The Divine Realm Council, the Last Hope: Tang San's Divine Sense!

The God Realm Committee's grand hall.

Twelve Divine Jade pillars supported the vaulted ceiling. At the center, a shimmering screen showed Douluo Continent wrapped in layer upon layer of nine-colored divine power.

Trailblaze, Preservation, The Destruction, Elation, Abundance, Void, The Hunt, The Permanence, Beauty, Remembrance—ten utterly different Path auras intertwined and flowed. Even across planes, their pressure weighed on the gods' hearts.

The God of Destruction wore a dark purple divine robe. Destructive power surged around him as he struck his staff against the Divine Jade floor with a heavy thud.

He shot Tang San, who stood among the assembly, a vicious glare and said grimly, "You all know what happened. Douluo Continent has been sealed off without cause by an unknown divine power. Ten different laws coexist there, far beyond the Divine Realm's control. What do you think?"

Ji Dong, the God of Evil, stepped forward, frowning as he awkwardly rubbed his nose. "The urgent problem is that our divine power can't penetrate the seal. We can't descend and intervene directly. For now, our only hope is the wisp of Divine Sense the Sea God sent down earlier. At least it might send back some information."

He exchanged a glance with Lie Yan. Both saw the helplessness in the other's eyes.

They had only been minding their shifts in the Divine Realm when this enormous mess dropped from the sky. Who could have expected such an outrageous upheaval below?

"I know what takes priority," the God of Destruction said. His gaze swept over the familiar aura of destructive law on the screen, and his face darkened further. "But the heart of the matter is—where did these powers come from?"

The Goddess of Life nodded gently, her green dress swaying and a soft halo of life surrounding her. "I also think finding the source is the key. That life force is mixed with the attribute of The Destruction. It's strange. It bears neither my aura nor The Destruction's, yet the two seem to spring from the same source."

"We can investigate the source in time, but rules cannot be broken." The God of Destruction turned his gaze back to Tang San, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Tang San sent his Divine Sense down without authorization, violating the God Realm Laws. That is a fact. Merit is merit, wrongdoing is wrongdoing. Reward the former and punish the latter. Never confuse the two."

He was notorious for following the rules. Even if Ji Dong had a point, he would never set a precedent of excusing a violation because it had proved useful.

"The Destruction, that's not entirely fair," Lie Yan, the God of Kindness, said softly, stepping in to smooth things over. "The Sea God did wrong, but by a twist of fate, his act has become our only remaining option. Without his wisp of Divine Sense below, we wouldn't even know what was happening on that plane. Couldn't his merit offset his fault?"

"Offset his fault?" The God of Destruction scoffed, his voice growing harsher. "So that makes him right? I admit that wisp is useful now, but its usefulness rests on his breaking the rules first! If Douluo Continent were safe and sound, his unauthorized descent would be a grave offense beyond dispute!"

"He must be punished before this matter is resolved. Once the crisis passes, if he truly earns merit, I'll apologize to him in person. But right now—he must be punished!"

"The Destruction, don't go too far..." Lie Yan tried to continue.

"Enough."

Tang San, who had stood silently to one side, suddenly spoke.

Dressed in a blue Sea God robe, he wore a faint smile on his handsome face as he looked up at the God of Destruction. "You want to punish me? Fine. But I have a condition."

"Without rules, there can be no order!" The God of Destruction's eyes widened in fury as he slammed his staff down again. "You dare bargain with me?"

"I accept the punishment," Tang San said calmly, appearing entirely at ease as he yielded ground to gain ground. "I'll accept confinement until the source of these powers is identified and the seal is lifted. But—"

His tone shifted. He swept his gaze over the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life, his voice turning colder. "You and the Goddess of Life cannot take part in this investigation."

Bang!

The destructive power around the God of Destruction instantly ran wild. Fine cracks spread across a nearby pillar.

He snapped on the spot, pointing at Tang San as his voice rose several notches. "Tang San! What are you implying?!"

No wonder he had exploded.

Among the ten powers sealing Douluo Continent were the attributes of destruction and life. Tang San was plainly implying that the two of them were suspects, casting suspicion straight onto two God Kings.

He trembled with rage, yet could not argue. If he insisted on joining the investigation, it would only make him look guilty.

The Goddess of Life quickly caught his arm and shook her head, warning him not to act rashly.

She looked at Tang San and spoke gently but firmly. "Very well. The Destruction and I will avoid any conflict of interest and stay out of the main investigation. We'll leave the matter entirely to the God of Evil and the God of Kindness."

"Ji Dong, Lie Yan, report any leads to the God Realm Committee at once."

"We'll do everything we can." Ji Dong and Lie Yan nodded together, though inwardly they were cursing up a storm:

Seriously, you old fox? That was ruthless!

With a few words, you've kicked two God Kings out of the investigation?

What an absurd reversal.

The meeting ended on a sour note.

Tang San returned to the Sea God Temple. The moment the doors closed, his calm composure vanished, leaving only a dark expression.

"The Destruction, Life... you dare humiliate me?" he cursed under his breath. His blue hair stirred without wind, and Sea God Divine Power surged around him.

But as he cursed, he suddenly began to laugh. His laughter grew more triumphant, his eyes full of conceit. "Hmph. Luckily, I prepared a fallback long ago. The Destruction, oh The Destruction, you'd never dream that I sent down more than a wisp of Divine Sense. I passed on the inheritance of the Asura Godhood with it."

Hands behind his back, he walked to the temple's viewing terrace and gazed through the clouds toward the sealed Douluo Continent. His smile broadened.

"Once matters below are settled and my avatar has grown strong, the seal will fall. Then I, Tang San, will reign over the Divine Realm!"

"Let's see who dares punish me then!"

"Once I get into Shrek and make a few moves, won't those teachers and students bring out food and drink to welcome their rightful king?" Tang San stood with his hands behind his back. He watched dark red thorn-covered Blue Silver Grass and a blood-colored Clear Sky Hammer appear alternately in his palm, then laughed aloud in delight.

His Twin Martial Souls had been steeped in Asura Divine Power. Their quality had long surpassed the mortal realm; compared with Tang San's abilities when he first entered Shrek ten thousand years ago, they were stronger, not weaker.

What was more, he was the embodiment of the Sea God's will. No one on the entire continent could match his knowledge of Shrek or his mastery of Martial Souls.

His plans went far beyond becoming the Holy Spirit Cult's Holy Son.

The Golden Tree beneath Shrek City was already at death's door, barely clinging to life. All he needed to do was awaken his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline and draw on the Golden Tree's original power. Then his identity as the "Child of Nature" would be beyond dispute.

What was a Child of Fortune compared to that?

Huo Yuhao's Fortune looked abundant, but it was a consumable resource. Every bit he used was gone for good.

The Child of Nature was different. Rooted in the life force of the continent's creatures, that power would flow without end, an inexhaustible wellspring!

Once he seized Huo Yuhao's Fortune and devoured the Golden Tree's original power, unifying Douluo Continent would be the least of it. He could fight his way back to the Divine Realm, overthrow The Destruction, and make Tang San's rules the law of the land.

"Tang San, Tang San. You held a Dual Godhood, yet you played a winning hand to ruin." Tang San scoffed, withdrew his Martial Souls, and turned toward Shrek, his robes snapping in the wind. "If it were me, I'd have secured the position of Ruler of the Divine Realm long ago."

"Shrek... Huo Yuhao... just wait. I, Tang San, am coming!"

Meanwhile, in the Far North, ice sealed the land for ten thousand miles.

The cold wind whipped snow grains against the ice, making a faint, crackling patter.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm floated in midair, his plump body wobbling. He gathered his mental power and shouted once more toward the Ice Valley in the Core Zone:

"Bingbing! Come out! Brother Sky Dream's back to see you!"

Huo Yuhao stood in the snow, the corners of his mouth twitching.

He looked up toward the bitterly cold Ice Valley in the distance. His Heavenly Eye glimmered faintly, and he sensed an aura of extreme cold rushing toward them at tremendous speed, brimming with undisguised anger.

Here she comes!

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion—the Ice Empress!