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The God of Destruction crackled with purple lightning around him, his voice deep: "By what right does he?"
"Yes, by what right does he?" The God of Evil frowned deeply.
Even if Xuan Ming possessed the power to slay Gods, even if he bypassed the heavenly tribulation's restrictions, in front of a true God King, he was still as insignificant as an ant.
If a God King wished to erase him, even if it required some cost, it would be far from difficult.
But how dare he make such a direct statement?
"Either he is a complete madman, ignorant of his own limits, arrogant enough to believe he can challenge the God Realm's order with this much power," the God of Destruction said.
"But from our previous observations, this kid is meticulous and definitely not a brainless brute."
"Then, only the second possibility remains…"
"He is confident that we cannot kill him!"
The God of Destruction's words seemed to drop the temperature of the entire Divine Hall by several degrees.
Cannot kill him?
A mortal who hadn't even condensed a God Position, by what right could he be unkillable by five God Kings?
This was even more absurd than "not being afraid," and even more challenging to the God Realm's understanding!
"Impossible!" Poseidon was the first to refute, "Even if he possesses the Dragon God's bloodline, even if he can slay a second-rank God, in front of a God King…"
His words trailed off abruptly.
Because the expressions of the God of Evil and the Asura God had become extremely grim.
"We messed up."
The God of Evil covered his face, a sense of absurd exasperation in his tone.
The God of Evil, who played with human hearts, had actually been played by a mortal!
"What do you mean?" Poseidon hadn't fully reacted yet.
"It means…" The God of Evil lowered his hand, his expression incredibly complex, "We thought we were testing him, observing him, even scheming against him. But in reality, from beginning to end, it wasn't us controlling the rhythm, but that kid down there!"
He pointed at Xuan Ming in the light mirror, his tone carrying a sense of powerlessness after realizing the truth: "Haven't you realized? He never intended to hide from the start! He deliberately brought the Silver Dragon King to Sea God Island, deliberately underwent the 'Seagod Nine Trials' right under our noses, deliberately challenged the limits again and again… Every single thing he did was to openly place himself, and the last hope of the Dragon Clan, right in front of us!"
The Goddess of Life mused, and softly said: "He is… using us?"
"More accurately, he is exploiting the rules and… disagreements of the God Realm Committee," the Asura God's cold voice rang out. He finally understood Xuan Ming's entire plan.
For the first time, a true scrutiny, and even a hint of… apprehension, appeared in his blood-colored eyes towards that mortal in the lower realm.
"He knows the God Realm is not a monolithic entity," the God of Evil interjected, his speech quickening, "He knows there are differences in our attitudes towards the Dragon Clan. He knows we won't easily risk causing massive upheaval by directly erasing him. So, he voluntarily jumped into the framework of the trials we set, not because he was forced to accept, but because this is the fastest and safest way to make the God Realm accustomed to his existence!"
"He was certain that our opinions would not be unified! He knew what would happen next! He knew that once he displayed sufficient value and threat, the God Realm was more likely to choose observation and restriction, rather than direct destruction!"
Inside the Divine Hall, there was a deathly silence.
For the first time, the five God Kings felt a chill, as if manipulated by an invisible hand.
They overlooked myriad realms, commanded all beings, yet now, in a meticulously woven open scheme by a mortal from the lower realm, they had been led step by step into this dilemma.
The Asura God slowly closed his eyes, then reopened them, his gaze now filled with cold determination.
"We cannot let him live any longer."
The God of Evil gave a bitter laugh, "Cannot let him live? Asura, are you certain you have absolute confidence in killing him?"
The Asura God's eyes narrowed, "I…"
"One hundred percent confidence! To make him completely disappear, leaving no future troubles! Do you have it?" The God of Evil asked seriously.
"…"
The Asura God fell silent.
If it were before, he wouldn't doubt his ability to handle this, but now, even if he was unwilling to admit it, he had to.
No!
He no longer had absolute confidence in dealing with this matter!
"We don't know how he dares to do this, but precisely because we don't know, we… dare not gamble with him," the God of Kindness said solemnly.
They had witnessed Xuan Ming's extraordinary feats again and again, seen him turn the impossible into possible time and again, and also seen Xuan Ming's calculations and madness.
Because they understood Xuan Ming, they dared not gamble with him!
"If Asura cannot resolve Xuan Ming, or even if we all act together and still cannot completely resolve Xuan Ming, allowing him to escape, what will we face? What will the God Realm face?" the God of Kindness asked in a deep voice.
"A hidden danger that is not restricted by heavenly tribulation, is even about to completely lose control, whose whereabouts are unknown, possesses the potential of the Dragon God, and whose talent is immeasurable!"
"…"
The Divine Hall fell into a silence more profound than any before.
Yes, they dared not gamble.
Precisely because they had witnessed Xuan Ming turn the impossible into possible time and again, precisely because they had seen through his precise yet insane calculations, they more clearly realized that this young man had long surpassed the scope they could casually manipulate.
They could easily destroy an overt enemy, but they could not bear a hidden avenger with unlimited growth potential.
Especially since this avenger was also bound to the last hope and karma of the Dragon Clan.
"Interesting! Too interesting!" The God of Evil laughed instead of getting angry.
"This kid is getting more and more interesting!"
"If not for the current special circumstances, I would even want to open a God Test inheritance for him."
The God of Evil's untimely laughter, filled with excitement and admiration, seemed particularly jarring in the deathly silent Divine Hall.
Poseidon, the God of Destruction, the Goddess of Life, and even the Asura God, couldn't help but glance at him, their eyes holding a hint of confusion and… a look as if at an idiot.
What time was it? The authority and control of the God Realm Committee were facing an unprecedented challenge!
A mortal from the lower realm had used an open scheme to force them into a dilemma!
And this guy was still saying "interesting"?
"Evil, you…" The Goddess of Life was somewhat astonished.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" The God of Evil spread his hands, his face showing the excitement of discovering a peerless treasure, "Throughout the history of the God Realm, have you ever seen a mortal like this? Talent, temperament, strategy, courage… none are anything but top-tier! What's even rarer is that he is ruthless to himself, even more ruthless to his enemies, yet he values affection and righteousness, willing to stake everything for the people he cares about!"
He pointed at Xuan Ming, who was meditating in the light mirror: "Why was the Ice and Fire Dragon King willing to perish for him? Why is the Silver Dragon King willing to stake the last hope of the Dragon Clan? Why are those young girls so devoted to him? Why does Bo Saixi regard him so highly? Is it merely because he is talented? No! It's because he has a certain quality that makes people instinctively believe that by following him, they can see a different future!"
The Asura God snorted coldly, "But he…"
"But he has slipped out of our control?" The God of Evil raised an eyebrow.
"Asura, you were also interested in him at first, even wanting to guide him to give up meddling with the Dragon Clan's affairs. You could have paved a broad path for him, do you think he wouldn't know that?"
"And Poseidon, you shameless one, the Sea God's Heart forcibly recognized him as its master right away, coaxing and tricking him to Sea God Island, wasn't it also because you were afraid he would run off?"
"But now, just because he has shown more threats, threats that make us helpless, you want to change your minds? You want to destroy him?"
"Just because his excellence exceeded our expectations, even making us feel fear, should we then… rage out of shame and flip the table?"
The God of Evil's sharp, questioning words were like cold knives, fiercely piercing the hearts of every God King in the Divine Hall.
The Asura God's icy killing intent around him suddenly paused.
Poseidon's face instantly turned extremely grim. He opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute.
Yes… The Asura God initially noticed Xuan Ming precisely because of his astonishing performance in Slaughter City and his almost perfect compatibility with the Slaughter Domain.
He had indeed considered guiding Xuan Ming to abandon his entanglement with the Dragon Clan and walk the pure path of the Asura God.
He had even secretly given Xuan Ming some conveniences and trials, hoping that this young man could become his ideal successor.
Poseidon, even more so, had played a trick from the very beginning, forcibly binding Xuan Ming with the Sea God's Heart, using the excuse of a problem with the Rakshasa inheritance, half-coaxing and half-tricking him to Sea God Island. He valued Xuan Ming's unparalleled potential and temperament, fearing that other Gods would get to him first.
Initially, they were all attracted by Xuan Ming's "excellence," and all wanted to bring him under their control and inheritance system.
But now?
Just because Xuan Ming's excellence exceeded their expectations, even reaching a level that made them feel "out of control" and "threatened," just because Xuan Ming used their own rules to turn the tables on them, putting them in a dilemma… they were going to… rage out of shame?
Were they going to tear off their masks and destroy him at all costs?
How… narrow-minded and… ridiculous was that?!
The Divine Hall fell into an even deeper silence.
The God of Evil's words mercilessly tore open the hidden, unacknowledged layer of "self-esteem" and "desire for control" deep within the hearts of the God Kings.
The purple lightning around the God of Destruction subtly subsided. He fell silent. His strong stance was based on order and stability, but the God of Evil's words forced him to examine his own inner motives.
They were accustomed to being high above, accustomed to controlling everything, accustomed to selecting and shaping successors according to their own will.
When a "pawn" suddenly displayed the ability to overturn the chessboard, or even turn the tables on the players, their first reaction was… fear and destruction?
Was this not a sign of… being a sore loser?