The Two God Kings' Tests
Yu Xiaogang (about to be sent back edition) was scared out of his wits, his limbs flailing wildly in midair.
He had finally managed to reach the Divine Realm, and he had no intention of giving up halfway. One way or another, he had to secure permanent residence to match his hollow title of Grandmaster.
If they threw him down, his frail body would never withstand the endless storms of the void!
"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" Luo Sanpao tried to stop the two divine guards, but they kicked him aside like a stray dog.
"Get lost! You're next!"
The two divine guards swung their arms, about to release Yu Xiaogang and hurl him away. At that critical moment-
"Wait."
A deep, majestic, elderly voice, seemingly imbued with a terrifying killing aura born of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, drifted slowly across the sea of clouds beyond the Divine Realm's gates:
"Let him go and allow him in."
At the sound of that voice, the two divine guards instantly stiffened, awe appearing on their faces. They immediately released Yu Xiaogang.
Thud!
Yu Xiaogang fell to the ground. How could he dare linger another half a second?
He scrambled to his feet and, without even stopping to recall Luo Sanpao, plunged headfirst through the gap in the gates into the Divine Realm's clouds and mist. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" No matter how Luo Sanpao called, Yu Xiaogang never looked back. Feeling abandoned, he shed aggrieved tears, but still pumped his short little legs as hard as he could and chased after him.
Outside the gates, the two divine guards stared at each other, standing rooted to the spot with their minds in turmoil.
After a long while, the guard on the left wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and muttered in disbelief, lowering his voice:
"Did I hear that right? The one who spoke up to save that trash... sounded like His Majesty the Asura God King from the Hall of Law Enforcement?!"
The guard on the right swallowed, staring in the direction Yu Xiaogang had disappeared, his face filled with bewilderment at the absurdity of it all:
"Why would the mighty Asura God King, who presides over slaughter in the Divine Realm, want trash like that? Could it be... the God King's hall needs a pet?"
Inside the Divine Realm.
Before Yu Xiaogang lay a scene unlike anything he had ever seen, filled with plants and buildings he had never encountered before.
Just then, Luo Sanpao finally caught up. He had meant to pounce straight at Yu Xiaogang, but seeing so many novel things around him, he could not resist running all over the place and even began eating the flowers and grass.
That first bite was extraordinary, as though it had opened up a whole new world.
Like a plow ox fresh from its labors, Luo Sanpao feasted on the Divine Realm's flowers, grass and trees.
Yu Xiaogang breathed in great lungfuls of the Divine Realm's air and stroked its flowers, grass and trees.
"The air in the Divine Realm really is sweet. Compared to the Divine Realm, the Douluo Continent is hell."
"But now I've escaped hell, hahaha!"
Before Yu Xiaogang could continue taking in the sights, two tall, upright God Kings suddenly stood before him, radiating terrifying pressure.
The one on the left had a stern face and was filled with killing intent: the Asura God, one of the God Kings of the God Realm Committee. The one on the right, gentle and refined as jade, with profound, deep-blue divine power flowing around him, was another member of the God Realm Committee, the Sea God.
Yu Xiaogang had originally thought he had come to receive a Godhood Inheritance and ascend to the pinnacle of life. But before he could ask, the Asura God's icy voice came crashing down:
"Yu Xiaogang, do you know your crime?"
Yu Xiaogang shuddered, his expression changing instantly.
He instinctively wanted to protest, but under the Asura God's gaze, which seemed capable of seeing through any soul, the words in his throat were forcibly suppressed.
Beside him, the Sea God shook his head gently and spoke in an appraising tone:
"There's no need to look any further. This fellow forced his way to level one hundred by relying on system loopholes and unorthodox methods in the lower realm. He never even underwent a proper Godhood trial, and he has neither faith nor a divine spark."
"In the eyes of the God Realm Committee, you're a textbook case of a half-self-created god and a stowaway."
"Every inch of land in the Divine Realm is worth its weight in gold, and resources are limited. Not just any Tom, Dick or Harry can move in as they please. If you want to live in the Divine Realm, you must pass the God Realm Committee's rigorous assessment."
Yu Xiaogang's head roared as he listened.
He had only ever read about these two gods in ancient books kept by the Spirit Hall. As for the God Realm Committee, he had never even heard of it.
And this situation was all wrong. Weren't they supposed to admire his character and talent, then both pass their Godhood Inheritances on to him?
Before he could sort out his thoughts, the Sea God changed the subject, his tone abruptly turning serious:
"Of course, the review is only a formality. The two of us waited here especially today because there is actually a more important matter we want to discuss with you."
"Discuss?" At that word, Yu Xiaogang perked up. He instinctively straightened his back, and the scholarly confidence in his bones instantly surfaced:
"Your Majesties, if we are speaking of Martial Soul Theory and core competitiveness under heaven, though I would not dare claim that no one has ever come before me, I certainly would never-"
Before he could finish-
Smack!
Without even lifting a finger, the Asura God slapped Yu Xiaogang flying from a distance, shattering the Lone Bamboo armor on his body into pieces that scattered across the ground.
"Who said anything about discussing theories from the lower realm with you?"
"First question. Listen carefully."
"All your life, you have struggled to pursue strength and sought to become a god. What, exactly, was it all for?"
Yu Xiaogang (slapped by the Asura God edition) clutched his burning cheek and slowly rose to his feet.
No longer daring to put on airs, he could only answer honestly:
"Your... Your Majesties, naturally, I became a god to grow stronger, to trample underfoot all those people who looked down on me and mocked me as trash back then, and take ruthless revenge on them!"
The moment he finished speaking, the Asura God and the Sea God both frowned deeply, their faces full of disdain.
"Rotten wood cannot be carved. You deserve punishment!"
Smack!
Yu Xiaogang was sent flying again. He had just started to get up and explain.
"Hmph!" The Sea God snorted coldly and raised his hand, delivering another resounding slap from a distance. "Narrow-minded, with your head full of personal grudges and resentment! You have none of the bearing a god should possess!"
"You deserve punishment!"
Smack!
Yu Xiaogang's body flew another two meters sideways, nearly falling apart.
Fortunately, Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo was tough and had high defense. Combined with the added attributes of his ten Soul Rings and complete set of Soul Bones, that was the only reason he survived.
But Yu Xiaogang's nightmare had only just begun.
"Second question." The Asura God gave him no chance to catch his breath, demanding sternly:
"If one day the Divine Realm faced a catastrophic disaster and foreign enemies invaded, would you be willing to sacrifice yourself and die to shield the Divine Realm from calamity?"
The question struck Yu Xiaogang squarely in his selfish, self-serving weak spot.
He sat blankly on the ground, rapidly leafing through his flimsy collection of theories in his mind.
Die for the Divine Realm?
He had finally received the god-given Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo and changed his fate, and through a fortunate coincidence had stepped half a foot into the ranks of gods. How could he possibly throw his life away so casually? He had yet to enjoy the pleasures of being a god.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang hemming and hawing for so long without managing a word, his gaze darting about, the Sea God immediately sneered aloud:
"You don't even have the courage to answer at once. You're a coward who clings to life and fears death!"
"You deserve punishment!"
Smack! Another crisp slap landed on his other cheek from a distance, and both of Yu Xiaogang's cheeks instantly swelled up high and symmetrical.
Fortunately, the Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo was still exerting its strength, tough enough and with high enough defense that he once again managed to escape with his life.
But the next second, something even more terrifying happened.
"Since your written test was a complete mess, we'll proceed to the practical combat assessment."