Chapter 1606: Qualifications

The sudden surge of terrifying power made every Main God in the area tense up, their gazes locking warily onto Ye Guan. That pressure... it was coming from him.

As all eyes fixed on him, a shadowy figure appeared above Ye Guan's head, gradually taking form. It was a middle-aged man. The moment they saw him, every Main God froze in shock.

"Zong Xin?!"

Lin Hou stared at the man; his eyes were filled with deep apprehension.

As soon as Lin Hou confirmed the man's identity, the others snapped out of their daze, only for fear to replace it. They knew exactly who Zong Xin was.

To outsiders, he was just the number one name on the wanted list of blesphemers. But what they didn't know was that he used to be part of the Central Gods Temple. No, he was once the head of the Divine Martial Temple, the strongest faction within it. It was even said that he had once been personally named by the former Temple God as his successor.

No one knew why he betrayed the Temple of the Gods and vanished from the world.

Lin Hou never imagined he'd see Zong Xin here. He narrowed his eyes at Zong Xin and chuckled coldly. "No wonder Ye Guan dared to show up alone. So it's you backing him up."

The other Main Gods finally understood; Ye Guan wasn't some random prodigy. Zong Xin was behind him, which made sense now. He was practically raised by the Temple of the Gods itself. No wonder he was freakishly strong.

Zong Xin laughed but didn't bother to explain. His gaze fell on Lin Hou. "Didn't expect you, of all people, to end up as an Executive Main God.

Tsk...

Still as corrupt as ever."

Lin Hou's expression darkened. "Back then, you were hailed as the Central Gods Temple's strongest. I'd like to see if you've lived up to the name."

"You want to fight me?" Zong Xin laughed dismissively. "Ask Mu Rong if you're even qualified."

Mu Rong was the Temple God of the Central Gods Temple.

Lin Hou grinned. "Let's find out the hard way, shall we?"

He stepped forward. From his palm, a golden official seal shot into the air. A moment later, a mysterious force descended, locking both him and Zong Xin in its grasp.

A Main God Domain!

With the seal boosting him, Lin Hou's strength surged dramatically. The pressure alone forced several other Main Gods to stumble back.

He locked eyes with Zong Xin. "Die."

The golden seal roared downward with unstoppable force, aiming to crush Zong Xin completely.

Zong Xin merely flicked his sleeve.

A wave of force swept through the domain like autumn wind scattering dead leaves. In an instant, Lin Hou's Main God Domain shattered, and the official seal cracked open.

Lin Hou was sent flying tens of thousands of meters away.

The other Main Gods stared in horror.

Zong Xin looked at the pale, trembling Lin Hou with disdain. "Now do you understand what kind of trash you are?"

Lin Hou's face was ashen.

Zong Xin looked toward the skies and called out, "Mu Rong. You still hiding?"

A calm voice echoed from above. "Still as fiery-tempered as ever, Zong Xin."

A man in glorious robes descended gracefully. It was Mu Rong, the Temple God of the Central Gods Temple.

All the Main Gods bowed respectfully.

Mu Rong looked at Zong Xin with a trace of nostalgia. "It's been a long time. So much has changed."

Then he looked at Ye Guan in the distance, who was reconstituting his body. "Your disciple, I assume? Remarkable. Among the younger generation, none in the Temple of the Gods can match him."

"And you, Temple God, can you sleep well at night?"

"When I took over, the Central Gods Temple was nothing more than an afterthought among the temples. Now, we rank first in the Temple of Gods Star System, and even in the star system, we're in the top five. That's something even our old master never achieved."

"Have you forgotten how you became the Temple Godr?"

Mu Rong shook his head. "In the pursuit of power, who's ever had clean hands? You disappoint me, Zong Xin. Still clinging to those outdated notions of morality and righteousness. It's laughable."

Zong Xin laughed, too. "I never imagined you'd be this deluded. You were a beggar once. If not for our master taking you in, you'd be long dead. And how did you repay him? You killed him."

Silence fell across the area. The Main Gods averted their eyes, pretending not to hear.

Mu Rong calmly said, "I never lost to you in talent or strength. Yet in his eyes, it was always you. Even at the end, he wanted you to succeed him, giving you the position of head. He was too biased. So I struck first."

Zong Xin glared. "He raised you."

Mu Rong nodded. "And I'll never forget it. But it doesn't change what needed to be done."

Zong Xin's eyes were burning, and he clenched his fists.

Mu Rong smiled again. "Zong Xin, under my leadership, the Central Gods Temple has surpassed anything you or he could've dreamed of. Fact has proven that I was more suited to be the Temple God.

"Soon, I'll be the first from our Central Gods Temple to enter the Temple of Divinity."

Zong Xin sneered. "You won't live to see it."

"Even at your peak, you weren't my match. And now..." Mu Rong didn't seem afraid. His gaze shifted to Ye Guan. "I'm guessing you are relying on him now?"

He and Zong Xin had the same master, and he could tell Ye Guan hadn't learned any swordsmanship from Zong Xin.

Mu Rong studied Ye Guan, amused. "I must admit that this young swordsman is a surprise. I assumed he was just another ordinary blasphemer. Turns out, he's far more dangerous. The South Gods Temple let him go, hoping we'd bear the karma of killing him. Typical."

"Zong Xin, I'm curious, where did you find him?"

Zong Xin ignored him and turned to Ye Guan. "How are you feeling?"

Ye Guan took a deep breath. His fleshly body had fully recovered. He looked toward the Central Gods Temple's elites and said calmly, "I can still fight."

Zong Xin grinned. "Good."

He opened his palm, and a golden light shot into Ye Guan's forehead.

Boom!

A faint golden armor appeared on Ye Guan. It shimmered like polished glass, scales faintly glinting.

Ye Guan was surprised.

Zong Xin explained, "It's a Divinity-grade Black Tortoise Armor, made from the scales of the sacred Golden Xuan Turtle. It is a gift from my master."

Ye Guan bowed. "Thank you for the gift, senior..."

"What do you mean, thank you?!" Zong Xin barked. "I'm lending it to you, not giving it! I want it back after the fight!"

Ye Guan was at a loss for words.

Zong Xin was honestly at his wits' end. Ye Guan was a swordsman, but he was nothing like the ones out there; most of them were upright, but Ye Guan... not so much.

Zong Xin sent a message via profound energy,

"When the fight starts, don't go all out. Find a chance to slip away."

Ye Guan was shocked.

"What about you?"

"I have a plan."

Ye Guan shook his head. If it weren't for Mu Rong, he wouldn't believe Zong Xin's words. However, Mu Rong's appearance meant that there was no way either of them would leave here alive.

"I'll buy you time,"

Zong Xin replied.

"You staying alive means more than me staying alive."

Ye Guan looked at him. Zong Xin chuckled.

"I once dreamed of toppling the Temple of the Gods. I know I'll never manage it. But you, you might. So... if I die, can you ask your uncle to bring me back?"

Ye Guan thought for a moment. "I don't think he knows how to resurrect people."

Zong Xin was stunned. After a pause, he muttered,

"Never mind, forget what I said. We'll face this together."

Ye Guan was speechless.

Zong Xin turned to Mu Rong and laughed.

"Come on, Mu Rong. Let's see how much you've improved."

He opened his palm, and the spacetime around him rippled like a fading illusion.

The nearby Main Gods grew visibly tense.

Zong Xin's strength was terrifying. Against him, ordinary Main Gods stood no chance.

However, Mu Rong suddenly laughed. "Zong Xin... neither of you will be fighting me."

Zong Xin frowned.

Mu Rong looked at Ye Guan and said, "The South Gods Temple let him go to drag us into a conflict with the power behind him. But I'm not playing that game. I've already reported this heretic to the Temple of Divinity. And now..."

He looked up into the depths of space.

"She's here."

Boom!

From the farthest edge of the galaxy, the starry skies churned violently. Then, a lady in red stepped out. She had a white veil over her head and a sickle in her hand.

The moment Zong Xin saw her, his face drained of color.

"Crap... a Divine Nun!"

The lady in red raised her eyes, and her gaze landed on Ye Guan.

Every hair on Ye Guan's body stood on end, and then—

Boom!

The divine armor he had just received exploded into ashes.

Just one look... and a Divinity-grade artifact was destroyed.