Destruction's First Trial and Huang Tian

The God of Destruction strode to the edge of Lake of Eternity, his reflection on the water twisting and warping with his emotions:

"Not only that!"

As he turned, a curve of wild joy lifted the corner of his lips. He then said to the Goddess of Life:

"Once I regain my freedom, I will travel through three thousand worlds and find the most suitable inheritor for you!"

He raised a hand in a grasping motion, and towering waves immediately surged across the lake. Then he said:

"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 colored the Goddess of Life's cheeks. Her fingertips lightly tapped the lake's surface, and scenes of countless worlds emerged within the ripples:

"If we can truly both cast off the shackles of our God Positions..."

She gazed at the distant barriers of the God Realm floating in the void, her eyes filled with longing, and continued:

"I hear that the seasons turn throughout Sunset Forest on Douluo Continent, and that one can see the Milky Way hanging over the mortal world in the Star Dou Great Forest. Other worlds have many beautiful sights as well."

The God of Destruction suddenly reached out and clasped her wrist. The Destruction power in his palm collided with her life power, producing a rainbow:

"When the new God of Destruction ascends the throne, we will go to the mortal world and see all its mountains and rivers."

His voice was gentle yet resolute, startling a flock of Gilded Phoenixes resting atop the divine tree. As they spread their wings, their falling feathers turned into meteors and plunged into the lower realm.

Within the God Realm, the dark-purple divine patterns surrounding the God of Destruction grew increasingly radiant. He stared in the direction of Douluo Planet, his eyes flashing with impatient anticipation:

"I will send my divine sense to the lower realm at once. Not only can I arrange a God Trial for my inheritor, but I can also have him begin searching for a suitable inheritor for you immediately."

As he spoke, ripples spread through the space around the God of Destruction, as though he could tear through the void at any moment.

The Goddess of Life nodded softly, her emerald eyes brimming with expectation. The vine flowers in her hair swayed gently, seeming to see him off.

In an instant, the God of Destruction transformed into a streak of light carrying the aura of Destruction. He tore through the barrier of the God Realm and sped toward Douluo Planet. Wherever he passed, stars dimmed and space trembled.

At the Inheritance Land, Shen Lian was still immersed in the shock of receiving the Destruction God Trial.

That was one of the five great God Kings of the God Realm.

The purple motes of light floating around the altar slowly circled him.

Suddenly, the air seemed to freeze. A suffocating pressure descended from above, and the basalt patterns on the ground burst forth with blinding light.

A figure slowly emerged from the void. His purple robes snapped in the wind, and his tall frame seemed capable of holding up the heavens. The Purple Flame Mark between his brows, identical to Shen Lian's, flickered with mysterious dark light.

Shen Lian's pupils constricted. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he bowed respectfully:

"Greetings, Lord God of Destruction!"

Although 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:

"I never expected my inheritor to be a ten-year-old child. Still, without a god-bestowed Martial Soul and with Innate Soul Power below level twenty, you nevertheless broke through to become a Soul Elder at ten. That is indeed exceptional talent."

The God of Destruction's voice was low and imposing, yet it carried a trace of barely perceptible approval.

Shen Lian replied modestly:

"You praise me too highly, my lord."

The God of Destruction said no more. Destruction power surged around him as he lightly tapped Shen Lian between the brows. In that instant, Shen Lian's Consciousness Sea seemed to explode, and a thunderous voice rang within it:

Destruction God Trial, First Trial—Climb the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps behind the altar using your own strength.

Completion Reward: Each Spirit Ring's age increases by five thousand years; one God-Bestowed Spirit Ring.

When Shen Lian recovered from the tremors in his Consciousness Sea, the God of Destruction was already holding out a green-gold leaf radiating a gentle life aura. He said to Shen Lian:

"This is the inheritance token of the Goddess of Life's God Position. If you encounter a suitable person, give it to them. In return, Huang Tian will naturally become your Spirit Ring."

As soon as he finished speaking, the God of Destruction used Teleportation to arrive at the top of the stairs, where he spoke quietly with the sleeping Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon.

Huang Tian's enormous body swayed slightly, and its massive dragon head nodded. Only then did the God of Destruction vanish into the void with satisfaction, leaving behind only a faint lingering aura of Destruction.

Shen Lian was still pondering the differences in the God Trial rewards when the ground shook violently. Huang Tian's enormous figure had already appeared before him, blotting out the sky.

"Kid, what are you spacing out for?"

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 does my God Trial reward not include an increase in God Position affinity?"

Huang Tian burst into hearty laughter, shaking 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 be said to be my master now. Lord God of Destruction has long made it clear that, so long as you are willing, I will offer myself as a sacrifice and accompany you into the God Realm.

"As for 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. That was right. His Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon was already the Martial Soul most suited to the Destruction God Position. He was not like that Little Scoundrel, using a blade of grass to inherit the Sea God Position. That was the kind of situation where God Position affinity was necessary.

Determination flashed through Shen Lian's eyes as he said to Huang Tian:

"Huang Tian, rest assured. Once you sacrifice yourself for me, when I become a god someday, I will definitely let you be reborn and become a divine beast!"

Shen Lian's vow rang like iron striking the ground, echoing through the Inheritance Land for a long time.

Huang Tian gazed at the youth, 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 scraped the ground. Spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the Basalt Altar. Its amber vertical pupils stared at Shen Lian, the golden light within them flowing like burning stars:

"Kid, when do you plan to have me sacrifice myself?"

Its deep voice carried a soul-shaking pressure, yet also a faint, imperceptible anticipation.

Shen Lian raised his head and looked at the colossal figure blotting out the sky. In his mind, the manifestations of his two Martial Souls continuously intertwined.

The Dragon-Slaying Blade Martial Soul glinted coldly amid the fluctuations of Soul Power, while the phantom of the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon coiled with an aura of Destruction.

"Huang Tian, your origin power shares the same source as the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul. If you become my seventh Spirit Ring, I will surely awaken the purest million-year Martial Soul Avatar!"

Shen Lian clenched his fists, blazing desire burning in his eyes. It was as though he could already see the awe-inspiring sight of a dark-purple dragon soaring into the sky.

Huang Tian's enormous head nodded slightly, its scales grinding together with a sharp metallic clatter:

"You do have some insight."

Purple mist rose around its body as it continuously shrank, finally turning into a streak of light that entered Shen Lian's brow. Then it said to him:

"From this day onward, I will dwell within your Martial Soul. If you need me, simply call my name."

Shen Lian felt his Consciousness Sea shake violently. A dark-purple dragon shadow coiled deep within his Martial Soul, while Huang Tian's voice resounded from the depths of his soul:

"What is there to be surprised about? Your Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul was formed from my essence blood."