After completing their business at the Elemental Academy, Lin Mu, Gu Yuena, and Tang Wutong declined Yu Xiaoting's invitation to remain as honored guests.
Lin Mu had finally found an opportunity to descend to the mortal realm after spending so many years in the God Realm. Naturally, he intended to use that time to take Gu Yuena and Tang Wutong on a proper journey rather than remain confined within the academy.
As for Huo Yuhao, there was little reason to worry about him.
With Tian Meng by his side and the Elemental Academy providing him with cultivation resources, teachers, and protection, Huo Yuhao had already been given a far better starting point than before.
However, Lin Mu had no intention of allowing the soul spirit technique to spread across the continent.
Before leaving, he summoned Huo Yuhao and clearly explained what he was forbidden to reveal. He then placed a restriction within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea.
The restriction would remain dormant as long as Huo Yuhao kept the soul spirit technique secret. If he deliberately attempted to expose or reproduce the method, the restriction would activate and destroy him.
The measure was severe, but Lin Mu considered it necessary.
The soul spirit technique appeared beneficial on the surface because it allowed a soul beast to preserve its consciousness while granting a soul master a soul ring. However, if the technique became widespread, countless powerful organizations would inevitably begin capturing soul beasts in an attempt to forcibly create soul spirits.
Rather than protecting soul beasts, the resulting competition might accelerate their decline.
Tian Meng would also do everything possible to prevent Huo Yuhao from triggering the restriction.
He had become Huo Yuhao's sentient soul ring and was already bound to him. If Huo Yuhao died because of the restriction, Tian Meng's own future would be destroyed as well.
Huo Yuhao's childhood had indeed been tragic, but that had little to do with Lin Mu.
Lin Mu would not grant him endless privileges merely because he felt sympathy for the boy. Allowing Tian Meng to sacrifice himself and become Huo Yuhao's first soul ring had already been a considerable concession.
As long as Huo Yuhao did not create trouble, Lin Mu would not interfere with Tian Meng's plan to use him as a path toward godhood.
There was also no need for Lin Mu to cultivate Huo Yuhao as another subordinate.
After ten thousand years of cultivation, Lin Mu's strength had long surpassed that of the former God of Destruction. Even if the Goddess of Kindness and the God of Evil joined forces against him, he was confident that he could defeat them.
Absolute strength made the expansion of his faction unnecessary.
Furthermore, Lin Mu already controlled the Seven Original Sin Gods. His nine soul spirits had also acquired divine bodies and transformed into gods.
Together, they provided him with more than ten combatants at the level of first-class gods.
That number did not even include Ye Lingling, Qian Renxue, and Tang San.
More importantly, Lin Mu had little interest in personally handling the daily affairs of the God Realm. He had entrusted most administrative responsibilities to Ye Lingling and Qian Renxue, both of whom were far more patient and capable when dealing with politics, disputes, and divine regulations.
With them maintaining order, Lin Mu only needed to intervene when a matter involved the stability of the entire God Realm.
For the following month, Lin Mu traveled through the mortal realm with Gu Yuena and Tang Wutong.
They visited cities that had expanded beyond recognition, forests that had survived the passage of ten thousand years, and ancient ruins that once belonged to long-forgotten kingdoms.
Tang Wutong was particularly enthusiastic throughout the journey. Although she had been born in the God Realm, she found the constantly changing mortal world far more interesting than the peaceful but unchanging divine realm.
Gu Yuena was quieter.
She spent much of the journey observing how humans and soul beasts had changed over the past ten thousand years. Some of what she saw pleased her, while other developments only deepened her concerns about the future of the soul beast race.
When their month-long journey finally ended, Lin Mu opened a spatial passage and returned to the God Realm with them.
"Grandmaster, the next time you visit the mortal realm, you have to bring me with you again."
Tang Wutong clung tightly to Lin Mu's arm. She blinked her beautiful blue eyes and looked at him with an expression that was both charming and deliberately pitiful.
Lin Mu looked down at her helplessly.
"You have only just returned, yet you are already planning your next trip?"
"The God Realm is too quiet," Tang Wutong complained. "Nothing ever changes here. The mortal realm is much more interesting."
"You said the same thing every time we entered a new city."
"That only proves I was right."
Tang Wutong tightened her hold on his arm, clearly unwilling to release him until she received an answer.
Lin Mu finally nodded.
"If an appropriate opportunity appears, I will take you."
Tang Wutong's expression immediately brightened.
"You promised."
"I said if an appropriate opportunity appears."
"That still counts as a promise."
Lin Mu shook his head but did not argue with her any further.
Descending to the mortal realm was simple for him, especially with the assistance of the Asura Armor. Nevertheless, he had no intention of doing so frequently.
There were two primary reasons.
First, no matter how interesting the mortal realm was, constantly traveling there would eventually make the experience lose its novelty.
Second, Lin Mu still needed to oversee the God Realm. Even though Ye Lingling and Qian Renxue managed most of its affairs, certain responsibilities could only be handled by him.
There were also matters involving Ye Lingling, Qian Renxue, and Ah Yin that he could not continue neglecting.
Lin Mu occasionally brought one of his wives with him when he descended to the mortal realm, but he rarely took several at once.
Ye Lingling and Qian Renxue were responsible for maintaining the God Realm in his absence. If both women suddenly left with him, the disappearance of three powerful gods would immediately attract attention from the other divine factions.
After returning, Lin Mu first escorted Tang Wutong to the Sea God Temple.
Compared with the Temple of Destruction, the Sea God Temple was considerably quieter. Blue divine light flowed gently through its halls, while the courtyard was surrounded by calm pools filled with dense water-element energy.
"Master, what brings you here?"
Tang San had been sitting in the courtyard with Xiao Wu when he sensed Lin Mu's arrival. He immediately stood and walked forward to greet him.
Tang San's long blue hair flowed down his back and extended below his waist.
In fact, many gods preferred to keep their hair long. Their divine bodies did not require ordinary grooming, and long hair had gradually become a common appearance among the gods of the God Realm.
Lin Mu was one of the few exceptions.
He had never been particularly fond of excessively long hair and saw no reason to adopt the preference merely because he had become a god.
"I mainly came to return someone."
Lin Mu stepped slightly to the side and revealed Tang Wutong, who had quietly moved behind him.
Tang Wutong peeked out from behind his shoulder, looking far less confident than she had moments earlier.
Tang San glanced at his daughter before turning back toward Lin Mu.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He had already guessed that Tang Wutong had secretly followed Lin Mu to the mortal realm. Otherwise, she would not have disappeared from the Sea God Temple for an entire month without leaving a clear explanation.
Before ascending, Lin Mu had already possessed power comparable to that of a god. He had even been capable of confronting experienced second-class gods while still a mortal.
A hundred years after inheriting the divine position of the God of Destruction, Lin Mu's strength had reached the level of a God King.
When he first entered the God Realm, he had effortlessly suppressed the God of Wrath.
After another thousand years of cultivation, even the Goddess of Kindness and the God of Evil could no longer confidently defeat him. In an individual confrontation, Lin Mu could gain the upper hand against either of them.
Unfortunately, they had fought him only once.
After personally experiencing the terrifying power of destruction he controlled, neither God King had shown much interest in challenging him again.
That left Tang San as the only person willing and barely capable of sparring with Lin Mu.
After ten thousand years of constant training, Tang San had become the second-strongest being in the God Realm. Although he still could not defeat Lin Mu, he could at least endure a serious exchange without immediately being overwhelmed.
Because of this, what had once been a God Realm governed by several competing God Kings had gradually become Lin Mu's one-man stage.
The other God Kings still possessed authority, but none of them could truly oppose him.
While Lin Mu and Tang San exchanged a few words, Xiao Wu quickly approached them.
She stopped beside Tang San and fixed her gaze on Tang Wutong, who was still attempting to hide behind Lin Mu.
"Little Seven, where have you been all this time?"
Xiao Wu's voice was not particularly loud, but Tang Wutong immediately stiffened.
"Well…"
Tang Wutong glanced at Lin Mu, then at her father, before lowering her head.
"I only went out for a little while."
"A little while?" Xiao Wu repeated. "You disappeared for an entire month without telling us where you were going."
"I knew Grandmaster would keep me safe."
"That is not the issue."
Faced with her mother's questioning, Tang Wutong stammered and could no longer find a convincing explanation.
Tang San's gaze moved between his master and his daughter.
Seeing Tang Wutong hiding behind Lin Mu like a child seeking protection, he immediately understood the entire situation.
"All right, Xiao Wu," Tang San said gently. "Little Seven has returned safely. There is no need to frighten her."
"Hmph!"
Xiao Wu turned her head away and crossed her arms.
Even after living in the God Realm for ten thousand years, her fiery temper had not changed very much.
She did not continue scolding Tang Wutong, but her eyes repeatedly drifted toward Lin Mu. A trace of concern gradually appeared in them.
What if Lin Mu truly took Little Seven away from them one day?
After entering the God Realm, Lin Mu had fulfilled his promise and resurrected Er Ming.
However, following his resurrection, Er Ming had chosen not to live near the Sea God Temple. Instead, he went to stay with Da Ming near the Temple of Destruction.
From Xiao Wu's perspective, Lin Mu had first drawn both of her sworn older brothers to his side. Now, even her daughter had begun following him around.
In reality, Lin Mu had never forced Er Ming to leave.
A resurrected 100,000-year-old Titan Giant Ape was not particularly useful to someone of Lin Mu's current strength. If he wished to cultivate another powerful soul beast, the Bear Lord, Xiong Jun, possessed greater offensive power and potential.
Da Ming's original Sky Azure Bull Python bloodline was not overwhelmingly superior to that of the Titan Giant Ape. He had simply received a far greater opportunity.
As one of Lin Mu's nine soul spirits, Da Ming had benefited enormously from Lin Mu's growth. His bloodline had evolved from the Sky Azure Bull Python into that of a true Sky Azure Divine Dragon.
His cultivation had also advanced rapidly, eventually reaching the peak of the second-class god level.
With Lin Mu's assistance, Er Ming had successfully transformed into a divine beast as well. However, his overall strength remained considerably below Da Ming's.
Xiao Wu did not view the matter so objectively.
In her eyes, Lin Mu had somehow enticed both Da Ming and Er Ming away from her. Otherwise, considering the bond they had shared for over 100,000 years, why would both of them choose to live near the Temple of Destruction instead of staying beside her?
The truth was much simpler.
Da Ming and Er Ming remained deeply grateful to Xiao Wu for giving them the opportunity to enter the God Realm. Their affection for her had never disappeared.
However, neither of them wanted to live at the Sea God Temple and spend every day watching Tang San and Xiao Wu display their affection.
Er Ming found the situation especially difficult after his resurrection.
He had once been willing to sacrifice his life because of his devotion to Xiao Wu. Upon returning, however, he discovered that she had already become Tang San's wife and had lived happily with him for thousands of years.
Er Ming understood that Tang San treated her well, but understanding the situation did not make it pleasant to witness.
Rather than remain at the Sea God Temple and make himself uncomfortable, he preferred guarding the Temple of Destruction alongside Da Ming.
At least there, he could cultivate peacefully and avoid constantly being reminded of what might have been.
Xiao Wu naturally did not know all of Er Ming's private thoughts.
She only knew that her brothers rarely stayed near her anymore, and now Tang Wutong had returned from the mortal realm clinging to Lin Mu's arm.
The possibility that her daughter might also be taken away filled her with inexplicable unease.
Tang San sensed Xiao Wu's concern and gently took her hand.
Little Seven had merely gone on a journey. There was no reason to assume she intended to leave her parents permanently.
After a brief reunion, Lin Mu did not remain at the Sea God Temple.
Tang Wutong was already safely home, and Xiao Wu clearly had many questions she still wanted her daughter to answer.
Lin Mu therefore left with Gu Yuena and returned to the Temple of Destruction.
Two enormous figures stood guard outside the palace.
On one side was Xiong Jun, the resurrected Bear Lord. Even in human form, his powerful body and oppressive aura made him resemble an immovable fortress.
Er Ming stood on the opposite side.
The two divine beasts acknowledged Lin Mu's arrival before returning to their duties.
Upon entering the palace grounds, the first thing Lin Mu saw was the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King sleeping soundly in the courtyard.
The massive former sea soul beast had reduced his body to a more manageable size, yet he still occupied a considerable portion of the courtyard. His breathing caused faint waves of divine energy to ripple through the surrounding air.
Lin Mu had long since grown accustomed to the sight.
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King had never been particularly diligent. After becoming a god and losing the constant pressure of surviving in the ocean, he had become even lazier.
The other soul spirits each had their own interests and responsibilities.
Some cultivated, some explored the God Realm, while others assisted with the management of the Temple of Destruction. Their presence gave the palace a sense of life that it had lacked under the former God of Destruction.
Without them, the enormous temple would have been oppressively silent.
After briefly surveying the courtyard, Lin Mu activated his spatial power.
The scenery around him shifted, and he appeared directly within Ye Lingling's room.
The opposing natures of his destruction power and Ye Lingling's life power had prevented them from having a child.
For many years, neither of them had discovered a safe way to resolve that conflict. Any attempt to combine the two forces risked causing a violent reaction before new life could properly form.
However, Lin Mu had finally found a solution during his recent studies.
This time, he intended to resolve the problem completely and fulfill Ye Lingling's long-held wish to have a child.
Qian Renxue had been waiting for him as well.
Since both women had handled the affairs of the God Realm throughout his absence, Lin Mu intended to set aside his duties and devote the following days to them.