Storm Clouds Over the Divine Realm

The Divine Realm, Rakshasa God Temple.

The entire temple floated amid a sea of dark clouds. No sacred peace filled its halls, only a gloom that ate away at the soul. Everywhere lingered the violent, obsessive power of a demonic god.

Reclining on the highest jade throne was a woman of breathtaking, seductive beauty: the First-Generation Rakshasa God.

She wore a blood-red divine robe that trailed across the floor, its edges wreathed in wisps of black demonic flame. Its patterns were mysterious, accentuating her graceful figure even as a terrifying malice radiated from her. Her skin was whiter than snow, almost sickly in its cold pallor. Her devastating beauty had a predatory edge, and her narrow, upturned eyes were a pure, dark crimson.

Moments ago, she had clearly sensed the violent turmoil in the heart of her successor, Bibi Dong, in the lower realm. Overwhelming jealousy, resentment built up over half a lifetime, a mind on the verge of collapse—to her, none of it was a calamity for her successor. It was the one amusement that could relieve the tedium of endless years.

So the instant she sensed Bibi Dong's inner demons multiplying and her mind losing its balance, she had acted on a whim. Quietly, she sent down a wisp of divine consciousness to tempt her, stoke her darkness and obsession, and drive her toward savage extremes.

She only wanted to see what madness Bibi Dong would unleash when pushed to the brink and consumed by her inner demons, and what uproar she might stir in the lower realm.

As for whether her chosen successor would lose herself completely to those demons, mind and soul destroyed, or be crushed by that overwhelming malice?

The Rakshasa God did not care.

If Bibi Dong could not withstand her inner demons and died, then so be it.

When one successor was gone, she could always find another.

To her, passing on her divine position was a matter of mood. If she felt like it, she would do so. If not, she would toy with her successor until she died.

With that callous, mocking view of all living beings as playthings, she had interfered in the lower realm without restraint, stirring Bibi Dong's inner demons simply to add a sliver of amusement to her tedious life.

And just as evil thoughts took hold of Bibi Dong's heart—

A vast, murderous yet righteous crimson Asura light blasted through the darkness outside the temple and engulfed it, severing the Rakshasa God's connection to her divine consciousness in the lower realm.

A tall, imposing figure suddenly appeared before her throne.

It was the First-Generation Asura God!

He wore blood-red Asura armor and held the Asura Blood Sword. His divine eyes, which upheld the laws of the Divine Realm and judged the sins of all creation, fixed on the Rakshasa God upon the jade throne. His expression was grave, his gaze filled with stern authority and unmistakable fury.

In the deathly stillness of the temple, the First-Generation Asura God's deep, commanding voice rang through every inch of space:

"Rakshasa Goddess, you have overstepped."

"The Divine Realm Iron Laws have stood unchanged since time immemorial—gods may not interfere with the lower realm on their own authority."

"Well, if it isn't the Asura God King. What brings you here?" She lifted her eyes, a faintly mocking curve in their crimson depths. Her red lips parted, her voice languid and indifferent.

"I was bored and offered a little guidance on a whim. Must you make such a fuss?"

She raised a hand. A thin wisp of black-and-red demonic energy curled around her fingertip as though she were playing with it.

"My divine life was simply too dull, so I gave my own successor a little guidance. There was no need for all this."

She tilted her head, looking entirely justified. Her tone grew more flippant, without the slightest fear at being caught.

"Besides, I can hardly be said to have broken the Iron Laws. Bibi Dong is my chosen successor. Am I not even allowed to advise my own heir and lend a little strength to her thoughts?"

In her eyes, she had not interfered with the fate of anyone else in the lower realm, only with her own successor. Bibi Dong was hers to control. The Asura God King had no right to question her, much less punish her.

So even under the full force of his divine presence, she remained utterly unconcerned.

Across from her, the First-Generation Asura God stood motionless, his heavy gaze fixed on her. His expression darkened bit by bit until not a trace of leniency remained. He spoke coldly:

"Absurd."

"The laws of the Divine Realm forbid gods from interfering in any form with the thoughts, fates, or conflicts of beings in the lower realm. This rule applies to every god, every succession, and every consequence."

His voice shook the temple, its judgment crushing any hope she had of escaping on a technicality:

"You think tempting only your own successor means you have not overstepped? Bibi Dong holds a position of power and wields authority across the continent. A single thought of hers can bring fortune or ruin to countless lives. By using divine consciousness to lead her into darkness, inflame her urge to kill, and unbalance her mind, you have indirectly stirred chaos in the lower realm and upended the fate of its people."

"That is a grave offense!"

The demonic energy circling the Rakshasa Goddess's fingertip faltered. Some of the mockery left her face, and a trace of wariness rose in her heart, though she remained unconvinced.

The First-Generation Asura God's gaze grew sterner. The divine light of judgment flared in his eyes, and crimson markings spread through the void, covering the entire Rakshasa God Domain.

"Since you did not personally bring down divine punishment and no great calamity has yet occurred, I will let you off today."

"But this is your only warning. There will not be another."

With that, he raised a hand and pointed!

Hum—!

The laws of heaven and earth roared. An invisible yet supreme crimson divine seal branded itself deep within the Rakshasa God's soul. At the same time, it sealed every channel through which divine consciousness could pass from the Rakshasa God Domain to the lower realm!

"I hereby impose this restriction:"

"From this day forward, you, Rakshasa God, are forbidden to send even a wisp of divine consciousness into the lower realm. No more temptations. No more interference of any kind!"

"You may only wait for the succession to run its natural course. If you meddle again in the slightest, I will immediately convene the Divine Realm Committee and have you imprisoned in the Divine Forbidden Land!"

The Rakshasa Goddess stiffened. Her careless smile vanished completely, and genuine gloom and resentment finally surfaced in her crimson eyes.

She could disregard all living beings and toy with her successor, but she did not dare openly defy the First-Generation Asura God, who upheld the Divine Realm's order of judgment.

The First-Generation Asura God looked down at her coldly, his tone flat:

"Rakshasa Goddess, behave yourself from now on."

As his words faded, the crimson divine might filling the sky slowly receded.

Only the Rakshasa God Temple, sealed tight by his restriction, remained, along with the Rakshasa Goddess and her bitter, simmering fury.

Asura God Temple.

Poseidon, the Sea God, was already waiting there. When he saw the First-Generation Asura God tear through the void and return, he stepped forward at once, a teasing note in his voice. "How did it go? Did you manage to rein in that madwoman?"

The First-Generation Asura God walked to the stone table. His expression eased somewhat, the deadly severity of the confrontation fading. He picked up a jade cup filled with Divine Wine and drained it in one gulp.

"Rest assured. I went myself, so it's settled." He set down the cup, a trace of lingering fear still in his face. "It's thanks to you for spotting the disturbance in time. A moment later, and my successor might have been in grave danger."

Poseidon laughed, azure patterns of divine light rippling gently around him as he explained. "You know that after the Angel God fell, the original plan was for me to attach a wisp of divine consciousness to Qian Daoliu and guide him discreetly. But you later ordered us to abandon that plan, so I intended to retrieve it. By chance, I instead detected the Rakshasa God's divine consciousness interfering with Bibi Dong's mind. I came to tell you at once."

"You truly are my closest friend."

Warmth entered the First-Generation Asura God's eyes. He raised his jade cup and clinked it firmly against Poseidon's.

A clear chime rang out, and divine radiance rippled along the rims of their cups.