From the rampant surge of natural energy to the Golden Dragon King breaking free from its seal, the process seemed lengthy, but in reality, it happened in an instant.
A massive golden-scaled dragon over a hundred meters long appeared above Sea God Lake, its majestic and terrifying pressure bearing down as if it could crush space itself. At this moment, Sea God Lake was crowded with over half of Shrek Academy's teachers and students. This pressure, surpassing the world's limits, could annihilate more than ninety percent of those present in an instant.
However, the moment the Golden Dragon King escaped, the world lost its color, time and space inverted, and all things fell into an eerie and profound stasis.
A blue-gold light emerged from Tang Wulin, whose life signs were faint, transforming into a majestic figure—a handsome young man wielding a trident.
Poseidon, Tang San!
With the God King's appearance, time and space froze, preventing mortals from witnessing these events.
The Inner Academy students on Sea God Lake, the Outer Academy students by its shores, and the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion aboard the Tower Ship—all stood motionless. Their breathing, their heartbeats, all physiological activities ceased with the stasis of time. In this frozen moment, they would remain unharmed, yet oblivious to what transpired.
Yet, not everyone was affected by the time freeze. Yun Ming on the Tower Ship, Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue above Sea God Lake, and Tang Hao within the Golden Tree were exceptions.
Yun Ming, relying on his formidable strength, broke through the constraints. Though his body remained immobile, his consciousness was clear. His gaze fixed intently on the young figure above Sea God Lake, burning with fervor—this was divinity, the realm of gods!
Gu Yue, naturally unaffected by the time stasis, pretended otherwise, standing still with calm eyes while waves of hatred churned within her.
As for Jing Shaoyu, he didn't understand why he remained unaffected. He stared directly at the young man who had emerged from Tang Wulin—undoubtedly, this was Poseidon Tang San. It was his first time seeing the god, and he had to admit, Tang San appeared righteous and awe-inspiring.
"San, I..." Tang Hao appeared, his face filled with guilt as he looked at Tang San. As a true divine-level powerhouse, even though Tang Hao hadn't fully recovered from his injuries, he remained unaffected by the time stasis.
Tang San waved dismissively at Tang Hao, not even sparing him a glance, for a far more pressing threat loomed before him.
"Wretched beast, retreat at once!" Tang San pointed his trident at the Golden Dragon King, his voice sharp and commanding.
His command fell on deaf ears. After being imprisoned for so long, the Golden Dragon King would never willingly return. Moreover, the creature now lacked a soul or consciousness—it couldn't comprehend Tang San's words.
The two God King-level powerings clashed instantly. Tang Hao, unable to assist, could only retreat to the side with Tang Wulin in his arms to avoid collateral damage.
Normally, the Golden Dragon King, having lost its Divine Soul and left with only instinct, would be no match for the God King Tang San. However, the Tang San present here was not his true self either—he was merely a strand of Divine Sense from the God King Tang San, far from the original and lacking the full strength of the main body. Thus, in his clash with the Golden Dragon King, he quickly fell into a disadvantage.
The Golden Dragon King, driven solely by instinct, had lost its physical body, but its bloodline and essence remained intact. After breaking free from the seal, it immediately condensed an energy-based form. Without a soul, it became even more frenzied—destruction, annihilation, slaughter, and devouring fueled its actions, elevating its combat prowess beyond its former self.
The Divine Sense Tang San was relentlessly pushed back by the frenzied Golden Dragon King. Though he wouldn't be devoured, subduing the beast was clearly an impossible task.
"Damn it!" Tang San's expression darkened. "If my true self were here, I would never allow this vile creature to run rampant!"
After repelling the Golden Dragon King's assault with a strike of his halberd, the Divine Sense Tang San finally made a decision. He called out solemnly, "Two Seniors, I know you are here. Please reveal yourselves and lend me your aid in subduing this beast!"
Tang San's words elicited varied reactions from the three spectators.
Yun Ming was exhilarated. This divine-level battle had greatly deepened his comprehension of Divine Conception, resolving the questions that had previously troubled him. He was certain that after witnessing this divine battle, he would advance further—perhaps even by leaps and bounds. As for whether he could break through to the divine level in one go, he dared not hope for that yet.
This clash between divine-level powerhouses had not only granted Yun Ming new enlightenment about the divine realm but also revealed the flaws and shortcomings in his own path. Thus, he needed to correct them before moving forward. Hearing Tang San's words, he couldn't help but feel excited. If he could observe a few more divine-level experts, he was confident he could perfect the construction and creation of his own Divine Throne!
Gu Yue felt relief. The appearance of the Divine Sense Tang San had already left her shaken, and now his words filled her with lingering fear. She hadn't expected that even after the God Realm's disappearance, its gods would still linger like vengeful spirits. From Tang San's tone, there were at least two God King-level powerhouses still present on the Douluo Continent!
Jing Shaoyu, however, was curious. He knew exactly who Tang San was referring to—other than the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life, there could be no one else. The God of Destruction might reside within him, or more precisely, within the Doomsday Godslaying Spear. But where would the Goddess of Life be?
Could she also be inside him? Jing Shaoyu's eyes sparkled with astonishment. It wasn't impossible—after all, he had once glimpsed the Goddess of Life when he broke through to the Soul King rank.
This question didn't trouble him for long, as the answer revealed itself the very next second.
A deep violet divine light erupted from Jing Shaoyu's body, transforming into a red-haired youth clad in a violet cloak. The moment this youth appeared, the surrounding atmosphere turned cold and eerie, as if an aura of apocalypse slowly emerged.
The God of Destruction!
Both Yun Ming and Gu Yue were stunned and bewildered by this sight.
However, they had no time to be shocked, for what happened next exceeded all their expectations. Jing Ziyuan, who had been sitting motionless on the Tower Ship, suddenly radiated a layer of emerald-green light. Then, she soared into the air, transforming into a beam of light that landed beside the God of Destruction.
As the light dissipated, she had transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman clad in a green gown—her demeanor peerless and transcendent. Gone was the plain-looking middle-aged woman in her fifties; in her place stood a breathtaking young woman in her early twenties. A gentle yet intense aura of life emanated from her, as if brightening the very essence of the world around them.
The Goddess of Life!
Jing Shaoyu was utterly dumbfounded, his gaze fixed in disbelief on the Goddess of Life standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the God of Destruction. Her features still bore faint traces of Jing Ziyuan's likeness, leaving him deeply disoriented.
He had considered countless possibilities, but never this. No wonder—no wonder he had felt such warmth and familiarity when he first met the Goddess of Life. He had naively attributed it to her Divinity, but now it was clear: she had always been by his side, which was why she felt so familiar!
This was beyond comprehension. Jing Shaoyu couldn't fathom why the Goddess of Life would do this. If her goal was simply to pass on her Divine Throne to him, she could have done so openly, just like the God of Destruction. Why would she take human form and even adopt him?
Had it not been for Ya Li's invitation for her to stay, or Tang Hao's unintended blunder, Jing Shaoyu would never have discovered the truth. His mind reeled as vague realizations dawned on him, though his heart refused to accept them.
Gu Yue shared a similar turmoil. She never imagined Jing Shaoyu had such ties to the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction. No wonder the Dragon God's Divine Soul had refused to grant her the Source of Destruction in the Dragon Graveyard—it must have sensed the God of Destruction within Jing Shaoyu.
Heh. A bitter, helpless smile formed in Gu Yue's heart. So, Shaoyu also had secrets he kept from her? Well, it made sense—after all, she had her own secrets hidden from him too.
Yun Ming, on the other hand, was exhilarated. It felt as though his Divine Throne was within reach. Though the two newly revealed deities were unfamiliar, he could sense they were far stronger than Poseidon.
Tang San's Divine Sense visibly relaxed upon seeing the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life manifest. He shouted, "Both of you, lend me your strength! Let us subdue this beast together!"
The Golden Dragon King launched another relentless assault at Tang San's Divine Sense, its momentum undiminished, as if it knew no fatigue.
After exchanging a glance, the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction acted without hesitation, joining the battle. The two God Kings struck with lethal precision—chains of order woven from the Law of Destruction and the Law of Life pierced through the Golden Dragon King's energy form, binding its wings in an interlocking grip.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang San's Divine Sense attacked as well. His Trident blazed with radiant light as it struck the Golden Dragon King's head, causing its energy form to shudder violently.
"ROAR—!" The Golden Dragon King instinctively let out a deafening roar, its draconic cry imposing and majestic. But in truth, it was nothing more than the desperate struggle of a beast facing its demise.
The Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction gave the Golden Dragon King no chance to recover. Though both of them were mere remnants of their Divine Souls now, the Golden Dragon King was in an even worse state. Originally, its Divine Soul had been jointly sealed by the Five God Kings, resulting in its fragmentation and dissipation. Now, all that remained was a mass of bloodline and energy, acting purely on instinct.
Among the five divine-level powerhouses present, the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction were undoubtedly the strongest, followed by the Golden Dragon King's bloodline and essence. Next was Tang San, Poseidon's wisp of Divine Sense, and finally Tang Hao.
The Goddess of Life shouted sharply, "Poseidon, attack together!"
As soon as her voice fell, dazzling emerald-gold light erupted from her body, while profound violet-gold radiance burst forth from the God of Destruction. Seeing this, Tang San's Divine Sense did not dare delay, releasing his own azure-gold brilliance.
Green, violet, blue, and gold—four-colored light enveloped the Golden Dragon King. Mysterious divine hymns chanted from the void as terrifying pressure encircled the skies above Sea God Lake. The solemn atmosphere grew increasingly heavy amidst the flickering radiance of the four lights.
Gu Yue kept her head bowed firmly, not daring to make the slightest unusual movement. How could she not see that the three deities were attempting to erase the last traces of the Golden Dragon King? From this moment onward, it would never have the possibility of revival again. Or rather, whoever fused and refined the Golden Dragon King's bloodline and essence would become the new Golden Dragon King.
An intense longing surged within her heart.
When everything settled, only the three deities remained standing over Sea God Lake. The Golden Dragon King had transformed into a mass of golden substance, firmly held in the God of Destruction's palm. Within the golden light, a golden dragon flickered faintly, appearing unusually docile.
Tang San's Divine Sense glanced at the Golden Dragon King's bloodline and essence in the God of Destruction's hand, a trace of regret flashing through his eyes. Yet he wisely chose to ignore it, saying, "Thank you both for your assistance. Otherwise, this vile creature would have surely harmed the mortal realm."
"There's no need for formalities, Poseidon. This was our duty," the Goddess of Life replied.
"Mmm." Tang San's Divine Sense nodded, but his form suddenly grew hazy. Panicked, he quickly added, "This wisp of Divine Sense is about to disperse. Please take care of Wu Lin for me."
"This... we'll do our best," the Goddess of Life hesitated briefly before nodding. "At least Wu Lin is free now—no longer under the threat of the Golden Dragon King's life."
"That's true." Tang San smiled, though the expression appeared somewhat strained. "We shall meet again in the God Realm, seniors."
With that, Tang San's Divine Sense shattered instantly, dissolving into countless blue motes of light that scattered across the heavens and earth.
The Goddess of Life sighed at the sight, while the God of Destruction remained impassive. He had never liked Tang San to begin with; his intervention had been purely out of duty. Thus, he had remained silent throughout.
Seeing Tang San's Divine Sense vanish, Tang Hao's expression grew even more guilt-ridden. Though the Tang Wulin in his arms was barely breathing, his life was at least preserved. Tang Hao turned his gaze toward the Golden Tree on Sea God Island, his eyes smoldering with fury and violence.
"We should leave," the God of Destruction reminded the Goddess of Life beside him.
The Goddess of Life gazed at Jing Shaoyu with eyes full of remorse, while he looked back at her, hesitating to speak, unsure how to begin. Only after hearing the God of Destruction's reminder did she withdraw her gaze and say in a low voice, "What about A'Yu..."
"Let's wait until he awakens the Divine Blood within him. He's still too weak now," the God of Destruction shook his head, raising his hand to release a wisp of purple energy that transformed into a streak of violet light before vanishing into the horizon.
Seeing this, the Goddess of Life hesitated briefly before also releasing a green light. Then, she transformed into an emerald meteor, swiftly pursuing the God of Destruction.
Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, and Yun Ming watched as the two God Kings departed, each harboring different thoughts. Yun Ming was eager to find a secluded place to cultivate in isolation, while Gu Yue heaved a sigh of relief. As for Jing Shaoyu, his mind was in utter turmoil. Though the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life had left, the confusion they had sown within him remained.
Was the Goddess of Life truly just his adoptive mother?
His heart was in chaos. As the green and purple lights descended before him, he reached out to grasp them, but they slipped through his fingers and merged into his body instead.
With the three God Kings gone, the world, which had been forcibly paused, finally resumed its normal course. Yet, the ripples of this disturbance were far from over.
——
Deep within the cosmos, inside a black hole.
The God King Tang San opened his eyes, radiant divine light bursting forth, dazzling and brilliant. Yet his expression was grim—he had received the final message transmitted by the wisp of Divine Sense he had left within Tang Wulin before it shattered.
Consumed by fury, his aura grew unstable.
"That old fool has ruined everything!" Tang San gnashed his teeth, his voice dripping with rage, frustration, and helplessness.
"Zheng—"
Suddenly, a green and a purple light sphere flew out from his body. Instinctively, Tang San reached out to stop them, but they were too fast, vanishing from his sight in the blink of an eye.
All he could do was watch helplessly. He knew all too well that he had only been able to keep them because their masters had allowed it. Now that their masters were recalling them, there was no way to stop it—or rather, he could delay it, but not forever.
It was impossible for him to keep constant watch over them; it simply wasn't feasible.
"Ah!" Tang San sighed in resignation as he watched the green and purple meteors recede into the distance.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Seven deities radiating sinister auras suddenly sensed something and simultaneously looked up at the dark, fathomless sky. A purple meteor flickered into existence before disappearing just as swiftly. The seven exchanged glances and, without hesitation, pooled their divine power to condense a multicolored pearl.
"Go, lend our master your strength!" they chanted in unison.
The pearl rose, then shattered space itself, appearing right beside the purple meteor before silently merging into its trailing light.
The green and purple meteors surged out of the black hole, traversing dimensions before vanishing into the boundless cosmos.
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