Chapter 23: The Divine Realm

Ling Xiao and the two soul beasts reappeared in their original spot, and the surroundings returned to normal. It seemed as if nothing had changed, except for the dead soul beast now lying on the ground.

The Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape stared in disbelief at the corpse of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger before them. Although they knew that once Ling Xiao took action, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger’s death was virtually inevitable, it was one thing to think it, but quite another to witness Ling Xiao kill it with such ease. They were stunned; after all, something they had failed to achieve for so many years had been accomplished in an instant!

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Mission accomplished. Reward: Wings of Judgment, Armor of Death." As Ling Xiao looked at the corpse of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, the system’s voice rang out.

Ling Xiao’s consciousness entered the system space to inspect the two items that had suddenly appeared. One was a pair of strange white wings; their main frame looked as if it were made of some kind of metal, and while every feather was identical in shape, they appeared ethereal. The other was a suit of black armor that covered the entire body. It looked filled with deathly stillness, surrounded by surging black aura. Just a single glance made Ling Xiao sense danger.

"Why do these Wings of Judgment look so strange?" Ling Xiao withdrew his consciousness, thinking to himself. He didn't dwell on it, however, as he could check their functions in the system’s inventory.

"Ding! Mission issued: Second trial of the Nine Trials of the God of Judgment—Intercept the Evil God Pearl!" Just as Ling Xiao was pondering, the system issued another mission.

The Evil God Pearl?

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao looked sharply at the corpse of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and, sure enough, saw a pearl fly out from within it, about to vanish into the void.

Ling Xiao flashed forward instantly, reaching out to firmly grasp the Evil God Pearl. As he held it, he felt a surge of force as if it were trying to break free. Without hesitation, Ling Xiao increased his grip. Millions of jin of raw force rendered the pearl completely unable to move; it even began to develop cracks, nearly shattering.

"What is that in your hand?" the Azure Bull Python asked curiously, seeing Ling Xiao clutching something.

"A pearl that just came out of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's body!" Ling Xiao replied, withdrawing his hand. He frowned slightly as he looked at the cracked surface of the Evil God Pearl.

"System, does the mission still count as complete if the Evil God Pearl is cracked?"

"Yes, as long as the Evil God Pearl is in your possession, the mission is considered complete!"

"That’s good." Ling Xiao’s furrowed brows relaxed. It would be ridiculous if the mission failed just because the pearl cracked.

"Ding! Mission accomplished. Reward: Wings of Judgment!" The system voice rang out again. Just as Ling Xiao was about to check them, the voice continued.

"Ding! Mission issued: Third trial of the Nine Trials of the God of Judgment—Absorb the Evil God Pearl."

"Ding! Mission issued: Fifth trial of the Nine Trials of the God of Death—Absorb the Evil God Pearl."

"Two more divine trials simultaneously. This Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is truly extraordinary. I hadn't received any missions for months, and yet this single beast has triggered five divine trials. This must be the last, though, as there is nothing left to exploit from it—unless even its flesh and blood serve a purpose," Ling Xiao thought to himself.

"System, how should I absorb the Evil God Pearl?"

"Just eat it directly!"

Ling Xiao nodded and opened his mouth, swallowing the cracked Evil God Pearl. The next moment, it turned into a liquid-like substance and entered his body. Simultaneously, the system’s voice sounded again.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. By absorbing the Evil God Pearl, you have gained the Lightning Domain and the Wind Domain, as well as the Mechanical Evil Tiger."

"Ding! Mission issued: Devour the Evil God Pearl."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Mission accomplished. You have attained the Godhood of the God of Devouring. The Nine Trials of the God of Devouring have been unlocked!"

Another godhood!

Ling Xiao gasped as he listened to the incessant sounds in his mind. He had yet to complete the trials for the God of Judgment, the God of Life, and the God of Death, and now he had been granted the Godhood of the God of Devouring. He was going to be endlessly busy!

Just as Ling Xiao marveled at the sheer number of godhoods, in a realm above the Douluo Continent known as the Divine Realm, five figures were gathered in a space discussing matters. Suddenly, one of the figures shuddered, his expression turning ugly.

A graceful figure beside him asked, "Evil, what is wrong?"

The God King of Evil said with an icy expression, "A creature I created in the lower realm has been destroyed!"

The God King of Goodness asked, "You mean that soul beast you created called the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger? Although that type of soul beast has no rivals at the same level, it is not immortal. It is possible it was killed by a more powerful soul beast or soul master before it had time to fully develop."

"Indeed, Evil, it’s no big deal. It’s just a soul beast. Besides, it would eventually reappear by drawing upon your Evil God power after death," the God King of Destruction added from the side.

The God King of Evil shook his head. "That has indeed happened before, and I would not care. But this time is different. It has vanished completely and will never appear again. The Evil God Pearl inside it, which contained my Evil God power, has disappeared!"

"What? That is impossible. That is the power of a god. How could the lower realm cause the power of a god to vanish, especially when you are a God King?" the God King of Asura remarked, shaking his head.

"Asura, I have no reason to joke with you!"

Hearing this from the God King of Evil, the other God Kings fell silent. In the endless years they had existed in the Divine Realm as supreme rulers, such a loss of control was extremely rare. The last time it happened was when the Dragon God caused chaos, sparking the Great War of the Divine Realm.

"It seems something we are unaware of has happened in the lower realm. Perhaps a god has appeared there who refuses to ascend to the Divine Realm and has chosen to stay below. They may have sealed their own power," the Goddess of Life said softly.

"How absurd! Once one becomes a god, why remain in the lower realm? This is against the rules; they are violating the laws established by the Divine Realm!" the God King of Destruction said angrily.

"Evil, what do you intend to do?" the God King of Goodness asked.

"Regardless of who they are, they have violated the rules set by the Divine Realm for so long. It is only right to bring them to the Divine Realm to face judgment. Moreover, their actions are an undeniable provocation to me. However, considering that they will eventually join the Divine Realm and become one of us, while they will be punished, I will grant them a chance!" the God King of Evil decided.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

With the exception of the Goddess of Life and the God King of Asura, the other God Kings all expressed their concurrence.