Chapter 250: The Integration of God Realms, a Long Future Ahead
In the cold Void Realm of the Universe, at the place where Tang San fell, the last trace of unwilling resentment and his shattered divine soul were completely annihilated under the purifying light of creation and thunder, leaving nothing behind. The shards of the Asura God Sword turned into dark red spots of light, slowly dissipating into the boundless deep space, marking the end of an era for the Old God Realm and the complete downfall of a God King.
At the edge of the battlefield, the four God Kings—the God of Destruction, the Goddess of Life, the God of Goodness, and the God of Evil—watched this scene in silence. The last traces of unwillingness and hope in their hearts vanished along with it. In its place was a complete acceptance of their fate and a complex sense of relief after the dust had settled.
Lei Chen and Gu Yuena withdrew their divine force and stood side by side. Their auras were steady as they looked calmly at the remaining four God Kings.
"Since the four of you have made your decision, please proceed," Lei Chen spoke. His voice was flat yet carried an unquestionable majesty. He held his palm upward, and a profound rune flowing with seven-colored radiance and containing the aura of the Douluo Plane's Origin slowly emerged. "Hand over the core imprints of your God King positions and swear a divine oath. I will keep my word and ensure you all leave safely."
Supported by the Goddess of Life, the God of Destruction struggled to steady himself. The terrifying wound on his chest was still slowly healing under the nourishment of the divine force of life. He took a deep look at Lei Chen, then at the Goddess of Life beside him, whose eyes were still wet with tears but filled with determination. Finally, he let out a long, heavy sigh. In that sigh was the fall of a glory that had spanned the God Realm for countless years, a lingering attachment to power, but more than anything, a reluctance to part with the person beside him and a compromise for survival.
"Forget it... This Destruction God Position is yours." The God of Destruction closed his eyes. At his brow, a complex three-dimensional divine sigil, pitch-black and appearing to contain the scenes of a Universe's end, slowly emerged and peeled away. The process of stripping it away was accompanied by unspeakable pain and a sense of weakness as his Origin drained, adding a layer of greyish defeat to his already pale face. Once the divine sigil symbolizing the source of the authority of destruction broke free, it trembled slightly in the air, emitting a heart-palpitating aura of annihilation before slowly flying toward Lei Chen.
The Goddess of Life followed immediately after. Her exquisite face bore a look of resolution, and the last trace of her attachment to the God Realm fell as a clear tear from her emerald eyes. At her brow, a verdant divine sigil, vibrant with life and seemingly containing endless mysteries of existence, also peeled away. One black and one green, the Destruction and Life sigils complemented each other as they flew toward Lei Chen. Stripping away her God Position was similarly damaging to her Origin, and her aura plummeted instantly, but she tightly held the God of Destruction's hand, her gaze firmer than ever.
Ji Dong and Lie Yan looked at each other. No words were needed; years of tacit understanding allowed their hearts to connect. Both activated their divine force simultaneously. At their brows, a pure white divine sigil of Goodness, emitting an aura of order and protection, and a deep, dark divine sigil of Evil, flowing with the intent of Chaos and judgment, respectively emerged. The departure of the two divine sigils did not bring much pain; instead, it gave them a sense of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted. One after the other, the sigils flew toward Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena raised her hand to guide them, and the pure white and dark sigils landed in her slender palm, circling slightly. She felt the Laws contained within them, and a flash of realization crossed her eyes, which reflected both creation and destruction. Goodness and Evil, though opposites, were interdependent and essential components of the Universe's balance. They would also aid her in perfecting the Dragon God's authority and understanding the evolution of Chaos.
"We swear by our Origins," the God of Destruction's voice was weak but clear as he spoke first. The Goddess of Life, Ji Dong, and Lie Yan then chanted together, "From the day our God Positions are stripped, we four voluntarily leave this Star Domain. We shall no longer be enemies of the Douluo God Realm, nor shall we involve ourselves in any related disputes. Should we violate this, our divine souls shall fall eternally into the void."
Once the oath was made, the Laws in the unseen responded. Four imperceptible imprints sank deep into their divine souls, forming a constraint. This was a Supreme Divine Oath tied to their Origins; once violated, the oath would take effect immediately.
Lei Chen nodded slightly and put away the Destruction and Life divine sigils. Feeling the vast power of the Laws within them, he said calmly, "Now that the oath is sworn, the four of you may do as you please. The Universe is vast; there will surely be a place for you."
The God of Destruction gave Lei Chen a complex look, then glanced at the distant, damaged yet still massive silhouette of the Old God Realm. In the end, he said nothing. Supported by the Goddess of Life, he turned into a dim stream of light and slowly headed toward the deep space of the Universe, away from the Douluo Plane. His departing figure looked lonely, yet it carried a sense of liberation after laying down a heavy burden.
Ji Dong and Lie Yan cupped their hands in a salute to Lei Chen and Gu Yuena, their gazes filled with gratitude and farewell. Then, holding hands, they transformed into two blending lights of white and black, following the direction of Destruction and Life, soon vanishing at the far end of the stars.
Watching the figures of the four former God Kings completely disappear from his field of vision, Lei Chen turned his gaze to the shard of the 'asura god position' in Gu Yuena's palm. It belonged to Tang San and was now completely shattered, with only a few dark red flows of light barely maintaining the outline of a divine sigil.
"The asura god position is shattered, and recasting it will not be easy. Although the authority of slaughter and judgment within it is strong, the Evil Qi is too heavy and can easily disturb one's Heart-Nature," Lei Chen said in a calm tone. "This item is of little use to me. You rule the Dragon Realm; there may be a suitable candidate among your subordinates, or perhaps you can use the shards to comprehend the Dao of Annihilation and Judgment. Handle it as you see fit."
As he spoke, with a thought, the broken Asura divine sigil shard slowly drifted toward Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena did not refuse. She raised her jade hand to catch it, sensing the residual violence and shattered Laws within. She nodded slightly. "Being shattered to this extent, recasting it will indeed require significant effort and resources. Furthermore, it requires someone with a steadfast Heart-Nature who does not fear the erosion of Evil Qi to wield it. I will take it for now and handle it slowly."
At this point, the ownership of the five God King positions of the Old God Realm was clear: Lei Chen obtained the Destruction and Life God King statuses, while Gu Yuena obtained the Goodness and Evil God King statuses and took temporary charge of the shattered asura god position.
It seemed that Gu Yuena had gained more, but Lei Chen's expression was indifferent, without the slightest hint of displeasure. As the Lord of the Douluo Plane, he was deeply tied to the Origin of the entire plane; the stronger the plane became, the stronger he became. The God Positions Gu Yuena obtained would ultimately need to be integrated into the Douluo Plane system, and the Dragon Realm was part of the plane. The stronger the power she wielded, the stronger the overall strength of the Douluo Plane would be. As the Dominator of the plane, Lei Chen would naturally see his own power rise, benefiting endlessly. This was not a simple division of quantity, but a deeper level of a community of interests and a cycle of power.
Having handled the ownership of the God Positions, Lei Chen and Gu Yuena simultaneously turned their gazes toward the distance in the starry sky, where the Old God Realm floated quietly like a damaged giant ship.
Having lost the support and leadership of the five God Kings, the Old God Realm appeared even more dilapidated and silent. The surface of the realm's body was covered in cracks and craters left by the impact of Space-Time Turbulence. The seven-colored protective radiance was extremely dim, and the divine force fluctuations faintly coming from within were chaotic and weak. Clearly, the many remaining Divinities and divine officials were in a state of panic, not knowing what to do.
"Let's go and end this." Lei Chen took the first step. With a flash of his figure, he appeared outside the broken boundary wall of the Old God Realm. Gu Yuena followed closely behind.
The two did not forcibly break through the boundary wall. Instead, they allowed their vast Divine Might, which surpassed that of ordinary God Kings, to seep in like pouring mercury. It was gentle yet unstoppable, instantly covering the entire Old God Realm.
"Gods of the God Realm, hear my command."
Lei Chen's voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly in the depths of the Soul of every Divinity and divine official in the Old God Realm, carrying the supreme majesty of the Plane Master and the formidable prestige of having just slain the Asura God King and forced the surrender of the four great God Kings.
"Asura has been executed. The four God Kings—Destruction, Life, Goodness, and Evil—have voluntarily stripped themselves of their God Positions and departed into the starry sky. The era of the Old God Realm ends here."
As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar broke out within the Old God Realm. Terror, despair, confusion... all sorts of emotions spread among the gods. But immediately after, Lei Chen's voice rang out again, carrying a stabilizing force that brooked no doubt:
"However, the heavens value life, and I am not a bloodthirsty person. Today, I give you two paths to choose from."
"First, surrender voluntarily, renounce your original loyalty to the Old God Realm, and swear to join the nascent Douluo God Realm, following the new order and fulfilling your roles. To those willing to surrender, I promise not to strip you of your current God Positions or godheads. I will permit you to continue your divine paths within the Douluo God Realm system, and you may even find a broader World and purer faith."
"Secondly, if you are unwilling to submit, I will not force you. You only need to actively strip away your God Position and hand over the relevant authority marks, and then you may leave on your own. The Universe is vast; you may roam as you please. I will never obstruct you, nor will I hold you accountable."
His words were clear and straightforward, providing a choice while also drawing a bottom line. He did not drive them to extinction, offering a way out, but he would never allow those with divided loyalties to remain.
Silence enveloped the Old God Realm.
A moment later, waves of Divine Thought fluctuations of varying strengths began to cautiously probe out, carrying hesitation and testing; eventually, more and more Divine Thoughts converged into a complex tide of intent.
The vast majority of the remaining First-rank, Second-rank, and Third-rank Deities, as well as God Officers, having experienced the drifting of the Space-Time Turbulence and witnessed the fall and surrender of the Supreme God Kings, had long since had their resolve shaken. What they pursued was the continuation of their divine path, a better Cultivate environment, and a stable source of faith. Now, a more powerful and promising new Dominator had given a promise, showing overwhelming strength and a relatively magnanimous heart; the choice was self-evident.
One after another, Divine Thoughts representing submission and allegiance rose like sparks from every corner of the Old God Realm, converging toward Lei Chen and Gu Yuena outside the boundary wall. Among them, naturally, were the core authority marks from the God Realm Central Hub that maintained the God Realm's operation.
Of course, there were also a few Divinities who, either due to deep ties with Tang San and other old God Kings or due to conflicting ideologies, ultimately chose the second path. Silently, with a mix of resentment and relief, they stripped away their God Positions, handed over the relevant authorities, and then transformed into streaks of light, rushing into the deep space of the Universe without looking back to pursue an unknown path ahead.
Regarding those who left, Lei Chen and Gu Yuena indeed did not obstruct them as promised, allowing them to disappear.
When everything settled, there was no longer a trace of will to resist within the Old God Realm.
"Good." Lei Chen nodded slightly, exchanged a look with Gu Yuena, and gave a nod.
In the next moment, the two supreme existences took action simultaneously.
At Lei Chen's brow, the "Plane Master" God King mark and the newly acquired "Destruction" and "Goddess of Life" divine patterns lit up. The vast power of the plane's Origin intertwined with the triple God King authorities, transforming into an infinite giant hand seemingly composed of Chaos rays of light, gently "grasping" the broken Old God Realm.
Gu Yuena also raised her slender hand, invoking the Dragon God Authority. Chaos primary-colored radiance spread out, assisting Lei Chen in stabilizing the Old God Realm's structure. At the same time, her newly obtained "Goodness" and "Evil" divine patterns also glowed slightly, soothing the remaining Law threads within the Old God Realm belonging to those two God Kings, allowing them to interface more smoothly with the Douluo Plane's Laws.
"Realm Fusion, Return to Origin."
Lei Chen gave a low shout, and the giant Chaos hand slowly tightened and pulled.
The massive body of the Old God Realm began to move and approach the Douluo Plane in a steady and irreversible manner. Under the effect of the dual supreme powers, the broken boundary wall gradually softened and dissolved, contacting and blending with the Douluo Plane's boundary wall, which flowed with seven-colored radiance.
There was no earth-shattering collision, only silent penetration and Fusion.
The God Realm Origin, Law architectures, divine hall buildings, and even the Law marks and faith channels carried by the surrendering Divinities, which had been accumulated within the Old God Realm for countless years, flowed like a hundred rivers into the sea, slowly and firmly merging into the broader and more vital system of the Douluo Plane.
Within the Douluo Plane, the God Realm area began to expand and solidify at a visible rate. The radiance became increasingly brilliant, the Law network more complex and dense, and the spatial structure more stable and grand. The newly surrendered Divinities were surprised to find that their original divine halls were reshaped or even strengthened in the new God Realm, their connection to the plane's Origin became tighter, and the divine force and faith they could draw upon seemed even more pure and abundant!
The Mortal Realm, Netherworld, Demon Realm, and Dragon Realm also benefited simultaneously. The energy level of the entire plane climbed once again, the Laws became more complete, and the Foundation became deeper than ever before. Especially the Dragon Realm; after integrating some of the essence of the Old God Realm, the Dragon power within it became purer and more vast, and the evolution of Laws also quickened its pace.
As the leader and core beneficiary of all this Fusion, Lei Chen's feelings were the most profound.
When the last trace of the Old God Realm's Origin completely merged into the Douluo Plane and the entire plane emitted a satisfied, low hum as if it had eaten its fill, Lei Chen's body shook slightly.
He clearly felt that his connection with the Douluo Plane had reached an unprecedented depth and breadth. The ocean of the plane's Origin, after integrating the Old God Realm, the Law marks of the five great God Kings, and the contributions of many Divinities, had exploded in volume by more than several times! Its "quality" had also undergone a mysterious sublimation due to the Fusion of multiple supreme Laws.
At his brow, the "Plane Master" God King mark emerged on its own, rotating and expanding at an unprecedented speed. The patterns upon it became incredibly complex and profound, and amidst the flowing radiance, a grand scene of World-creation and the birth and death of stars faintly evolved.
"Boom!"
An essential sublimation from the inside out occurred within Lei Chen's body.
His aura began to rise and expand infinitely, as if he had completely merged with the Douluo Plane beneath his feet, which had already expanded several times and whose Foundation had deepened immeasurably. He was the plane, and the plane was him! A supreme majesty that stood above ordinary God Kings, presiding over the Reincarnation of a World and defining the beginning and end of all things, naturally emanated from around him.
Supreme God King!
By virtue of the plane's essential leap brought by swallowing and merging the Old God Realm, as well as his own profound understanding of the "Creation-Destruction" Dao, Lei Chen's "Plane Master" status finally broke through its shackles, promoting in one leap to the Supreme God King level—on par with Gu Yuena's "Dragon God" status. In fact, because he completely controlled and represented the will and power of the entire Douluo Plane, the weight of his authority and the solidity of his Foundation were even slightly superior to Gu Yuena, who relied on the Dragon God Legacy to regroup her Origin!
Gu Yuena floated nearby, feeling the aura on Lei Chen that continued to climb and finally stabilized at a level equal to hers but even more vast and majestic. A look of realization and admiration appeared on her exquisite face. She could feel that at this moment, Lei Chen's bond with the Douluo Plane was unfathomably deep; within this plane, his power was likely unrivaled.
Lei Chen slowly opened his eyes. Deep within them, what was reflected was no longer a simple starry sky or mountains and rivers, but a complete, vibrant World phantom containing endless potential, with birth and death in rotation, all within his grasp.
He looked at Gu Yuena beside him, who also possessed a grand aura. The two shared a smile, everything understood without words. Their common powerful enemies were gone, internal hidden dangers were eliminated, and now both had ascended to the supreme level. The Douluo Plane was unprecedentedly strong, the Alliance was stable, and the future was promising.
"The Old God Realm has been merged, and the base of the Five Realms standing together is even more stable. God, Mortal, Nether, Demon, and Dragon each have their own jurisdiction, and their Laws complement each other." Lei Chen spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a composure that planned for eternity. "However, the Universe is vast and its mysteries are infinite. Above the God Realm, there are still legends."
His gaze turned toward the depths of the vast and boundless starry sky, as if seeing an even more distant future.
"God Star... that is the truly supreme existence that transcends the constraints of a single God Realm, evolving galaxies and forming its own cycle." Lei Chen withdrew his gaze and looked at Gu Yuena, his eyes flashing with a deep and determined light. "Now that the Foundation is established and both of us are supreme, the next step is to concentrate on accumulating, organizing the Laws, guiding faith, and solidifying our Foundation. When the time is right, we can attempt to guide the Douluo Plane, along with its subsidiary God Realms and various Worlds, to launch an assault toward that legendary and even more grand 'God Star' level."
Gu Yuena nodded slightly, her ethereal voice carrying agreement: "It should be so. The Dragon Realm has just been settled and also needs time to settle and digest. The path to the God Star is not the work of a day; it requires us to join hands and proceed steadily."
The two Supreme God Kings stood at the peak of the newborn Douluo Plane, gazing at the starry sky. Where their eyes reached was no longer the grievances and territories before them, but that even more magnificent future belonging to the legend of the God Star.
The story of the Douluo Plane has turned a brand-new page. And the long journey toward the God Star has only just begun.
{end of the book}