The God of Destruction slowly raised his hand, and the hammer in the courtyard trembled slightly before transforming into a stream of light that passed through the door and hovered in front of Huo Yuhao.
The hammer no longer crackled with lightning; instead, it lay still as a sleeping Ferocious Beast. Only upon approaching it could one sense the immense power of thunder within, enough to shatter mountains and rivers.
"This is Thunder God's Hammer, the Super Divine Artifact wielded by Thunder God."
The voice of the God of Destruction resounded. "He who wields this hammer can summon the thunder of the nine heavens to uphold justice and punish evil."
Kong Ling stood quietly beside Kong Xuan, not understanding why, but she could already sense the heavy atmosphere.
The God of Destruction's gaze locked onto Huo Yuhao, his purple robes fluttering without wind, and an invisible divine might slowly rising.
"The Chosen One is nothing but a title," he said in a low voice. "The position of Thunder God means wielding divine punishment and carrying out executions on behalf of Heaven."
The aura rising around the God of Destruction suddenly pressed down on Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao's body suddenly stiffened. He felt as if he had been thrown into a raging storm, with overwhelming pressure coming from all directions, and his soul was trembling.
His breathing quickened, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but his legs remained firmly rooted to the spot, not retreating an inch.
The God of Destruction continued, "I sense the aura of Divine Examination emanating from you; you should be the Ice God. But I must warn you, the Thunder God's inheritance trial may be vastly different from what you've experienced before. It will be far more dangerous, even life-threatening."
It doesn't test patience, it doesn't test control... it only judges.
"Judgment of your will: can it withstand the pain of being struck by lightning? Judgment of your character: can it wield the power to punish evil and eradicate sin? Judgment of your soul: is it worthy to punish on behalf of Heaven?"
With each word spoken, the oppressive aura intensified.
Huo Yuhao clenched his teeth. In his Sea of Consciousness, Ice Empress and Tian Meng had done their best to create a barrier, but it was still like a candle flickering in the wind, about to go out.
Kong Xuan's fingers curled slightly inside his sleeve, but he remained silent.
This is Huo Yuhao's own choice, and no one else has the right to answer it on his behalf.
Finally, the God of Destruction took half a step forward, his scarlet eyes fixed on Huo Yuhao.
"Now... I'll ask you one more time."
"Are you still willing to accept the Thunder God Inheritance and step into this... life-or-death Divine Examination?"
After he finished speaking, all was silent.
Only the Thunder God's Hammer, suspended in the air, faintly emitted a low rumble, like the questioning of an ancient Thunder God, awaiting the boy's answer.
Under the crushing force of overwhelming divine power, Huo Yuhao's back was as taut as a bowstring, and the veins on his forehead were bulging, yet he still raised his neck inch by inch, heading straight for those red eyes that had once filled him with fear and dread.
This time, his eyes were devoid of any flicker, and he spoke with difficulty, each word deliberate and strained. "I... am... willing...!"
The third word, uttered in an instant, exploded like a thunderclap, landing with a resounding clang.
As soon as he finished speaking, the overwhelming sense of oppression that had enveloped him vanished.
Huo Yuhao felt a sudden lightness in his body and almost stumbled to his knees, but he managed to straighten his knees and regain his balance.
His clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and his breathing was heavy like a bellows, but his eyes shone brightly.
The God of Destruction stared at him for a moment, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his blood-red eyes.
Without praising or judging, he simply raised his right hand and pointed it in the air.
The Thunder God's Hammer, which had been hovering between the two, suddenly transformed into a condensed bolt of purple lightning and instantly pierced Huo Yuhao's chest!
There was no pain, no impact, not even a trace of touch.
Huo Yuhao felt a slight chill in his heart, as if a drop of ice lightning had fallen into the deep sea, silent yet earth-shattering.
The next moment, he closed his eyes and looked inward...
Sea of Consciousness, a giant hammer stands majestically.
The hammer body is no longer a physical entity, but is formed from countless interwoven rules of lightning, with purple lightning swirling around it and lightning patterns flowing like living things.
Centered on it, a vast thunderous domain spread out, with streaks of lightning like dragons swimming around, illuminating the originally calm Sea of Consciousness with a fiery purple hue.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had already shrunk to a corner, its pure white light appearing weak and uncertain under the thunder's might.
Ice Empress tensed up, her emerald eyes fixed on the thunder hammer in the sky that seemed capable of suppressing everything, her body trembling slightly.
This was an instinctive tremor stemming from her Life; after all, as a 400,000-year-old Soul Beast, she had experienced the power of lightning tribulation many times before.
When faced with the power of punishment from heaven and earth, one naturally cannot suppress the awe.
The God of Destruction glanced at Huo Yuhao one last time, his voice as calm as a deep well. "I hope you can restore the position of the Thunder God to the world, wield heavenly punishment, and rule over righteousness."
"... Don't die on the way to the Divine Examination."
After speaking, the figure in purple robes faded and disappeared silently, like twilight scattered by the wind.
The deep purple token in Kong Xuan's hand also turned into a wisp of smoke, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
Silence returned to the hall, as if the arrival of the God King and the thunder hammer descending from the sky were merely an illusion.
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and intense, sparkling with excitement.
Kong Ling's voice rang out softly from the side, filled with a smile and heartfelt congratulations, "Congratulations, Yuhao, on obtaining the Godhood Inheritance."
Although she only had a vague understanding of what had just happened, she knew the final outcome: Huo Yuhao had received the Thunder God's inheritance!
Huo Yuhao looked up at the sound of her voice, met Kong Ling's smiling eyes, and nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Sister Ling'er."
He then turned to Kong Xuan and bowed deeply. "Without Brother Xuan, I wouldn't have this opportunity."
Kong Xuan raised his hand in a gesture of support, his tone gentle yet solemn. "The path has been paved for you, but the real perilous journey has only just begun. Have you obtained information about the Divine Examination?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, and a sharp lightning bolt mark suddenly lit up between his brows before disappearing back into his skin.
"I have officially accepted Thunder God's Nine Trials."
" The First Trial is to go to Thunder Valley and undergo the tempering of heavenly lightning."
" Thunder Valley?" Kong Xuan frowned slightly, his memory turning like pages in a book. "Is it within the territory of the Heavenly Soul Empire? I remember... it seems to be the forbidden area behind the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan ten thousand years ago."
"Exactly."
Huo Yuhao nodded, and as he accepted the Divine Examination, the location of Thunder Valley unfolded clearly in his mind like a map.
Kong Xuan remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Three days later, we must set sail as planned to find the place where the God of Fire God inherited his legacy. You will go to Thunder Valley alone..."
His unspoken words revealed clear concerns.
Huo Yuhao laughed and said, " Brother Xuan, I'm not a child anymore."
"You can set sail with peace of mind. The Thunder God's Nine Trials are a solitary journey. The body is tempered by heavenly lightning, and outsiders can't help you."
He paused, then said slowly, "Besides, this is my own divine path. Some tribulations I must face personally; some thunderbolts I must endure alone."
Kong Xuan gazed at him for a long time, finally slowly relaxing her brow, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashing in her eyes.
"In that case, we'll do as you say."
Let's meet here again in three days to say a proper goodbye.
"Um."
Huo Yuhao nodded solemnly, said no more, and turned to step out of the hall.
As dusk approached outside, a damp chill filled the air. He tilted his head slightly to face the wind, a glint of lightning flashing in his eyes.
With the future clear, he still had some things to arrange and prepare before leaving.
After Huo Yuhao left, the hall fell silent, leaving only the brother and sister.
Kong Xuan's gaze fell on Kong Ling, who was standing quietly to the side, and he suddenly spoke, " Ling'er, will you blame your brother... for not leaving you the chance to Thunder God Inheritance?"
Kong Ling turned her head upon hearing the sound, her face showing no trace of gloom, but instead blossoming into a bright smile as always.
She walked towards Kong Xuan with light steps, her skirt brushing the ground and stirring up a gentle breeze.
"Brother, what are you saying?"
"I heard it clearly just now; that deity said that Yuhao is the chosen one."
"Even if you forced me to have such an opportunity, Thunder God's Hammer... probably wouldn't recognize me."
Kong Xuan raised his hand and gently rubbed Kong Ling's hair, the movement as practiced as when they were children.
"It's good that you think that way."
He withdrew his hand, looked out the window at the darkening sky, and said, "With your talent, the chances of obtaining the Fire God Inheritance are very high. Keep up the good work."