After Xiao Lu and I ignited our divine consciousness and saved the entire Divine Realm.
Our souls had originally been about to enter the cycle of reincarnation, then be reborn and live a second life.
But halfway through, Sea God Tang San intercepted the two of us just as we were about to leave, using those sinful hands of his.
"Tsk. You think you can rebuild your strength and come back to take control of the Divine Realm? Not so fast." Tang San's smile sent a chill down the spine of the God King of Destruction, who still retained a sliver of consciousness.
"It'll be a bit troublesome, but if I take my time, I can still slowly refine you both until you're reduced to nothing. The Divine Realm can only have one master, and that's me, Tang San."
I immediately realized something was wrong.
That hypocrite's earlier act had indeed been nothing but a performance to lower my guard.
But what could I do in my current state?
The divine consciousness of the God of Destruction in Tang San's hands didn't even dare make a sound.
If I'd been alone, I might still have been able to fight Tang San to the death.
But Xiao Lu was still in his hands. If I made a move, her situation would be no better.
So I lay low and waited for the right moment.
At last, the instant Tang San sent Tang Wulin into Douluo Continent, the God of Destruction struck without hesitation.
Not only did he use the last of his strength to grievously wound Tang San, he also carried the seeds of both gods' origins and Tang Wulin into that passage.
During all that, I'd originally wanted to make a move regarding the Golden Dragon King Divine Core, too.
But I had the will and not the strength. I could never properly deal with that wisp of Tang San's divine consciousness.
Still, I managed to sever the link between the Golden Dragon King Divine Core and Tang San's son, separating the two of them.
I just didn't know where the Golden Dragon King's Divine Core had gone now.
Could it have followed the currents of space-time and come with me to this era of Douluo, ten thousand years in the past?
"Forget it. I don't know how you managed to learn about the origins of my and Xiao Lu's inheritances, kid, but you really are... extraordinarily lucky."
It was thanks to this kid that I'd ended up here, coexisting with him.
Back then, Xiao Lu and I had been trapped in a desperate situation when we happened to sense a soul on its way to Douluo Continent.
If I hadn't grabbed hold of him in time, Xiao Lu and I might have drifted aimlessly through outer space for countless years.
In other words, the kid before me was the first inheritor ever to receive the godhoods of two God Kings.
"Lucky?" Lin Yuan seized on the meaning in the God King of Destruction's words, his face lighting up with delighted surprise.
"So, senior, does that mean you want to pass your inheritance on to me?"
"That's right. Our inheritances have long been deeply bound to your soul. No matter what, you're already our inheritor."
Lin Yuan looked even more delighted, but then he suddenly regained his composure.
There was no doubt that the Source of Destruction and Seed of Life were his golden finger, but he understood the principle that profound teachings weren't passed on lightly.
If the God of Destruction was giving him his inheritance so easily, there had to be a catch.
"Senior, let's be frank with each other. You can't possibly have no expectations of me, can you?" Lin Yuan asked, his expression serious.
That expression made the God of Destruction regard him more highly.
Judging by Lin Yuan's earlier excitement, he had clearly learned the value of the inheritance through some channel.
And now he had calmed down again, realizing that if the God of Destruction was passing it on so readily, he must want something from him.
With that sort of judgment, he could just barely be called a worthy inheritor.
"Not bad. Looks like you understand that this inheritance comes at a price."
"I've always understood that any power that doesn't belong to you comes with a price. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world." Lin Yuan rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"Exactly. You should know Sea God Tang San, right?"
Lin Yuan nodded. He knew him better than anyone.
He might even know Tang San better than Tang San knew himself.
"If I asked you to take the path of slaying gods, what would you think?" The God of Destruction's voice carried unmistakable excitement.
If Lin Yuan refused, he wouldn't mind giving him an opportunity to become a powerful figure in the mortal world and live out his life as one.
After that, he would lie dormant and make another plan to rise after Lin Yuan died.
There was still plenty of time. Ten thousand years from now, the Divine Realm would inevitably drift away from Douluo Continent.
That would be when the God of Destruction struck back at Tang San from the shadows.
It wasn't realistic to contact his true self in the Divine Realm in this era. He knew that Douluo Continent was completely under Tang San's control at this time.
"Hmm..." Lin Yuan couldn't help falling into thought.
With the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life backing him, he would certainly have the means to stand against Tang San.
But that also meant this path was full of danger. One wrong step could plunge him into eternal ruin.
"Have you made up your mind, young man? Even if you refuse me, I'll still improve your aptitude a little, so you can spend some years of your life as a strong man," the God of Destruction reminded him.
Lin Yuan froze, then his gaze gradually grew resolute.
Wasn't this just a choice between enjoying a carefree life as a powerful man in the world of Douluo, or slaying a god as a mortal?
A smile slowly appeared on Lin Yuan's face. He walked toward the two Divine Cores, stopping in front of the Source of Destruction.
"Living in splendor as a powerful man would certainly be great..."
He clenched his fist, a confident smile on his face.
"But that's how a weakling thinks. With the inheritances of two godhoods in my hands, I want to see just how hard Tang San is to beat!"
"Good lad! Looks like my luck, the God of Destruction, is pretty damn good too." The God of Destruction sounded overjoyed.
"Then, master, please accept this disciple's bow." Lin Yuan cupped his hands.
The Source of Destruction fell silent.
Even though Lin Yuan couldn't see any response from the God of Destruction, he could guess that the man was nodding at him in satisfaction.
"Then I'll make the decision and accept you as my disciple on Xiao Lu's behalf, too. Now, open your mind."
Lin Yuan did as he was told, and a Soul Power cultivation route appeared in his mind.
On top of that, he could now clearly feel the Martial Soul in his body awakening.
Lin Yuan immediately urged the power within him. In that instant, his draconic features emerged in full.
Keratinous scales appeared at the ends of his limbs. The whites of his eyes turned pure black, and his irises became golden vertical pupils.
"What's this?" Lin Yuan stared in disbelief at his arm, which had transformed into a dragon claw.
He could clearly feel the frenzied aura of destruction within him, along with his blood boiling with the blood of a beast.
"This is a Martial Soul I created using the Source of Destruction and the faint traces of dragon blood in your Martial Soul. I call it the Destruction Demon Dragon." The God of Destruction's voice had grown noticeably weak. He really was close to burning out.
"It took quite a bit of effort to bring out your nearly nonexistent dragon-type Martial Soul."
If I hadn't really run out of power, I would've given Lin Yuan Innate Level 20 Soul Power for sure.