"BOOM!"
With the sudden disappearance of the barrier, the combined attacks of nearly ten billion spider soul beasts and Fang Chang's elite forces surged unimpeded into the Divine Realm.
At that very moment, a large gathering of deities stood directly in the path of this overwhelming assault.
The stronger deities managed to withstand the barrage with their divine power, but weaker ones were immediately wounded, and a few unfortunate souls perished in the initial chaos.
"Retreat! Fall back! They've broken through!"
The voice of the God of Destruction cut through the panic, bringing some order to the scrambling deities. Quickly, they regrouped behind a new barrier erected by the four Godkings.
These deities were, after all, the elite ascended from countless worlds—no strangers to dire situations. Soon, they steadied themselves, their collective gaze fixed on the spatial rift where the barrier had collapsed.
After a brief silence, the rift erupted with movement as countless spider soul beasts poured forth.
The first to emerge were the Bloodwing Demon Spiders—the most numerous and powerful among Fang Chang's forces—their crimson wings buzzing ominously.
"Damn it! What does he think the Divine Realm is? A breeding ground?" The God of Destruction's temper flared at the sight. The Divine Realm had always been sacred, with even family members of deities rarely permitted entry. Yet here was Fang Chang, bringing an entire invasion force.
"Destroy them before they spread," the Goddess of Life urged, her voice calm but urgent. As the embodiment of life, she understood the reproductive horrors these creatures could unleash if allowed to establish a foothold.
Nearly a thousand deities mobilized their divine power, preparing to annihilate the swarm—until a voice echoed from the rift.
Fang Chang stepped through, flanked by his inner circle: Xiao Bai, Gu Yue, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Bibi Dong, and her daughter.
Though only six god-level combatants stood against a thousand deities, the moment they appeared, the divine forces wavered. Their eyes locked onto Gu Yue—the Silver Dragon King—whose aura carried echoes of the Dragon God who had once ravaged the Divine Realm.
Even the four Godkings tensed. Fang Chang's power surpassed theirs, Xiao Bai and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger were Godking-level, and Gu Yue—though only a half-step Godking—wielded half the Dragon God's might.
This was not a fight they relished.
While the deities hesitated, more spiders flooded in. The Bloodwing Demon Spiders split into swarms, streaking toward the Divine Realm's depths under orders to sow chaos.
By the time the deities reacted, another wave of spiders slammed into them—a relentless tide that ignored casualties, forcing the deities into a grinding battle of attrition.
Meanwhile, Fang Chang's group bypassed the grunt work, charging straight for the four Godkings and their top-tier subordinates.
Fang Chang activated Night Walker, splitting into four identical spider-form clones, while Ultimate Defense shielded him as he engaged the God of Destruction.
Wielding his Destruction Staff, the God of Destruction met Fang Chang's assault with swirling gray-black energy. Unlike the straightforward Asura God, he fought defensively, knowing he couldn't win alone. His plan: stall until reinforcements arrived.
Gu Yue, now a three-kilometer-long silver dragon, cornered the Goddess of Life, exploiting her draconic physicality.
Xiao Bai and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger pinned down the God of Good and God of Evil, isolating them from interference.
Of the eighteen first-rank deities, two had already fallen (including the Sea God), and Tang Liner (the Water God) was absent. The remaining fifteen divided their focus:
Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong each took one opponent.
The Golden Trio sisters teamed up against another.
The other twelve all ganged up on Fang Chang, recognizing him as the greatest threat.
Yet Fang Chang's defense and regeneration defied their efforts—not a scratch marred his form.
The God of Destruction, however, faltered. Without the twelve first-rank deities' support, he'd have been overwhelmed already.
Then, chaos escalated.
Tang Liner—the Water God—slipped into the fray, screaming "Destroy that spider!" while brandishing her Storm Holy Sword. She feinted at Fang Chang, then abruptly cleaved the God of Destruction's thigh.
"CRACK!"
The God of Destruction roared. "WATER GOD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Tang Liner blinked innocently. "Sorry! My hand slipped!"
She yanked the sword free, spraying blood three meters high. The God of Destruction's murderous glare would have vaporized her if not for Fang Chang's relentless assault.
Seizing the opening, Fang Chang drove a spider leg into the God of Destruction's abdomen. Venom flooded his system, dazing him just long enough for Tang Liner to strike again—this time decapitating him.
His head rolled across the battlefield, confusion eternal in his dead eyes.
The first-rank deities froze, then erupted. "SHE'S A TRAITOR! THE WATER GOD IS WITH THEM!"
Too late.
With the God of Destruction dead, Fang Chang turned on the remaining twelve. Tang Liner vanished into the lower-ranked deities' ranks, her sabotage continuing unnoticed amid the spider swarms and battle cries.
Her betrayal had tipped the scales.