Collecting the Bodies
Dongfang Yao and Arthur, the newly appointed gods of Goddess of Kindness and Evil God, have had mixed feelings about the two "hands-off managers" ever since they took over the "mess" left by their predecessors—an almost empty divine position, a vague legacy, and artifacts and resources that have disappeared without a trace.
I wouldn't say I hate them, but I definitely don't like them, and I lack any sense of obligation towards them.
In particular, the couple's reputation for being "unreliable" was no secret within the small circle of deities in the Divine Realm.
Therefore, when that faint yet urgent fluctuation from the lower realm, transmitted through the divine artifact, truly reached the Divine Realm, attempting to contact Dongfang Yao and Arthur...
The two newly appointed god-kings almost tacitly and simultaneously chose to ignore it.
"Tsk, here we go again, it's never good news." Dongfang Yao curled his lip and ignored it as spam.
Arthur was even more direct. Sensing the aura of the Godess of Kindness in the signal, he didn't even flinch before cutting off the receiving channel and even reinforced the divine barrier to prevent any further interference.
They had no interest in knowing what kind of "love adventures" the couple were having in the mortal realm, and they certainly didn't want to be dragged into being "firefighters."
Block them, block them decisively.
Thus, the pitiful, or rather, self-inflicted, previous gods of Goddess of Kindness and Evil God, when faced with the Asura God who had been secretly watching them and waiting for an opportunity to strike, were still "confidently" waiting for their successor to come to their rescue.
Even as the Asura God's crimson sword light struck, even as their true spirits began to crumble in shock and confusion, they were perhaps still bewildered: Why didn't the divine artifact react? Why didn't Dongfang Yao and Arthur come? They were God-Kings, possessing divine artifacts indispensable to the new God-King; how could they possibly abandon themselves?
They never understood until their deaths that their previous "outrageous actions" had already led their successors to completely blacklist them as "unacceptable visitors."
That self-righteous "insurance" was, from beginning to end, just something they imagined.
When the investigation results were released to a small group of high-ranking officials in the Divine Realm, the gods' feelings were complex and difficult to describe.
There were sighs of regret, but more than anything, there was speechless disbelief at the couple's reckless behavior.
The fall of a god-king was caused by something utterly absurd.
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Like a drowning man grasping at a straw, the Sea God kept pleading with the newly ascended Sea God Doria, in an attempt to build a fragile alliance against the purging force emanating from Qian Renxue.
Meanwhile, within another, even more heavily guarded and isolated barrier, the Asura God was also waging his final struggle.
The shadow of death, like a cold scythe, hung over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
He knew better than anyone that without external intervention, he would surely die.
He turned his gaze to the new Asura God who had just inherited his divine position—Armor.
After Kai successfully entered the Divine Realm and initially secured his divine position, the detailed account of the crimes of the former Asura God and the recent upheavals in the Divine Realm was clearly presented to him through the records of the Divine Realm's central authority and the information provided by Qian Renxue and others.
Contrary to the expectations of some deities, after learning the whole situation, Kai did not show strong emotions, nor was he in a hurry to sever ties with the Asura God.
He silently fulfilled the duties of the new god, adapting to the laws of the Divine Realm, until one day, he took the initiative to ask to see the former Asura God who was imprisoned.
This request caused some hesitation among the deities under the God of Destruction who were in charge of guarding the place, but given that Kai was now the new Asura God, after being informed and receiving tacit approval, Kai was allowed to enter the heavily guarded place of confinement.
Within the barrier, the light was dim, and an atmosphere of decay and oppression permeated the space.
The once awe- Divine Realm dark red figure is now Entanglement heavy, purplish-black chains of destruction, its divine power dimmed, and its appearance withered.
But the moment Kai's tall figure stepped into the barrier, a faint yet intense light suddenly shone in the Asura God's originally lifeless and murky eyes!
He came! He came to see me on his own initiative!
Interpreted by the almost obsessive will to survive of the Asura God, Kai's arrival is undoubtedly a hopeful signal!
This means that the newly appointed God of Slaughter was not completely swayed by the words of the God of Destruction and others. He may still have doubts in his heart, or he may be mindful of the inheritance!
As long as you're willing to talk, there's a chance!
Even though Kai has just broken through level 100 and become a god, and his strength seems insignificant in the battle of god-kings, he is the new Asura God, the current ruler of the laws of slaughter and judgment! His position itself carries subtle weight.
If I could win him over, even if it was just to get him to be ambiguous, delay the trial, or even create some chaos... I would have a slim chance of survival!
"You've come." The Asura God's voice was somewhat hoarse, yet he tried his best to maintain a dignified yet approachable tone. "I knew you would eventually come. Ever since you awakened your Martial Soul in the lower realm and displayed that unparalleled sharpness and potential, I've been watching you closely."
He began his "persuasion," the first step of which was to establish an emotional connection, emphasizing the "gratitude for being recognized and appreciated."
"I admire your character, as resilient as steel; I admire even more your talent, your innate affinity and profound understanding of the laws of killing and judgment. I have long regarded you as my best and only successor," the Asura God said slowly.
(In fact, his initial focus was on Tang San, who carried the aura of "luck," and Kai was merely a "surprise" he discovered while monitoring Tang San. It wasn't until Kai rose to prominence at an astonishing speed, leaving Tang San, who had repeatedly disappointed him, far behind, that the Asura God truly placed his heavy bet on this upstart genius. But of course, he wouldn't mention any of this.)
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Kai simply stood quietly outside the barrier, listening to the words of the Asura God.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his silver hair gleaming coldly in the dim light. His handsome face remained expressionless; he neither nodded in agreement nor uttered a word of rebuttal, like a listening deity, making it impossible to discern his inner thoughts.
The Asura God took this silence as tacit approval, which encouraged him, and he continued to increase his stakes.
He recounted his embellished and omitted "attention" and "invisible protection" of Kai's growth process, emphasizing that if he hadn't chosen him as his successor early on and secretly guided the resonance of the law of killing, Kai's path to godhood would never have been so "smooth".
Having felt he had laid enough groundwork for expressing his "gratitude," Asura God abruptly changed the subject, his voice suddenly lowering and becoming noticeably bitter and helpless as he began to recount his current "predicament."
"... I admit that in some matters, I may have been too radical, or I was misled, and I was involved with that wicked Tang San, which led to a big mistake and gave others a handle against me." He cleverly shifted the blame to the dead Tang San and his "radical" methods, rather than admitting his ambition and the nature of the murder.
"But now, I am imprisoned, my divine power sealed, and my former majesty swept away... What's even more terrifying is that someone wants to take this opportunity to put me to death!" His eyes revealed just the right amount of grief and resentment.
"Kai, since you have inherited my divine position, your fate is intertwined with mine. If I were to perish, my divine essence would not dissipate, but I would inevitably suffer a great loss of vitality. Furthermore, it would allow certain individuals in the Divine Realm who have always been hostile to this path to seize the opportunity to weaken or even usurp this law! This is absolutely not what I wish to see, and I'm sure it's not what you would like to see either."
He carefully observed Kai's reaction, and seeing that the other remained silent, he revealed his true purpose. "I... need your help. I don't need you to confront them head-on, I just need you to mediate at a crucial moment... perhaps, that can buy me a chance to survive."
To increase persuasiveness and make this seemingly far-fetched plan appear more feasible, the Asura God lowered his voice and threw out what he considered his "trump card": "Moreover, it's not just you and me. The Life Goddess... she's only temporarily deceived, misled by their words. As long as we use the right methods, I'm confident we can win her over and work together to find a solution!"
Upon hearing this, Kai, who had been silent as ice, finally reacted.
He slightly raised his eyes, his deep, star-like eyes looking clearly at the Asura God within the barrier for the first time, and asked in a calm, unwavering voice. "As far as I know, the Life Goddess, after learning the truth, has been utterly disappointed in you and has even stopped defending you. Given what you have done, why would she still help you?"
This question gets to the heart of the matter and reveals that Kai is not entirely unaware of the situation.
Upon hearing this, the Asura God was not discouraged at all. He slowly shook his head, and even a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
"You don't understand her." The Asura God's voice became somewhat ethereal. "Or rather, in the entire Divine Realm, perhaps only I... can truly understand her 'thoughts'."
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts on how to explain to the new successor the seemingly contradictory, even somewhat "illogical," behavioral patterns of the Life Goddess.
"The Life Goddess itself has no sense of good or evil, or rather, apart from Angel God, none of the gods truly have any thoughts of considering mortals."
Gods have no empathy.
Even the Life Goddess, known for his Goddess of Kindness and gentleness, is no exception.
The Godess of Kindness can manipulate humanity, betting human life, death, and destiny with the Evil God.
The Life Goddess is also distorted.
It's just that very few people noticed it; even the God of Destruction, the husband of the Life Goddess, didn't discover it.
And the Asura God happened to be the one who discovered it.
Chapter 357 Collecting Corpses
The central hub of the Divine Realm, the Judgment Sanctuary.
This place was originally set up to adjudicate deities who violated the strict laws of the Divine Realm, but it was rarely used throughout the long years.
Today, however, almost all the mid- to high-ranking deities of the Divine Realm have gathered here, creating a solemn and tense atmosphere.
The towering judgment platform, crafted from the most solid divine crystal, now imprisons the figure who once stood at the pinnacle of power in the Divine Realm — the Asura God.
He had lost his former majesty and radiance; his dark red armor was tattered, his aura was weak, and he was bound by several chains containing powerful sealing energy. He stood quietly in the center of the platform, receiving gazes from all directions.
The seats of the gods were arranged in order.
The God of Destruction sat in the main seat, his face cold and stern, with faint purple destructive lightning flowing around him. He was the one who would preside over and execute this judgment.
The newly Godess of Kindness, Dongfang Yao, and the Evil God, Arthur, sat on either side.
Angel God Qian Renxue sat slightly to the side, her posture upright, her purple eyes fixed on the figure on the judgment platform. Although the Angel Holy Sword in her hand was not drawn, it exuded an undeniable chilling aura.
The Life Goddess also sat on her own throne, opposite the God of Destruction. She wore an elegant emerald green dress, her face still stunningly beautiful, yet shrouded in a lingering pallor and weariness.
Her gaze fell on the familiar yet unfamiliar figure on the judge's bench, her eyes filled with complex emotions—pain, confusion, and... a subtle struggle and reluctance.
She remembered the message that the newly appointed Asura God, Armor, had quietly passed on to her.
Her hands, unconsciously clenched tightly within the wide sleeves of her divine robe, her nails almost digging into her palms. Reason told her that the Asura God's crimes were countless; he had betrayed the Divine Realm and betrayed trust.
He deserves the harshest punishment.
But feelings of unease and worry were quietly growing in my heart...
The God of Destruction didn't elaborate. He slowly rose, his cold, authoritative voice resounding throughout the entire temple, delivering an unquestionable verdict. "Former God of Law Enforcement, Asura. Upon investigation, you have committed the following grave crimes:"
"Firstly, he secretly coveted the power of his colleagues, plotted to murder the former Godess of Kindness and Evil God, and seized their primordial artifacts. His actions were despicable and tantamount to murdering the God-King!"
"Secondly, he is hoarding divine artifacts and plotting wicked schemes. He intends to use these artifacts and unscrupulous means to merge with and seize the divine status of other god-kings, attempting to disrupt the balance of the Divine Realm. His intentions are despicable!"
"Thirdly, he colluded with the fallen Tang San, condoned his evil deeds, and even attempted to use him to achieve his own selfish desires, which constitutes serious dereliction of duty and corruption of the laws of the Divine Realm!"
With each charge read aloud, the atmosphere in the temple grew heavier.
These accusations were no secret, and for the God of Destruction to announce them publicly in such a formal setting was only a further blow to his morale.
The Asura God once ruled over judgment, is now a prisoner being judged. What could be more ironic?
The Asura God listened expressionlessly, as if the accusations were not directed at him.
Only after the God of Destruction's voice faded did he slowly raise his head. His gaze did not fall on the pronouncer, but instead pierced through the space of the judgment seat, precisely landing on the emerald green figure on the throne of the God King, a figure representing life and gentleness.
Their eyes met.
The Life Goddess did not avoid his gaze, but the struggle, pain, hesitation... and a barely perceptible glimmer of wavering in those beautiful eyes did not escape the keen observation of the Asura God.
The Asura God's heart sank suddenly, then relaxed again.
The heavy thing is that she is indeed still struggling and hesitating; the light thing is that she has indeed wavered!
The message delivered by Kai worked.
This thought ignited hope in the Asura God's heart. As long as the Life Goddess still had this struggle in her heart, as long as she hesitated even slightly at the crucial moment, he would still have a chance!
At least, it might offer a glimmer of hope!
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After the God of Destruction finished reading the charges, his gaze swept across the entire hall, finally settling on the Asura God: "The evidence is irrefutable and cannot be denied. According to the highest law of the Divine Realm, for multiple crimes combined, the sentence is—annihilation of both body and soul. Execution immediately!"
"Execution—begin!"