Outside the God of Destruction's palace in the God Realm, everything was utterly different from Tang San's Sea God Temple.
There was no gentle moisture or soft halo of light here. Instead, howling purple lightning churned through the clouds around the palace like thunder dragons poised to strike, each flash erupting with a heart-palpitating destructive aura.
The palace itself was built from dark purple stone, its sharp edges brimming with an oppressive air. It resembled a dormant giant beast that could awaken at any moment and crush everything around it. The air was saturated with dense Destruction Power; any ordinary deity who approached would likely have their divine soul torn apart by it instantly.
But Tang San was wholly unaffected.
A faint blue-gold radiance swirled around him as Sea God Power and Asura Power intertwined, forming an invisible barrier that kept the violent destructive aura at bay.
At that moment, Tang Wutong's safety filled his mind. Without slowing in the slightest, he passed directly through the thunderclouds and entered the palace gates.
The palace interior carried the same ice-cold killing intent.
There were no elaborate decorations, only thick purple stone pillars supporting the vaulted ceiling. Ferocious runes covered the pillars, with faint arcs of electricity flowing over them. The floor was made of mirror-smooth black crystal, reflecting the purple Soul Rings floating overhead—God of Destruction's divine rings, emanating a terrifying pressure capable of making the God Realm tremble.
On the raised platform at the end of the hall, the God of Destruction sat upon a throne carved from obsidian. He wore a purple robe, its hem embroidered with intricate lightning patterns that rose and fell faintly with his breathing.
His features were handsome but somewhat stern. His purple eyes were deep as an abyss, currently lowered toward a purple crystal in his hand. His fingertips brushed its surface, stirring small ripples of energy.
Hearing footsteps, the God of Destruction slowly raised his eyes. His purple gaze fell upon Tang San, and obvious confusion flashed through his eyes.
"Sea God."
He spoke in an ice-cold voice with an innate chill. "What important matter brings you here today?"
Although he and Tang San were both members of the God Realm Committee, their relationship had never been good.
Tang San presided over the Sea God Temple and rarely took the initiative to set foot in his Destruction Palace. His sudden visit today was clearly not for idle conversation.
Tang San did not beat around the bush. "I came because of Xiao Qi."
"Xiao Qi?" The God of Destruction raised a brow, the confusion in his eyes deepening. Then he realized and asked, "You mean Wutong?"
Only a few deities close to Tang Wutong knew that her nickname was "Xiao Qi." He had always doted on this niece of his, and Tang Wutong loved clinging to him and the Goddess of Life, often coming to play in the Destruction Palace and bringing much-needed liveliness to its cold halls.
"What happened to her?" The God of Destruction sat upright, his tone carrying greater concern. "Wasn't she training on the Douluo Continent? Did she run into trouble?"
Tang San's expression darkened, his tone grave. "She... disappeared."
"Disappeared?" The God of Destruction's voice abruptly rose, and shock flashed through his purple eyes. "What do you mean, disappeared?"
"Just now,"
Tang San drew a deep breath and suppressed the anxiety in his heart. "My bloodline connection with her was suddenly severed. Even the divine sense I left in her sea of consciousness has completely lost all response. This has never happened before."
He looked at the God of Destruction, a trace of pleading in his eyes. "I don't know what happened, but I can be certain that something has happened to her."
The God of Destruction fell silent.
His fingers lightly tapped the throne's armrest, light flickering in his purple eyes as he clearly thought rapidly.
A brief silence descended over the hall, broken only by the occasional crack of purple lightning outside.
After a moment, the God of Destruction raised his eyes and looked at Tang San. "What do you intend to do?"
"I am going to the lower realm."
Tang San answered without hesitation. "I have to find out exactly what happened."
At that, the God of Destruction frowned. "As a God King, you should know the God Realm's rules. Deities cannot casually interfere in lower-realm affairs, much less descend in person. Otherwise, it will disrupt the plane's order."
This had been an ironclad rule since the God Realm's founding. Even the Five Great God Kings could not violate it lightly.
"I know." Tang San nodded, but his tone was exceptionally firm. "That is precisely why I came to discuss it with you."
He knew the God of Destruction was stubborn by nature and placed immense importance on rules. Under normal circumstances, this request of his would certainly have been rejected on the spot. But this time was different. It concerned Tang Wutong.
Tang San paused, softening his tone with a faint, barely perceptible plea. "Destruction, I know the rules are important, but Xiao Qi is my daughter. You watched her grow up too. Are you willing to watch her disappear without any explanation? She is still so young, all alone on the Douluo Continent... You don't want to see Wutong come to harm in the lower realm either, do you?"
He deliberately brought up their bond with Tang Wutong. It was the only method he could think of at that moment.
The God of Destruction's gaze flickered.
He truly liked that girl, Tang Wutong. He liked her liveliness and the way she clung to him, asking him questions about everything. If it had been anyone else, he would never have wavered. But this concerned Xiao Qi...
He remained silent for a moment. Struggle flashed through his purple eyes before finally turning into a soft sigh.
"Fine," the God of Destruction said slowly. "But I have three conditions."
Joy rose in Tang San's heart. "Name them."
"First, I must go with you." The God of Destruction rose to his feet, his purple robe billowing behind him. "One more person means one more measure of support, and it will also keep you from acting impulsively and interfering in lower-realm affairs."
"Second, once we find Xiao Qi and determine the cause, we return to the God Realm immediately. There can be no delay whatsoever."
"Third, no matter what we encounter on the Douluo Continent, you are not to use the power of a God King to interfere with the lower realm's order. If you violate this, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
These three conditions practically cut off every path Tang San might take to "cross the line."
But Tang San did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately nodded. "I agree."
He knew full well that, given the God of Destruction's character, agreeing to this was already the limit. If he tried to bargain further, he might lose even this chance.
Seeing him agree so readily, the coldness in the God of Destruction's eyes eased somewhat. "In that case, there is no time to lose. We leave now."
With a wave of his hand, a purple ray shot out from his fingertips and landed on the floor in the center of the hall, instantly tearing open a Spatial rift. Through the other end of the rift, the scene of the Douluo Continent could vaguely be seen.
As one of the most ancient God Kings in the God Realm, he possessed powers and abilities that other deities did not.
The two vanished, heading straight for the Douluo Continent.