The ape grinned and said, “You’re an outsider. Even if you’re a guest of our Lakeheart Island, the Destruction Domain is not a place you can stay! Unless… you’re no longer an outsider but one of us. So, kid, as long as you join us, you can stay in the Destruction Domain as long as you want!”
“Join you?” Dongbo Xueying was puzzled.
The golden-armored giant beside him glanced at the ape and frowned. “Joining us has its benefits and its troubles. And it’s not as simple as just wanting to join.”
Dongbo Xueying was still confused. He had no idea what was going on and quickly asked, “May I ask what identity you represent? What are the benefits and troubles of joining you? And how does one join?”
“Oooohhhh~~~~”
The ape suddenly threw back its head and let out a strange cry that echoed across the sky, spreading far and wide across the vast land.
“A newcomer wants to join!” the ape shouted, its voice nearly reaching every corner of the domain world.
Dongbo Xueying sighed inwardly.
He had only just asked about it and hadn’t even gotten a clear answer, let alone decided whether to join. This ape was far too hasty.
Whoosh!
From the distance, a lean man clad in black armor and carrying a divine sword flew through the sky. Another black-armored figure approached from elsewhere. Finally, a handsome golden-armored youth strode through the void with an overwhelming presence.
Some wore black armor, others gold.
But Dongbo Xueying could tell at a glance that those in golden armor exuded a far more powerful aura. In just a short while, eight black-armored warriors and three golden-armored warriors had gathered around him.
“Captain.”
“Captain Xuanya.”
The eight black-armored warriors all showed respect, including the grinning ape, who obediently bowed. The hierarchy was clearly defined.
Dongbo Xueying dared not interrupt. The ape and the other seven black-armored warriors could likely kill him in a single move, while the three golden-armored captains could crush him with a flick of their fingers.
“The Commander is coming,” the golden-armored giant announced first. The handsome golden-armored youth and the ugly golden-armored elder beside him turned to look, while the eight black-armored warriors held their breath in anticipation.
In the distance, a man clad in violet-gold armor strode through the void step by step. His eyes faintly glowed red, as if harboring an endless sea of blood. He wore a black cape that fluttered in the wind, exuding a power that seemed to freeze the surrounding space-time.
This violet-gold-armored man walked forward.
The very world around him seemed to tremble under his pressure. Dongbo Xueying found it hard to breathe, his vision darkening and blurring. Even the power within his body felt unstable. Instantly, he made a judgment: “Too strong. The Three Ancestors—he’s definitely on par with the Three Ancestors!”
The Destruction Monarch, Pang Yi, and the Bamboo Mountain Lord.
This violet-gold-armored man didn’t feel as unfathomably vast as his master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, but he was far beyond the likes of the Nine Suns Palace Master—undoubtedly on par with the Three Ancestors.
“Commander!”
The three golden-armored captains and eight black-armored warriors all bowed respectfully.
The sole violet-gold-armored man landed on the ground and fixed his gaze on Dongbo Xueying, nodding slightly. “Only a Three Heavens Realm God, but still quite young.”
Dongbo Xueying muttered to himself.
Quite young? Judging by his soul aura, even accounting for time acceleration, he was only around a million years old. But before this Commander, it seemed insignificant.
“Kid,” the ugly golden-armored elder said, his eyelids drooping as if half-asleep, “don’t let your talent make you arrogant. Every single one standing before you is a prodigy, all Four Heavens Realm Gods who managed to join the Legion.”
“Four Heavens Realm Gods?” Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
The ugly golden-armored elder glanced around at the black-armored warriors, each with different expressions, before continuing, “Yes, Four Heavens Realm Gods. We are all just Four Heavens Realm Gods.”
“What? That… that can’t be,” Dongbo Xueying said, looking at them in disbelief, especially at the violet-gold-armored man.
The violet-gold-armored man said coldly, “If we could transcend and become Great Existences, we wouldn’t be trapped in this endless state of neither life nor death. Those of us who remain here are merely the youngest and weakest of our master’s Destruction Legion.”
Dongbo Xueying blinked.
“Since you wish to join, listen carefully,” the violet-gold-armored Commander said, his gaze distant. “Our master’s status is supreme. Under his command is a Legion dedicated to conquest—this Legion is called the ‘Destruction Legion.'”
“Joining the Destruction Legion is extremely difficult. The trials are harsh, and even among the many Four Heavens Realm Gods who seek to join, few can even qualify as ordinary soldiers.”
“The trials for soldiers are nearly impossible. Of the original Destruction Legion, only eight black-armored soldiers remain.” The Commander looked at the eight black-armored warriors before him.
“Only three captains remain.”
“And as for Commanders, I am the only one left.” The violet-gold-armored man continued, “We are all Four Heavens Realm Gods. In the end, we either died in battle or failed to become Great Existences, our divine hearts collapsing. Though dead, we returned to Lakeheart Island, forever trapped in this state of neither life nor death.”
Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but ask, “Commander, you’re also a Four Heavens Realm God?”
“The Commander is the only Four Heavens Realm God in the entire Destruction Legion to hold the rank of Commander!” the ugly golden-armored elder interjected. “He has even slain a True God with his own hands.”
“Just a clone,” the violet-gold-armored man scoffed, shaking his head. “And what does it matter? I was blinded by power. Chasing strength clouded my Dao-heart, ensuring I could never transcend.”
Dongbo Xueying was speechless.
His instincts had been right.
This Commander was indeed on par with the Three Ancestors. And yet—he was only a Four Heavens Realm God.
“A Four Heavens Realm God can kill a True God?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“Kid,” the violet-gold-armored Commander said softly, “remember this: Realm is the foundation. Power is merely the outward manifestation of leaves and branches. If you chase the lushness of the foliage but forget the roots, you will eventually fall, never to transcend.”
Dongbo Xueying felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart.
Realm is the foundation?
“Those who became True Gods seemed so weak to me—I could crush them with a single punch. Yet, in time, they transcended one by one, achieving eternal life. And me? Forever fallen.” The violet-gold-armored Commander shook his head. “Laughable. Pitiable. A disappointment to my master. We were able to join the Destruction Legion, yet failed to become Great Existences. That is our shame. The twelve of us—each one a disgrace.”
The eight black-armored soldiers and three golden-armored captains fell silent.
Shame.
Yes, they were all incredibly powerful in battle. But now? They couldn’t even leave Lakeheart Island, trapped like puppets, no longer true living beings.
Historically, those who joined the Destruction Legion either became Great Existences or were already Great Existences when they joined.
“Kid,” the violet-gold-armored Commander said, looking at Dongbo Xueying, “the Destruction Legion is our master’s vanguard, a force of unparalleled might. The trials are brutal. The techniques passed down are extraordinary. But with great power comes a price: once you truly die, if your body remains intact, Lakeheart Island will claim it. You will return here, forever under its control.”
“Of course, if you become a Great Existence and transcend, you will sever all ties with Lakeheart Island.”
“This is the only drawback—one that only manifests after death. Many warriors don’t care about what happens after they die. Some even welcome the idea of retaining consciousness postmortem. But once you’ve lived like this—trapped in one place, endlessly lonely, unable to even end yourself—you’ll understand what it means to be worse than dead.” The violet-gold-armored Commander’s voice was heavy.
“Of course, the benefits of the Destruction Legion are immense.”
“Even the lowest soldiers possess unique techniques and divine weapons.” The Commander studied Dongbo Xueying. “But I must tell you: in the past, countless Four Heavens Realm Gods sought to join, yet batch after batch was eliminated, failing even to qualify as soldiers. In my opinion, though your talent is decent, you’re too young and inexperienced. You won’t make it as a soldier in our Legion.”
Dongbo Xueying had fought the ape and could guess how stringent the trials must be.
Still, he couldn’t help but admire this Commander. Though he had failed to become a Great Existence, he was the only Four Heavens Realm God to ever hold the rank of Commander in the entire Destruction Legion.
“Of course, you’re different from us. You’re a true living being. If you join, you won’t be bound by Lakeheart Island. You can come and go freely. After all, our master and the others are long gone. No one will control you—something we envy.” The violet-gold-armored Commander’s voice softened. “But if you fail to transcend, you’ll join us in death.”
“Now, you know everything you need to.”
“So tell me—do you still wish to join the Destruction Legion?” The violet-gold-armored Commander’s gaze was piercing.
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