Chapter 88: The Water God's Shock! The God of Destruction Visits
Above the ever-shifting, radiant sea of clouds in the Divine Realm, the Water God was in the midst of combing through the laws of the water element within her own temple. Suddenly, a streak of deep azure divine consciousness tore through the air and coalesced before her into lines of flowing, luminous text.
"Water God, there is a sect in the lower realm calling itself the 'Church of the Water God' that is absorbing faith power to create a divine seat. Are you aware of this?"
Upon recognizing the identity of the sender, the Water God couldn't help but be mildly startled. "The Sea God himself? As one of the three great Enforcers of the Divine Realm, he's burdened with countless matters of state. How would he have noticed a newly risen sect in the lower realm? Could it be that that young girl Furina has done something earth-shattering again?"
She furrowed her delicate brow and drew a circle in the air before her with a slender finger. A mirror of water shimmered into existence. As its surface rippled and stilled, it revealed the sight of the Church of the Water God's headquarters on the Douluo Continent. It was here that she had first discovered that extraordinary young woman—Furina.
Yet when the image within the water mirror snapped into full clarity, the Water God's beautiful eyes flew wide.
The Church of the Water God—which had once only preached within the vicinity of Fontaine City—now had its branches scattered across the entirety of the Star Luo Empire, or believers could be found in every corner of it. The reach was staggering. Countless devout followers knelt in fervent prayer before the statues in every branch, their concentrated faith power so dense it seemed on the verge of condensing into tangible substance.
"Th-this... in less than a year's time..." The Water God murmured in utter disbelief, "It's already spread across more than half the entire nation?"
She remembered very clearly the first divine trial she had set for Furina: spread the faith of the Church of the Water God across an entire nation within five years. Yet now, it seemed this goal could be effortlessly accomplished by the second year. Such an astonishing speed of development utterly exceeded all her expectations.
"Had I known, I would have set the time limit to three years..." The Water God shook her head with a rueful smile. "It seems I'll need to prepare even more generous rewards. After all, this means completing the divine trial ahead of schedule."
Though somewhat vexed that she had underestimated Furina's capabilities, deep in the Water God's heart, a warm swell of pride and gratification rose up. This junior she had stumbled upon by chance had displayed potential far beyond anything she had imagined. Given time, she might very well surpass even her husband, the God of Fire. And when that day came, she could make her help teach that husband of hers a proper lesson—served him right for always opposing her! Hmph!
Collecting herself, the Water God immediately sent a reply to Tang San. "Lord Sea God, I am already well aware of this matter. This young inheritor of mine began undertaking my Water God's Divine Trial over a year ago. I believe it will not be long before she formally inherits my divine seat."
Her tone carried a measure of pride and protectiveness. "Even though you are the Sea God and a God King of the Divine Realm, I cannot cede this inheritor to you. After all, finding such an outstanding junior is no easy feat. Moreover, I am rather eager to relinquish my divine seat and have a proper rest."
"I do hope the God of Fire can find a fitting inheritor of his own soon as well. That way, the two of us could finally go out and see the world together."
Within the Sea God's Temple, Tang San read the Water God's reply, his fingertips tapping gently against the armrest of his divine throne.
"So that's how it is. She was the inheritor the Water God chose long ago..." He murmured thoughtfully. "In that case, I may yet try to draw her into my faction."
He swiftly sent a reply. "You overthink matters, Water God. I was merely inquiring out of curiosity. Since she is already your chosen inheritor, I would naturally never attempt to steal her away. Besides, I have already found a suitable candidate for my own inheritance. It's simply that they still require some time and testing."
After sending this message through his divine sense, a deeply meaningful smile curved at the corner of Tang San's lips.
This talk of a "suitable candidate for inheritance" was nothing more than a smokescreen. He had never truly considered relinquishing his divine seat—after all, that would mean giving up all the power he currently held. He had no desire to do so. And if he did, it would be exactly what the God of Destruction most wished to see. That adversary had always opposed him at every turn and posed a genuine threat to his grasp on the authority of the Divine Realm. This pretense was merely a convenient cover to facilitate his future plans.
His gaze drifted into the distance, as if piercing through layer upon layer of cloud and mist to see the temple of the God of Emotions, Rong Nianbing.
"Rong Nianbing..." Tang San murmured the name softly. "As a First-Class Deity—but one of the only ones, aside from the previous Sea God, to possess multiple pseudo-super-divine artifacts and a true super-divine artifact—his strongest attack is comparable to that of a God King... I've maintained a decent relationship with him. If I could fully bring him into my camp, I'd have another layer of assurance against the God of Destruction..."
An intricate, meticulously crafted plan was slowly taking shape in his mind.
At that very moment, at the far end of the Divine Realm, the God of Destruction stood atop the highest spire of his Destruction Citadel. His scarlet cape billowed and snapped in the unique, ever-present breeze of the Divine Realm.
"Tang San has been paying far too much attention to the lower realm of late..." A note of deep suspicion laced the God of Destruction's low, rumbling voice. "This is not like him."
Curiosity piqued, he released a wisp of his own divine consciousness, letting it silently probe toward the Douluo Continent below. As a member of the Divine Realm Committee, he had the authority to monitor significant developments in the lower realm.
Yet the results of his probe left him utterly astonished. Not only did he discover the existence of a Child of Destiny, but even more unexpectedly, he stumbled upon that organization calling itself the "Church of the Water God." The deity this sect worshipped was not the Water God of the Divine Realm's Seven Elemental Gods, but an entirely unfamiliar divine figure. What was even more shocking—this sect was actively attempting to create its own divine seat through the collection of faith power!
"Interesting..." A glint of keen, intrigued amusement flickered through the God of Destruction's scarlet eyes. "A mortal actually attempting to forge a divine seat through faith power—something that hasn't been seen in ten thousand years."
He withdrew his divine consciousness, and his form transformed into a streak of dark-crimson light, streaking toward the Water God's Temple. Since this sect bore the name "Water God," the Water God herself must surely have noticed the situation long ago. He was deeply curious—how would this goddess who commanded the element of water regard this mortal attempting to create her own godhood?
The God of Destruction issued instructions to his subordinates—the Seven Deadly Sins and the God of Destruction's attendants. "I am going to the Water God's side for a time. Do not cause me any additional trouble. Too many have already come to me recently with complaints about your conduct."
"Ah... I know. None of it is truly intentional on your part. It is simply the nature of your existence—your very beings compel you toward such behavior. I can only ask you to endure it."
The Seven Deadly Sins, led by Greed, replied with utmost deference. "We are not wronged in the slightest. Rest assured, my lord. We shall remain within the Destruction Citadel and absolutely will not venture out to bring you any trouble."
"Indeed. Please set your heart at ease, my lord."
"Mm."
Meanwhile, within the Water God's Temple, the Water God had just sent off the Sea God's message when she sensed the God of Destruction rapidly approaching. She let out a soft sigh, knowing that her days of peace and quiet were likely coming to an end.
"It seems that girl Furina... has truly set the Divine Realm abuzz this time..." She murmured to herself, her voice carrying both worry and a faint, almost imperceptible note of pride.
The winds of change were stirring in the Divine Realm—and in the lower realm, Furina remained blissfully unaware of any of it. She was, at this very moment, in her dormitory at Shrek Academy, chatting with Xiao Xiao about tomorrow's class schedule.
The gears of fate were turning at a speed no one could have ever anticipated.