Chapter 177: The Incomplete Gods
The Sea God's Temple was estimated to be around two to three hundred meters tall. At this moment, standing before Neptune was a colossal set of doors, each a hundred meters high, with an unknown thickness. These doors were adorned with intricate carvings. On the left side was a depiction of the Sea God, tall and imposing, holding the Sea God's Trident while standing upon surging waves. On the right side, the Sea God was shown wielding the trident in an attacking stance, facing a massive whale rising from the ocean clearly the Deep Sea Demon Whale King that Neptune had recently subdued.
'This Sea God sure loves showing off…' Neptune muttered internally. Yet, just standing there, he felt as if he were witnessing these grand scenes unfold in real time, as if he were personally experiencing the Sea God's dominion over the vast ocean.
"Since you've already arrived… why are you still standing outside? Come in."
A solemn voice suddenly echoed, seemingly coming from nowhere, as an invisible pressure surged from all directions. Neptune's expression turned serious, but he remained silent.
With a series of thunderous rumbles, the massive doors began to open, slowly revealing the temple's interior. Instantly, an overwhelming golden light burst forth from within, so intense that even Neptune, fully prepared, found it difficult to keep his eyes open.
A surge of divine power radiated outward, making one feel as insignificant as a grain of sand in the vast ocean. However, to Neptune, this was nothing more than a gentle breeze. This so called oppressive force was utterly ineffective against him after all, he had already stepped halfway into the realm of gods, lacking only the final step. Facing an entity only slightly stronger than himself, how could he possibly feel fear or hesitation?
With a calm expression, Neptune strode forward confidently through the grand entrance.
Inside the temple, thirty six towering pillars lined both sides, supporting the high ceiling. A three hundred meter wide pathway led straight to the inner sanctum. At the end of the path, seated upon an enormous throne, was a figure a giant!
Neptune's pace remained steady, showing no change in expression as he advanced.
The giant closely resembled a human, clad in a flowing white robe with golden embroidery. Upon his head was a three pronged crown, with a water blue gemstone embedded in its center.
This was none other than Poseidon, the Sea God!
Step by step, Neptune approached the throne.
The Sea God had an ancient and dignified face, not particularly handsome but exuding an imposing majesty. His eyes, both calm and stern, studied Neptune as he entered, a faint glow flickering within them.
The pressure Neptune had sensed earlier grew even stronger here.
Yet, his expression remained unchanged. Stopping a few dozen meters from the throne, he looked up calmly at the towering Sea God and spoke, neither humble nor arrogant, "Greetings, esteemed Sea God. I am here to receive your final inheritance."
"Why do you not kneel before me?"
The Sea God's voice rang out, filled with overwhelming authority.
Neptune, his expression unshaken, replied indifferently, "I am your successor, not your servant. Why should I kneel?"
Hearing this, the Sea God smiled approvingly. Slowly, he rose from his throne, and in that moment, it felt as if an entire mountain was looming over Neptune his towering figure surpassed a hundred meters in height!
"Are you displeased about Bo Saixi's sacrifice?" the Sea God asked with a faint smile.
"A little," Neptune admitted frankly. "The High Priestess has helped me a lot throughout this journey, and I could tell she did not truly wish to die. In the end, she was forced to give up her life for my ascension. That seems unfair to her."
The Sea God remained indifferent, replying, "She has merely returned to my embrace. Life or death what difference does it make? Sometimes, living can be far more painful than dying, even for gods."
Neptune let out a cold chuckle. "So, you decided her fate for her?"
The Sea God shook his head. "No, you misunderstand. She chose her own fate. Not even gods can dictate a person's destiny. That was her decision, just as your presence here was yours.
Bo Saixi's ancestors fought alongside me in the great battles of the ocean. The ancestors of the Sea God's Island inhabitants were all once my followers. They did not guard the island merely to await your arrival as the successor, but also to preserve the memory of their past. That was their choice, not my command.
I merely left behind the method to reach this place I never decreed that she must sacrifice herself. Only when the High Priestess of Sea God's Island deems such a choice to be worthwhile does it occur. Do you understand?"
Neptune remained silent but cursed internally, 'What a clever way to twist the truth! Sure, you never explicitly ordered the High Priestess to do this. But by leaving behind this "method," you were clearly implying that it must be done! Even without a direct command, any devout follower of the Sea God, knowing that only through sacrifice could the inheritance be completed, would undoubtedly follow through.'
Though Neptune found the Sea God's words somewhat flawed, as the one benefiting from all of this, he had no intention of exposing him. Better to complete the inheritance first everything else could wait.
Seeing that Neptune had fallen silent, seemingly convinced, the Sea God smiled again and continued, "Every death is merely the separation of body and soul. Neptune, tell me which is more important, the body or the soul?"
Neptune replied, "In a sense, the body is merely a vessel for the soul. But without a body, wouldn't the soul simply dissipate?" In the world of Douluo, there was no concept of reincarnation or the cycle of six realms death was truly the end.
The Sea God nodded. "Since you understand this, my explanation will be simple. Indeed, ordinary humans lose their souls shortly after death, and even soul masters are no exception. However, Bo Saixi's soul did not dissipate after her sacrifice. Under my divine guidance, her soul was sent to another realm the same realm where all fallen gods go."
"A world where gods go after death? But aren't gods supposed to be immortal? Can they still die like mortals?" Neptune feigned shock.
The Sea God shook his head. "True gods are indeed eternal. However, those who reach the so called 'godhood' at the hundredth rank on Douluo Continent are not true gods. There is a fundamental difference. Thus, their lifespan is still finite though much longer than a human's."
"There's a difference? What kind of difference?" Neptune asked, pretending to be puzzled.
"They possess only a divine soul but lack a true divine body. Thus, their physical form will still decay and die." The Sea God patiently explained, "To refine a true divine body, one must ascend to the God Realm and undergo the baptism of its celestial energy. Only then can they truly transform, achieving eternal life. Otherwise, no matter how strong their body is, it will still eventually wither and perish."
At this, Neptune finally understood. So that was why gods in the Douluo world still had lifespans because they hadn't truly completed their transformation. Only after reaching the God Realm and absorbing its higher tier energy could their bodies truly transcend mortality. That was when they would become complete gods.
"Typically, after ascending to godhood, a deity can remain in the mortal world for no more than a hundred years before being required to ascend to the God Realm for their transformation. Otherwise, with only a divine soul but no divine body, they can exert at most a tenth of their true power while remaining in the mortal realm," the Sea God explained further.
Neptune suddenly realized why the gods of Douluo often seemed so weak. It wasn't that their divinity was inherently lacking it was that they had yet to undergo the full transformation. Without a properly enhanced body, their immense power remained restricted by their mortal form.
Only by reaching the God Realm and refining their divine physique could they truly wield the power befitting a god.
(End of Chapter)
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