Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1672 690: Hero or Traitor?

She stated, "But... the issue is, the situation didn't cease right there."

Zhao Ji's gaze remained ice-cold, betraying no emotion as she calmly remarked, "Perhaps their desire to safeguard this world was too intense, or maybe they intended to hoard it all for themselves, or possibly they struck a clandestine bargain with those two Divine Kings."

"After they had banished the two Divine Kings, they subsequently exiled all other Heavenly Gods and obliterated the 'World Passage.'"

"According to their rationale, for any Divine King to achieve ultimate supremacy, they are compelled to subjugate or absorb all Heavenly Gods who walk the same path."

"Having already forsaken the 'Heavenly God Path,' their designated positions stripped away, they would no longer be a concern for the Divine Kings."

"However... the other Heavenly Gods, who had not abandoned the 'Heavenly God Path,' even if they sought refuge within the 'Small World,' would inevitably be discovered. And when that time arrived, their presence would bring about the Small World's utter annihilation."

"Therefore, to preserve the 'Small World,' they were forced to exile every single Heavenly God."

"As for... whether other Heavenly Gods might also abandon the 'Heavenly God Path' just as they did... that was a matter of no concern to them."

"Because... a small world already housing four 'Heavenly God level' Earth Deities was far too crowded; there was simply no available territory left to accommodate any additional Heavenly Gods."

Upon hearing Zhao Ji's explanation, Qiu Tu's countenance was etched with profound shock.

If the four Divine Kings had acted as valiant heroes in the earlier stages, their actions in the latter stages painted them as unequivocal traitors.

Moreover... it was evident they had not learned from the lessons of history.

Even if their logic seemed internally consistent, history had repeatedly demonstrated that voluntarily relinquishing power offered no protection against the predatory nature of the strong.

Numerous nations had once possessed the potential for prosperity and might, only to relinquish it due to prevailing circumstances, ultimately vanishing entirely from the world's grand stage.

Conversely, it was precisely those nations that endured, persevering through adversity with gritted teeth, that achieved true and lasting strength.

However, as this thought materialized, Qiu Tu suddenly grasped a long-standing enigma.

It was no wonder the four Divine Kings had been relentlessly hunting Eighth Rank Peak Great Evil Gods throughout the years.

Previously, Qiu Tu had found the stated reasons for their pursuit of these potent beings to be insufficient.

Now, it appeared their anxieties extended beyond merely preventing power-sharing; they also feared the potential birth of a genuine 'Heavenly God,' whose existence might guide a Divine King towards the 'same path' and thus expose this small world.

For a fleeting moment, Qiu Tu found himself at a loss regarding how to categorize these four Divine Kings.

Were these four Divine Kings inherently malicious? While they clearly prioritized their own interests, they also harbored a desire to protect this world.

Thus, labeling them as entirely wicked seemed inaccurate.

But... to dismiss them as 'foolish' would undoubtedly be correct. Furthermore, their folly was compounded by cowardice.

It was no surprise then that Zhao Ji and the others involved referred to them as cowards, traitors, and creatures hiding in their shells...

Indeed, such a description seemed entirely fitting.

Furthermore, Qiu Tu held a strong suspicion that these four Divine Kings might even hold Zhao Ji accountable, believing her discovery of the method to ascend to Divine King status and the existence of the 'World Passage' was the catalyst for the current crisis.

After all... had Zhao Ji not unveiled the secret to becoming a Divine King and the 'World Passage,' all Heavenly Gods would have continued to deceive themselves, contentedly remaining hidden within the small world.

"These four imbeciles!"

After silently denouncing the four Divine Kings, Qiu Tu directed his gaze upward towards Zhao Ji. His brow then furrowed as he spoke,

"With another century having elapsed, the situation on the 'Heavenly God Battlefield' is bound to grow considerably more intricate."

"Once we achieve the status of Heavenly God, it will be imperative to devise an infallible strategy to evade detection by the 'True God Kings.'"

"Fortunately, however... we should still have a reasonable window of opportunity for preparation."

As Qiu Tu concluded his statement, Zhao Ji prepared to respond.

At that precise moment, she suddenly became rigid.

Witnessing her strange reaction, Qiu Tu looked at her with a measure of bewilderment, on the verge of inquiring about the cause.

However, in the very next second, he too froze, completely immobilized.

The reason for his sudden paralysis was an apparent message received directly from the 'World Origin.'

"Seven days remain until the Heavenly God Trial concludes."

--------

Requesting Monthly Ticket