In their view, an uncontrolled and powerful racial leader is a potential threat to the order of the Divine Realm.
So-called "fairness" and "benevolence" can be sacrificed in the face of maintaining the overall interests of the Divine Realm.
Similarly, in the eyes of the Divine Realm, the competition between the Soul Beast Clan and humans is merely a part of the natural competition among the myriad races of the lower realm, and is insignificant.
Every moment, races rise and fall; the Divine Realm neither will nor should interfere excessively.
They will only intervene when such competition involves God Level power and could disrupt the balance of the planes.
"Know your responsibilities, know what you should do, know what you shouldn't do..." Xuan Ming repeated in a low voice the profound meaning hidden in the will of the God's Trial.
This is the true standard for selecting successors in the Divine Realm: absolute rationality, a clear sense of boundaries, and the courage to take necessary measures to maintain a greater order.
If he remains fixated on so-called "benevolence," harbors pity for the old order, and hesitates to kill, he might gain the sympathy of the Goddess of Life, but he will never pass the test of the four Principal God —Kindness, Evil, Destruction, Asura— who represent the enforcement of the rules of the Divine Realm!
Especially the Godess of Kindness! The deity whose name is " Kindness " is often the one who deals with the most troublesome and darkest affairs in the Divine Realm. Her methods are sometimes more ruthless and unquestionable than those of the God of Destruction.
Because the other side of " Kindness " is "evil" that must be carried out in order to protect a greater "good".
In less than a day, the God-Given Soul Ring, containing the blessing of the Goddess of Life, was completely absorbed and refined by Xuan Ming, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
It remains at the limit of millions of years, but the immense Life force contained within it is the true core.
This Soul Ring did not significantly increase his total Divine Power or destructive force, but it infused a gentle yet resilient Life force into his power system, which already contained the nascent laws of Asura, Evil, Destruction, and Kindness.
Although it is only in its nascent stage, the emergence of this Life law means that it has touched upon one of the most fundamental forces constituting the world, and its value far exceeds that of mere energy accumulation.
From that moment on, the core laws represented by the five God King of the Divine Realm — Asura, Evil, Destruction, Kindness, and Life —were all planted within him.
This is by no means a coincidence, but rather more like a deliberate guidance and preparation by the God's Trial.
Xuan Ming could sense that the preliminary groundwork was complete. Next, the Divine Realm was about to get serious.
The laboratory door was gently pushed open, Gu Yuena walked in.
Her aura was more solid and vast than before, and a sense of creation and origin flowed subtly around her.
Nourished by the Life energy rewarded by the God's Trial, her essence, damaged by the split of the Dragon God, has been largely repaired.
" Xuan Ming," Gu Yuena's voice carried a hint of solemnity, "My Creation Godhead is ready to begin its formal fusion."
She paused, " Xuan Ming, you have already broken through to level 100, and your power has long surpassed that of ordinary Divine Officer, even rivaling that of First-Level Main God. But you... have not yet truly condensed your own Godhead."
Xuan Ming remained silent, indicating his agreement.
Gu Yuena continued to explain, " Godhead and Godhood are different. Godhood is more like a post in the Divine Realm, bound to the rules of the Divine Realm and existing based on the power system of the Divine Realm. Gods can leave the Divine Realm, but Godhood cannot. The number of Godhood is closely related to the strength of the Divine Realm."
" Godhead, on the other hand, is the deity's own understanding, control, and condensation of the laws of heaven and earth; it is their own original power! Like the Angel God and the Sea God, they first condensed their divine Godhood through faith and opportunity, and after ascending to the Divine Realm, they gradually condensed their own Godhead over a long period of time, using their Godhood as a foundation."
"But the Five Great God Kings of the Divine Realm, and I... our Godhead is innate, a manifestation of powerful laws originating from the source. My Creation Godhead originates from the Dragon God and belongs to the God King level."
"Although you have broken through level 100 and reached the God Realm in power, you have not yet undergone the Godhood Tribulation, nor have you condensed your own Godhead. Therefore, in the definition of the Divine Realm, you cannot yet be considered a true god."
"Now is the time for you to consider consolidating your Godhead."
The instant Gu Yuena finished speaking, that cold yet immense God's Trial will, as if it had been waiting for a long time, once again crashed down upon Xuan Ming's sea of consciousness:
[ The Sixth Trial Begins: The Godhood Choice.]
[Content: Within one year, clarify your own divine path, gain the recognition of at least one God King level being, or independently condense Godhead, taking the most crucial step towards godhood.]
Xuan Ming was slightly taken aback.
The first five tests served as a screening and preparation, confirming his qualifications and planting the seeds of the Five Great God Kings laws within him.
this
Chapter 452 Debate, Transfer of Power
The Divine Realm, the Supreme Divine Temple.
The usual solemn and dignified atmosphere vanished. The divine thoughts of the four God King clashed and clashed fiercely like Thunderclap in a storm. If the temple itself were not formed from rules, it would probably have collapsed long ago in this invisible struggle.
"What else is there to argue about?" The God of Evil stood up. " Xuan Ming is resolute, acts only according to his conscience, has his own standard of good and evil, and is not bound by worldly conventions! To achieve his goals, he is willing to sacrifice even rivers of blood! This self-righteous and truthful nature perfectly aligns with my position as the Evil Godhood! He is worthy to inherit my Godhood!"
"Absurd!" The Asura God slammed his fist on the table and rose to his feet. " Evil! Put away your manipulative tricks! His blood-drinking, Soul Devour -devouring Blood Spear, his brutal methods of judgment and the slaughter of millions—aren't they all deeply aligned with the true meaning of the Asura God Position of killing and judgment? His path is to tread upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood; he is a born Asura!"
The God of Destruction sneered, " Asura! Have you lost your mind? Your Godhood has already been decided for that Bibi Dong from the lower realm! That woman wields the Asura Demon Sword, her Divine Slaughter's Domain has mutated, and she's fully committed to breaking through to the Godhood! Now you're going back on your word; do you even care about the dignity of God King?"
" Evil! Xuan Ming's approach is to directly crush people's hearts, not just toy with them! It's utter Destruction and reconstruction! It perfectly aligns with my path of Destruction Godhood! I've said it before, I will pass my Godhood to him!"
As the three male God King argued heatedly, their divine thoughts clashing to the point of almost sparking a tangible flame, the Godess of Kindness, who had remained silent all along, let out a soft, white-gold light that emanated from his body. His ethereal and calm voice rang out, yet it was like throwing a block of ice into a boiling pot of oil:
"Aren't we all too fixated on appearances?" the Godess of Kindness said softly.
" Xuan Ming's methods may seem ruthless, but at their core, they aim to establish a better order, to end millennia of conflict, and to give all beings a relatively fair starting point. Deep within him lies a steadfast commitment to and protection of ultimate goodness. He simply chose the most effective, yet also the most difficult, way to put it into practice. This essence of carrying a torch through boundless darkness, bearing sins while yearning for the light, is of the same origin as my Kindness Godhood."
Upon hearing her words, the other three God King were initially stunned, then exploded like a powder keg that had been lit!
" Kindness! How dare you say that?!" The God of Evil laughed in fury, "Back when we dealt with those heretical pantheons, who suggested purifying their entire planes of faith as well? They were even more ruthless than me!"
The Asura God added coldly, showing no mercy. "That's right! Last time, who personally took action to strip away the God of Fallen Stars betrayed the Godhead Divine Realm, casting his soul into the eternally desolate Realm of Return to the Ruins to Nothingness, to endure eternal torment ten thousand times crueler than my Asura Judgment? Your Kindness methods are truly gentle!"
The God of Destruction scoffed, directly exposing his true colors. "Protecting greater good? What a joke! You're more ruthless than the three of us combined! When it came to maintaining the stability and order of good in the Divine Realm, did you ever hesitate for a moment when you resorted to ruthless measures? Now, what are you pretending to be pure and innocent for!"
After being repeatedly exposed for his shortcomings, the holy radiance on the face of the Godess of Kindness seemed to waver slightly, but his smile remained gentle, though a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes. "Necessary sacrifices are for greater good. Xuan Ming understands this principle well, and is the best successor to my Godhood."
For a time, the temple was in an uproar as the four God King exposed each other's shortcomings and argued fiercely.
Evil accuses Asura of indiscriminate killing, Asura mocks Destruction being mindless, Destruction scorns Kindness being hypocritical, while Kindness calmly responds that everyone is too "impulsive".
Everyone believed that Xuan Ming was the most compatible with them, and no one was willing to back down even a little, causing the situation to spiral out of control.
The Goddess of Life, who had been observing from the sidelines, looked at the chaotic scene and finally sighed softly in resignation.
Her vibrant and soothing divine power rippled out like gentle waves, and though faint, it strangely calmed the fierce argument somewhat.
"Everyone, I think this matter should be decided by Xuan Ming himself," the Goddess of Life said softly.
" Xuan Ming is no ordinary successor candidate. The seeds of our five laws have already gathered within him, which means he possesses limitless potential. Forcibly incorporating him into a particular Godhood might actually limit his future."
She looked at the God of Destruction was arguing most fiercely. " Little Zi, wasn't it precisely because of his unconventional and independent qualities that you chose him in the first place?"
The God of Destruction remained silent for a moment, offering no rebuttal.
The Goddess of Life then looked at the other three. " Asura, your successor, Bibi Dong, is already on her way. Evil and Kindness, your Godhood Inheritance also has its own rules. Xuan Ming... perhaps he is destined to walk a different path."
"Instead of us deciding for him here, let him have the choice."
A brief silence fell over the hall.
The four God King exchanged glances. Although they were unwilling, they understood that the Goddess of Life's words made sense. Xuan Ming's special nature could not be judged by ordinary standards. Forcibly seizing it might not be a good thing.
Finally, the God of Evil snorted first, "Fine! Let that brat choose for himself! I want to see what kind of tricks he can come up with!"
The Asura God and the God of Destruction nodded in agreement, tacitly acknowledging the plan. The Godess of Kindness naturally had no objections either.
Thus, a test message containing the shared will of the five God King traversed layers of space and descended into Xuan Ming's sea of consciousness in the lower realm:
[ The Sixth Trial Begins: The Godhood Choice.]
[Content: Within one year, clarify your own divine path, gain the recognition of at least one God King level being, or independently condense Godhead, taking the most crucial step towards godhood.]
The assessment has been conducted, and the choice has been handed over to Xuan Ming.
However, although they outwardly agreed to let Xuan Ming choose for himself, in secret, no one would easily give up. In the coming year, they would undoubtedly use their own methods to observe from the shadows and even... subtly exert influence.
Douluo Continent, Spirit City.
With the complete submission of the two great empires and the full implementation of the new policies, the massive war machine of the Spirit Hall Empire began to shift its focus to internal governance and development.
Although under the oppressive rule, undercurrents still flowed, on the surface, the mainland entered an unprecedented period of "peace."
Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong finished reviewing the final outline of the empire's development plan for the next five years and slowly put down her vermilion brush. A trace of weariness flashed in her purple-gold eyes, but more so, a resolute determination.
" Xue'er," she looked at Qian Renxue, who stood to the side, radiating a holy light, yet with a complex expression in her eyes, "From this day forward, you will have full authority over the daily affairs of the empire."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's golden pupils narrowed slightly, a hint of disbelief and wariness in them. "What... do you mean?"
Bibi Dong stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the gradually recovering Spirit City. Her voice was calm and composed. "I'm going into seclusion to attempt to break through to Godhood."
Qian Renxue was stunned. She hadn't expected Bibi Dong to so readily hand over the reins of the empire to her.
This may seem like a delegation of power, but considering Xuan Ming's absolute power and the complex and close relationship between Bibi Dong and Xuan Ming, it's more like... the behavior of a hands-off manager.
He left her with the tedious administrative tasks and went off to pursue greater power.
" The Asura God Position?" Qian Renxue asked, her tone tinged with complexity.
"And Rakshasa," Bibi Dong added, her tone carrying a barely perceptible unease.
Qian Renxue was even more puzzled. "How can one person... possibly hold two Godhood?"
Conflicts over Godhood are fatal.
Bibi Dong didn't turn around, but simply said, "I have my own way."
She does have a way.
The remnant soul of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox still resides within her body.
Earlier, when she attempted to fuse the two Divine Power, she risked transferring most of the more sinister and unpredictable Rakshasa Divine Power to the remnant soul of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, while she herself focused on controlling the more domineering and pure Asura Divine Power.
This is essentially a clever "coexistence of two gods," but it carries enormous risks, especially when attempting to reach true God Level, as the conflict between the two Divine Power will be more intense than ever before.
She needs time, she needs absolute quiet, to balance and conquer these two powerful forces.
Entrusting the empire to Qian Renxue was both a reluctant move and a disguised test, and perhaps even a faint trace of trust that she herself was unaware of?
After all, Qian Renxue had become a god and was the only one who could keep the situation under control.
Qian Renxue watched Bibi Dong's retreating figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Power suddenly came into her hands, but she felt no joy whatsoever. Instead, she felt a heavy sense of being thrust into the limelight.
She knew that she had taken over a vast empire that appeared calm on the surface but was fraught with crises on the inside.
But she had no choice but to accept it, and could not refuse. This was her chance to prove her worth, and also a responsibility she had to shoulder.
"I understand." Qian Renxue finally nodded, her tone regaining the majesty and composure befitting Angel God.
She accepted the past because of Xuan Ming, but she could not give up the present because of that past, much less give up Xuan Ming.
Bibi Dong said nothing more, her figure slowly dissipating from the spot, clearly having entered a deep seclusion.
The power of the Spirit Hall Empire was transferred in a subtle and tense atmosphere.
Qian Renxue quickly summoned several retainers, preparing to further consolidate her power in this vast empire.
In the current Spirit Hall Empire, only the Angel Legion and these few elders can be considered her trusted confidants. As for the others...
They were either killed in that woman's previous purge, or they disappeared under Xuan Ming's lightning punishment.
This Spirit Hall Empire and the former Spirit Hall, aside from a nominal succession relationship, have completely different legal and structural ties...
They have almost no connection whatsoever.
It is no exaggeration to say that this Spirit Hall Empire was established entirely with the support of two God Level martial forces, Xuan Ming and Bibi Dong.
Chapter 453 Condensing Godhead
Dragon Tomb.
This is a strange space separate from the Douluo Continent, with an endless, desolate plain beneath a gray sky.
Everywhere you look, there are massive dragon skeletons, as big as mountains, lying there in various poses. Some still stand with their heads raised and roaring, while others lie prostrate on the ground, as if they have fallen into an eternal slumber.
A desolate, ancient, and majestic aura permeated the air. The lingering remnants of countless dragon souls drifted like invisible mist, and the deep dragon roars seemed to traverse countless ages, echoing faintly in one's ears.
This is the final resting place of the Dragon Clan, the burial ground of countless powerful Dragon Clan, where fragments of their power and laws from their lifetimes remain.
Gu Yuena, accompanied by Xuan Ming, appeared silently atop the highest dragon bone mountain.
Her long, silver-purple hair stood out starkly against the gray world. As she gazed at the endless dragon skeletons before her, her eyes revealed complex and indescribable emotions—sorrow, remembrance, and a heavy sense of responsibility.
"This is the resting place of my Dragon Clan ancestors throughout the ages." Gu Yuena's voice carried a hint of sorrow and solemnity. "Countless dragon souls converge, and the remaining dragon power and laws intertwine. Here, perhaps you can better comprehend and condense your own Godhead."
Xuan Ming's icy blue eyes swept across the desolate graveyard. He could clearly sense the various elemental forces of law permeating the air—the fury of flames, the extreme cold of frost, the weight of the earth, the tearing of storms, the holiness of light, the mystery of darkness... Although these forces were incomplete and chaotic, their levels were extremely high, far surpassing those of the outside world.