Central Continent, atop Source Tower.
Within the Divine Domain, all was silent.
Sky God's Throne, draped in a loose, snow-white silk robe, sat upon the Throne of God with his eyes closed.
In theory, Fire Seed wielders did not need rest. Their bodies contained almost inexhaustible source matter, and their minds had surpassed the boundaries of mortal existence.
But... although they had transcended "humanity," they were not truly "gods."
After smelting a Fire Seed, they achieved a leap in the level of life itself.
But that was not the ultimate end.
If they went without rest for years, decades, or nearly a century—
Even a Throne of God would grow weary.
And if, throughout those sleepless years, a Throne of God had been continuously expending mental energy, there was even less need to say.
"...Mm."
Qinglong frowned, coughing softly as he awoke from a chaotic dream.
Before him lay countless chessboards formed from gathering clouds. Across the Divine Domain, a hazy shadow had also condensed. During these years of secluded cultivation within Source Tower, he had never stopped "thinking" for a single moment. These chess games were the things he contemplated. Vast computational power ran deductions across the boards: clouds were white, mist was black, black and white intertwined in intricate patterns.
"Awake?"
The shadow that had quietly waited across the chessboard spoke with a smile.
Its voice was exactly the same as Qinglong's.
"..."
Qinglong fell silent for a moment. He rubbed his brow and softly asked, "How long was I asleep?"
"Not long."
The voice smiled. "Four hundred and eight hours, thirty-one minutes, and four seconds."
A little over seventeen days.
For ordinary people, sleeping for an entire day was already an exceedingly long time.
But for a Throne of God—especially one like Qinglong, who had lived for