Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

The words 'pleasantly delighted' does not do Yan Zaizen's current mental state justice. He was elated to the maximum, his heart bursting with joy and anticipation at his newfound powers. 

"To think that the recovery ability of this body is so mysterious and greatly exceeds Life, Death, and Soul together!" This startled him, and yet he knew that he had merely only just begun to excavate the true abilities of his Grand Herculean Physique of Mimicry.

"I can mimic any aura, physical feature, or physical lifeform. Furthermore, my flesh and blood have no set state and if destroyed or removed, they simply reattach. I still don't understand all the details, but it seems this is akin to instantaneous recovery." It took a long while before his thoughts were settled. 

"With my Heavenly Dao Seed Energy and my Initial Grand Herculean Physique with the law of mimicry imbued within, I wonder how strong my current self is." This loose thought was interrupted.

Bang!

An explosive surge occurred below, causing the surrounding lifeforms to quiver. A peculiar aura permeated and integrated into their hearts and minds. Yan Zaizen's gaze looked downwards. His Dao Sense became hyperactive at this moment as it felt a similar energy to its own.

His amber-gold eyes had Dao Light flash through them, a sharp aura to it. Then, a tinge of happiness emerged in his eyes followed by a hearty smile. 

"She did it!" Without hesitation, he flashed from the sky and descended. His speed was mind-shocking as the air exploded behind him, producing chaotic surging waves that resembled harsh winds of a hurricane. The lifeforms for miles were blown clear off their feet and sent every which way. 

He halted at the entrance of the cave. Turning around, he felt shocked in his heart. "I...should it be like this?" He felt confused. His speed, strength, and vital energies had vastly exceeded his estimate. And it wasn't by a little. 

"Wait!" Almost immediately he felt a slapping relaxation enter his mind. He hurriedly inspected his physical body and his pupils constricted into needlepoint. However, before he could make a conclusion, a soft voice that could turn men's bones soft echoed from inside the cave.

"Is that you, Zai?" 

He felt his body's nerves spike in activity. A subconscious desire emerged in his heart as his eyes darted towards the inside of the cavern. What awaited his sights was an outstanding woman. Outstanding? No. No, it was wrong!

It was a peerless beauty that seemed to have descended from an entirely different world. Her clothes hadn't changed, but her long, jade-like legs, divine phoenix eyes, lithe figure, voluptuous curves and breasts, as well as her delicate features that seemed to be that could likely rival the Empress of Immortal Fairies. 

At her feet was an adorable snow-white puppy. Its pure color and cute features were diminished like colors as it walked beside this beauty.

"What the…" Yan Zaizen was immediately skeptical. These thoughts were produced by his mind unnaturally. This wasn't a byproduct of charm laws or soul arts, but thoughts of genuine subconscious nature. This sent his mind reeling.

When did Lin Feilin, this Senior Sister of his became so beautiful, so peerless amongst the current world?! Only then did his eyes lift to see her eyes that effused dark-golden light.

A Sovereign's Dao? No...A Sovereignness's Dao?!

Lin Feilin smiled as she approached, her walking stride carried a boundless charm that seemed to conquer hearts and forced others to acquiesce beneath her feet. With each step, Yan Zaizen felt his heart throb.

Just as he thought, Lin Feilin had devised an unfathomable powerful Dao, influenced by his own from the moment they interacted thousands of years ago. Furthermore, he had used his Heavenly Dao Seed's Aura, a byproduct of his Upper-level Dao, Dao Heart, and Heavenly Aura to help formulate her Dao.

It was almost as if he acted as the sculptor to her Dao. 

"What...is your Dao?" Yan Zaizen asked softly. A Dao is a Path. It is not just your most truest designation of yourself and various aspects of your personality, but it was the driving force to your life's journey. It was your start and it was your end.

Lin Feilin slowly moved her jade-like hand, her long, soft as water fingers touched her long hair, putting it behind her ear as she blinked at Yan Zaizen. It wasn't just Yan Zaizen who felt that she carried a boundless charm. Every action of Yan Zaizen attracted her. She already had to keep her heart strong, reinforced by her newly formed Dao before she truly lost herself, diving into his embrace.

While there's nothing more that she wanted than to do so, she refused to make Yan Zaizen uncomfortable. She considered his feelings and felt her place in his heart. She didn't wish to overstep. 

Therefore, her movements that were slow was time for her to calm her beating heart. She softly answered, "The Dao of Sovereignness Reign." She had been a leader for the past few thousands of years, forced to thrive in an unstable environment and was subjected to all sorts of cruelty in her life, cruelty she hadn't told Yan Zaizen.

However, just from her soul being forcefully merged with Yao Wuhen, one could only see that her life hadn't been easy. She was captured, tortured, almost invaded in body and soul, and then forced into hiding until she regained her strength. She was forced to be patient and careful, her every step planned unless her life was cut short.

Yan Zaizen could feel various Daos within her aura. The Dao of Meticulous, Dao of Fierce Will, Dao of Delicate Warmth, and a few other ones, including Yan Zaizen's own Dao of Imperial Ferocity. He felt traces of his influence, but also her own self when he peered into her Dao. 

A Dao constructed from multiple basic Daos was considered an upper-tier Dao. Yan Zaizen felt that her Dao did not lose out to Ezekiel, but it lacked a little. This lacking likely was an innate character that could not and would not be changed, and the will to pursue any matter endless and with zero regrets. 

She lacked decisiveness. 

Yan Zaizen and Ezekiel were two Sovereign's that never regretted their choices. Even when Pinaka was captured, sent to Hell, there hadn't been a single day that he regretted his choice or actions. He peered into the future, and if she did die, he would simply overturn the world until he found a solution to bring her back. This was a matter he wouldn't stop until death, and even then…

This piece was very important for an Apex Sovereign. Despite that, her will and desire wasn't lacking. Yan Zaizen could see from her eyes that she wouldn't hesitate to make choices, but one of her minor Daos would also limit her from reaching the Apex of what it meant to be a Sovereign.

"Congratulations, You uh-" Yan Zaizen could only speak a few words before he found himself becoming dazed. A soft body tackled into his embrace. A fragrant smell and warmth entered his senses and felt beyond comfortable. This…

Lin Feilin couldn't control herself. She had tried to restrain her desire, but Yan Zaizen felt as if he was the Yang to her Yin. A yearning that was like a persistent and irresistible itch at the top of your head was constantly emerging in her heart. So, she buried herself into his bosom, holding him tightly.

Yan Zaizen felt as if his mind had momentarily stopped. While he similarly felt that compatibility they had with their Daos, he held a strong sense of choice in his actions and Dao. He could not be swayed, not even by it. Even if the Will of the Heavenly Daos descended, unless he agreed, he would never obey. Therefore, he could hold himself back with ease.

Despite that, he did feel what she felt so he didn't blame her. He merely held her waist and rubbed her soft hair at the top of her head. "Senior Sister…"

They met by coincidence at the start of his martial path. He was going to give up on cultivating that day, but she arrived in his room and left him words that would later determine his very future. She was someone important to him and he could not deny that.

However, he was still unable to speak his heart. He had too many things to do, so he couldn't indulge nor would he choose to at this moment. Pinaka waited for him. His original body, Yri, and Yan Linzen were still trapped. His clan was eradicated for a reason, and he still had a few other responsibilities such as fathering the egg of Sephira All-Central.

Too many things.

Could he be selfish and just be here and now? However, he was unwilling to say more, and he knew that Lin Feilin wouldn't ask anything of him now. She knew that his original body was trapped, so despite caving into her desires, she would only do that and not force matters.

Therefore, Yan Zaizen just embraced her. A man and a woman, both sovereigns of the world, just embraced each other quietly as their Dao resonated with each other.

What Yan Zaizen didn't know was that their Daos interaction had caused a change to a certain someone…

-----

In the Deep Mines, Yan Zaizen's original body floated in an every existing abyss that seemed to never end. A mysterious force suppressed his everything, only allowing minor movements with his powerful physical body. His eyes were peacefully shut, as if he had descended into hibernation.

However, when Yan Zaizen's Clone and Lin Feilin's Dao Aura touched, a spark emerged at his chest. While it came from the central area of his chest, it originated from his soul. 

His eyelids flickered as if they were about to open. His eyeballs swam within but it seemed as if a gate of hell had replaced his eyelids, unable to be opened regardless of his efforts. However, his lips opened slightly and words left his lips. It was soft, fragmented, and nearly imperceptible.

"...Bri...ng...h..."