Under dozens of appraising gazes in the great hall, Tang San gripped the hilt of the Asura Sword and gave two measured coughs.
He swept the gloom from his face and replaced it with an earnest expression of complete impartiality.
"Since everyone wants to pass their Godhood to this young man from the lower realm, and there's only one suitable candidate right now..."
Tang San met the God of Destruction's gaze and continued at an unhurried pace.
"Trying to force the issue won't work. Why don't we find a middle ground?"
The God of Destruction raised an eyebrow. "What kind of middle ground?"
Tang San lifted a hand and pointed at the screen suspended in midair. "How about this? We take turns sending divine manifestations down to the lower realm, each showing what our Godhood has to offer. As for whose legacy he accepts in the end, let him choose for himself."
He paused, then patted his chest with an air of great generosity.
"To keep things fair, I'm willing to go last and give you all the first chance to make your case."
The great hall fell silent.
The Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction exchanged a glance, thought flickering in their eyes.
The other chief gods also lowered their heads to weigh the proposal.
The boy's talent was plain to see. With several chief gods interested in him, trying to seize him by force would only spark a civil war in the Divine Realm. No one would come out ahead.
Letting everyone extend an olive branch on their own merits was the safest way out of the current deadlock.
Seeing them all sink into thought, Tang San kept his face composed, though inside he was bursting with delight.
That settles it.
On the surface, taking turns