Chapter Seven: Divine Throne! The Great God’s Divine Examination!

Ling Xiao gazed at the blood-red longsword spirit weapon in his hand, its aura exuding an eerie malevolence. With a thought, the sword instantly expanded, reaching about one meter and forty centimeters—taller than Ling Xiao himself.

He held the sword carefully, examining every detail. The blade was blood-red, its construction bizarre, adorned with strange black patterns. The guard was especially peculiar: on its far left side, a smaller blade curved in the opposite direction of the main sword. Most striking was a massive closed eye embedded on the guard, occupying nearly seventy percent of its surface.

Qiandao Liu observed the longsword in Ling Xiao’s grasp. From its appearance, the spirit weapon was undeniably sinister, yet oddly, he felt no aversion. This puzzled him, for his own spirit weapon was that of a six-winged angel—embodying purity and light, the antithesis of all evil. Even Bibi Dong’s spirit weapon incited disgust in him.

While Ling Xiao continued to inspect the weapon, the system’s voice rang out.

“Master, your spirit weapon has awakened. You may now commence the Divine Rank inheritance. Shall we begin immediately?”

“Divine Rank inheritance!” Ling Xiao’s eyes brightened with excitement. He responded in his mind, “Of course, start it!”

“Understood!” the system replied. “You have obtained your first Divine Rank, the Colossus Divine Rank. Initiating the Colossus Nine Trials.”

“The first trial: bear ten jin of weight!”

“The second trial: bear twenty jin!”

“The third trial: bear thirty jin!”

“The fourth trial: bear forty jin!”

“The fifth trial: bear fifty jin!”

“The sixth trial: bear sixty jin!”

“The seventh trial: bear seventy jin!”

“The eighth trial: bear eighty jin!”

“The ninth trial: bear one hundred jin!”

“Is that all for the Divine Trials? So simple!” Ling Xiao was momentarily stunned. His current strength already surpassed seventy jin, meaning he would soon complete the Colossus Divine Trial and become a Colossus!

Yet, one thing puzzled him.

“The first Divine Rank? Could it be that I can possess more than one Divine Rank?”

“Master, indeed, you can have multiple Divine Ranks. The Colossus is just the beginning. As long as you complete tasks, you can obtain other Divine Ranks,” the system explained.

“Multiple Divine Ranks?” Ling Xiao’s heart stirred. If he could acquire several Divine Ranks, perhaps he truly could transcend the gods and even the Divine Realm.

“System, begin the Divine Trials now! I want to see what the second Divine Rank is!” he thought.

“Yes, Master!” As the system’s voice fell, Ling Xiao immediately felt a pressing weight upon him. Yet, this pressure was easy to endure.

The weight steadily increased, quickly reaching seventy jin. Ling Xiao’s expression shifted slightly; those nearby noticed.

“Xiao’er, what’s the matter? Are you unwell?” Bibi Dong asked softly, concern evident in her eyes.

“I’m fine, teacher,” Ling Xiao shook his head, though his pallor betrayed the strain. The weight on him had now exceeded eighty jin.

“Master, do you wish to stop? You’re nearing your limit,” the system cautioned as the pressure climbed to ninety jin.

“Continue!” Ling Xiao resolved internally. Yet his body weakened; he knelt, hands bracing against the ground.

“Xiao’er, what’s wrong?” Bibi Dong’s face paled. She reached to help but was stopped.

“Teacher, I’m fine!” Ling Xiao forced calm, though his cheeks flushed.

“What’s going on?” Bibi Dong looked at him with a mix of confusion and worry.

“Could there be something wrong with the spirit weapon?”

“Master, ninety-five jin now!” the system announced.

“Keep going! I can still manage!” Ling Xiao’s eyes reddened; his arms trembled. Bibi Dong and others wanted to inquire further but hesitated, unsure after his earlier assurance.

The weight he bore continued to rise.

Ninety-seven jin!

Ninety-eight jin!

Ninety-nine jin!

One hundred jin!

“Congratulations, Master, for completing the Colossus Nine Trials and attaining the Colossus Divine Rank. Reward: Divine Body—Starry Physique (inactive), Divine Skill—Heavenly Finger!”

As the system’s voice faded, the pressure on Ling Xiao suddenly lifted. The demonic-eyed blood sword stirred in his hand.

The eye on the sword’s guard slowly opened, revealing a scene like a deep abyssal vortex—dark and desolate.

“What is happening?” Bibi Dong’s gaze fixed on the sword’s eye, a wave of dread washing over her, as if her very soul was being drawn in.

---

At that moment, golden light flared within the abyssal eye.

In the next instant, a towering golden figure appeared above the eye.

Everyone present stared in terror at this figure.

It was colossal—easily over ten meters tall—emanating overwhelming majesty.

Within a single second, all present except Ling Xiao were crushed to the ground by the immense pressure.

“What is this?! So powerful!” Bibi Dong gasped, lying helpless on the ground.

Fortunately, after just ten breaths, the pressure dissipated, allowing everyone to rise.

Ling Xiao stood and looked at the golden figure with curiosity.

“Is this the Colossus?”

The others were filled with awe and vigilance.

Behind the figure, two characters slowly materialized:

“Colossus!”

“Colossus! A deity!” Qiandao Liu exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. As a devotee of the Angel God, he fully understood the grandeur of divine beings.

“Divine being!” Bibi Dong stared at the figure, then abruptly looked at Ling Xiao.

“Xiao’er, is this your Divine Rank?” she asked in astonishment.

This was a Divine Rank! Few existed in the entire continent.

“Yes, teacher. This is my first Divine Rank,” Ling Xiao replied. Now recovered, and empowered by the Starry Physique, he felt his strength had soared far beyond before.

“Xiao’er has a Divine Rank upon awakening his spirit weapon!” Bibi Dong’s face flushed, her excitement palpable. That was a god!

“Xiao’er already has a Divine Rank?” Huliena gazed at Ling Xiao incredulously. She was but a soul master, yet he possessed a Divine Rank.

Gu Doulu stared fearfully at the towering figure before them—a divine being unseen in millennia across the continent.

Ju Doulu remained calm, having witnessed the day’s events. He found no disbelief in Ling Xiao’s Divine Rank. Becoming a god in the future was astounding; failing to do so would be the real surprise.

Though surprised, he was mostly amazed that Ling Xiao had a Divine Rank at such a young age.

After a long moment, Bibi Dong regained composure and recalled Ling Xiao’s words about this being his first Divine Rank.

“Xiao’er, what do you mean by your ‘first’ Divine Rank?” she forced a calm voice.

Qiandao Liu and the others also recalled Ling Xiao’s statement, their breaths quickening.

“Because I will have others in the future! The Colossus is the first, but I don’t yet know what the second Divine Rank will be,” Ling Xiao said, shaking his head slightly.

“More than one Divine Rank?” Bibi Dong’s expression was dazed. She had only chanced upon one Divine Rank herself. Besides the Devotion Hall’s Divine Rank, there was the Sea God of the Sea God Island. Divine Ranks were exceedingly rare.

And yet Ling Xiao might have several.

“Angel God! Am I dreaming?” Qiandao Liu stared blankly toward the Angel God statue.

Even Ju Doulu was surprised, though he soon accepted it as normal.

Ling Xiao held the demonic-eyed blood sword, and with a thought, the colossal figure slowly faded, the eye gently closing, and the spirit weapon vanished.

Bibi Dong snapped back to reality, glancing at Ju Doulu and Gu Doulu with an intense look.

“Whatever you witnessed today, if you dare spread it, it will be a capital offense!”

“Your Holiness, we will not utter a word,” Ju Doulu and Gu Doulu quickly assured.

“Good.” Bibi Dong then softly spoke to Huliena, “Naar, this secret must be kept.”

“I understand, teacher,” Huliena replied earnestly.

“I won’t say anything. With someone like him in the Spirit Hall, I’d be honored to serve him,” Qiandao Liu declared boldly.

Bibi Dong nodded, trusting Qiandao Liu would keep his word, having devoted his life to the Spirit Hall.

---

A month passed swiftly. Ling Xiao’s life was peaceful.

Bibi Dong had initially planned to take him to acquire soul rings, but considering his Divine Rank, a god-bestowed soul ring was far superior. Other soul rings might even restrict him, so they abandoned the plan.

One day, Ling Xiao lay on his bed, staring at the system panel.

Host:

Name: Ling Xiao

Age: Three years old

Soul Weapon: Demonic-Eyed Blood Sword, Primordial Flame

Realm: World Realm, Sixth Stage Peak (Starry Physique inactive)

Divine Rank: Colossus

Divine Skill: Heavenly Finger

Ling Xiao observed the altered system panel. His spirit weapon had become a soul weapon; his mortal status was now World Realm Sixth Stage. His strength had surpassed three million kilograms.

He had asked the system about this; it explained that a soul weapon was a weapon of the soul, more advanced than a spirit weapon.

The World Realm was a cultivation system within the universe. Even the Divine Kings of Douluo Continent only reached comparable to the Earth Realm Fourth Stage, with the strongest barely entering mid to late Earth Realm Fourth Stage—a mere beginning of true cultivation.

“Ding! Mission issued: Proceed to Life Lake in the Starry Forest for check-in!”

The voice echoed in Ling Xiao’s mind, his eyes alight with anticipation. Finally, new missions and rewards awaited.

“Teacher, I’m going out!” Ling Xiao approached Bibi Dong in the Pope’s Hall.

“Hmm? Xiao’er, why the sudden urge to leave?” she asked, cradling him gently.

“Because the mission has arrived. Completing it means I can obtain the second Divine Rank!”

“Oh, shall we have Elder Ju and the others accompany you?”

“No need, teacher. You know with my current strength, I have no rivals!” Ling Xiao shrugged confidently.

“Alright, be careful!” Bibi Dong trusted his power and felt relieved.

“Goodbye, teacher!” Ling Xiao waved. The demonic-eyed blood sword appeared; he mounted it, soaring into the sky, then vanished in an instant.

Ling Xiao flew on the sword, reaching the Starry Forest within half an hour.

He surveyed the forest, descending and leaping from the sword. This was his first time outside the Spirit City; everything stirred his curiosity.

Guided by the system, Ling Xiao headed toward the forest’s heart.

Along the way, he inevitably encountered some soul beasts, but after a few punches, each fled swiftly.

However, Ling Xiao’s carelessness left the surrounding trees and earth ravaged, causing uproar throughout the Starry Forest.

After about ten minutes, Ling Xiao remounted the sword, cradling a small white fox as he flew toward the forest center.

On the way, he noticed three enormous ants heading out of the forest. Though curious, he prioritized the mission.

A minute later, Ling Xiao arrived at the vibrant lake at the forest’s center.

“Wow, this place is beautiful!” Ling Xiao exclaimed, setting the fox down by the lake, marveling.

Unbeknownst to him, a massive figure stirred beneath the lake’s depths, its eyes larger than a human head opening to gaze curiously at the surface.

“What’s this? The Starry Forest’s center, yet a human child appears unscathed—and with a thousand-year soul beast?” The figure, part bull-headed and serpentine-bodied, was the strongest soul beast in the Starry Forest—the Soul Beast Emperor: the 120,000-year-old Azure Bull Python.

Though curious, the Azure Bull Python intended no harm. Soul beasts and humans were adversaries, but it disliked violence and rarely attacked humans, especially a child.

However, what Ling Xiao did next made the bull python twitch its eyelids, the corner of its mouth trembling.

Ling Xiao sat by the lake, removed his shoes and socks, and dipped his tender, smooth feet into the cool water. He closed his eyes in comfort, simultaneously checking in mentally.

“Ding! Starry Lake check-in successful. Reward: Life Ancient God Divine Rank and Low-Grade Life Water.”

Ling Xiao’s soul entered the system space, revealing an expansive, boundless lake with dazzling, dreamlike waters.

“Do you wish to commence the Life Ancient God Nine Trials?”

“Begin.”

“Ding! Life Ancient God Nine Trials initiated. First trial: heal a soul beast using Life Water. Reward: Medium-Grade Life Water.”

Ling Xiao, splashing water with his feet, glanced at the now-frozen time. Conveniently, he had brought along a wounded white fox found earlier.

He quickly evaporated the water from his feet with flame, put on his shoes and socks, and approached the trembling fox.

The little fox shivered as if seeing a terrifying monster.

Ling Xiao gently held the fox, whispering, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you. I’m here to heal you. Come, drink this drop of Life Water.”

In his palm appeared a shimmering droplet of liquid. The fox eyed it curiously, irresistibly drawn.

Yet, recalling Ling Xiao’s immense power, it hesitated to drink. Seeing this, Ling Xiao gently pried open its mouth with two fingers and poured in the Life Water.

Reluctantly swallowed, the fox’s body began to grow, doubling with each breath.

After ten breaths, the once small fox had reached three meters tall; its tail extended the total length to ten meters. Its fur became silkier and more lustrous, a pure white radiance. Not only had its wounds healed, but it had evolved from a three-thousand-year soul beast to a five-thousand-year soul beast.

“Ding! Mission complete. Reward: Medium-Grade Life Water!” The system’s voice echoed, revealing another vast lake within the system space, vibrant and boundless like before.

“Hahaha! The little fox has grown so big!” Ling Xiao clapped joyfully.

The soul beast, sensing its newfound strength, looked at Ling Xiao and gently nuzzled him with its massive head in gratitude.