Witnessing the Master of Xiaoliang Temple, who had completely turned to ashes, the expressions of all the Demigod experts present turned exceedingly grim. They all released surges of Soul Power energy, meticulously sensing over and over the space where the Xiaoliang Temple Master had just been, trying to find any trace of his whereabouts.
How could this be?
The Master of Xiaoliang Temple had clearly passed the first three trials, and had even successfully ignited the divine flame to burn his own body during the final trial. He had held on for three days and three nights, a mere step away from divinity! Who could have imagined that at the very last moment, he would be burnt alive by the very divine flame he had kindled!
What was even more disheartening was that strange voice which had suddenly manifested at the moment the Xiaoliang Temple Master perished. It felt as if an enormous boulder had been placed upon the hearts of all Demigod experts who yearned for divinity.
The Path to Deityhood has been severed! No more Divine Beings shall walk this world!
That sentence echoed repeatedly in the minds of every Demigod present, like an invisible hand tightening around their throats, making them feel on the verge of suffocation.
"Is it truly impossible to achieve Deityhood in our era? Does that not mean none of us Demigods have any chance left?
All our bitter pursuit… is it all in vain, carrying water in a leaky bamboo basket?" a Perfected Demigod murmured, his gaze vacant.
"Master!"
At that moment, dozens of Daoist priests rushed forward, sobbing loudly as they reached the spot where their Master had been incinerated.
Clearly, these Daoists were all from Xiaoliang Temple. Every single one of them exuded a formidable aura. Among them, five or six were Demigods, while the rest were Heavenly Immortals.
"Are you certain the Xiaoliang Temple Master is truly dead?
Your Xiaoliang Temple is said to be one of the most ancient factions within the Chaotic Void Sea, possessing an immensely profound heritage. Did your Master truly have no means of preserving his life while undergoing his Deity Tribulation?" a red-robed old man stepped forward and questioned the Daoists.
"My Master had prepared for this Deity Tribulation for an exceedingly long time, collecting all sorts of treasures specifically for transcending tribulations to safeguard himself.
But the divine flame summoned by the Deity Tribulation is said to be the Flame of Primordial Chaos Rules from the depths of the Chaotic Void—a divine fire forged from the most primal and purest energy and laws of Chaos.
Let alone a Demigod, even the Divine Beings of ancient times would not dare to provoke the Flame of Primordial Chaos Rules lightly. As you all witnessed, all the treasures my Master had painstakingly gathered for this trial were utterly useless." An elderly Daoist priest sighed softly.
"Within this Chaotic Void, the Path to Deityhood has been severed. Aspiring for divinity is no longer possible," the old Daoist added.
The surrounding Demigod experts, having just witnessed the Master of Xiaoliang Temple burn alive, were already deeply dejected. Now, upon hearing the words of this elder from Xiaoliang Temple, their hearts grew even heavier.
Because the Xiaoliang Temple Master's Deity Tribulation had been the hope of countless Demigod experts, the best opportunity to test whether Deityhood was achievable in this era. And now, it had ended in failure!
According to the words of this elder from Xiaoliang Temple, the Temple Master had prepared for this Deity Tribulation for countless eons, gathering myriad treasures specifically for transcending the trial and preserving his life.
Furthermore, the power displayed by the Xiaoliang Temple Master just now was witnessed by all; he was arguably the strongest existence within the entire expanse of the Chaotic Void Sea. Under such circumstances, he still failed.
This indicated one thing: achieving Deityhood is no longer possible in this current era!
The Daoists of Xiaoliang Temple offered their respects and performed rituals at the spot where their Master was incinerated, then departed in haste.
"Esteemed fellow Daoists, from this moment forth, Xiaoliang Heaven shall close. Outsiders are no longer welcome!" Before leaving, the old Daoist from Xiaoliang Temple left these words.
A profound silence fell over the surrounding Demigod experts, all of them steeped in a deep sense of loss.
"It seems that attempting to transcend the tribulation to achieve Deityhood through conventional cultivation paths is impossible!
In that case, the only thing left is to rely on competing for the Fortune to Become a God!
Henceforth, our Heavenly God Hall's armies shall spare no effort in expanding our territory and seizing this fortune! Anyone who dares to obstruct the advance of the Heavenly God Hall's legions must blame us for being impolite!" Suddenly, a sonorous voice boomed forth from the magnificent golden palace.
The grand golden palace then gave a slight tremble, releasing a terrifying surge of energy that rippled outward. Space shattered wherever the energy wave passed, causing some of the nearby Demigod experts to flee in fear.
"Well said! According to conventional cultivation paths, achieving Deityhood indeed seems impossible. What remains is to rely on the legendary alternative method—contending for the Fortune to Become a God!
Our Demon Capital will definitely compete for the divine fortune of this era! We hope you will not obstruct the Demon Capital's efforts, otherwise, no one's face will be spared!" A Perfected Demigod from the Demon Race swept his icy gaze across the scene and declared coldly.
The top experts of the other major factions remained expressionless.
When it came to contending for the Fortune to Become a God, it was unlikely any major power would yield. If it truly came to open conflict, even the Demon Capital would be met with resistance. No one feared the threat of this Demon Capital expert.
Especially for those Perfected Demigod experts, their greatest aspiration was to break through to Deityhood. If they could not achieve divinity, it meant their cultivation journey had reached its end—an outcome none could accept.
The Xiaoliang Temple Master had used his own experience to demonstrate that breaking through to Deityhood via conventional cultivation was nearly impossible in this era. Henceforth, everyone would surely scramble for the legendary Fortune to Become a God, said to increase the chances of success. This would undoubtedly result in an extremely brutal battle.
Who knew how many innocent beings within the Chaotic Void Sea would perish because of this? Eventually, life-and-death clashes might even erupt among the top experts of these great factions themselves.
"Fortune to Become a God?
So that's why. That explains why so many major factions within the Chaotic Void Sea suddenly dispatched armies everywhere, launching invasion wars and seizing territory not long ago. Their goal was to contend for this so-called Fortune to Become a God." Hidden within their small formation space, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao kept their auras concealed, listening clearly to the dialogue between the Demigod experts. Hun Lao couldn't help but send a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Yes. I was wondering why so many major factions suddenly launched invasion campaigns everywhere, slaughtering countless innocent beings. It seems it was all for this Fortune to Become a God," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Master, in their quest for a breakthrough to Deityhood and for this Fortune to Become a God, these powerhouses are launching invasion wars everywhere, bringing horrific calamities upon so many World Clusters, causing countless innocent beings to suffer and die as collateral. These bastards are truly despicable!" Recalling the succession of invasion battles she had experienced not long ago and the innocent lives lost in those wars, Hu Miao couldn't suppress her anger.
"There's no helping it. In the eyes of these powerhouses, ordinary, weaker beings are no more significant than insignificant ants. When have you ever seen a mighty dragon soaring high in the heavens show pity for the ants on the ground who perish? That's what they call the Path of Supreme Detachment.
The stronger one becomes, the weaker one's compassion and pity for the weak tends to be. That's just the way it is," Hun Lao stated.
"What a pile of rubbish, this Path of Supreme Detachment! I believe the strong should be the ones to protect the weak. What use is power if becoming stronger, if achieving Deityhood, requires slaughtering so many innocent beings?
Once my own strength reaches a sufficient level someday, I'll definitely make these so-called powerhouses pay!" Hu Miao declared.
"Hu Miao, your heart is truly kind. I support you. But the prerequisite is that your strength must be sufficient. So work hard on your cultivation from now on," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Don't worry, Master. As long as my bloodline can keep breaking through and upgrading, one day I'll be able to pummel all these so-called Demigod experts right here!" Hu Miao asserted confidently.
"Your Ancient Beast bloodline once dared to contend with Divine Beings in ancient times. If you truly reach your peak state one day, these Demigod experts before you will naturally not merit a glance from you," Hun Lao said.
"Hun Lao, have you awakened some racial memories concerning our Ancient Beasts?" Hu Miao immediately asked.
"Within the racial memories I've awakened, there are indeed some fragmented recollections regarding your Ancient Beasts. Broadly speaking, the Ancient Beasts were formidable existences in ancient times, daring to rival Divine Beings.
However, I don't know the specifics," Hun Lao replied.
"Then cultivate diligently. I look forward to seeing you become so formidable one day," Ye Yunfei encouraged her.
"Rest assured, Master. That day will definitely come. When it does, anyone who dares provoke us will be beaten until they submit," Hu Miao waved her fist and exclaimed triumphantly.
"I have something to ask your Hu Family. When our Dark Faction attacked the Sky-Purple World Cluster, why did your Hu Family obstruct our Dark Faction's army?
You owe me an explanation." At that moment, a massive, shadowy figure shrouded within rolling black mist took step after step forward, his voice icy.
"It was clearly our Hu Family's army that first penetrated the Sky-Purple World Cluster and, after battle, had already conquered over half of it. Only then did your Dark Faction's army arrive.
Under such circumstances, your Dark Faction actually demanded that our Hu Family's forces withdraw from the Sky-Purple World Cluster and relinquish the territory we had toiled so hard to secure for you! Since when has such a twisted logic existed in this world?
And now your Dark Faction wants to reverse right and wrong, demanding that our Hu Family gives your Dark Faction an explanation?
In truth, it's your Dark Faction who owes our Hu Family an explanation!" a slightly overweight, middle-aged man retorted angrily, watching the massive, shadowy figure approach step by step.
The Hu Family was a well-known major force within the Chaotic Void Sea. It was natural for this Hu Family expert to be unable to swallow such arrogance.
"Spare me your sophistry. By obstructing our Dark Faction's bid for the Fortune to Become a God, your Hu Family clearly shows no respect for us.
If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, you shall bear the consequences!" The massive shadow continued advancing towards the Hu Family's middle-aged man step by step, the energy pressure he radiated imposing an overwhelming sense of oppression.
"Your Dark Faction seeks to contend for the Fortune to Become a God. Does that mean our Hu Family cannot?
It's obvious your Dark Faction initiated the trouble, attempting to bully our Hu Family!" the Hu Family middle-aged man roared back furiously.
Standing behind him were five or six Demigod experts of the Hu Family, all of them staring at the Dark Faction expert with furious eyes.