The hall of the Divine Realm Committee had been damaged beyond half.

The Earth God led the master craftsman divine officials in hurried reconstruction, restoring it to a rough semblance of its former state.

The gods took their seats one after another.

The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed as if water could condense from it.

Of the six seats once belonging to the God Kings, one had now been removed.

No one knew whether the Earth God had done it intentionally.

But among the five newly rebuilt seats, the Sword Lord's position had been placed squarely at the center.

After a brief, deathly silence—

The Sea God spoke in a low voice:

"The spacetime storm is still far from the star region where the Divine Realm resides. Shouldn't we still have time to prepare?"

"There isn't much time left," Li Zhexian replied calmly.

"The energy released when the Golden Dragon King fell was too immense. It drew the attention of a spacetime storm from far away."

"Spacetime storms are tainted with the laws of time. Their speed cannot be measured by common sense—countless star regions may be crossed in an instant."

"It is impossible to predict when it will arrive."

As he spoke,

his aura subtly fluctuated.

Beneath his flesh, golden blood flowed, accompanied by faint dragon roars.

The Dragon God's bloodline was far too domineering; even the Flawless Glazed Body could not fully suppress it.

Wisps of malevolent aura leaked from Li Zhexian, making even nearby first-class gods feel their hearts pound in fear.

"The Sword Lord is absolutely right!" the Sea God hurriedly agreed, then sat back down with an even more solemn expression.

"Then… how should we resist the spacetime storm?"

Ji Dong frowned deeply.

For a moment,

all eyes in the hall focused on Li Zhexian.

Battling Asura, defeating Destruction, slaying the Golden Dragon King—

one shocking feat after another had elevated the Sword Lord's name above the other five God Kings.

At this moment of existential crisis for the Divine Realm, he had become the pillar upon which all gods relied.

Qian Renxue, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others seated among them felt hearts filled with pride for him—yet also an indescribable ache.

No matter where he stood, he shone brilliantly, but behind that radiance was the weight borne upon a young man's shoulders.

"Mobilize all available resources and gods,"

Li Zhexian said, lifting his gaze to sweep across the assembled deities.

"Rebuild the Divine Realm's defensive system."

"I will enter seclusion to comprehend the sword."

"If I still cannot break through before the spacetime storm arrives…"

"Then we will have no choice but to exile the Divine Realm, letting it drift through the cosmos."

"In doing so, though the future would be uncertain, it would still be better than perishing beneath the spacetime storm."

At these words,

the gods' expressions darkened.

Entering seclusion to comprehend the sword—

seeking a breakthrough under such urgency was already difficult.

And the Sword Lord already stood at the absolute peak of all gods. Advancing further was nearly impossible.

"Exiling the Divine Realm…"

"Would mean severing all ties with the mortal world…"

"The Divine Realm would become drifting duckweed in the universe, with no idea when—if ever—it might return home…"

Confusion spread among the gods, the atmosphere growing ever more oppressive.

Li Zhexian said no more. Ignoring the gloomy faces around him, he rose abruptly and strode toward the hall's exit.

Qian Renxue, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others quickly followed.

When they passed the God of Destruction, who was being restrained by divine guards, Li Zhexian paused.

"Destruction committed a grave sin, causing the Golden Dragon King to break free. By law, he should be cast into the Divine Prison…"

"But the construction of defensive barriers requires manpower. Let him remain for now."

"Once the Divine Realm survives this catastrophe, judgment can be passed."

He slightly turned his head, not sparing the God of Destruction's lifeless expression a glance, instead looking toward Ji Dong, Asura, and the other four God Kings.

After seeing them nod in agreement,

the divine decree was formally issued.

The gods dared not delay. They immediately sprang into action, urgently constructing the Divine Realm's defenses.

Li Zhexian transformed into a streak of sword light and sped toward the Eastern Divine Region.

Along the way,

the once serene and magnificent scenery of the Divine Realm was gone—ruin lay everywhere, stars dimmed, and the land lay shattered.

Dugu Yan spoke softly:

"My grandfather chose to remain in the lower realm, to accompany an old friend through their final days. He said he would come to the Divine Realm after that friend passed."

"Now that I think about it, that may actually be fortunate. With the Divine Realm in such turmoil, it truly can't compare to the peace of the human world."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing gently bit their red lips, exchanging a silent glance.

Weren't they the same as well?

The elders back home—some bound by nostalgia for their homeland, others unable to let go of worldly ties—had ultimately all chosen to remain in the mortal world.

There was helplessness in this.

And it also stemmed from the merciless constraints of the Divine Realm's iron laws.

Even first-class gods were only permitted to bring a limited number of family members.

It was impossible to take everyone they cared about to the Divine Realm.

Oscar said with difficulty:

"Brother Zhexian… if the Divine Realm really is exiled, will we never be able to contact the lower realm again?"

A sorrowful look spread across everyone's faces.

They were trapped in a cruel dilemma:

If they brought their loved ones up, facing a catastrophe of that cosmic scale would be far too dangerous.

But if they did not guide them to the Divine Realm, then once the Divine Realm was exiled, it might mean a permanent farewell.

Even if the Divine Realm one day managed to return,

the Douluo Continent would likely have long since undergone vast changes, with their former friends and family reduced to dust.

"No."

Li Zhexian's tone was calm, yet left no room for doubt.

"I won't allow that to happen."

"You should return to your divine halls and rest briefly. Afterward, devote yourselves fully to constructing the Divine Realm's defenses."

"During my seclusion, do not disturb me."

At last, a trace of hope ignited in their eyes, and they nodded heavily.

"Alright."

...

Inside the Eastern Divine Hall.

Silence reigned.

Qian Renxue, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others had all departed.

Li Zhexian sat alone in the center of the hall, cross-legged, preparing to still his mind and comprehend the sword.

Yet at that moment—

from a dimly glowing corner of the hall, three long-dormant auras suddenly awakened.

"Hahahahaha! Your brother has finally become a god!"

Three streaks of light instantly shot toward Li Zhexian.

Aside from the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, who still retained their original appearances, there was also a young man with ice-blue hair, hands on his hips, grinning smugly:

"Brother Zhexian, don't I look handsome?!"

Li Zhexian's lips curved upward.

"Congratulations to the three of you on attaining godhood."

He paused slightly.

"However… I do need to tell you some not-so-good news."

"The Divine Realm is about to be destroyed."

As he spoke,

Li Zhexian flicked his sleeve.

Everything that had just transpired replayed itself within a curtain of light.

"Why is my fate so miserable?!" wailed tearfully, then followed the Ice and Snow Empresses straight to the front lines of Divine Realm construction.

Although building a barrier capable of resisting a spacetime storm in such a short time was practically a fantasy—

as long as there was even a sliver of hope, they could not give up.

When the clamor finally faded,

only Li Zhexian remained in the hall.

He closed his eyes, letting his consciousness sink deep into his sea of awareness.

"The authority of the collective will of all living beings…"

At the same time—

in the lower realm, at Heaven Dou Plaza where divine statues were enshrined,

the people coming and going to offer incense failed to notice that the sandalwood smoke surrounding the statue subtly stirred.

A wisp of smoke drifted toward a certain direction within Heaven Dou City.

Li Zhexian returned to the small courtyard he owned in Heaven Dou City.

One day in the Divine Realm equaled one year in the mortal world.

Compared to the treacherous unpredictability of the Divine Realm, he was far more accustomed to the gentle passage of human time.

In the courtyard, the four-season plum blossoms were in full bloom, while the plum tree had already passed its flowering season, leaving behind only lush green foliage.

Li Zhexian strolled beneath the tree and raised a finger, pointing lightly.

The power of time rippled outward.

Flowers bloomed and fell upon the plum tree, fruits swelling until the branches hung heavy.

"The first sword of the Qinglian Sword Song was comprehended here,"

he said, chewing on a plum as he surveyed the courtyard filled with countless memories.

"Then…"

"The final sword should also reach perfection here."