Douluo Continent: Thunder Roar

Back then, across the vast expanse of time and space, Tang San caught a glimpse of that power and sensed its antiquity, primal nature, and domineering power!

It was a form of power he had never seen in the records of the divine realm or any legends of the lower realms. It was as violent as thunder, as heavy as the earth, filled with the most primal natural power and fighting spirit, yet it was terrifyingly refined and pure!

At this moment, I could clearly perceive that unique aura once again.

subversion!

This is an unparalleled power capable of overturning the entire divine realm!

This terrifying power should not be allowed to run rampant in the lower realms. If it is exploited by those with ulterior motives, it will lead to irreparable consequences.

It must be controlled by a god-king who cares for all living beings, has a broad mind, is great and selfless, and is pure and noble.

I, Tang, though unworthy, am willing to sacrifice myself to feed the tiger for the sake of all living beings!

Countless thoughts flashed through Tang San's mind: he had to control this variable!

We must never allow this power to fall into the hands of others, especially the wicked God of Destruction!

Almost instinctively, he wanted to unleash an even stronger divine sense to lock onto the boy named Ling Yu, even resorting to some hidden methods to firmly control him or forcibly sever his connection with that power!

However, just as his thought arose, his divine power rippled slightly, and a trace of intent carrying inquiry and icy pressure was about to break through the dimensional barrier—

"Poseidon".

A calm voice, yet imbued with supreme authority and an aura of destruction, pierced his mind abruptly like the coldest icicle, carrying an unquestionable scrutiny and warning.

"You've gone too far."

It is the god of destruction!

Tang San felt a sudden chill, as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water. His boiling killing intent was forcibly suppressed back to the deepest part of his heart, but he showed no sign of it on his face.

He faced a certain point in the void, nodded slightly, and his azure eyes had returned to their deep and gentle stillness, as if the violent fluctuations of just a moment ago had never occurred.

"God of Destruction, what are your instructions?" His voice remained calm and composed.

"There's a fluctuation in the lower realm, something unusual." The God of Destruction's voice was unreadable, but the omnipresent intent of destruction, like the tightest net, enveloped every inch of the Sea God's Temple. "Is it related to you?"

Tang San's expression remained unchanged, but his mind raced.

We must not let Destruction become aware of the existence of that unique power, otherwise there will be no more checks and balances in the God Realm, and it will inevitably forcibly expand the God Realm, causing all sorts of troubles.

"Perhaps some strange and wondrous creature has been born on the Douluo Continent again." His tone was calm, carrying a perfectly balanced blend of curiosity and detachment. "The evolution of life across planes is always unpredictable. Why is the God of Destruction so concerned with 'trivial matters' in the lower realms?"

Tang San knew that under the God of Destruction's clear gaze, any major action he took against the lower realm would be immediately detected.

He had to be patient and find a more discreet opportunity.

"Sea God, it seems it's time to convene the Divine Realm Council again," the God of Destruction said coldly. This was the second time he had caught this guy personally interfering in the mortal realm.

Two years ago, when the newly born spirit of nature descended, Tang San intervened once, causing the spirit of nature to be forced to sacrifice itself to humanity before it was fully formed.

This time, he actually attacked that human again. As the God-King who enforces the rules of the divine realm and the human world, he naturally wouldn't stand idly by.

……

The Divine Council, the Central Divine Temple.

The palace was magnificent, and above the dome, countless illusory stars moved slowly along mysterious trajectories, casting down a constant and cold light.

Five thrones, neither gold nor jade, exuding an ancient aura, were arranged on either side of a massive long table. The table's surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the starlight swirling around the ceiling, making it appear even more solemn and dignified.

At this moment, seated atop the five divine thrones are the five great god-kings who govern the divine realm.

The silence was broken first by the god of destruction.

"Everyone has arrived." His voice was exceptionally clear in the empty temple. "Today's meeting will begin with the first matter—the boundaries of the divine realm. Shouldn't we make some changes?"

He paused deliberately, letting his words linger in the silence for a moment, before slowly continuing: "The situation in the lower realm is evident to all of you. In the past ten thousand years, the number of Soul Masters qualified to reach the threshold of godhood has increased many times over. This is a good thing, indicating that the path of Soul Masters is flourishing and all beings are striving upwards."

The next moment, his tone suddenly turned serious, "But the divine positions in the divine realm are still the same. One seed, one hole; there are only so many holes, not a single more. Countless exceptionally talented individuals toil for hundreds or thousands of years, exhausting their energy, only to find themselves unable to even touch the edge of becoming a divine official, forced to watch helplessly as their lifespan ends, their life's cultivation vanishes into nothingness. What do you call that?"

His gaze suddenly shifted to Ji Dong below, a hint of seeking approval in his eyes. "This is called the road being cut off! The path to heaven for billions of beings in the lower realm has been severed!"

Ji Dong's heart skipped a beat. He lowered his eyes and composed himself, speaking solemnly: "What the God of Destruction said is quite true. It is indeed the truth. There are many talented people in the lower realm, but they are trapped in the mortal world and have no way to advance. It is truly regrettable."

The gentle voice of the Goddess of Life then rang out, taking over the topic: "It's not just human soul masters. Even those soul masters qualified to touch the threshold of godhood face a difficult road ahead, let alone the soul beast race. That's one point."

She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping lightly over Tang San before settling on Ji Dong and Lie Yan, posing a more profound question: "Secondly, it concerns ancient events. The Dragon God fell, and countless years have passed since then. Back in the heyday of the God Realm, beast-type deities occupied almost half the realm, standing shoulder to shoulder with human deities in a balanced and orderly system. But what about now? For soul beasts cultivating in the lower realms, the ten-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation is already a near-death experience, and the million-year Tribulation is even more elusive, as difficult as ascending to heaven. Among them, the most talented and virtuous are either trapped by the shackles of their bloodline or by the extinction of their divine positions, their future uncertain, their destiny unknown. If this continues, the fortunes of the soul beast race will gradually decline, the balance will be disrupted, ultimately neither a blessing for soul masters nor for the God Realm."

Her tone softened, revealing a pragmatic consideration: "If the God Realm can take advantage of its expansion to strengthen its origins, perhaps... it could consider reopening a sliver of heavenly secrets for the strongest among the soul beasts?" Her gaze swept over the God Kings. "There's no need to restore the ancient order; simply adding a few beast-type god positions will suffice. This would be both a response to the soul beast race's difficult struggle for survival and a way to balance the increasingly unbalanced power dynamic between humans and beasts in the lower realm. It would achieve multiple benefits and make the God Realm's fortune more enduring and stable."

"Moreover," the Goddess of Life added finally, her voice soft yet powerful, "the strengthening of the divine realm's origins and the advancement of everyone's cultivation are a natural consequence. In this light, the expansion is truly a win-win strategy to make up for past regrets, consolidate the foundation, and continue the dynasty's fortune."

The hall fell silent instantly.

All eyes turned to the silent figure at the other end of the long table—Tang San.

As the person entrusted to the central authority of the divine realm by the two great gods of good and destruction from the previous generation, his attitude is of paramount importance.

Tang San slowly raised his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke in a steady yet powerful tone: "The stagnation of talents in the lower realms, the severing of the path for soul beasts, and even ancient events... What you two have said is all true. I have no objection to this."

"However," he changed the subject, his gaze becoming profound, "I have been restless lately, and when I glimpsed the tributaries of fate, all the scattered fragments I saw were filled with ominous signs, without a trace of good fortune."

He looked directly at the God of Destruction and said, word by word, "I have a premonition that expanding the divine realm at this time will inevitably lead to an unstoppable catastrophe. At that time, let alone making up for old regrets and adding more divine positions, even the foundation of the divine realm, which has lasted for billions of years, will be uncertain."

"A premonition?" The God of Destruction's eyebrows shot up sharply, a cold smile curving his lips. His tone was filled with undisguised skepticism and mockery. "Tang San, I and Life are primordial gods, existing since the very beginning of the God Realm. How can you, a newcomer, compare to our vast existence? Even we haven't detected the slightest hint of calamity. Where does this 'premonition' of yours come from? Could it be... just an excuse?"

The goddess of life also looked puzzled, her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes were almost overflowing with incomprehension.

Tang San's explanation sounded rather far-fetched to her.

Ji Dong and Lie Yan also secretly focused their attention, trying to sense the subtle fluctuations in the laws of heaven and earth, but to no avail. However, they had only recently become God Kings, and were even more puzzled at the moment, so they did not speak rashly.

Tang San's expression remained unchanged, as calm as a deep well. He slowly retorted, his tone resolute: "I bear the dual divine powers of the Sea God and the Asura God. One is born to kill, the other to be gentle, the other to be forceful. The intertwining of these two powers makes my perception of turning points in destiny different from that of ordinary gods. Although there is no concrete evidence to support this feeling, it has become clearer day by day, like a thorn in my side, leaving me no peace for even a moment. I cannot, and I cannot, gamble the safety of the entire God Realm on this seemingly 'win-win' situation."

He paused briefly, his gaze lowering before rising again, his tone returning to its previous calm, yet revealing an undeniable resolve: "The path for lower-realm soul masters and soul beasts has narrowed; it has always been so. The path to divinity is rugged, a struggle among all beings for survival. To pass is a matter of fate; to fail is destiny. One cannot blame others, much less the rules of the divine realm."

Inside the temple, there was deathly silence, except for the faint sound of the eternally howling wind swirling around the pillars outside, intertwining with the slowly flowing, cold starlight inside, pushing the solemn atmosphere to its peak.

The God of Destruction's voice rang out again, filled with suppressed anger and accusation: "What about the lower realm? The gathering places of soul beasts on the continent are shrinking day by day. If this continues, will there still be enough powerful soul beasts to support soul masters' advancement to Title Douluo?"

"It shouldn't take that long...." Tang San closed his eyes slightly, and when he opened them again, only a cold determination remained in his eyes, without the slightest hesitation. "I have a feeling that a turning point will appear soon."

His voice was deep, yet it resonated clearly in every corner:

"Let the soul masters and soul beasts in the lower realm suffer a little more."

"I'll bear the infamy; as for destruction, you'd better stop interfering with my efforts."

"You…" The God of Destruction was even more enraged upon hearing this, "Are you referring to me for just stopping you from interfering in matters of the lower realms?"