Chapter 503
"Remember what I said."
"Okay, okay, stop nagging and get out of here."
Okay.
Yuki didn't bother to say more. He firmly believed that his strategy was correct, so he nodded slightly to the girl beside him. The girl didn't say a word. The butterfly gently fluttered its wings, leaving a purple trail, and in the blink of an eye, it was in the sky.
Xijingjin--
Yuki's warhorse seemed to be provoked, snorted, spread its wings, which were several meters long, and raised its front hooves. At the same time, the entire Abyss Fortress was in an uproar.
Cheers, war drums, and bugle calls rang out simultaneously as golden-armored warriors rode their steeds into the sky, and the entire city erupted in thunderous the Scream.
"Those who aspire to godhood, embark on the path of trials!"
The cold wind blowing in my face from high above calmed my slightly accelerated heartbeat.
Yuki has done many epic feats before, but this time Taiyi, since he hasn't done anything yet compared to saving the world.
I guess this is what anticipation is all about.
Yuki gripped the reins. He had to admit that Lady Elfi was very thoughtful. Having a mount was better for a long journey, at least it would save energy and allow them to enjoy the scenery along the way.
Riding a celestial horse at twice the speed of sound, thousands of meters in the air, is a breathtakingly romantic sight in itself.
A layer of pure white mist surged around me, Piercer through the center, with wisps of white clouds swirling around me. Looking further up, there seemed to be a layer of azure covering, known as the celestial canopy.
This should be a spatial rift similar to the one before the Divine Torch, above which lies the Divine Realm, where the chief gods slumber. Apart from the ruling god of the sky, the other five gods reside within.
That's a great premise; it gave me the creeps.
No one knew what had happened in the Divine Realm. Wasn't this a conspiracy brewing? Yuki remained calm as he listened to Moresa explain the trial process in cold words.
"I will first take you to the Gate of the Divine Realm to meet His Majesty Sorion, the 'God of the Sky'."
"Complete the objective to enter the Divine Realm. The six main gods will bless you, and you will then become a god."
He's a man of few words, but this process is way too simple.
Yuki gripped the reins tighter and asked, "May I ask you some questions?"
"You say it." The goddess gazed ahead, without turning her head.
"First, can someone like me really become a god?" This was the hardest thing for Yuki to understand. Players don't need to become gods because the power systems are completely different. The so-called trial is more like a hunt, where power is gained through killing.
Moresa looked thoughtful, then shook her head and said, "As far as I know, no, but that's the rule, so you still have a chance."
Really.
Yuki is no match for Godhood. Players only have one goal when going to the Divine Realm: to gain greater power. The main storyline must eventually be completed, and players will return sooner or later; there is no obligation for them to stay.
"Secondly, have you seen the six main gods?"
"Of course, receiving the blessing and escaping the demonic body is a necessary process. It was a magical journey, and I met His Majesty the Benevolent." Moresa finally showed some joy, which must have been unforgettable for her, but she did not tell Yuki about it.
God of the Underworld? Compassion?
"Can you still see Him now? As a servant of the God of the Underworld, you must be quite close, right?" Yuki asked curiously, then read the micro-expressions on Moresa's face.
Feeling lost, depressed, and then returning to indifference.
"That's not your concern. You'll get the answer once you become a god. Is there anything else?" Moresa reverted to her puppet form, clearly growing impatient.
"That's all."
Yuki decisively ended the conversation, not wanting to be disliked, and knowing that others had no obligation to answer him, and he had already gotten his answer.
Like the War General, Moresa has also lost contact. She is a direct servant of the gods, so there's definitely something wrong with her.
When did it begin? First, we need to determine the time point for reference. Second, Yuki's idea of becoming a god was even more outrageous.
It's obvious that the Divine Race themselves have problems. What if they go to the Divine Realm and get trapped and beaten?
The Abyss Fortress is tens of thousands of kilometers away from the Gate of the Divine Realm. Even a Pegasus or a butterfly would have to fly there for a long time. The journey was boring, Yuki would occasionally exchange a few words, but this time it would never involve any secrets.
It's nothing more than publicly available intelligence, such as the Divine Race's power structure.
The six main gods are at the top of the pyramid, below which are the gods, who are ranked according to their power and merit.
The second tier of pyramids is called 'Hand of God', such as the Left Hand of God, the Right Hand of God, etc. The third tier is titled deities, such as this Moresa.
Her full name is 'Servant of the Underworld, Messenger of Death, Moresa of Sickness', or simply 'Goddess of Death' Moresa.
It sounds complicated, but it's actually just a small branch of the 'death' system.
The next level down is the fourth tier, which consists of new gods without a 'divine name,' presumably with less power and status.
'Everyone has their own role, the system is quite complete.'
Yuki couldn't find any obvious flaws, which explained why Moresa avoided physical contact with him; 'death from illness' would infect him. Along the way, he also witnessed a Demon-Hunting Army operation.
The 'heavenly soldiers and generals' surrounded the demon tribe and launched a massacre. Moresa's emotions were interesting, filled with confusion, bewilderment, and helplessness.
"Let's go, we'll reach the Gate of the Divine Realm tomorrow." Moresa couldn't bear to look at the trembling earth and the shattered mountains in the distance.
After spending a few days with Yuki, her attitude changed slightly. Yuki had many problems, but he didn't look down on her because of his background.
Golden light shot into the sky, forming a golden cross. High-concentration energy particles condensed, forming a giant axe that cleaved towards the earth, only to be blocked by a black energy.
An epic battle.
Golden light shone in Yuki's eyes as he observed the Divine Race's combat strength; they seemed quite formidable.
Led by an epic god, thousands of well-equipped and perfectly coordinated soldiers were below them.
"Which god is this?"
Moresa looked into the distance; as a colleague, the result was in a matter of seconds.
Malio, servant of the god of the earth, the god of forging.
Oh, so divine names are linked to power; I knew then how they created things from nothing.
Yuki understood now and deliberately asked, "Is there some great demon involved? Why has a third-class god and three thousand soldiers been dispatched?"
"No, the Bloodblade Demon have always followed the rules; some of their clansmen have even participated in the trials," Moresa blurted out, quickly regaining her expressionless demeanor. "Let's go; there's nothing to see."
It seems she doesn't understand either; just as I imagined, this looks more like she's deliberately trying to stir up trouble.
Yuki's conjecture began to take shape, and he increasingly felt that Moresa could be used, because she was also confused and seemed unable to get an answer from her own god.
Based on the War General's words, even if the Sky God is in charge, he needs a reason to mobilize other pantheons for war. It couldn't have been planned by the six main gods, could it? If so, why didn't he inform Moresa?
At this moment, a golden light shot in from afar, and there were ten people in total, wearing exquisite silver-white armor and riding flying horses that were a few sizes smaller but still magnificent.
This was the Demon-Hunting Army. The leading officer possessed monstrous strength. This small squad alone could have been the final boss before ascension. However, Yuki noticed that they were holding swords and nocking bows.
Be wary of her?
Yuki glanced to the side; this time, the observer hadn't concealed their presence, so the other side must have known they were friendly forces before they arrived.
"Lady Moresa, this is the trial area. Entry is prohibited."
The officer was unceremonious, seemingly forgetting the vast difference in their status, and clearly lacking respect for the divine name.
"I know, it's him who wants to see it." Moresa remained expressionless, showing no sign of being offended.
"Your Excellency, the Ascended One, we are about to Net Closure. Would you like to help?" The officer turned to look at Yuki, his attitude not exactly respectful, but noticeably much better.
A subtle gaze swept over him from behind. Yuki thought for a moment, then asked, "You won't ask Lady Moresa for help, so why are you asking me?"
"Just in case, as His Majesty has ordered, no demon-born deities are to be involved in the operation. I apologize, Lady Moresa." The officer spoke in a businesslike manner, conveying a sense of 'It's not that I don't trust you, it's just an order.'
My breathing became heavy for a fraction of a second. It seems you, a puppet, can get angry, but you dare not speak out.
Yuki's attention was focused on Moresa, and after receiving the answer, he shook his head without hesitation.
"She is my mentor. Since Lady Moresa cannot participate, I will also refrain from participating."
"I respect your wishes, but I have a word of advice: once you reach your destination, please proceed on your own. Farewell." The officer hesitated, then gave a chest-thumping salute, turned his horse around, and rode away.
The incident lasted only a few minutes, but an awkward atmosphere began to spread; this officer's emotional intelligence was rather low.
Before Yuki could ask a question, a cool female voice rang out.
"He's a good person, and what he said is true. Tomorrow, when you reach the Gate of the Divine Realm, others will guide you, and after that, it's none of my business."
"Are you afraid of getting into trouble?" Yuki turned his head and saw the girl's surprised expression.
That's backwards. Shouldn't I be the one worried about you getting into trouble?
But she didn't refute it, as if Yuki was right.
"I find this trial very strange. What evidence does the Bloodblade Demon have of harming the world? Why is it just starting to kill right away?"
Anyone of sound mind would find this strange, but Moresa offered no explanation, coldly replying, "It's none of your business."
"No, it has something to do with me." Yuki pointed at the other person with his index finger, then at himself. "Don't be silly. If we become gods, you're an anomaly, and so am I."
To put it bluntly, everything can become a god, but in terms of origin, no one is stranger than the player; the player isn't even within the rules of this world.
Moresa frowned, pondered, nodded first, then shook her head. "But since you have no precedent for becoming gods, it's still irrelevant."
"No, given the chance, I will surely become a god." Yuki pointed to the distant mountain peak shattered by the giant hammer, a look of disgust on his face.
"If it's just indiscriminate killing like this, I'd rather not do it."
The bait was salty and the hook was straight, which seemed like a deliberate attempt to gain favor and build rapport. Moresa wasn't stupid; instead of laughing, her eyes grew colder and carried a hint of mockery.
"So you're saying you don't care about the profits, but rather about being a true hero of Justice?"
Yuki, mounted on his horse, arrogantly turned his head. "Am I not? Can't I?"
It was rather persistent and shameless. Just as Moresa was about to mock him, she recalled the scene of her first meeting with Yuki.
Mighty city walls and towering ramparts, war drums resounding, ten thousand people cheering.
Abyss Fortress is known for its straightforwardness and enthusiasm, but they're not fools; this person has clearly done something and earned recognition.
Thinking of this, she nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Whether Yuki is a true hero or a hypocrite, the support of the renowned Abyss Fortress is somewhat convincing, but Moresa is unlikely to change her attitude, let alone trust him.
Let's go.
"Okay." This time, Yuki. He was a very patient person; he planted a seed first and waited for it to sprout.
After a brief interlude, the two continued their journey, and about a day later, the magnificent yet increasingly boring clouds finally began to change.
Suddenly, a huge golden vortex appeared in the distance, with countless arcs of electricity filling the sky. Only at the bottom of the vortex was there a passage connecting it to the outside world.
The clouds formed a straight avenue, with countless golden lanterns on both sides, like navigation lights to indicate the way ahead, and thousands of silver-armored guards lined up on both sides of the road.
The two landed on the cloud track. Yuki in his Pegasus and peered through the gaps in the swirling clouds, his eyes narrowing slightly.
This Gate of the Divine Realm is a city, a heavenly divine city.
Chapter Five: City of Gods
Through the crack in the door of the vortex, Yuki saw a city built on a mountain of clouds.
It is somewhat similar to Abyss Fortress, with countless majestic palaces rising one after another from the clouds. Every inch of the walls is woven from solidified pure white light. It is a mountain city, with countless steps leading up to it.
On either side of the steps stood enormous palaces, densely packed and layered, like countless hands supporting the golden object at the very top.
This is the door, a closed door. It seems so close yet so far away. Even with Yuki's level 9 physique, he couldn't see the details on such a large door.
Countless celestial horses circled the city like birds, their armor gleaming with golden light. If you listened closely, it sounded as if countless innocent children were singing aloud.
[Gate of the Divine Realm, City of Ten Thousand Gods]
[Justice in the world converges here, and all beauty is offered to the gods.]
It's a great place, utilizing Transcendental Grade abilities such as space folding, rule prohibition, and void creation; it's far more powerful than the Witch God's Tomb.
Yuki admired the desolate scene, then looked down at his feet. The ground was paved with breathing cloud bricks, with golden light seeping from the seams of each brick. Every few seconds, the ground would become transparent, revealing the earth, mountains, rivers, and streams in his view.
At this moment, the rather special word 'God' has taken on its value. The guards hold their heads high, and the exclamations of every newcomer fill them with pride.
'What would you think if you knew I was plotting how to conquer this City of Gods?'
Unlike Abyss Fortress, Yuki had no fondness for this city, which was a hundred times more magnificent, and did not take these gods seriously.
From a philosophical perspective, there are two types of 'gods': one is a vague, idealistic totem, and the other is just like in the game.