Chapter 363: Shura God
Upon entering the Shura Temple once again, Yang Potian felt a newfound detachment. He no longer approached the godly throne with the eagerness he once held; now, he gazed upon it with a certain indifference, perhaps even a touch of disillusionment.
Seated at the temple's center, Shura Demon Sword in hand, Yang Potian fixed his gaze on the massive throne before him. His expression reflected both resolve and a hint of bitterness. For ten days, he sat unmoved, focused solely on the throne, until the air shifted, and a colossal figure began to materialize atop it. Towering and bathed entirely in crimson, even its hair radiated blood-red.
With a single glance at this figure, Yang Potian felt as if he were facing both the vast cosmos and an endless abyss, his own existence reduced to that of a mere insect. Though the figure's face was partially obscured, its imposing countenance exuded both disdain and a presence that stirred something deeper.
The Shura God spoke in a resonant tone, "Successor, why have you come to my temple? Do you harbor dissatisfaction?"
The words were calm, yet their sound reverberated like a thunderclap, creating an unsettling vibration in Yang Potian's soul.
He quickly bowed. "Esteemed Shura God, I am Yang Potian. I do have some doubts, and I seek your understanding and guidance."
The Shura God responded, his tone unchanged. "As my successor, what doubts could you possibly have? The Shura God is the god of slaughter in the Divine Realm, embodying supreme calm and absolute confidence at all times."
"Lord Shura, it's my sixth trial that confounds me. I've already severely wounded Di Tian and hunted several hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. I've demonstrated my stance toward soul beasts clearly—'they are not of my kind, so their hearts are different.' Soul beasts exist solely to serve as tools for humanity."
For a moment, the Shura God's tone shifted. "Is that the full extent of your awareness as my successor? Have you never considered coexistence between humanity and the soul beasts?"
Yang Potian shook his head. "I've thought about it, but my priority as a human is to consider my kind first. Humanity does not need to exterminate soul beasts, but they must be subdued. Only when soul beasts have been completely brought to heel will peaceful coexistence be possible."
"Then tell me," continued the Shura God, voice still devoid of emotion, "do you not fear the extinction of the soul beasts? Or that your human spirit masters may eventually disappear as well?"
Yang Potian met the Shura God's gaze, unwavering. "I do not fear it. The soul beasts have proven to be far more resilient than anyone realizes. Humanity may perish, but I don't believe the soul beasts will truly die out."
The Shura God raised an eyebrow. "Are you mistaken? In mere decades, humanity can birth new generations of spirit masters, each needing numerous spirit rings to advance. Soul beasts, however, require millennia to mature, with some taking tens of thousands of years. This places them at a severe disadvantage. Isn't their extinction inevitable?"
Yang Potian offered his perspective. "Soul beasts do indeed have longer life cycles, but our human spirit master population is relatively limited. All the spirit masters on Douluo Continent number only around a hundred thousand, meaning they require, at most, five hundred thousand rings."
He continued, "Certain types of soul beasts reproduce quickly, such as the Blue Silver Grass and the Soft Bone Rabbits. Blue Silver Grass can grow in nearly any hostile environment and, in some cases, can become an ecological threat. Soft Bone Rabbits can give birth to over a dozen offspring at once and multiply rapidly, which is why soul beasts have a higher survival capacity than humanity."
The Shura God contemplated this. "There's some merit to your words. But should such unrestrained hunting continue, the soul beasts will decline significantly, and high-level spirit rings could become unattainable."
Yang Potian remained firm. "While high-level rings may become rarer, lower-level ones will still be accessible. Additionally, there are plenty of sea soul beasts that could provide spirit rings. As our technology develops, humanity's need for ten-thousand-year rings will also decrease, leading to a true era of technological advancement."
Now the Shura God's expression turned grave. "Then, what is your stance on soul beasts—destruction or peaceful coexistence?"
Yang Potian deliberated before replying. "As I mentioned, 'they are not of my kind, so their hearts are different.' I know that the soul beasts still harbor schemes, particularly Di Tian and his followers, who have no small ambitions."
He spoke decisively. "The soul beasts must submit unconditionally and cease to be a threat to humankind. Figures like Di Tian, with their aspirations and hostility, should be eliminated to avoid future calamities. For ordinary soul beasts, they should be allowed to live, and humans should hunt them as needed, respecting natural law. Of course, humans must also refrain from senseless slaughter, as we see with the actions of Slaughter City or individuals like Dugu Bo, who poisonously decimate entire populations of soul beasts."
After a pause, the Shura God gave a slight nod. "Your approach aligns with both the development of the spirit master world and Douluo Star as a whole. But tell me, what is the essence of the Shura God?"
Yang Potian's eyes glowed faintly red as an aura of Shura energy began to radiate from him, though compared to the Shura God's, it was like a candle next to the sun.
"I believe that the Shura God is the god of slaughter, the one who punishes chaos. As the saying goes, 'kill one to be a criminal; kill ten thousand to be a hero.' The Shura God is the ultimate sovereign of chaos."
For the first time, the Shura God's countenance softened. "The 'sovereign of chaos'... An apt description. However, the Divine Realm requires not a sovereign but a fair enforcer."
Yang Potian's face tightened with defiance. "Lord Shura, I understand that the Divine Realm seeks an enforcer, which is precisely why I've refrained from unrestrained killing. Otherwise, the soul beasts' plans would already be ashes, and Wuhun Hall wouldn't be on the brink of dominating the continent."
"Everything I have done thus far has been in self-defense, for the survival of my family."
The Shura God's gaze seemed to soften slightly. "Is this frustration because someone prevented you from killing Di Tian?"
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