The majestic palace shimmered with a faint golden radiance under the halo of the Divine Realm. The Divine Realm Committee was the commanding height of the entire Divine Realm, the place where everything was controlled.
It possessed the duty of judging all gods, as well as the task of managing the Divine Realm and maintaining its rules.
At this moment, three people were seated around the round table in the hall.
In the silent atmosphere, the God of Evil Ji Dong and the Goddess of Kindness Lie Yan looked at each other in dismay, occasionally glancing at the Sea God Tang San, who had his eyes closed in rest. This continued until a purple and a green stream of light streaked over from the horizon.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Under his purple cloak, the God of Destruction's gaze swept across the three God Kings, until his dark red eyes met Tang San's gaze.
"Since you're here, let's have a chat."
Looking at the Goddess of Life, who stood side-by-side with the God of Destruction with her beaming smile unchanged, Tang San effectively gave a定性 to the matter that had just occurred.
"Chat" implied a private matter, not official business.
"Chat?"
A deep, questioning voice came from beneath the God of Destruction's cloak.
But these two simple words caused Ji Dong and Lie Yan to frown slightly. Even the Goddess of Life retracted her smile and signaled the God of Destruction with her eyes, lightly expressing her displeasure.
Because within the questioning tone of the God of Destruction's words just now, there was a trace of an inexplicable smile.
And this smile... was truly a bit too inappropriate.
However, compared to the Goddess of Life and the others, Tang San remained expressionless upon hearing it, as if he wasn't angered by the God of Destruction in the slightest.
As for whether he was actually angry or not?
Tang San was certainly angry.
Ever since he became a Soul Master, he had never been mocked after voluntarily lowering his stance.
In fact, he had been angry ever since the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life interfered with the Douluo Plane, and he had suppressed that anger until now. But obviously, erupting with emotions did not align with his interests.
Once he did, his public persona would be broken.
So, he could only secretly say in his heart:
"Destruction, you have secured your own death."
As for his surface... he still generously extended his hand, signaling for the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life to take a seat first before explaining what had just happened.
Seeing Tang San's posture, whether out of finding it boring or something else, the God of Destruction also withdrew his previously confrontational attitude.
Thus, he took his seat first and said in a flat tone, "Then let's chat."
Seeing this, the Goddess of Life followed closely, sitting in the subordinate seat next to the God of Destruction and beside Lie Yan.
Once the two of them were seated, the God of Evil, who had already discussed things with Tang San, was the first to open the topic, saying, "Destruction, do you and Life need to give us an explanation? As ancient God Kings, the two of you should know the ironclad laws of the Divine Realm."
At this point, the God of Evil Ji Dong, who was on duty today, added word by word, "—Any deity must not arbitrarily interfere in the lower realms."
Clearly, it was best for the God of Evil to broach the subject regarding the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life's recent attack on the Douluo Planet; it fell under his jurisdiction.
"We two did not interfere in mortal affairs."
The God of Destruction spoke to explain, his tone icy. "We merely provided the Douluo Planet's..."
As he spoke, he relayed the explanation he had given to Tang San.
And the truth was indeed as the God of Destruction stated.
It was just that the actual situation... merely concealed his deeper, true motives.
It couldn't be considered lying.
Beside them, the Goddess of Kindness Lie Yan simultaneously sought confirmation from the Goddess of Life. After receiving the same affirmative answer, the three God Kings—Tang San, Ji Dong, and Lie Yan—also expressed their "understanding."
After all, to a certain extent, these two ancient God Kings, Destruction and Life, wouldn't go so far as to lie about this matter.
So...
"Why is that?"
Lie Yan's eyes, like purple gemstones, blinked. "The Rakshasa God's throne should be a 1st-Class God's position, right? If it's just a 1st-Class God, does it require the two of you God Kings to jointly conduct the trial?"
Tang San and Ji Dong's gazes remained fixed, staring at the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life, waiting for their response. Clearly, their doubts had been voiced through Lie Yan's mouth.
The God of Destruction's expression remained unchanged, his words still icy.
"If it were an ordinary divine throne inheritance, I naturally wouldn't need to go to such effort. But the inheritor I found for the Rakshasa God's throne has talent that cannot merely stop at a 1st-Class Deity and stagnate."
As soon as these words were spoken, the other three God Kings understood!
After all, none of them were fools.
"Do you want the Rakshasa God's throne to be promoted to a God King's position?"
"No."
Before the God of Destruction could speak, Tang San preemptively refuted the God of Evil. "It is impossible for the Rakshasa God's throne to be promoted to a God King under the Divine Realm's current circumstances."
Saying this, he looked at the God of Evil. "You haven't experienced this situation, so you don't understand the so-called promotion of a divine throne."
The promotion from a 1st-Class God's throne to a God King's throne had only happened once since the first generation of the Five Great God Kings. That was when Tang San inherited the dual divine thrones and promoted the originally 1st-Class Sea God's throne into a God King's throne.
This kind of promotion was something that could be encountered but not sought.
Tang San's success was purely because after the Angel God's throne was shattered, the Douluo Plane provided him with a massive amount of faith from both the continents and the oceans over ten thousand years; secondly, he also controlled the central hub of the Divine Realm with the Sea God's throne, receiving the backlash of the Divine Realm's fortune, fulfilling to a certain extent the requirement that a God King's duties must be of significant importance to the rules of the Divine Realm.
In this way, it could be said that he possessed the right time, the right place, and the right people. Otherwise, it would have been entirely impossible for him to succeed.
Because of this, he knew exactly how difficult it was to be promoted to a God King's position.
On the other side, seeing Tang San so firmly believe it was impossible without explaining the specific reasons, the God of Evil swallowed his words, though he still had doubts in his heart.
In his view, if it was impossible for the Rakshasa God's throne to be promoted, then how did Tang San's Sea God's throne become a God King's position?
The God of Evil's silence also caused Tang San to shift his gaze back to the God of Destruction. "Destruction, if I'm not mistaken, you want him to possess God King-level combat power."
"Am I right?"
Tang San's tone was exceptionally certain.
However, he didn't notice that beneath the cover of the purple cloak, a trace of an inexplicable smile flashed through the God of Destruction's eyes.
It was like... a fish taking the bait!
"You're correct."
Thus, the God of Destruction nodded and admitted it.
Coincidentally, Tang San's guess was exactly the explanation he wanted to give.
After all, with such a big commotion just now, if he didn't give a passable excuse, how could he conceal his true purpose?
As for whether this excuse would cause problems?
That would be overthinking it.
Because as long as there wasn't an additional God King's throne, then for Tang San and the others, having an additional 1st-Class God with God King-level combat power wasn't a big deal.
After all, although such a 1st-Class God was known to possess God King-level combat power, the universe was vast, and even among God Kings, there were strong and weak ones. In their Douluo Divine Realm, a God King who possessed a God King's throne was evidently superior in strength.
This was the gap brought about by their rank in the Divine Realm.
Furthermore, there was more than one or two such deities. For example, the past first-generation Sea God Poseidon, the current God of Emotions, and the God of Destruction under his command... all belonged to this category.
However, although the problem wasn't serious, the question still had to be asked.
"God of Destruction, Goddess of Life, what exactly is your intention in supporting a 1st-Class God with God King combat power in this way?"
Since they knew Destruction's goal, the next step was to clarify the reason why Destruction and the others were doing this. But... before Lie Yan even spoke, Tang San and the others had already guessed the reason.
And the truth was exactly as they expected.
"Of course, it's for the expansion of the Divine Realm."
A deep voice came from the God of Destruction's mouth, and then he changed the subject. Those eyes beating with bloody light targeted the Sea God sitting at the head. "Sea God, I'll say it again: in the future, more and more humans in the various lower realms will reach the peak of their respective worlds, requiring divine thrones to enter our Divine Realm. Therefore, it is time to continue expanding the Divine Realm."
Slap—headache!
Ji Dong and Lie Yan secretly wanted to slap their own foreheads.
Destruction was indeed targeting this matter!
No wonder...
It was just that they truly didn't want to get involved in this.
However, what they were more concerned about was whether the Goddess of Life's actions this time meant she was standing on Destruction's side.
Tang San also had the same thought.
Their imperceptible gazes, coinciding with Ji Dong and Lie Yan's, simultaneously fell upon the Goddess of Life. As a result, they saw the Goddess of Life, who was sitting in the subordinate seat to the God of Destruction, say, "This matter needs to be discussed at length. Destruction, don't be too hasty. Don't forget, the only reason I agreed to you is because the Sea God said the Divine Realm would face a great calamity in the future; that's why I'm helping you enhance the Divine Realm's combat power."
As soon as she spoke, the God of Destruction's eyes softened a few degrees, and his entire being fell silent.
He still stubbornly retorted with a single sentence, though, "Hmph—who knows if it's true or false?"
Upon hearing this, the Goddess of Kindness and the God of Evil first realized what was going on, and then felt embarrassed because of the God of Destruction's remark.
In contrast, Tang San remained composed, answering calmly, "I naturally wouldn't speak nonsense; you will know in the future."
The God of Destruction glanced at him and didn't argue with him.
So what if it's true?
So what if it's false?
Anyway, if this matter could be accomplished, it would only be beneficial and harmless.
Thus, the God of Destruction, having no desire to continue, lost interest and said, "Since this matter is now settled, I will take my leave first. I still need to handle the upcoming trial affairs." After saying that, he stood up and turned to walk out.
The Goddess of Life looked apologetically at the Sea God, but also stood up and said to the three, "Sea God, Goddess of Kindness, God of Evil, I'll be leaving first as well. After all, I also have to participate."
The Sea God smiled and nodded, giving off a refined impression.
"Go ahead, I will be leaving too."
So, after the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life left one after the other, he also bid farewell to Lie Yan and Ji Dong, who still had to stay at the Divine Realm Committee on duty, and then went straight back to his Sea God's Temple.
"Brother San, you're back."
As soon as Tang San stepped into the temple, Xiao Wu came up to greet him, then asked curiously, "Brother San, where did you go just now?"
"I went to the Divine Realm Committee..."
Naturally, Tang San had no intention of hiding anything from his wife, so he told Xiao Wu the whole story, and also confessed his true thoughts to her.
"...So if I'm not mistaken, the God of Destruction's true intention definitely isn't to add more combat power for the upcoming crisis in the Divine Realm, but to add more combat power under his own command. In this way, their faction's strength will become even more powerful, and even if he seizes power in the future, he will have a great advantage."
"This Destruction is truly despicable!"
Clenching her delicate fist, Xiao Wu frowned with a face full of pouty anger!
"I think he's just plotting something sinister! Brother San, if you ask me, you're just too soft-hearted. It would have been better to listen to Boss Dai back then and made a move on him early on. You must know that a new emperor brings new officials, after all."
"Sigh—"
Tang San let out a long sigh, seemingly worried about Destruction's power grab.
But in reality, he dismissed Xiao Wu's words.
When he first ascended to the Divine Realm in the past, his foundation was unstable. How could he have had the strength, or which deities could have supported him in making a move against Destruction?
Could he really rely on the other six of the Shrek Seven Devils?
Mubai was really something else; in the lower realm, he had been a prince for less than five years. Coming to the Divine Realm, he only knew how to talk strategy on paper.
This had also misled Xiao Wu.
However...
Destruction was going to end up trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice this time.
Thinking of this, the corners of Tang San's mouth couldn't help but turn up.
Seeing her Brother San looking so happy, Xiao Wu became curious once again. "Brother San, what are you suddenly smiling about?"
"I'm smiling because Destruction is going to end up making a wedding dress for me this time." Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, reaching out to stroke her beautiful hair. "If that Rakshasa God's inheritor can successfully become a god, then besides Zhou Weiqing, I will have one more deity with God King-level combat power as an insider on Destruction's side. In this way..."
He didn't continue, but his face was full of satisfaction.
Clearly, Tang San had absolute confidence.
'I'd like to see how you fight me, Destruction!?'
...
"I'd like to see how you fight me, Sea God!?"
After leaving the Divine Realm Committee, the God of Destruction exchanged a few simple words with the Goddess of Life, then returned to the Destruction Castle, and once again vigorously summoned the Seven Deadly Sins Gods.
Moreover, upon recalling that the Sea God and the others had all fallen into his trap, the God of Destruction, who rarely showed a smile, even had the corners of his mouth rarely turning up slightly.
However, after the God of Destruction noticed that the Seven Deadly Sins Gods had all arrived, his upturned corners quickly retracted. He swept his gaze over the seven Deadly Sins under his command, and the moment he opened his mouth, he asked:
"Have you all thought it through?"
"My Lord, we already have a draft."
Under the dark blue seven-ringed halo, a man with an extremely handsome appearance and long golden hair stood up proudly. However, when facing the God of Destruction, the man's arrogance was completely retracted.
"Tell me."
The God of Destruction sat steadily on his throne, indicating that he was all ears.
As long as the plan given by the Seven Deadly Sins Gods wasn't absurd, he would use it, because right now, he no longer had the time for the Seven Deadly Sins to draft a new trial plan for him.
After all, in the lower realm right now, two months had already passed.
If they dragged it out any longer... who knows how many more years would pass.
If that really happened, then it would be too late.
So, after the God of Arrogance finished explaining, the red light in the God of Destruction's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Then, before the God of Arrogance could even finish speaking, the God of Destruction interrupted.
"Good! This is a great idea!"
"In that case..." Saying this, the God of Destruction lowered his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Divine Realm beneath his feet and passing through the galaxy. "Then this matter is decided. The few of you, begin."
"Yes!" ×7
Upon hearing this, the Seven Deadly Sins Gods agreed in unison.
Thus, for a moment, the aura of original sin permeated the entire hall.
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