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*****
The exchange did not last very long.
However, given the 365:1 time dilation ratio between the Divine Realm and the Douluo Plane, while only a few minutes had passed for the gods, half a day had already slipped away on Douluo Star.
The Sacred Mountain
On the Sun Moon Continent, atop the Sacred Mountain, Su Wen's expression was momentarily frozen. Through the brand of the Sea God's Nine Trials, he had finally received a divine transmission from the Sea God.
It's done!
"This Sea God really is a procrastinator," Su Wen muttered to himself. "I asked for his help ages ago. It's only now, after I've reached the Sacred Mountain and caught the attention of the Sun and Moon deities, that he finally decides to show up."
Su Wen was speechless. Nobody knew just how awkward he had felt earlier while trying to act cool in front of the two Saint Sons. He had explicitly stated that he would let the two deities decide his fate, and then proceeded to stare at the two divine statues for several minutes in total silence. Not a single vision appeared, and the two Saint Sons received zero instructions from above. It was a peak moment of embarrassment for Su Wen.
Fortunately, the two Saint Sons hadn't actually expected Su Wen to trigger a divine response; they had simply become more wary of him.
Afterward, Su Wen had engaged in deep conversation with them. Since the Saint Sons couldn't grasp the advanced theories Su Wen was spouting, and remembering the elders' earlier decision, they simply handed over a massive trove of Soul Tool data to him. They let Su Wen study Soul Tools in solitude while they waited for the return of the elders.
The Master of the Blazing Sun Hall and the Mistress of the Cold Moon Hall were decent enough; they only stayed in the "Academic Realm" for three hours to familiarize themselves before withdrawing, allowing the two Saint Sons to enter and receive the transmission of the Visualization Method.
As for Elder Yang and the other elders and worshipers, they were completely lost in the visualization techniques. They remained in the Academic Realm, desperately trying to cross the threshold of the visualization inheritance.
Those capable of living year-round on the Sacred Mountain were the elites of the Sun Moon Cult—at least Spirit Kings and middle-rank Soul Tool Designers. None of them were weak in terms of spiritual power, and they all possessed immense self-confidence.
Unfortunately, entering the path of visualization was not that simple.
When Su Wen had previously taught the sailors and Ning Rongrong, they seemed to pick it up quickly, but those were exceptional cases. The current situation was the "normal" standard. In fact, it was still a bit skewed toward the elite; the typical Spirit Master might take months or even years to reach that state of "empty clarity."
The Trials of Sun and Moon
As the day waned, Su Wen finally received word from the Sea God. Simultaneously, the Saint Sons of the Blazing Sun and Cold Moon received instructions from their respective deities.
The Hall Masters, acting as guardians, also received divine decrees. At this moment, their expressions were heavy with complexity.
"Su Wen," the Hall Master of the Blazing Sun spoke, "the Sun Moon Temple can cooperate with the Academy. However, as for the Imperial Family, you will have to convince them yourself. Within the territories controlled by the Sun Moon Temple, the Academy may be established freely."
"Furthermore... the two great deities have granted you permission to undergo their trials."
Su Wen let out a smile. Now we're talking.
He followed the two Hall Masters into their respective temples. Within the sacred halls, he accepted the tests of the two gods. At the center of his forehead, within the brand that resembled a Heavenly Book, the faint imagery of a sun and moon began to rotate.
"As far as Second-Class Gods go, the God of the Blazing Sun and the Goddess of the Cold Moon are far wealthier than the likes of the God of War," Su Wen mused.
The God of War suffered from a lack of faith, preventing a breakthrough. The Stone God, though he used conceptual elevation to reduce his dependence on faith, was still perpetually "starving" for it. In contrast, the Sun and Moon deities had an abundance of faith; they were only stuck because of their path, not their power.
One lacks faith but has a path; the other has faith but has lost the way.
"Black-level First Trial..."
The trials offered by the two gods were identical: Black-level First Trials. The content was to establish a representative Sun and Moon within the Academic Realm.
The reward, however, made Su Wen's eyes light up.
"The power of Sun and Moon Essence bestowed during the condensation of the Seventh Spirit Ring."
The good news was that the energy required for his soul ring condensation was now accounted for. Best of all, integrating the Sun and Moon Essence would not only unlock more of his Heavenly Book's potential but would also refine his Martial Soul, much like consuming an Immortal Herb.
The bad news? Su Wen was now effectively backed into a corner.
"This means I must condense my own soul ring when I reach the seventh ring." Su Wen took a deep breath. He wasn't dissatisfied; instead, a surge of fighting spirit rose within him. If all these gods were pushing him toward self-condensation, it was clearly the superior path.
The Secret of the Imperial Family
"Hall Masters, there is one more thing I wish to ask," Su Wen said, turning to the two leaders.
"Master Su, feel free to speak," the Blazing Sun Hall Master laughed, signaling his willingness to answer anything.
"I wish to know... does the Imperial Family possess a divine inheritance?" Su Wen asked, his eyes fixed on the Hall Master.
The Hall Master's expression shifted instantly. He looked at Su Wen with a grave expression. "Why would you ask such a question?"
"What? Does the Crown Prince actually have a divine inheritance?" Su Wen asked, feigning surprise.
The Hall Master shook his head. "We don't know the specifics. But what is certain is that there is no god behind the Imperial Family—at least, no living god."
Su Wen hadn't expected this answer. "No living god?"
"Correct. Strictly speaking, the path the Crown Prince is taking is likely similar to yours, Master Su. He is likely attempting to create his own Godhood," the Hall Master explained. "However, unlike you, he is not building entirely from nothing."
He paused, organizing his thoughts.
"The inherited Martial Soul of the Sun Moon Imperial Family is the Purple Radiance Heaven-Exterminating Dragon. It is a powerful dragon-type soul, but... it is merely a Sub-Dragon."
"A Sub-Dragon?" Su Wen interrupted, stunned.
Among dragon-type soul beasts, True Dragons were the pinnacle, followed by Sub-Dragons and Earth Dragons. For the top-tier Martial Soul of an entire empire's royalty to be a "Sub-Dragon" was shocking. Even Su Wen, a master of theory, had always assumed it was a True Dragon soul.
"Even as a Sub-Dragon, its dragon attributes are no weaker than any True Dragon. When you factor in its control over lightning with destruction attributes, its perfectly fused strength far exceeds that of ordinary True Dragons."
"Legend has it that the ancestor of the Purple Radiance Heaven-Exterminating Dragon was a Sub-Dragon born alongside the Dragon God. It was known as the Progenitor of Sub-Dragons. Because its destructive nature was too great, it was personally exterminated by the Dragon God. Yet, somehow, its bloodline survived and eventually manifested in the Sun Moon Imperial line."
The Hall Master shook his head. "I don't know where you heard rumors of a divine inheritance, but the 'inheritance' you speak of likely refers to the legacy of that Progenitor of Sub-Dragons."
(End of Chapter)