King

Spirit City.

Awakening Hall.

With Guang Ling's help, Qian Qizhou stood on the Awakening Platform and awakened his Martial Soul.

A sacred Six-Winged Angel appeared behind him.

"I see your regrets. Do you need strength?"

Suddenly, a cool, clear female voice rang out in Qian Qizhou's mind, and at the same time, pulled his consciousness away.

Qian Qizhou's consciousness abruptly cleared amid the chaos. He snapped his eyes open, a flicker of wariness passing through his pupils.

A voice had just called out to him... What was going on? Wasn't he in the middle of his Martial Soul Awakening?

He looked around in confusion, but... the Awakening Hall was gone. In its place was an empty starry sky, countless stars circling beneath his feet.

Suddenly, a resonant hum sounded behind him. Qian Qizhou instinctively turned to look.

Then he froze completely, staring blankly at the figure before him...

That person... No... That deity wore a luxurious gown, purple divine markings circling beneath her feet.

Behind her, a long purple braid drifted slowly through the void.

And the imposing divine ring around her radiated an undeniable sense of her identity.

Countless purple eyes were scattered through the void, quietly watching him.

And then there was the Naginata in her hand, constantly emanating a murderous aura.

Qian Qizhou opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

Something wasn't right. He had only ever read about two gods in books: the Angel God and the Sea God.

The one before him was clearly a woman, but she couldn't be the legendary Angel God, could she? Her bearing and appearance didn't seem right.

He took a deep breath and solemnly clasped his hands toward the phantom before him, respectful but not servile. "I pay my respects to the revered deity."

After a slight hesitation, he asked cautiously, "May I ask which deity you are?"

Hearing this, the phantom's lips curled upward. She didn't answer, but instead gave him a meaningful smile.

She slowly raised her hand, a wisp of purple light circling her fingertips. "May you hold fast to the eternity that is yours."

As she spoke, the entire space was suddenly filled with pure lightning. The stars scattered, and all things fell silent.

"This form embodies supreme authority, the incarnation of all lightning in this world."

"Resolve, courage, love, and hatred will all be twisted and transformed in the river of time."

"Only the laws remain eternal!"

"Remember my name: the Electro Archon, Beelzebul."

"You may also call me Raiden Ei."

As her voice faded, purple energy surged like a rising tide.

There was no time to react. Qian Qizhou felt an overwhelming power rushing toward him, as if it would swallow him whole.

Raiden Ei's figure gradually blurred within the energy, while the countless eyes rippled like waves.

"The power of Electro is already within your body."

"I look forward to seeing your next chapter unfold in this story."

All living beings in this world are trapped in a sea of suffering. May you reach the shore that is yours.

In the outside world, a dazzling light suddenly burst from the Awakening Platform.

The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul behind Qian Qizhou shattered with a roar, transforming into pure energy that swirled into his body.

In an instant, a terrifying thunderstorm shot into the sky, and six entirely new wings unfurled behind Qian Qizhou.

Unlike the Six-Winged Angel's wings, these were made entirely of energy—the incarnations of elements.

Lightning, Holy Light, and fire continuously circulated within his body.

Then the elements circled around him, flowing like living creatures.

Energy gathered above his head, forming a phantom crown.

Woven from pure elements, it radiated an imposing, murderous aura.

Thus, the angel vanished, and a new name rang out in Qian Qizhou's mind: "King."

The king of all lightning in this world, and the king of Holy Light and fire.

Guang Ling stood beneath the platform, his pupils contracting. He was clearly so shocked that he couldn't speak.

How had the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul shattered... What was this?

Guang Ling anxiously stepped forward, his voice tinged with panic. "Xiao Zhou?"

A moment later, the divine light around Qian Qizhou gradually faded, and his consciousness returned to his body.

He slowly opened his eyes, his lashes trembling as one purple and one gold pupil lit up like burning stars.

Guang Ling was just about to show his delight, but froze the moment he saw those eyes.

He instinctively took half a step back and asked hesitantly, "Your eyes..."

Before Qian Qizhou had even figured out what had happened, or thanked Raiden Ei, he heard those words.

He looked at Guang Ling in confusion, tilting his head slightly. "My eyes?"

Guang Ling quickly took a silver-edged mirror from his Soul Tool and held it out to Qian Qizhou.

Qian Qizhou murmured his thanks, took the mirror, and curiously looked at himself.

But the reflection in the mirror left him stunned.

His eyes, which should have been as black as ink, had now become swirling energy.

Had his left eye transformed into the same element as hers?

More terrifying still, when he stared into his pupil, he could faintly see countless tiny lightning patterns spiraling deep within his iris.

Seeing Guang Ling hesitate, as if wanting to speak, Qian Qizhou sighed helplessly. He knew what Guang Ling wanted to ask.

Why had his Martial Soul become like this? Was this mutation beneficial or harmful?

But he still didn't understand what had happened, so he skipped over the subject, returned the mirror to Guang Ling, and withdrew his Martial Soul.

"It's all right." Qian Qizhou raised a hand and brushed the corner of his eye, a trace of amusement in his eyes. "It was caused by my Martial Soul."

"Let's go find Father."

Before the Pope Palace.

Qian Qizhou stared at the tightly shut doors and asked Guang Ling, who had just come out looking furious, "I've awakened my Martial Soul. Father still won't see me?"

Dawn was almost here. His birthday had already passed, and Father still wouldn't see him...

Hearing this, Guang Ling lowered his head, his silver-white hair glimmering in the moonlight.

He pressed his lips together and said softly, "Xiao Zhou, the Pope has his reasons. It's not that he doesn't care about you."

Hearing this, Qian Qizhou understood the situation.

He smiled bitterly. "So that's how it is... He won't even take part in the most important moment of my life..."

Why? His mother treated him like an enemy, and his father was indifferent to him...

Guang Ling looked at Qian Qizhou as if he wanted to say something, but the words died on his lips.

What could he say? The truth was laid out so plainly before them. Anyone but a fool could see it...

Qian Qizhou watched the sun slowly rise, golden morning light falling across his pale face.

"Ling."

"Let this page of the story end here. It's pointless, always struggling in vain."

"If they don't care, then I don't need parents."

Hearing this, Guang Ling hurriedly tried to cover Qian Qizhou's mouth. "Xiao Zhou, don't say things in anger!"

Seeing how worried he was, Qian Qizhou smiled and pushed his hand away. "I'm not speaking in anger."

"For the hundreds and thousands of years to come, no matter how I live, for better or worse, I'll no longer need Spirit Hall or so-called family."

"By my own strength alone, even if the road is difficult and long, one day, every inch of this continent will tell my story."

When he finished, Guang Ling simply stared blankly at Qian Qizhou's profile, watching the morning light gild it with a pale golden outline.

Those eyes, always brimming with laughter, were now filled with indifference.

For some reason, Guang Ling looked up at the towering Pope Palace. It still stood there quietly, just as it had for decades.

It seemed nothing had changed, and yet, somehow, everything had.