If Tang San had never become a God, allowing Bo Saixi and Tang Chen's souls to remain together forever, their story would have been a tragedy. And since it was a tragedy, Huo Yuhao, a master of tragedy himself, figured he might as well make it even more thorough.
And so Tang Chen's fate reached a fork in the road. In the Original Timeline, he had gone to the City of Slaughter to inherit a Divine Throne. But in the timeline where Huo Yuhao existed, Tian Meng led him to the Inheritance Ground Huo Yuhao had left in the Extreme North, where he undertook a Divine Trial.
The Top-Tier Eight Trials made Tang Chen a Consecrated and Divine Servant of the Eternal God, binding him to the Eternal Sacred Land. His first trial was to visit the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall and congratulate his descendants and his good friend Qian Daoliu.
That meant the Three Limit Douluo of the Douluo Continent—Tang Chen, Bo Saixi, and Qian Daoliu—were no longer so special. All three had become Divine Servants. Of course, Bo Saixi served a Second-level God, Qian Daoliu served a First-level God, and Tang Chen served a Supreme God King. At least Tang Chen could still feel a little superior to Qian Daoliu.
But the Shura God could not sit still after that. His chosen successor had been snatched away. Worse, Huo Yuhao had not taken the man to inherit his Divine Throne, but to make him a Divine Servant. What was that supposed to mean? Was he saying the Shura God's successor was fit for nothing more than servitude under him?
The Shura God promptly convened the God Realm Committee and moved to impeach Huo Yuhao for unethically stealing his successor. But this meeting took an unexpected turn. Unlike the usual united front of the Five God Kings, Life was absent as always, and Destruction cast votes against the motion on behalf of them both. The proposal was defeated.
The failed impeachment was no great loss to the Shura God. He had never expected it to bring Huo Yuhao down. His true strength lay not in political power, but in his own might. What concerned him was the stance Life and Destruction had taken.
The two Divine Kings had once stood with him through everything. Yet for reasons unknown, Life had begun missing God Realm Committee meetings, shutting herself inside the Life Temple and refusing visitors. Destruction had started taking a neutral position.
The Shura God could not make sense of it.
The Sea God's eyes darted as a thought occurred to him. "Exalted Shura God, could something have happened to the God of Life, leaving the God of Destruction in need of the Eternal God's help?"
The Shura God pondered this for a long while. "It is possible."
"If that's true, wouldn't it mean two of the Divine Realm's God Kings are about to side with the Eternal God King?" the Food God asked worriedly.
Huo Yuhao was no ordinary God King. He was a Supreme God King on the Dragon God's level. Only the Five God Kings together could keep the Eternal God King in check. If Life and Destruction sided with Huo Yuhao, that balance would collapse. What would become of the Gods who stood with Asura?
The Shura God suppressed his unease and said calmly, "Life, Destruction, and I have governed the Divine Realm together. We have shared tens of thousands of years of friendship. Huo Yuhao is dreaming if he thinks he can break that bond with a favor or two, or by finding something to hold over them."
He rose, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced the Divine Temple. "One thing is certain, though. The balance of the Divine Realm is about to break."
"Why is that, Exalted Shura God?" the Sea God asked at once.
"Goodness and Evil, the two veteran God Kings, intend to retire," the Shura God said. "They want to pass on their Divine Thrones and roam the universe."
"Have you tried persuading them?" The Sea God's heart lurched. Life and Destruction's situation was still uncertain, yet Goodness and Evil, the two most dependable God Kings, were ready to walk away. If they did and Huo Yuhao gained the upper hand, what would happen to him? The Eternal God King made no secret of his hostility toward him.
"I have, but their minds are made up," the Shura God said. "Still, to keep the Divine Realm from falling into Huo Yuhao's hands, I persuaded them to entrust the God Realm Committee's power to my chosen successor after they enter reincarnation. The newly appointed Goodness and Evil will assist my successor and preserve the balance of the Divine Realm."
"Ah..." The Sea God froze. "Your Excellency, do you mean you also..."
"That's right. I, too, intend to roam the universe. I have only stayed this long because I cannot let the Divine Realm fall into the hands of a man like Huo Yuhao," the Shura God said.
"Once Huo Yuhao possesses enough power, supreme Authority will let him do as he pleases. He'll cast out anyone who disagrees and turn the Divine Realm into a place where his word alone is law, imposing his will on countless others. If he takes control, it will be a disaster for the Divine Realm and every living being in the Lower Realm." The Shura God paced the hall, his eyes full of concern for them all. "Yet Goodness and Evil wish to retire, while something has happened with Destruction and Life, and they are no longer eager to check the Eternal God. The balance is about to break. Will the Divine Realm truly fall into the hands of such a shameless man? What a tragedy..."
"That is why I cannot lay down this burden," the Shura God said firmly. "As Asura, wielder of the Authority of judgment, I have a duty to choose a worthy successor for the sake of the Divine Realm's future and all beings in the Lower Realm. He must be pure of heart, utterly selfless, gentle, courteous, frugal, and humble, with virtue, intellect, strength, grace, and diligence in equal measure. Only then can he inherit my Authority, receive control of the God Realm Central Hub from Goodness and Evil, stop Huo Yuhao's dictatorial ambitions, and lead both realms toward a bright and beautiful future."
"Have you found a candidate, Exalted Shura God?" the Sea God asked curiously.
"In a few dozen days, the Douluo Continent will enter its once-in-ten-thousand-years Fortune Convergence," the Shura God said. "The Dragon God, Ice God, Eternal God, Angel God, and Sea God all arose during such convergences. No God born on the Douluo Continent is ordinary. I will carefully select a Great Treasure from the Lower Realm, someone who embodies every virtue, and bring him to the Douluo Continent. I will channel ten thousand years of its fortune into him, let him grow, and forge an unparalleled foundation. Then he will inherit my Divine Throne and attain the Authority of the strongest Shura God. Once he receives control of the God Realm Central Hub from Goodness and Evil, he will be able to stop the Eternal God's dictatorial ambitions."
Great Treasure? Hearing the Shura God's plan, the Sea God's eyes darted. "May I ask who has caught your eye?"
Before you continue