Destruction: On Conquering Asuras With One's Brain.

"Asura, I've got my eye on you."

From a lofty divine throne, a deity shrouded in black-red mist—unfathomable and indescribable—opened its divine eyes, brimming with the will of destruction, and cast its gaze toward the deity on the opposite scarlet throne.

Beside them sat three other beings, each with distinct auras and ineffable presences, clearly deities of the same rank.

They were arranged around a massive, starry, spherical structure radiating brilliant light, each perched upon their own throne of divine authority, facing one another in opposition.

"Do as you please."

Tang San withdrew his gaze from the Plane Instrument, which shimmered with enigmatic radiance and was partially veiled by the mist, meeting the other's gaze with calm, scarlet eyes of slaughter.

Unexpectedly, without a sudden outburst, the three other deities turned their attention to the God of Destruction.

"I want the Douluo Plane."

It was not the anticipated thunderous rage demanding severe punishment, nor an attempt to push forward his own expansion proposal.

Having read the deeds of that mortal walking the Path to Godhood alone, the Destruction God King felt those matters could wait a little.

"Don't rush to refuse. Though it's your jurisdiction, that world's Will has clearly already struck a deal with him. Are you sure you want to block a new god's path?"

Though he found it utterly disgusting, with Asura God serving as the God Realm Enforcer and no suitable replacement in sight, the Destruction God King didn't want to destabilize the God Realm's order.

Each God King had their own divine domain. The Douluo Plane, being Tang San's ascension site, naturally fell under his jurisdiction. The God of Craftsmanship, passing through in search of a successor, had reported the disgusting things Tang San had done there. Only then did he realize this conservative was nothing but a fool left by the previous Asura God to spite him.

Leaving aside the sensitive act of leading a possession scheme, or blocking someone's divine path, the fact that a God King had failed twice to kill a mortal—and even ended up threatened with his own mother—was baffling. Simply crossing realms to kill someone had turned into this mess, and he'd been blacklisted by his own ascension plane.

Through the God Realm Committee's Plane Instrument, the other four God Kings had reviewed the entire affair, their feelings beyond words.

How had this generation's Asura God managed to take the worst of conservatism and stubbornness, discarding any virtue?

If you don't block someone's path, wouldn't they naturally become your subordinate god upon ascension? Sure, the first-generation gods were all monstrously hard to suppress, and this one was even worse. But bombing your own faith plane—what was that about?

Fine, you couldn't have predicted the God of Craftsmanship, protective of his disciple, would call out your divine name. But why leave a backup plan? Your mother's Divine Thought Crystal got seized. If you hadn't arranged the possession, none of this would have happened.

And if you were going to leave a backup, why cut his cultivation?

Is this what you call balancing grace with authority? Unfathomable divine might?

You cut his cultivation, sure, but now he's abandoned the traditional Soul Master System of your Douluo Realm!

Did you think every outsider shared your mindset?

"The ascension plane is not for others."

The God Realm Enforcer began citing divine laws.

"Tch, you just don't want to give up the Douluo Plane."

The Destruction God King sneered. The God Realm had protective clauses for new gods—one being that the ascension plane automatically belonged to the final deity to ascend, unless they voluntarily renounced it.

Knowing the Slaughter God before him had finally resolved to eliminate future trouble, the Destruction God King's lips curled into a sinister smirk.

"Unauthorized damage to the Realm Wall is illegal, you know, Asura Enforcer."

"Veto all proposals to damage the Douluo Plane's Realm Wall."

"Seconded."

"I'll second that too. It's a consequence you should bear."

The three other God Kings, who had been idly watching, voiced their agreement. Forcibly breaching the Realm Wall could lower the world's energy level at best, or collapse it at worst. Either way, it was no good.

"So, Asura, you'll have to wait for the Energy Tide of the Realm Wall."

Seeing the silent, cold-faced Asura God King, the Destruction God King continued:

"When the time comes, you can settle it with him outside the realm. We won't interfere—it's your own karma. But if you forcibly break this basic rule, don't blame me for stopping you."

"Seconded." The Life God King agreed, supporting the Destruction God King.

"Abstain."

"Abstain."

The Good and Evil God Kings chose to abstain. As for possibly taking action against another God King, they'd rather wait and see before committing.

An Energy Tide cycle of the Realm Wall typically took about thirty natural days in the God Realm.

Due to the God Realm's high energy density and immense mass, spacetime flowed relatively slowly, and the energy required for motion was colossal, resulting in a macroscopic slowness. For lower planes, this meant one God Realm day equaled one mortal year.

Notably, a natural day in the God Realm couldn't be measured by mortal twenty-four-hour standards. Gods always dictated the rules; no one had ever heard of mortals defining divine behavior.

"Fine."

With a cold reply, Tang San turned and left. Thirty years—perhaps that man would already be a god, but he was a God King! Of course, if his family were harmed, striking out in anger was not out of the question.

"Heh~"

The Destruction God King let out an inexplicable laugh, then took his leave from the meeting without even waiting for the Life God King.

"Let's go, God of Craftsmanship."

Seeing the God of Bronze and Weapons waiting for him outside the God Realm Committee, the Destruction God King smiled.

"Time to upgrade the gear. In thirty days, I'll have a bout with that Tang San."

Ever since the God of Craftsmanship had introduced him to Chen Fu, Destruction had never intended to let him truly duel Tang San one-on-one.

It was merely about maximizing benefits. That mortal's deeds made the Destruction God King feel that growing a brain was the better option.

Compared to most God Kings who had charged through everything head-on, Chen Fu, who constantly considered balance, had given Him no small inspiration.

Cleaning up the mess for the God Realm Enforcer Tang San came at a cost, and besides, another god's Divine Trial examiner—the God of Craftsmanship, a rising star in the God Realm—was waiting right outside.

To accomplish something within a group, one first needed to do something relevant and reasonable yet hard for the other party to accept. That way, whether they refused or agreed, one could still achieve their most basic goal.

Tang San's disappointing refusal to hand over the Douluo Plane indirectly forced those two slacking God Kings to step in, buying that thirty-day preparation period.

That thirty days wasn't just for Chen Fu. The real protagonist was Him, Destruction. He intended to freeload a full set of equipment from the God of Craftsmanship.

And the God of Craftsmanship, burning with rage after shoving a Divine Trial onto his desired target only to have it shattered, would definitely give Him his best gear.

So yes, a brain really was a good thing. Too bad so many people didn't have one. Luckily, He had grown one now.

He just hoped that when Tang San saw the person he was waiting for was Him, decked out in divine gear, he wouldn't be too shocked.

Ah, these gods. They'd lived too comfortably and lost their drive. Especially those two slacking God Kings—slack off too long, and even their brains nearly slacked away.

Maybe this was that long-awaited feeling of youth...

"Thirty years?"

Chen Fu, following behind Di Tian, muttered softly. The World Will had just told him that the estimated time for the Energy Tide had been calculated—twenty-nine to thirty years.

"What are you saying?"

Di Tian, leading the way ahead, turned his head at the sound and looked at this human who irritated him more the more he interacted with him.

Not far behind him, the caravan members, whom Chen Fu had instructed to develop a sense of ownership, were now walking in a daze.

Nine Treasures: On the matter of surpassing one's ancestors without starting from scratch, purely from nothing.

"Just a time frame, nothing serious. Take me to meet our foundation."

Chen Fu shook his head to indicate it was fine and urged Di Tian to pick up the pace. He wanted to finish these non-technological matters quickly and then continue enriching his new Soul Master System.

"Come, they've been waiting long."

Thanks to [Rain Comes South Wind Rises] for the 100 tip, thanks to [Cold Frost] for the 200 tip, thanks to [Call Me A Da] for the 100 tip, thanks to [Foolish Theatricalizer] for the 100 tip (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ

Thanks to all my good brothers for the monthly tickets and recommendation tickets (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ

Yesterday I sorted out the plot. Some details nearly slipped my mind—terrifying. Once forgotten, it's easy to write wildly without basic logic, and things fall apart.

So I reconsidered yesterday and found that nothing had collapsed. I had just overlooked a few important details. Thus, the subsequent plot can still push forward along the main line in my heart.

Though there are no volume divisions, the first volume's provisional name is: Path to Ascension.

Now begins a new volume, provisional name: Conquest of Refining God. Gods are forged from blood and fire, and this conquest is not a solitary one.

So, good brothers, bear with me for a few chapters of groundwork. Chen's traditional writing style is about to make a return. I hope you can accept it.