God Realm, Eternal Temple
Huo Yuhao opened his divine sight, overlooking the lower world.
At this time, our little brat had just climbed out of bed and started walking. Before even turning one year old, he was already running to the back mountain to practice the Purple Demon Eye.
As for Tang Hao, having lived through one lifetime already, he wasn't overly concerned with the strange phenomena surrounding Tang San.
At this point, our little brat's martial soul had not yet awakened. His Eight Spider Lances hadn't been taken, his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline remained intact, the first four spirit rings on his Clear Sky Hammer hadn't been abolished, and his future spirit rings were still full of possibilities.
On top of that, Xiao Wu didn't yet know about his relationship with Tang Hao, so there was still a faint chance between them.
And with the Asura God's faction in the God Realm secretly watching over him, our little brat's future brimmed with infinite possibilities.
Huo Yuhao casually waved his hand, shutting off his divine sight. He said coldly:
"Now that the brat has arrived on the Douluo Continent, that piece of trash Asura has no more use. It's time to tear away Tang San's backing in the God Realm!"
Huo Yuhao clenched his hand.
Asura, do you really think I, Huo Yuhao, fear your so-called Three Realms Judgment Sword? I only tolerated you because I needed you to ferry that little Tang brat down to Douluo. Tang San—did you expect me to personally invite him from another world?
With that thought, Huo Yuhao sent out his divine sense to contact the God of Destruction of the Destruction Temple.
That day, the God Realm was calm as usual. In his own temple, the Asura God was watching his precious treasure's growth.
When he saw one-year-old Tang San crawling up the back mountain of Holy Spirit Village to practice the Purple Demon Eye, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad, not bad. As expected of my treasure. So diligent even at this age."
"Hm?" Suddenly, the Asura God sensed something amiss. He opened his divine sight and looked behind Tang San.
"How could the Blue Silver Emperor's Seed of Life be here??" the Asura God exclaimed.
The seed was hidden among ordinary blue silver grass, inconspicuous—but nothing could escape the eyes of a god.
He remembered: after the Blue Silver Emperor's sacrifice, the Seed of Life had vanished. He never expected it to appear here.
Though its existence didn't affect his overall plan—since in his view, it had already fulfilled its purpose—he still felt uneasy.
So, the Asura God began to divine the matter.
But the more he calculated, the deeper his frown grew—because he found nothing out of place.
And precisely because everything seemed too normal, he felt that something was wrong.
No, I must check this myself.
He stretched out his hand, but then stopped. He was under surveillance. Any move now would alert the other God Kings—especially Huo Yuhao and the God of Destruction. They were waiting for him to slip.
So the Asura God decided to wait and watch. If anything truly affected his treasure's growth, then he would act.
If necessary, he could even contact the Sea God. After all, the Sea God's inheritance still remained on the continent, and could be used to indirectly intervene in Douluo's affairs.
The Asura God continued his calculations.
At this moment, a temple attendant requested audience.
"Enter."
The attendant bowed and said:
"Your Majesty Asura God, the God of Destruction has sent an invitation, asking you to attend a joyous celebration at the Destruction Temple."
"A joyous celebration?" The Asura God took the invitation, puzzled. He mocked: "What joy could the God of Destruction have? Don't tell me he and Life are having a child."
"Your servant does not know," the attendant replied.
"How many gods besides me were invited?" Asura pressed.
"The God of Destruction has invited all the God Kings and First-Class Gods of the realm."
"Including that Eternal fellow?" Asura frowned.
"Yes."
"When did Destruction and Eternity become bedfellows? Hmph. I'll have to look into this."
He thought back: when Huo Yuhao ascended and became a god, his divine seat carried the potential of a half-step Supreme God King. To prevent another Dragon God—a sole absolute ruler—Asura had joined the other four God Kings to check him. Eventually, a delicate balance of power was struck.
But as time passed, the Goddess of Life vanished without a trace, while the God of Destruction slowly leaned toward Huo Yuhao's side. Only the Gods of Good and Evil still stood with Asura. This imbalance had left him at a disadvantage in several recent conflicts.
"Hmph. Let's see what game you're playing."
Inside the Destruction Temple: dim, lavish, filled with the aura of annihilation. The seven Sin Gods of the Destruction faction were present, along with invited First-Class Gods such as the Angel God, the Elemental God, the Emotion God, and the Strength God.
Smaller fry like the Sea God Poseidon weren't qualified to attend.
The four great God Kings were there too: Good, Evil, Asura, and Eternity.
The God of Destruction walked to the center seat of the hall. Good and Evil sat to his right, Asura and Eternity to his left. The First-Class Gods lined the sides below.
Once they were all seated, the Evil God asked bluntly:
"Destruction, you've gathered us all here. Out with it. What is this great occasion?"
The others, including Asura and Good, looked at Destruction with curiosity.
The God of Destruction couldn't hide his grin. He said:
"Don't be impatient. You'll know in a moment."
Then he called toward the inner hall:
"Xiao Lü, come out and meet everyone."
Elegant footsteps approached.
To the shock of all, the long-absent Goddess of Life walked out, carrying a baby sleeping peacefully in her arms. She gazed at the child with tender, motherly love.
"It's been a long time, everyone," she said softly, raising her head.
The hall fell silent for a long time. Finally, the three God Kings—Asura, Good, and Evil—couldn't remain still. They stood, their eyes locked on the baby in her arms.
"This child is…?" The Asura God felt an ominous premonition and asked.
"This is my and Hue Mie's child," the Goddess of Life answered. "His name is Hue Hui. Isn't he adorable?"
Good and Evil looked utterly dumbfounded.
Although the gods found it unbelievable, they could sense both the aura of life and destruction from this child.
The Asura God accepted this truth faster than the Kindness and Evil God Kings.
He gazed at the gray-haired child cradled in the Goddess of Life's arms, his eyes shadowed with gloom.
Life and Destruction were opposing attributes, their origins incompatible. Under such circumstances, it should have been impossible for them to bear a child.
This was something the Asura God understood better than anyone. The only way was to find a balancing attribute capable of reconciling life and destruction. Only then could a child be born.
And the Asura God's own divine seat carried such a property—his Judgment aspect was one of the balancing powers.
But he and the other four God Kings stood on equal footing. For him to balance the two supreme laws of Life and Destruction, to help them conceive, was impossible. At best, he could reconcile lower-level divine couples beneath the God King level—like enabling the Water God and Fire God to combine and bear children.
Precisely because of this, the Asura God knew how it could be done: Life and Destruction needed a balance greater than their own. Something like Creation. Or—Huo Yuhao's Eternity Attribute!
So that's why the God of Destruction had drawn close to Huo Yuhao, and why the Goddess of Life had disappeared. All the puzzling questions of the past suddenly became clear to the Asura God.
So, you had a child—and betrayed your brotherhood!
He looked at the baby in the Goddess of Life's arms. The sight was unbearable, glaring, infuriating.
In the past, he had envied Life and Destruction, Kindness and Evil—they could pair as husband and wife. While he, the Asura God, had to vent secretly with the lowly Rakshasa God.
Yet deep inside, he still held a sense of superiority. In his eyes, Life and Destruction, Kindness and Evil were bound, doomed never to have children. And though he himself had none, he believed he could have them whenever he wished.
But now, with the Goddess of Life holding a real child before him—the Asura God was utterly dumbfounded!
You—you, Destruction! How can you possibly have your own child? How could you betray the revolution!
This child was a source of calamity, a factor that could plunge the God Realm into chaos.
Destruction, you must listen to me. Let's not keep this child, alright? Life—how about this: let's be fair. I'll eat a pound of shit, and you put that baby back inside you. Let's not have this child, and restore the God Realm's peace and order!
This was meant to be a celebration banquet for the child of the Goddess of Life. All the gods were rejoicing at the birth of Life and Destruction's child. Only Evil, Kindness, and Asura sat absent-minded at the feast.
Throughout, the Asura God's face was stiff, hiding any sign of joy or anger.
The Evil God studied Destruction closely, while the Kindness Goddess looked upon the Goddess of Life with undisguised envy.
Near the end of the banquet, the Kindness Goddess quietly sidled up to the Goddess of Life, probing for information.
Once she had it, the feast came to an end.
The banquet scattered, the gods departed.
The Asura God did not return to his temple, but summoned the Rakshasa God instead, venting violently upon her.
When he finished, he casually tossed her aside and sat sulking.
"What's wrong, Shura-gege?" the Rakshasa Goddess asked. "You seem upset today."
"Didn't you attend Destruction's banquet?" Asura shot her an angry glance, then realized something. "Ah, right. In your lowly standing in the God Realm, you couldn't possibly attend such a gathering."
"Then why don't you tell me what happened?" the Rakshasa Goddess smiled.
The Asura God said coldly:
"Destruction and Life have a child."
The Rakshasa Goddess covered her mouth in disbelief.
"How could they possibly have a child? Aren't their attributes in direct conflict?"
"Before Huo Yuhao ascended, it was impossible. But after he entered the God Realm, everything changed," Asura explained. "He possesses a balancing law higher than Life and Destruction themselves."
"So that means…" Rakshasa murmured.
"I'm in trouble," the Asura God admitted bitterly. "Life and Destruction will surely stand firmly by the Eternal God. And worse—"
The more terrifying part was that his two allies, Kindness and Evil, were in the exact same situation as Life and Destruction!
They were husband and wife, bound by love, but unable to have children because of conflicting attributes. Though they hadn't shown the same obsession with offspring, once they saw Life and Destruction holding their own child, how could their hearts not stir?
He had shared millennia of camaraderie with them, but could that friendship withstand such temptation? Hadn't he also spent millennia working alongside Life and Destruction, only to be betrayed?
"The worst case," the Asura God thought grimly, "is that all four other God Kings throw their lot in with Huo Yuhao. If that happens, I must prepare early."
Evil God's Temple
"Kindness, did you manage to get anything out of Life?" the Evil God asked.
The Kindness Goddess replied:
"Life told me—it's because Huo Yuhao's balancing art reconciled their conflicting attributes. That's how they could bear a child."
"So it's Balance, huh? I see…" the Evil God said. "Our own laws are only at the God King's peak. But Huo Yuhao, upon entering the God Realm, already reached the level of a half-step Supreme God King. Using the Eternal Law to balance Life and Destruction—it makes sense. The question is, could it balance Kindness and Evil as well?"
The Kindness Goddess looked at him with love and asked:
"Evil, shouldn't we also have a child of our own?"
The Evil God wavered, tempted. But then a thought struck him. He frowned.
"This won't be so simple. From what I know of the Eternal God, he'll definitely target the Asura God. If he seizes the chance to demand our allegiance in exchange for helping us conceive, what then?"
He clasped his hands behind his back and sighed.
"We've worked with Asura for so long. How can we betray him so easily?"
"Hmph, and you call yourself the Evil God!" the Kindness Goddess scoffed. "So what, you'd rather bind yourself to Asura forever, and give up on the chance to have children?"
"That's not what I meant, I just—" the Evil God tried to explain.
"I know. After all these years as your wife, you think I don't know what's in your heart? You just want a graceful exit." The Kindness Goddess smiled faintly. "Well then, I have an idea."
"What idea?" the Evil God asked curiously.
"Simple," she said. "It's called: out of sight, out of mind."