Zhu Ziyang and his group of four set off from the Yue Nan Islands, passing through Black Mountain City in the Star Luo Empire, where they decided to rest for one night before continuing their journey the next day.
They stayed in a hotel in the city. Zhu Ziyang finally had some time to himself. Jiang Nannan, not yet recovered, uncharacteristically didn't cling to him, and Qian Lingyi, getting along well with Zhang Lexuan, also had no intention of disturbing him.
Thus, Zhu Ziyang finally entered the God Position inheritance ground and found Xiao Bai. He directly asked, "Xiao Bai, why are Nannan and the others' God Position assessments intertwined with mine? Could it be that the God of Death and the goddess of taiyin have a good relationship?"
"The God of Death and the goddess of taiyin have no relationship," Xiao Bai replied. "The content of a God Position assessment is entirely determined by the deity or the God Position assessor. Its main purpose is to enhance the inheritor's strength. It's normal for the goddess of taiyin God Position to sense your close relationship with her inheritor and thus issue relevant assessment content to enhance the assessor's strength and foundation."
"Is that so?" Zhu Ziyang asked, half-believing, "Then why don't you give me an assessment related to the goddess of taiyin?"
"Huh?" Xiao Bai's voice was full of disdainful surprise, saying, "The goddess of taiyin is just a mere Main God, not worthy of me... the God King, the God of Death, condescending!"
"Main God? God King?" Zhu Ziyang's face showed surprise as he said, "Is this the hierarchy of gods?"
"Your God Position affinity has reached seventy percent, so you are qualified to know these things," Xiao Bai said after a moment of silence upon hearing Zhu Ziyang's question. "Main God and God King are indeed two of the divine ranks in the Douluo God Realm. The divine ranks in the Douluo God Realm are actually very simple: from lowest to highest, they are God Official, Third-Rank God, Second-Rank God, First-Rank God, and God King. Among these five major ranks, the latter three have the largest numbers, but the first two are where the true core of the God Realm lies.
First-Rank Gods can also be called Main Gods. The goddess of taiyin you know is a First-Rank God. Also, the Sea God and the Angel God, these later appearing gods, are all First-Rank Gods. First-Rank Gods possess seven-colored spirit rings and wield at least one law or faith.
God Kings are the highest rulers of the Douluo God Realm, the rarest in number, but each possesses the mighty power to traverse the stars. The God of Death is one of the original God Kings of the Douluo God Realm, presiding over the Great Way of Death in this star system."
"I see," Zhu Ziyang said thoughtfully. Suddenly, he thought of something and said, "The Sea God and the Angel God are both First-Rank Gods. Then, what about the Rakshasa God? Is she also a First-Rank God?"
Zhu Ziyang thought of the last Supreme Pontiff, who was said to have inherited the God Position of an Evil God named Rakshasa God. She once shattered the Sea God's heart and killed Tang San during the Second War of the Twin Gods. If it weren't for the Nine Treasures Douluo and the Food God Douluo later performing a Spirit Fusion Skill to revive him, history might have been rewritten.
"Rakshasa!" Xiao Bai suddenly sighed and said, "She is a First-Rank God now, but she wasn't before."
"Wasn't before?" Zhu Ziyang became more confused and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Do you know how the God of Death fell?" Xiao Bai didn't answer directly but posed another question.
"The God of Death? Didn't you say the God of Death fell in a catastrophe in the God Realm?" Zhu Ziyang recalled what Xiao Bai had mentioned earlier and replied.
"That's right," Xiao Bai said. "In that catastrophe, not only did the two God Kings of Creation and Death fall, but the Rakshasa God's God Position was also damaged, turning the God King into a Main God. Even one of the two divine chains maintaining the God Realm broke."
"You mean, the Rakshasa God was once a God King, and only became a Main God because her God Position was damaged?" Zhu Ziyang was quite surprised, as he didn't know there was such a concept as a damaged God Position, so he found it remarkably novel.
"That's right!" Xiao Bai said, "This involves many secrets of the God Realm, so I won't say much more. I'll tell you after you complete all your assessments. Now, if there's nothing else, please leave the God Position inheritance ground!"
"Wait, I still have one question!" Zhu Ziyang heard Xiao Bai starting to dismiss him, and no longer cared about the secrets of the God Realm, immediately saying anxiously.
"Speak," Xiao Bai said indifferently.
"I want to ask, why are the assessment rewards for the goddess of taiyin spirit power, spirit ring age, and god-bestowed spirit rings, while the assessment rewards for the God of Death, who is a God King, are so meager?" Zhu Ziyang demanded, full of resentment.
"What did you say? Meager?" Xiao Bai immediately became agitated upon hearing Zhu Ziyang's question, her indignant voice entering Zhu Ziyang's ears, saying, "Do you understand the value of god-locking pillars? How dare you compare it to those damned spirit rings and spirit power? I really, really want to rush out and punch you!"
"Ah, this!" Zhu Ziyang didn't expect Xiao Bai to be so agitated, and immediately chuckled awkwardly, "Uh, I'm not looking down on the god-locking pillars. I just feel that the rewards should be more abundant, so they can match the majesty of the God of Death!"
"Get lost!" Xiao Bai said impolitely, "The goddess of taiyin can bestow rewards of spirit power and spirit rings because she possesses a massive amount of faith power. If I also had that much faith power, let alone spirit rings, I could even give you a Spirit! But, I don't have faith power!
Furthermore, as a Law God, the God of Death does not require faith!"
"Ah, this!" Zhu Ziyang once again showed a surprised and helpless expression, saying, "Well, alright, I have nothing more to say. Bye-bye!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Ziyang immediately left the God Position inheritance ground and returned to his hotel room to rest.
— —
Shrek Academy.
After Zhu Ziyang and the other three returned to the Academy, Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan naturally went to the Tian Yuan Pavilion, while Jiang Nannan and Qian Lingyi went their separate ways.
At the Tian Yuan Pavilion, Pavilion Master Xuan Zi, Vice Pavilion Master Old Lin, Pavilion Elder Old Zhuang, Xian Lin'er, Cai Meier, Qian Duoduo, and others were all present, listening to Zhang Lexuan report on the progress of "Empress's Advent" plan. Smiles appeared on their faces. Finally, when Zhang Lexuan announced that her strength had reached rank 90, the elders were even more excited and laughed out loud.
"Le Xuan, girl, so you've returned this time to hunt for your ninth spirit ring, have you?" Xuan Zi chuckled. "We old folks are free, so feel free to command us."
"Elder Xuan, I think Le Xuan needs more than just a spirit ring, she also needs a Soul Spirit, right?" Xian Lin'er winked at Zhu Ziyang and said.
"Right!" Zhang Lexuan nodded and said, "If it were just a spirit ring, I wouldn't need to trouble the elders at all. But Ziyang suggested I contract a Soul Spirit, which is why I haven't rushed to obtain a spirit ring."
"Hahaha, I see," Xuan Zi said, chuckling. "Then, Ziyang, have you found a Spirit Beast to be Le Xuan's Soul Spirit?"
"We plan to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well first," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Nannan also needs a spirit ring, and there's an Immortal Herb Spirit Beast suitable for Nannan in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I think there should also be an Immortal Herb Spirit Beast suitable for Sister Le Xuan. If not, then we'll need the elders to take action and capture a 100,000-Year Soul Beast from the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Alright!" Xuan Zi immediately said, "Whatever decision you make, we will definitely support it."
"Thank you for your trust, elders!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"Ziyang, how is your own strength? Why can't I see your spirit power rank now?" At this moment, Old Lin, who had been silent, suddenly asked with a strange expression.
"Me? Luckily, my spirit power is currently rank 85," Zhu Ziyang replied with a humble smile upon hearing Old Lin's question.
"What?" Unbeknownst to him, his words caused a huge psychological shock to the elders, who all stared at him in a daze.
Even after Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan left the Tian Yuan Pavilion, the elders still hadn't recovered from the huge impact of Zhu Ziyang reaching rank 85 at the age of eighteen. Xuan Zi murmured, "Old Mu, you truly did not misjudge him!"
Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan did not immediately inform the elders about their upcoming sea voyage. The fewer people who knew about this, the better, so they decided to only tell Xuan Zi before their departure.
Zhu Ziyang returned to his room. The large cocoon formed by Xing Cai was still there, glowing steadily with a peaceful aura. It would probably not awaken for another year and a half.
Without lingering in the room, Zhu Ziyang left the Academy directly and returned to his new home in Shrek City.
Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were both at home, but his younger brother, Zhu Ziguang, was nowhere to be seen. Upon asking, he learned that Zhu Ziguang was exactly six years old this year, had awakened his Spirit not long ago, and was now studying at the First Tian Yuan Academy in Anyang City.
He learned from his parents that his younger brother Zhu Ziyang's Spirit was also the old Zhu family's Scythe Spirit, which had also undergone a mutation. Although it couldn't compare to Zhu Ziyang's Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, it was also a top-tier Light Attribute Spirit, the Golden Sacred Scythe. Coupled with Zhu Ziguang's innate rank eight spirit power, even if his future achievements couldn't surpass Zhu Ziyang's, he would at least be able to become a Titled Douluo.
Zhu Changhe was now smiling even in his dreams; the old Zhu family was truly about to flourish!