Lynn read through a vast number of historical documents.
His eyes flickered as he thoroughly reviewed this period of the Machine Intelligence Civilization's history.
Yes.
If that was the case, then it did all fit together.
Miss Machine Intelligence had previously told him about the early development of their entire civilization, and the history he was reading now should have covered the period of "joint rule by the Seven Gods" around the time of Mechanical Ascension.
It also chronicled the birth of the Seven Gods.
"So that's how it was."
Lynn adjusted the Monocle thoughtfully and said:
"I think I understand. Your so-called Seven Gods should have been several clusters that made outstanding contributions to your civilization over the course of its development. In that case, the Purification Council wasn't something old Wànjī put together after falling into Hell. It already existed midway through your civilization's history. Its roots go back a long way."
And during that period...
There had been no King.
The seven members of the Purification Council had been the Seven Gods of that era.
It was only changing circumstances and their eventual unification that had led the Purification Council of that time to ascend together into what later became Wànjī. Yet the council's traditions had remained, and after their fall, it had served as the highest ruling authority beneath the King in the Mechanical Church they established.
"But if that's the case..."
Lynn slowly closed the digitized book and raised his head with a smile.
"Then what about Miss Machine Intelligence? If the Seven Gods were the final step in forming Wànjī, doesn't an extra Miss Machine Intelligence seem a little out of place? Throughout your civilization's history, there doesn't seem to have been any symbol representing her, does there? Don't you find that a little