"Asura, Judgment!"
The Shura God let out a low cry and pointed the Asura Demon Sword forward. Six blood-red rays bloomed like a blossoming flower, shooting straight toward Wang Nan.
This strike was unavoidable and inescapable.
As the enforcer of the God Realm, the Asura God possessed the authority to judge gods. No deity could evade this strike, and weaker gods would be annihilated instantly.
When the six rays fully entered Wang Nan's body, blood-red lightning-like patterns spread across his surface. Seeing this, the Asura God's mind finally steadied.
Even if Wang Nan survived, he would surely be gravely injured.
As the thought settled, a trace of regret surfaced within the Asura God.
He had to admit that Wang Nan's strength exceeded that of an ordinary first-rank god. Even if he unleashed the Sea God's power to its absolute limit, he still could not suppress Wang Nan.
If only he had noticed such a figure earlier on the Douluo Continent, he would have kept him under constant observation. After Wang Nan ascended, he would have been an invaluable ally.
But when he had surveyed the Douluo Continent in the past, only Huo Yuhao and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had caught his attention. By the time Wang Nan ascended and before the war began, the chance to win him over had already slipped away.
Then again, who could have imagined that someone he had never even noticed would possess such terrifying combat power?
Now that they stood as enemies, there could be no mercy.
The third principle of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, General Outline states: If an opponent is deemed an enemy deserving death, do not show mercy, or greater trouble will follow.
The Asura God lowered his brows. Killing intent filled his eyes, merging with the murderous aura radiating from the Asura God Armor.
"Asura, Annihilation!"
Countless thoughts passed through his mind, yet only an instant elapsed in the outside world. Seeing Asura Judgment take effect, his killing intent surged. He waved his right hand and thrust the Asura Demon Sword forward.
But the sword never reached Wang Nan.
Just as it flew through the air, a golden long rod descended from the sky.
A thunderous roar shook the heavens. The Coiling Dragon Staff collided with the Asura Demon Sword, and terrifying force erupted outward.
Shattered stones on the ground turned to dust, and even the tower sealing the Golden Dragon King swayed violently.
"How is this possible?"
The Asura God narrowed his eyes and looked skyward.
Rod and sword met. Asura Annihilation was completely nullified by the Coiling Dragon Staff. The Asura Demon Sword lost its power and fell from the sky, yet the staff's momentum remained undiminished as it descended with world-destroying force.
The Asura God retreated with precise steps, his figure turning illusory as he barely avoided the strike.
Though he evaded the main blow, the residual aura still made his breathing falter.
The Asura Demon Sword struck the ground. The Asura God kept his gaze fixed on the sky.
There, Wang Nan's body was still wrapped in blood-red electric light. Though dimmer than before, the power of Asura Judgment continued to act upon him.
Yet Wang Nan's expression remained unchanged, as if the judgment had never touched him.
"When you wield the Sword of Asura," Wang Nan finally spoke, "by what do you judge, and on what basis do you decide?"
"What?"
His voice echoed across the heavens, carried by the colossal golden figure.
When Asura Judgment struck, Wang Nan had indeed felt its terrifying power. Immovable as a Mountain, Repulsion, and Mysterious Dragon Shifting Stars, defensive divine skills derived from Spirit Bone abilities and Spirit Abilities, activated simultaneously, allowing him to withstand the attack.
However, the judgment power that specifically restrained gods had not affected him at all.
This battle had never been fair.
Every one of the Sea God's methods, the Asura God's power, and even their hidden trump cards had already been within Wang Nan's expectations. In contrast, the Asura God knew almost nothing about Wang Nan, not even the nature of his godhood.
Judgment was indeed powerful, but it was bound to order. Only those who violated order could be harmed by judgment.
At this moment, Wang Nan was order itself.
The Asura God recalled the Sword of Asura to his hand. Yet the invincible blade brought him no peace. Lowering his gaze, he realized the sword's tip was now pointing at himself, as though he were the one being judged.
He could no longer sense the God Realm's response. The power within his body was slowly slipping away.
"Tang San, the God Realm is not yours alone to command!"
The God of Destruction appeared before him, rebuking him as a fellow God King.
"Third Brother."
Xiao Wu's voice reached his ears, yet the one who responded was no longer the Asura God. Instead, a blue-robed figure spoke softly.
"A new star is about to rise on the Douluo Continent."
"The Douluo Continent seems like a lot of fun."
A low murmur echoed, one that should not have escaped his senses. Yet he did not react, allowing his daughter to descend to the Lower Realm.
The Asura God saw his past self.
He saw his gaze fall upon the Douluo Continent, saw the unnatural flicker in his eyes when he noticed the Three-Eyed Golden Lion bearing the power of Luck.
He saw his final battle before ascending to the God Realm, saw his opponent fall into another man's arms.
Who was that man?
He saw countless Mortals across many Worlds praying devoutly to the gods, yet receiving no answer.
The beliefs of all beings formed the foundation of the God Realm. The abundant elemental energy and radiant divine light all originated from this source.
Yet few gods truly looked upon Mortals. Their only responses were manipulation and cruel amusement.
The killing intent within the Forbidden Land of the Gods slowly dissipated.
Wang Nan stood high in the sky, the Evil Breaking Dragon coiled around him, radiating brilliant golden light. His Divine Sense and divine force enveloped the entire Forbidden Land. Even the God of Destruction, still battling the Silver Dragon King nearby, momentarily lost focus.
The Dragon Soul that had grown alongside Wang Nan had become his tenth spirit ring. It fused with his power, his Domain, and the Laws he commanded, forging his tenth Spirit Ability.
Upon his ascension to godhood, this Spirit Ability reached its ultimate sublimation, becoming a true divine skill.
Tenth Spirit Ability, Divine Skill: Drifting Life in the Boundless Heaven.
This was Wang Nan's Domain.
It possessed little direct offensive power. Instead, it revealed the drifting lives of all existence before the eyes of those within it.
Silence filled the Forbidden Land of the Gods.
Yet Wang Nan did not press the attack. He slowly closed his eyes, thoughts surging within him.
His arduous battle with the Asura God had allowed him to touch upon a higher Realm.