Ever since Li Zhexian arrived in the Douluo Continent, he had encountered countless powerful figures.
Sword Dao's Chen Xin — famed as being peerless in offense and defense alike.
Pope Bibi Dong — who had perfected her Twin Martial Souls.
And even the Slaughter King — once one of the absolute pinnacle powerhouses of the entire continent.
Yet all of them—
Were not even one-tenth as awe-inspiring as the towering man before him, clad in blood-colored armor.
Amid the Slaughter City,
Li Zhexian already had a clear guess as to the man's identity.
Before he could speak,
the man slowly turned around.
Dark crimson skin was etched with mysterious purple markings, and on each side of his face rested a closed, expressionless visage.
No energy leaked from his presence—
yet merely standing there,
he seemed to tower above the heavens and the earth themselves.
Detached. Indifferent. Transcendent.
All these divine impressions intertwined—
evoking a sacred, almost irresistible urge to bow in reverence.
(Asura God)
A deep, thunderous voice
rolled through this blood-colored world.
"I am the Asura God."
"Li Zhexian, your talent and disposition both align with My God Position."
"I shall grant you the Asura inheritance."
Li Zhexian's fingers clenched tight within his sleeve—
then slowly relaxed again.
After a moment of silence,
he bowed deeply.
"Junior Li Zhexian greets Senior Asura God."
"May I ask, Senior…
does inheriting this god position require severing all emotion and desire?
Or are there other bindings or shackles attached?"
He knew well—
to inherit the Asura God's mantle
was to let all mortal attachments be extinguished beneath divinity.
He was, after all, still a man of the human world.
The Asura God position might be glorious—
but without a few close companions, without that which his heart cherished—
Even if he ascended the Divine Realm itself,
what meaning would there be in it?
In the Divine Realm,
The Asura God turned slightly,
glancing toward the Evil God, Ji Dong.
"How does this mortal know of the Asura God's severance of emotion and desire?"
Ji Dong shook his head.
"Not by My doing."
"I have yet to have any contact with Li Zhexian."
The Asura God studied Ji Dong's face for a long moment,
then said indifferently:
"No matter."
"Emotion is a chain of the mortal flesh."
"What are fleeting desires compared to the divinity of the Asura position?"
Ji Dong gave a small, knowing smile.
"Asura, you have observed this Li Zhexian for too short a time."
"Over the three years in the Slaughter City, you only saw His cold sword and chilling heart, but not his past appearance."
"To inherit your Asura God mantle, you would need to take the sword from his hand and sever the affection in his heart."
"For some people, there are always things more important than a God Position."
As he spoke,
Ji Dong intertwined his fingers quietly with the hand of the Goddess of Kindness, Lie Yan.
"Even among gods, there is a hierarchy."
"Beyond the ranks of Third-Level, Second-Level, and First-Level Gods,
stand the Five Great God Kings—
and the Three Law Enforcers."
"I, the Asura God,
am both a God King and a Law Enforcer."
The Asura God's crimson eyes gazed coldly upon the blood-clad youth.
"With such power and authority upon your shoulders,
what meaning has the word 'love'?"
"Through the endless years ahead…
only supreme dominion and divine eternity shall walk beside you."
"All else—are unworthy of your company."
The Asura God was, among all the deities, perhaps the most diligent in seeking inheritors.
This Slaughter City was His dojo.
Those who had earned the title of Slaughter God numbered well over ten fingers.
But among them all—
the one who most met His expectations
was the blood-robed youth before Him.
The Asura God's brows knit slightly,
and He offered what He deemed an irresistible promise.
"I observe that you are addicted to the sword as if your life depends on it, and you excel in the Sword Dao."
"Should you inherit My position, you shall wield the greatest sword in the Divine Realm,
replacing that mortal blade in your hand."
Li Zhexian had been about to politely decline—
but upon hearing those words, he did not hesitate in the slightest.
"I refuse!"
"…What?"
The Asura God's crimson pupils flared—
and in that instant—
Zheng——!
A clear, resonant sword cry split the heavens.
Between Li Zhexian's brows,
the mark of the Qinglian Sword blazed to life.
Before him,
the darkly luminous blade of the Qinglian Sword
manifested inch by inch.
Under the oppressive might of the Asura God,
the sword trembled violently, its spine nearly bending—
Yet it stood firm, unbowed.
The Asura God cast it a single indifferent glance,
His voice devoid even of scorn.
"A mortal tool—barely worth noticing."
"Compared to the Asura God Sword,
it is as heaven and earth apart."
Li Zhexian reached forward,
grasping the hilt firmly.
His clear, unwavering sword heart felt the unyielding will
resonating within the Qinglian Sword.
The Sword Bone of the Great Vertebra surged with sky-piercing sword intent.
Six distinct sword intents erupted—
yet upon meeting the Asura God's gaze, they shattered like glass.
Only scattered starlight remained,
clinging stubbornly to the blade's edge.
That faint glimmer,
in the vast ocean of divine might,
was barely a speck of dust—
Yet in that moment,
it was the defiance of a youth
proving to a god:
Even without a God Position,
he still had the right to raise his sword and challenge the heavens.
"To sever emotion and abandon my sword, I apologize, Senior, but I absolutely cannot obey."
"Senior Asura God, your kindness,
I must respectfully decline."
The Asura God's gaze swept slowly over the sword,
the twelve sections of sword bone dyed in six hues of sword intent, reaching even to his spirit—
and finally,
to the youth who stood as steadfast as sword and bone alike.
"A divine bearing indeed…"
For the first time,
a ripple stirred within the Asura God's otherwise detached tone.
Ji Dong stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Were it not that Li Zhexian already bears divine potential,
and yet aligns with none of the existing gods' essences—"
"Asura, would you even have needed to wait for your turn?"
"He would have long since passed My own Evil God Trials."
The Asura God remained silent for a long time,
then turned to depart the hall.
"To create a God Position of one's own… is no simple feat."
"I have dwelt in the Divine Realm too long… and yearn to wander the boundless starry sea."
"This youth is the one most aligned with My Asura position."
"I shall continue to watch him."
As His figure began to fade,
Ji Dong's voice rose behind Him:
"To forge one's own God Position,
requires approval from more than half of the Five God Kings of the Divine Realm Committee."
"The Asura God I know is one of grand vision—
truly magnanimous among the gods."
The Asura God's figure vanished entirely beyond the divine hall.
Ji Dong sighed softly and turned to his wife, Lie Yan.
"I've done all I can."
"To create one's own godhood is nearly impossible."
"It requires recognition from the God Kings,
a cultivation high enough to perceive the threshold of the Divine Realm,
and the accumulation of immense faith…"
"It is far too difficult."
"I can only hope Li Zhexian truly walks that path—
and brings one more god into existence."
Lie Yan smiled faintly.
"Judging by Asura's demeanor,
He hasn't given up yet."
"Mm."
Ji Dong gave a bitter smile,
his gaze turning toward the misty projection before them—
then his brow suddenly arched.
"Hm?"
"The Killing God Domain Asura bestowed upon Li Zhexian…"
"Seems to conceal something deeper?"
The crimson world silently collapsed.
The Asura God said nothing further—
and vanished without a trace.
Li Zhexian's consciousness returned.
He opened his eyes—
and met Qian Renxue's golden eyes, filled with anxious worry.
"Li Zhexian! You… what happened to you?!"
Her voice trembled.
"It's nothing."
Li Zhexian blinked, then smiled softly,
his warm hand covering her cool, delicate fingers.
The tenderness in that touch
spoke more than a thousand words.
How could the cold Asura Position
compare to the warmth of this hand—
this dearest companion—
and the sword that had shared life and death with him?
Hand in hand,
they stepped into the white, misty light curtain.
A gentle, water-like warmth enveloped their bodies.
After so long,
the sun's warm rays finally fell once again
upon Li Zhexian and Qian Renxue's shoulders…