The clash of divine powers inside Sea God Hall grew more intense. Golden and blue light nearly ripped the roof from the hall.
Just as the two stood poised to strike, on the verge of unleashing a world-shaking battle, a calm voice rang out from beyond the hall, carrying unquestionable authority. "Lord Sea God, Lord Angel God, the God Kings request your presence. Please come to the Divine Realm Committee chamber."
The one who had arrived was a Second-Level God in silver-white divine robes.
Though his divine power was beneath that of a Main God, his position in the Divine Realm was exceptional, for he had long been responsible for delivering the God Kings' decrees.
Thus, even Sea God and Angel God, both Main Gods, had to show him some respect.
The two exchanged a glance. Though their anger had not faded, they knew they could not slight a summons from the God Kings.
Angel God gave a cold snort and put away the Angel Holy Sword, the golden light around her drawing back.
Poseidon also dispelled his surging deep-blue divine power, but his gaze toward Angel God remained hostile.
The Divine Realm Committee stood at the Divine Realm Hub, a magnificent palace suspended above a sea of clouds.
The hall was solemnly lit. Five figures of unfathomable presence were already seated around the round table at its center.
They were the Five God Kings who governed the order of the Divine Realm.
Asura God!
God of Destruction!
God of Evil!
Goddess of Life!
Goddess of Goodness!
Sea God and Angel God entered the hall and bowed slightly to the five God Kings.
Goddess of Life spoke first. A faint green glow swirled around her, and her tone was gentle. "There's no need for such formalities. We summoned you today because we heard that the two of you had a dispute in Sea God Hall. What was it about?"
Goddess of Goodness nodded in agreement beside her. Her voice was soft but carried weight. "Anything can be discussed within the Divine Realm. If you disagree, you can explain the matter here and let us judge it. There's no need to resort to force and disturb the peace."
God of Destruction's expression was stern.
A half-smile played on God of Evil's lips.
Asura God, meanwhile, sat with his eyes closed, resting.
Though the three said nothing, their gazes had already settled on Sea God and Angel God. Clearly, they were waiting for an answer too.
Thinking that the first to strike would prevail and the latecomer would suffer, Poseidon immediately stepped forward and said gravely, "I report to the God Kings: this matter is absurd. My Sea God lineage has gone ten thousand years without finding a suitable successor in the mortal world. At long last, one appeared on Sea God Island and accepted my Godhood Inheritance, but Angel God suddenly showed up and insisted on taking the person away. You be the judge—what kind of reasoning is that?"
At his words, Goddess of Life turned to Angel God. "Is what Sea God said true?"
Angel God nodded frankly. "It is. But I had my reasons for taking the person."
"Oh?"
Goddess of Life knitted her brows, looking displeased. "Sea God has already bestowed his inheritance, and the child is on Sea God Island. By rights and by reason, the child should be his successor. Why did you have to interfere?"
From the sound of it, Angel God seemed to be the one causing trouble.
But even if she and Sea God had grievances in the mortal world, she couldn't possibly do something so foolish, could she?
After all, anyone with a shred of sense would side with Sea God in this situation.
Let alone the God Kings, who had lived for countless millennia.
Angel God did not answer directly. Instead, she turned to Poseidon, her voice edged with mockery. "Why don't you tell them what kind of Martial Soul the child awakened?"
At this, Poseidon's old face flushed. He instinctively avoided the gazes of the five God Kings and coughed a few times, looking awkward.
His reaction only piqued the God Kings' curiosity.
God of Destruction asked in a low voice, "What is the mortal child's Martial Soul? What could make the two of you fight over the child like this?"
Under everyone's gaze, Poseidon answered helplessly, "The child's Martial Soul... is an Angel."
"What?!"
The five God Kings were all taken aback, their faces filled with disbelief.
An Angel Martial Soul?
If they remembered correctly, wasn't that the hallmark Martial Soul of Angel God's lineage?
If so, what had Sea God been thinking?
He'd actually taken a child with an Angel Martial Soul as his successor.
That was utterly ridiculous!
More importantly, how had the child ended up on Sea God Island?
Though they had not ascended from Douluo Continent, they knew how Martial Souls were inherited there.
They came either from divine gifts or from inheriting one's parents' Martial Souls.
In other words, whichever way it had happened, the child had a close connection to Angel God.
At that thought, Asura God slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp as a blade as he asked, "Sea God, you said the child was from Sea God Island?"
"Yes." Poseidon nodded, admitting it.
That was indeed what he had said.
God of Evil gave a snort of derision and couldn't help saying, "For ten thousand years, the Martial Souls awakened on your Sea God Island have all been related to the ocean. When has an Angel Martial Soul ever appeared there? Did you make this up to snatch the child, and come up with such a flimsy excuse?"
"I don't know either!"
Poseidon sighed, utterly at a loss. "I haven't set foot in the mortal world for ten thousand years. How was I supposed to know an Angel Martial Soul would appear on Sea God Island? But the inheritance mark has already settled on the child. I can't just call it off because the Martial Soul doesn't match, can I?"
Goddess of Life and Goddess of Goodness exchanged a glance, both looking helpless.
At last, they understood why Angel God had been so agitated.
If the hallmark Martial Soul of their own divine lineage appeared somewhere else, they would probably go there and demand an explanation too.
Goddess of Goodness said softly, "Enough. It's only an Angel Martial Soul. Sea God, find another child with a water-attribute Martial Soul. There's no need to argue with Angel God over this."
"Exactly!"
Angel God immediately chimed in, lifting her chin as she demanded, "Give the child back to me at once. I'll send someone to bring the child back to Spirit Hall for training."
"Hmph, an ordinary Six-Winged Angel might do..."
Poseidon gave a cold snort, his gaze sweeping over the God Kings before he replied, "But that child's Martial Soul is no ordinary Six-Winged Angel!"
The God Kings were all taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"The child's Angel form is entirely different from that of a Six-Winged Angel!"
Poseidon spoke slowly, a hint of gravity in his voice as he explained, "More importantly, the quality of that Martial Soul... has already surpassed the Main God level and reached the God King level! Otherwise, would I have gone so far as to do this?"
As soon as he said this, the Divine Realm Committee fell into complete silence.
A God King-level Angel Martial Soul?
The five God Kings exchanged glances, shock flashing in their eyes.
No wonder Poseidon was willing to overlook the mismatch between the Martial Soul's attribute and his godhood, and designate the child as his successor.
Such talent was exceedingly rare throughout the history of the Divine Realm!
Angel God's pupils contracted sharply. She had thought the child was merely a little stronger than a Six-Winged Angel. She had never expected it to have reached the God King level!
For a moment, her gaze toward Poseidon grew even more hostile.
This time, even God of Destruction couldn't help speaking up. "This matter... really does need to be discussed carefully."