The Divine Realm.
A gentle halo caressed the delicate skin of the clouds like a mother's hand, lending the illusory space an extraordinarily moving sense of substance. Dimly, not far away, a majestic palace seemed to stand, both unreal and real beneath that gentle caress of light.
Inside the God Realm Committee, a figure seemed to be watching something.
A cold aura formed from tangible killing intent surrounded that figure. Dark red demonic markings enveloped his entire body, and dark red light swirled around him. He wore armor covered in those same markings, and his eyes were blood red.
That figure was, of course, the Asura God.
The God Realm Committee consisted of the Asura God, the God of Goodness, the God of Evil, the Goddess of Life, and the God of Destruction. They were responsible for judging the gods, governing the Divine Realm, and upholding its rules. When disagreements within the committee were settled by a vote, each held one vote.
The Asura God was a god of slaughter, presiding over slaughter, judgment, and laws.
The Rakshasa God was also a god of slaughter, but an evil one, whereas the Asura God was a god of righteous slaughter. His divine standing was higher than the Rakshasa God's; they could be said to stem from the same lineage.
But that little Rakshasa bitch always loved acting shameless.
Today, the Asura God was on duty. On a whim, he used the Divine Realm Core to observe the Douluo Continent.
In the image, Tang Hao was detonating his soul rings, one after another. Even after detonating eight, he was still no match for his opponent.
Watching Tang Hao's performance, the Asura God snorted coldly.
"Useless. All these years, you've done nothing but drink. You haven't properly tended your injuries or improved your cultivation. You've relied entirely on the Blue Silver Emperor's soul ring to keep them suppressed, or you'd have dropped dead long ago."
"If not for Tang San, I would have given up on you long ago."
The Asura God's voice was icy, tinged with dissatisfaction.
Tang Hao was a descendant of his chosen successor. He possessed the Clear Sky Hammer and had passed through Hell Road, so he should have been one of his potential successors. Later, realizing Tang Hao was all muscle and no brains, he had found Tang San in another world and planned to make Tang Hao his guardian. Who could have known that Tang Hao would simply give up after his soul beast wife sacrificed herself? He neither cultivated nor tended his injuries, and spent every day drinking. It gave the Asura God quite a headache.
But now someone had come knocking at his door, and even detonating eight soul rings had not been enough. Seeing Tang Hao about to detonate his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, the Asura God shook his head.
"But you can't die yet," he said indifferently. "Tang San hasn't grown strong enough. If Tang Hao dies, there'll be no one to protect him."
He extended his hand. A thread of blood-colored divine power flew from his fingertip, passed through the barrier of the Divine Realm, and descended onto Tang Hao.
Just as Tang Hao detonated his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, that thread of divine power merged into his body, becoming a surge of icy killing intent.
"I'll lend you a little power for now. Whether you survive will depend on your own fortune."
His gaze suddenly fell on Lin Changgeng nearby.
At the sight of the dark golden light surrounding Lin Changgeng and his keen aura of yang metal, the Asura God's eyes brightened slightly.
"Hmm? Six years old, an ultimate elemental martial soul, and a Behemoth? He's even better suited to my divine position than Tang San?"
"His temperament and willpower are good. He's about Tang San's age, too, and he knows what he should do without trying to hide it."
"Who's the woman beside him? A golden dragon bloodline? Not bad. She can even use the Golden Dragon Spear. Though her true form is a soul beast, she seems to be his guardian."
"Hmm, Tang San..." The Asura God shifted his view to Tang San.
"Still being taught by a useless fool to follow the control path? Isn't the Blue Silver Emperor associated with life? I possess the greatest offensive power in the Divine Realm. Wouldn't it be better to build up his life force, then switch to the Clear Sky Hammer and smash people?"
"And the real problem is that Tang San actually believes him. That useless fool is already flat on his face. How can you be sure he has any real ability?"
"Hmm? He even wants to kill his teacher? Can someone with this temperament truly inherit my divine position?"
Watching Tang San's behavior, the Asura God frowned deeply. Despite pressure from the other God Kings, he had brought Tang San from another plane to replace the child of destiny. Seeing his exceptional talent in that other plane, he had thought it would be a pity to let him die. He had never expected Tang San to be as brainless as Tang Hao, readily trusting someone he had just met and taking him as his teacher. Now that his trump cards had been exposed, he even wanted to kill his own teacher. Was that temperament really suited to his divine position?
Compare goods side by side, and the inferior ones belong in the trash. Now, the Asura God found Tang San rather displeasing, while Lin Changgeng looked increasingly appealing.
"Why not keep Tang San as a backup? If this boy doesn't succeed, I'll let Tang San try.
"A few days won't make a difference anyway. But that damned Tang Chen is still holding up my divine trials. I'll leave that doomed failure for Lin Changgeng to deal with. While one candidate is undergoing the trials, I can't grant them to another. Those are the Divine Realm's rules for passing down divine positions."
"Though I cast my net wide, I can only grant one set of divine trials. Unfortunately, Tang Chen is blocking the way. To obtain my trials, Lin Changgeng will first have to pass through Hell Road, then kill Tang Chen. But to keep those other shameless bastards from setting their sights on him, I'll brand him with my mark first."
The Asura God pointed a finger. In the lower realm, a red marking appeared on Lin Changgeng's forehead, but it soon vanished. Lin Changgeng felt nothing.
"Good. Now you're one of mine. Grow strong, and don't disappoint me."
He continued watching the image.
"DIE!!!"
Tang Hao roared, mustering every last ounce of strength. Wreathed in red-and-black Light of Destruction, the Clear Sky Hammer smashed toward Wang Qiu'er.
This was the strongest strike he could unleash in his current state. He was confident Wang Qiu'er could never block it, and even if she did, she would be gravely injured.
Wang Qiu'er's expression changed drastically. She unleashed her golden dragon martial soul at full power, the golden dragon silhouette behind her becoming almost tangible. With a sweep of her right hand, a golden spear appeared in her grasp.
The spear was brilliant gold from end to end. Faint patterns could be seen along its shaft-not scales, but subtle dragon-shaped markings.
BOOM!!!!!
A deafening explosion rang out.
Dust and smoke surged into the sky, blotting it out.
A moment later, the dust cleared.
Wang Qiu'er stood where she was. A large stretch of ground beneath her feet had shattered. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, several tears had appeared in her fitted golden outfit, and her hair was somewhat disheveled.
But she was still standing.
Tang Hao, meanwhile, lay on the ground covered in blood, his Clear Sky Hammer fallen to one side.
That sudden surge of killing intent had also dissipated.
He had exhausted all his strength.
But he still could not win.
"Cough..." Tang Hao coughed up a mouthful of blood and raised his head, his eyes filled with unwillingness to accept defeat.
The Divine Realm.
Watching Tang Hao kneeling on the ground in the image, the Asura God shook his head.
"Useless. You'll make a fine whetstone for Lin Changgeng."
Though Asura now held Tang Hao in utter contempt, he could still serve as a whetstone for Lin Changgeng in the future.
He extended his hand and made a gentle grasping motion across the endless expanse of space.
Blood-colored light descended, teleporting Tang Hao away and leaving only a severed leg behind.
With that done, the Asura God leaned back on his throne and closed his eyes to rest.
Just then, a streak of blue light drifted in from outside the hall, turning into a man in blue robes.
The man had handsome features and a gentle bearing. He held a trident, and a faint aqua-blue halo surrounded him.
"Hey, Asura. Busy?" The Sea God swaggered in and unceremoniously found himself a seat. "I just came from Destruction's place. I was passing by, so I thought I'd drop in."
The Asura God opened his eyes, glanced at him, and said nothing.
The Sea God did not mind. His gaze landed on the image before the Asura God-Tang Hao had just been teleported away, leaving Lin Changgeng and Wang Qiu'er standing where they were.
"Oh?" The Sea God raised an eyebrow. "What are you up to in the lower realm? That divine power just now was yours, wasn't it?"
He had seen it perfectly clearly. The Asura God had not only sent divine power to Tang Hao, but had also placed a thread of divine power on that blond child as a mark.
The Asura God remained expressionless. "If you're passing by, keep passing. What are you staring at?"
"I just happened to see it." The Sea God smiled and pointed at Lin Changgeng in the image. "Who's that kid? You marked him with your divine power?"
He paused, a mischievous grin curling his lips.
"But secretly marking someone in the lower realm with divine power-if Destruction finds out..."
"He'll accuse you of interfering with the lower realm's order again and drag you before the Goddess of Life to settle the argument."
The Asura God gave him a cold look.
"Sea God, are you itching for a beating?"
Icy killing intent spread from the Asura God's body, lowering the temperature throughout the temple by several degrees.
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