The selection for the Destruction Sovereign had concluded, and everyone had returned to their own territories.
Sadius left behind a clone to accompany his family and friends, while his true body remained within the Aether Overgod Realm, waiting for the birth of the realm's first lifeform—and at the same time, observing Ignis's process of becoming an Overgod.
Sadius had become an Overgod because he had inadvertently created a new element.
Ignis's path was different. The Destruction Overgod already existed; previously, the Destruction Overgod was merely a manifestation of the laws of Heaven and Earth.
But for Ignis to become an Overgod, he had to completely integrate with and become the Destruction Edict itself—only then could he become the true Supreme Overgod of Destruction.
However, once Ignis became an Overgod, the Coiling Dragon universe's constraints on him would grow much heavier.
If he were to become the Destruction Overgod, then regardless of his unpredictable fate, he would forever lose the possibility of transcending.
The Embodiment of Destruction is critical to the functioning of the universe and it must be maintained. It functions as a sort of 'purge' to allow new creations to thrive.
It may seem like wanton destruction with how Gods use this edict, but on a universal scale you can say that the Overgod is the Commander, the Sovereigns the Generals and the Gods the foot soldiers.
Therefore, one cannot simply extricate themselves from it, unless of course Hongmeng himself intervenes, but why would he?
Sadius warned Ignis: once he became the Destruction Overgod, his power would never again advance further—he would reach an eternal limit. It was up to Ignis to make the final choice.
Ignis, of course, had no idea what Sadius meant by "advancing further."
In his eyes, an Overgod was already the highest possible existence. So, without hesitation, he agreed.
Since Ignis had made his decision, Sadius no longer tried to dissuade him.
With Sadius communicating with Heaven and Earth, a massive illusion appeared in the Aether Overgod Realm.
It was none other than the Destruction Overgod, manifested through the laws of the universe.
And behind this Destruction Overgod stood the True Creator of the Coiling Dragon universe—the first Hongmeng controller of the Hongmeng Space—Hongmeng himself.
The earlier task of selecting a Destruction Overgod had been issued by Hongmeng, using the current embodiment of Destruction Overgod as a medium to convey the message to Sadius.
Now that a successor had been chosen, Hongmeng immediately authorized the transfer of the title to Ignis.
Even Hongmeng's 'second brother' had approved, so naturally, he had no objections either.
The Destruction Overgod, formed of Heaven and Earth laws, raised a hand, and pointed toward Ignis. Instantly, the Destruction Overgod turned into a streak of black light, shooting forth from the fingertip and rushing into Ignis's forehead.
Ignis sat cross-legged in the void, constantly absorbing the power of the Destruction Edict from Heaven and Earth.
Across countless planes, even in chaotic spatial flows, everywhere the laws of Destruction existed, their energies were drawn toward Ignis.
Thus began Ignis's journey to ascend as an Overgod—a process that would take tens of thousands of years.
Sadius left him floating alone in space outside the Aether Overgod Realm's main planet.
And now, the first lifeform in the Aether Realm was about to be born.
Sadius could sense that within the realm's sun, a surge of life force had reached its peak.
It seemed ready to break through its shell at any moment and emerge as the first life of the Aether Realm.
Inside the sun, a curled-up golden crow slowly opened its eyes. Its wings gradually unfolded.
The golden crow lifted its head and let out a sharp cry that resounded throughout the entire sun.
The first life of the Aether Overgod Realm—a Three-Legged Golden Crow, a Supreme Divine Beast—was born.
Sadius silently watched the newly born Three-Legged Golden Crow.
The laws of Aether spread throughout the universe, enveloping the entire Coiling Dragon universe.
At the same time, many beings throughout the Coiling Dragon universe who had absorbed Aether elemental energy and reached the Saint-level felt a flash of inspiration.
Those who had long been stuck just below peak Saint-level suddenly had a breakthrough and stepped into the Saint peak.
In the Aether Overgod Realm, the newborn Three-Legged Golden Crow initially appeared as a small golden bird.
But as it continuously absorbed Aether energy from within the sun, its body rapidly expanded. In no time, it grew to over a kilometer in length.
At this point, the Three-Legged Golden Crow was only at the Saint-level of cultivation.
Sadius raised a finger in the void, and immediately, the golden crow comprehended something.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow sat in silent meditation within the sun.
This was Sadius' enlightenment—a divine intervention akin to the Azure Dragon clan's Dragon Transformation Pool. As an Overgod, Sadius could help Divine Beasts perceive divine insight ahead of time.
But he would rarely act personally. Only for the very first life born in the Aether Overgod Realm did he take such an interest.
The laws of the universe descended. Aether divine power rapidly gathered within the sun.
With Sadius' help, the newly born golden crow immediately comprehended one of the profound mysteries of the Aether Edict.
This was an innate profound mystery unique to the Three-Legged Golden Crow. If another were ever born and became a God through normal means, they too would awaken this profound mystery.
Of course, the first life born in the Aether Overgod Realm was already a supreme Divine Beast. The chance of a second one being born was almost nonexistent.
The laws of Heaven and Earth presented the Three-Legged Golden Crow with a choice: whether to become a God through internal fusion or external fusion.
Sadius did not interfere or guide it.
Aside from its innate Aether Edict talent, the crow also had natural affinities with the Edicts of Light and Fire.
If it chose internal Divinity now, it would be able to cultivate only the Aether Edict in the future.
Sadius still did not interfere. Whether internal or external Divinity, the choice was left to the crow's own destiny.
"Godfather, why are you staring at the sun like that?" Bebe approached Sadius curiously.
At that moment, Sadius was standing atop the Amethyst Moon of the Aether Overgod Realm.
That moon, too, was nurturing life, but unlike the sun, it lacked an innate Aether Edict affinity. The life within it was developing more slowly than the golden crow.
"It's because the first life of the Aether Overgod Realm is being born," Sadius said with a smile.
Bebe's curiosity grew stronger.
"Godfather, does the first life born in the Aether Overgod Realm count as your child?"
"Not at all, not at all," Sadius said, gently patting Bebe on the head.
Would Uhtred be considered the child of the Destruction Overgod?
Of course not.
Sadius turned his gaze back to the sun.
There, the Three-Legged Golden Crow hesitated briefly—then chose external Divinity.
Sadius smiled knowingly at the decision.
As long as it didn't die prematurely, the crow's comprehension of the laws would reach at least the Shura level.
With enough opportunity and fortune, it might even one day become the Chief Sovereign of the Aether Edict.
"Bebe, this golden crow knows nothing about the world. Why don't you become its teacher?" Sadius suggested.
Bebe's eyes immediately lit up.
"Sure!"
Sadius sent Bebe to the Solar Star.
The sun of the Aether Overgod Realm wasn't composed of fire elements, but rather pure Aether energy. Thus, it didn't emit intense heat, and Bebe could move freely within it.
Next, Sadius waved his hand.
Five teleportation arrays appeared on the Aether Overgod Realm's main planet.
With another wave, the teleportation arrays of the Four Higher Planes and Seven Divine Planes shifted, linking to the Aether Overgod Realm's portals.
With a third wave, a new teleportation array appeared beside each of the eleven teleportation portals in the countless material planes.
Finally, Sadius revealed a massive illusory projection of himself across the Heaven, visible to all living beings.
"The Aether Overgod Realm's teleportation arrays are now connected to the Four Higher Planes, Seven Divine Planes, and countless material planes. The Aether Overgod Realm is henceforth linked to all realms."