Di Yue could clearly sense the groans of every inch of soil beneath her feet, the pain of every crack, and the faint tremors of near-joy they gave off after being nourished by power.
This feeling of being connected by blood to the entire planet, resonating at the same frequency... was unfamiliar, yet strangely reassuring.
And the aura around her continued to rise.
The barrier to the realm of a First-Level Deity was pierced as easily as paper.
The divine light withdrew, her godhood condensed on its own, and the entire process went unbelievably smoothly—far calmer and more solid than when Xu Tiandi had once absorbed the Plane's power like a flood.
It was as though this power had not come from outside, but had always been part of her Life Origin, merely awakening now.
Xu Tiandi watched this scene, his gaze deep and unreadable. After a moment of silence, he turned to Lu Jun.
"...Next, I'm returning to Mingdu."
His voice had regained its usual calmness and detachment, as though that brief moment of dejection and obsession had merely been an illusion.
"The aftermath of this battle must be settled, and the subsequent repercussions dealt with. The soldiers... also deserve an explanation."
He paused, looking at Lu Jun.
"You—will you come with me, publicly declare your position, and participate in the council, or...?"
Lu Jun rubbed his chin and considered it briefly.
"I have other urgent matters to handle." He raised his eyes, a cold glint flashing through them. "This matter has always been a hidden concern of mine. If you hadn't stirred up such a storm this time and let me see some of the threads more clearly, it might have been delayed even longer."
He suddenly remembered something and turned his gaze toward Wu Sidu and the