Chapter 239: Matters of the Asura (Part 1)
In the vast reaches of the universe beyond Douluo, the Divine Realm's former glory had dimmed. The catastrophic Dragon God rebellion and the failure to elevate the Divine Star had left the once thriving realm, once guarded by over forty Divine Kings, with only five remaining rulers: the God Kings of Good, Evil, Life, Destruction, and Asura.
Though a later arrival, the Asura God's power equaled that of the oldest kings. After all, it was he who had single handedly severed the Dragon God into the Golden Dragon King and the Silver Dragon King, thereby preserving the realm. Currently, the Asura God's crimson, blood tinged palace reflected his dominion over death and retribution. The eerie, disembodied wails echoing throughout would drive any mortal to madness.
Armored and scowling, the Asura God glared at the images flickering before him, revealing scenes from the Slaughter City, his chosen ground for the Asura God trials. Although he had known for some time that his intended successor, Tang Chen, had been sabotaged by the vile schemes of the Rakshasa God, he was unable to retaliate. Her actions, however infuriating, fell within the Divine Realm's laws, leaving him, as the appointed enforcer, unable to exact his revenge without raising the ire of the other Divine Kings.
"Curse that Rakshasa, always ruining my plans. If I could find the chance, I'd deal with her just as I did with that fool of an Angel God," he muttered. Still, he reassured himself that the setback was temporary. Losing Tang Chen as a candidate was an irritation at most. "That cursed Haotian clan always brimming with talent."
In nearly a thousand years, only five individuals had ever completed the trials of the Slaughter City. And now, in just a few decades, this Haotian clan had produced two candidates of godly potential. Historically, the Asura God hadn't cared to select a true successor; the title of "Killing God" was simply bestowed upon those who proved worthy to maintain order within the Slaughter City and sustain his own flow of faith energy.
But as time passed, he sensed that his powers had reached their peak. The Asura God position could no longer aid his own growth, yet divine law prevented him from simply abandoning the mantle. He was bound to find a successor worthy of his legacy.
Tang Chen had been promising, having completed eight of the nine Asura Trials and even forged the Super Divine Weapon, the Asura Demonic Sword. His skill in craftsmanship alone would have earned him the rank of "Divine Artisan" if such a title existed. "If only he had better fortune. So close… just one step away," the Asura God lamented.
Yet his lapse of attention had allowed the Rakshasa God to rob him of his successor. Nonetheless, this setback was temporary. The Asura God still had options, though Tang Hao didn't impress him in the slightest.
"Brute strength and no skill," he muttered. "A man of such ordinary talent no. I would never bestow my legacy upon one so unworthy." Though impatient, he had no intention of settling for mediocrity.
Indeed, in his many millennia atop the Asura throne, the god had prepared contingency plans. The universe he presided over extended far beyond Douluo and the hundred or so inhabited worlds under the Divine Realm's purview. While traveling through the turbulent edges of space, he had encountered a wandering soul that of Tang San.
To a god of Asura's caliber, examining the soul of a mortal was child's play. "What a remarkable world that soul once belonged to, where mortals wielded such formidable powers." Intrigued, he decided to preserve the soul, suspecting it might one day serve him well.
True to his instincts, Tang San proved invaluable. Though ruthless to the point of pathology, the Asura God saw in him a reflection of his own younger self. Ruthlessness, a willingness to bend morals, a degree of self interest such traits were necessary in the rise to power, and he saw nothing inherently wrong with them.
The Divine Realm had long reworked Douluo's natural order, ensuring human dominance over spirit beasts. Left to flourish unchecked, spirit beasts posed a potential threat to the gods, a risk they had no interest in revisiting. Indeed, when the Asura God himself had ascended, there were no "martial spirits" only raw soul power. Humans and spirit beasts alike trained using ancient techniques, and humanity had developed a thriving culture of soul tools.
But in seeking to master the laws of nature, humanity had grown arrogant, straying from the gods and rejecting divine worship. Displeased, the remaining deities unleashed a cataclysm that decimated the old civilization, paving the way for a new, human centered era. To expedite humanity's dominance over spirit beasts, the gods endowed humans with martial spirits animal, plant, and tool based and influenced their subconscious, instilling a veneration of martial spirits and encouraging them to subjugate spirit beasts.
In the wake of this transformation, the first generation of soul masters emerged, mortals who understood that killing spirit beasts granted access to spirit rings, enhancing their power. Many died in the process, but those who succeeded ushered in the soul master age. Soul tools fell out of favor, seen as overly complex compared to martial spirit cultivation, and the gods reinforced humanity's preference for martial spirit mastery. Over time, human society evolved its own hierarchy, with titles like "King" and "Emperor" becoming common even as power rested in their own hands.
As humanity rose, two powerful beings emerged: the Sea God and the Angel God. The title of "Titled Douluo" was established, and the Douluo Continent stabilized into the dual empires of Heaven Dou and Star Luo, maintaining this balance for over two millennia.
Though he was born on Douluo, the Asura God wielded little influence over his fellow Divine Kings and was left with the unglamorous task of enforcing divine law across realms. It rankled him, but he could do nothing to change it.
While he lamented Tang Hao's failure, he glanced down at Tang San's soul with a gleam of confidence. This spirit, he was sure, would serve him well.
With the Haotian clan producing two god worthy candidates in succession, he decided it would be simpler to use the same martial spirit as the foundation for Tang San's future. Tang Hao could be the father, but finding a suitable mother proved challenging. After two thousand years, few bloodlines met his standards. As powerful as the Clear Sky Hammer was, it was still only an inferior dragon type weapon.
In the end, his search led him to spirit beasts.
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