Blessing of the Life Goddess, Green Banyan's Departure

After listening to Green Banyan's account, Gu Shengge was shocked and delighted. But when he thought of her leaving the Douluo Plane to return to the God Realm for the Divine Realm Council, he felt somewhat despondent.

After all, they had lived together for six years. How could he not feel upset when she was suddenly leaving?

He asked Green Banyan, "Then when will you come back, Sis?"

Green Banyan shook her head slightly. She was not sure either.

Since the Divine Realm Council was a large gathering attended by all the deities of the God Realm, it generally lasted anywhere from half a month to a month.

According to the time difference where one day in the God Realm equaled one year in the mortal world,

Green Banyan would be away from Gu Shengge for at least ten years.

Gu Shengge lowered his head to look at the bowl with a few scraps of soup left inside and fell silent, his heart brimming with intense reluctance.

Over the past six years, Green Banyan had cared for him with meticulous devotion. She had taught him how to cultivate and helped him obtain soul rings. He had long since let down his guard and regarded her as his only family in the Douluo World—his sister.

Now she was leaving, and she would be gone for no less than ten years. How could he not feel sorrowful or heartbroken?

Sensing the sadness emanating from Gu Shengge, Green Banyan was equally reluctant to part with him. She raised a hand to stroke his head and gently comforted him:

"Don't be sad. Even if your sister returns to the God Realm, I'll only be temporarily absent from your side. You possess the Creator God's Bloodline, so you will surely become a god in the future. We will meet again then. Besides, isn't parting meant to make our next reunion even better?"

Feeling his sister's soothing touch and comfort, Gu Shengge forced down the grief in his heart. He nodded, then looked up at Green Banyan. His eyes were slightly red, and he pulled his lips into an awkward smile.

"Sis, you have to wait for me in the God Realm. Wait until I come find you."

"Mm. Your sister will wait for you in the God Realm, until you come up."

Looking at the younger brother she had lived with for six years, Green Banyan felt an even stronger reluctance to part. She stood, leaned close to him, and pressed her jade-like lips gently against his forehead.

A jade-green radiance immediately bloomed. Gu Shengge's body trembled faintly, and in an instant, he was enveloped by the green light. His entire body felt warm, as though he had returned to his mother's embrace.

Kiss of the Life Goddess, also known as [Blessing of the Life Goddess], was a blessing Green Banyan bestowed upon Gu Shengge by expending one-tenth of her divine power. It enhanced his vitality and granted him regenerative abilities far beyond those of humans, even soul beasts.

Bathed in [Blessing of the Life Goddess], Gu Shengge could not resist the comfort it brought him and gradually fell asleep.

Green Banyan carried him onto the bed. Her gaze was exceptionally gentle, and another azure-green ball of light appeared in her hand—the defensive divine artifact, Eternal Armor.

She had once given Eternal Armor to Lie Yan to use. After it was damaged, she collected its fragments and had the God Realm's smith god reforge it, creating a new Eternal Armor with the same defensive power as the original, along with several additional functions.

Green Banyan placed Eternal Armor within Gu Shengge's body. Whenever he wished to use it or encountered danger, Eternal Armor would appear to protect him.

At the moment of parting, Green Banyan gazed at Gu Shengge and gently caressed his cheek. Affection filled her eyes as she bid him farewell.

"Keep it up, little Shengge. Your sister will wait for you in the God Realm."

After her final farewell, jade-green light radiated from Green Banyan's body, and she ultimately vanished from the thatched cottage.

As Gu Shengge slept, he sensed the departure of someone important to him, and a tear slid from the corner of his eye.

... God Realm ...

Tang the God King, who constantly watched the Douluo Plane for fear that it might slip beyond his control, saw the Goddess of Life depart and curled his lips into a sinister smile, as though his scheme had succeeded.

This Divine Realm Council happened to be hosted by him. He would make sure to drag it out for a full month, which meant thirty years on the Douluo Plane.

As for how to tame Gu Shengge, he had already made arrangements. Once the Goddess of Life returned, he could put them into action.

Not only could he not let go of Life and Destruction's "child," but he also had to seize control of the new star born on the Douluo Plane.

The Douluo Plane was his private garden. He would never allow anyone else to lay a hand on it.

Tang San looked through the light screen at Huo Yuhao, who had just left the White Tiger Duke's Estate. Calculation gleamed in his eyes, while the smile on his face grew increasingly confident.

In Tang the God King's eyes, no one could escape his schemes. Anyone or anything he took a liking to had to become part of the Tang family.

... Douluo Plane ...

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Gu Shengge slowly awakened, having fully received [Blessing of the Life Goddess]. He sat up from the bed and instinctively called out:

"Big Sister Green Banyan..."

But halfway through, his voice abruptly stopped. He looked at the empty cottage, and his heart became empty as well. His Green Banyan had already left. She would not answer him.

After six years together, she had left in a single day. He did not know when they would meet again.

Gu Shengge lowered his eyes, his heart filled with a jumble of emotions.

He raised a hand to cover his chest. He could sense the presence of Eternal Armor, as well as Green Banyan's expectations for him.

Gu Shengge knew that a brief parting was for the sake of a better reunion. Sister Green Banyan was still waiting for him in the God Realm, so how could he become dispirited over a temporary separation?

With that thought, Gu Shengge lifted his head. Determination appeared on his nearly perfect, handsome face.

Ten years. At most ten years, and he would reach level one hundred and ascend to the God Realm!

But now that Sister Green Banyan was gone, where should he go?

Gu Shengge sank into thought. Should he go to Shrek Academy?

The current Shrek Academy was no longer the backwater academy it had been ten thousand years ago. It was now the continent's recognized number one academy, producing countless powerhouses and gathering gifted talents. Soul masters throughout the continent dreamed of joining Shrek Academy.

Besides, the story of Peerless Tang Clan began at Shrek Academy, and his future little wife, Jiang Nannan, studied there as well.

Speaking of Jiang Nannan, he had to mention how they met.

More than half a year ago, Gu Shengge had gone alone to Eastsea City to purchase supplies, where he happened to encounter Jiang Nannan, who wanted to sell herself to save her mother.

Jiang Nannan's mother was gravely ill and needed the Black Tortoise Divine Pill from the Xuanming Sect to save her life. She stood outside one of the Xuanming Sect's shops holding a sign, hoping to sell herself in exchange for the medicine. Gu Shengge happened to notice her.

At first, he did not know she was Jiang Nannan. Only after asking around did he learn her identity. Out of sympathy, and because he did not want her to be defiled by Xu Sanshi so early as in the original story, he decided to help her.

Although Gu Shengge did not have a Black Tortoise Divine Pill, his second soul skill could cure every illness except those of divine grade.

Though Jiang Nannan's mother was severely ill, it had originally been only a minor illness that had worsened because it had been delayed for too long. That was why Mother Jiang had become critically ill, beyond the help of medicine.

Gu Shengge used his second soul skill, Holy Purification, to cleanse the illness from Mother Jiang's body and save her life.

Afterward, he had intended to leave without a word, but Jiang Nannan stopped him and insisted that he stay for a meal. She also stated outright that since he had saved her mother, her payment would not change. As long as he wanted her, she would give her body to him.

Though it was a fair transaction, Gu Shengge was not as deranged as Xu Sanshi, who could even lay hands on a fourteen-year-old girl. He politely declined.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Nannan insisted on paying him. Left with no choice, Gu Shengge chose another condition: Jiang Nannan would become his fiancée, and they could consummate their marriage after they came of age.

And so, Jiang Nannan became his future little wife.