I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
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The mist rising from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well swirled under the moonlight, while the ice-blue and crimson springs shimmered with tiny specks of light.
The petals of the Beautiful Silk Tulip rustled under the weight of divine pressure. At this moment, the six ten-thousand-year immortal herbs had curled up in the shadow of the rock walls, their roots and leaves interwoven into a protective net.
"Sea God Tang San."
Gu La calmly provided the answer.
"This… can't be…" Zang Xin's pupils contracted to the size of pinpoints, and his usually unchanging expression finally shifted. He muttered, "Tang San defeated the Rakshasa God two thousand years ago and saved the continent. How could it possibly be him…"
"The nature of divinity is deep like an abyss, and the human heart is difficult to fathom."
Gu La stood up, shaking out his sleeves. His white robe flapped loudly in the currents of hot and cold air. He traced his fingers through the mist rising from the spring, and the swirling vapor instantly condensed into two divine silhouettes engaged in a game of chess.
"Look at this chessboard," he lightly tapped the shadow on the right holding the black pieces. "When the player discovers that the pieces are about to leap off the board and pose a threat, would you simply turn a blind eye?"
"At your level, you should know that the Douluo Planet has a consciousness—a collective consciousness of all living beings on the planet."
As Zang Xin looked on with confusion, Gu La suddenly chuckled and asked curiously, "Zang Xin, do you think Shrek Academy's existence is beneficial or harmful to the Douluo Continent?"
"If one day, Tang Sect's founding ancestor Tang San were to appear before you, would you… bow to him?"
These two questions struck Zang Xin like a sledgehammer. His right hand rested on the hilt of his sword, but he realized his once-proud sword intent was crumbling. This indicated that he was wavering.
A profound silence enveloped the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Damask Tulip and the six ferocious beasts didn't dare to breathe. They felt a power emanating from Gu La that could easily annihilate them, filling them with both awe and relief for their earlier choice.
This wasn't gambling—it was a guaranteed path to eternal life.
Zang Xin's eyes flickered violently, revealing his inner turmoil. The proud spirit of a swordsman and centuries of devout faith clashed within him. His vast spiritual energy fluctuated wildly, yet his grip on the sword grew steadier. Deep within his sword heart, a fire burned—the vow he had made before the statue of his ancestor when he first entered the Tang Sect.
"Once I enter the Tang Sect, I will defend its honor, treat my fellow disciples as brothers, and never harm others with my skills!"
And now, his brothers had died because of someone else's selfishness!
"If it was truly our ancestor Tang San who brought the Abyss Plane and caused five thousand years of bloodshed on the continent, even if I am no match for him, I, Zang Xin, still have the courage to draw my sword against him. But these are merely your words—do you have any proof?"
In the face of this shocking revelation, Zang Xin steeled his resolve, staring directly into Gu La's golden eyes. Even as tears and blood streamed down his face, he did not flinch.
"Haha!"
Gu La suddenly burst into laughter, his overwhelming divine might shaking the very space around them. "I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
Damask Tulip and the six beasts trembled, huddling together for warmth. Only the Earth Dragon Gourd and Infernal Delicate Apricot rejoiced—they were certain they had chosen the most suitable master to follow.
Gu La slowly reined in his laughter. "There's no need for proof. Ascending to godhood doesn't change one's nature. From a human perspective, you can deduce Tang San's mental shifts yourself."
"Since ancient times, the Douluo Continent has never lacked ambitious individuals—there are always those who wish to control everything. If you were Tang San, fortunate enough to ascend to godhood and become one of the supreme Five God Kings, would you tolerate anyone in the lower realms threatening you or your family?"
Zang Xin frowned.
"Ten thousand years ago, Huo Yuhao was a favored son of destiny. Without external interference, he would have been qualified to unify the continent, carrying the blessings of humans and soul beasts to ascend as an inherited God King—or even create his own god position and ascend to godhood."
"But at that precise moment, Tang San sent his daughter down to the mortal realm. She split her soul in two and manipulated Huo Yuhao like a puppet, seizing the blessings of the Great Star Dou Forest to ascend as a god. Despite having the potential to become a God King, he only became a 1st Class Emotion God. And Tang San's daughter, Tang Wutong, also benefited, ascending as the 2nd Class Butterfly Goddess—all perfectly in line with the rules of the God Realm."
"These actions are not unforgivable. A 1st Class God can indeed become a God King, and one could justify it as a matter of the Tang family's internal affairs."
"But detecting the uniqueness of Douluo Planet, devising a ten-thousand-year plan, and bringing in the Abyss Plane—these actions cannot be whitewashed, no matter what."
"The Golden Ancient Tree within Shrek Academy is actually a symbol of the core of the Douluo Plane. Tang San placed his mother, the Blue Silver Emperor's soul, into it, replacing the plane's core."
"As for Tang San's father, Tang Hao, he replaced the consciousness of the plane itself, preventing any variables that might disrupt the ten-thousand-year plan and controlling heavenly tribulations. Have you ever tried to overcome such tribulations?"
"Yun Ming was a prodigy, capable of condensing half a god position in just over a century. Why couldn't he take the final step? Was it because he lacked the ability?"
"No. He had a premonition that taking that final step would result in a heavenly tribulation that would leave him with no chance of survival. For once he ascended to godhood, with the current population of Douluo Planet, the faith-based power would elevate Yun Ming to a level where even Tang Hao wouldn't stand a chance. The carefully orchestrated Abyss Plane might not survive until Tang San's return."
"All of this… how much do you believe?"
Gu La's smile was sly, thoroughly enjoying the act of spilling spoilers.
Zang Xin took a deep breath and slowly said, "Yun Ming told me… there was no path forward."
A strange light flickered in Gu La's golden pupils. "Yun Ming was indeed regrettable. His ambition was too great. Failing to ascend to godhood, he dared to dream of recreating the God Realm single-handedly. What a pity…"
Zang Xin's heart trembled. It was the first time he had learned of Yun Ming's plans—he hadn't expected him to surpass himself so greatly.
"I will…" He wiped away the bloodstains from the corners of his eyes, and his Sentimental Sword ignited with a mystical glow. "Cut through this web of fate woven by destiny."
"Even gods cannot manipulate my fate!"
The sword's light cleaved through the rising mist. Zang Xin attained clarity of mind, and his spiritual energy experienced a minor breakthrough, bringing him one step closer to the Divine Origin Realm.
Gu La's laughter reverberated through the valley, scattering dewdrops. "Good! Such determination—but what can you actually do?"
"Once you leave this secret realm, without my divine power to shield you, you demigods will undoubtedly become Tang Hao's primary targets. To deal with you, he wouldn't even need a second move."
Gu La wasn't lying. With a pair of divine eyes alone, he had intimidated Zang Xin. If he fully accepted the power of Groudon's avatar, even Yun Ming wouldn't stand a chance against a single strike.
"Though Tang Hao is a 2nd Class God, if he focuses his efforts and leverages the blessings of the plane's master, he could rival a 1st Class God."
"Moreover, Tang San isn't without other contingencies on Douluo Planet. Sometimes, I even admire him—always thinking three steps ahead. Doesn't it exhaust him?"
Gu La felt utterly drained just dismantling Tang San's schemes; he couldn't imagine the mental state Tang San must have been in while plotting them.
Zang Xin had already heard too many earth-shattering revelations today. His mind was as still as a deep pond as he gazed deeply at Gu La.
"And what about you? I don't believe a deity would casually reveal such critical information to me for no reason."
He didn't even glance at the immortal herbs. If they were useless to him, they certainly wouldn't warrant a deity's personal appearance.
Gu La's thoughts raced… The topics they had discussed earlier were all grand and far-reaching, each concerning the fate of countless lives. If he were to mention now that he wanted to take the immortal herbs, wouldn't it seem trivial?
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