Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1671 690: Hero or Traitor?

"So, when we journeyed to the 'Heavenly God Battlefield,' it was already well into its mid-to-late stages."

"By then, the Six Great 'Cataclysm Pathways' had already produced more than thirty God-Kings, each having engulfed and subdued over ten Heavenly Gods."

"These thirty-odd God-Kings were also locked in internal conflict, vying intensely for the supreme position among the Six Great 'Cataclysm Pathways.'

"It was precisely due to this rampant chaos that our options were severely limited at that juncture. Consequently, disagreements surfaced among us."

"My own perspective was fairly straightforward. I, Zhao Ji, have never desired to be subservient to anyone."

"Therefore, regardless of how far the 'Heavenly God Battlefield' had progressed, I resolved to venture in and seek a path to becoming a God-King myself."

"As for the others, their intentions were far more intricate. Some preferred to align with an existing God-King for a measure of security."

"Others aimed to interfere in the battles between God-Kings of the same pathway, while some were overcome by fear and desired to return to our world."

"And so, we separated, each pursuing their own objectives."

Hearing Zhao Ji's account, Qiu Tu's mind raced, piecing together the situation.

Based on Zhao Ji's explanation, the quest for God-King status essentially involves each pathway birthing its own sovereign."

For instance, Qiu Tu belongs to the 'Order-Politics' pathway, making all Heavenly Gods aligned with 'Order' his adversaries."

To achieve the rank of God-King, he must either slay or subjugate at least ten 'Order' Heavenly Gods."

Subsequently, he would need to find methods to absorb other God-Kings within the 'Order Pathway,' ultimately ensuring he stands as the sole God-King of the 'Order Pathway."

This, Qiu Tu deduced, must be the prescribed 'Path to Ascension' for a God-King."

Such a progression predictably leads to a specific outcome:

While Heavenly Gods of the same pathway might initially oppose each other, by the middle to later stages, if one God-King gains a significant early lead, other Heavenly Gods of the 'Order Pathway,' seeking to avoid annihilation and preferring subjugation instead, would naturally gravitate towards aligning with that dominant God-King.

What presents an even greater conundrum is... a single world might spawn thirty to forty Heavenly Gods concurrently, yet there are only Six Great Pathways. This implies that... Heavenly Gods from the same pathway must inevitably clash."

This creates a scenario where, in the escalating stages, Heavenly Gods originating from the same world find unity elusive due to their fundamentally divergent interests.

It was no wonder then that the outcome Zhao Ji and her companions faced back then was so dire."

With this realization dawning, Qiu Tu pondered for a moment before inquiring, "Then, how did the final 'Heavenly Gods' meet their end?"

At Qiu Tu's question, Zhao Ji's expression clouded with a hint of distant confusion.

She paused briefly before replying, "I am also unsure of the specifics."

"My own recollection is that after my expedition, I detected an issue with my 'Cataclysm Pathway,' compelling me to return to our realm for repairs."

"Upon my return, I discovered a God-King assaulting our world. Some Heavenly Gods had perished, others had fled, and the remaining were on the brink of utter devastation."

"Witnessing this dire state, I naturally could not remain passive, and thus I moved to engage that God-King in combat."

At this juncture, Zhao Ji paused, offering a candid assessment: "Hmm... I held a slight advantage."

Qiu Tu's reaction was one of utter bewilderment.

Frankly, Qiu Tu had consistently held Zhao Ji's combat capabilities in extremely high esteem, considering her a contender for the foremost extraordinary talents within this diminutive world.

However, this assessment was confined strictly to this small world.

After all, the 'Boundless Heart Sea' was immensely vast, possessing innumerable unseen branches and countless worlds. Surely, there existed individuals far surpassing Zhao Ji, right?

Consider, for example, those individual God-Kings."

Yet, the current revelation suggested... even a God-King was no match for Zhao Ji?

Zhao Ji at her zenith must have been truly formidable."

Dwelling on this, Qiu Tu felt compelled to continue listening to Zhao Ji's narrative.

A glimmer of recollection appeared in Zhao Ji's eyes as she continued, "However, my adversary was not unintelligent. Upon realizing he was outmatched, he ceased his direct assault and proceeded to summon reinforcements."

"He beckoned another God-King to his aid."

"With two God-Kings united against me, I was clearly outmatched and was compelled to execute a strategic, gradual retreat."

Zhao Ji paused then, appending a brief statement: "But... this retreat was merely a temporary measure."

"Because at that time, during my cultivation, I had already successfully engulfed eight Heavenly Gods from the same pathway."

"Therefore, all I needed was to absorb two more Heavenly Gods of the same pathway to achieve God-King status, enabling me to confront them directly."

"But at that moment, the East God-King somehow acquired a peculiar method for sacrifice."

"This sacrificial method enabled them to forcibly fuse with the 'Small World,' utilizing the 'Heavenly God Positional Frame' as offerings."

"Perhaps they felt this battle was unwinnable, and in order to save themselves and preserve the 'Small World,' they resorted to this sacrificial ritual, merging forcefully with the 'Small World.'"

"Once merged, their power indeed became astonishingly formidable."

"Within the 'Small World,' not only could their strength ascend to the Heavenly God Peak, but they could also inversely suppress any Heavenly Gods not native to their world."

"This act undeniably gave those two God-Kings pause, compelling them to cease their invasion."

After hearing this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but blink, gazing at Zhao Ji with bewilderment. "In that case, shouldn't they be hailed as heroes? Then why... do you all look down on them?"

Responding to Qiu Tu's inquiry, Zhao Ji's typically impassive countenance grew even icier. She casually cast a glance at Qiu Tu and stated,

"Had the circumstances concluded there, then they most certainly could have been glorified as heroes."

"Indeed, even had they perished in the struggle to safeguard the 'Small World,' they would have been sanctified, revered by countless souls."