Echoes of blood and fire

"Divine Authority."

Cheng Shi immediately recognized what that ray of light was—undoubtedly a Divine Authority, specifically a [War] Divine Authority belonging to Qin Xin's world!

When a deity dies in the True Universe for some reason, the Divine Authority they possess, formed through the bond of Faith, does not dissipate but transforms into an intangible "legacy" that drifts throughout the True Universe.

However, these legacies cannot be picked up by those "destined to possess them," because the Divine Authority of different worlds cannot be exchanged; they can only be discovered and "retrieved" by the Faith carriers of their original worlds.

This rule also prevents some "Escapee" from becoming "fat" overnight in the True Universe.

The world is the soil in which Faith takes root. Once the World Collapse and Faith is gone, the lost Divine Authority becomes utterly worthless.

Cheng Shi and Hong Lin are not the real Cheng Shi and Hong Lin. They have been wandering in the True Universe for a long time, witnessing the birth of too many junk, and they know how difficult it is to reclaim the Divine Authority of their own world under this Starry Sky.

The True Universe is so vast that anyone who comes to search for it will most likely return in Despair.

Furthermore, Divine Authority is not so easy to find. It is not some conspicuous floating object, but an abstract existence that is difficult to define. To discover it, one must first arouse a resonance between Divine Authority and Divine Power.

For example, offering sacrifices for conception [Birth], pleasing others with decay [Decay], and calling for [War]...

So when Qin Xin made his decision and prepared to make the final decision, the [War] Divine Power he unleashed rang out like a great bell, rapidly spreading outwards.

However, the fluctuations of this Divine Power cannot spread without attenuation in the True Universe. When it reaches a certain range, but the Divine Authority is not within it, resonance cannot be generated, and the trace of the Divine Authority naturally becomes nowhere to be seen.

Fortunately, "Destiny" is in control; although the Divine Authority of [War] has been lost far away, it has not gone too far beyond this area.

And so, at the moment Qin Xin unleashed his [War] Divine Power, the Divine Authority belonging to his Lord of Grace returned in response!

When Faith found a vessel, when piety regained its home, the Unyielding will representing [War] roared into Qin Xin's body, igniting every cell in his body.

Qin Xin was unable to move. He felt as if his lungs and heart were burning, his blood was boiling and his soul was ignited. Before he could figure out what had happened, he was thrilled to inherit the Divine Authority of [War].

During the lull in his succession of Divine Authority, the two figures watched from afar, equally motionless, their expressions a mixture of anger and fear, their purpose unknown.

The cheerful figure, playing Cheng Shi, pursed his lips and asked in a low voice, "Fight, or retreat?"

The Indifference figure, playing the Big Cat, frowned and said, "Even if we can't win, we have to finish the act. Leaving now would be a waste of all our efforts."

The cheerful figure gave her a strange look and said disdainfully, "Always so cold and aloof, but when it comes to acting, you're completely immersed in it. Looks like everyone really wants to be a screenwriter."

After saying that, he fell silent, quietly waiting for Qin Xin to complete the succession of Divine Authority.

Qin Xin's consciousness went blank. He seemed to have experienced a great battle, no, countless battles. The oppressive feeling of the battlefield, which made it hard to breathe, surged from all directions and engulfed him like Sea of Blood. He struggled, hesitated, felt fear and Despair, but he never thought of giving up.

From facing certain death to embracing life in the face of death, accompanied by his Unyielding cries, a flame was ignited in his heart.

This barely perceptible light illuminated Corner of the thick Sea of Blood. It was with this faint light that Qin Xin took heavy steps, cut off the shackles on his body, pushed aside the surrounding corpses, and step by step, walked out of the blood-soaked shackles.

The moment he stood on the ground covered in blood, Qin Xin shook off the last trace of mud and brought the fire in his heart back to the battlefield.

And so, [War] returned.

He gained the approval of the [War] Divine Authority, was reborn from the ashes, and became His sole Emissary in this era.

A Subgod who was elevated by the will of the True God after His death!

Seeing that Divine Authority was now irreversible, Cheng Shi's eyes darted around, and he immediately pulled Hong Lin back, clasping his hands in a fist salute to Qin Xin and congratulating him:

"Now, you are a true Fire Keeper."

Unfortunately, when you finally have the ability to truly Passing the Flame, you become one of the gods that the Fire Keeper most want to overthrow.

Congratulations anyway, Qin Xin! How should we address you from now on?

Oh no, it should be you. I still don't know your Divine Name is...?"

These words of congratulations, laced with Yin-Yang, left Qin Xin, who had just experienced a "battle," somewhat dazed.

He calmed himself, frowned in deep thought, and soon it dawned on him that Cheng Shi and Hong Lin had come to the True Universe for the same reason as him—they were also there to seek the Divine Authority [War]!?

But I learned of the fall of [War] from the mouth of the Hope's Flame, so how did they know?

Qin Xin was about to ask when Cheng Shi interrupted him with a smile and explained:

"[Destiny], it is [Destiny] that brought us together here."

We learned of the fall of [War] by chance, so we came to try our luck.

As for how they got up here, everyone has their own secrets, right?

All I can tell you is that things aren't peaceful inside [Nothingness]. Regardless of what world-destroying schemes the God of Merriment may be plotting, [Destiny] is doing everything in its power to save this world.

Hong Lin and I wanted to get this Divine Authority to help Him, but it seems that good fortune is not on our side.

However, it's better for you to have the Divine Authority than for the God of Merriment to have Divine Authority.

The Fire Keeper wants to Passing the Flame, the Fated wants to save the world; our goals are at least aligned.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xin was so shocked and suspicious that he could hardly contain himself. Although his face remained calm, his heart was already in turmoil.

He suppressed his doubts and calmly probed:

"I always thought your piety was nothing but Deception, but I never imagined you would actually choose Destiny?"

Cheng Shi chuckled, "Otherwise what? Feigned piety fits the definition of Deception. I use it to gain His support. Only by walking on the edge of Faith can I see this world more clearly."

I used to think that God of Merriment's rebellion against heaven, earth, and [the Origin] would bring hope to this world, but now I finally understand that only [Destiny] can save everything.

Actually, all of this was foreshadowed long ago; otherwise, why would I have come together with you, the Fire Keeper?

Isn't the Hope's Flame the Emissary of Destiny?

"You..." Qin Xin was once again shocked by how much Cheng Shi knew, unaware that this was already the limit of what the other party knew.

Seeing that continuing the conversation would expose them, the cheerful figure disguised as Cheng Shi smiled mysteriously, waved goodbye, and said:

"This isn't the place to chat. Let's find some time to talk properly when we get back to our world."

The location can be either in the Fire-Keeping Hall, or at the gambling table of our the Fated.

The True Universe is too dangerous. You should return as soon as you have the Divine Authority; we have other things to do.

This has nothing to do with our world, and we don't need your help.

Rest assured, Hong Lin and I will keep quiet about the matter of Divine Authority, after all, it concerns the survival of the world.

We never wanted the world to go to destruction.

Cheng Shi paused, his tone suddenly turning wistful.

"I don't want any of them."

With that, he and Hong Lin turned and left decisively, leaving Qin Xin standing there dumbfounded, his thoughts in disarray, lost in thought.

The shock of being given Divine Authority seemed to be less than the impact of Cheng Shi's words.

The Fated...

Is this organization, suspected to Believer of "[Destiny]", trying to save the world?

[Deception] Is this the end of the world?

Since the gods have disagreed, does that mean the best time to Passing the Flame has arrived?

Qin Xin's expression turned solemn as he looked back at the starting point he had come from, his eyes becoming unusually determined.