"Shura, I have my eyes on you."
On a towering divine throne, a god shrouded in black-red mist,indescribable and unobservable,opened His eyes, filled with the will of destruction, and cast His divine gaze toward the crimson throne on the opposite side.
Beside Him sat three other beings, each radiating a unique aura, indescribably divine. Clearly, they were gods of the same rank.
They sat encircling a massive spherical structure emitting starlight, each occupying their own throne of divine authority, facing one another in opposition.
"As you wish."
Tang San withdrew his gaze from the plane device shrouded in mist, its brilliance mysterious and unfathomable. His scarlet God of Slaughter eyes met the other's gaze without emotion.
Unexpectedly, he did not lash out. The three other gods glanced toward the God of Destruction.
"I want the Douluo Plane."
It was not the thunderous outrage or the push to advance his expansion proposal they had expected.
After watching the mortal who was walking alone on the path to godhood, the God of Destruction felt that some matters could be postponed.
"Don't rush to refuse. Although it is under your jurisdiction, that world's will has clearly made a deal with him. Are you sure you want to block a new god's rise?"
Although he found it disgusting, as the God Realm's enforcer, Shura could not let the order of the God Realm fall into chaos before a replacement was ready. So the God of Destruction held back,for now.
Each God King controlled a divine domain. The Douluo Plane was Tang San's ascension ground, and therefore his jurisdiction. The Craftsman God passing through had reported Tang San's unsightly deeds, making the God of Destruction realize that this overly conservative buffoon was the very trouble left behind by the previous Shura God.
Not to mention that he engaged in taboo practices like seizing bodies and blocking godhood ascensions. A dignified God King struck twice at a mortal and still failed to kill him, only to be threatened using his own mother. Even a simple cross-plane kill attempt had ended in embarrassment, and his own ascension plane had blacklisted him.
Through the God Realm Committee's plane device, the four God Kings reviewed the entire incident. Their feelings were indescribable.
How did this Shura inherit only the worst traits of conservatism and stubbornness while losing all the wisdom?
If you didn't block the mortal's ascension, wouldn't he naturally become your subordinate god? Yes, first-generation gods were difficult to control,this one especially so,but why blow up your own faith world?
Fine, maybe you didn't expect the Craftsman God to expose your name, but why leave loose ends afterward? Your mother's divine thought crystal got seized because you initiated the body-snatching plan yourself. And even then, why cripple his cultivation?
Is this your idea of balancing mercy and might? Showing unfathomable divine authority?
You cut his cultivation, but now he no longer follows the Douluo world's traditional soul master system!
Did you think your outsider mindset applies to all outsiders?
"The ascension ground cannot be given to another."
The God Realm enforcer began citing divine law.
"Tch. Just say you don't want to give up the Douluo Plane."
The God of Destruction sneered. The God Realm had protective clauses for new gods,one of them being that a god's ascension plane automatically defaults to the newly ascended god unless he voluntarily relinquishes it.
Knowing this stubborn Shura had finally decided to fix the consequences of his actions, the God of Destruction let a trace of mocking humor curve his lips.
"Destroying a plane's barrier without authorization is illegal, Shura Enforcer."
"I veto all proposals related to breaking the Douluo Plane barrier."
"Seconded."
"I second as well. This is indeed a consequence you should bear."
The three observing God Kings quickly voiced their stance. Breaking a barrier forcedly could weaken or even collapse a world. It was never a good thing.
"So, Shura, you'll have to wait for the barrier's energy tide."
Seeing the silent, cold expression of the Shura God King, the God of Destruction continued:
"When the time comes, you can fight him outside the barrier. We won't interfere. After all, it's your own karma. But if you forcefully break the rule, don't blame me for stopping you."
"Seconded," the God of Life said in support.
"Abstain."
"Abstain."
The Gods of Kindness and Evil chose neutrality. They had no intention of openly preparing to fight another God King without seeing how things played out.
A full cycle of a barrier's energy tide required around thirty natural days of the God Realm.
Because the God Realm had immense energy density and terrifying mass, its time-space flow was slower. Movement required enormous energy, so on a macro scale it behaved sluggishly. One day in the God Realm equaled one year in the lower realms.
Notably, a God Realm natural day could not be understood using a mortal's twenty-four-hour concept. Gods defined rules; mortals never defined gods.
"Fine."
Leaving behind a cold response, Tang San turned and departed. Thirty years was nothing. By then, that man might already be a god, but he himself was a God King. And if his family was harmed, he wouldn't mind striking in anger.
"Heh."
The God of Destruction let out an inexplicable chuckle and left the meeting without even waiting for the God of Life.
"Come, Craftsman."
He looked at the Bronze and Weapon God waiting outside the committee hall and smiled.
"Let's upgrade my equipment. Thirty days from now, I'll have a match with that Tang San."
Ever since the Craftsman God introduced him to Chen Fu, the God of Destruction had never planned to let him duel Tang San for real.
It was merely about maximizing benefit. That mortal's deeds made the God of Destruction realize that using one's brain was better after all.
Unlike most God Kings who brute-forced their way through everything, Chen Fu, who always considered balance, had given him inspiration.
Cleaning up Tang San's mess required a price,and with the Craftsman God standing by, it was time to profit.
To accomplish something within a group, one first needed to propose a reasonable yet unacceptable demand. Whether accepted or not, the minimum goal would still be met.
The disappointing Tang San refusing to give up the Douluo Plane made those two lazy God Kings intervene, resulting in the thirty-day preparation period.
And this thirty-day period wasn't only for Chen Fu. The real beneficiary was the God of Destruction,he wanted to get a full set of divine equipment for free.
And since the Craftsman God had poured his heart into a divine trial only to have it shattered, he would naturally produce the best set possible.
Indeed, a brain was a wonderful thing. Pity that many lacked it, but luckily he now had one.
He only hoped Tang San wouldn't be too shocked when he faced a fully equipped, god-armored opponent.
These gods had lived comfortably for too long. They had lost ambition,especially the two lazy God Kings. After lazing around so long, their brains were nearly gone.
Perhaps this was the long-lost feeling of youth…
"Thirty years?"
Following behind Di Tian, Chen Fu muttered quietly. The world will had just informed him: the predicted arrival of the energy tide was around twenty-nine to thirty years from now.
"What are you talking about?"
Di Tian, walking ahead as their guide, turned to glare at the human who irritated him more the longer he interacted with him.
Behind Chen Fu, the caravan, whom he had instructed to develop a sense of ownership, was now so confused they could barely walk straight.
Nine Treasures: On Surpassing Your Ancestors Without Having to Build Anything.
"Just a timeline. It doesn't matter. Take me to meet our new staff."
Chen Fu shook his head and urged Di Tian to move faster. He wanted to finish all non-technological matters quickly so he could focus on improving his new soul master system.
"Come. They have been waiting for a long time."
Thanks to [Rain Comes with the South Wind] for the 100 reward, [Han Shuang] for the 200 reward, [Call Me A-da] for the 100 reward, and [Foolish Jester] for the 100 reward.
Thanks to all the brothers for the monthly tickets and recommendation votes.
Yesterday I reviewed the plot and almost forgot some important details. Terrifying. Forgetting would have made the writing go wild and lose logic, and might have caused a collapse.
After rethinking, I realized it hadn't collapsed; I simply overlooked a few key points. So the plot can continue along my intended main line.
The first volume, though unnamed before, is temporarily called: Road to Godhood.
The next volume begins now: Campaign of Divine Refinement. Gods are forged from blood and fire, and this journey will not be traveled by one alone.
So, brothers, allow me a few chapters to set things up. Chen's traditional writing style is about to return. I hope everyone can accept it.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and 3 new chapters daily, please subscribe to my : patreon.com/Moorowkeel