Divine Realm, East Sea Dragon Palace.
The moment the Golden Cudgel appeared, all the Dragon Kings instinctively held their breath.
It was the Great Sage’s Golden Cudgel-the Ruyi Jingu Bang that Anchors the Seas!
With a thunderous crash, the towering cudgel descended, splitting the raging ocean in an instant.
Countless droplets sprayed into the air, scattering like shattered pearls across the sea’s surface.
The dragons stared at the figure standing atop the Golden Cudgel-small yet proud and their hearts trembled with awe.
“Good! Good! Good!”
The White Dragon of the North Sea was the first to lose his composure, slapping his tail excitedly.
“Did you see that? Now that’s what I call anchoring the seas! One strike, and the waves are tamed!”
“Indeed impressive. She’s got courage,” the Red Dragon of the South Sea said, his eyes burning with fervor.
“While others cower or beg for miracles, she charges headfirst into adversity!”
The Black Dragon of the West Sea stroked his long beard, admiration gleaming in his eyes.
“The Ruyi Jingu Bang naturally suppresses the ocean’s fury, but what’s truly rare isn’t the power of this strike-it’s her bravery in facing Poseidon’s divine wrath.”
“For a human, the fury of a god is no small thing to defy!”
“Who could argue otherwise?” The Azure Dragon of the East Sea mused, his gaze profound.
“Such boldness… I daresay it reminds me of the Great Sage himself in his prime!”
This was perhaps the highest praise they could give Su Fu.
At these words, the dragons’ minds conjured the image of that defiant figure-back when the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, first obtained the Ruyi Jingu Bang, he too had carried such an overwhelming presence.
With his own strength, he had challenged the might of a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, throwing the celestial court into chaos.
Heaven’s injustice?
Then he would fight heaven itself!
The gods’ tyranny?
Then he would fight the gods!
“No wonder the Great Sage chose her,” the Azure Dragon said slowly.
“Such courage, such spirit—she’s certainly worth the trial.”
“Still, don’t celebrate too soon,” the Red Dragon warned, his golden slit pupils narrowing.
“That arrogant Poseidon won’t let this go so easily.”
“Even if Su Fu was merely defending herself, in Poseidon’s eyes, this is nothing short of blasphemy and a direct challenge.”
The Greek gods were notoriously prideful, viewing themselves as supreme beings.
To them, even groveling submission from humans wasn’t enough-let alone defiance!
And Poseidon, in particular, was petty and vindictive.
How could he swallow such an insult?
He would surely seek revenge.
The Black Dragon frowned.
“But according to the divine ritual’s restrictions, Poseidon can only wield a sliver of his power during the trial. Even if he’s furious, his influence should be limited, no?”
“Logically, the Great Sage’s Ruyi Jingu Bang should be more than enough to handle it.”
“Third Brother, you’re too naive,” the Azure Dragon shook his head.
“Since when have those gods ever cared about rules? If Zeus were keeping them in check, it might be different-but do you think he’d bother with such trivial matters now?”
“Hmph! Let him try!” The White Dragon lashed his tail fiercely.
“No matter what, if Poseidon dares to act, he’ll be openly violating the Divine Accord!”
“Then we’ll have every right to intervene and teach him a lesson he won’t forget! If Zeus won’t discipline him, then we will!”
“Well said, Fourth Brother!” The Azure Dragon nodded in approval.
“Does he really think the ocean belongs to Poseidon alone?”
“Do they take us dragons for pushovers?”
He snorted, his voice like rolling thunder.
“If he dares to lay a hand on one of our own, we’ll make sure he regrets it!”
They didn’t even bother to inquire around the four seas-everyone knows how protective the Chinese dragon clans are of their own, especially when it comes to Su Fu, whom the Great Sage had repeatedly emphasized must be looked after.
The Red Dragon of the South Sea immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Big brother, I say we go confront him right now! Let him know what’s what!”
“Exactly, exactly!” The White Dragon grew excited at the mention of a fight.
The Black Dragon of the West Sea narrowed his eyes and advised, “Second brother, fourth brother, don’t be hasty. We should first try diplomacy before resorting to force. If he knows what’s good for him, fine. But if he doesn’t…”
The dragons exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with battle fervor.
They were just waiting for Poseidon to make the first mistake, to let him taste the might of the dragon clans!
Suddenly, the White Dragon seemed to remember something.
“Oh, right, big brother, is the Great Sage still busy? Should we inform him—”
“No need,” the Azure Dragon of the East Sea waved his claw dismissively, his tone relaxed.
“According to the latest news, the Great Sage is dealing with something urgent. This small matter doesn’t require his attention. We can handle it ourselves.”
“Fair enough.”
***
Exam Hall C.
Golden sunlight spilled across the calm sea, its surface shimmering.
A gentle sea breeze brushed past, cooling everyone’s faces.
The peace and beauty of the scene made it easy to forget the earlier tempest, as if it had all been a dream.
But the golden staff standing tall between heaven and earth served as a stark reminder this was no dream.
It had truly happened.
The massive golden pillar, thick as a mountain peak, plunged straight into the seabed while its other end pierced the clouds.
The sheer divine power it exuded was incomparably awe-inspiring.
Everyone gazed up at the divine weapon and the slender figure standing atop it.
Jiang Qingyu’s silver hair was still dripping, icy droplets sliding down her strands, but she paid them no mind.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
One strike.
Just one strike.
And the entire furious sea had been pacified.
She had never seen such a divine weapon before-one capable of swallowing mountains and rivers, propping up the heavens and shaking the earth.
Beside her, Lin Mingxi was equally drenched, staring dumbfounded at the golden staff.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, but no words came out.
He knew the boss’s staff was powerful, but… this was just ridiculous!
Look at its length, its thickness, its earth-shaking presence!
One end of the staff was buried deep in the seabed, as if nailing the entire ocean in place.
The other end stretched into the sky, as if ready to puncture the heavens.
The overwhelming divine energy radiated outward, and Lin Mingxi muttered to himself, “Seriously… boss, are you cheating again?”
Couldn’t you at least give me a heads-up?
He suddenly recalled the blessing spoken when the Great Sage had bestowed the staff:
“The Compliant Ruyi Jingu Bang Staff, the Pillar That Anchors the Seas and Holds Up the Sky.”
Back then, he had thought it was just hyperbolic praise, typical poetic exaggeration.
But now he realized-it was meant literally!
With a single strike, the entire sea had been anchored in place!
Lin Mingxi swallowed hard, his mind echoing with one thought: Insane.
Absolutely insane!
The other examinees on the deck also stared up at the figure, their eyes filled with awe.
Just moments ago, they had trembled before Poseidon’s divine might.
Yet in the blink of an eye, this person had used a single staff to smash back a god’s wrath.
What could they even say?
“Wow, you’re strong”?
That would be stating the obvious!
“That was so cool”?
That would be an understatement!
In midair, Elai’s grip on Gungnir:Ragnarök trembled slightly.
He stared at the towering golden staff piercing the heavens, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Wait… you just… took care of it with one strike?
Then I… was just a clown?
No, no, that’s not the point at all!
He abruptly turned to Su Fu, his voice shaking:
“Why… why did you act yourself instead of praying for divine power?”
What a perfect opportunity this was such a catastrophic disaster, a sincere plea for divine mercy could have granted miraculous powers..
But Su Fu, you…
Just wasted this chance and handled it yourself?
Zongzheng Ye shared the same thoughts.
Standing on the sea’s surface as if it were solid ground, he could only look up at Su Fu.
Recalling how he had humbly begged Poseidon for mercy earlier, and now seeing Su Fu’s performance, he felt nothing but absurdity.
Why didn’t Su Fu seek divine mercy like them?
Instead, she chose to confront this overwhelming tidal wave with her own strength?
“This is ridiculous!” he muttered, his eyes full of confusion.
“Faced with such an apocalyptic disaster, your first reaction wasn’t to pray for divine protection?”
“But to challenge divine might with mortal strength?”
His words resonated with the other examinees.
Indeed, before Poseidon’s wrath, any mortal seemed insignificant.
With sincere prayer, they might have gained the favor of the gods.
Yet Su Fu chose the hardest path-to challenge divine authority with her own power!
To them, this seemed like courting death.
Hearing this question, Su Fu looked utterly bewildered.
“Huh?”
“Didn’t… the gods already give it?”
This divine skill, this divine weapon weren’t they all gifts from the gods?
Since they were already given, weren’t they meant to be used in times of crisis?
Wasn’t this enough?
As for why she didn’t pray to the gods-it wasn’t like she couldn’t handle it herself.
If she could solve it herself, why bother the gods?
They weren’t idle either.
“No!” Elai ground his teeth.
“I’m not talking about divine skills, but the divine powers and artifacts bestowed by the gods.”
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly froze.
Su Fu indeed didn’t need to pray-because she didn’t need to.
The golden staff in her hand-wasn’t it given to her by the gods themselves?
Not obtained through sacrifices, not exchanged with resources, not even requiring a single prayer!
The gods just… gave her such a divine weapon?
A nameless fury burned in Elai’s heart.
“You…” He glared at Su Fu.
“What exactly have you offered to the gods?”
“Why do they favor you so much?”
For no reason, just pure favoritism?
He, Elai, was the heir of the Thor family!
Raised with the strictest teachings, trained in the purest divine path, possessing the noblest bloodline!
How much had he sacrificed to gain Odin’s favor?
He remembered praying devoutly to Odin every dawn, facing north.
Remembered risking his life in the storm just to prove his courage and resolve to the gods.
And the gods?
Didn’t even glance his way!
Yet why did Su Fu get their favor?
What does she have?
No wealth, no noble lineage, no resources-nothing!
And a terrible personality to boot!
“Impossible…” Elai muttered to himself, “There must be some mistake…”
Su Fu: “…..”
Please respect me and stop looking at me with those ‘poor person’ eyes.
Honestly, how did this conversation turn into personal attacks so quickly?
“Our Chinese deities are different from yours. They don’t require us to half-kill ourselves,”
Su Fu glanced at Su Luan still floating in the sea and added carefully, “Or fully die, or perform some sacrificial ritual before bestowing a shred of mercy.”
“As long as the prayer is sincere and heartfelt, that’s enough.”
The moment these words were spoken, the entire crowd was stunned.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Everyone: “???”
“Wait…” ZongZheng Ye seemed to have heard something unbelievable, “Say that again?”
“You mean… if you pray sincerely, the deities will respond?”
Su Fu was baffled by their shocked expressions: “Of course?”
“Faith moves mountains.”
Just look at how every time she entered the exam scroll to summon them-the Chinese deities responded without fail.
She didn’t think she was special at all; it was simply because Chinese deities treated everyone equally.
But seeing the disbelief on everyone’s faces-
Su Fu was certain: these people had been thoroughly fooled by other pantheons.
Seizing the chance to promote the Chinese pantheon, she spoke earnestly:
“Work hard and rely on yourselves first. Only seek divine help when you truly can’t solve something.”
“Chinese deities are benevolent-they’ll help if they can. They don’t need you to die to prove anything.”
This was the fundamental difference between the Chinese pantheon and others.
Followers of other pantheons were forever gazing upward, begging for their deities’ mercy.
But the Chinese pantheon stood shoulder-to-shoulder with humanity.
Deities granted divine power so humans could join them in protecting this world.
Chinese deities were never aloof beings; they were more like comrades-in-arms.
They didn’t demand groveling prayersonly that their successors upheld their will and carried forward their beliefs.
As for deities of other pantheons…