153: The higher you stand, the harder you fall.

Divinities resonate with each other; once one awakens, it's inevitable that others will follow. This, to a certain extent, prevents a single Divine Authority Holder from becoming invincible.

In a sense, it's similar to terms like Genius and survival of the fittest.

As long as someone grows stronger, those who come after them will inevitably develop the desire to become even stronger than that person.

The reclusive Ye Family, the extremely flamboyant Qin Family—Jun Lingxiao had thought the next Divine Authority Holder would emerge from one of these two families, but unexpectedly, it was his Jun Family again.

"Your Highness, this…?"

Everyone around them was stunned, even unconsciously watching the scene before them, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

The simplest way to identify a Divine Authority Holder is by their eyes; they are a unique, brighter gold than even the True Dragon Clan's golden pupils.

Initially, Jun Lingxiao also had some trouble controlling this golden light, so they had seen it and knew. But the scene before them was truly strange. Could their Jun Family have two Divinities?

Jun Lingxiao sighed with a complicated expression. He glanced at Jun Siyu, whose eyes were glowing golden and who kept repeating "Three Heavens," then turned and instructed, "It's exactly as you think. My Jun Family will welcome a second Divine Authority Holder."

"Have the Godslaying Division guard her day and night until she awakens."

"And then… notify the Elders. They will arrange the rest."

The Jun Family has various divisions, each with its own responsibilities. Among them, the Godslaying Division is the Jun Family's sharpest blade, typically only deployed for major events. The last time it was mobilized was when Jun Lingxiao was assassinated as a child, indicating how highly she was regarded.

After giving his orders, Jun Lingxiao waited there until the Godslaying Division arrived before turning to leave.

Originally, the Jun Family gaining another Divine Authority Holder was good news for him, but it just had to be… Jun Siyu.

However, Jun Lingxiao had actually sensed something amiss long ago.

This development was too strange. Truly, truly strange.

It's still somewhat normal now because he is him. He isn't overly fond of Jun Siyu, but he has tried his best to fulfill his responsibilities as a brother, never slacking.

But what if he wasn't him?

Then Jun Siyu's existence would be absurd.

Abandoned by her parents, she came alone to the Jun Family, where her grandfather didn't dote on her and her brother didn't love her, enduring insults and humiliation, an eyesore to everyone.

One could say her very existence was strange; as a person, she was extremely peculiar. But if viewed from another perspective, if she wasn't a person, but a protagonist… wouldn't such a situation be perfectly reasonable?

She is the protagonist of a certain plot: abandoned by her parents, unloved by her grandfather and brother, enduring humiliation and almost perishing. In her time of crisis, she awakens, gains some Heaven-Defying power, slaps everyone in the face, and even those who previously slandered her now beg for her forgiveness.

Seen this way, everything that seemed abnormal becomes perfectly normal. In fact, one could say this is the most normal protagonist's standard setup.

And he, in fact, is the villainous older brother in the script who will be slapped in the face by her, the female lead.

"Although I suspected she would gain something and rise up, I didn't expect it to be… Divine Authority."

"Villainous older brother… huh."

Jun Lingxiao shook his head as he walked. He didn't care about plot protagonists or anything like that. He just feared that Jun Siyu would also lose some of her freedom, just like him, which truly went against what he had said before.

But what does it matter? No matter what, he will continue to do what he must.

As always.

Although the news of Jun Siyu's Awakening did not spread, the Family also did not deliberately seal it off. Many high-ranking Disciples learned of the news.

On one hand, the Jun Family's strength made them fearless; on the other hand, the news had not yet been confirmed. After all, as long as the pillar of light hadn't risen, everything was just speculation.

"Is it really Divine Authority?"

"Her?"

"Look at her eyes. They're somewhat similar to Your Highness's, both golden…"

"What's so special about golden? It's still the same as ours, but this color is indeed… quite striking…"

Jun Siyu's Floating Island was the God Tablet Platform's Floating Island, so many Disciples stood far away around it, including some from the True Dragon Clan, but none could approach.

Five or six people in blood-colored black armor stood motionless beside her, swords in hand, guarding her day and night. Though few in number, each was a quasi-Emperor cultivation, just a step away from becoming an Emperor, a Realm that could appear before others without crushing them.

The True Dragon's golden pupils are entirely golden, but the gold of Divine Authority is different; it's a circle of golden threads appearing in the center of the pupil, growing wider and brighter, still a black pupil, but tinged with gold.

Surrounded by people discussing her, Jun Siyu was in a trance-like state, standing still and motionless, constantly muttering "Three Heavens," which was terrifying. Yet no one dared to disturb her. Everyone went about their business, but the God Tablet Platform's tests were temporarily halted.

She stood there for six days.

During this time, the several Dao Children who resided in the Family came to take a look, stood briefly, and then left.

Lan Xue also came to glance at her, simply and clearly stating "boring" before turning and leaving, never to appear again.

Only Lin Qingxi remained, watching Jun Siyu from afar, her gaze complex.

The emergence of a second Divine Authority Holder in the Jun Family should have been a cause for great joy, but almost all the Jun Family Disciples showed no happiness in their eyes. Instead, a faint gloom enveloped everyone, exceptionally heavy.

The reason was related to Jun Lingxiao.

"She's just been standing there? An Epiphany? This is taking too long, isn't it?"

Above the God Tablet Platform Floating Island, Jun Wenhao, several Elders, and the Old Ancestor were all present, looking down from above, a form of protection.

But Jun Wenhao couldn't bear it anymore and asked the Old Ancestor, his eyes inquiring if something had gone wrong.

"Don't look at me. Divine Authority is something that only exists in ancient texts. Even I know very little about it."

"However, judging from Lingxiao's verbal description and the records in ancient texts, her current state is very normal."

"Ancient texts record that there are also differences among Divinities. Not only do they wield different Divine Authorities, but the time it takes for them to awaken also varies. There was once a record of a Divine Authority Holder taking two months just to awaken. How long has she been here? Don't rush."

As soon as the Old Ancestor finished speaking, an Elder beside him posed a Soul-searching question.

"How long did it take for Jun Lingxiao to awaken?"

This question silenced the Old Ancestor. He looked at Jun Wenhao, passing the question to him.

"Hiss… half a day…? Or a quarter of an hour? Or even an instant?"

Jun Wenhao's expression grew increasingly strange as he spoke.

Right! Why hadn't he thought of that! In that case, Lingxiao awakened in no more than half a day. He even heard from Jun Hongxuan's previous report that he merely comprehended a sword move, taking no more than a hundred breaths, and then turned around to see Jun Lingxiao already appearing with a pillar of light.

"Looking at it this way, my grandson is an absolute Genius even among Divinities?"

"There is no one in this world like my grandson!"

"You don't know…"

Seeing that he was about to start bragging about his grandson again, another Elder quickly interrupted, "Alright, alright, here we go again. What don't we know?"

"You'd better think about how to deal with your granddaughter."

"Logically speaking, if she truly awakens Divine Authority, giving her the position of Divine Child wouldn't be excessive. But the current Divine Child is Jun Lingxiao."

"I'm considering whether to add another Divine Child position?"

As he spoke, he cast an inquiring gaze at the Old Ancestor. You see, she doesn't have to do anything; she just got lucky and was chosen to awaken Divine Authority, so Jun Lingxiao's position should be split with her.

If it were in another Family, this would be the case, but… as expected, the Old Ancestor looked straight ahead, effectively ignoring the remark.

The other Elders also looked away, no longer speaking.

As if they had touched some taboo.

Everyone knew it, but once it was brought into the open, it became difficult to handle.

"How can there be two Divine Child positions? One Divine Authority Holder, Ten Paths has been so since ancient times, and it will remain so in the future. Of course, if she has the ability, then let her come and seize it! This is the Jun Family." After a moment of silence, the Old Ancestor finally spoke.

His words not only blocked the Divine Child position but also the Dao Child positions.

His attitude was clear: this is the Jun Family. If she has the ability and wants something, she should take it herself.

Jun Wenhao, however, was quite conflicted. He genuinely disliked this granddaughter, but if she was a Divine Authority Holder, it would be different. He couldn't send her away, but he also didn't want to accept her. It was the first time he had felt so distressed since becoming a Great Emperor… Oh, it was the second time.

Time flew by. Thirteen days passed in a flash. As if sensing something between Divinities, Jun Lingxiao, though busy during this time, still arrived early and stood there waiting.

Along with him were countless Jun Family Disciples.

Finally, as an orange light wave swept out, the enormous orange pillar of light also shot up into the sky!

Countless people looked up, gazing at the colossal pillar of light, welcoming the descent of Divine Authority.

"Orange… the Fourth Divine Authority, then." Jun Lingxiao murmured, then went forward and supported Jun Siyu, who was about to collapse.

Jun Siyu, finally recovering from that profoundly mysterious state, blinked her eyes and looked over. Upon seeing that it was her brother, she suddenly smiled, a very happy smile, and before she had even stabilized, she eagerly began to claim credit.

"Divine Authority! Brother, I have Divine Authority too! Will I be very useful from now on?"

"Will I be able to help you?"

Jun Siyu spoke breathlessly and urgently, even gradually starting to gasp for air.

In that mysterious state, she had naturally gained some knowledge, understanding what a Divine Authority Holder was, what kind of power she possessed, and also how difficult things had been for Jun Lingxiao.

At this moment, her body was a mess, extremely uncomfortable, and she couldn't even see clearly. It felt as if there was an air sac constantly expanding inside her body. But she recalled Jun Lingxiao's calm demeanor while standing in the pillar of light back then, and a sense of awe rose in her heart.

'Brother… he's so amazing, truly amazing.'

Jun Siyu thought this, awaiting her brother's praise.

And Jun Lingxiao naturally offered praise.

"Mm, very impressive. But, you should help yourself first."

After speaking, he helped her stand firm, then gradually retreated. What awaited her next would undoubtedly be various compliments and flattery. She had been suppressed for so long; it was time for her to release it.

His presence here would only make everyone constrained, so he would let her enjoy this occasion alone.

Just like the saying, "I'll be with you in your low times, and I'll leave when you're in your prime."

Jun Lingxiao thought this, and after leaving the crowd, he even began discussing with an Elder nearby whether they should hold a banquet to celebrate her.

However, after he left, the quiet crowd suddenly changed, all turning to look at her. Their eyes were cold, and their expressions were extremely complex.

The expected praise and flattery never came. What came was only this eerie scene.

Whether it was Jun Siyu's imagination or not, she only felt that everyone's gaze was like… they were looking at an enemy… "Everyone, I have Divine Authority…"

Even Jun Siyu sensed something was wrong, and before she could finish speaking, she was immediately interrupted by Lin Qingxi's furious voice.

It was different from before; it was a tone filled with anger, disappointment, and even strong killing intent.

"Jun Siyu, you really… should have died outside!"

.

.

She could even guess this? Everyone witnessed his rise, but now there was someone who could gain everything without doing anything. What awaited her?