The God of Destruction strode to the edge of Lake of Eternity. His reflection on the lake's surface twisted and warped with his emotions:
"Not only that!"
As he turned, a wildly delighted smile curved across his lips. He said to the Goddess of Life:
"Once I regain my freedom, I will travel through all three thousand worlds and find the most suitable inheritor for you!"
He clenched his hand in the air, and enormous waves immediately rose across the lake. He added:
"Or I can send word to my inheritor now and have him watch for someone on Douluo Planet who is compatible with Life Power!"
A faint blush spread across the Goddess of Life's cheeks. Her fingertips lightly touched the lake, and images of countless worlds emerged within the ripples:
"If we can truly both cast off the shackles of our Divine Seats..."
She looked toward the distant barriers of the God Realm floating in the void, her eyes filled with longing. She continued:
"I hear that the seasons shift throughout Sunset Forest on Douluo Continent, while the Star Dou Great Forest offers a view of the Milky Way descending upon the mortal world. There are many beautiful sights in other worlds as well."
The God of Destruction suddenly took hold of her wrist. The Destruction Power in his palm collided with her Life Power, creating a rainbow:
"On the day the new God of Destruction ascends, we will travel to the mortal world and see all its mountains and rivers."
His voice was gentle yet resolute. It startled a flock of Gilded Phoenixes resting atop the divine tree, and the feathers scattered by their beating wings transformed into meteors that fell into the lower realms.
Within the God Realm, the dark-purple divine patterns surrounding the God of Destruction grew ever more brilliant. He stared in the direction of Douluo Planet, his eyes gleaming with impatience:
"I will send my divine sense to the lower realm now. Not only can I arrange a God Trial for my inheritor, I can also have him immediately begin searching for a suitable inheritor for you."
As he spoke, ripples spread through the space around the God of Destruction, as though the void might tear apart at any moment.
The Goddess of Life nodded softly. Her emerald eyes brimmed with anticipation, while the vine flowers in her hair swayed gently as if seeing him off.
In an instant, the God of Destruction turned into a streak of light wrapped in an aura of Destruction, tearing through the barriers of the God Realm and speeding toward Douluo Planet. Wherever he passed, stars dimmed and space trembled.
At that moment, within the Inheritance Land, Shen Lian was still immersed in the shock of receiving the Destruction God Trial. This was one of the five great God Kings of the God Realm.
Purple motes floating around the altar slowly drifted about him.
Suddenly, the air seemed to freeze. A suffocating pressure descended from above, and the basalt patterns on the ground burst forth with dazzling light.
A figure slowly emerged from the void. His purple robes billowed, and his towering frame seemed capable of holding up the heavens. The Purple Flame Mark on his brow, identical to Shen Lian's, flickered with mysterious dark radiance.
Shen Lian's pupils contracted. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he bowed respectfully:
"Greetings, Lord God of Destruction!"
Though Shen Lian's voice was steady, it could not conceal his excitement.
The God of Destruction raised a hand slightly, and a gentle force lifted Shen Lian upright. He studied the boy before him with interest, then said to Shen Lian:
"I never expected my inheritor to be a ten-year-old child. Still, without a god-bestowed Martial Soul and without Innate Soul Power at level twenty, you nevertheless broke through to Soul Elder at the age of ten. Your talent is indeed exceptional."
The God of Destruction's voice was low and imposing, yet it carried a faint trace of barely perceptible approval.
Shen Lian answered humbly:
"You praise me too highly, my lord."
The God of Destruction said nothing more. Destruction Power surged around him as he lightly tapped Shen Lian's brow. In an instant, Shen Lian's Consciousness Sea seemed to explode, and a thunderous voice resounded within it:
"Destruction God Trial One—Ascend the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps behind the altar through your own power."
"Completion reward: each Spirit Ring's age will increase by five thousand years, and you will receive one God-Bestowed Spirit Ring!"
After Shen Lian recovered from the turmoil in his Consciousness Sea, the God of Destruction was already holding out a green-gold leaf that radiated a gentle life aura. He said to Shen Lian:
"This is a token of inheritance for the Goddess of Life's Divine Seat. If you encounter a suitable person, give it to them. In return, Huang Tian will naturally become your Spirit Ring."
As his words fell, the God of Destruction used Teleportation to reach the top of the stairs and whispered to the slumbering Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon for a moment.
Huang Tian's enormous body swayed slightly, and its massive dragon head nodded. Only then did the God of Destruction vanish into the void in satisfaction, leaving behind only a faint lingering aura of Destruction.
As Shen Lian pondered the differences in the God Trial rewards, the ground suddenly shook. Huang Tian's massive form had already appeared before him, blotting out the sky and sun.
"Kid, what are you daydreaming about?"
Huang Tian's voice made the surrounding air hum.
Shen Lian was startled at first, then gathered his courage and asked:
"Senior Huang Tian, why is there no increase in Divine Seat Affinity among the rewards for my God Trial?"
Huang Tian let out a hearty laugh that shook stone chips from the ceiling. Then it said to Shen Lian:
"Just call me Huang Tian! There is no need to call me senior. You could say that you are my master now. Lord God of Destruction has already given his orders. As long as you are willing, I will offer myself in sacrifice and accompany you into the God Realm.
"As for that affinity, do you know that the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul was born for the Destruction God Position? Why would it need any additional boost?"
Shen Lian suddenly understood. Right, my Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon was already the Martial Soul most compatible with the Destruction God Position. I was not like that Little Scoundrel, using a blade of grass to inherit the Sea God Divinity. That was the kind of case that needed Divine Seat Affinity.
A determined light flashed through Shen Lian's eyes. He said to Huang Tian:
"Huang Tian, rest assured. Once you offer yourself in sacrifice, when I become a god someday, I will certainly let you be reborn and become a Divine Beast!"
Shen Lian's oath rang out with the force of iron, echoing through the Inheritance Land for a long time.
Huang Tian gazed at the boy, and a trace of gratification flashed through its enormous eyes, as though it had seen the limitless possibilities of the future.
Huang Tian's massive dragon claw lightly brushed the ground. The Basalt Altar immediately split with web-like cracks. Its amber vertical pupils stared at Shen Lian, the golden light within them flowing like burning stars:
"Kid, when do you intend to let me offer myself in sacrifice?"
Its deep voice carried a pressure that shook the soul, yet there was also a faint, nearly undetectable anticipation within it.
Shen Lian looked up at the enormous figure that covered the sky. In his mind, the phantoms of his two Martial Souls continuously intertwined.
The Dragon-Slaying Blade Martial Soul glinted coldly amid fluctuations of Soul Power, while the phantom of the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon coiled with an aura of Destruction.
"Huang Tian, your source power shares the same origin as the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul. If you can become my seventh Spirit Ring, I will surely awaken the purest million-year Martial Soul Avatar!"
Shen Lian clenched his fist, burning with fervent desire, as though he could already see the awe-inspiring sight of a dark-purple dragon soaring into the heavens.
Huang Tian's enormous head nodded slightly, its scales scraping together with a crisp metallic sound:
"You do have some insight."
Purple mist rose around it as its body continuously shrank, ultimately transforming into a streak of light that entered Shen Lian's brow. Then it said to Shen Lian:
"From this day onward, I will reside within your Martial Soul. If you need me, simply call my name."
Shen Lian felt his Consciousness Sea tremble violently. A dark-purple dragon phantom coiled deep within his Martial Soul, and Huang Tian's voice sounded from the depths of his soul:
"What are you so surprised about? The Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul you possess was formed from my essence blood."
Before you continue