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Faced with the Sea God's inquiry, Yang Xiong knew he had no way out. If the Sea God had brought him here, he must already know everything about him.
"Sea God, my lifelong pursuit is to achieve divinity at Level 100. I have repeatedly pushed beyond my limits to become the strongest person in the world, to become the most powerful god."
"The only divine inheritance on the Douluo Continent belongs to the Sea God, so I endured countless hardships to come to the Sea God Island and complete your trials. I did it all to become stronger."
The Sea God's expression shifted: "Do you know the consequences of lying to a deity? You clearly possess a trace of the Asura God's divine power. Why have you come to my Sea God Island?"
Yang Xiong quickly responded: "Sea God, I don't understand what you mean. Though I've been to Slaughter City, I haven't received the inheritance of the Asura God. The Asura God has not bestowed any divine trials upon me."
"If no one has granted me an inheritance, then what is wrong with coming to Sea God Island? With my efforts, my strength, and my talent, am I not worthy of inheriting the Sea God's divine position?"
The Sea God replied: "Aside from pursuing divinity at Level 100, do you have no other aspirations? No other faith?"
"The seas revere me as their lord, while the land reveres the Angel God as its orthodox deity. The power of gods far surpasses that of mortals. Even your Limit Douluo, in the eyes of deities, are as insignificant as ants. When you pursue true divinity at Level 100, will you not also seek higher authority?"
Hearing this, Yang Xiong's lips curled into a faint smile: "Sea God, are you happy in the divine realm? Are you happy after becoming a god?"
The Sea God's expression flickered slightly. If not for the endless and monotonous passage of ten thousand years, why would he even consider passing down his divine position?
"Yang Xiong, in your eyes, is life only about happiness and suffering? Do you feel no sense of responsibility?"
After careful thought, Yang Xiong replied: "What is responsibility? My family loved me, my sect nurtured my growth, and I repay my sect. That is what I consider responsibility."
"I have no ambition to rule the world, nor do I wish to dominate it forever. I simply desire to live freely, unbound by anyone, unconstrained by oppression."
"I have already fought against Qian Renxue, the inheritor of the Angel God. I believe my talent, perseverance, determination, and courage are no less than hers. But because she is the descendant of the Angel God and its inheritor, must I accept being ruled by the Angel God for generations?"
"Sea God, though you reside far in the divine realm, you should still be aware of the continent's situation. The inheritor of the Angel God is currently undergoing her inheritance. In just a few years, the Angel God will reappear on the Douluo Continent. I want to challenge her, to prove that my hard work can make me stronger—stronger than even a god."
"This is why I came to Sea God Island. I hope to become stronger, to break free from the shackles of fate through my own strength."
"Moreover, the Spirit Hall is extremely ambitious. They don't just aim to rule the entire Douluo Continent—they intend to extend their influence over the oceans as well. Given the ambitions of Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, they will inevitably target the Sea God Island sooner or later. Even if Bo Saixi, the Sea God Douluo, is formidable, she cannot withstand a Level 100 deity."
Upon hearing this, the Sea God's face turned cold: "The inheritor of the Angel God is indeed undergoing her inheritance. Is this your purpose for coming to Sea God Island?"
At this moment, even the Sea God felt confused. From Yang Xiong's demeanor, it seemed he wasn't lying—he truly came to the Sea God Island to pursue the Sea God's inheritance. Yet something still felt off.
Initially, the Sea God had planned to bestow the nine divine trials upon Yang Xiong. Given Yang Xiong's qualifications and strength, reaching Level 100 and achieving divinity wouldn't be difficult. In fact, he might even become extraordinarily powerful in the future.
But the problem was that Yang Xiong already possessed a trace of the Asura God's divine power, and his martial soul was beginning to evolve toward the Asura God's essence. The top-tier nine divine trials couldn't proceed, and he could no longer absorb soul rings aligned with the Sea God's essence.
Yang Xiong's eyes radiated unwavering resolve: "Achieving divinity is my lifelong goal. No matter how difficult the path, I must become a god. I must become the strongest being in existence."
The Sea God was taken aback by Yang Xiong's words. After a moment of thought, he spoke: "Then what do you think of the Asura God? I believe the Asura God would be willing to bestow his inheritance upon you."
Yang Xiong shook his head: "I don't know much about the Asura God. I've been to Slaughter City, and my martial soul has evolved toward the essence of Asura, but I've never sensed any indication of the Asura God's inheritance."
The Sea God asked: "Yang Xiong, do you know what Asura is?"
Yang Xiong's expression turned serious: "I've traversed the Hell Road of Slaughter City and visited its Blood River. In my eyes, the Asura God embodies the path of slaughter to achieve order. He is the fairest and most orderly deity in the world."
"There are countless living beings in the world. Humans and soul beasts attack each other, and humans harbor selfish ambitions. Only through ultimate slaughter and ultimate power can true order be established. The endpoint of Asura should be order."
Before the Sea God could continue, a blood-red light flashed in the sky, and a crimson figure appeared in the Sea God Temple.
This figure exuded no trace of life in his eyes. Whether looking at Yang Xiong or the Sea God, his thoughts seemed utterly undisturbed.
Especially striking was the endless aura of slaughter emanating from him—it resonated with Yang Xiong's Killing Domain yet surpassed it by countless times.
Yang Xiong was inwardly shocked. He realized this figure was likely the Asura God. He hadn't expected the Asura God to appear in the Sea God Temple.
Yang Xiong quickly bowed: "Greetings, Lord Asura God."
The Asura God glanced at Yang Xiong, and the entire Sea God Temple instantly transformed. The once vast oceanic energy now turned the palace blood-red, suffused with an overwhelming aura of slaughter. Even Yang Xiong, with all his strength, felt a chill run through his body.
The Asura God spoke without emotion: "Yang Xiong, you are clever to come to the Sea God Island. But do you know that as an inheritor of the Asura God, undergoing trials here is an insult to me?"
Yang Xiong replied: "Lord Asura God, I have not received any messages from you, nor do I know that I am your inheritor. Please forgive me, my lord."
The Asura God stated: "Do you know that the Asura God is one of the strongest gods in the divine realm and serves as its enforcer? There can be no accidents—everything must adhere to rules and order. Even I am no exception."
Yang Xiong clenched his teeth: "My lord, what are rules? What is order? If the rules are flawed, can they not be changed? Must countless lives on the Douluo Continent be sacrificed for the sake of so-called order? Must I abandon my family and friends?"
The Asura God glanced at Yang Xiong. Yang Xiong, who had been enduring, suddenly felt his entire body completely suppressed, his very soul on the verge of being crushed.
"Insolence, Yang Xiong. In your eyes, which is more important—achieving divinity or your family and friends?"
"Remember, gods can exist for ten thousand years, but your family and friends cannot become gods. Eventually, you will watch them perish one by one, decay, and ultimately leave you alone."
A trace of unwillingness flashed in Yang Xiong's eyes: "No matter how weak my family and friends may be, in my eyes, they are worth more than ten thousand others. I would never make such a choice. I will carve my own path through slaughter."
The Asura God's expression softened slightly: "Oh, Yang Xiong, let me ask you this—how do you view the Spirit Hall's massacre of various sects and their impending unification of the world?"
A faint smile appeared on Yang Xiong's lips: "I don't think the Spirit Hall is wrong. Their goal of unifying the world is correct—it might even be better for humanity and soul masters alike."
"But if the Spirit Hall seeks to slaughter my family and friends, I will not allow it. There is only one truth in this world—that the strong prevail."
"My name is Yang Xiong, and my stance opposes the Spirit Hall. Therefore, I must contend with them. I will prove myself to the world, create an ideal world, and establish a world centered on order."
The Asura God fell silent for a moment before speaking: "Yang Xiong, I am the Asura God, one of the three great enforcers of the divine realm. Are you willing to inherit my divine position?"
Yang Xiong's heart leapt with joy: "Thank you, Lord Asura God. I will certainly inherit your divine position and ensure that the name of the Asura God resounds throughout the heavens and earth. I will make the Asura God the strongest god in existence."
The Asura God let out a cold snort: "Do you know that as the God of Slaughter, my inheritance trials are far more difficult than those of the Sea God? If you wish to inherit my divine position, you must possess the resolve to die, for you may perish at any moment."
Yang Xiong clenched his teeth: "Lord Asura God, I am not afraid of death—I only fear dying ignobly. To me, life persists through ceaseless battle."
Upon hearing this, the Asura God pointed a finger at Yang Xiong. A red light surged into Yang Xiong's body.
Before Yang Xiong could react, the red light vanished, and the Asura God disappeared without a trace. Only the seated figure of the Sea God remained.
The Sea God's eyes reflected hesitation. Finally, he spoke: "Yang Xiong, since you have come to my Sea God Island and accepted its highest trials, I hope you do not disappoint me in this final trial. Even if you are the inheritor of the Asura God, failure will mean death."
As the Sea God's words ended, the entire Sea God Temple trembled. Yang Xiong felt dizzy and disoriented. When he regained his senses, he found himself back on the Sea God Island.
At the same time, a voice echoed in Yang Xiong's mind:
"Yang Xiong, Top-Tier Eight Trials, Eighth Trial: Seek the Sea God's inheritor and assist them in completing the Sea God's inheritance. Time limit: twenty years. Failure results in death."
Before Yang Xiong could react, his mind felt as though it were about to explode. The Sea God's Heart, which had merged with the Sea God's Trident, detached itself and returned to Yang Xiong's hand.
Simultaneously, the red eight-pointed star on his forehead suddenly vanished, replaced by a blood-red longsword.
Ning Rongrong and Shui Bing'er looked at Yang Xiong with deep concern: "Little Bear, are you alright? A blue light appeared, and you vanished entirely. It frightened us."
Yang Xiong reassured them: "Rongrong, I'm fine. Perhaps this experience was my greatest opportunity."
Turning to Bo Saixi, Yang Xiong bowed slightly: "Senior, the Sea God has given me instructions regarding the eighth trial. I may need to leave the Sea God Island."
Bo Saixi nodded: "I have already received the Sea God's command. Your group may leave the Sea God Island, but you must return soon. Otherwise, I fear you may truly die."
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