Chapter Sixty-Five: The Thirteenth Floor

The Martial God glanced around at the others and said, “There’s nothing in this layer of the world except for the Devouring God Worms. Let’s not waste time—let’s proceed directly to the thirteenth layer.”

“The Devouring God Worms are on our trail. Move, quickly! Everyone, follow me to the entrance of the thirteenth world,” the High Priest urged in a low voice, casting a glance toward the shadowy void where swarms of the worms gathered.

As he spoke, the group pressed onward, flying for quite some time before finally shaking off the voracious insects. They arrived at a rugged stone passage deep within the desert.

“These Devouring God Worms can barely fly within our divine domains. If a Saint-level powerhouse were to come here—even one at the very limit of the Saint realm—they would be devoured clean within seconds,” Hisei remarked, shaking his head as he looked back.

“Let’s go, to the thirteenth layer,” said the Martial God, leading the way alongside the High Priest into the passage leading to the thirteenth layer of the Gods’ Tomb.

Qian Kun, Tarosa, Emperor Lin, and Hisei followed, and upon exiting the passage, they found themselves in a vibrant world of forests teeming with life.

“Wow, the contrast between the twelfth and thirteenth layers of the Gods’ Tomb is really striking,” Hisei said in amazement, a smile on his lips.

The Martial God, however, was grave. “This place is dangerous. Three thousand years ago, Catherine and I joined forces, and even then, we nearly met disaster in this world. We escaped back to the twelfth layer, battered and empty-handed.”

“What? Three thousand years ago, you came here, braved two layers, and gained nothing?” Hisei stared in shock.

The Martial God shot him a piercing glance but said no more. Catherine, standing beside him, spoke calmly: “This world is home to many plant lifeforms with Saint-level strength. The real threat, though, lies in the divine plant life hidden among them. Many are colossal, their divine power overwhelming. Three thousand years ago, the Martial God and I were beset by several divine plant creatures—we never even glimpsed their true forms. We were forced into a hasty retreat. Thankfully, they seemed to lack any intent to kill; otherwise, neither of us might have left the Gods’ Tomb alive.”

“This place even shows mercy to divine-level beings?” Hisei said, surprised.

The Martial God scoffed. “Mercy? If we’d been too weak to withstand their combined assault, we’d have been killed outright.”

“That’s enough chatter! I want to see just how powerful these divine plant creatures really are,” Qian Kun declared, launching himself toward the dense forest ahead.

Tarosa, Emperor Lin, and the others hurried after him, staying together for safety in this perilous world.

At first, all was calm. Qian Kun and his companions seemed to be flying through a lively forest, breathing in the fresh air, the atmosphere saturated with vibrant life energy.

Soon, however, several vines swept toward the group. The hidden Saint-level plant life in the forest began to stir.

These Saint-level plant creatures were formidable, many possessing insights into the mysteries and wielding bodies brimming with vital force. Were it not for Qian Kun and the others’ ability to bind them with their divine domains, they would have been in serious trouble.

Saints, after all, are still Saints. No matter how extraordinary their talent or power, under the constraints of the divine domain, Qian Kun and his companions could easily destroy the attacking vines. Since most plant creatures were massive and their true bodies hidden underground, they couldn’t be killed outright—merely wounded.

As Qian Kun and the others ventured deeper into the forest, the Saint-level plants gradually ceased their attacks.

“Careful. Three thousand years ago, it was here that we suffered a sudden assault from several divine plant creatures,” Catherine warned as they advanced.

No sooner had she spoken than a sharp whistling filled the air. Deep green vines, crisscrossing like a net, swept down upon Qian Kun and his companions, warping and shaking the space around them.

Qian Kun and the others reacted instantly, unleashing their fiercest attacks.

With a flick of his wrist, Qian Kun’s dark blue divine sword shattered the vines above him into dust.

The Martial God’s fiery assault reduced the vines to shriveled, scorched remnants.

The High Priest, glowing with green light, absorbed the life force from the vines, causing them to wither away.

Hisei, employing his shadow clone technique, dodged and retaliated, severing the vines that reached for him.

Emperor Lin struck with destructive force, smashing many vines into fragments.

Tarosa wielded the mysteries of water, freezing the vines and shattering them into blocks of ice.

Sensing the aura of their adversaries, the group struck the ground, blasting open pits and seriously injuring several divine plant creatures, forcing them to flee underground in disarray.

“Let’s go—find the passage to the fourteenth layer,” Qian Kun commanded, and the group pressed deeper into the forest.

After repelling the divine plant life, the party encountered no further resistance and soon found the entrance to the fourteenth layer in the heart of the forest.

But there, seated cross-legged at the portal, was a handsome green-haired man in emerald robes, who smiled at them.

“He’s a mid-tier deity!” Tarosa’s voice whispered in their ears, and the faces of the Martial God, the High Priest, and the others changed subtly.

“Relax, everyone. I have no wish to fight you to the death, nor will I bar your way,” the handsome man said, smiling gently. “I’m here to offer you an opportunity—a chance to obtain a divine core.”

A chance to obtain a divine core? Qian Kun and Tarosa remained calm, but the Martial God and the High Priest exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up with anticipation.

“How can we obtain a divine core?” The Martial God couldn’t help but ask, his gaze burning.

“It’s simple! If you lower-tier deities defeat me, you may claim a mid-tier divine core matching your law and attribute,” the young man replied nonchalantly to the Martial God, the High Priest, Emperor Lin, and Hisei.

Hearing this, their faces darkened. Was this a joke? How could a lower-tier deity defeat a mid-tier one? If anyone possessed such power, they could ascend by their own merit—why would they need a mid-tier core?

“Heh… Don’t misunderstand!” The handsome man laughed at their expressions. “When I say ‘defeat me,’ I mean defeat my water-attribute lower-tier deity avatar.”

As he spoke, a blue-robed figure emerged from his body—his water-element lower-tier deity avatar.

Seeing this, the Martial God and his companions relaxed slightly, exchanging glances. The Martial God stepped forward. “I’ll fight you!”

“Very well,” the handsome man nodded, smiling, gesturing for the Martial God to attack. His demeanor was so casual, it was as if he didn’t consider the Martial God a threat at all.

Slightly angered by this attitude, the Martial God lunged without mercy. Yet, to Qian Kun and the others’ astonishment, the water-attribute avatar easily blocked his attack, and with a single counter, sent the Martial God flying, bloodied and defeated, gravely injured.