Chen Shu did not get the answer he wanted from the Vice Sect Master.
The Vice Sect Master said he was only an ordinary Vice Sect Master. The decision had been made by the Deities. Not just he, but even his master, the Sect Master of the Spirit Sect, might not know why. He also hinted at his envy and told Chen Shu to work hard and not betray the Deities' trust.
Chen Shu picked out one point of doubt from his words—
It seemed that the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of the past had not borne this Mark. It was something new to this generation.
Given the Spirit Sect's history and its ways, if every generation of Holy Sons and Holy Daughters had borne the Mark, the Vice Sect Master was unlikely to be unaware of it.
Of course, only unlikely.
Reality often favored the less probable outcome.
But he could confirm it right now. Chen Shu had no intention of keeping the question to himself and playing out some detective story.
So he asked outright.
The Vice Sect Master looked a little surprised. "How did you figure that out?"
"My father is a historian. There's always something unknown hidden in an inconspicuous turn of phrase or choice of word," Chen Shu said modestly. "Though most conclusions reached that way eventually prove wrong."
"You got it right this time."
The Vice Sect Master looked at him, a trace of a smile appearing at the corners of his eyes. "This was indeed the work of this generation's Deities."
"Does it do anything else?"
"You'll find out soon enough." The Vice Sect Master paused. "I've studied it too. My guess is that it may be a sliver of a Deity's Origin."
"Origin? Can Origin be split off?"
"That's why it's