"Lately, our Divine Realm has grown ever more powerful, but because of certain restrictions, many prodigies in the lower realms can't ascend to the Divine Realm. I propose that we expand the Divine Realm!"
As soon as the God of Destruction spoke, the gods below began discussing it among themselves. Quite a few nodded.
After all, the Divine Realm had been overcrowded for ages.
Seeing how eager the gods seemed, Destruction thought he had this in the bag.
Who would've thought—
Asura God was the first to stand up in opposition. "Absolutely not! This concerns the safety of the Divine Realm. We need to deliberate carefully!"
Destruction gritted his teeth and slammed the table in anger. "Asura, are you deliberately making things difficult for me?"
"That's what you think. It has nothing to do with me."
Asura God didn't answer the question directly, but the teasing look in his eyes made his intentions clear.
He was doing it on purpose!
"Bastard! Asura, you're asking for death!"
"Do you think I'm afraid of you? If you've got the guts, let's take this outside! I'll cut you down with one sword!"
The gods had grown accustomed to this sort of thing.
Destruction and Asura had been arguing for ages because they held different ideas.
But they'd never fought this fiercely before. It looked like they were about to come to blows.
A heavy, authoritative voice rang out:
"Enough! You're all veterans of the Divine Realm. Mind your manners and don't make fools of yourselves in front of the children."
The speaker was none other than one of the true decision-makers in the Divine Realm, the Evil God King.
This wasn't yet the era of the Five Great God Kings. Only Kindness and Evil were called God Kings.
The God of Destruction and Asura God snorted at each other and turned away, neither willing to yield.
Kindness God King chimed in from the side. "All right, that's enough for today's meeting. This is the Divine Realm's celebration, after all. If you're free, stay for some tea and a chat. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"No need. I have no desire to chat with someone like him."
After delivering that parting remark, Asura God turned and walked out of the meeting hall.
Seeing this, the God of Destruction trembled with rage. "Look at him! Does Asura look anything like a Divine Realm Enforcer?"
"I think he's lost his mind. All he thinks about is running away! As an enforcer, he should be thinking about contributing to the Divine Realm, not ruining my plans every chance he gets!"
Kindness and Evil exchanged a glance. With helpless sighs, they also got up and left the meeting hall.
"All right, Xiao Zi, don't be angry. At least so many gods are still supporting you."
Goddess of Life walked over, laid her jade-like hand on his back, and gently comforted him.
"Hmph, that's true."
The God of Destruction looked around. Apart from the Gods of Original Sin under his command, most of the gods had stayed behind.
Clearly, they supported his ideas.
Well... there was still that annoying little brat, though!
Then the God of Destruction announced that the banquet had begun. The gods raised their cups, laughing and chatting merrily.
Just as the banquet was getting lively, Poseinan walked to the center of the meeting hall and gave the God of Destruction a slight bow. "Lord God of Destruction, I'd like to request permission to go down to the lower realm and temper myself!"
"Huh?"
The God of Destruction thought he'd misheard and immediately looked toward the gods.
The other gods wore expressions of shock, just like he did.
After all, someone born in the Divine Realm with a father like Sea God was practically guaranteed a Second-Level God position in the future.
And yet someone wanted to give up such a life, one countless mortals in the lower realms could only envy?
The God of Destruction first glanced at Poseidon, the Sea God. When he saw that Poseidon made no move to stop him, he couldn't help wondering.
Had the father and son quarreled?
"Do you know what going to the lower realm means?"
"You'll give up your status as the Son of a God. You'll lose your long life. Your father won't be able to help you, and you may grow old and die in the lower realm!"
"Are you willing to go, even knowing all that?"
Poseinan asked in return, "May I ask, Lord God of Destruction, what is a god?"
The God of Destruction answered without a moment's thought. "Of course, a god is someone who breaks through the limits of the lower realms and contributes to the Divine Realm!"
Poseinan shook his head. "No, Lord God of Destruction, you're wrong!"
The God of Destruction looked astonished.
How could he be wrong?
Poseinan stood straight, his gaze resolute. His voice was young, yet full of confidence. "A god doesn't scheme. A god doesn't calculate. A god doesn't rely on others. That's what makes a god!"
The gods below offered him their most heartfelt respect.
Now that was a god!
One whose boundless love treated all things in the world as equals!
By comparison, even the gods felt a little ashamed.
They'd lived for hundreds of thousands, even millions, of years—and yet they were no better than a six-year-old child who'd only just been born?
Of course, there were exceptions among the gods.
For example, Poseidon, the Sea God, looked as though he'd just eaten a bitter melon.
You little brat! You make your words sound so lofty. How am I supposed to pull strings to help you in the future?
Even the God of Destruction looked at him with approval, turning the words over and over in his mind.
That was right. This was the kind of god he believed in!
Poseinan continued:
"I heard that Lord God of Destruction intends to expand the Divine Realm. As the Son of Sea God, I, Poseinan, ought to lead by example!"
"I'm willing to go down to the lower realm myself to prove my convictions. I'll keep my feet on the ground and climb back to the altar one step at a time!"
"Excellent! Well said!"
The God of Destruction was so delighted that all the dissatisfaction he'd once felt toward Poseinan vanished.
This child was just like him!
"I agree!"
"Everyone, I'm taking this child down to the lower realm now, so I'll have to excuse myself."
With that, the God of Destruction took Poseinan and vanished from the hall.
Temple of Destruction.
"Nan-nan, may I call you that?"
The God of Destruction looked at Poseinan quite differently now.
"Of course, Lord God of Destruction!"
Looking into the child's young but resolute eyes, the God of Destruction was in an excellent mood. The more he looked at him, the more he reminded him of himself when he was young.
So he patted Poseinan on the shoulder again. "Calling me 'Lord' sounds so stiff. From now on, just call me Uncle!"
"Uncle God of Destruction!"
"Good. Since you're going to the lower realm, I need to tell you something first. I won't send you straight to Sea God Island, but I won't stop you from going there either. Do you understand?"
The God of Destruction's tone was very serious.
As a Divine Realm Enforcer, if he personally sent Poseinan to Sea God Island, he'd be knowingly breaking the law.
But if Poseinan made it to Sea God Island on his own, that would be his own ability, and no one could criticize him for it.
Poseinan replied firmly, "Don't worry, Uncle Destruction. I'll prove my convictions through my actions. Even if the road ahead is covered in thorns, I, Poseinan, won't regret it even if I die!"
"Good! Very good!"
The more the God of Destruction liked him, the more reluctant he felt to let him go. Just before they departed, he clasped Poseinan's palm, and a wisp of deep-purple divine power slowly flowed into his body.
"This is a wisp of my Destruction Origin. Once you reach the Limit Douluo level, study it carefully!"
"If you have the ability, inheriting my God of Destruction position in the future wouldn't be out of the question!"
"All right, enough talk. Let's go!"
The next moment, the God of Destruction brought Poseinan to the edge of the Divine Realm.
Below them lay the boundless universe. In the distance was a deep-blue planet. That must be Douluo Planet, right?
The God of Destruction suddenly called out, "Nan-nan."
"Hmm?"
The instant Poseinan turned around, a huge foot came flying at him.
"Off you go!"
"You son of a—God of Destruction, you old bastard! I ********"