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...Deep within the Supreme Pontiff Palace in Spirit City.
Time flowed silently; several months had passed since the continent-shaking "Heavenly Execution."
The situation on the continent had undergone earth-shattering changes amidst a strange calm and suppression.
The Heaven Dou and Star Luo Two Great Empires had completely lost their will to resist. The remaining armies and noble class, under extreme fear, chose unconditional surrender.
The Spirit Empire's new policies were rapidly implemented across the entire continent with unstoppable momentum.
The old Spirit Master privilege system was thoroughly shattered, and a new order was established with almost cruel efficiency through a baptism of blood and fire.
Although there were still sporadic resistances and undercurrents, under Xuan Ming's absolute deterrence, like a Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, any act challenging the new order was swiftly suppressed with an iron fist.
The entire continent seemed to have entered an unprecedented period of "peace." However, this peace was forged by absolute fear and obedience.
It was on this day, as Bibi Dong finished reviewing the last document regarding the liquidation of the Two Great Empires' remaining forces and set down her vermilion brush, an invisible fluctuation, transcending spatial barriers, simultaneously descended into the consciousness of several core figures in Spirit City.
Within Xuan Ming's mind.
The cold and grand Godly Trial will sounded again:
[Fifth Trial: Reshape Order (Completed).]
[Assessment Evaluation: With thunderous means, displaying a Bodhisattva's heart. Although the process was harsh, the goal was clear, the will firm, and the methods decisive, effectively eradicating the stubborn ailments of the old order and laying an unshakable Foundation for the new order. This aligns with the core intent of the Godly Trials of Kindness, Evil, Destruction, and Asura — clearly understanding responsibilities, acting on will, not being bound by worldly good and evil, and judging heroes solely by results.]
[Trial Reward: One god-bestowed spirit ring (blessed by the Goddess of Life).]
A green pillar of light, full of vitality and gentle aura, ignored the spatial distance and suddenly descended upon Xuan Ming, who was inside the Spirit City Research Institute.
Within the light pillar, a god-bestowed spirit ring, containing immense Life Origin and divine aura, slowly condensed into form. Its quality far surpassed previous ones, a gift from the Goddess of Life.
For Xuan Ming, who had already stepped into the Divine Rank and was still continuously evolving in all aspects, ordinary spirit power increases or Divine Artifact rewards were meaningless.
This god-bestowed spirit ring, containing the Law of Life Origin, was an acknowledgment of his successful trial. Perhaps it could add a different quality to his already vast power.
Xuan Ming calmly accepted this reward, not even paying it much attention, casually integrating it into his body, slowly fusing it with his own power.
This evaluation precisely summarized the essence of his actions.
He was not bloodthirsty; he merely chose the most direct and efficient path to achieve the ultimate goal of "order reshaping."
The killing in the process was merely a necessary cost to clear obstacles.
What the God Realm recognized was not his "kindness," but his decisiveness and efficiency in "stopping at nothing for his goal."
This confirmed his judgment: the God Realm, especially those main Divinities who control the rules, view problems from a completely different perspective than Mortals. They don't care if the process is bloody, only if the result conforms to the rules and is beneficial to the stability of the God Realm's order.
Just like the God Realm's attitude towards the Dragon Clan and the Silver Dragon King.
If not for the appearance of him, this "anomaly," the God Realm would never have given Gu Yuena any chance, only allowing her to live or die on Douluo Star, or even secretly promoting her demise.
Because in their view, a powerful leader of an uncontrolled race was itself a potential threat to the God Realm's order.
So-called "fairness" and "benevolence" could be sacrificed in the face of maintaining the overall interests of the God Realm.
Similarly, the competition between the Spirit Beast Clan and humans, in the eyes of the God Realm, was merely a part of the natural competition among the myriad races in the Lower Realm, insignificant.
Races rise and fall every moment; the God Realm would not, and should not, interfere excessively.
Only when this competition involves Divine Rank power and might disrupt the balance of the plane would they intervene.
"Knowing one's responsibilities, knowing what to do, knowing what not to do..." Xuan Ming softly repeated the hidden profound meaning within the Godly Trial's will.
This was the true standard for the God Realm's selection of inheritors: absolute rationality, a clear sense of boundaries, and the courage to take necessary measures to maintain a greater order.
If he were still bound by so-called "benevolence," felt pity for the old order, and was hesitant about killing, then he might gain the Goddess of Life's sympathy, but he would never pass the trials of the four main Divinities representing the execution layer of the God Realm's rules: Kindness, Evil, Destruction, and Asura!
Especially the God of Kindness! That God, named "Kindness," is often the one who handles the God Realm's most difficult and darkest affairs. Her methods are sometimes more severe and unquestionable than those of the God of Destruction.
Because the flip side of "kindness" is the "evil" that must be executed to protect a greater "good."
In less than a day, that god-bestowed spirit ring, containing the Goddess of Life's Origin blessing, was completely absorbed and refined by Xuan Ming, like a drop of water merging into the sea.
It was still at the ultimate million-year level, but the true core was the immense Law of Life power it contained.
This spirit ring did not bring a significant increase to his total divine force or destructive power, but it infused a gentle yet resilient spring of Life into his power system, which had already gathered the nascent Laws of Asura, Evil, Destruction, and Kindness.
Although it was only a nascent form, the appearance of this Law of Life meant he had touched one of the most fundamental powers constituting the World, its preciousness far exceeding mere energy accumulation.
From then on, the seeds of the core Laws represented by the five God Kings of the God Realm—Asura, Evil, Destruction, Kindness, and Life—were all buried within him.
This was by no means a coincidence; it was more like an intentional guidance and foreshadowing by the Godly Trial.
Xuan Ming could feel that the preliminary groundwork was over. Next, the God Realm was going to get serious.
The laboratory door was gently pushed open, and Gu Yuena walked in.
Her aura was more solidified and vast than before, subtly flowing with a rhythm of creation and Origin.
After several nourishments of Life energy from Godly Trial rewards, her Origin, damaged by the Dragon God's split, had been mostly repaired.
"Xuan Ming," Gu Yuena's voice carried a hint of solemnity, "my Creation Godhead can officially begin to fuse now."
She paused, "Xuan Ming, you have already broken through Level 100, and your power has long surpassed that of an ordinary Divine Official, not even weaker than a First-Rank Main God. But you... have not truly condensed your own Godhead yet."
Xuan Ming remained silent, indicating agreement.
Gu Yuena continued to explain: "Godhead is different from God Position. A God Position is more like a position in the God Realm, bound to the God Realm's rules, existing dependent on the God Realm's power system. A God can leave the God Realm, but a God Position cannot. The number of God Positions is closely related to the strength of the God Realm."
"Whereas a Godhead is a God's own understanding, control, and condensation of the Laws of Heaven and Earth; it is their own Origin power! Like the Angel God and the Sea God, they first condensed a God Position through faith and opportunity, and after Ascending to the God Realm, they gradually condensed their own Godhead over long years, using the God Position as their Foundation."
"But the five God Kings of the God Realm, and I... our Godheads are innate, a manifestation of powerful Laws originating from our Origin. My Creation Godhead originates from the Dragon God and is of the God King level."
"Although you have broken through Level 100 and your power has reached the God Realm, you have not experienced the Godhood Tribulation, nor have you condensed your own Godhead. Therefore, by the God Realm's definition, you are not yet a true God."
"Now, it's time for you to consider condensing your own Godhead."
The instant Gu Yuena's words fell, that cold and grand Godly Trial will, as if it had been waiting for a long time, once again resoundingly descended into Xuan Ming's Sea of Consciousness:
[Sixth Trial activated: God Position Choice.]
[Content: Within one year, clarify your own Divine Dao, obtain the recognition of at least one God King-level existence, or condense your own Godhead, taking the most crucial step towards becoming a God.]
Xuan Ming was slightly taken aback.
The first five trials were for screening and groundwork, confirming his qualifications and embedding the seeds of the five God King Laws within him.
This sixth trial was the true watershed.