'm really not."
"The world disagrees."
"They're seeing one page of the story."
Helen's breath warmed his ear as she whispered, "But you've done everything a hero should... haven't you, Dragon King?"
The sudden exhale made his eardrums vibrate. Hong Fei's focus abruptly shifted downward, staring as if trying to spot soul-devouring parasites in the fabric of reality itself.
Seeing his strange gaze, Dr. Helen Cho also looked down, but made no move to cover herself. Instead, she hooked a finger under his chin, tilting his face up until their lips nearly brushed.
"What are you planning?"
"Mmm..."
"No hedging."
"I want to conduct a taste test."
Her thumb traced his lower lip.
"See what's saltier—the sea, or you."