"After all, he's just a human?"
Du Siji felt like he had stumbled upon an incredible secret!
You see, Zhongli's statement had a premise: completing the Nine Trials of the Fire God!
Once he completed the Nine Trials of the Fire God, Du Siji would become the new Fire God!
But Xiao's implication was: even if he became the Fire God, he would still just be a human...
Moreover, Zhongli didn't seem to refute this.
Thinking about it, there must be quite a story behind this!
As a devout follower of the Martial God, Du Siji didn't doubt Zhongli but instead fell into deep thought.
For Zhongli and Xiao, is a first-level god merely a human?
Then, what exactly is a god?
As for Xiao, this young man who stood less than 1.6 meters tall, Du Siji felt an unprecedented interest.
This young man had quite the story!
"Complete the Three Trials of the Fire God, and receive the rewards: all soul rings increased by 5,000 years, one divine soul ring, and one set of Fire God equipment..."
Just as Du Siji was pondering, the voice of the Fire God echoed in his mind, though it carried a hint of confusion.
Indeed, not only was Du Siji confused, but even the Fire God, who was at the peak of the first-level gods, was equally perplexed.
Zhongli was unfathomable, clearly not among the first-level gods, so he must be at the level of a God King.
As for Xiao, he was equally mysterious.
But judging from Xiao's attitude toward Zhongli, the Fire God was convinced there was a story behind it.
Where did these powerful beings come from?
Such power was truly terrifying.
"The Fourth Trial of the Fire God: Break through to the Title Douluo level."
The Fourth Trial was something Du Siji had to go through, and it was relatively straightforward.
All he had to do was break through to the Title Douluo level.
And there was no time limit.
Hearing the Fire God's voice in his mind, Du Siji snapped back to reality. He clenched his fist, believing that with his hard work, he would definitely be able to assist Zhongli!
"No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will become your right-hand man!"
"Such ambition!"
What could the Fire God say?
He wasn't even sure if he himself could become Zhongli's right-hand man, let alone his successor.
The idea of the student surpassing the master was something only a very few could achieve. But Du Siji had the talent and the opportunity, so who knew?
"I laugh at the foolishness of the Asura God, I laugh at his lack of strategy. He actually dares to oppose such a being!"
"Does he think all powerful beings are like the Dragon God?"
The Fire God always felt that the death of the Dragon God wasn't due to the Asura God but rather some inexplicable conspiracy.
The Dragon God died, and the Golden and Silver Dragon Kings emerged.
Did the Dragon God really die, or not?
How could a being above the God King level die so easily?
Previously, he speculated that Zhongli was at the God King level because there was no reference point.
But now, with Xiao as a "reference," he felt that Zhongli must be a being like the Dragon God.
"Better not provoke him. Thankfully, I didn't choose the wrong side back then, or else I might face an ominous end!"
After Zhongli and the others left, a figure appeared at the spot where Zhongli and Du Siji had battled.
His eyes twitched, and sweat dripped from his forehead. At first glance, he was clearly frightened.
Swallowing hard, the man looked in the direction Zhongli had left and finally spoke, "They must have noticed me but chose not to say anything."
"To think that this young man's combat power is almost catching up to mine."
The newcomer was none other than Dugu Bo. He lived not far from here and had sensed the intense soul power fluctuations, prompting him to investigate.
He never expected it to be Zhongli guiding a junior from the sect.
Even more surprising was that this junior, who was only a Soul Douluo, had unleashed a force close to that of a Super Douluo!
Keep in mind, Dugu Bo was only at level 95, just one step away from breaking through to level 96.
Yet Du Siji's aura was almost on par with his...
"Truly, the waves behind push the waves ahead, and the waves ahead die on the shore!"
Dugu Bo sighed, feeling a bit weary.
He had worked so hard, yet in the face of true prodigies, his efforts seemed laughable.
"Sigh..."
After a while, Dugu Bo returned to normal, but then he seemed to remember something and frowned.
"Recently, the Spirit Hall has been constantly recruiting various sects. It feels like they're planning something big."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, so they probably won't be the first to fall."
"The Clear Sky Sect has gone into seclusion, so causing trouble for them won't be easy."
"Then, the first target for the Spirit Hall must be the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
As for how they would stir up trouble or make their move, that wasn't something Dugu Bo concerned himself with.
Why didn't Dugu Bo mention the Body Sect?
All members of the Spirit Hall held Zhongli in the highest regard, yes, it was respect!
Even the former Pope and the current Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu, treated Zhongli with great respect.
How could they dare to cause trouble?
There wasn't even the slightest conflict between the Body Sect and the Spirit Hall. In fact, when the Body Sect was being established, the Spirit Hall contributed personnel, effort, and funds.
Thus, the strongest sect, the first to be targeted, would undoubtedly be the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
Thinking this, Dugu Bo stroked his chin and fell into deep thought.
Some things couldn't be avoided simply by not participating.
Especially since Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan were in a relationship.
Even though he knew Yu Tianheng's intentions weren't pure, he indulged Dugu Yan...
"No, I can't get involved!"
"Yanyan likes to watch the sea, doesn't she?"
"Then I'll take her to the seaside for a stroll!"
Having made up his mind, Dugu Bo didn't hesitate and headed in the direction where Dugu Yan was.
In this world, Dugu Yan was his only family. He couldn't let her fall into danger.
Dugu Bo was a lone wolf and saw things clearly.
What he could see, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might not.
What he didn't expect was that the Spirit Hall's targets weren't limited to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan but also included the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was incredibly wealthy, to the point of being as rich as a nation.
If they could take over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, many things would become trivial for the Spirit Hall.
As for the Heaven Dou Empire, that was even simpler.
The Spirit Hall would ally with the Heaven Dou Empire...
Family wouldn't speak of two different things.
Even though Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong had recently had a falling out, to the point of possibly severing their mother-daughter relationship.
Their relationship didn't matter; the Spirit Hall supported Qian Renxue.
As for Bibi Dong, if she refused to support Qian Renxue, then she would just have to step down from her position as Pope. It was that simple.
As long as Bibi Dong hadn't ascended to godhood, Qian Daoliu had absolute confidence in removing her from the papal throne, especially near the Angel God's Temple...
Time passed, and despite Dugu Yan's reluctance, Dugu Bo took her away from Yu Tianheng, under the pretext of "watching the sea!"