Heroes Rise in Troubled Times, Gods Are Forged in Darkness

The lingering warmth of holy light had yet to fade within the abandoned warehouse.

Facing Ye Guyi's astonished and deeply moved questions, Li Changsheng remained calm and open-eyed as he slowly gave the truest, most thorough answer.

"I'm helping you for a very simple reason."

"I need a native god who belongs entirely to me, is loyal to me, and is created by my own hands."

"And across the entire Douluo Continent, aside from those born with the foundations of the Divine Realm and whose fortune was piled up through outside help, you are the only one most qualified, most well-equipped, and most likely to restore the Angel God's divine position."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an absolute clarity that saw through the grand pattern of the ages.

He knew the true foundations of every genius across the continent better than anyone.

Huo Yuhao, the so-called child of destiny praised by the world, appeared to have risen to prominence in his youth, overturned fate against all odds, and ascended to godhood step by step. Yet not a single step of his path had been walked by his own strength.

Throughout it all, every opportunity had been handed straight to him.

Skydream Iceworm had gambled his entire life's foundation and staked all his origins to give him his start.

The Ice Empress had sacrificed her soul ring, soul bone, and everything else to pave the way for him.

Electrolux's remnant soul had passed down his legacy, gifting him soul spirits and necromancy.

There was even less need to mention the Snow Empress.

Without the Snow Empress, there would have been no Ice Bear King.

Thus, Huo Yuhao's ascension to godhood was the result of countless peak existences piling everything upon him.

It was the product of multiple forces bringing him to completion, fundamentally impossible to replicate.

As for Tang Wutong, she had been a little princess of the Divine Realm from the start, born with the origin of a divine position and authority granted by the Divine Realm. She was already a god who had descended into the mortal world, so she did not count as a mortal ascending to godhood.

And setting those two aside, among the younger generation of the entire continent, only Ye Guyi possessed the purest potential, the most orthodox path, and the most solid foundation for godhood.

The first Angel God had no god-level elders to pave her path, no remnant soul to bestow a legacy upon her, and no outside force feeding her opportunities.

Back then, she had walked the world, slaughtering fallen soul masters, exterminating evil soul beasts, purifying the filth of the world, absorbing the faith of the masses, gathering the origin of light, and steadily solidifying her great path step by step. In the end, she ascended to the divine position and rose to the Divine Realm.

But the Douluo Continent of today was embroiled in a battle between good and evil, with wickedness everywhere and darkness spreading.

What it lacked least were evil soul masters committing atrocities.

That was precisely Ye Guyi's most perfect nourishment and the core foundation for restoring the Angel God's divine position!

As long as Ye Guyi continued to reveal her divinity before the masses, used light to punish darkness, used the righteous path to destroy evil, continuously accumulated merit, gathered faith, and refined the origin of her martial soul—

Given enough time, the complete path of the Angel would naturally take shape. The Angel God's divine position, shattered for countless ages, would surely reunite upon her, be reborn, and return to the world!

After hearing Li Changsheng's utterly thorough analysis, Ye Guyi's heart pounded wildly. Her throat bobbed as she instinctively swallowed.

At last, she fully understood just what kind of terrifying talent she possessed and what heaven-defying path lay ahead of her.

She raised her eyes, her gaze carrying unease but also an unprecedented resolve, and softly asked:

"Then... what exactly should I do next?"

A calm, unhurried smile touched Li Changsheng's lips, and his eyes were filled with the confidence of one who had everything under control.

"Very simple."

"From now on, just obediently listen to me and walk the path I've laid out for you."

"Today's Douluo is on the verge of troubled times, with storms gathering from all sides."

"It is an age of chaos that will bring disaster upon the common people, but it is also a tremendous opportunity for you to transform yourself and ascend to godhood."

Heroes rose in troubled times, and gods were forged in darkness.

Endless filth would ultimately give rise to a supremely sacred light.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Bright Capital remained as prosperous as ever, with bustling traffic and a thriving air of worldly life.

A god-making scheme within a secret warehouse quietly came to an end. No one in the world knew that a brand-new god was already silently being nurtured in the shadows.

At the same time, an exquisite and luxurious carriage slowly entered the main avenue of Bright Capital.

Dust-covered from the journey, they had finally returned to their homeland.

The carriage came to a stop, and the curtain was drawn aside. Jiang Nannan, graceful in figure and gentle in temperament, took the hand of a beautiful woman and slowly stepped down from the carriage.

They were Jiang Nannan and her mother, returning home.

After being away for so many days, Jiang Nannan once again set foot upon the prosperous land of Bright Capital.

As Mother Jiang looked at the towering buildings, broad streets, and surging crowds of the vast metropolis before her, her gaze softened as she looked at her poised daughter beside her, who had grown ever steadier and more mature. She sighed softly.

"Nannan, this city is so large, so prosperous."

"You've studied, settled down, and struggled to make a life here all by yourself. These past few years must have been so hard on you."

The days of poverty, hardship, displacement, and enduring cold stares remained vivid in her mind.

She knew just how difficult her daughter's journey had been.

Hearing this, Jiang Nannan gently shook her head. A soft, pure smile appeared on her lovely face, her eyes filled with warmth and gratitude.

"Mother, I haven't suffered at all."

"All this time, Changsheng has been helping me."

"If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't even have been able to enter the renowned Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, where geniuses gathered, and gain a new life."

"Even finding a safe place to live and settling down peacefully in such a vast city as Bright Capital would have been nothing more than a dream."

To Jiang Nannan, Li Changsheng was her benefactor, her patron, and the one who had guided her away from her tragic fate.

Hearing those words, Mother Jiang smiled with gratification and nodded gently.

"Then it seems your mother's judgment of people was indeed not wrong."

When she had first met the young man, she had known that he was no ordinary person. Gentle and reserved, clear-minded, and possessed of a temperament far beyond ordinary people, he had now proven her right in every regard.

Jiang Nannan smiled faintly and offered no further explanation.

Every kindness and every change had long since settled in her heart. There was no need to say more.

She led her mother and turned toward the depths of the district.

Long ago, Li Changsheng had already arranged everything for her.

He had prepared a residence in a quiet and elegant part of Bright Capital, with a serene environment and spacious layout.

It was not extravagantly luxurious or magnificently lavish, but it was clean, safe, warm, and comfortable enough to live in.

Compared with the dilapidated little house where they had once barely survived through wind and rain, it was already the difference between clouds and mud.

It was enough for the mother and daughter to live in peace and stability from then on.

As they entered the new, elegant residence and looked around at the clean and tidy rooms and complete furnishings, Mother Jiang felt even more emotional, her eyes filled with warmth.

She turned to her daughter and spoke gently in reminder.

"Nannan."

"Later, go invite Changsheng over to our home."

"Our mother and daughter have returned home safely today and gained such a life entirely because of him."

"Our poor family cannot offer any precious treasures or lavish gifts in repayment, but the most important thing is to know gratitude and remember one's heart."

"Today, I'll cook several homemade dishes myself and properly host him as a small token of our thanks."

The words were simple and plain, yet they carried the sincerest intentions.

Jiang Nannan's heart warmed, and she nodded without hesitation.

"Alright, Mother. I understand."

"I'll go find him shortly and invite him over as a guest."

Sunlight spilled across the courtyard, filling it with warmth.