"Alright, Senior Sun God, I'm not entirely sure how much energy I have in my body myself," Zhang Zheng said.
"Let's get to the point. And General Pan, please stand up. I feel uncomfortable with you kneeling like this."
Zhang Zheng, watching Pan Zhen kneeling before the Sun God, thought it was quite ridiculous. Six thousand years of civilization, and yet they still insist on such traditional gestures. It made him quite uncomfortable, especially with himself being an outsider present.
Pan Zhen, upon hearing Zhang Zheng's words, looked toward the Sun God.
"Ah, Pan Zhen, how many times have I told you? There's no need to kneel before me. How is it that you, so young, are more old-fashioned than this old man?"
The Sun God seemed exasperated with Pan Zhen's adherence to tradition. He was puzzled by why Pan Zhen was so stuck in his ways, especially when even Reina, who had endured so much, could hardly tolerate it.
Pan Zhen didn't argue and remained respectfully standing, listening to the rebuke. Zhang Zheng, on the other hand, found the whole situation amusing.
"Young man, the Sun God even calls Pan Zhen, who's over ten thousand years old, a young man."
"What does that make me, then? A baby or even a zygote?" Zhang Zheng thought to himself with a touch of self-deprecation.
"Zhang Zheng, you can now state your purpose," the Sun God's voice suddenly echoed in Zhang Zheng's ear.
Zhang Zheng, momentarily stunned by the sudden shift, realized it was time to get down to business.
"Senior Sun God, I have some news about Reina. Are you interested?"
Looking at the flames forming the Sun God's symbol, Zhang Zheng felt slightly annoyed. The Tower of Destiny was quite inadequate, lacking even basic comforts like chairs, and as a guest, he couldn't just create one. So, he decided to keep them in suspense.
"Zhang Zheng, please don't keep us in suspense. We can't possibly not be interested in news about Goddess Reina."
Pan Zhen, understanding Zhang Zheng's penchant for teasing, could tell Zhang Zheng seemed to be in a bit of a mood. However, the urgency about Reina's situation was too pressing for him to ignore.
Deciding to give Pan Zhen some leeway since he had been with him for two months and even bled for him, Zhang Zheng revealed, "The demons have set their sights on Reina. What are your thoughts on this?"
Zhang Zheng had noticed Reina's issues when Keisha came to Earth, so he had asked before dealing with Ge Xiaolun. Although Ge Xiaolun wasn't very clear, he mentioned Reina had been unwell and demure lately, with her godly ailments subsiding for days. Zhang Zheng, however, had figured out the situation.
"Morgana? I didn't expect Morgana to go mad. While being hunted by the Holy Keisha, she's targeting our goddess as well—this is outrageous."
Pan Zhen was almost hysterical. Morgana's focus on Reina, even with Keisha still alive, was hard to believe. Yet, Zhang Zheng's power and status made it clear that he wasn't lying, so Pan Zhen's anger was genuine.
"If Keisha were dead, I could bear it, but with Keisha still alive, I don't mind if Liuyang also steps in to help. After all, the demons have attacked Reina."
"I, the Sun God, command Pan Zhen to go to Earth to bring back Goddess Reina and to lead a campaign against the demons."
Pan Zhen said with a firm tone, full of anger. Reina meant a lot to him, having raised her himself. His feelings for her were deeper than those for the Sun God, whom he had never met in person.
"Wait, Pan Zhen. Let's see what this young man has to say."
"If Reina is truly in danger, as her friend, I assume you wouldn't just stand by, would you?" The Sun God, showing his cunning, quickly understood Zhang Zheng's real motive.
"As for me, I'd prefer if you didn't intervene. After all, Morgana's aim is to kill the Holy Keisha, and Reina is the key."
"So, I actually hope Reina remains under demonic control for a while. After the Holy Keisha is destroyed, I believe Morgana will release Reina."
When Zhang Zheng spoke about Morgana, his tone was flat, as if discussing a passerby. This reflected the superiority brought by his power and his position in the universe.
If someone else had said this, Pan Zhen might have mocked them, but Zhang Zheng's stance made Pan Zhen thoughtful.
"I recall your spouse is an angel. Is this really the right course of action?"
Pan Zhen asked after a moment of thought.
"Cough, General Pan, this is unrelated to my wife. It's just an agreement between me and Keisha."
"Keisha feels the angels need to change, so she wants to use Morgana to make herself disappear. She knows as long as she exists, making changes in the angels will be difficult, and the new Angel King will struggle to truly control the Angel City."
Zhang Zheng recalled Keisha's words, feeling a bit exasperated. Keisha was tired and wanted a break, but now the task of changing the Angel City was being handed to his wife, and he was expected to assist. It was a frustrating situation.
"Ha ha ha," the Sun God began laughing heartily. Although the laughter was full of energy, it also carried a hint of weariness. After laughing, the flames in the Sun God's symbol seemed to dim slightly.
"Has Keisha's era of justice ended?"
The Sun God's tired voice once again reached Zhang Zheng's ears.
"Indeed, Keisha's era of justice has ended. The next era of angels belongs to my wife, Yan."
Zhang Zheng didn't concern himself with the Sun God's opinions and directly revealed his little angel "Yan" as the next queen. He looked directly at Pan Zhen and the Sun God, his aura intensifying.
He wanted Pan Zhen and the Sun God to understand who would be the new ruler of the gods after Keisha's death.
It wouldn't be Death God Karl or Demon Queen Morgana, but the new Angel Queen Yan.
Pan Zhen, sensing Zhang Zheng's rising aura, instinctively stepped in front of the Sun God.
"What do you mean by this? Are you threatening to turn against us?"
Pan Zhen's gaze was fixed on Zhang Zheng, and his own aura began to radiate in response.
"No, General Pan, you're overthinking. I just want to make it clear to the Sun God. Unless my wife Yan doesn't wish to be the Angel Queen, even if Keisha's era of justice ends, the justice of the angels will not disappear."
"Because as long as I'm here, I will not allow anyone to harm Yan."
Zhang Zheng spoke with unyielding firmness, leaving no room for compromise.
"Ha ha, do you have the confidence to subdue the small-time villains?" The Sun God, unfazed by Zhang Zheng's attitude, asked with a smile.
"Intimidation? Why should I intimidate them? I'm actually looking forward to them all showing up, so I can deal with them in one go."
Zhang Zheng's tone softened, becoming more humorous as he mimicked a throat-slashing gesture, as if the hidden adversaries were mere small fry.
Both the Sun God and Pan Zhen were taken aback by Zhang Zheng's boldness. This young man was clearly planning something big!
Keisha's death had sparked a turbulent era, and Zhang Zheng was the chosen one to calm it.
"Very well, since you have confidence, I agree to handle Reina's situation as you propose."
The Sun God's flames flickered briefly before disappearing from view.
Pan Zhen, seeing the outcome, could only manage a wry smile.
"General, with your plan and Keisha's involvement, our goddess Reina will suffer."
Pan Zhen expressed his displeasure.
"Suffering? What great deity's growth is without trials? I've said before, the hardships on Earth may very well lead to Reina's growth."
Zhang Zheng looked at Pan Zhen.
"General Pan, I might be interrupting you for a while. Otherwise, if I stay on Earth, they might not dare to act."
Zhang Zheng said with a confident smile.
"Feel free to stay as you wish. The scenery on Liuyang is quite pleasant now."
Pan Zhen said, and the two exited the Tower of Destiny. Looking up at the clear sky, Pan Zhen muttered to himself, "It's going to change."