When the Tide Had Already Receded...

"However, this prayer needs to be changed."

"Okay, I'll say it, and you repeat after me."

Nangong's expression turned strange. She stared blankly at Cheng Shi and nodded unconsciously.

Cheng Shi chuckled softly, cleared his throat, and began to speak while carefully choosing his words:

"What decay do living beings have? What perish do all things have?"

O Supreme Lord of Decay, Your devout Believer have felt Your true will and are willing to answer Your command, to do our utmost for Your Decay Cosmos.

I, in my humble state, know I can no longer follow you, and I am filled with regret. But in order to truly embody "Decay," I offer this prayer to you...

I pray that you will unlock the shackles of my Faith, so that your Believer may sing hymns of praise for the coming Decay of the Cosmos on another path.

So...

All living beings should not decay, nor should all things perish.

The glory of Decay will belong entirely to you; only at that moment will the Cosmos truly Decay!

"..."

For a moment, Nangong felt that Cheng Shi was the true Believer "Decay," while she was just a charlatan who couldn't even recite prayers or hymns.

However, since she had chosen to believe, she did as instructed.

She repeated Cheng Shi's words verbatim, and as the last syllable was uttered, a strange fluctuation emanated from the Void above the imperial court, which had been ravaged by endless Thunder Punishment.

Suddenly, a huge vortex opened up in the accumulated dark clouds. A phantom giant hand hung limply at his side. With a light touch of his fingertip, a wisp of gray-white light descended. The light was as bright as the stars, yet it could not illuminate the real world. It streaked across the sky like a shooting star, then fell straight down, passing through the roof and striking Nangong directly.

Nangong shuddered and looked up in fear, only to see that as the light fell, the "Decay" of the entire imperial court vanished, the ruins were restored, the old were refreshed, the broken were repaired, and the withered were revived. Even she herself felt an unbearable tingling sensation.

Shocked, she pulled open her sleeve and saw that her arm, once covered in scars, was now spotless and white, with no trace of the Decay that had ever existed!

She examined her body in disbelief, then looked at Cheng Shi with a mixture of confusion and excitement.

He wasn't lying; everything he said was true!

[Decay] She let go of herself, broke free from the shackles of Faith, forgave her broken vow, and did not cast a curse. From now on, she... is a person, a pure person without the burden of Faith!

"Cheng Shi..."

Nangong had countless words of gratitude she wanted to express to Cheng Shi, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to begin. So she could only stare blankly at Cheng Shi, letting her eyes convey everything.

At this moment, Cheng Shi was far more bewildered than Nangong.

Based on what he saw before him, the Decay had indeed receded, but...

Your style is so trendy...

Did we go back in the wrong direction?

???

Why did you retreat to me?!

Cheng Shi was stunned, because the light that had just fallen from the sky did not only hit Nangong; there were two beams of gray-white divine light, one of which hit him directly!

No, brother, I'm a guide. I said that so that your Believer could pray for you, not so that I could pray for myself!

Besides, I'm not Believer in "Decay," so why are you following my example?!

This is a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!

But is this really a misunderstanding?

No...

When Cheng Shi noticed that the nail on his left little finger was starting to change color, he knew that this was not a misunderstanding.

Decay! Nails!

His divine gift returned to Cheng Shi's hands once again in this way.

This means that his guess about "Decay" was correct; He has changed his strategy and begun to self-destruct his Faith.

"..."

What's this?

What's mine is still mine?

Cheng Shi swallowed hard and looked at the nail of his left little finger. The nail, which was originally healthy and slightly reddish, was now even brighter. It did not show any characteristics of Decay, but it had become a symbol of Decay!

That fingernail became one with Cheng Shi!

Cheng Shi initially thought this was another Discarded Divine Artifact, but he was wrong, terribly wrong.

Because...

[Decay] Divine Authority "faded" (partial): The Divine Authority of the True God recognized by the [Covenant] is bestowed by its holder, and the user has partial power to Proxy this Divine Authority.

Divine Authority Effect [Faded Redemption]: The Executor is affected by Divine Authority and can Proxy forgiveness on behalf of the Divine Authority holder, freely dissolve the Faith Contract of its Believer, acknowledge their renunciation, and erase the curse they bear.

Divine Authority Effect [Faded Majesty]: When the Executor is affected by Divine Authority, they can use a portion of the power of this Divine Authority to strengthen themselves and cope with the crisis when they encounter blasphemous attacks from their own Faith.

Divine Authority!!!

Cheng Shi never imagined that the fingernail he had discarded would actually be the Divine Authority of "Decay" power!

Ah?

Ah!!??

He's so generous!

What does this mean? Seeing the "Vitality" of "prosperity" within themselves, they come here specifically to balance things out?

Is it a rule of the [Covenant] or a voluntary gift from Him?

If that's the logic, shouldn't I ask my Lord of Grace to play with the two Divine Authority and then trick those two [Existence] beings?

Forget it, I'm not courting death. After all, even Afros is as obedient as a primary school student in front of [Time]. They don't seem like people to be trifled with.

However, to be fair, this fading of "Decay"... is somewhat similar to the eternal imprisonment of "time."

Specialized artifacts for our own family?

Judging from the description of this Divine Authority, it is clear that in the future, the authorities can "persuade" the "Decay" Believer to withdraw at any time. Furthermore, if the "Decay" Believer do not heed the advice and want to resist, the Divine Authority can even use their power to give the rebels a severe beating!

Okay, okay!

I understand now. The essence of the gods' existence is not only the theft of Divine Authority from each other, but also the betrayal of their own Believer!

Yes, absolutely right! Doesn't God of Merriment treat me like Clown every day too?

"..."

Starting today, it seems I have gained another identity: the [Decay]... Faded One?

Tsk tsk tsk, if I can personally unlock the shackles of His Faith, then why can't I be called His Emissary?

A "Emissary" Proxy "faded" and "Decay" figure!

I've hit the jackpot! Today is another day where I'm temporarily under the "Lu" name!

Cheng Shi gradually recovered from his shock. He looked at Nangong, whose expression was complicated, and smiled, saying:

"Don't panic. Shedding the 'Decay' is only the first step. The next step is to join the 'prosperity'."

After this Trials is over, Nangong, go and make a wish. Pray for [Prosperity]. The wording is up to you, just add my name.

Don't ask why, just do it.

To be honest, although I had expected it, I still didn't expect the "Decay" to actually recede...

Nangong gradually calmed down from her excitement. Hearing this, she looked up in surprise and said:

"Ebb tide? What tide? The snow tide? Indeed, it seems the snow has stopped."

"...?"

Cheng Shi was taken aback and turned to look outside the hall.

[Decay] It has indeed removed the Decay of the imperial court, but the heavy snow is just an ordinary weather condition, it can not be considered Decay, nor should it be affected.

The snow didn't stop even when the gray light came down, so how could it suddenly stop now?

His gaze sharpened, as if sensing something was amiss, but he quickly realized what it was, and his eyes widened suddenly.

Oh no, the World Destroyers have arrived!