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

"This scroll has been kept here for many years; few can understand it. If you wish to read it, you may 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. Holding this, you may move freely through most areas of Martial Soul Hall, including the Library Pavilion."

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

"Many thanks, Senior."

Qian Daoliu nodded and turned to walk toward the door.

"I shall leave first. Read at your leisure. The canonization ceremony is in seven days."

"Understood."

Qian Daoliu's footsteps gradually faded away.

Ji Ye held the Record of the Angel God and walked to a desk by the window to sit down.

He placed the book on the table and gently turned the yellowed pages.

The paper was somewhat brittle, its edges slightly curled, and the handwriting was neat and archaic, as if each stroke had been written with great care.

He skipped the preface and let his gaze fall upon the first line of the main text.

It read:

[I was once a mortal who chanced upon divine favor. After nine deaths, I glimpsed the secrets of heaven. With a mortal body, I walked an extraordinary path and finally attained godhood, titled Angel...]

[I first met the Sea God Poseidon when we were both obscure. At that time, I was still comprehending divine scripts, and he had yet to become the Sea God, being merely a common Sea Soul Master.]

[Upon our first meeting, I saw him standing barefoot on a reef, holding a trident, facing the ten-thousand-foot raging waves without a change in expression. Thinking him arrogant, I stepped forward to challenge him. We sparred for three days and three nights; though the outcome remained undecided, we each grew to respect the other.]

[For the hundred years that followed, he and I traveled the continent together, exploring secret realms, discussing the Dao in the Far North, and watching the stars over the Southern Seas. I once believed he would be my lifelong soulmate, perhaps... even more than a friend.]

[But the path to godhood is, in the end, a divergent one. I chose to draw the Angel Holy Sword, upholding justice in the world to provide shelter for all. Yet, he obstructed me, claiming I interfered with the world. Little did he know how much he himself interfered through his participation in the wars of the seas.]

[Since then, he and I never met again. I was in the heavens, and he was in the sea, separated by ten thousand feet of water and the nine layers of the firmament—near enough to be an inch away, yet far enough to be at the ends of the earth.]

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

He slowly turned page after page.

If he remembered correctly, the first Angel God and the first Sea God were once century-long soulmates, only to end up in a fierce battle due to the Sea God's hypocrisy.

After the Angel God attained godhood, she had at least caused the world's evils to vanish. As for the Sea God? It was one thing to participate in the wars between marine life, but he had also left hidden dangers for his own believers, allowing soul beasts to harass them constantly so that they would continue to worship him.

As for the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King and the Evil Orca King, they had minded their own business, cultivating diligently and staying within their own territories, only to be killed because of the Sea God.

Ji Ye recalled the plot of the original work.

He read until he reached the final line:

[If I could do it all again, I would surely stop him from becoming the Sea God!]

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

The Angel God drew her holy sword, using the power of a divine artifact to shatter the barrier to godhood. The Sea God manipulated the wars of the seas, condensing his godhead through the power of faith. Both had chosen different paths—one relying on external force to break through, the other on the collective belief of all living things.

And what of himself?

Ji Ye lowered his eyes, his fingers tapping gently against the tabletop. He thought of the dream he had mentioned to Qian Daoliu and the others—the Archon of Time, the Archon of Void.

That was no dream; it was a memory from his previous life.

In the world where he had originally lived, a continent called Teyvat.

The authority of time. The authority of space.

If he could truly master these two great laws and then gather the power of faith from all living beings.

He would create his own Divine Realm!

Ji Ye's finger drew a circle on the desk, then slowly clenched into a fist.

But this path was too difficult.

Far too difficult.

Creating a Divine Realm was something never heard of before.

He was currently only a level 49 Soul Ancestor, not even having broken through to become a Soul King, let alone the long distance remaining to reach Titled Douluo, to say nothing of creating a Divine Realm.

Ji Ye exhaled, returned the book to the golden shelf, and turned to head downstairs.

As he walked out of the stone gate of the Library Pavilion, the four bishops outside bowed in unison, their demeanor far more respectful than before.

Ji Ye nodded without stopping.

Ji Ye returned to his quarters, closed the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, circulated his Soul Power, and sank into a state of cultivation.

His path was now clear.

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

This seclusion lasted for seven full days.

During this time, several of the titled elders came by a few times, knocking on the door, but received no response from within.

Demon Subduing Douluo pressed against the door crack and listened for a long time, but only heard the sound of steady breathing. He scratched his head.

This kid has never been this diligent before. What could have provoked him?

Mighty Lion Douluo had also stopped by once, calling out twice at the door, but when there was no movement, he had no choice but to turn and leave.

Qian Daoliu stood on the high platform of the Worship Hall, his hands behind his back as he gazed in the direction of Ji Ye's seclusion, remaining silent for a long time.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood beside him, following his gaze before speaking with a hint of hesitation.

"Big Brother, ever since that kid came out of the Library Pavilion, he's been like a different person. Although he used to cultivate, he was never this desperate."

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly.

"He saw the Record of the Angel God."

Golden Crocodile Douluo's brows twitched.

"That book... isn't it a record of the first Angel God's path to divinity?"

Qian Daoliu was silent for a moment.

"He likely found the path he wants to walk within it."

Golden Crocodile Douluo turned his head to look at him, waiting for him to continue without saying a word.

Qian Daoliu gazed into the distance, his voice low and slow. "From the moment that child entered the Worship Hall, every step he has taken has gone further than we ever imagined. He claims he saw those things in his dreams, but I do not believe it. Yet, the things he says and the things he does truly do not reflect the insight one should have at his age."

He paused, his gaze profound.

"Within a hundred years, this child may be recorded in the annals of the continent and leave a name that lasts for eternity. And my Martial Soul Hall will benefit from it for ten thousand years."

Golden Crocodile Douluo was stunned. Based on his understanding of his Big Brother, there hadn't been a single person in the last hundred years who could elicit such an evaluation from him.

He remained silent for a while before speaking slowly.

"Big Brother, isn't this evaluation... a bit too high?"

Qian Daoliu did not answer, merely gazing in that direction with the faintest curve at the corner of his mouth.

"Just watch."

Seven days flashed by in the blink of an eye.

The Holy Son's canonization ceremony was scheduled to be held in the morning.

A high platform had long been erected in the central square of Martial Soul Hall, with a deep red carpet laid from the steps all the way to the end of the square. Tall flagpoles stood on both sides, hanging the golden banners of Martial Soul Hall.

The square was packed with people; major powers, royalty and nobility, clan representatives, and the deans of various academies were all gathered together.