God of Destruction had barely finished speaking when Goddess of Goodness furrowed her brow and said, "This is indeed tricky. Sea God has already placed his Inheritance Mark, giving him the advantage of an early start. But that child has an Angel Martial Soul, which is a natural match for Angel God's godhood. No matter which side we rule in favor of, the other will find it hard to accept."
"Exactly!"
God of Evil stroked his chin, a playful smile curling his lips. "One has the advantage of being first, while the other has the advantage of being a better match. No matter how we choose, the others will have something to say."
Asura God opened his eyes and swept his gaze over everyone. "Forcing a decision will only sow the seeds of trouble."
Just as everyone was at a loss, Goddess of Life suddenly clapped her hands, a flash of inspiration in her eyes. "I've got it! Since we can't decide, why not give the child the choice?"
At her words, the hall fell silent. Everyone's gaze turned to her.
Goddess of Life's smile deepened as she explained, "It'll be a long time before he truly inherits a godhood. The two of you can each do your best to win him over. Use resources, guidance, sincerity—let your abilities speak for themselves. Whoever he chooses in the end, the one who loses will have no one else to blame. How does that sound?"
"Good idea!"
God of Destruction was the first to agree. "Competing on merit is the fairest way!"
Though the idea was indeed a good one, the real reason he agreed so readily was that Goddess of Life had been the one to suggest it.
If Asura God had said it instead, there'd be no way he would have agreed so quickly.
He would definitely have argued first, then Goddess of Life and Goddess of Goodness would have stepped in to break it up, and only after that would he reluctantly agree.
Goddess of Goodness nodded in agreement. "That sounds excellent. It will avoid an argument and let the child see what he truly wants."
God of Evil shrugged. "It's not a bad idea."
Asura God remained terse. "Agreed."
Seeing that all the God Kings had agreed, Sea God could only nod, though he was reluctant.
He glared at Angel God and said sourly, "Even if you try to steal him, that doesn't mean you'll succeed!"
With that, he turned and left the God Realm Committee.
Angel God watched him go, one eyebrow lifting as a confident smile curled her lips. "We'll see about that."
After the two had left, God of Evil suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with curiosity. "Do you think that if the child really has God King-level talent, he could become the Divine Realm's sixth God King one day?"
God of Destruction pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "It's hard to say. His talent is certainly exceptional, but the road to godhood is full of thorns. Whether he can make it to the end depends not only on his talent but also on his fortune and character. The future is full of variables."
Goddess of Life sighed softly. "We'll have to wait and see. Perhaps this world really is about to produce a peerless talent."
Night fell, and a hazy moonlight blanketed Sea God Island. The sea breeze carried the salty tang of the ocean as it brushed gently past the palace windows.
Bo Saixi had just finished washing up and was about to rest when Sea God's voice suddenly rang out in her mind.
"Bo Saixi, come to Sea God Hall. I need to speak with you!"
His voice was full of irritation and anger, making her heart tighten.
It had been more than ten thousand years since Sea God ascended to the Divine Realm.
In all that time, Sea God's cultivation had surely reached unprecedented heights.
So, in theory, there should have been very few things in either the mortal world or the Divine Realm that could make him lose his composure like this.
Could it be because of that child with the Angel Martial Soul?
She thought it over and realized that was the only possibility. Why else would he be angry now, after all this time?
At once, she hurriedly changed into an elegant white dress, put on the silver high heels she usually wore, and made her way to the main hall of Sea God Hall.
Inside, she saw a phantom formed from divine power standing before the statue of Sea God. It was none other than Sea God Poseidon's divine sense.
Bo Saixi hurried forward and bowed respectfully. "Your subordinate greets Lord Sea God."
Sea God waved a hand, his tone impatient. "You may rise."
Bo Saixi looked up. Sea God's face was taut, his expression so dark it seemed ink might drip from it. Growing even more puzzled, she asked cautiously, "My lord, you summoned your subordinate in the middle of the night. What are your instructions?"
Sea God took a deep breath and recounted, from beginning to end, his dispute with Angel God at the God Realm Committee and the wager to let the child choose for himself.
Bo Saixi was stunned.
Angel God had actually gone so far as to bring the matter to the God Realm Committee over Ye Qing?
And now she was going to compete with Sea God for the right to pass on his inheritance?
She steadied herself, but in the end couldn't hold back her curiosity. Looking up, she asked, "Lord Sea God, may I ask something? That child is certainly talented, but the Divine Realm is full of geniuses. Why are you and Angel God so determined to have him? Couldn't you find another genius to inherit your godhood?"
Sea God's divine sense turned toward the statue, which looked exactly like him. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a weight he could barely conceal. "You don't understand. That child's Martial Soul is a God King-level Seraphim. Compared to him, ordinary geniuses—even those with Innate Full Soul Power—are like fireflies beside the moon."
"More importantly, he has shown us the possibility of advancing even further."
Bo Saixi looked utterly confused. "What do you mean?"
"There's an unwritten rule in the Divine Realm: once a god's cultivation reaches a bottleneck, they can choose to pass their godhood on to someone else."
Sea God explained, "As long as the inheritor is more talented than the god, then after becoming a god, they may be able to cultivate a godhood that was originally only Second-Level God up to First-Level God. In that case, the god who passed it on will also gain an increase in strength and status. That's why so many gods in the Divine Realm rose through Self-Created Godhood. Everyone is waiting for a true genius. I'm no exception, and neither is Angel God. Otherwise, after we ascended, Douluo Continent wouldn't have gone tens of thousands of years without producing a god—or even an inheritor."
"I see. Your subordinate understands."
Bo Saixi nodded thoughtfully.
So Ye Qing's appearance had given Sea God and Angel God hope of increasing their cultivation.
"Good. As long as you understand."
He looked at Bo Saixi, his gaze sharpening, and ordered, "From today onward, you must do everything in your power to cultivate him, whatever resources he needs. Cultivation techniques, Soul Rings, Soul Bones—if Sea God Island has them, give them to him first! We absolutely cannot let Angel God's side gain the upper hand. Understood?"
"Yes!" Bo Saixi replied solemnly, now fully aware of Ye Qing's importance.
He was not only the hope of Sea God Inheritance but also the focus of two gods' rivalry.
The road ahead would hardly be peaceful.
After all, the people at Spirit Hall might have received the news too.