"If I had to pick just one that I care about the most… it would probably be Senior Sister." Su Wen's gaze turned distant as he spoke.
"Oh? I thought you would say Gu Yuena." The God of Time and Space smiled teasingly, eyes narrowed in amusement.
"There are a lot of things that can't really be explained clearly. I love all of them, and I've done my best to ease the tension between them, to give everyone a real home. But in the eyes of many people, that just makes me scum…"
"It is pretty scummy." The God of Time and Space nodded slightly in agreement.
"…" Su Wen fell silent.
"So, are you satisfied with my answer?"
He slowly let out a long breath, but his mind drifted back to Zhang Lexuan from all those years ago. She was the only one who had picked the Lovesick Heartbroken Red for him—proof that in her heart, there was only him.
He was her entire world.
As for the other girls, he also liked them, and was even willing to give them everything. But if he had to put the word "most" on someone…
He loved Zhang Lexuan just a little more than the others.
The status of the main wife would never be shaken.
"Not bad. A very honest answer." The God of Time and Space revealed a faint smile and snapped his fingers lightly. "You've passed."
"…" Su Wen was slightly taken aback.
Suddenly, his interest was piqued. "What if I'd tried to muddle through and said I liked them all equally?"
"Then you'd be lying. And I hate liars the most. From that point on, the position of God of Time and Space would have nothing more to do with you." The God of Time and Space said, still smiling.
Su Wen's expression froze. He had indeed thought about getting clever, casually glossing it over. After all, this kind of question was torment for him, a test that pressed on the sorest part of his heart. But when he considered that the other party was a deity—the God of Time and Space—he knew there was no way to hide anything. It was better to be honest.
He hadn't expected that, by accident, this honesty would allow him to pass the trial.
"…Hah… then I suppose my luck isn't bad." Su Wen's eyes were complicated.
"Since that's the case, there's no need for more nonsense. Accept the inheritance."
The smile faded from the God of Time and Space's face. He extended a finger and lightly tapped it toward Su Wen.
In the next instant, it was as if the entire world, the entire universe, had fallen utterly silent. Su Wen's hair slowly turned a faint silvery color, shimmering like the starry heavens. His body gradually transformed into motes of light, dissipating into this world, as if he were fusing with it entirely.
An ancient, primordial power was brewing inside him, surging into his body as the God of Time and Space passed on the inheritance.
"This is the authority over the power of time and space. From this moment on, I entrust it to you… The future—the flow of this universe's time—will be yours to protect."
The God of Time and Space hooked the corners of his lips. On his face was a trace of ease, release, and lightness.
For countless years, old friends had fallen, eras had changed, yet only He remained, standing unmoved in the depths of the sea of stars, stubbornly maintaining this vigil. Precisely because of this, what Su Wen received from His hands was a god-seat of Time and Space that was still at its absolute peak, without the slightest trace of corrosion.
"I will." Su Wen's eyes grew solemn.
"This universe is far from peaceful…" The God of Time and Space gazed into the distance, a glint of killing intent flashing through His eyes.
"I'll make it quiet." Su Wen smiled faintly.
"If it doesn't quiet down… then it can just disappear."
The handover of the god-seat proceeded without the slightest difficulty. At this moment, with the authority of the God of Time and Space in his grasp, Su Wen completely understood the underlying operating logic of this world.
The God Realm was, in essence, just a powerful force among many. Even this entire star-domain could only be called "one single faction." The God Realm itself was merely the "administrator" of all subordinate planes. Whether Sea God, Asura God, or Angel God, each was just one administrative position, temporarily holding and managing a share of "authority."
Take the Sea God, for example. Within Douluo Star and all planes under the God Realm's jurisdiction, He was the Sea God, ruler of the seas. But once He left the domain controlled by the God Realm, He would still have affinity with water—but the "authority" would be gone. He would no longer be a true Sea God.
Authority—this was indeed the most central, fundamental thing in this world.
The God Realm could also expand its total capacity by devouring or absorbing lower planes. When the territory under the God Realm's control expanded, all deities of the God Realm would benefit and grow stronger.
In the end, gods had to rely on the God Realm—or on a system of faith and followers—to support their god-seats. The more vast the subordinate territory, the stronger the power.
Now, he finally understood.
It was the Dark Forest law.
And the most uncompromising kind at that.
Very few outside forces would be willing to draw near. The very nature of this universe's laws was to force all into mutual slaughter.
Why did the Abyssal Sage King and the Crimson Mother invade and devour everywhere they went? Were they the only villains in the universe?
No…
They were just one fragment of the bigger picture.
If you didn't grow stronger, you would be swallowed by others.
This universe was a forest black to the point of being outrageous. Cruelty was its true background color. The peaceful and stable tens of thousands of years that Douluo Continent and the God Realm had enjoyed—those were fortune and coincidence.
In truth, in this universe, turmoil and chaos were the essence, the normal state.
Just like after the God Realm was swept away by the turbulent long river of time and space, Douluo Star was invaded by the Abyssal Plane. That was not an exception; that was normal.
That was the true normal of this universe…
At this moment, Su Wen's perception swelled outward to cover the entire star-domain. Everywhere within the range touched by His divine power fell under His awareness. At the very edge of this star-domain, countless forces—tiny insects in His eyes—were constantly probing, trying to enter this realm. Some were existences similar to the Abyssal Plane; others were planes ruled by the demon race as planetary overlords.
"Ever since the God Realm was swept away, those things have been constantly trying to invade, right? Annoying ants, one after another. But in truth… behind them are other star-domains as well." The God of Time and Space folded His arms over His chest and spoke casually, as if passing this heavy burden to Su Wen had lightened His heart.
"I understand." Su Wen nodded slightly.
The God of Time and Space was the God of Time and Space for this star-domain.
So even though He was at the God King realm, His combat power stood at the very peak of the star-domain. Yet the territory under the God Realm's control was only a small part of the star-domain, and throughout the star-domain there were other God Realms as well. Thus, even though Asura, Destruction, and Life were incredibly powerful God Kings, they could not be compared to the God of Time and Space.
Even among God Kings, there were vast differences.
Of course, the Ancient God Realm created by the Dragon God still had incredible prestige. Unfortunately, when the God Realm shattered back then, its vitality was gravely damaged and fragmented, and countless ancient gods either died or were maimed…
"You were also a god in the Ancient God Realm created by the Dragon God, back then?" Su Wen asked in surprise.
"No. I never joined the God Realm He created. I was born of heaven and earth itself, roaming alone. At most, we were acquaintances, nothing closer than that." The God of Time and Space shook His head.
"No wonder…" Su Wen nodded slightly.
Previously, when he asked the Ancient Ice God, the other party had said bluntly that they had never even heard of the existence of a God of Time and Space.