The Divine Realm council convened, its agenda aimed directly at the division of divine territory and the delineation of authority following Li Zhexian's ascension.
This was unprecedented in the history of the Divine Realm.
Throughout the ages, mortals who became gods had always followed established precedent, inheriting pre-existing god positions.
Never before had the gods gathered to deliberate over a newcomer's domain and authority.
But Li Zhexian was different…
He was walking the path of a self-created godhood.
This meant the Divine Realm would gain an entirely new lineage, one whose foundation derived solely from Li Zhexian himself.
What weighed even more heavily upon the gods was this—
While still in the mortal world, Li Zhexian already possessed the strength to defeat a first-class god.
Once he ascended to the Divine Realm,
once his Spirit Power transformed into divine power,
he would very likely become a new God King.
At this thought,
every god present felt a chill in their hearts.
A sixth God King…
A being who dared to swing his sword at a first-class god before even ascending was clearly not one destined for quiet obscurity.
"The God Realm, which has been peaceful for endless ages, is about to be stirred into waves," someone murmured.
Inside the council hall, order was absolute.
Five God Kings sat at the central core.
Around them were first-class gods, followed by second-class gods, third-class gods, and so on, arranged in concentric ranks.
Ji Dong swept his gaze across the assembly.
"Regarding Li Zhexian's creation of his own god position, the five of us God Kings are in unanimous agreement—we recognize it."
The Asura God, the God of Kindness, the God of Life, and the God of Destruction all nodded in unison.
Their silent assent carried the weight of mountains, setting the tone for the entire discussion.
"As for the division of his divine domain…"
Ji Dong spoke slowly:
"The eastern region of the Divine Realm has remained without a ruler to this day. It shall be placed under Li Zhexian's governance."
The moment these words fell,
the gods below maintained calm expressions, yet waves surged within their hearts.
The eastern Divine Realm—shrouded in sea-like clouds and flowing immortal radiance—was the most beautiful region of all, long coveted by many gods.
That the Evil God King would assign such a fertile domain to Li Zhexian spoke volumes of his goodwill and esteem.
The other four God Kings voiced no objection.
However—
just as Ji Dong was about to continue,
the God of Destruction spoke first, his voice indifferent and cold:
"The definition of authority must await Li Zhexian's self-proclaimed divine title."
"For now, I shall speak on two matters."
"First: Li Zhexian's combat power has severely disrupted the balance of the lower realm. He should not remain among mortals for long."
"I propose that once his Spirit Power reaches level 99, he be immediately guided into the Divine Realm."
"There, the laws of the Divine Realm will naturally assimilate him, transforming his Spirit Power into divine power and elevating him directly to the hundredth level of godhood."
Silence followed.
Ji Dong and the Asura God nodded in succession.
Though they did not understand why Li Zhexian could remain in the mortal world without being restricted by its laws,
a being with god-level combat power lingering in the lower realm indeed violated the principle of balance.
The God of Destruction paused slightly, then continued:
"Second: while in the lower realm, Li Zhexian bears karmic ties with Spirit Beasts."
"His intention is to carve out a path for Spirit Beasts to ascend to godhood."
"What?!"
"Spirit Beasts becoming gods?!"
The statement fell like a meteor into the sea.
Instantly, the council erupted.
Exclamations and objections rang out one after another.
Spirit Beasts being unable to become gods was an iron law of the Divine Realm—
one of the very foundations maintaining its existing order.
That Li Zhexian, before even arriving, would seek to shake such a core rule stunned the gods with the sharpness of his ambition and courage.
"Absolutely not!"
An ancient god with snow-white hair and beard suddenly rose to his feet, his voice booming with age-old authority.
"Even if Li Zhexian becomes the sixth God King, I oppose this!"
"He never experienced the blood-soaked era when stars themselves ran red!"
"In the divine wars of old, how many gods fell?!"
"Must we repeat those lessons?! Spirit Beasts must never ascend!"
"This is the bottom line—even a God King must not cross it!"
"Agreed!"
"I second this!"
"Newly ascended and already seeking to challenge the foundations of the Divine Realm—this is sheer arrogance!"
At once,
divine power surged through the hall.
Conflicting divine wills and pressures collided, causing space itself to wail and tremble.
Ji Dong lightly tapped the table with his finger and suddenly smiled.
"Very well."
"Esteemed gods, I have taken note of your words."
"When Li Zhexian ascends to the Divine Realm,"
"I trust you will repeat today's passionate declarations to his face."
The clamor throughout the hall came to an abrupt halt.
And aside from those gods who had just spoken in emotional outrage, quite a few others remained silent, each harboring their own calculations.
"Once Li Zhexian ascends, the Divine Realm is bound to undergo tremendous upheaval…"
"This kind of vortex is not something one should be swept into. Perhaps…"
"Finding a suitable successor, relinquishing one's god position, and roaming freely through the heavens would be the wiser course."
Beneath the calm surface that the Divine Realm had maintained for countless ages, because of Li Zhexian's impending godhood, undercurrents had begun to surge.
...
Back in the mortal world, the mortal-world Sword Intent, driven by Calamity Rebirth, had defeated a god in a single strike.
But immediately afterward…
the price arrived as foretold.
Just as Li Zhexian's body began to disintegrate, on the verge of dissolving into the heavens and earth,
the golden Spirit Ring hidden beneath the clouds at his feet suddenly blossomed with gentle radiance.
"Ninth Spirit Ability — Bai Ze's Blessing."
The auspicious aura surrounding him condensed, taking form as a divine beast resembling both fox and deer.
It stood behind Li Zhexian,
emanating a soft glow capable of soothing all wounds.
The destructive force eroding his flesh and soul melted away like snow under sunlight.
Even his near-death state was reversed in an instant, his condition restored to its absolute peak.
Bai Ze's Blessing:
Negates all severe injuries, aging, curses, instant-death effects, and other negative states.
"Zhexian!" Joyful cries rang out from afar—from Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, and the others.
Qian Daoliu once again enveloped the ship in Spirit Power and sped back at full speed.
Li Zhexian lifted the corner of his lips, his gaze falling upon the trembling Deep Sea Demon Whale King.
"I am willing to submit… spare—"
Slash!
Before the words could finish,
Li Zhexian swept the Qinglian Sword sideways. Multiple sword intents poured forth, instantly annihilating it.
A dark-gold Spirit Ring and a torso Spirit Bone weighing as much as a mountain slowly rose into the air.
The Wine Martial Soul manifested naturally.
Between the blue sea and open sky, Li Zhexian sat cross-legged in midair and began absorbing the Spirit Ring and Spirit None.
Although the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's energy was vast as an abyss,
for Li Zhexian—who had already forged a divine foundation—the absorption was effortless, like water flowing downhill.
By the time Qian Daoliu arrived with the others, barely half an hour had passed.
Humm—
Humm—
Waves of energy tides rippled outward with Li Zhexian's steady breathing.
His Spirit Power, which had stabilized at level ninety-five, surged once more.
Level 96!
Level 97!
Level 98!
In the span of a single day,
his Spirit Power leaped eight levels.
And this was with deliberate restraint.
As the Spirit Power flowed into his body,
he refined it with sword intent,
ensuring that every trace of power was flawless and his foundation as solid as bedrock.
Li Zhexian slowly opened his eyes.
Chi!
Ten kinds of sword intent burst forth from his gaze, extending three feet outward.
Faintly,
even space itself seemed unable to withstand such sharpness, emitting subtle cracking sounds.
Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, and the others stared in shock at this incomprehensible sight.
Li Zhexian raised his head and gazed toward the heavens.
Just moments ago—
A vague sensation had descended from the boundless heights.
It was not rejection from the laws of the mortal world,
But more like a summons from an existence in the Divine Realm.
"Level 99... is it time to ascend to the Divine Realm?" he thought to himself.
He withdrew his gaze and looked at his friends before him, a warm and free smile appearing on his face. He raised his hand and pointed toward the distant islands, laughing:
"Set off for Sea God Island!"
"In the future, every one of you must become a god!"
...
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