The Divine Realm.
The Central Temple.
Two figures sat on their respective thrones. On the left was a woman in a long white dress, her bearing pure and flawless, representing the benevolent order of all things.
On the right was a handsome man in black with an uncanny air, who presided over punishment and balanced the negative laws.
They were none other than-
the First-Generation God King of Goodness and the Evil God King!
An Order Origin Diagram of the Divine Realm floated before them as they discussed minor adjustments to the Divine Realm Rules.
They were different from the second-generation God Kings of later times.
Those God Kings legislated and enforced laws together, with each member of the God Realm Committee holding only one vote.
Although the First-Generation Five Great God Kings were equal in cultivation realm, under the ancient divisions of authority, Goodness and Evil were the ruling God Kings, while Asura, Destruction, and Life were collectively known as the Three Great God Kings of Law Enforcement.
The God Kings of Goodness and Evil governed the origin of balance in the Divine Realm and established its rules.
Asura, Destruction, and Life enforced them.
The two ruling God Kings each held two votes, while the three God Kings of Law Enforcement each held one!
In terms of status,
they stood a cut above the other three God Kings.
In plain terms, legislative authority ranked above enforcement authority, so their votes carried greater weight.
"Interesting."
The Evil God King suddenly paused, his gaze passing through the temple and crossing layer upon layer of spatial barriers to settle in the direction of the Douluo Continent.
He had sensed an extremely faint yet familiar presence-
the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
Someone had killed it and fused with its Life Orb!
The God King of Goodness noticed his unusual reaction and followed his gaze with her senses. "The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger? That little creature spawned by the laws that escaped when you descended to the lower realm back then?"
"Yes. A human boy killed it and fused with its Life Orb."
The Evil God King's tone was calm, but his gaze lingered on Long Aoyu for a moment longer.
A twelve-year-old boy with a Body Martial Soul. Within his Dantian, the origin of the Life Orb was slowly and steadily fusing with him.
His foundation was solid, his expression composed, and there was not the slightest sign of backlash from evil power.
For his age, he could be considered outstanding.
Noticing that his gaze had lingered longer than usual, the God King of Goodness raised an eyebrow slightly. "What, has he made a good impression on you?"
The Evil God King did not deny it, his tone even. "To absorb the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Life Orb at twelve and maintain a firm foundation, he must have a high affinity with 'evil.'"
"Besides, although that strand of law escaped by chance, it ultimately came from my origin. His refining and fusing with it counts as a bond of cause and effect."
The God King of Goodness looked at him with a hint of teasing in her eyes.
"Since you think well of him, why not choose him as your successor? You and I have sat in this Divine Realm for too long. It's time we found successors and freed ourselves."
The Evil God King glanced at her and fell silent for a moment. "It's too early. He's only just fused with the Life Orb. There's no telling how far he'll go yet. Let's observe him a little longer."
The Evil God King withdrew his gaze and returned it to the Order Origin Diagram.
"It won't be too late to discuss it once he's grown."
The God King of Goodness smiled and did not press him further.
Her gaze also swept toward the Douluo Continent, and the boy's figure flashed through her eyes.
The Body Sect.
Long Aoyu had no idea that he had already attracted the attention of two God Kings in the Divine Realm.
He pushed open the infirmary door. The light inside had already dimmed, and the elderly physician had lit an oil lamp and placed it on the bedside table.
Zhu Zhuqing lay on a cushioned couch, her long black hair spilling across the pillow, her delicate, pretty face pale.
Vina stopped short at her first sight of her.
Standing beside her, Long Aotian's gaze also stilled for an instant before he immediately looked away.
Do not look upon what is improper...
Zhu Zhuqing's curves were far too pronounced-her slender waist, her long legs, and those contours so full they hardly matched her age...
Vina's gaze lingered on Zhu Zhuqing for several seconds. Then she slowly lowered her head to look at her own and fell silent.
A few breaths later.
Vina turned to Long Aoyu and said meaningfully, "Good taste."
Long Aoyu said, "...I was saving her."
"Yes, yes, saving her."
Vina nodded, glanced at Zhu Zhuqing again, and muttered, "This girl doesn't look very old. How did she grow like that...?"
Long Aotian gave a muffled chuckle beside her, then immediately stopped when Vina shot him a glare.
The elderly physician approached and said quietly to Long Aoyu, "Young Sect Master, this young lady's pulse has stabilized. She should wake soon. I've warmed the blood-replenishing medicinal broth. Feed it to her when she wakes."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Long Aoyu nodded. "Go attend to your work. I'll watch over her here."
The elderly physician acknowledged him and withdrew.
The infirmary fell quiet, leaving only the flickering lamplight and shadows and the sound of three people breathing.
Vina stood beside the couch and watched Zhu Zhuqing for a while before suddenly saying, "These wounds on her... she must have been hunted more than once."
Long Aoyu nodded. "Yes."
Vina sighed softly. "Take good care of her."
She tugged at Long Aotian's elbow and gave him a look. He understood instantly, and the two turned and headed out, closing the door behind them.
Only Long Aoyu and Zhu Zhuqing remained in the infirmary.
Long Aoyu sat in the chair beside the bed and watched her for a while, then closed his eyes and began cultivating quietly, waiting in silence for her to wake.
An hour later.
Zhu Zhuqing's lashes fluttered several times before she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was somewhat unfocused at first. Once it cleared, the first thing she saw was the boy sitting in the chair beside the bed, his features handsome and strong.
"You're awake?"
Long Aoyu opened his eyes and leaned forward slightly. "How do you feel?"
Zhu Zhuqing parted her lips, her throat dry.
She took in the unfamiliar surroundings, the smell of medicine, the clean clothes, and her neatly bandaged wounds-the person before her had saved her.
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt her throat tighten.
She had been hunted throughout her journey and wounded several times, but she had never cried.
Even when her fiancé abandoned her, she had not cried.
Yet now, as that unfamiliar young face turned toward her with concern in his eyes, her eyes suddenly reddened.
"...Thank you. Were you the one who saved me?"
"Yes. You collapsed on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. My master and I happened to be passing by." Long Aoyu rose and brought over the medicinal broth. "Drink the medicine first."
Zhu Zhuqing reached out to take it, but she could not muster the strength.
Seeing this,
Long Aoyu supported the bottom of the bowl and brought it to her lips. His other hand slipped gently behind her neck to lift her head, letting her drink slowly from the rim.
The gesture brought a blush to Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks.
"I can do it myself..."
"Don't push yourself."
"Oh..."
Zhu Zhuqing took a few sips, then turned her head aside. "What's your name?"
"Long Aoyu."
She lowered her head and silently repeated it once, then raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze complicated. "Why did you save me? You don't even know me."
Long Aoyu set down the medicine bowl and chuckled softly. "I wanted to, so I did."
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing.
She lowered her lashes, a few tears from earlier still clinging to them.
The infirmary was quiet for a while.
Long Aoyu did not press her with questions. He simply sat quietly, waiting for her to speak.
After a long silence, Zhu Zhuqing slowly said, "My name is Zhu Zhuqing. The second daughter of the Nether Duke's Mansion in the Star Luo Empire, and the... fiancée of the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire."
Before you continue