Upon hearing that Asura's inheritor had poor character, the God of Destruction's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. His purple-black cloak billowed without wind, and terrifying destructive divine power surged in the Life Temple. He said coldly, "What is that guy Asura doing? After being an enforcement god for so many years, does he not even understand the requirements for his own divine position assessment? Doesn't he know what an inheritor with poor character means?"
As one of the few proactive doers in the God Realm, the God of Destruction placed great importance on divine inheritances, which concerned the God Realm's prosperity. Naturally, he hoped the inheritors would be as excellent as possible. Though he was dissatisfied with those gods who lazed around and wanted to slack off all day, people had their own aspirations, and gods had their own ways of living—he didn't force it.
But Asura, as one of the enforcers and a dignified God King, was being so frivolous—it was simply absurd.
The Goddess of Life also frowned tightly. Even with her mild temperament, she was greatly displeased. As a pillar of the God Realm, Asura's action wasn't just not taking the divine inheritance seriously; it was not taking the God Realm seriously.
"Asura has gone too far."
For the Goddess of Life, known as the most gentle and kind, to utter these four words showed how angry she was inside.
The Thunder God was also puzzled. Asura, as one of the oldest gods in the God Realm, had deep feelings for this place. Even if he wanted to resign and leave, he shouldn't allow someone like Tang San to inherit the divine position.
You see, Tang San simultaneously obtaining the Asura God and Sea God dual divine positions already violated the God Realm Committee's rules. Not to mention, when he inherited the Asura divine position, he didn't even undergo the first eight tests; he just participated in the ninth test of the inheritance as a formality.
It could be said that Asura's approach was itself a provocation to the God Realm's rules, which was one reason why the God of Destruction targeted Tang San so much later. After all, no matter where, those who trample on rules are despicable.
"I don't know why Asura chose this inheritor, but I believe if my disciple conflicts with him, Asura will likely intervene."
The God of Destruction also understood the Thunder God's concern. No matter why Asura did this, since he did, when his inheritor faced a crisis, even if he didn't act personally, he would obstruct secretly.
"Don't worry. In the coming time, your sister-in-law and I will take turns watching Asura. We absolutely won't let him harm a hair on your disciple's head." The God of Destruction patted his chest, solemnly guaranteeing.
"Then thank you, Brother." Even knowing that the God of Destruction would agree if he asked, at this moment, the Thunder God felt relieved. With two God Kings protecting him, as long as Chen Yi didn't court death himself, there wouldn't be major issues.
"It's about time," after a long while, the Thunder God chuckled lightly, looking at his brother and sister-in-law whose expressions immediately tensed: "Now that my wishes are fulfilled, it's time to go."
The God of Destruction and Goddess of Life's bodies shook; they knew this departure was eternal farewell.
"Brother, your personality is unyielding, and you can't tolerate sand in your eyes. That's fine for our own people, but those lax gods aren't like that. If you're going to make big moves, be extremely cautious!"
"Sister-in-law, you're gentle and unwilling to break fairness for personal reasons. That's both good and bad; remember, you and Brother are husband and wife, you should advance and retreat together. Don't wait until things happen to regret!"
"As a person nears death, their words are kind." After saying these last two sentences, the Thunder God turned into a thunderous great sun and disappeared on the spot.
"Little Thunder—"
...
"Boom rumble"
At this moment, the skies above the God Realm were engulfed by endless thunderclouds. Purple-gold electric serpents danced wildly beneath the clouds, and the world lost all color. Endless immortal source qi trembled under the thunder light, and the originally indestructible space was crushed into spiderweb-like cracks, as if it would detach from the world in the next instant.
A figure slowly emerged from the core of the thunderclouds, majestic as if connecting the dome to the netherworld. Thunder light flickered around Him, each strand bursting with world-opening might, illuminating the vast chaotic starry skies as bright as day, making even distant extraterrestrial stars dim in comparison.
Evil Temple.
The God of Evil, who was originally pondering where to find some fun, trembled all over upon sensing this terrifying aura.
"What terrifying thunder might. Who is He?" With that, his divine eyes flashed, the playful mockery replaced by solemnity. Before his words finished, his body turned into a dense black smoke and disappeared in an instant.
In the Kindness Temple in another direction, the God of Kindness was admiring an immortal flower with a pure white halo in her hand, her eyes showing obsession.
Suddenly, a world-shaking thunder might swept through the God Realm, causing the flower's halo to tremble violently. The next moment, under the God of Kindness's heartbroken gaze, the immortal light dimmed, and the petals gradually withered.
Without time to investigate, the God of Kindness sharply raised her gaze toward the source of the thunder might, her face filled with alarm: "Penetrating my divine power straight to the temple core—this level of thunder dao attainment, a God King?!"
With that, she turned into a gentle white light, forcefully breaking through above the temple and speeding toward the thunder source.
Asura Temple.
The Asura God with blood armor and white hair sat quietly in the center of the temple, a heavy sword emanating bloody killing intent placed before him. Upon closer inspection, this sword was condensed from pure slaughter sword intent.
"Boom—"
As if splitting heaven and earth, the thunder might collided with the Asura sword might inside the hall. Asura's eyes opened, scarlet red, with visions of corpse mountains, blood seas, and the extinction of all spirits flashing in his eyes.
"This aura? Thunder God! How is that possible? Didn't he fall in the outer domains hundreds of thousands of years ago? How could he appear here?"
With shock and doubt in his heart, Asura God joined two fingers, turning into an extremely sharp sword light that split the space before him, stepping directly into it, leaving his voice echoing in the empty temple.
In a vast space so broad that even gods couldn't see its end at a glance, invisible laws intertwined, mutually entangled yet clearly divided. Dazzling seven-colored divine light flowed in the divine domain's skies.
A slender figure tightly wrapped in a long robe appeared in the divine domain's skies. The usually calm and low-key him was now trembling all over, his gaze fixed on the distance, excitedly roaring.
"Big... Big Brother, is it you? You're back!"
Six rays of light sped over. Looking at the Space God, who was so excited he could barely speak, the youthful-looking Wind God grabbed the latter's sleeve, trembling as he asked:
"Little Space, is it Big Brother? He didn't die; he's back?"
The hot-tempered Fire God stepped forward, divine power surging to instantly engulf the skies, burning the entire sky red, with surrounding space crackling.
"Why say so much? Whether it is or not, we'll know if we go see." With that, without waiting for responses, he impatiently crossed the void. The other elemental gods exchanged glances and immediately followed.
In various parts of the God Realm, one after another reclusive gods rushed toward the source after sensing this might. In an instant, gold, green, silver, gray, blue... countless divine lights rose from all sides of the God Realm like a brilliant star river converging, dyeing the entire sky with flowing colors.
The Thunder God defies heaven and returns; the God Realm stirs with winds and clouds.
His majestic form stood in the skies. The Thunder God quietly sensed the approaching auras, his heart filled with mixed feelings. Among these auras were familiar and unfamiliar ones—it seemed that after the battle of old, too many old friends had left.
The next moment, the Thunder God's gaze focused, looking at the nearby space, and said, "Evil, long time no see. What, seeing an old friend and not coming out to greet?"
As soon as the words fell, ripples stirred in the space before him, and an extremely handsome young man appeared, dressed in black, long hair flowing, with a special gleam in his eerie eyes—it was one of the God Realm Committee's five God Kings, the God of Evil.
At this moment, his eyes held no playful attitude toward the world, only indelible memories.
"It's really you, Thunder God. You're back, and you've broken through to God King."
The Thunder God smiled self-mockingly: "Can't you see my current state? It's just a lingering obsession that hasn't dissipated."
The God of Evil wanted to say more, but the next instant, another figure appeared beside him.
"Thunder God?!"
It was the God of Kindness. At this moment, her face was surprised, her tone complex: "I didn't expect it was really you. You actually stepped into the God King realm."
Though she knew that among the known thunder dao gods in the God Realm, besides the God of Destruction, only the Thunder God had a chance to break through to God King, she didn't dare believe it.
The reason was simple: the Thunder God's injuries back then were too severe. Even the Goddess of Life using her divine origin could only barely control them—it could be said his foundation was utterly ruined, with no path forward.
But now, his reappearance as a God King, even if only a remnant thought, still made the God of Kindness, who had spoken so definitively back then, feel her face heat up.
A bone-chilling cold swept over, accompanied by a bloody scent. In an instant, it was as if ghostly howls resounded.
Blood-colored war armor covered his body, killing intent almost substantiating. His pale long hair was neatly combed, his face resolute—it was Asura God.
"Thunder God, it's really you!"
Seeing his old friend, Asura God let out a long sigh. Even with his tough mindset, seeing his former comrade reduced to a mere remnant thought left him dazed.
"Long time no see, Asura!"
The Thunder God's expression was complex. Back then, as the leader of the elemental gods, his status in the God Realm rivaled God Kings, and he had served as an enforcer for a time. The two had been friends then, but now meeting again, each had their own thoughts.
"Desiring to buy osmanthus and share wine, but it's not like the youthful travels."
"You..." Asura sighed lightly. Back then, he had most opposed the Thunder God leaving the God Realm. In his view, the Thunder God was already at the end of his rope, his strength sustained only by the divine position. Rather than venturing out for illusory opportunities, it was better to leave the Thunder God position in the God Realm as a foundation. But in the end, it fizzled out due to opposition from the God of Destruction and Goddess of Life.
Now seeing the Thunder God achieve kinghood, he was happy for him but didn't regret his decision, as it had been the most beneficial for the God Realm at the time.
"Tear—"
A space-tearing sound rang out, and the seven elemental gods quickly emerged from the dark rift, eyes teary as they rushed toward the Thunder God.
"Big Brother!"
"Thunder Boss!"
Seeing the excited seven elemental gods, the Thunder God's face lit up with a brilliant smile, opening his arms to welcome them.
"Old Earth, Little Fire, Little Water, Wind Girl, Light Sis, Little Black, and Little Space—I'm back!"
With one "I'm back," the seven couldn't hold back and wailed loudly. The most emotional Water God threw herself onto the Thunder God, sobbing uncontrollably: "Big Brother, how did you end up like this? Sister misses you so much, really misses you!"
Thinking of how their once heroic, mountain-like reliable big brother had become like this, the Water God cried heartbrokenly, and the entire God Realm grieved with her, pouring down heavy rain.
The Thunder God gently patted his little sister's back, soothing her sorrow, and said softly, "Hehe, Big Brother misses you all too, but it was beyond my control. Now, as soon as I had time, I came back to see you. Don't cry. Has Little Fire bullied you these years? If he has, Big Brother will sort him out."
Hearing the Thunder God comforting her even on the verge of dissipation, the Water God cried even harder but lifted her head, sobbing: "No, no, that silly big oaf Fire God wouldn't dare bully me. I have Big Brother backing me up."
"Good, good." The Thunder God chuckled and patted the Water God's head, then turned to the other six, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes.
"These years, have you been well?"
The six nodded. The God of Darkness spoke: "We've been fine these years, living without disputes, not conflicting with other gods—it's been quite flavorful."
But the Thunder God didn't think so. Back when he was around, the seven elemental gods were powerful; with the elemental grand array, they could challenge God Kings. Plus himself, one of the strongest below God King, they were unmatched for a time. But after he was injured and wandered the starry skies, the seven elemental gods gradually faded from the gods' view.
The reason was faction struggles. When he was there, the elemental gods had a backbone and feared no outsiders. After his departure, especially after news of his fall spread, the elemental gods no longer had the capital to remain neutral.
The God of Destruction and Goddess of Life had close ties with him, but the God of Destruction had the Seven Original Sin Gods as his direct line, so the elemental gods wouldn't be highly valued there. The Goddess of Life was one of the few gods who didn't form cliques and avoided outsiders' allegiance.
The Gods of Evil and Kindness, as the oldest God Kings, had deep-rooted prestige in the God Realm and didn't care for other gods' allegiance.
As for Asura God, back then the seven elemental gods had clashed fiercely with him over the divine position, nearly activating the elemental grand array to fight. With their pride, they couldn't stoop to that.
"These years, it's been hard on you."