After the war ended, Yang Podi sat alone in the Angel Temple, contemplating how to handle the future.
With his current strength, he was undoubtedly invincible on Douluo Star. However, if he were to leave, he had no idea what level of power he would have compared to beings outside. At the very least, he would definitely be far weaker than the Four Divine Kings. Rather than wandering blindly in the God Realm, it seemed wiser to focus on training first.
Now that he had already become a god, he had technically achieved his initial goal. But he had no interest in interfering in the affairs of the God Realm—especially since it was bound to be engulfed in various conflicts in the future.
Yang Podi also had a large number of relatives and friends. If he went to the God Realm, he could only take two people with him. Even if Qian Renxue and Ye Lingling could become gods on their own, without occupying his quota, his parents, grandfathers, and many friends wouldn't have the same opportunity. He couldn't simply ignore them and leave them to die, as their talents made it impossible for them to ascend to godhood.
However, as a morally upright youth, Yang Podi detested the way Tang San in the original story manipulated Douluo Continent—treating it entirely as his own domain. Yang Podi absolutely did not want to become such a person himself.
Thinking about this, he recalled the special power within him—the so-called Power of Creation. He had a feeling that, even though his strength wasn't sufficient now, this power could gradually make him omnipotent. Even against the Silver Dragon King, he could hold his own in battle.
Yet, it was clear that he hadn't fully unlocked his potential. Logically, the Power of Creation should surpass even the energy wielded by the Five Divine Kings, including the Asura God Power he possessed. But he felt like he hadn't been using it correctly.
This led him to another thought: back then, the Dragon God had been able to create the God Realm. That meant the Dragon God either wielded the Power of Creation or had found a way to channel and utilize it. Now that Yang Podi had this power himself, could he perhaps create a new God Realm?
Without hesitation, Yang Podi began meditating carefully within the Angel Temple. The divine trials set by the Angel God must have involved the creation of a similar inheritance space, splitting off a fragment of divine spirit. Otherwise, the Spirit Hall would have long lost any inheritance at all.
Be it the Asura Temple in the City of Slaughter, the hidden Angel Temple in Spirit City, or the Rakshasa Secret Realm he had visited before—these were all essentially small worlds. But perhaps because the gods' levels were too low, or because they lacked the Power of Creation, these small worlds couldn't function independently.
Yang Podi started examining his internal world carefully. Based on his current state, he could indeed form a similar kind of secret realm, but it felt somewhat different.
To make his small world truly come alive, it would need a complete set of laws. First and foremost, it required life—an entire system governing birth, aging, sickness, and death. It also needed a cultivation system. These things had taken billions of years to develop naturally on Douluo Star. Creating them from scratch wouldn't be easy, not to mention the rules of the small world itself.
However, Yang Podi wasn't too concerned about time. As a god, he had an abundance of it. The only issue was that his parents, relatives, and friends couldn't afford to wait indefinitely.
Months passed as the post-war reconstruction of Spirit City continued. The originally damaged city walls were completely rebuilt. The construction abilities of soul masters were truly remarkable—within just a few months, they had completed an enormous project.
His father, Yang Zhentian, and Sword Douluo had also negotiated with Bibi Dong, successfully achieving their goals.
According to the plan, a new Heavenly Academy would be built in the central region of the continent. The Spirit Empire had even allocated an entire small city for this purpose. As long as it adhered to the laws of the empire, Spirit Hall would not interfere with its operations. However, Yang Podi would need to handle all matters related to construction and enrollment. Additionally, students and teachers alike were strictly forbidden from interfering in soul master affairs while at the academy. This new institution would effectively become a branch of Heavenly Academy.
To oversee this major project, Yang Zhentian even called in his father-in-law, Niu Gao, and his uncle, Niu Mang, to discuss the details of building the new academy.
Meanwhile, Sword Douluo privately met with Bibi Dong to discuss rebuilding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Initially, Bibi Dong wasn't particularly inclined to agree—it felt too generous to simply allow it. However, given that Sword Douluo had risked his life to aid them in battle, she couldn't completely refuse.
At this point, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been reduced to just a handful of members. Without even a single Title Douluo left, they posed no threat. Furthermore, with Heavenly Academy cutting ties with them, it signified the academy's strict independence.
Once all these matters were settled, Yang Podi left Spirit City with Qian Renxue and Ye Lingling. Qian Renxue was now pregnant and needed to rest at Heavenly Academy—Spirit City was still too chaotic.
From then on, aside from spending time with his two lovers, Yang Podi devoted himself entirely to meditation, striving to complete his small world before his grandfathers passed away. Otherwise, things would become much more complicated.
Time flew by, and ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Ever since the last beast tide initiated by the soul beast race, the entire Douluo Continent had remained peaceful.
True to expectations, Bibi Dong proved to be a ruler with great ambition and wisdom. Over the past decade, she had worked diligently to govern the continent, leading to rapid growth in both population and economy.
At the center of Spirit City now stood a newly constructed plaza, built to commemorate those who had sacrificed themselves or made significant contributions during the war against the soul beasts. Three towering statues dominated the area—depicting Yang Podi, Bibi Dong, and Qian Renxue in their divine forms. They were revered as the greatest saviors of humanity.
At the center of the plaza was a massive stone tablet, inscribed with the names of all those who had died in the war, as well as those who had contributed in other ways. Even many ordinary people were listed—as long as they had fought for the Spirit Empire, their names were honored.
Bibi Dong's personality had undergone a noticeable transformation. With the continent unified and years of communication with Qian Renxue, she seemed eager to mend past rifts. No longer as ruthless and domineering as when she first ascended to godhood, she now exuded a sense of kindness and benevolence.
Another striking feature of Spirit City was a small yet significant statue near the commemorative plaza. It was dedicated to those who had once betrayed humanity by siding with the soul beasts—those who had followed Tang San.
Among them were the original Shrek Seven Devils, remnants of the Strength Clan and the Speed Clan, and others. All had been sentenced to death and publicly executed. This included Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and many others.
To set a strong example, their trials and executions were conducted openly, leaving no room for whitewashing their actions. The crowds at these events were immense, and the disdain for traitors was palpable.
A particularly unique statue had been erected—a kneeling figure of Tang San. It was placed deliberately as a warning to all would-be traitors. Before this statue stood an enormous Clear Sky Hammer, radiating divine pressure.
For years, an old, deranged man had lingered beneath this hammer, mumbling incoherently. That man was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
Ever since the events of the past, Yu Xiaogang had remained by the Clear Sky Hammer, unwilling to leave. Even when Bibi Dong came to persuade him, he refused to take a single step away. Over time, people simply stopped paying attention to him.
And so, Yu Xiaogang continued to stay there, muttering to himself like a madman. By now, no one cared about him anymore. Even when he occasionally raved about being a "Grandmaster," claiming to be a world-renowned scholar who had nurtured a god, no one bothered to argue with this lunatic.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue had given birth to a baby boy for Yang Podi. The child was exceptionally adorable and quickly became the treasure of both families. Even Qian Daoliu was willing to set aside all his responsibilities in the Spirit Hall just to move to Heavenly Academy and take care of his great-grandson, seemingly intending to make the child his successor.
Even Bibi Dong often left behind the affairs of the Spirit Empire just to spend time with her grandson, resembling a kind and loving elder.
As for Yang Podi, he remained in seclusion, fully devoted to contemplating how to create a new miniature world.
To nurture this world, he specifically collected a vast number of plants and animals from hidden corners of Douluo Star and placed them in his small world for cultivation.
Strangely, most plants struggled to grow, yet Blue Silver Grass thrived vigorously, spreading everywhere.
As Yang Podi continued infusing the world with his power of creation, it gradually became more vibrant and increasingly suitable for life.
Two particularly special beings resided in this world: the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and the Evil Emperor. Yang Podi had reconstructed their bodies, having promised them resurrection and even a path to godhood. In his small world, they roamed freely, living without restraints.
As time passed, the small world flourished. Yang Podi gradually introduced various animals, ensuring they adapted before finally beginning to bring humans into the world.
Creating an entirely new cultivation system required immense effort. Unlike Douluo Continent, where strength was determined by spirit rings and soul power, this system resembled the cultivation paths of ordinary fantasy worlds. There were no bottlenecks, and no need to hunt soul beasts for advancement.
Initially, this system was crude, structured around fundamental stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divine Transformation. The levels roughly corresponded to those of Douluo Continent—Qi Refining encompassed the early soul master ranks, Foundation Establishment ranged from Rank 10 to Rank 70 (Soul Saint), and Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation represented higher levels. Reaching Divine Transformation was equivalent to achieving godhood in Douluo Star.
By the time this cultivation system had been perfected, Yang Podi had lost track of how long he had spent on Douluo Star. Most of his family and friends had already migrated into his miniature world, where they were free from restrictions and enjoyed extended lifespans.
In this world, there were no martial souls. People were not limited by the absence of innate soul power. Instead, their cultivation potential depended solely on their aptitude, which influenced their speed of progress.
Time flew by, and a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, many people reached godhood, inheriting divine positions.
Yang Tianyue eventually became the new Sea God, while Ye Lingling, after undergoing rigorous trials, inherited the position of the God King of Life. Several others also succeeded in obtaining divine thrones.
After a century, Yang Podi, Qian Renxue, Ye Lingling, Bibi Dong, and Yang Tianyue stood atop the highest peak of Heavenly Academy, each wielding their divine weapons, their expressions solemn. The hundred-year period required by the Divine Realm had arrived—they had to ascend to the Divine Realm, or else they would be repelled by Douluo Star.
Meanwhile, others who had achieved godhood but lacked positions in the Douluo Divine Realm continued to cultivate in the small world, free from its authority.
However, Yang Podi himself never felt any signs of rejection from Douluo Star. Perhaps it was due to the Golden Ancient Tree he had absorbed in the past.
Yang Podi glanced at the others and asked, "It has been a hundred years. Do you have any regrets about leaving Douluo Star?"
Everyone shook their heads. For them, achieving godhood and making meaningful contributions to the world was already fulfilling.
Yang Tianyue suddenly asked, "Brother, if we ascend to the Divine Realm, won't it be a long time before we can see our parents again?"
Yang Podi flicked her forehead. "I think you just don't want to leave Ping'an behind. If that's the case, why not bring him to the Divine Realm?"
Yang Tianyue shook her head quickly. "There's nothing interesting about the Divine Realm. The small world is much better. Ping'an has already become a god there. If he goes to the Divine Realm, he'll have to follow its rules, but in the small world, he's free."
Yang Podi didn't argue further and instead turned to Bibi Dong. "Mother-in-law, you have the most experience here. Do you have any lingering attachments to Douluo Star? And is there anything specific we should be wary of in the Divine Realm?"
Bibi Dong shook her head. "I have no regrets left on Douluo Star. I established an empire where people now live in peace, and humans and soul beasts coexist harmoniously. I've made my contributions to the world. I also have my daughter and grandson, and even Nana as my successor. My life feels complete."
"As for the Divine Realm, isn't that why we have you? You're the God Realm's Enforcer, and your divine power far surpasses ours."
Yang Podi looked at the determined expressions of his companions, then turned his gaze toward the sky.
"Let's go," he said. "We'll explore the Divine Realm. If things don't work out… we can always come back."