God King of Destruction Scolds Tang San!

Before, when he looked at Huo Yuhao, it was like reading an open book. What was written on every page and how it would end were all crystal clear.

But now, that book had been closed and covered in a thick layer of dust. He could barely make out the cover and see its title, while everything inside had become a blur.

It made him uneasy. It made him... furious.

Douluo Continent was his backyard, a "chessboard" he had created with his own hands.

Huo Yuhao was the most important "chess piece" he had carefully chosen. Xiao Qi was the crucial "lock" he had used to bind that piece.

But now, the lock had failed to fasten.

The chess piece had slipped out of his control.

And the chessboard seemed to have... developed an unforeseen variable.

Damn it... who exactly is meddling? Tang San roared inwardly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table faster.

Was it that old bastard Destruction?

No, it did not seem like him. Although Destruction had always opposed him, that old bastard was domineering and straightforward. If he wanted to cause trouble, he would confront him head-on. He would not use such underhanded, furtive methods.

Was it Life? That woman was soft-hearted and might disapprove of him plotting against a child, but she did not possess the ability to obscure his calculations either.

Or was it... some other existence hiding in the shadows, one even he had failed to notice?

The more Tang San thought about it, the tighter his brow furrowed.

"Third Brother?"

A gentle voice sounded beside him.

Tang San came back to his senses and turned his head, only to see Xiao Wu sitting beside him and looking at him with concern.

Xiao Wu wore a long pink dress today, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, but an inescapable trace of worry lingered between her brows.

"What is it, Third Brother? You've been absent-minded ever since earlier." Xiao Wu lowered her voice so that only the two of them could hear. "Are you still thinking about the lower realm?"

Looking into his wife's worried eyes, Tang San's heart softened. He forced out a smile and shook his head.

"It's nothing. Just some trivial matters that are a little bothersome."

"Did... something happen on Xiao Qi's side?" Xiao Wu's voice became even quieter, carrying an almost imperceptible tremble.

Although she had separated half of her Divine Soul and sent it into the lower realm to become Wang Dong, the bond between mother and daughter meant that she could still vaguely sense that things on Xiao Qi's side seemed... to be going poorly.

Tang San squeezed Xiao Wu's hand, signaling for her to rest easy.

"Don't worry. Xiao Qi is fine. It's just... a minor accident. It won't affect the bigger picture."

After a pause, he added, "Perhaps the lower realm's destiny has become somewhat chaotic, interfering with my calculations. Once it stabilizes after some time, everything will be fine."

Xiao Wu nodded, but the worry in her eyes did not fade.

She knew her husband was comforting her. Any "minor accident" that could trouble someone on Third Brother's level was certainly no small matter.

But she did not ask any further questions.

Because she knew there was no use asking. No one could change what Third Brother had decided. No one could stop the path Third Brother intended to walk.

All she could do was pray—for Xiao Qi's safety, for the safety of the child chosen by Third Brother, and for... everything to proceed smoothly according to Third Brother's plan.

But just then.

"Tang San, what's with you today? You look completely distracted. Are you stirring up some petty scheme in the lower realm again?"

A cold, domineering voice full of mockery suddenly rang through the conference chamber.

Everyone looked up toward its source.

It was the God of Destruction.

He sat across from Tang San in a dark purple God King robe, one leg crossed over the other. He idly played with a dark purple divine crystal covered in fine lightning patterns. A faintly amused expression rested on his face, while his blade-sharp eyes stared openly at Tang San, full of provocation.

The atmosphere in the conference chamber instantly became somewhat delicate.

The other gods all lowered their heads, watching their noses and minds, pretending they had heard and seen nothing.

Only the Goddess of Life, seated beside the God of Destruction and dressed in a long emerald-green gown, gently tugged on her husband's sleeve and said softly, "Xiao Zi, say less."

The God of Destruction snorted, but rather than restraining himself, he raised his voice.

"Did I say anything wrong? Our esteemed God King has been very busy lately. He has to manage God Realm affairs, tend to that 'backyard' in the lower realm, arrange for his daughter to 'encounter by chance' some child of destiny, and scheme against this person and that person... Tsk, tsk. He truly handles countless affairs every day. How exhausting."

Those words were practically a direct insult to Tang San's face.

Tang San's expression immediately darkened.

He raised his head and looked at the God of Destruction. His black eyes, usually gentle and smiling, were now as cold as ten-thousand-year ice.

"Destruction, watch your words. My affairs are none of your concern."

"None of my concern?" The God of Destruction sneered. He slammed the divine crystal in his hand onto the table with a bang, rose to his feet, and looked down at Tang San as purple light flickered in his eyes.

"Tang San, don't forget that the God Realm Committee is not your personal court! You privately brought a large number of relatives and friends from the lower realm into the God Realm, seriously disrupting the God Realm's population balance and resource distribution! And now you have extended your hand into the lower realm, interfering with its destiny and plotting against its geniuses... Do you really think the God Realm is the Tang Family's private property?!"

"I interfered with the lower realm?" Tang San rose as well, his voice icy.

"Destruction, you need evidence when you speak. When have I ever interfered with the lower realm? My daughter's descent into the lower realm for training was lawful conduct approved by the God Realm Committee. As for the child of destiny... the birth of a child of destiny on Douluo Continent is a cosmic rule, the will of heaven. As a God King, what is wrong with paying attention to it?"

"Paying attention?" The God of Destruction laughed, his smile cold and mocking.

"What a fine 'paying attention'! Tang San, do you dare swear before the God Realm Hub that you did not tamper with your daughter's Divine Soul, did not attempt to control that child of destiny's fate, and did not treat Douluo Continent as a training ground for cultivating your private army?!"

The conference chamber fell deathly silent.

Every god held their breath.

Those words were too severe.

So severe that... they were practically tearing all pretenses apart, accusing a God King of abusing his power for personal gain, misusing public resources, and even... plotting some conspiracy to overturn the order of the God Realm.

Tang San stared fixedly at the God of Destruction, killing intent surging in his eyes.

The space behind him began to warp, revealing terrifying phantoms of mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and heaps of white bones. It was the slaughter domain inherent to the Asura God's divine position, now manifesting uncontrollably due to its master's fury.

The God of Destruction showed no weakness either. Dark purple destructive divine power surged from his body, transforming into a roaring sea of destructive lightning behind him. It gave off a terrifying aura capable of burning all things to ash and erasing everything.

The confrontation between the two God Kings made the entire space of the council hall groan and tremble, as though it might shatter at any moment.

"Enough!"

The Goddess of Life finally could not bear it any longer. She stood and positioned herself between them. Emerald-green life divine power flowed from her body like a spring breeze and nourishing rain, gently calming the rampaging auras of slaughter and destruction.

"This is the God Realm Committee, not a marketplace! If you want to argue, take it outside!"

She first glared at the God of Destruction, then turned to Tang San, her voice softening slightly. "Tang San, Xiao Zi speaks bluntly. Don't take it to heart. But... matters of the lower realm truly should not be interfered with too much. That is a rule of the God Realm, and it is also... for the God Realm's long-term stability."

Tang San looked at the Goddess of Life, then at the God of Destruction behind her, whose expression plainly said, I just don't like you. He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart.

He knew he could not let today's matter escalate.