109? What Is a Demigod

Within the Undead Space, all was deathly silent. Only the ghostly purple light cast by that black sun draped the shifting expressions of the seven powerhouses in an eerie hue.

Lei Chen's words were like a boulder hurled into a tranquil lake, stirring monstrous waves in their hearts.

The upper limit of cultivation the plane could bear had risen! Becoming a god at Level 100 was no longer an illusory, unattainable legend, but a path that now theoretically existed!

After a brief, absolute silence, the first to lose composure was Ye Xishui, the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Elder. Her deep eyes, suffused with a bloody glow, now shone fiercely as she fixed them upon Lei Chen's hazy yet imposing figure. Her voice carried a trace of barely concealed urgency as she broke the silence:

"Honored Plane Lord, you just said... that the upper limit of cultivation this plane can bear has increased?"

She paused slightly, seemingly gathering her words, before asking the question everyone present cared about most. "May I ask... to what level has it specifically risen? Do we... do we truly have a chance...?"

She did not finish her sentence, but her yearning for a higher realm—for the legendary God-level domain—was already unmistakable.

It was not only her. Mu En and Long Xiaoyao, the two veteran Limit Douluo; Xuan Zi, Du Bushi, and Zhongli Wu; even Kong Deming, whose soul power was the lowest among them but who had attained extreme combat power through soul tools—all of them focused their gazes on Lei Chen, their eyes filled with unprecedented eagerness and anticipation.

Seeing Ye Xishui take the initiative to ask, and seeing everyone else craning their necks in expectation, Lei Chen did not put on an air of mystery. He had gathered them today precisely to inform them of this matter.

Thus, he gave them a definite answer directly, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of a law being declared:

"That is correct. Through my promotion of the plane, the upper limit of individual power that this plane can now stably bear has risen to Level 109."

"In other words, so long as one has sufficient talent, perseverance, and opportunity, one may break through mortal limits within this world, become a god at Level 100, and even climb to the summit of Level 109. None of that is impossible."

"Level 109!"

Upon receiving this definite answer from Lei Chen, the breathing of the seven people present immediately grew more rapid. The light bursting from their eyes nearly illuminated this dim space.

That was becoming a god at Level 100! Transcending the mortal world and possessing power nearly capable of destroying heaven and earth! This was the ultimate goal every soul master on the Douluo Continent dreamed of. Now, that road truly seemed to have been laid out before them!

Yet just as their hearts surged and they could barely contain themselves, Lei Chen gently shook his head. A faint mockery entered his tone, like cold water being poured over them.

"However, do not celebrate too soon."

"The plane's upper limit rising does not mean you can naturally break through to Level 100."

His gaze swept across the exhilarated crowd, particularly the three Limit Douluo, and his words were sharp and direct:

"You do not truly believe that you were stuck at the peak of Level 99 for countless years, unable to make even the slightest progress or break through to Level 100 and become gods, purely because the plane's own limit was holding you back, do you?"

"If that is truly what you think, then you overestimate yourselves far too much."

Lei Chen mercilessly exposed the cruel truth. "Even before the plane's promotion, this plane's true limit was not Level 99. The true limit of the plane was the Demigod realm!"

"So, your stagnation at Level 99 was simply because your own potential, accumulation—or rather, your 'aptitude'—could only support your cultivation up to Level 99."

"You cannot even touch the threshold of Demigod. How could you speak of true God-level? What right do you have to blame the plane's limit?"

"Now, even though the plane has advanced and its limit has been raised, giving you a broader stage, if you cannot undergo that crucial transformation yourselves, then no matter how vast the stage is, you can only remain where you are and sigh helplessly at what lies beyond your reach."

Lei Chen's words struck them like a blow to the head, instantly sobering the seven people who had been beside themselves with excitement. The atmosphere became exceptionally awkward for a time.

Mu En, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao—the three Limit Douluo who had stood at the continent's peak for many years—all felt their faces burn, their expressions filled with embarrassment and a trace of bitterness.

How could they not know how difficult the path of cultivation was, or that they might have already reached their bottlenecks? Yet having the Plane Lord state so bluntly, "You yourselves are inadequate, so do not blame the world," still left them wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Xuan Zi, Du Bushi, and Zhongli Wu, the three Level 98 Super Douluo, were even more embarrassed. They had not even crossed the threshold of Level 99, so becoming gods at Level 100 was naturally far beyond them. Their earlier excitement now seemed more like an overconfident delusion.

As for Kong Deming, this Level 9 soul engineer who had reached an unconventional extreme through wisdom and soul tools, he was rendered even more speechless.

His own soul power had been stuck at Level 95 for years. If not for the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, he would not even have been qualified to attend this gathering. Compared to those before him, his foundation was far weaker. The path to Level 100 seemed utterly closed to him.

Thinking about it this way, whether the plane advanced or not... seemed to have very little to do with them personally? The opportunity had been given, but they apparently lacked the ability to seize it!

A sense of powerlessness quietly spread through their hearts.

After the awkward silence continued for a moment, Kong Deming, whose cultivation was most constrained, was the first to compose himself. He took a deep breath, suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart, and respectfully bowed to Lei Chen. Then he asked a crucial question—the question that voiced the thoughts of every powerhouse present:

"Honored Plane Lord, you have repeatedly mentioned the realm of 'Demigod.' Forgive this junior's ignorance, but what exactly is a 'Demigod'? How can one reach such a realm? In the distant past, has anyone ever achieved it?"

Upon hearing Kong Deming's question, the others immediately composed themselves as well, their eyes focusing on Lei Chen once more.

That was right. The path ahead had been cut off because they did not know where the path lay. If the Plane Lord could point them in the right direction, then perhaps there was still a sliver of hope!

Lei Chen glanced at Kong Deming, approving of how quickly he had grasped the key point, then calmly explained, "A Demigod is not a fixed soul power level, but a transitional state of life. It is the sign that a mortal body and soul have begun transforming toward the God-level."

"After a soul master's cultivation reaches the level of a Level 99 Limit Douluo, if, on that foundation, their physical body can shed its mortal shell and begin transforming into an indestructible Divine Body, or their spiritual power undergoes a qualitative change and transforms into Divine Sense, then completing either one is enough for them to be called a 'Demigod.'"

"Only upon reaching the Demigod level can one be considered to have truly touched the gates of the God-level and gained the qualifications to launch an assault on Level 100. Otherwise, one can only wander outside those gates for a lifetime."