Under Zhu Ziyang's stunned and doubtful gaze, the world instantly lost its color. Everything seemed to be pressed under a pause button. The entire space-time had fallen into a strange stasis. Mo Di, Xue Di, Bing Di, Er Shuang, the Demon Emperor Whale, the Demon Whale girl—even Zhang Lexuan behind Zhu Ziyang, and Jiang Nannan and Qian Lingyi further back—were all frozen like statues.
In this entire world, it felt as though only Zhu Ziyang retained perception of the flow of time.
A humanoid silhouette slowly appeared before him. This silhouette had no discernible appearance, gender, race—nothing. Even to Zhu Ziyang's senses, it resembled a mass of liquid waves, strange and mysterious.
That earlier indescribable voice had come from this very being.
Zhu Ziyang stared at it warily. From the power and methods it had demonstrated, it was undoubtedly a being beyond the god level. However, it didn't seem to harbor any malice toward him—otherwise, with its power to freeze space-time, it wouldn't have needed to reveal itself at all.
So, he asked, "Who are you? What's your relationship with that Demon Emperor Whale?"
"I am both connected to that beast… and not," the humanoid silhouette replied, its voice devoid of any emotion. "How should I put it? I also have a connection to you… and yet no connection at all."
"..." Zhu Ziyang was momentarily speechless. After a pause, he said, "So, what exactly are you?"
"I am the Spirit of the Planet. You may also call me the Will of the Douluo World," it answered. Its body shimmered with prismatic light, and its voice echoed directly into Zhu Ziyang's mind.
"Planet's Spirit? Will of the World?" Zhu Ziyang was stunned, then stared at the figure with a mix of awe and confusion.
"As the inheritor of the God of Death, you should understand what a World Will represents," the being continued.
Zhu Ziyang nodded silently. His memories offered some clarity—the World Will was the administrator of a world, the embodiment of the universe's will in a given realm, and the sky above the heads of all living beings.
His heart tensed. He couldn't fathom why the Will of the World would appear before him. Normally, such a being would never show itself easily.
"So then… why have you sought me out?" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but shift to a respectful tone. After all, the World Will was essentially the guardian of all life on Douluo, and until he ascended to the God Realm, that relationship would not change.
"There's really nothing major," said the World Will. "I just hope you can spare those two Demon Whales."
"Why?" Zhu Ziyang narrowed his eyes, displeased. Even if it was the World Will, it couldn't just demand things of him without justification!
"Those two Demon Whales still serve a purpose in this world," the Will replied. "Rest assured, I won't have you make this concession for nothing."
"What do you plan to offer in exchange?" Zhu Ziyang's eyes lit up as he asked.
"The Library has been of great help to you, hasn't it?" the Will said. Whether it was Zhu Ziyang's imagination or not, there even seemed to be a hint of sly satisfaction in its tone.
"You knew about that…?" Zhu Ziyang was shaken. But then understanding dawned. "So that's how it is! No wonder the Library holds so many books. Of course—it could only be the Will of the World who created such a thing!"
"You, as the Will, surely know that while the Library helped me, it alone isn't enough for me to make such a concession," he added.
"Naturally," the Will said. "Truthfully, your growth to this point—even acquiring the Death God's divinity—was something I never anticipated. But fate is like that. Even I cannot interfere with it. As for the one I originally chose… ha. Forget it. Let's move on to your compensation."
Zhu Ziyang was intrigued by that brief mention, but the Will quickly diverted his attention by presenting two items.
In its palm appeared two crystal-like objects.
One was a pure white diamond-shaped crystal radiating a sacred aura. Though cracks spread from its four corners toward its center, the core still shone undimmed.
The other was a gray, round orb. It emitted swirling gray mist, within which seven-colored lights shimmered faintly. Its surface was smooth, but its interior was riddled with dense cracks—a truly peculiar sight.
"These are…" Zhu Ziyang narrowed his eyes, staring intently, a look of disbelief spreading across his face.
"As you guessed," the World Will said, "these are the Godhoods of the Rakshasa God King and the Angel God."
Zhu Ziyang was stunned.
"After the Divine War, both Godhoods were damaged and unable to return to the God Realm. I absorbed them into the core of the world. After ten thousand years of nurturing and repair, though they've lost their former tier, they are still equivalent to two Second-Class Godhoods. I trust this is sufficient compensation for your concession."
"Heh. Two Godhoods, just to save the Demon Emperor Whale? Seems she must be very important to your plans," Zhu Ziyang remarked, still not taking the Godhoods immediately.
"I won't deny it," said the Will. "But that's not your concern. As someone about to ascend to the God Realm, do you intend to interfere in Douluo's affairs like your predecessors?"
"Oh, got it. I agree," Zhu Ziyang said decisively. From the Will's words, he understood its intent clearly. As the Will of the World, it undoubtedly knew of Mu En's dying words—and very likely, the truth of Mu En's death itself.
"Thank you," said the Will. "The Sea God has always regarded Douluo as his personal domain. You, as a human of Douluo who has gained the Death God's position without his approval, will surely face his hostility in the God Realm. I hope you win."
"You really seem to want me to win?" Zhu Ziyang asked, puzzled.
"Heh." The World Will gave a cold, emotionless laugh. "That one's ambition is far too great."
"Is that so?" Zhu Ziyang mused thoughtfully.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. May you ascend to godhood soon." With that, the figure began to fade. In the blink of an eye, it vanished as though it had never been there—dissolving into air as the world resumed its flow.
Zhu Ziyang nearly thought he had imagined it all—if not for the two Godhoods still warm in his palm.
"Please, spare my mother!" the Demon Whale girl's pleading voice brought him back to reality.
He instinctively pressed the two Godhoods against the Other Shore Flower Mark on his forehead. To his surprise, they were accepted into the space of divine inheritance. His interest in the two Demon Whales vanished completely. Without sparing the girl a glance, he turned and said, "Leave. Don't ever appear in these seas again."
With that, he departed.
His soul spirits quickly followed. Although puzzled by his sudden decision to let the Demon Whales live, they had always obeyed his commands without question.
The Demon Whale girl stood dazed, watching Zhu Ziyang leave. Her lovely face was filled with disbelief.
"He really… let us go?"
"Go, quickly!"
Her mother's weak voice reached her ears. The Demon Whale girl's emotions surged as she cried out, "Mom! Are you alright?"
"Baby… hurry… leave this place," the Demon Emperor Whale said weakly, her voice tinged with fear and unwillingness. "That boy… is a god!"
"A god!" The Demon Whale girl froze. That word… it was so familiar. Wasn't it that word that had taken her father's life? And now, they'd encountered a god again—but this time, they had survived.
Why hadn't her father encountered a god like this?
The mother and daughter dove into the depths of the sea. It could be expected—they would not appear near the Douluo Continent again for thousands of years.
(End of Chapter)
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