The current underworld is a unified whole.
From an external perspective, one would see a towering giant tree, its height seemingly boundless as it stretches upward. Coiled around this immense world tree is the tail of a serpent, Ouroboros, entwined with the four elements: earth, water, fire, and wind.
Beneath the roots of this world tree lie planes that resemble worlds, extending upward and surrounded by hanging stars. This is the current state of the underworld!
The underworld has undergone three significant upgrades. The first was when the world tree absorbed the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, resulting in a notable enhancement. The second came with the absorption of hell, and the third involved assimilating a realm from one of the two major worlds.
In terms of size, the underworld is now immense. While it may not yet rival a true big world, it is comparable to at least one-third of such a realm. This is due to the consumption of hell and other components during its integration. Without that consumption, its size would be even greater.
This expansion represents a pathway for Hades. Should he succeed in further enlarging the underworld to the scale of a true big world, he could potentially ascend to the apex of the Primordial gods.
However, breaking through to become a supreme absolute god—or a transcendent—is a far more daunting challenge. Many gods have spent countless years attempting this, but few have succeeded. The likes of Gaia, who remains trapped at this final step, are numerous in the vast sea of chaos.
Unfortunately, until that last step is achieved, all efforts may seem in vain. Yet these concerns are distant for Hades. For him, the focus must be on reaching the level of Primordial gods.
As Hades floated before the world tree, he sensed the violent expansion of the underworld and began to condense the Tenth Prison, the Soul Hell. This development was not unexpected; the Eight Great Prisons were designed as the most fitting structure for Hades' essence and cultivation.
With the devouring of hell, the Ninth Prison, Yan Mo Hell, and the Tenth Prison, Soul Hell, emerged as part of the underworld's expansion.
In this moment, the dark purple leaves of the world tree shook violently, releasing streams of divine power that flowed back into the underworld, enhancing it further. This awe-inspiring spectacle left onlookers in shock.
However, this was not the end. The feedback between the world tree and the underworld continued for nine cycles, solidifying the underworld's existence. The current size of the underworld is staggering; the Eight Great Prisons resemble the largest sea realms found in any major world, while Yellow Spring Biliangsaka surpasses the entire underworld.
This immense size is undeniable, yet it is not the main concern. The crucial aspect is Hades himself. Floating before the world tree, he absorbed endless streams of pure divine power, the most pristine energy born from the transformation of the underworld and the world tree's elevation.
This divine power flowed into Hades, rapidly transforming him. The process, which would cause any god to falter, was merely a trial for Hades. As his divine body shattered and reformed repeatedly, Hades remained composed, seemingly untouched by the overwhelming changes.
Three thousand years passed.
This immense transformation continued for a full three thousand years, during which Hades endured unbearable pain, yet remained unyielding.
Hades understood that there is not just a difference in strength between Primordial gods and god kings, but also a fundamental difference in essence. The essence of lesser gods, no matter how hard they strive, is incapable of reaching the level of Primordial gods.
Only Hades, like the Titan God King, has the potential to break through to the Primordial level. This transformation requires an immense amount of divine power to cleanse one's body and soul completely.
Over these years, Hades gradually transformed, step by step, accumulating divine power and consuming one of the four realms of the two great worlds to reach this point.
As for his father, the Titan God King, Hades was uncertain how he achieved this transformation. But that was irrelevant now; the past was behind him.
Eight thousand years passed.
The vicissitudes of the outside world held little meaning for Hades. He had fully become the god of the underworld. Now, his divine body had completely ascended to the level of Primordial gods.
In essence, he had transformed entirely, stepping into the realm of the Primordial gods. With his extraordinary divine power, he could confidently be regarded as one, yet the final step still loomed ahead.