The location of the Pure Land's Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom.
After leaving the inner hall, Pan Buwang did not return to his previous residence. Instead, for the first time, he chose to return to the heart of his own divine kingdom.
Here, he didn't even have a room to call his own. All that awaited him were cold stares, pitying glances, and mocking words.
None of the Owl Butterfly Kingdom's people knew yet that Pan Buwang had been reborn, nor that he now possessed perfect godhood. In their eyes, he was still the useless former Son of God—mud on the ground for anyone to trample.
When Lord Qi Heng and the current Son of God, Pan Buzhuo, returned to the kingdom's domain, they were met with a very different Pan Buwang. His eyes were fierce and piercing, and a strange, unreadable smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"What are you doing here? You're not welcome!" Pan Buzhuo scowled. He was well aware that the Pan Buwang of today, who now possessed perfect godhood, was no longer the same weakling from three years ago.
And that awareness filled him with unease.
He wanted to strike first—seize the upper hand through public condemnation, hoping to psychologically crush Pan Buwang once more. The most effective way to destroy someone is not to beat them physically, but to shatter their spirit.
Pan Buzhuo's prestige in the kingdom was high. The moment he took the lead in rebuking Pan Buwang, the majority of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom's members followed suit—some of them even former supporters of Buwang.
"Lord Buzhuo is right. Our Owl Butterfly Kingdom has no need for trash like you!"
"You're just a disgrace that brings shame upon us. Why haven't you left already?"
"You were stripped of your title as the Son of God long ago. Do you really need to humiliate yourself like this?"
One middle-aged protector sighed as he stood up, trying to offer a word of advice. He had once shielded Pan Buwang and didn't wish to see the youth become a target of public scorn. In his mind, he was being kind—this was the most he could do.
But Pan Buwang only laughed.
A long, wild laugh.
He didn't care about their taunts, their contempt, or their ridicule. He just found it funny—hilarious, even—that the people of his own divine kingdom treated their former Son of God like this. No... it was even worse than before.
"Pan Buwang! Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?" Pan Buzhuo stepped forward, glaring.
Pan Buwang sneered. "Why are you so anxious, Pan Buzhuo? Father God hasn't spoken a word, yet you're already making decisions for him? Anyone listening might think you're the one running the Owl Butterfly Kingdom."
"You—!" Pan Buzhuo's chest surged with fury, but he didn't dare answer. Wearing such a "crown" would only lead to disaster. He couldn't afford to cross that line.
"Enough! Silence, all of you!" the voice of the Owl Butterfly Divine God, Pan Yusheng, rang out.
"If you are truly willing to return, Buwang, then the kingdom welcomes you. I'm pleased that you've walked out of the shadows of the past and are ready to embrace a new life. Your willingness to contribute to the kingdom is enough."
His tone was gentle and encouraging, devoid of the impatience he'd once shown.
Everyone was stunned.
Had the Lord Qiheng gone mad? Not only did he not reprimand Pan Buwang, but he welcomed him back—his voice full of hope?
"Father God, he—"
"That's enough. Go rest, all of you. I'll prepare a room for Buwang."
Pan Buzhuo wanted to protest, but Pan Yusheng cut him off directly. Pan Buwang's return was already irreversible.
"Father God," Pan Buwang suddenly said with a calm smile, "you'll need to make a decision soon. Both Pan Buzhuo and I are at the fifth level of the Divine Destruction Realm. Only one of us can represent the Owl Butterfly Kingdom in the upcoming battle. There can only be one Son of God."
Pan Yusheng's expression darkened.
The battle in the Sea of Mist would determine the future of their divine kingdom. He couldn't afford personal bias.
Pan Buzhuo's face sank. He hadn't expected Pan Buwang to challenge him so boldly and publicly, and so soon after returning.
"Did I hear that right? Pan Buwang actually wants to reclaim the title of Son of God?"
"Pan Buzhuo possesses nine-point godhood! He's one of the best among the six nations! What does Pan Buwang have to compete with?"
"Don't be so sure. Pan Buwang originally had eight-point godhood. What if, like Meng Jianyuan of Dreamweaver Kingdom, his godhood awakened later?"
Among the crowd were not only those who kicked others when they were down, but also a few who still silently supported Pan Buwang. However, their voices were quickly drowned out.
"Back then, Pan Buzhuo had more talent and stronger godhood than I did, and he took my position as Son of God. I had no complaints." Pan Buwang's voice was cold and sharp. "But now, I possess perfect godhood. I've surpassed him. So, Father God, I ask you—can you make the fairest choice?"
He stared straight at Pan Buzhuo. There was no longer any familial warmth in his eyes—only the burning resolve of vengeance.
Much of the humiliation he'd endured over the years had been orchestrated by this so-called "brother." Now that he had returned, he would not back down.
Even in front of Lord Qi Heng, Pan Buwang showed no sign of retreat.
Pan Yusheng slowly closed his eyes. Veins pulsed on his forehead as he clenched his fists tightly. Both Buzhuo and Buwang had shocked him—one by hard work, the other by miraculous rebirth.
It should have been a joyous occasion for the Owl Butterfly Kingdom to have two such divine successors... but now, he had to choose one and discard the other.
"Did I hear that correctly? Pan Buwang claims to have perfect godhood?"
"Pan Buzhuo has nine points! Is he saying Pan Buwang has surpassed even that?"
"This has to be a lie. Three years ago, he collapsed emotionally and vanished into a dreamscape. How could he possibly be reborn now?"
The entire divine kingdom was abuzz. Most dismissed Pan Buwang's words as delusions.
But then Lord Qi Heng said something that left everyone speechless.
"Buwang," he said slowly, "although you now possess perfect godhood, you have neglected your cultivation for years. If you were to replace Buzhuo now, it could affect the kingdom's ranking in the Pure Land competition. That would be an unforgivable sin. Do you understand the burden I bear as your father?"
After much consideration, Pan Yusheng chose to retain Pan Buzhuo's status as the Son of God. If not for this Pure Land competition, he would have handed the title over without hesitation—perfect godhood was a once-in-a-lifetime miracle.
But the stakes were simply too high.
He had personally witnessed Pan Buzhuo's steady growth and strength. Letting him represent the kingdom was safer.
It was a shame to pass over Pan Buwang, a bearer of perfect divinity—but sacrifices had to be made for the greater good.
"I don't understand," Pan Buwang replied flatly.
That was his only answer.
(End of Chapter)
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