Soon, Yang Xiong was tightly bound by five blood-red chains. His entire body seemed completely immobilized, and he couldn't move his limbs at all.
What made these chains especially extraordinary was that they not only suppressed Yang Xiong's soul power but also restrained his soul, leaving him utterly unable to resist.
The Thunder Kirin laughed: "Why don't you just accept my inheritance? This way, I can borrow your body to return to the God Realm and even reach unprecedented heights."
Yang Xiong's expression turned serious: "I find it strange. The Dragon God is known for being upright and honorable, and even the Five Great God Kings of the God Realm act with integrity. Why do you resort to such underhanded tactics? It doesn't seem like something a god would do."
The Thunder Kirin roared angrily: "Don't mention the Dragon God in front of me! He doesn't deserve to be called a gentleman. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have ended up like this, and neither would our soul beast race!"
Yang Xiong smirked: "It seems you hold a grudge against the Dragon God. The initial vision you showed me must have been fake then. Cowards like you, who are cunning and deceitful, probably wouldn't dare face the Dragon God head-on. I doubt you'd even dare confront the Five Great God Kings directly."
The Thunder Kirin replied: "You know nothing! After we jointly created the God Realm, all the credit went to the Dragon God. Everyone revered him, but what did those of us who helped him get in return?"
"The Phoenix disappeared without a trace—I suspect the Dragon God eliminated her. Though he appeared righteous on the surface, handing me control over the world's order, those rules were crafted by him and the gods of the God Realm. They didn't care about what I wanted."
"I desired absolute power and status, as well as greater strength. But after taking charge of maintaining order, though the gods outwardly respected me, behind my back, they mocked me as heartless and devoid of emotion."
"Is any of this what I wanted? They set the rules but didn't follow them themselves. Instead, they blamed me—the enforcer of order—for everything. Do you think I deserved to end up like this?"
"When the Dragon God handed me control of order, those rules didn't bind the gods of the God Realm—they bound me. Since taking charge of order, my strength hasn't advanced at all. Under this system, everyone watched me closely, waiting to see if I, the enforcer, would make a mistake."
"This so-called 'order' became my greatest shackle. Otherwise, how could my strength fall so far behind the Dragon God's? How could I have been left powerless back then?"
A look of realization dawned on Yang Xiong's face: "This is quite interesting. The mighty god of order has fallen to such a state. It seems everything you told me before was a lie. Judging by the timing of your fall, your death likely occurred long before the great battle—and perhaps it was the Dragon God himself who dealt with you."
"No wonder, although you simulated the scene of the great battle, you couldn't replicate the true strength of the gods of the God Realm. The images you showed me were hollow, and your simulations of their power were based entirely on your own limited understanding."
The Thunder Kirin retorted: "All of this is the Dragon God's selfishness. He gathered so many people and granted them high status—even the so-called Five Great God Kings could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. What about me, who initially helped him? Could I just sit idly by and watch my power stripped away or allow others to surpass me?"
"Unfortunately, as soon as I made a move, someone caught me in the act. Even the Dragon God, despite us both being soul beasts, accused me of harboring ill intentions and sought to suppress me. I'd rather die than endure such humiliation—it was better to fight to the bitter end."
"Though the Dragon God managed to suppress me, I had my own methods. Having overseen order for so long, how could I not understand the loopholes in this world? How could I possibly surrender without a fight?"
Yang Xiong found the situation amusing. The god of order, exploiting the loopholes in the very system he enforced, had fled to the Douluo world and now sought to use those same loopholes to return to the God Realm and reclaim his position as its ruler. It was almost laughable.
"Enough talk. Now, obediently offer up your body. I'll gladly take it, and from this moment on, I will become the true master of the entire world."
Before Yang Xiong could react, the entire world seemed to shift instantly. He felt as though an enormous hand had seized him, attempting to tear his body apart.
Especially striking was what happened to Yang Xiong's nine soul bones—they were forcibly ripped from his body by some kind of rule-based force.
Yang Xiong was overwhelmed with excruciating pain, the kind that seemed to originate deep within his marrow. The scene before him changed rapidly, as if he were in a unique environment.
This was the trial of inheriting divinity, the most difficult test for anyone ascending to godhood: the trial of the seven emotions and six desires.
In this trial, one's soul bones are stripped from the body and refined into a single attribute to forge a divine body. Simultaneously, the soul undergoes the trial of the seven emotions and six desires, eventually transforming into a godly soul.
During this process, the slightest failure or misstep would result in eternal ruin.
Yang Xiong's consciousness suddenly arrived in a specific scene. In it, Ning Rongrong appeared—only six years old at the time, looking like an adorable child.
Young Ning Rongrong was incredibly cute. Though she was proud, she was also an exceptionally delicate little princess, dressed in lavish attire and exuding a gentle demeanor. The scene before him was picturesque and poetic.
The scene shifted rapidly, showing Ning Rongrong growing from six to fourteen, then to twenty years old. From being a little princess, she gradually transformed into the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, becoming a regal and charismatic empress.
This was Ning Rongrong's transformation from childhood to adulthood, the woman Yang Xiong had always admired deeply. Especially during the times they lived together—traveling across mountains and rivers, facing the raging waves of the sea, kissing, and gradually losing themselves in each other.
Yang Xiong felt as if he had entered a world filled with love—a warm, idyllic world he had always longed for. A world where only the woman he loved most existed.
Especially when Yang Xiong finally resolved to propose to Ning Rongrong, and they held an extravagant wedding.
Yang Xiong, clad in a resplendent suit, was immersed in happiness. All the elders were present, including his parents and Ning Fengzhi, who looked at him with smiles, as if a long-standing concern had been resolved.
Ning Rongrong, wearing a red veil, remained silent throughout but couldn't hide the joy in her heart—it was as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
After the grandest wedding in the world, witnessed by countless people, the two exchanged vows amidst thunderous celebrations. Both the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Body Sect were awash with joy.
But just as the ceremony was about to conclude, an abrupt change occurred in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Countless shadowy figures appeared, each clad in black and radiating immense strength, seemingly intent on slaughtering everyone in the sect.
In the sky, countless Title Douluo emerged, each possessing formidable power. The colossal Golden Crocodile King let out a deafening roar, while the cries of the Flame Lion and the Qing Luan echoed through the heavens. Two massive Coiled Dragon Staffs descended from the sky, as if aiming to crush heaven and earth.
Without hesitation, Ning Rongrong lifted her veil, her eyes revealing resolve like that of an unyielding warrior.
Sword and Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi's eyes were filled with anger, clearly enraged by the interruption of the wedding, ready to annihilate the intruders.
But at that moment, the entire space seemed to freeze. A golden-clad woman slowly descended from the air, her body illuminated by radiant golden light, resembling a goddess descending to the mortal realm.
This golden-clad woman was Qian Renxue. Her face was cold as frost as she gazed at Ning Rongrong with the hostility of a natural predator. However, when her gaze turned to Yang Xiong, her eyes revealed a strange mix of emotions—resentment, anger, sorrow, and even a hint of affection.
Qian Renxue drew her golden sword, pointing it directly at Yang Xiong.
"I never thought you'd actually get married—and without inviting me, an old acquaintance. You've truly disappointed me."
Yang Xiong's eyes showed confusion: "Qian Renxue, today is my happiest day. I don't want anyone disturbing it. Don't blame me if I become harsh."
Qian Renxue sneered: "You're marrying Ning Rongrong? Then what am I to you?"
Yang Xiong's face twisted in conflict, but seeing Ning Rongrong's furious expression beside him, his eyes grew cold.
"Qian Renxue, I've never provoked you. We're enemies, destined to remain lifelong adversaries."
Qian Renxue roared furiously: "Yang Xiong, you coward! Are you so concerned with how the world sees you that you can't face the truth of our feelings?"
Yang Xiong cut her off: "What feelings? Don't forget, I've thwarted your plans countless times. You and I should be irreconcilable enemies."
Qian Renxue's face turned pale: "I don't believe it. You've known my true identity all along, yet you never exposed me. Even though you've defeated me multiple times, you've always shown me mercy. I refuse to believe you don't harbor feelings for me."
"Don't forget, we've clashed countless times since childhood. No one knows me better than you, and no one understands your ambitions more than I do. We're the same kind of people—we're destined to be together. What does Ning Rongrong matter?"
Before Yang Xiong could respond, a cold woman appeared beside Qian Renxue—Bibi Dong.
"Xue'er, why waste words on this coward? He's just a man too afraid to face his own feelings. Despite having the strength, he dares to do nothing. This is the true nature of men."
The three stood in opposition, with Yang Xiong rooted in place, unable to speak. Ning Rongrong glared fiercely at Qian Renxue, while Qian Renxue ignored her entirely, her gaze fixed intently on Yang Xiong.
The crowd around them was in an uproar. These were the upper echelons of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Body Sect, and now they looked at Yang Xiong with confusion. They didn't understand the tangled history between Yang Xiong and his greatest enemy, nor why he had spared Qian Renxue so many times. Could it really be, as Qian Renxue claimed, that it was all because of unrequited love?
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