The path of the gods has never ceased; at every moment, the current three gods seek progress, just as the former gods do.
Take Izanagi and Izanami, for instance. These divine partners chose divergent paths, and their calculations were astute. Izanagi, as the king of gods, ruled over Gao Tianyuan, while Izanami, the first goddess of death, established her kingdom in Hell. By doing so, they intended to master both realms and step closer to becoming supreme Primordial gods.
Unfortunately, their ambitions remained unfulfilled. Izanagi was sealed away by his three children, becoming a perpetual source of divine power for Gao Tianyuan. Meanwhile, Izanami also faced a grim fate; she was sealed by Yan Mo.
As the first goddess to die, Izanami was left with a grievous injury. Healing such damage would take time, and in her role as the ruler of Hell, she hoped to recover while consolidating her power. However, Yan Mo's arrival complicated matters, as she seized control of Hell and transformed Yellow Spring Kingdom into a sanctuary for faith.
With each passing moment, Izanami's divine power was siphoned away, gradually absorbed by Yan Mo, who began mastering the unique laws of the Japanese mythological world.
"Yan Mo!"
Upon sensing her presence, Izanami slowly opened her eyes, their depths shimmering like water, radiating beauty. Her pale face complemented her exquisite features, yet this charm had no effect on Yan Mo and Kushi Inada.
"Um?!"
Izanami studied Kushi Inada and remarked, "A natural blessing! If I remember correctly, only one such blessing can exist in this vast world. Even you, Yan Mo, may have prepared, but this knowledge was confined to Gao Tianyuan. My husband knew, as did our three children—beyond that, no one else should be aware."
Yan Mo smiled confidently. "Fate has shifted dramatically. After all, your husband pales in comparison to the three gods."
At the mention of her husband, Yan Mo's pride and self-assuredness blossomed. Compared to Hades, the three gods were insignificant. Though they appeared equal in status, the difference in their essence was unbridgeable.
"I see," Izanami acknowledged. "An existence that has broken fate has emerged."
After a moment of contemplation, she added, "It seems you no longer need me to stabilize Yellow Spring Kingdom."
"Correct," Yan Mo replied nonchalantly. "I no longer require your assistance. Everything has concluded. As my husband's concubine, I must possess the strength worthy of him, and you are no longer qualified."
"Concubine?!"
Izanami was taken aback, unable to believe it. As the one who understood Yan Mo best in Hell, she recognized Yan Mo's playful exterior masked a deep-seated arrogance. That she was now referred to as a concubine was astonishing—yet it was undeniable.
"It's time to end this."
Yan Mo held the smoking rod, green wisps curling from it, merging into Izanami's form. Gradually, her divine power and laws were extracted and assimilated into Yan Mo.
Previously, Izanami's role had been crucial in stabilizing Yellow Spring Kingdom, but with the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds at her disposal, Yan Mo no longer needed that support. Hell was now intrinsically linked to Hades' realm. With the World Tree as her backing, she was invincible!
"Is this truly the end?"
Izanami's soft voice quivered with emotion. Her gaze bore into Yan Mo, filled with reluctance. Why? Why was it that she, who came first, faced such an end? She could only endure her fate, while Yan Mo transcended it, finding the perfect partner.
All her dissatisfaction and sorrow crumbled into nothingness as she vanished, leaving behind strands of divine power that fused into Yan Mo, dramatically enhancing her strength.
Once a level 10 god king, Yan Mo now soared to level 30. Her mastery of divine magic steadily improved, placing her on par with Poseidon and Zeus, both level 30 god kings. Hades likely stood as a level 60 god king.
When Hell fully integrated with the Underworld, it would elevate Yan Mo to a level 90 god king.
The disparity in power became starkly evident. With Izanami's demise, Yellow Spring Kingdom trembled, and Hell quaked even more. Though Hell existed naturally, Izanami's fate was intertwined with that of Hades and the Underworld, akin to Tartarus.
Yan Mo opened the gate of the Underworld, and at once, a root began to spread from the gate, taking root in the palace. The entirety of Yellow Spring Kingdom was enveloped by these roots.
The tremors ceased, the power of the World Tree stabilizing all of Hell and seamlessly incorporating it into the Underworld.
As time passed, Hell would only grow stronger. No, it would be the Underworld that would flourish, as Hell had now become a part of it.
"Very good."
Yan Mo secured the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds onto a root of the World Tree, feeling its radiant energy. She smiled, satisfied, and left with Kushi Inada. There was no need to rush through the follow-up matters; they could take their time.
In essence, the war between Hell and Gao Tianyuan had silently begun!
Everything was set in motion, and Yan Mo returned to the temple, sitting once more on the cloud bed. As she absorbed Izanami's magic, she whispered to herself, "What a pity for Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, and Susanoo! It seems victory in this divine conflict is all but assured."