Chapter 129: The Goddess of Life
The Divine Realm, the Forest of Life.
The God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life stood side by side beside a patch of exotic flora from which faint, luminescent green light flowed. They spoke of matters in the lower realm.
The God of Destruction gestured toward an image conjured by his divine power. Within it, Furina's figure shimmered faintly. "Little Green, look at this young lady. She is the inheritor I have found for you. What do you think? Does she suit your wishes?"
The Goddess of Life focused her gaze carefully, and within her gentle eyes, a look of appreciation surfaced. "Mm, she is indeed a very suitable child. She has already inherited the Water God's divine seat. Her heart and nature are broad-minded and benevolent, and her talent is of the highest order. Observing her conduct, she is by no means indolent. Though not a cultivation fanatic, she is diligent and self-disciplined. Inheriting my Life God seat—she is a very fitting match."
She paused, and looked at the God of Destruction with concern. "However, if I pass my divine seat to her, when I then leave the Divine Realm... at that time, wouldn't you be left here all alone? Even if I continue to remain by your side as your partner, after losing my divine seat, I'm afraid my power would no longer be able to effectively neutralize your destructive intent as it once did. For you..."
The God of Destruction gently shook his head and cut off her worries: "There is no need for concern. I have also found an inheritor of my own. It is only that the child is still somewhat weak at present, his constitution insufficient to bear the burden of formally initiating the divine trial. We must wait for him to grow a while longer."
When he mentioned his own inheritor, a look rarely seen—something akin to anticipation—flickered through his destruction-laden eyes.
"Truly? That is wonderful!" Upon hearing this, the Goddess of Life's face blossomed with a radiant, joyful smile. She gently took the God of Destruction's hand. "That way, once we have both laid down our duties, perhaps... we might even have the chance to have a child of our own."
Her voice carried both longing and a faint, barely perceptible hint of sorrow.
The God of Destruction's frame stiffened almost imperceptibly. He fell silent for a moment, and when his deep voice emerged, it was laced with suppressed guilt: "If not for this destructive will of mine being so overbearing, the power of destruction so overwhelmingly strong... we would not have, until now..."
"Xiao Zi, don't speak like that." The Goddess of Life comforted him gently. From her fingertips flowed a vibrant green radiance brimming with life force, softly soothing the somewhat restless violet arcs of electricity flickering around him. "It doesn't matter, truly. As long as I have you by my side, I am already fully content. Now that we have found suitable inheritors, the future holds boundless possibilities. There is no need to let this trouble your heart any longer."
She shifted her tone, now carrying motherly concern. "That said, your inheritor will indeed need proper guidance so that he can thoroughly control the power of destruction. Otherwise, if in the future, when he joins with the one he loves, he faces the same predicament... that child would be far too pitiable."
The God of Destruction nodded, his tone resolute: "On this point, you need not worry. That youth carries manifold powers within him—vast spiritual power, the ultimate ice attribute, and even a wisp of pure death aura. His talent and natural genius are nothing short of transcendent. More importantly, he bears the favor of the Douluo Continent's destiny. Unless some force severs his thread of fate, his future achievements will be no less than those of the Sea God, Tang San."
He paused briefly and added, "Moreover, the inheritor chosen for you is also, at present, assisting him from the side. I believe he will surely be able to master the power of destruction—perhaps even wield it with greater finesse and mastery than I."
Only upon receiving such definite assurance from her husband did the Goddess of Life truly set her mind at ease. She exhaled in relief. "That is good, then. In that case, I shall go and contact that young lady at once, and explain to her the matter of the Life God's divine trial."
"Good." The God of Destruction nodded in agreement. Then, with deliberate emphasis, he added, "One more thing: for the time being, do not breathe a word of this to the Sea God."
The Goddess of Life was slightly puzzled. "Why? Are you worried that the Sea God might attempt to contend for our inheritors? Though he... I should think he would not go so far, would he?"
The God of Destruction shook his head inwardly. What he had just offered was merely a pretext. His true apprehension was not that Tang San would try to snatch their inheritors, but rather the fear that, once Tang San learned that he and the Goddess of Life had already selected successors and were in close contact with the lower realm—especially any connection involving Huo Yuhao and Furina—that deeply scheming hypocrite would likely launch preemptive strikes and lay secret plans to obstruct them.
It was only that all this "damning material" and speculation regarding Tang San, which he had obtained from Furina, was not yet something he could fully disclose to his wife—with her pure and trusting nature—for fear that her emotional state might waver or that she might inadvertently reveal some trace of it.
"Just consider it my excessive caution," the God of Destruction could only say vaguely. "In a word, do not mention this matter to Tang San for now."
The Goddess of Life looked at her husband's grave expression. Though still puzzled, she obediently agreed. "Very well, Xiao Zi. I understand. Be at ease—I shall absolutely not reveal a single word to the Sea God."
She abruptly recalled something else and asked, "By the way, since you have been observing the Douluo Continent, you must also know of Xiao Qi's whereabouts, yes? Is that child doing well down there?"
At the name "Xiao Qi," the aura around the God of Destruction nearly spiraled out of control once more. He almost couldn't restrain himself from roaring out the truth—that Tang Wutong's divine sense had been split apart by Tang San and cast into the lower realm as a pawn to be manipulated.
But in the end, with formidable willpower, he forcibly suppressed the churning fury and the impulse toward destruction. Through gritted teeth, he forced out a voice that barely passed for steady: "She is... fine. Xiao Qi is doing well. She's with the very boy I've chosen. I hope that kid has enough emotional intelligence to win her over soon. That way, Xiao Qi would practically count as half my own daughter."
He strove to make his tone sound like the teasing of an elder, though inwardly he sneered coldly. Yet, in his heart, he did genuinely hope that the boy Huo Yuhao would win Xiao Qi over.
Hearing this, the Goddess of Life first started, then covered her mouth with a light laugh, gentle ripples of warmth spreading through her eyes. "If that were the case, it would indeed be a beautiful thing. Then let us wish your inheritor the very best of effort."
The God of Destruction grunted a noncommittal "Mm" and, unwilling to linger on this topic, turned to leave. "I shall take my leave first. There are still many affairs in the Divine Realm requiring my attention."
"Mm, go then. You have worked hard," the Goddess of Life said softly.
"It is my duty. 'Hard work' is hardly the word." The God of Destruction's form gradually faded, disappearing into the dense, billowing violet haze of destruction, leaving behind only the lingering resonance of his deep voice.
Alone now in her divine domain, brimming with vibrant life, the Goddess of Life gazed in the direction her husband had vanished, then turned to look at the phantom image of Furina. Her eyes filled with both anticipation for the future and a touch of faint, wistful melancholy.