Like rolling thunder, Xinzi's words shook the throne room, stirring the hearts of various deities.
'The arrogance of youth!' Most of the heavenly officials thought.
No one doubted that Xinzi's talent far surpassed that of Yun Canghai, but talent still needed time to mature. One had been cultivating for 163,000 years, 99% of which was spent in the Celestial Paradise's sacred land. The other barely had 60 years of cultivation behind him and came from the lower realm. No matter how one analyzed the matchup, Xinzi was committing hara-kiri.
Some officials, however, had a more reserved outlook—including two that shook their heads, picturing a disaster.
These two, Chang'e and Anyuan, respectively the Sovereigns of the Moon and Darkness Pantheons, were Yongye's closest vassals and had access to information that eluded other deities.
One man stood out, walking towards Xinzi. Dressed in ocean-blue robes, with resplendent white hair that hid a hint of lilac, that man walked with transcendence elegance. Swirling clouds orbited his form, rotating past a vertical divine ring that hovered at his back—reminding the onlookers of his rank in the Cloud Pantheon.
Yun Canghai made his entrance, and with his arms crossed behind his back, stopped several feet away from Xinzi, staring at the Night's young master with a mix of sorrow and disappointment.
"Hengye Zhen, like some of the deities gathered here, I had the opportunity to be present on the day of your birth. Till now, it remains the most mystifying event of my existence. However, I'm afraid you've let your potential get to your head. Don't say now, even in 10,000 years, you'd still not be ready to challenge me," Yun Canghai said, and as he faced Xinzi, the contrast between his slender, effeminate beauty and the Zhen-body's feral and herculean appearance formed a compelling contrast.
Xinzi said nothing, not even bothering to glance Yun Canghai's way. Disinterest and disrespect leaked from his body language, making some marvel at his hubris. Yun Canghai didn't care, and with the poise of a senior admonishing a rash junior, extended one hand at Xinzi.
"However, today you're laying claim to a seat that the Celestial Paradise cannot allow you to possess. Though I bear you no ill will, I can't allow you to replace me. In consideration of your age, I will let you make the first move.
Go ahead!" Following these words, barely visible mist leaked from Yun Canghai's form, setting up the stage for his Divine Manifestation: the Illusory Cloud Manifestation.
By relying on this manifestation of his Divine Power, whenever he wanted to, Yun Canghai could turn his body into mist, making him impermeable to all physical damages. At the same time, his mist could sneak into the opponent's body, making the flesh explode while assaulting the soul with horrifying phantasms.
Throughout the Celestial Paradise, only the Illusory Cloud Manifestation of the Yun clan's high-ranking deities could effortlessly turn a divine's soul upside down.
True, Yun Canghai had nothing against Xinzi. But if he could use this opportunity to inflict serious damage to Yongye's son, even if it came at the cost of his life, he'd do it without hesitation.
Silence returned, with the divine senses of all deities locking on the two protagonists. Xinzi still didn't glance Yun Canghai's way, keeping his eyes glued to his father's throne. The thousand-faced shadow at his back twisted with eerie grimaces, amusement and a thirst for brutality intertwining in all faces.
"As disappointing as ever," with his eyes focused on Shenzhuo, Xinzi said and threw out a casual palm strike.
A boundless sea of Blood Energy, Divine Power and Immortal Qi erupted at Xinzi's back, surging alongside his Crippling Night Manifestation to lock on Yun Canghai.
One-hundred Divine Shackles formed around Xinzi, breaking to release an explosion of infinite power. Before that infinite power, Yun Canghai's 163,000 years of cultivation turned worthless. The Crippling Night Manifestation overwhelmed and erased his innate abilities, leaving him entirely defenseless before Xinzi's blow.
"Impos..." One loud banging sound and Yun Canghai's arms, legs, plus the lower half of his torso burst into lilac blood and gore. The rest flew across the room, crashing into adamantine palace walls.
The Gods barely had the time to process this scene that irresistible suction force kicked in, pulling Yun Canghai right back towards Xinzi. The young master stretched one hand out, catching Canghai by the neck, and choking all lingering struggle out of him.
"UGH!" More lilac blood gushed out of Canghai's mouth and mangled body. His Divine Soul weakened, failing to prevent the collapse of his cultivation base.
"Depending on what mortal shell they create, just like demons, the blood of Divine Spirits and Gods can take various shades. But unlike the demons, this doesn't affect the color of our tears. Not that it matters, because Gods cannot shed tears—or so the saying goes.
Yun Canghai, today, My Divine Self wants to ascertain the validity of that saying, and see what it takes for a God to break down." Barely had these words crossed Xinzi's lips that his Heavenly Dao Bones kicked in, unleashing a blast of Dao Runes that poured into Canghai's body, ruining his teetering cultivation and assaulting his Divine Soul!
"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Yun Canghai's mournful cries barreled through the Celestial Assembly's ears, forcing them to accept the reality they confronted.
Behind her veil of darkness, Yongye nodded, her eyes shining with clear satisfaction.
"Yun Canghai, you were created by the Sovereign Goddess of the Cloud Pantheon to succeed her as master of the Cloud Pantheon. But you've yet to take on that seat, and even if you did, you'd still be my hierarchical inferior.
I am the contemporary clan master of a Divine Pantheon—of Sovereign and inviolable status. Insolent insect, who gave you the audacity to refer to me by my given name?!" One ear-splitting shockwave erupted from Xinzi's palm, blasting the rest of Yun Canghai's mortal shell into smithereens and spreading fissures throughout his Divine Spark.
"Know your place," Xinzi said and relaxed his hold, enabling Canghai's Divine Soul to drop to the ground.
"No...noooo! Canghai!" One goddess leaped out of the ranks, desperately trying to rush to Canghai's aid. Alas, formless forces erupted from Yongye's seat, forcing that woman to tumble into the ground and stare helplessly at Yun Canghai's weakening soul!
"Impossible. How could he be so strong? He's just at the late stage of Immortal Foundation, yet his Divine Power alone eclipses most High Gods'! This...isn't possible! Yongye, you're cheating! Canghai, what have I done to you? No...no!"
The Heavenly Empress lost her composure. She too tried to reach for Canghai but failed to break through Yongye's suppression.
"What is it? The realization that you've wasted tens of thousands of years of time and effort to raise a cripple or the genuine concern of a brokenhearted mother? Tell me what makes you scream so loudly for this insect, and I might not destroy his spark. Careful, I can kill Gods," Xinzi cast the Cloud Sovereign a sidelong glance, and asked in a serious tone.
In that instant, from Yanglong to the lowest-ranked official, all gasped with terror-struck eyes, and came to the same conclusion:
'This is the most transcendent young master in the past, present and future—history's strongest junior. Give him time to grow, and the three Paradises will not have a single existence able to resist him.'
