**********
—Three months later—
Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Lev had finally completed all the necessary matters he needed to handle across the continent and was now ready to head to the God Realm to finish his World Quest once and for all.
Three months ago, Qian Renxue had finally been introduced to the family. She initially thought her life in the palace would proceed smoothly, but that quickly proved to be wishful thinking.
Adjusting to the lively household was far more difficult than she had anticipated, especially with the constant noise and commotion coming from Lev and the others every night. Embarrassed and frustrated, she could only retreat to her own room and try to distract herself.
On the other hand, Tsunade and the others, especially her mother, Bibi Dong, had repeatedly encouraged Qian Renxue to become closer to everyone. However, Renxue was still too shy to take that step, believing that she simply wasn't ready yet. Lev, meanwhile, firmly warned the others not to pressure her. He wanted Renxue to make her own decisions rather than do something merely because she felt obligated.
Over the past three months, Lev and Qian Renxue's relationship had also become public knowledge, causing quite an uproar throughout the academy. However, after learning the truth and seeing how much Lev cared for her, the students eventually accepted and supported their relationship. In their eyes, their Emperor was the only man worthy of their Goddess.
*****
Eternal Divine Palace,
At this moment, Lev and his lovers could be found relaxing together in the living room. Everyone was occupied with something, yet laughter occasionally filled the room whenever their conversations became particularly lively.
"Lev, do you really have to go?" Bibi Dong suddenly asked worriedly.
Her question caused the cheerful atmosphere to become noticeably heavier. Lev had already told them that he intended to travel to the God Realm and face the Gods there alone.
It wasn't only Bibi Dong who was worried. Tsunade and the others also stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward Lev, waiting for his answer.
"Mmm. I need to do it." Lev paused for a moment before his expression became firm. "No. I must do it."
"Then, when are you planning on leaving?" Gu Yuena asked.
She actually wanted to accompany him, but Lev had repeatedly refused. For the past three months, she had tried everything she could think of to change his mind, yet he remained unmoved. In the end, she could only stay behind and trust him.
"Probably next week," Lev replied after thinking for a moment.
He had no idea how long his journey through the God Realm would take. It could be several days, months, or perhaps even years before he could finally return.
Still, Lev believed that the sooner he left, the sooner he could complete his mission and return.
He didn't even bother considering whether he would survive. There was no point in worrying about something he couldn't predict. If he died, then perhaps that would simply be his fate. After all, there was little left on the continent that could push his strength any further.
Upon hearing his answer, Bibi Dong, Gu Yuena, and the others exchanged glances.
They seemed to silently reach an agreement.
Lev noticed their expressions and immediately developed a strange feeling in his heart.
Before he could ask what they were planning, Bibi Dong suddenly rushed toward him and pushed him onto the sofa.
"Sorry that we can't help you in the God Realm," Bibi Dong said softly, her expression filled with determination. "But there's something we can do."
She glanced at the others before smiling.
"So, let's spend this final week together to our heart's content."
The others immediately agreed.
What followed was an unusually lively week inside the palace. Knowing that Lev would soon embark on a dangerous journey into the God Realm, everyone cherished every moment they could spend with him.
They ate together, trained together, explored the palace, shared stories, and spent countless intimate moments together.
For that entire week, the palace was filled with laughter, warmth, and affection.
None of them knew exactly how long Lev would be gone.
None of them knew what awaited him in the God Realm.
But one thing was certain.
Before he departed, they wanted him to remember that he would always have people waiting for his return.
And Lev, surrounded by the people he loved most, quietly promised himself that he would return to them no matter what awaited him beyond the heavens.
**********
—One week later—
Outside the Palace,
Lev had finally decided that it was time to leave. Before his departure, he had already held a meeting in advance and informed the Clan Heads that he would be leaving the continent to attend something important, though he had no idea when he would return.
The Clan Heads had been shocked upon hearing the news. Some even protested and tried to persuade Lev to reconsider, but no matter how much they argued, they could not change his mind. It was his decision, and as their Emperor, his orders were absolute.
Before leaving, Lev assigned them several tasks to accomplish in his absence and gave them clear instructions on how to proceed with the affairs of the empire.
Right now, only Tsunade, Qian Renxue, and Gu Yuena had come to see him off. The others were still resting in bed after exhausting themselves during the previous week. Lev looked at the three women standing before him, each displaying a different emotion on her face.
"L-Lev."
Qian Renxue could no longer hold back her emotions. She immediately rushed forward and hugged him tightly, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll be back," Lev said gently while caressing her head.
He couldn't help but feel a little guilty about leaving her behind after they had only been together for three months. Still, he silently promised himself that once he returned, he would make it up to her a hundredfold.
After spending a little more time with them, Lev finally bid his farewell. Before leaving, he looked toward Tsunade and Gu Yuena.
"While I'm gone, take care of your sisters for me."
"We will," Gu Yuena replied firmly.
Tsunade also nodded with a gentle smile.
"I'll be going, then."
Lev smiled before slowly rising into the sky.
"Be careful!"
Tsunade, Gu Yuena, and Qian Renxue shouted together.
The elemental spirits, tailed beasts, Decepticons, and his other summons also gathered nearby to bid their master farewell. Though none of them knew exactly what awaited him in the God Realm, they all understood how dangerous his journey would be and could not hide their concern.
They remained outside the palace until Lev's figure had completely disappeared from their sight. Only then did they return inside and prepare to carry out the tasks he had entrusted to them.
Their first task, however, was waking the others and informing them that Lev had already departed.
*****
In the sky,
Lev floated high above the Eternal Divine Continent and looked down at the land he had spent years developing.
The once-chaotic continent had now transformed into a prosperous and beautiful empire. Seeing it from above, Lev couldn't help but appreciate how far everything had come.
His gaze eventually shifted upward.
His eyes seemed to pierce through the layers of space and dimensions separating the mortal realm from the God Realm.
"It's been two years already. I think those Gods should have prepared enough by now."
A faint, mocking smile appeared on Lev's face.
"I just hope nothing goes wrong."
With that, Lev retracted the ability of one of the items concealing his power.
In the next instant, his aura began to leak out.
Crack!
A tiny crack suddenly appeared in the sky.
Space itself trembled under the pressure of his power as the crack gradually expanded, forming an entrance to another dimension.
Lev glanced down at his empire one final time.
"See you again, my Empire."
With those final words, Lev flew directly into the spatial crack.
His figure disappeared completely, and the crack slowly closed behind him.
Within moments, the sky returned to normal, as if Lev had never been there in the first place.
*****
God Realm,
As the dwelling place of the Gods, the God Realm was a magnificent land built with an almost perfect environment. Divine energy filled the air, and everything within the realm possessed an extraordinary quality that far surpassed anything found in the mortal world.
However, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful at this moment.
Numerous Gods had gathered in one place, and unlike a normal gathering, almost every one of them was fully armed. Divine armor covered their bodies, while powerful weapons were firmly held in their hands. Their expressions were solemn as they stared toward a particular location, clearly waiting for someone to arrive.
They were prepared for war.
Lev, on the other hand, had no idea how much time had passed while traveling through the dimensional passage. One moment, he was entering the spatial crack above his empire, and the next, he suddenly emerged into a brilliant and magnificent place.
The first thing he noticed was the air.
It was incredibly pure and refreshing, filled with dense divine energy that made every breath feel invigorating. Lev took a deep breath, almost as though he were experiencing such an atmosphere for the first time in his life.
"Hmm..."
Lev slowly exhaled before scanning his surroundings.
It was only then that he realized something.
He was surrounded.
A sea of Gods stood around him in every direction.
"Human Emperor Lev, you've finally come."
A deep voice suddenly sounded.
Lev turned his gaze toward the speaker and immediately recognized Asura God King.
Unlike their previous encounter, Asura God King was now clad in magnificent divine armor, his sword already in hand. His powerful Godly Aura spread throughout the surroundings, making him appear far more imposing than before.
More importantly, the rage in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Seeing the enormous number of Gods surrounding him, Lev couldn't help but smile.
'So they really went all out.'
He had already expected the God Realm to prepare for his arrival, but he hadn't expected Asura God King to gather practically every God in the realm.
It seemed that his previous victory had truly frightened them.
"I have to admit, I'm surprised."
Lev looked around at the countless Gods surrounding him before chuckling.
"You really went all out and gathered this many Gods just for me. I don't know how you managed to gather all of them in one place, but you've certainly saved me the trouble of hunting you down one by one."
The surrounding Gods immediately became tense upon hearing his words.
Asura God King's expression darkened.
"Hmph. As much as I hate to admit it, your existence has become an abnormality within this world. We cannot allow someone like you to roam freely throughout the God Realm while possessing such power."
Asura God King slowly raised his sword, his killing intent becoming increasingly intense.
"Your existence is simply too dangerous."
Lev couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha! You're still making excuses?"
He shook his head with amusement.
"There's no need to hide it. I know you're afraid of me."
Lev's smile widened.
"Just admit it, coward."
"Levvvvvvvvvv!"
Asura God King's expression instantly twisted with fury.
"I will kill you this time for sure!"
His divine power erupted violently as he raised his sword.
"Fellow Gods, don't hold back!"
His voice echoed throughout the God Realm.
"ATTACKKKKK!!!"
The moment his command was issued, countless Gods surged forward.
Lev's expression immediately became serious.
He knew that this battle would be completely different from their previous confrontation.
There was no restriction from the mortal world here.
The Gods could now unleash their true power.
And Lev couldn't afford to make even a single mistake.
If he underestimated them, he would die.
"Then let's get started."
Lev's eyes flashed as he immediately released all of his Spirit Rings.
At the same time, his God Spirit Ring activated.
"Flame Dragon of Destruction."
BOOOOOOM!!!
A terrifying aura erupted from Lev's body.
The flames surrounding him surged violently into the sky as his Soul Bones appeared simultaneously, covering his body with their powerful abilities.
The surrounding Gods immediately felt an immense pressure.
Lev's expression remained calm as he looked at the countless Gods charging toward him.
"Domain of the Flame Dragon."
WHOOSH!!!
A gigantic ring of flames suddenly expanded from beneath Lev's feet, spreading across the surrounding area and engulfing the battlefield in a sea of scorching fire.
The temperature instantly skyrocketed.
Lev could immediately feel the difference.
His strength was increasing.
His speed was increasing.
Even his divine energy seemed to be surging endlessly.
For the first time, Lev was experiencing the full effect of his Domain of the Flame Dragon within the God Realm.
"So this is what it feels like..."
Lev clenched his fist before gripping Infinity tightly.
Within this domain, he truly felt like a God of Destruction.
"Let's get this over with!"
Lev roared as he swung his sword.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive wave of flame erupted from Infinity and swept toward the incoming Gods.
At the same time, countless divine attacks descended from every direction.
The moment the two sides collided—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The entire God Realm trembled.
A battle beyond imagination had finally begun.
**********
—Six months later after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
It took only half a year before news of Lev's prolonged absence began spreading throughout the continent. His disappearance gradually became known to the public, and while most people remained loyal to the empire, the news inevitably awakened the ambitions of certain individuals who had been waiting quietly in the shadows.
During these six months, a shocking incident occurred that shook the entire continent.
Davis, the son of the former Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, openly rebelled against the current order.
Under normal circumstances, such a rebellion could have been dealt with swiftly. However, everything changed with the sudden appearance of Evil Spirit Masters who openly supported Davis.
Their involvement immediately turned what should have been a simple rebellion into a chaotic conflict.
The former Star Luo Empire descended into turmoil as the Evil Spirit Masters launched an invasion, leaving Ning Fengzhi, who served as the acting chief in the public, and Dugu Bo, who operated as the acting chief from the shadows, with a major headache over how to resolve the situation.
Before the conflict could spread any further, a sudden war broke out.
Fortunately, the rebellion was quickly suppressed after Gu Yuena and Bibi Dong ordered the Decipticons to deal with the invading Evil Spirit Masters.
With their overwhelming strength, the conflict was brought to an end before it could cause even greater destruction.
**********
—A year after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
After the conflict with the Evil Spirit Masters was resolved, rebuilding the damaged areas became the empire's highest priority.
The announcement of reconstruction projects immediately brought excitement to many people, particularly those with experience in construction.
Countless jobs became available as officials announced plans to construct various buildings and facilities throughout the affected areas. For many ordinary citizens, this provided them with an opportunity to earn an income and rebuild their lives after the turmoil.
Taking advantage of the situation, Ning Fengzhi also began gradually implementing more of Lev's orders, ensuring that the empire continued progressing even in his absence.
**********
—A year and a half after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
With great effort, countless workers continued working tirelessly as buildings slowly began rising across the continent. However, despite their progress, the large-scale construction projects still required considerable time before they could be completed.
Meanwhile, the demand for bicycles and the other products introduced during Lev's reign continued to increase.
Unfortunately, this created another problem.
Demand had begun greatly exceeding the available supply.
To address the shortage, Ning Fengzhi and the other officials decided to recruit additional workers and expand production. Several new facilities were planned specifically for manufacturing bicycles and other goods, ensuring that the empire could keep up with the rapidly growing demand.
**********
—Two years after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
The first workshop buildings were finally completed and immediately began operating at full capacity.
The facilities occupied several large plots of land, allowing the workers to mass-produce the products that had become increasingly popular throughout the continent.
Not long after, another invention was finally introduced.
A motorbike.
After extensive research and development, the people responsible for its creation had finally completed their work. However, before it could be sold to the public, the design and production process still needed to be reviewed and approved by the higher-ups.
**********
—Two years and a half after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
Eternal Divine Elite Academy held a small tournament under Bibi Dong's arrangement.
As the headmaster, she wanted to personally evaluate the progress of the students and determine how much they had improved since their training began.
For more than two years, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu had served as teachers for Lev's direct students.
At first, the students protested.
After all, the three women were around the same age as them, and many of the students initially believed that they had little right to teach them.
However, that attitude quickly disappeared.
Once Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu demonstrated their battle prowess and displayed the depth of their knowledge, the students were left completely astonished.
They could only admire them while secretly wondering whether these three women were truly part of the same generation as themselves.
**********
—Three years after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
By this time, numerous buildings had been completed throughout the former Star Luo Empire.
However, there were still several mysterious structures being constructed whose purposes remained unknown to everyone.
Lev had never explained what those particular infrastructures were meant for, leaving Ning Fengzhi and the others to follow the plans he had left behind without fully understanding their ultimate purpose.
Meanwhile, the demand for bicycles had gradually declined after news spread about the upcoming motorcycle.
Even so, bicycles remained popular among ordinary citizens because they were inexpensive, reliable, and convenient for everyday transportation.
**********
—Three and a half years after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
The continent had finally returned to a relatively peaceful state.
The former Star Luo Empire was once again fully operational, and businesses throughout the region had begun recovering. Trade gradually increased, and life was returning to normal.
However, the matter involving the Evil Spirit Masters was far from over.
A shocking discovery was made when Zhu Zhuqing's father learned that his own daughter, Zhu Zhuyun, had connections with the Evil Spirit Masters.
It was extremely difficult for him to accept.
Zhu Zhuqing's father had long been regarded as one of the pillars supporting the continent. The revelation that his own daughter had gone astray was therefore a heavy blow to him and his family.
Zhu Zhuyun was subsequently placed under the authority of the law.
However, because her father was still serving the empire, Ning Fengzhi and the other leaders decided to give Zhu Zhuyun an opportunity to redeem herself.
If she cooperated and revealed the location of the Evil Spirit Master's base, her information could help the empire completely eradicate them.
**********
—Four years after Lev left—
Eternal Divine Continent,
Another war erupted after Zhu Zhuyun's interrogation finally revealed the location of the Evil Spirit Masters' hidden base.
This time, however, Lev's direct students were allowed to participate in the operation.
Following Bibi Dong's orders, the students joined the forces sent to annihilate the remaining Evil Spirit Masters.
The battle proved to be an important opportunity for them.
After years of training, Lev's students finally demonstrated their abilities on a real battlefield. By the end of the operation, they had earned recognition throughout the continent and taken their first major step toward becoming the Royal Guards of the Eternal Divine Continent.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing's father voluntarily resigned from his position.
He believed that he had failed the Emperor by allowing his own daughter to become connected with the Evil Spirit Masters. Unable to shake away the guilt, he decided to withdraw from continental affairs.
He announced that he would return to deal with his family's internal matters and would no longer participate in the empire's major decisions.
Even though the others tried to persuade him otherwise, his decision remained firm.
For him, it was the only way he could take responsibility for what had happened within his family while waiting for the day their Emperor would finally return.
*****
God Realm,
Meanwhile, the once-magnificent God Realm was now on the verge of collapse. Ruined structures could be seen everywhere, divine energy had become chaotic, and the entire realm had been reduced to what could only be described as a desolate battlefield.
It was no longer a place suitable for the Gods to live.
Amid the ruins, a young man wearing nothing but tattered clothes could be seen sitting atop a mountain of corpses. Numerous wounds covered his body, with blood staining his clothes and dripping from several cuts though they were also healing at a very fast pace.
The youth was none other than Lev.
For four years, he had fought continuously against the Gods.
He breathed calmly while gripping Infinity tightly, his fingers wrapped around the sword as though it were the only thing keeping him standing. His exhausted eyes stared blankly at the sky, seemingly devoid of their former vitality.
"It's over."
Lev's voice was quiet.
The memories of the past four years remained vivid in his mind, as though everything had happened only moments ago.
Running.
Hiding.
Growing stronger.
Killing.
Those four things had become his entire existence.
Over and over again.
He had long since lost count of how many Gods he had killed. He had fought alone, survived countless situations where death seemed inevitable, and endured hardships that would have broken an ordinary person's mind.
Yet he endured.
He endured because he still had something waiting for him.
The people he loved.
The empire he had built.
The home he had left behind.
That thought had been the only thing keeping him sane throughout these four endless years.
"W-Why did you spare me?"
A woman's trembling voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Lev turned his head.
A beautiful woman sat among the ruins, her body trembling as she stared at him in disbelief.
It was the Goddess of Life.
She had witnessed everything.
From the beginning of the war until its conclusion, she had watched Lev fight against the Gods of the God Realm.
And now, she was the only one left alive.
She looked at Lev as though she were looking at a monster.
Lev slowly stood from the pile of corpses, causing the Goddess of Life to instinctively tremble even more when their eyes met.
"I need someone to manage this place for me," Lev answered honestly. "I don't have the time to do it myself, and your God Position and authority are perfectly suited for the task."
The Goddess of Life's expression changed.
"D-Do you really think I'll forgive you after you killed everyone here?"
Although she was grateful that Lev had spared her life, grief and anger overwhelmed that gratitude. She had lost countless friends and acquaintances during the war, and Lev was responsible for their deaths.
[Hate: 30%]
Lev's Harem Sense immediately detected her emotions.
However, he didn't care.
It was only natural for her to hate him.
"Of course you won't," Lev replied calmly. "And I don't care whether you forgive me."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"As the Goddess of Life, you should have understood the consequences of this war. Yet it still happened."
The Goddess of Life lowered her head.
"You had the power to speak against Asura. You had the opportunity to stop this conflict before it reached this point."
Her hands trembled.
"But you didn't."
Lev's voice remained emotionless.
"I don't know whether you tried to stop him and failed, or whether you simply remained silent. If you genuinely tried to prevent this war, then you aren't responsible for what happened."
His expression hardened.
"But if you remained silent and allowed everything to happen, then you are partly responsible."
The Goddess of Life lowered her head even further.
His words struck a place within her that she had desperately tried to avoid.
Because she knew he was right.
She had hesitated.
She had remained silent.
And now, the consequences were lying before her.
"E-Even so..."
Before she could finish, Lev suddenly pushed her down the ground.
His entire body was trembling.
For four years, he had known nothing except battle.
Blood.
Death.
Pain.
The constant pressure of surviving.
And now that the fighting had finally stopped, everything he had suppressed throughout those four years was beginning to surface.
Lev took several deep breaths.
"I'm sorry."
The Goddess of Life stared at him in confusion.
"I'm not myself right now."
Lev looked at the Goddess of Life.
"Four years of fighting have done something to me. Right now, I need some distraction before I can think clearly again."
The Goddess of Life remained silent and afraid.
For the first time, she noticed just how broken Lev actually looked beneath his terrifying strength.
He wasn't simply exhausted physically.
His mind had been pushed to its absolute limit.
However, right now, she could feel something was not right, especially from the way he was breathing.
On the other hand, Lev closed his eyes and took another deep breath.
The war was over.
But the consequences of those four years would remain with him for much longer.
He had won.
Yet standing among the corpses of the Gods, Lev couldn't bring himself to feel victorious.
Hence, he needs something that would clear his head.