The night was deep and silent.
On Sea God Island, in his dorm room, Zhu Ziyang sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes half-closed in meditation. The room was utterly still, his breathing and heartbeat the only audible sounds.
Suddenly, a mysterious sensation rippled through him. His body trembled slightly before returning to normal, as if nothing had happened.
But his soul had already been drawn into a mysterious and unique space.
"Where is this…?" he murmured, opening his eyes with confusion, caution, and a hint of fear. He recalled hearing a ding sound during his cultivation. When he opened his eyes, his soul was already here.
His initial unease faded as realization dawned. He calmed down and began examining his surroundings. All he saw was an endless grey-white fog, blocking his senses and spiritual perception, leaving only a meter around him visible.
The sensation was both familiar and foreign. His heart quickened with excitement and anticipation. Could it be…
As he wondered, a cold voice echoed in his mind: "Walk forward."
A smile spread across Zhu Ziyang's face. He recognized that voice – it was the same mysterious god who had spoken to him once before.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the fog. Instantly, his soul felt unbearably heavy, each step agonizing. Yet in the next instant, he felt as light as air, floating effortlessly. This alternation between heaviness and weightlessness kept his soul in a hazy trance.
He simply continued walking as commanded. Finally, his senses cleared, his soul refreshed as if reborn from a divine baptism.
He opened his eyes to find the fog gone. Before him stood a grand and ancient temple, stretching endlessly upwards and downwards, existing in a realm beyond reality.
Under his feet lay a staircase of a hundred steps, though only the first step was clearly visible. The rest faded into mist. That first step was engraved with patterns of strange melodies, symbols of the Yellow Springs and the Other Shore.
On either side of the steps stood eighteen colossal stone pillars, nine on each side. Every ten steps there were two pillars, exuding an aura of the world's deepest mysteries, though he could not discern their true meanings.
Zhu Ziyang's heart surged with awe, delight, and pride. He knew what this was.
The mysterious god's voice confirmed it in his ear:
"Welcome to—"
"Impudent Evil God, how dare you act so brazenly!" A thunderous voice suddenly interrupted from above, righteous and majestic, rebuking with wrath.
"Tang San, you're the impudent one!" Another voice roared back, filled with anger and sorrow.
The force of their words shook Zhu Ziyang's soul, leaving him trembling in fear and confusion.
At that moment, on Douluo Continent.
A pillar of grey-white holy light shot up from Sea God Island, piercing the midnight sky. None saw it, not even Mu En. Only in the depths of Star Dou Forest did a dragon's unwilling roar echo.
The beam pierced the clouds, reaching beyond the world into a realm untouchable by mortals.
In the God Realm.
Within the God Realm Committee, three male gods sat around a round table in triangular formation, managing divine affairs.
Suddenly, the blue-haired and red-haired gods paused, their expressions shifting instantly. The blue-haired god's face twisted with anger and disbelief, like a cat whose tail was stepped on or a man whose cake was stolen. The red-haired god's eyes widened with shock, suspicion, and excitement.
"This meeting is over," the blue-haired god snapped, standing abruptly before vanishing in an instant.
The red-haired god followed without hesitation.
Left alone, the black-haired god blinked in confusion, sensing an approaching storm. He sighed helplessly. "Ah… troubled times indeed."
The red-haired god appeared outside a palace brimming with life energy. As he was about to enter, a green-haired goddess burst out, tears on her cheeks, eyes filled with joy, sorrow, and longing.
"Xiao Zi, did you feel it? Did you feel it? It's him! It's him!" she cried out with trembling excitement.
"Yes… I felt it," the red-haired god replied, embracing her gently. His voice was tinged with sadness. "It must be him. It seems… he has truly fallen."
"Wu wu…" The goddess sobbed, her tears flowing freely. "Xiao Zi, will we ever see him again?"
The red-haired god fell silent for a moment before replying softly, "It will be difficult. What we sensed was his divine seat. He must have chosen an inheritor… otherwise, he would never initiate his inheritance."
"Then we must protect his inheritor!" she said with sudden resolve. "No one must interfere with them!"
"You're right," the red-haired god agreed. But his heart darkened as he thought of the blue-haired god who had left moments earlier. "Let's hurry."
Both disappeared in a flash of divine light.
Meanwhile, in another part of the God Realm.
The blue-haired god, Sea God Tang San, returned to his temple, fury written across his face.
"I want to see which fool dares act without my permission on my territory!"
He tore open a rift in space, peering directly into the mysterious realm housing the divine temple.
Without hesitation, he reached out, shouting, "Impudent Evil God, how dare you act so brazenly!"
His massive blue-glowing hand descended upon the temple. But before it could land, a beam of green divine light shot forth from the void, striking his hand and forcing him to withdraw.
"Tang San, you're the impudent one!" a furious female voice shouted.
Tang San's expression darkened further as he sealed the rift. Frustration and rage burned within him.
Damn it. I couldn't see which god it was, nor who their inheritor is. Otherwise, even if I couldn't act directly, I could have sent Da Ming and Er Ming to deal with them.
His thoughts churned with regret and hatred. Why did the Goddess of Life interfere? Was this Evil God related to the God of Destruction? Damn… I still know too little about the ancient gods. If only I had more knowledge, I might have identified them.
Consumed by fury and unable to act, he entered his chambers, venting his anger upon his dazed and terrified wife. When he finished, he ignored her blank gaze, immediately contacting his hidden pawns on the continent.
"Keep an eye out for any newly risen strong figures. Eliminate them if possible," he ordered coldly.
"Damn it! Why now, when my plans are at their most critical point? Is this that god's counterattack? Humph… Child of Destiny, Huo Yuhao, hurry and grow strong. For you… I have sacrificed far too much."
Elsewhere,
The Goddess of Life retracted her hand, her face flushed with anger and lingering fear. The red-haired god beside her shared her unease.
"That Tang San… how dare he!" she seethed.
"Heh, it was expected," the God of Destruction said coldly. "Without the Rakshasa God, is the Shura God's position so easy to maintain?"
"For now, all we can do is hope his chosen inheritor proves worthy…" the Goddess of Life whispered with a mix of hope and helplessness.