"Are there truly no other alternatives?"
Seated upright, Qian Daoliu's face was terrifyingly dark, especially after listening to Gu Yuena's words. His expression had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Alternatives? What kind of alternatives are you hoping for?" Gu Yuena countered. "I never expected the Spirit Hall to be so despised and abandoned by the gods of the Divine Realm."
The Angel God's statue still had traces of the Sea God's divine power lingering on it.
This was utterly absurd.
Had it not been for the fact that her current body was constructed from the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, she might not have even noticed.
Anyone with a brain would know that the Sea God linking his divine power to the Angel God's statue was definitely not meant to aid the fallen Angel God—at least, the likelihood was less than one in a hundred.
Add to that the involvement of Rakshasa and Asura.
Good heavens, what had the Spirit Hall done to deserve the attention of one God King and two first-grade deities?
"You can refuse my proposal, but it won't change anything."
Gu Yuena's tone was calm as she picked up an apple from the fruit tray nearby and took a small bite.
"Qian Renxue has already set off for Star Dou Great Forest. As for my true form, well... the reason this body of mine is here is simply to inform you."
"Lady Gu Yuena, isn't this act of acting first and reporting afterward a bit excessive?" Although they were cooperating with Star Dou Great Forest, Qian Renxue was still Bibi Dong's daughter—and the granddaughter of a certain someone who had holed up in the Spirit Hall's Worship Hall.
"I've already said, your opinions don't matter to me." Gu Yuena raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Bibi Dong. "Having given up the Rakshasa God's trial, you should have realized something by now, no?"
"Logically speaking, Rakshasa and Asura belong to opposing factions. Their laws and abilities are similar, which should make them eternal enemies, or at the very least, mutually hostile."
"I don't understand why the two would join forces to target the Spirit Hall."
"Perhaps it's because the Angel God's attributes are the polar opposite of Rakshasa and Asura."
"Of course, there's another theory—that the Rakshasa God offended the Asura God over some matter, giving the Asura God the moral high ground and forcing the Rakshasa God to temporarily obey his commands."
The Rakshasa God was a first-grade deity, while the Asura God was a God King—one of the five enforcers of the Divine Realm.
As an enforcer, there were many things the Asura God could not do openly. But with the moral high ground, it wouldn't be difficult for him to have a first-grade deity handle some minor tasks.
"This..."
Bibi Dong paled slightly upon hearing Gu Yuena's speculation. "Could it be... back then?"
"Bibi Dong, what have you remembered?" Qian Daoliu noticed the change in her expression and couldn't help but ask.
"When I was in Slaughter City, I ruined the Asura God's trial for Tang Chen."
"During my earlier struggle with the Rakshasa God's divine will, the Rakshasa God inadvertently revealed this information."
"It was Rakshasa's divine power, wasn't it?" Gu Yuena sighed. "The divine powers of Rakshasa and Asura are similar. They can influence each other's energies. If that's the case, then it's not entirely impossible."
"So that's..." Bibi Dong's mind buzzed.
Before she could finish, Gu Yuena continued, "There's no point dwelling on the past now."
"I can assist you in becoming gods, but after your ascension, you must do your part to help our beast race return to the Divine Realm."
"Lady Gu Yuena, it's not that we lack confidence, but do you truly believe you can accomplish this?"
Qian Daoliu was inherently conservative. The Spirit Hall had been targeted repeatedly by gods, and their patron deity had fallen.
If not for the sake of the Spirit Hall's legacy and his granddaughter, he would never have allied with spirit beasts.
"Strive for it. Where there's a will, there's a way." Gu Yuena didn't offer a definitive answer. "All I know is that, like you, I'm walking on thin ice."
"Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu, you don't need to worry about the Angel God's trial. I have a way to prevent the Sea God from interfering."
"Moreover, my true form is capable of many things. Even injured, I can still move against a mere first-grade deity."
"Earlier, when I fought that youth named Tang San, if my deductions are correct, he has likely accepted the Asura God's trial."
"So that's why you told me to abandon the Slaughter Domain?"
"Exactly." Gu Yuena nodded and explained, "The so-called Slaughter Domain is actually part of a divine trial. Through the rules they bestow, gods can exert influence over those who possess such forced domains."
"If you don't wish to expose yourselves too soon, abandoning the Rakshasa and Slaughter Domains is your best option."
"That may be so, but... by your standards, I've only just stepped into the pseudo-demigod realm at Rank 99."
"Who knows how long it will take for me to become a god?"
"For humans, ascending to godhood isn't difficult—it just depends on what level of deity you wish to become."
Gu Yuena's tone was faint as she gazed out the window.
"Two thousand years ago, the Sea God Poseidon ascended. It took him a thousand years to gather faith and condense his godhood."
"The Spirit Hall could accomplish the same, perhaps even more efficiently than Poseidon."
"As for the specifics, Star Dou Great Forest has collected extensive information on deities."
"When Qian Renxue returns from Star Dou Great Forest, I'll have her compile the relevant materials for you. With tens of thousands of years of accumulated faith, it's not impossible for the Spirit Hall to produce a first-grade deity."
"In fact, I believe you, Qian Daoliu, have the potential for it." Gu Yuena turned her gaze to the golden-haired man beside her. "The Angel God's servant—the one who came closest to godhood, yet found it forever out of reach."
"But I..."
"You don't need to ignite the divine spark yourself. Once Qian Renxue completes her eighth trial, I will personally ignite her divine spark for her."
Gu Yuena elaborated,
"The reason divine servants must offer themselves as sacrifices is because ordinary spirit masters lack the foundation to fully ignite the divine spark required for godhood."
"But I am already at the peak of first-grade deity strength. Such a task is well within my capabilities."
"Moreover, haven't you noticed something special about Qian Renxue?"
"Special?"
Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu exchanged glances.
"Her innate twentieth rank." Gu Yuena paused, giving them time to think before continuing. "Fundamentally, humans cannot break the innate tenth-rank limit."
"The only way to reach an innate twentieth rank is through divinity."
"What do you mean?" Qian Renxue was about to ask, but Bibi Dong beat her to it.
"The Angel God has long since fallen, yet Qian Renxue possesses an innate twentieth rank. Can't you deduce the reason?"
"Gasp—" Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu inhaled sharply.
"Wait, you're saying that Xue'er is..."
"It's not what you're thinking." Gu Yuena shook her head, dispelling their worries. "The Angel God has fallen. She is gone. Qian Renxue will only ever be Qian Renxue—she will simply inherit an additional portion of power."
"Thus, at the very least, I can ensure the Spirit Hall gains three first-grade deities. And among those three, it's not impossible for one to break through to God King."