The First Generation Angel God and First Generation Sea God, Ji Ye's Future Path to Godhood

"This book has been here for many years. Not many people can understand it. If you want to read it, you can stay here and do so."

He took a deep-purple token from his sleeve and handed it to Ji Ye.

"This is an Elder Token. With it, you can move freely through most areas of Spirit Hall, including the Library Pavilion."

Ji Ye took the token with both hands. When his fingertips touched its surface, he felt a warm pulse of Soul Power.

"Thank you, senior."

Qian Daoliu nodded and turned toward the door.

"I'll leave you to read in peace. There'll be an investiture ceremony in seven days."

"Okay."

Qian Daoliu's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Holding the Record of the Angel God, Ji Ye walked to a desk by the window and sat down.

He set the book on the desk and gently turned open its yellowed pages.

The paper had grown brittle, its edges curling slightly. The handwriting was neat and archaic, as if every stroke had been carefully written.

He turned past the preface, his gaze settling on the first line of the main text.

It read:

[I was once a mortal. By chance, I gained the favor of a god, survived nine brushes with death, and glimpsed the secrets of heaven. In a mortal's body, I walked an extraordinary path, and at last attained godhood, taking the title of Angel...]

[I met Poseidon, the Sea God, when we were both still unknown. At the time, I was still studying divine script, while he had yet to become the Sea God and was no more than a Sea Soul Master.]

[When we first met, I saw him standing barefoot on a reef, holding a trident, facing the raging waves without so much as a change in expression. I thought him arrogant and went over to challenge him. We fought for three days and three nights without a winner, yet came away with admiration for one another.]

[For the next hundred years, he and I traveled the continent together and explored secret realms. We discussed the Dao in the Far North and watched the stars over the southern sea. I once thought he would be my closest friend for life, perhaps even... more than a friend.]

[But in the end, our paths to godhood diverged. I chose to draw the Angel Holy Sword, uphold justice in the world, and protect its people. He tried to stop me, claiming that I was interfering in worldly affairs. Yet how could he not know how many times he himself had interfered by taking part in wars across the sea?]

[Afterward, he and I never met again. I was in the heavens, and he was beneath the sea. Though only a hair's breadth apart, separated by ten thousand zhang of water and nine layers of heavenly winds, we were worlds apart.]

Ji Ye's gaze lingered on those words for a long time.

He slowly turned page after page.

If he remembered correctly, the First Generation Angel God and the First Generation Sea God had once been close friends for a hundred years, but in the end, the Sea God's hypocrisy had driven them to fight.

After the Angel God attained godhood, she had at least made the world's evils disappear. And the Sea God? Taking part in wars among sea creatures was one thing, but he had also left dangers for his followers, allowing Soul Beasts to keep harassing them so that they would continue worshiping him.

As for the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King and the Evil Orca King, they had kept to themselves and focused on cultivation, staying peacefully in their own waters. Yet they were still killed because of the Sea God.

Ji Ye recalled the original story.

Then he reached the final line:

[If I could begin again, I would stop him from attaining godhood as the Sea God!]

Ji Ye closed the book and leaned back in his chair, silent for a long time.

The Angel God had drawn the holy sword, using the power of a divine artifact to break through the barrier to godhood. The Sea God had manipulated wars across the sea, gathering faith to form his divine core. They had chosen different paths: one broke through by relying on external power, while the other drew strength from the faith of all living beings.

And what about him?

Ji Ye lowered his eyes and lightly tapped his fingers on the desk. He thought of the dream he had told Qian Daoliu and the others about—the Archon of Time, the Archon of Void.

That hadn't really been a dream. It was a memory from his previous life.

In the world where he had once lived, there was a continent called Teyvat.

The authority over time. The authority over space.

If he could truly master these two laws, then gather the faith of all living beings...

Create a Divine Realm of his own!

Ji Ye traced a circle on the desk with his finger, then slowly clenched his hand.

But this path was too difficult.

Far too difficult.

Creating a Divine Realm from scratch was something he had never even heard of before.

He was only a level-forty-nine Soul Ancestor. He hadn't even broken through to Soul King, and he still had a long way to go before becoming a Titled Douluo—not to mention creating his own Divine Realm.

Ji Ye let out a breath, returned the book to the golden bookshelf, and turned to head downstairs.

As he stepped through the stone doorway of the Library Pavilion, the four bishops outside bowed to him in unison, treating him with far greater respect than before.

Ji Ye nodded without breaking stride.

Back in his quarters, Ji Ye shut the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, circulated his Soul Power, and sank into cultivation.

His path was clear now.

Increase his Soul Power, comprehend the laws, protect the people, gather faith, and create his own Divine Realm.

And that seclusion lasted a full seven days.

Several Worship Hall elders came by during that time and knocked on the door, but no one answered.

Demon Subduing Douluo pressed his ear against the crack beneath the door and listened for a long while. All he heard was steady breathing. He scratched his head.

"That kid's never been this hardworking. What got into him?"

Mighty Lion Douluo came by once too. He stood outside the door and called out twice, but got no response, so he turned and left.

Qian Daoliu stood on a high platform in the Worship Hall, his hands behind his back as he gazed toward the place where Ji Ye was in seclusion. He remained silent for a long time.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood beside him, following his gaze. After hesitating, he spoke.

"Big brother, that kid's been like a different person since he came out of the Library Pavilion. He used to cultivate, but never this desperately."

Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod.

"He read the Record of the Angel God."

Golden Crocodile Douluo's brows twitched.

"That book... wasn't it an account of how the First Generation Angel God attained godhood?"

Qian Daoliu was silent for a moment.

"He probably found the path he wants to take in it."

Golden Crocodile Douluo turned his head toward him but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

Qian Daoliu looked into the distance, his voice low and measured. "Ever since that child entered the Worship Hall, every step he's taken has carried him farther than we imagined. He says he saw those things in a dream. I don't believe him. But what he says and does truly seem beyond the understanding of someone his age."

He paused, his gaze growing distant.

"Within a hundred years, this child may well be recorded in the history of the continent and remembered for all time. And our Spirit Hall will benefit for ten thousand years because of him."

Golden Crocodile Douluo was taken aback. In all his years of knowing his big brother, he had never heard him speak so highly of anyone.

He was silent for a while before finally speaking.

"Big brother, isn't that... a little too high a praise?"

Qian Daoliu didn't answer. He simply gazed in that direction, the faintest curve at the corner of his mouth.

"Just watch."

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Holy Son's investiture ceremony was set for the morning.

A grand platform had already been erected in Spirit Hall's central square. A deep-red carpet stretched from the steps all the way to the far end of the square, and tall flagpoles stood on either side, bearing Spirit Hall's golden banners.

People filled the square. Representatives of major powers, nobles, clan delegates, and academy heads had all gathered.