"Their heads are filled with nothing but struggles for power and profit. Cultivation wasn't easy for that tiger demon, yet it ended up dead with its Dao dissipated just because it hadn't been officially invested. The gods of the Primordial World truly disappoint me."
Yu Xiaogang stroked his flat-top as he held forth.
Oscar and Dai Mubai disagreed but dared not speak, while Zhao Wuji let out a cold laugh.
Apart from those three, almost everyone in Shrek had become just like Yu Xiaogang.
Flender went even further, mindlessly supporting every conclusion Yu Xiaogang made.
All of Douluo entered a new round of discussion.
The discussions centered on two topics.
The first was the strength the City God had revealed when he destroyed the Wild God, along with speculation about whether Qian Renxue was still alive and whether she could wake up.
The second topic concerned Nalanda Temple.
Originally, Ma Hongjun had been the people of the Douluo Continent's only window into Buddhism. After this incident, Buddhism's reputation had plummeted straight into the negative numbers.
After all this time, the people of the Douluo Continent had more or less figured out the Primordial World's geography.
There were roughly four major continents, and because of Buddhism, many people had developed a fear of the Western Ox Continent.
In people's minds, the Western Ox Continent was even more dangerous than the Northern Julu Continent.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Continent of Superior Body, where Qian Renxue was, had become the place everyone longed to go.
Many people had prepared to be chosen to ascend and prayed every day that they could go to the Eastern Continent of Superior Body.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Qian Renxue's screen remained dark, so people could only watch Ma Hongjun's and Xiao Wu's livestreams to pass the time.
Xiao Wu suffered torment every day, offering a glimpse of how the demons lived.
Ma Hongjun, meanwhile, once again exposed the underhanded dealings Nalanda Temple kept hidden in the shadows.
Some people had already begun cursing Ma Hongjun as a traitor to humanity. On the Douluo Continent, Soul Masters and Soul Beasts were natural enemies.
But Qian Renxue's livestream was still the one everyone anticipated most.
Everyone was speculating about whether Qian Renxue could become a god through this achievement.
At Spirit Hall.
Qian Daoliu's brows were tightly furrowed.
"It's already been two days. Has Xiao Xue still not woken up?"
For the past two days, even his meals had lost their flavor for Qian Daoliu.
As the saying went, thoughts that linger would surely find an echo. Just as Qian Daoliu finished speaking, Qian Renxue's livestream, which had vanished for two days, showed an image again.
"Xiao Xue is awake!"
The eyes of the entire Douluo Continent were drawn to Qian Renxue's livestream.
"Where am I...?"
Qian Renxue found herself lying on the bed in the little cottage.
"You're awake?"
Earth Granny's voice sounded beside her ear.
"Granny!"
Qian Renxue immediately became fully alert, went to the statue, and was pulled into the Vihara by Earth Granny.
Qian Renxue's soul was visibly much weaker.
"The tiger demon injured your soul. Lord City God used a stick of Soul-Nourishing Incense to save you. Otherwise, even if you hadn't died this time, you would have been left a simpleton."
Qian Renxue shuddered with lingering fear at those words.
"Please thank Lord City God for me, Granny."
Thinking of the City God's figure that day made Qian Renxue yearn even more for a divine position.
"Granny, I wonder, this time..."
Earth Granny smiled.
"Do you know why we had a young girl like you smash the statue that day?"
Qian Renxue shook her head.
"Because none of the other Earth Gods dared, and you happened to volunteer. You're a living person, and your soul still has your physical body to protect it. Had any other Earth God faced that beast's roar, they would have died on the spot."
Qian Renxue did not quite understand why Earth Granny was suddenly telling her this.
"What I mean is that your contribution was actually greater than you imagine. You dared to do, with a mere mortal's body, what the Earth Gods didn't dare to do. That spirit is precious, isn't it?"
"Granny, you mean..."
Qian Renxue understood. She was going to be commended.
"Your divine position is assured."
An uproar erupted.
The Douluo Continent erupted even more than Qian Renxue did.
"A divine position! She really did it!"
"As expected of Spirit Hall's young master! She's brought honor to our Douluo World!"
"Our Douluo World's first god in the Primordial World!"
"Once the two worlds merge, we'll have someone backing us too!"
The common people of the Douluo Continent had a very favorable impression of Spirit Hall. Though they did not yet know what sort of god she would become, that did not stop them from cheering for Qian Renxue.
They had seen with their own eyes how desperately Qian Renxue had fought to become a god, coming within a hair of being left witless. Such a result in return was enough to satisfy them.
But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect were the complete opposite.
"What a joke! That counts as a great achievement? I could have done it too!"
"I think that City God has truly gone senile."
"What I feared most has happened after all."
Ning Fengzhi's face was full of bitterness. How was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect supposed to catch up?
There was no telling when the next selection for ascension would take place, nor was anyone from the sect certain to be chosen. Even if someone was chosen, how could they compare with Qian Renxue once she became a god?
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was cursing too, though its complaints were far quieter than those of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect.
They had always remained neutral and seldom said anything too excessive.
Spirit Hall, meanwhile, had plunged completely into a sea of celebration.
"I knew Xue'er could do it!"
Tears streamed down Qian Daoliu's face in his excitement.
"Thank you, Angel God Ancestor! Thank you, Earth Granny! Thank you, Great Heavenly Venerable! Thank you, City God, for your blessings!"
The list of those he prayed to had grown longer again.
Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes shone. Qian Renxue had made a good start, allowing her to see the possibility of becoming a god herself.
In the Primordial World.
"Then, Granny, did the City God say what divine position he would arrange for me?"
Qian Renxue asked eagerly.
"That hasn't been decided yet. We've been waiting for you to wake up. Come on, come with me to see the City God."
Earth Granny took Qian Renxue's hand, turned in a circle, and vanished.
"This is the Earth Travel Technique. Every Earth God has to learn it."
"After becoming a god, you'll have your own Immortal Official Jade Register. It will record your information and also contain a few useful minor spells and the Heavenly Court's Qi Refining Method."
As they traveled, Earth Granny introduced Qian Renxue to things she had not told her before.
Qian Renxue listened attentively, her heart filled with boundless longing, until the scenery before her changed and she abruptly snapped out of it.
"This is..."
Qian Renxue looked at the enormous city before her. Its walls were pitch-black all over, and the mere sight of them exerted immense pressure.
That alone would have been one thing, but more importantly, two unknown exotic beasts crouched at the city gates, imposing and majestic as they surveyed everyone entering.
Nor were humans the only ones entering. Many looked like spirits and monsters, truly opening Qian Renxue's eyes.
"This is Jianyang City's Underworld. Those you see are all Yin Gods. You can think of it as the reverse side of the world."
Qian Renxue could not help recalling the stone statues that had stood outside the crown prince's residence back on the Douluo Continent.
Those had been fake, but here they were real.
"Come on. Let's go straight to the City God's Office."
"You must be careful here. The City God's Office houses not only the City God, but also the civil and martial Judges, the day- and night-roaming gods, various generals, and other Yin Gods."
"Various government offices are established inside, including the Office of Yin and Yang, the Office of Swift Reports, and the Judge Office. Be sure not to offend anyone."
It was as though a new world had opened before Qian Renxue. Everything she learned here was new and wondrous.
The people of the Douluo Continent also had their eyes opened as they followed Qian Renxue's perspective.
Finally, under Earth Granny's guidance, Qian Renxue met the City God.
Before you continue