Chapter 89: The Goddess of Life's Divine Seat
When the God of Destruction's figure appeared outside the Water God's Temple, the entire expanse of water trembled faintly. The dark-violet divine power swirling around him was utterly at odds with this azure sanctuary. It was as if a single drop of thick, dark ink was about to fall into a pool of crystalline spring water.
"Water God, are you within?" His low, resonant voice pierced through the temple's water-curtain barrier, startling a few water-element sprites that had been resting beside the fountain outside.
The Water God hurried out from the inner hall, her long, azure hair drifting gently with her steps. When she saw the God of Destruction standing at the entrance of her temple, a flicker of nervous tension flashed through her eyes.
"Coming, coming! Lord God of Destruction." She hastened forward, her voice carrying an unmistakable urgency. "Please, remain where you are! Your power of destruction is far too overwhelming. I fear my Water God's Temple could not withstand it. What's more, there are many water-element sprites dwelling here. Even if I and the temple could barely endure, these little ones certainly could not."
The God of Destruction's deep, violet eyes flickered faintly. He had already stopped at a distance he deemed appropriate. As the God King who commanded the very laws of destruction, he understood better than anyone the effects his power could bring. It was precisely because of this overwhelmingly potent will of destruction that he and the Goddess of Life had, to this day, been unable to bear children.
At this thought, he couldn't help recalling that Child of Destiny on the Douluo Continent. That child possessed, all at once, a spiritual attribute, Ultimate Ice, and even a faint trace of a mysterious death aura. He would have made an excellent candidate for inheritance. It was only a pity that he was still far too weak. If a divine trial were directly bestowed upon him now, it would likely burst his body apart.
"You need not worry. I know my limits," the God of Destruction's voice remained low, but he reined in the destructive aura that unconsciously radiated from him.
Only then did the Water God breathe a sigh of relief. She silently reflected that the God of Destruction was, as befitting an old-guard God King, a man of great restraint and propriety. If not for those Seven Deadly Sins under his command constantly stirring up trouble in the Divine Realm, she might have been more inclined to support this ancient deity.
Composing herself, the Water God inclined her body in a slight bow. Though she knew the God of Destruction disliked elaborate formalities, as a First-Class Deity, the essential courtesies could not be omitted.
As expected, the God of Destruction raised a hand to stop her. "Spare the formalities. I have come today merely to inquire about a minor matter."
The Water God's heart stirred. She had already vaguely guessed his purpose. The only "minor matter" that could prompt the God of Destruction to personally come calling was likely that sect which had recently stirred up such waves in the lower realm.
Just as she had anticipated, the God of Destruction came straight to the point. "I have taken note of an organization in the lower realm—on the Douluo Continent—calling itself the Church of the Water God. Yet the deity they worship is not you. It is a young goddess, one I have never seen before."
He paused, a deep, unfathomable light swirling within his violet eyes. "Through probing with my divine consciousness, I have learned that the Pope of this sect is a young, white-haired woman—a mere mortal who nonetheless proclaims herself the Water God incarnate. She is shaping a divine body through the collection of faith power, with the intention of creating her own divine seat."
"As the deity who commands the water element, you must have long since sensed this development." The God of Destruction's gaze fixed directly on the Water God. "I wish to know how much you understand this matter."
As I thought, the Water God said inwardly. The perception of this ancient God King was as sharp as ever. She gathered her thoughts and replied candidly, "It is exactly as you say. I did indeed discover the existence of this Church of the Water God not long ago—roughly half a day in Divine Realm time, or a little over half a year in the lower realm."
As she spoke, she tapped her fingertip lightly, and a mirror of water condensed between them. On its surface appeared the image of Furina, spreading her teachings across the Douluo Continent. That confident, composed demeanor made the God of Destruction's violet eyes narrow ever so slightly.
"I find this junior to be quite fascinating," the Water God continued, her voice carrying a note of genuine admiration. "Although her first martial soul is a cake—a support-type martial soul—her second and third martial souls are both of the water attribute, perfectly aligned with my divine seat. Thus, I decided to select her as my inheritor and have already bestowed upon her the Water God's Three Trials."
A smile curved at the corner of the Water God's lips. "I believe she is already walking the right path. With her talent, even without my divine trial, she would sooner or later have created her own divine seat. That being the case, I might as well lend her a hand—and conveniently pass on this position of Water God in the process."
She looked at the God of Destruction and added, half in jest, "It's rather interesting, isn't it? Lord God of Destruction, you really ought to consider finding an inheritor yourself."
The God of Destruction let out a soft sigh, his voice carrying a trace of desolation. "A suitable inheritor... is not so easily found."
These words plunged both of them into a brief silence. The inheritance of a divine seat was, indeed, a vexing problem every deity had to face—especially for an ancient and mighty existence such as the God of Destruction.
"Still," the Water God tilted her head curiously, "how did this matter come to draw your attention?"
A sharp glint flashed through the God of Destruction's violet eyes. "You just said 'as well'?"
"Ah, yes," the Water God explained. "Just before your arrival, the Sea God also inquired about the Church of the Water God through his divine consciousness."
"So that's how it is..." The God of Destruction's voice dropped a shade lower. He had long suspected that Tang San's scrutiny of the lower realm was far from ordinary. Now, it seemed his suspicions were well founded.
"I merely noticed the Sea God's unusually frequent attention toward the lower realm and wished to see what exactly could merit such keen interest on his part." The God of Destruction's tone was even, but the light flickering in his eyes betrayed his true thoughts. "Even if he is watching over his daughter, Tang Wutong... he should not need to be watching this closely."
The Water God nodded in sudden understanding. "I see. But the Sea God did mention he is currently searching for an inheritor. Perhaps that is why he's paying such close attention to the Douluo Continent."
Observing the Water God's guileless, innocent expression, the God of Destruction let out a cold scoff inwardly. He knew Tang San far too well. That meticulous, calculating Sea God would never go to such lengths merely to find an inheritor. Back when he had indirectly suggested to Tang San that he consider finding one, the other had been evasive and noncommittal. His current excuse was riddled with holes.
"At any rate," the God of Destruction redirected the conversation, "that junior of yours—her Church of the Water God has done a great many good deeds benefiting the common people on the Douluo Continent. I believe... it may be worth letting my wife, the Goddess of Life, consider passing her divine seat on to her as well."
"What?!" The Water God's eyes flew wide in astonishment, barely able to believe what she had just heard.
The God of Destruction inclined his head slightly, a rare gentle warmth flowing within his violet eyes. "If your inheritor is truly as outstanding as you say—if she is capable of simultaneously bearing the authorities of water and life—she may well walk this road far further than expected. Moreover, my wife's divine position as the Goddess of Life is exceedingly gentle and accepting. Even inheriting two divine seats at once would have no detrimental effect on this girl."
The Water God stared blankly at the God of Destruction before her. For the very first time, she sensed such a gentle, tender side to this ancient God King. She couldn't help recalling the love stories that circulated throughout the Divine Realm—the tales of the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life.
"This... this is truly unexpected." The Water God barely managed to find her voice again. "But I will need to communicate with Furina first. After all, this concerns her future divine path."
"Naturally," the God of Destruction nodded. "This is merely a proposal. The ultimate decision rests with the child herself."
The two conversed a while longer, primarily concerning the details of faith power collection and divine seat inheritance in the lower realm. During their talk, the Water God noticed the God of Destruction's gaze drifting from time to time into the distance, as if he were observing some particular existence on the Douluo Continent.
When the God of Destruction finally took his leave, the Water God stood at the entrance of her temple, watching that dark-violet silhouette slowly recede into the distance. A thousand thoughts and emotions swirled within her heart. She had the faint but undeniable feeling that the Divine Realm was brewing a monumental transformation—and Furina, the inheritor she had chosen, might very well stand at the very center of that storm.
Returning to the inner hall of her temple, the Water God gently stroked the image of Furina within the water mirror and murmured softly to herself, "Little one... do you have any idea how many great figures you've already drawn the attention of?"
Within the mirror, Furina was chatting with Xiao Xiao, her face alight with a confident, radiant smile. She was clearly completely oblivious to everything unfolding in the Divine Realm.
The Water God let out a gentle sigh, equal parts pride in her inheritor's brilliance, and worry for the challenges she would soon face. In this chessboard of interwoven powers that was the Divine Realm, a single misstep could bring utter ruin.
"But..." A steadfast light reignited in the Water God's eyes. "Since I have chosen you, I will support you with everything I have along this path."
She raised her hand and tapped lightly. A streak of azure divine power merged into the water mirror, transforming into an almost imperceptible blessing that pierced through layers of space and drifted gently toward Furina in the lower realm.
No matter how many hardships and obstacles lay ahead, this divine seat inheritance, once set in motion, would press forward with unwavering resolve. And the shifting winds and gathering clouds of the Divine Realm were certain, because of this young woman from the lower realm, to stir up new and ever greater waves.