Towering trees stood tall, brambles grew thick, and massive vines hung down from the branches. Savage magical beasts lurked within this primeval forest — the Forest of Darkness had existed for far too long, and the ground was blanketed in thick layers of fallen leaves.
A man with dazzling golden hair stepped upon the carpet of leaves, producing a crisp crunching sound.
"Hah!"
The golden-haired youth's chest rose and fell as he let out a long breath.
"This mission… really now." A helpless resignation filled the young man's heart. He had received Hamblin's orders to come to this Forest of Darkness and pay a visit to Lord Belute.
He had also learned from Hamblin…
That Belute was a Highgod powerhouse!
"I'm only a Lowgod. Lord Belute could kill me with a flip of his hand." A trace of nervousness and worry stirred in the golden-haired youth's chest. "I only hope Lord Belute and Lord Adkins don't have some grudge against each other. And even if they do, please don't let it fall on someone like me."
Stepping out of the dense forest, he entered a wide-open meadow.
Before this expansive grassland stood a castle made of metal.
"Kuchai has come to pay his respects to Lord Belute!" the golden-haired youth called out in a booming voice before the metal castle, simultaneously bowing respectfully.
"What is your business?" A deep, hoarse voice resonated directly inside the golden-haired youth's mind.
Kuchai immediately looked up, but there was no one in sight — only the cold metal castle before him. He understood that Lord Belute simply couldn't be bothered to meet him in person and was merely transmitting his voice through divine sense. Kuchai bowed again and said, "Lord Belute, I had the fortune to escape from the Gobadad Plane Prison. I've also heard of the existence of the Tomb of the Gods. I was wondering whether it might be possible for me to enter the Tomb of the Gods?"
Yes.
What Adkins had instructed him to do was send a Lowgod to probe Belute's attitude regarding the reopening of the Tomb of the Gods.
"Enter the Tomb of the Gods? Certainly!" Belute's hoarse voice rang out.
The golden-haired youth felt a surge of delight.
"However, the Tomb of the Gods opens only once every millennium. If you wish to enter, wait another thousand years." Belute's reply left Kuchai somewhat stunned.
"That will be all. You may leave now," Belute said indifferently.
"Lord Belute, couldn't it be any sooner?" Kuchai said respectfully.
"I told you — leave!" Belute's voice sounded again.
A chill ran down Kuchai's spine. He knew all too well the consequences of angering a Highgod. Not daring to say another word, he immediately bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Lord Belute." With that, Kuchai promptly departed from the metal castle.
Inside the metal castle.
Belute stroked his black beard and let out a derisive chuckle. "This Adkins, sending a mere Lowgod to inquire on his behalf. Does he think it would be beneath him to come in person? Hmph… Very well, Adkins. I'll have a little fun with you." A glint of amusement flashed through Belute's eyes.
Then, in an instant, Belute's divine sense surged outward like a tidal wave.
"All god-level powerhouses still remaining on the Yulan Continent — the Tomb of the Gods opens only once every millennium, and it has just recently opened. Those who wish to enter will have to wait another thousand years… Furthermore, the number of slots is limited. Only the strongest will be allowed in."
A faint, playful smile appeared on his face as Belute transmitted this message to every god-level powerhouse across the entire Yulan Continent.
"Looks like things are going to get more and more interesting." Belute's smile was radiant.
Belute's transmission also echoed simultaneously in Adkins's mind. Adkins, who had been frolicking with a beautiful, enchanting woman in a side chamber of his palace, immediately stopped. "Darling, you may leave for now. I'll come find you again tonight."
"Yes, my lord." The golden-haired beauty smiled and withdrew.
Adkins then replayed Belute's divine sense transmission in his mind.
"Lord Adkins." The silver-haired elder walked into the side chamber.
"Bonath, you're here." Adkins nodded with a smile. "You heard Belute's transmission just now, didn't you?"
Under Adkins's command, there had originally been three Midgods. With Augavin, there were now four. But the one Adkins trusted most was still this very man, 'Bonath.' Even that silver-haired young man, 'Hamblin,' was visibly terrified in Adkins's presence.
Yet Bonath conversed with Adkins as though they were old friends.
"Based on what Belute transmitted, along with what we already know, the once-per-millennium opening is no lie. A thousand years is nothing to us… Lord Adkins, we can simply wait. After the millennium passes, we may enter then without any rush," the silver-haired elder said.
Adkins's elegant nose wrinkled slightly. "A millennium, then…"
"Let us wait. After all, I find life in the mortal world rather entertaining," Adkins said with a light smile. "It's just that Belute fellow — quite the arrogance. Riding on his connection to a Highgod, and he even dares say the slots are limited. Truly… hmph!"
Adkins let out a disdainful snort.
He found Belute thoroughly disagreeable, though he wasn't entirely confident in his ability to kill him. After all, Belute might well possess a Highgod artifact.
"Ha ha ha…" The silver-haired elder laughed. "Lord Adkins, in any case, it's the strongest who get in. As long as you send people in — who on the Yulan Continent is more qualified than you, my lord? This restriction on slots won't affect you in the slightest."
Adkins smiled and nodded.
He was a Highgod.
Belute was the administrator of the Tomb of the Gods, so naturally he wouldn't enter himself. Besides Belute, was there anyone on the Yulan Continent stronger than Adkins?
Within the imperial palace of the Yulan Empire, inside a massive hot spring bath pool dozens of meters across, a slender, brown-haired young man lay bare-bodied in the steaming water. This sort of hot spring pool was a luxury only the most elite nobles could enjoy. Beneath the pool, a great number of workers stoked fires to heat the water, maintaining the pool's temperature.
Steam rose in billowing clouds.