Chapter 526 - Five Hundred and Twenty-Three:

Chapter 526: Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty-Three: "His Name?The towering stone castle was quiet, with the curtains falling to the floor.

A noble girl sat by the window, a maid assisting her to tie up her long hair, pinning white lilies that resembled flowers into her golden hair.

She rose slowly, her plain white dress trailing along the floor. Taking a step forward, she walked into the spacious courtyard.

The toxic rain of the calamity continued its relentless descent, the corrosive liquid seeping into every corner of the tribe, even here within the First Tribe.

However, the square where the succession ceremony was being held was enveloped by an anti-rain barrier suspended in the air, rendering the poisonous rain ineffective below it.

Kneeling around were circle upon circle of tribal members who had come to witness the succession ceremony, young and old, men and women alike, all tilting their heads slightly, whispering prayers with an air of devoutness.

The Saintess arrived somewhat late; the Young Tribe Leader’s succession ceremony was already more than halfway through.

Smoked river fish and game meat, among other offerings, were neatly arranged on the altar, while the flickering bonfire burned against the somber sky.

The Young Tribe Leader, crowned with a blood-red sacrificial crown and draped in a black ceremonial robe, had already knelt before the statue of the Deity Laersas of Bai Shen, beginning to commune with the deity.

Despite claims by Qiongdi officials that the Bai Shen were dead, some elders and tribe members still firmly believed that the Bai Shen were merely in a slumber. On such an important occasion, the Young Tribe Leader, as "Son of Bai Shen" and the one whose essence best matched with the relics of Bai Shen, still followed ancient oracles to attempt communication with the Bai Shen.

The poisonous rain was blocked by the bell-shaped barrier above, melting slowly along its curved exterior. The orange glow of the fire danced on people’s faces, reflected between their slightly moving lips.

The whole altar seemed to be immersed in a serene and mysterious atmosphere, exuding a solemnity that made it hard for anyone to jest or cavort lightly, seamlessly blending with the ancient customs handed down from olden times. For a moment, it felt as though deities truly were watching over the place, ready to bring blessings to the clan members who worshipped them.

"Thoom, thoom, thoom—"

With dull beats of the katar drum echoing, girls adorned with silver bracelets and women veiled in black emerged from the lines of tribe members, beginning to sing and dance with passion. They sang in a lilting, gentle language, moving in unison with the heavy, throbbing beats of the drum, the colorful silks and shining ornaments intertwining together—the soft melodic tones blending with the solid, heavy rhythm, creating a ceremonial dance full of tribal character.

The Saintess in her simple gown walked toward the raised platform, while the Young Tribe Leader muttered to the deity’s statue atop it.

"Lord Laersas..." Fengchang bowed his head, uttering the name of the Deity Bai Shen softly.

As "Son of Bai Shen," he was expected in such a ceremony to recite praises, desires, and devotions to the Bai Shen, then smoothly take over the position of Tribe Leader, unleashing the full power of the Black Python Authority, becoming an unrivaled being in Qiongdi, killing the other competitors, and seizing victory in the Hundred People War.

However, at that moment, his heart was filled with confusion.

Just yesterday, he had learned the truth about Qiongdi, and in an instant, the beliefs he had held for more than a decade were shattered.

"...Deity Bai Shen, you are a construct of those from the outside world, so... is my faith wrong?" he said.

His voice was very low, and except for the Saintess who was close to him, no one heard what he said.

This was not the kind of language one should use when praying to a deity, completely different from the shamanic language he had learned over the past decade.

He was merely questioning his heart—inquiring of the deity he had painfully worshipped for more than ten years—

—was all of this truly worth it?

His faith... his ideals... his vision to carry on the tribe’s legacy and spread the radiance of the Bai Shen to every corner of Qiondiland... were all just guided by others.

What, then, was the purpose of his life?

The Saintess, clad in her simple gown, ascended the steps, approaching his side.

"You have forsaken the most ancient of gods—Jiu Shen Aria," said the Saintess. "He is your true faith, yet you have been deceived by foreigners, abandoning your real beliefs. You regard the foreign-contrived deities as Righteous Gods, but see your ancient true God as an Evil God..."

"How do you know all this?" Fengchang looked at the Saintess.

The tribe’s most blindly faithful Saintess, who wholeheartedly wished to offer herself in death to the deity, theoretically, should not have known these long-buried truths.

"Answer my question first," the Saintess said, "now that you know these truths, what do you plan to do? Will you announce them and lead people back to the faith of Jiu Shen?"

Her pair of sea-blue eyes were fixed steadfastly upon the Young Tribe Leader, and within those eyes, which were always so gentle, emerged a firmness that felt alien to him.

At that moment, the low chanting of the tribal language by the tribespeople and the clear, resonant singing voices of the women poured into his ears like a cold wind.

His gaze swept over the golden deity statue, over the flickering, smoke-ridden candles, over the gorgeously dressed women, the drummers with their shirts off, the praying elders... over every sight within his visual field.

The Sacrificial Crown on his head weighed so heavily that it left him breathless, and at such a critical juncture, with the truth suddenly revealed, he simply couldn’t keep his composure.

Truth was obscured, with the gullible living in every corner of Qiongdi, while Xiber, the only of the Righteous God’s followers, was cast out as a Heretic...

A moment later, he spoke.

"...Let it be," he said.

"What?"

"A truth not worth revealing should just stay buried," he said, "The past of Jiu Shen has been forgotten by all. To rashly declare the truth would only provoke everyone’s breakdown and backlash. With the concentration of the curse in Qiondgi getting thicker and the danger of the Calamity Period increasing, they can’t afford another crisis of faith. Maintaining the status quo is the best approach."

The Saintess’s eyes flickered slightly.

"Regardless of whether we worship a true God or one conjured by outsiders... that is still our God, and I will not... arbitrarily swap the faith of my people," the Young Tribe Leader said.

"You plan to conceal this truth? Even knowing that the deity you worship, Bai Shen, is nothing but fiction and lies? You want to continue the current state and keep hiding everything about the real deity, Jiu Shen?" the Saintess asked.

The Young Tribe Leader rose to his feet, his legs numb from kneeling for so long; once he steadied himself, he addressed the Saintess.

"—A god that cannot save its people is no god at all," he said once more.

Even though Bai Shen was merely an image fabricated by outsiders, He truly descended five years ago, powered by sufficient faith, transforming into a canopy that protected the tribe. Thus, He did exist for real.

And Jiu Shen, already forsaken by the hearts of the people... was doomed to perish in the dust of the past. The tribespeople would not accept the truth that Jiu Shen is the Righteous God—their generations of disdain would prevent them from immediately turning to worship what they considered an ’Evil God’.

Only by sustaining the status quo, perpetuating the lies, and bearing the burden of this cruel truth alone could he ensure a progressively stable Qiongdi—it was the best method.

...Even if by doing so, his actions of perpetuating lies would be no different from those of the outsiders.

"You truly love this land of Qiongdi," the Saintess said, "Already faced with a collapse of faith, yet you still choose to pretend to be the most devout ’Son of Bai Shen’ to pacify the people?"

"...Who exactly are you?" the Young Tribe Leader asked again.

"I’m your father," the Saintess smiled.

"...?" the Young Tribe Leader was taken aback.

"Haha, just joking, just joking. I am..." the Saintess waved her hand, about to speak, when suddenly a loud voice came from behind.

"—The ceremony to communicate with the great Bai Shen has concluded, Young Tribe Leader, please come down now," it called.

An elder holding a Scepter, who looked revered and authoritative, called out from afar to the Young Tribe Leader on the high platform.

The elder was Dian Si, the ’Judicator,’ the most devoted follower of Bai Shen, and was presiding over this succession ceremony.

By his side stood Mizushima Kawa Sora, dressed in a long robe of red and white.

Mizushima Kawa Sora had been repelled by Xiber’s tentacles several days ago. After recuperating for a few days, she returned here with the Dian Si, planning to participate in this inheritance ceremony.

She and the Dian Si were the highest-ranking individuals aside from the Fengchang, even surpassing the four elders nearby.

In the crowd of the First Tribe witnessing the ceremony, many Players were hidden among them. There was Bonnie disguised as a dancer, Yuriklu beating the drums, Anthony sprinkling water from a bowl, and Isabella silently watching from the treetops in the distance.

This rain-protecting Barrier wasn’t large, only enough to cover the square. Poisonous rain fell everywhere else, so they could only gather here to observe the ceremony. Almost all surviving Players were congregated here.

"...Where on earth did Su Ming’an go..." Mizushima Kawa Sora wondered to herself.

Despite Su Ming’an’s identity as a Heretic at odds with the world, facing an almost 1v99 situation, she couldn’t get the better of him.

However, having been in league with the Evil God for so long, he must have undergone Metamorphosis. She had sensed something wrong with him before fleeing; he couldn’t last much longer.

While her information was somewhat limited, not far behind, two people discussing the matter seemed very well-informed.

"The latest trace of the Number One Player was in the Third Tribe," said Lu, with sea-blue hair.

At this moment, he was wearing a decorative piece that looked like a flower pot, appearing quite antique, a price Players paid to blend in among the tribe members.

"Why are you so certain? The traces he left could be fake," said the sniper Player, Zhong Xi, beside him. "If the information is false, we’re in trouble. They could be leading us by the nose."

Lu didn’t speak, only handing over the communicator for her to look at.

Zhong Xi suddenly discerned a slogan amidst the dense small print on the communicator—

""—Proclaimed by the Sas Settlement, a settlement affiliated with the Third Tribe.

"Alright, it’s him," Zhong Xi nodded.

Lu silently put the item away.

"Does he want to... collect Faith? He’s actually thinking of becoming a Deity?" Zhong Xi realized at once what Su Ming’an was up to, "I heard his Guide is a Heretic, isn’t he... really not afraid of Metamorphosis?"

"So, if he wants to gain one of Bai Shen’s Authorities—the Black Python—then he will surely come today," Lu said.

"Come here?" Zhong Xi said, surprised. "All the Players are here, and the Fengchang is here. Is he coming to meet his death? Besides, I heard that the poisonous rain has a very high concentration in the Third Tribe, the whole Tribe has been eroded by the Sea of Poisonous Rain, how could he have survived?"

"Maybe so..." Lu suddenly looked up.

"Zhong Xi." He said, "Look, the sky suddenly brightened."

The chanting of the Tribesmen ceased.

They lifted their heads like geese caught by the neck, gaping in shock at the spectacle in the sky.

On the edge of the dark sky pelted by poisonous rain, a blinding light had suddenly ignited.

In that moment, it was as if they were witnessing the collision of galaxies, seeing golden wheat seeds being sown by the Deities descending from the firmament, and holy white flowers blooming in the heaven.

A vast and mysterious aura enveloped the land, sweeping through their minds like a tidal wave. Their eyes glazed over, breathing stuttered, and even the prayers on their lips involuntarily ceased.

A figure appeared within their focused gaze.

They saw the white tendrils blooming like petals, and the figure bathed in the light.

That light, bright and magnificent, etched into their pupils.

Someone snapped out of the grand spectacle and sobbed with joy.

"—The great Bai Shen has descended here!" someone cried out.

"This appearance is nearly identical to when the great Bai Shen descended five years ago..."

"The great Bai Shen is indeed not dead! The Deity has come... Oh God, have you come to continue your Blessing upon your people?"

The echoing cries rang out over the square. The most devout Dian Si knelt with his knees to the ground, his body almost touching the surface, leaving only Mizushima Kawa Sora standing in place.

Her eyes shifted slightly, focusing on the figure in the sky drawing ever closer.

The figure—he disregarded the poisonous rain and flew towards them, white tendrils opening behind him like Angel Wings, enveloping him like the bud of a flower.

He shone like an Angel, radiant as a Deity.

—He fit perfectly the "definition" people had for Bai Shen, the Righteous God of light, kindness, and justice.

"Damn, what an awesome entrance. I recognize that face, isn’t that Su Ming’an’s role?" Player Lent couldn’t help but exclaim.

"Number One Player’s move this time is awesome. It’s over, I’m sold," another Player remarked.

"We still going through with the inheritance ceremony? We’re not going to worship him now, are we? I don’t want the Lighthouse Church, no, I don’t want it..."

In the doubtful eyes of the Players, the white figure drew nearer.

At this moment, all were kneeling, with almost no one standing.

The white tendrils, swirling around the "Deity," represented .

The white key, in the backpack of the "Deity," represented .

The bracelet engraved with the Black Lamb, on the wrist of the "Deity," represented .

The youth in the sky—he only lacked the Black Python Authority and the Black Crow Authority to fully replicate the Bai Shen worshipped by the people.

And Mizushima Kawa Sora, still standing, frowned upon such a grand spectacle.

"...Something’s not right," she suddenly said. "Su Ming’an’s... where did the name above his head that represents a Player go?"

In the silence of heaven and earth, the world seemed to hold its breath.

Even the sound of the pattering poisonous rain seemed to soften when the white figure appeared.

Under the Barrier, the Son of Bai Shen, wearing the blood-red Sacrificial Crown, looked up amidst the sea of kneeling people, his gaze fiery, staring intently at the "Deity" in the sky.

"Fengchang, kneel down," the Second Elder whispered beside him, puzzled by the Fengchang’s behavior that day; not kneeling upon the arrival of the great Bai Shen.

The Fengchang did not kneel, but continued to walk.

In a sea of silence, the sound of his boots hitting the ground was exceptionally clear, like beating on the hearts of the onlookers.

He looked up, fixing his gaze on the "Deity" in the sky.