"The Divine Realm's in chaos..." Luo Chen knew what that might mean. Perhaps the Douluo God Realm would later encounter a space-time turbulence, or perhaps there would be infighting within the Divine Realm.
Then what was the variable?
"You are the variable!" The God of Time didn't speak in riddles. He told Luo Chen the truth outright.
"I'm the variable?"
"Yes. It's because of the special nature of your Martial Soul, among other things—your background, for instance..."
Luo Chen's eyes flew wide. The God of Time knew his true identity!
"Don't worry. The reason I've remained hidden from the world is that I've seen too much. The so-called Divine Realm we live in is tiny, just one small world among countless others. There are many worlds stronger than ours, so I've kept a low profile and devoted myself to cultivation."
It seemed the God of Time had some real insight. Just by not being arrogant, he was already leagues ahead of the other gods.
"So you foresaw my arrival long ago and waited here for me?"
"I can only say I was taking a chance, too. I hadn't made up my mind. Fortunately, the facts proved me right!" said the God of Time.
"Then you want me to inherit your godhood?" Luo Chen asked curiously. The God of Time's godhood let its wielder control the laws of time. It was an incredibly powerful godhood.
"No. A godhood devoted to time alone isn't enough for you, so I don't plan to pass my godhood on to you."
"Huh? Then what do you mean...?" Now Luo Chen was the one who didn't understand.
If he wasn't passing on his godhood, what was all this grand fuss for?
The God of Time seemed to see right through him and chuckled. "Young man, do you think godhood is such a wonderful thing?"
Luo Chen opened his mouth, then said nothing.
"Inheriting godhood sounds impressive, but in truth, it's a cage. If you take my godhood, you'll have to follow my path, trapped for the rest of your life in the narrow confines of the laws of time."
The God of Time paused. "But what about you? That seed inside you contains both time and space. Wouldn't it be a waste to let you learn only half?"
Luo Chen froze for a moment. "You mean..."
"Find your own way," said the God of Time. "Combine time and space, and forge a path no one has ever walked before."
He spoke in a casual tone, as if he were commenting on the fine weather. But Luo Chen felt as if a whole new world had opened before him. That was right! He held the seeds of two supreme laws. Self-Created Godhood was what suited him best!
"But, Senior, how am I supposed to forge my own path? I haven't even touched the threshold of the laws of time."
"You think I called you here just to chat and tell you what I had in mind?"
Luo Chen was taken aback.
"Enough. I won't pass my godhood on to you, but you still have to take the divine trials." The God of Time held out his hand. A silver-white Pocket Watch appeared in his palm, and he passed it to Luo Chen. "The Nine Trials of the God of Time have nine stages. Each one will temper your understanding of the laws of time. Once you pass them all, you'll be able to truly fuse with the origin of the laws of time."
"How is that any different from inheriting godhood?"
"The difference is enormous," said the God of Time. "Inheriting godhood means someone hands you a ready-made position. You take your seat, and that's that. With the divine trials, you make your way forward one step at a time. When you reach the end, the origin of the laws is yours, and you won't need my lousy godhood. That's why the first few trials will generally be easier than ordinary divine trials. But the farther you get, the harder they'll become—harder than ordinary divine trials!"
Luo Chen understood. One was being handed a full bowl of food; the other was taking a bowl and earning the food yourself.
"Then what are the nine trials?"
"I don't know."
"Huh?"
"The divine trials for an inherited godhood are decided by the previous god. But trials for the laws are tailored to you and generated according to your specific circumstances."
Then he added, "This Pocket Watch is called the Time Indicator. Bind it with your blood, and it will guide you through the nine trials."
"What about you, Senior?"
"I've been here long enough. Once you bind it with your blood, I'll disappear."
Hearing this, Luo Chen stopped wasting time. He bit his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto the Pocket Watch.
Then a question occurred to him. "Senior, how am I supposed to find the origin of space?"
The God of Time smiled without answering. Then he vanished, leaving behind only the words, "You'll meet it if fate wills it."
The blood had already fallen onto the Pocket Watch. The next moment, the Time Indicator began to glow, then sank into Luo Chen's chest.
As the Time Indicator fused with his heart, information about the First Trial appeared in his mind.
[First Trial of the God of Time: Time Baptism (I). Endure the flow of time within the Time Hourglass and experience the dislocation of its passage. You will spend ten days inside the hourglass, while ten years pass in the outside world. Your body will grow accordingly, and your spiritual power will be tempered by the power of time! Time limit: ten years.]
Ten years? Wouldn't his parents and teachers be frantic? And he wouldn't be able to influence the plot for ten years, either.
But what heights might his spiritual power reach after being tempered for ten years?
[Please begin the First Trial immediately]
"Begin immediately? Can't I send a message to my family first?"
Before Luo Chen could react, the entire Temple of Time changed. It had turned into an enormous hourglass!
"So this is the Time Hourglass? What's left here isn't sand—it's the power of time!"
Luo Chen took a deep breath. So be it—ten years. It would only feel like ten days to him, anyway. He walked to the center of the hourglass, to the spot where the power of time surged most fiercely.
The moment he stepped inside, everything changed! He seemed to be surrounded by nothingness, with no sky or earth, only boundless silver-white light.
Luo Chen felt as if he had sunk into the depths of the sea, washed by the heavy power of time.
But strangely, this power of time showed no sign of washing over his physical body. It went straight for his Spirit Sea instead!
It was neither a raging gale nor a storm-tossed sea. Instead, it was like a spring rain, moistening everything in silence. He felt as if he were soaking in a bath, immersed in the power of time.
Luo Chen sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. He decided not to resist, but to let the power of time wash over his soul.
On the first day, he could feel that his teeth seemed to be falling out, only to be replaced by new ones.
On the third day, his bones began to ache fiercely. It felt as if every joint in his body were pushing outward.
On the fifth day, his throat started to feel uncomfortable. He figured puberty was setting in.
On the seventh day, his chin began to itch. He was growing a beard.
On the ninth day, the power of time, which had been gentle until then, suddenly turned violent. In an instant, his Spirit Sea was struck by a powerful surge!
The agony twisted his entire face into a grimace.
"What's going on? Damn it, why did it suddenly hit me like that?"
Fortunately, Luo Chen held fast to his core and endured the sudden "unpredictability" of the power of time.
Time was merciless. It always inflicted irreversible harm on people when they least expected it.
At last, the tenth day arrived—the final day. By now, Luo Chen's appearance had changed beyond recognition, and he had grown completely dazed!
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