How Do You Like My Great Treasure?

The Shura God opened his divine vision, revealing a lower plane under the Divine Realm's jurisdiction to the assembled gods.

The Martial World. The Bashu Tang Sect.

A giant rat took advantage of a lapse in the sect's defenses to sneak away with its treasured manual, the "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record," then hid in a cave.

Before opening the "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record," he could barely contain his excitement. Then, as if remembering something, he hurriedly pressed his palms together and prayed to the dead: "Ancestors of the Tang Sect, I, Tang San, have broken the sect's rules today, but I had no choice. Many Tang Sect Profound Arts have been passed down only as legends, with no one able to master them. I have long hungered to learn them and dreamed of bringing them back into the world, but I was never taught their secrets. I have taken this extraordinary step today, but once I master these arts, I, Tang San, will surely give everything I have learned back to the sect."

With that, the giant rat dropped to the ground and knocked his head against it several times. His conscience appeased, he finally opened the "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record" and began cultivating.

The scene unfolded within the Shura God's Divine Vision.

"Well? What do you think of my Great Treasure?" the Shura God asked.

This...

The Sea God stepped forward without hesitation. "As expected of the Great Treasure chosen by Exalted Shura God. This man has rare insight and exceptional talent. Though he obtained his sect's teachings by unconventional means, I can see his sincere love for the sect."

The Sea God's words prompted the other gods to catch on, and they began showering the Shura God with praise.

"Exalted Shura God's eye is as keen as ever. Your Great Treasure could not bear to see his sect's teachings go unstudied, so he reluctantly resorted to extraordinary measures. Yet even before succeeding, he intends to repay the sect. His gratitude could not be more sincere," the Food God said.

The God of War offered his own view. "Exalted Shura God has chosen this Great Treasure as the Divine Realm's next leader. Under his guidance, our realm will surely flourish, with all things thriving."

The gods piled on the flattery until they had painted the Shura God's chosen Great Treasure as a pure, humble, virtuous soul blessed with every admirable quality.

To the Shura God, though, they were simply stating the facts. How could the Great Treasure he had so discerningly chosen be anything less?

"Now that we have an excellent candidate, I'll bring his soul to the Douluo Continent when the time comes. He'll benefit from ten thousand years of the continent's fortune and ascend to godhood in one leap," the Shura God said. "But first, we need to prepare a Host Body for our Great Treasure."

The Shura God already had a clear idea of who the Host Body's father should be. Many Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent were suitable for his Godhood Inheritance, including the Clear Sky Hammer and the Seven Kill Sword, but he was particularly fond of the Clear Sky Hammer. Tang Chen's performance had not disappointed him, either.

Tang Chen had now fallen into that bastard Huo Yuhao's trap, but the Clear Sky Sect still had others.

The Shura God's gaze fell upon the sect's two heirs, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao. Both had Innate Full Soul Power. If he gave them the same special attention he had given Tang Chen, either could become a second Tang Chen. But Tang Chen already represented a limit. Raising another like him would serve no purpose.

Better to have them contribute their fine bloodline to his Great Treasure and become his protectors.

Still, being my Great Treasure's father will be a blessing for one of you. Let's see who's lucky enough to claim it. If you want to be his father, your first trial is the City of Slaughter. Obtain the Divine Slaughter's Domain for me, then we'll talk.

At a thought from the Shura God, two beams of light crossed the Divine Realm and fell upon Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.

"Next is the Son of Destiny's mother. An exceptional mother can bear an exceptionally gifted child. Whom should I choose?" The Shura God's Divine Sense swept across the Douluo Continent.

Few women in the Human World could match the Haotian Twins' fine bloodline. Suddenly, an audacious idea struck the Shura God.

If a human won't do, perhaps a Soul Beast that has taken human form will. Especially one that has cultivated for a hundred thousand years. Any Soul Beast capable of that is extraordinary.

With Soul Beasts in mind, the Shura God soon found his target: the Blue Silver Emperor in the Blue Silver Forest, who possessed the ultimate Life Attribute.

Her bloodline will give my Great Treasure a foundation of extraordinary vitality, allowing him to wield killing weapons like the Clear Sky Hammer and the power of the Shura God without fear. The Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul is a fine one, too. But there can only be one Blue Silver Emperor on a continent. Once my Great Treasure is born, I'll dispose of this Soul Beast so he has a chance to inherit her place. Sorry, Blue Silver Emperor. Your value ends once you've given birth to my Great Treasure. With that thought, the Shura God sent a beam of light into the Douluo Continent. It fell upon the Blue Silver Emperor.

Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Tian sat in the Sect Leader's seat, looking at his two sons.

"You both want to go to the City of Slaughter?" Tang Tian asked.

"Yes, Father. A voice seems to be telling me that I must go there. If I miss this chance, I'll regret it," Tang Hao said.

"I feel the same, Father. Please allow me to go," Tang Xiao said.

Tang Tian shook his head. "No. The City of Slaughter is extraordinarily dangerous. Throughout history, only six Killing Gods have ever left that place, including your grandfather Tang Chen. You two are the future of the Clear Sky Sect. I cannot let you both risk your lives there."

"Father, Grandfather fought his way out of that place and earned his title as one of the Three Peerless Land Invincibles. How can we become truly strong without facing such a trial?" Tang Hao asked.

"Exactly, Father. If Grandfather made it out of the City of Slaughter, then we brothers can fight for a chance to obtain the Divine Slaughter's Domain too," Tang Xiao said.

Seeing how determined they were, Tang Tian relented. "You both represent the Clear Sky Sect's future. I can allow one of you to go to the City of Slaughter, but the other must stay as the sect's safeguard."

In the end, the bold, headstrong Tang Hao set out for the City of Slaughter. The steadier Tang Xiao remained at the Clear Sky Sect as a candidate to become its next Sect Leader.

Hesitation meant defeat. In the Original Timeline, the brothers' fates were decided at that moment. Had Tang Xiao known what he was giving up, he would have defied his father and fought his way into the City of Slaughter to compete with Tang Hao.