Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

"And to be honest, not many people support His Excellency’s proposal, and you know why,"

Indeed, Connios knew why because this was Silver Moon City, a city protected by the Magic Net personally arranged by the Deity. Here, it was spring all year round, with a natural bay serving as a fine harbor, and there was no lack of food and resources—it was the best place to live.

In comparison, the residents of Silver Moon City had at least heard something about the outside world. It was said to be wild and dangerous, with vastly different climates—the former had not been seen by many, but the latter was still evident. Just by comparing the lingering snow outside with the warmth of the city, everyone knew what to choose.

In such circumstances, the proposal of His Excellency Damian wasn’t widely accepted. After all, the residents of Silver Moon City couldn’t figure out why they would leave this divine gift of a city to face snowstorms and hardships.

"Don’t say that, Deo. I’m actually pretty confident about passing the test, it’s just that no one dislikes a bit more security. And honestly, don’t you think we have a bit too many people?"

Connios explained with a smile as he looked at the crowded throng around him.

To the humans of this era, it was difficult to imagine a city with a population of over a million people. After all, historically, the cities with a large population during classical times were without exception the capitals of great empires or the core of vast territories.

They relied on continuous water or land transport to support their operations, devouring resources from all directions day and night; without these, their existence would have been difficult to sustain, but Silver Moon City didn’t need all that.

They had the existence of witchcraft; they didn’t need other places to sustain them. With such a reckless display of Transcendent power, no problem was a problem, even with only one city, self-sufficiency was still possible.

"But our population will continue to grow, Deo, although I’m not one of those ’big shots’ and don’t know exactly how many people there are in this city, it’s definitely a number beyond my imagination."

"We will eventually fill this place and then have no choice but to venture out—since there is bound to be such a day, why not plan for it sooner?"

"Then since you are destined to eat two meals a day, why don’t you cram all your day’s food into one meal?"

Deo snorted lightly, jabbing a bit. In front of her, Connios just smiled nonchalantly.

They had had similar debates several times, but after all, both of them only had a glimpse of the whole picture—although Chaos had no such idiom, there was still a similar proverb—neither of them knew how many people were in the city or what the wilderness was truly like, so Connios had no intention of arguing with Deo over such trivial matters.

The brief exchange ended and the two continued to weave through the dense crowd. Time slowly passed, and when the Moon was directly above in The Sky, they finally reached a place where they could barely see the doors of The Temple.

The cliff on which The Temple was built was also crowded at this moment, but about a hundred meters from The Temple, there seemed to be an invisible line that separated the vast throng of people. Connios didn’t know whether it was some trick used by the ’big shots’ inside The Temple or if people had stopped on their own accord, but he tended to lean toward the latter.

None of the residents of Silver Moon City would dare act recklessly there, and those beings who could summon the winds and call the rain were unlikely to display their power at The Temple’s gates.

"This is as far as I can go, can’t do anything more beyond this point."

Connios spread his hands helplessly, not being a powerful warrior; he didn’t think he could make it any further. Seeing this, Deo nodded her head, clearly aware of his limitations.

"Then let’s stay here, Connios. The church’s scripture says that all Life will return to the Lord’s kingdom after death and be judged based on their abilities in life. Although I don’t know what judgment the great Patriarch will receive, I suppose no one could surpass him."

Swinging his fist, Deo gazed at the gates of The Temple that stood shut.

The term ’Patriarch’ originally referred to an elder, a respectable person, and in some places even meant ’father.’ Thus, the church of Silver Moon City used this title to describe the highest spokesperson of Deity in the Mortal Realm, and it was one of the titles bestowed upon Nuo.

However, for most people, they still preferred to call Nuo the ’Great Prophet,’ because according to the church’s scripture, it was he who recognized the Deity walking among Humans and then, inspired by the divine, journeyed east to build a city in this starlit place.

Even in some rumors, Nuo had foreseen the great flood in his dreams—an account that, since it had been denied by Nuo himself, was not recorded in the scripture, but Deo felt that one day this part would eventually be added to the newly revised texts.

"In any case, may you find peace in the Lord’s kingdom,"

Deo whispered within his heart, his eyes slightly closed. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

By his side, many others closed their eyes too, praying for the blessing of this soon-to-depart holy one.

...

"Cough cough—"

"Sit down, everyone, I don’t care about these formalities, and there’s no need for you to be so ceremonious in front of a dying man,"

In the vastness of The Temple, just like many years before, Nuo sat in his wheelchair.

Although it was inside The Temple, this place was not where the Deity was worshipped. The complex that enveloped the entire cliff had long since ceased to look like it did hundreds of years ago; other than the most central part of The Temple, other buildings of various purposes had risen around it.

Therefore, in this great hall usually used for meetings, the high-ranking officials of the church were gathered here. They looked at the man seated in the wheelchair with sad faces. Even though Nuo’s visage was the same as ever, everyone seated could sense the decay emanating from him.

Although most of them were users of Divine Arts, their bodies had acquired certain Transcendent qualities due to the constant bath in high concentrations of Sacred Power. No one would fail to recognize the sense that a life was nearing its end.

"There’s no need to look at me like that, cough cough, every human inevitably dies, it’s only a matter of sooner or later. I’m not here to see you sorrow for me. Let me take the time to arrange the last matters,"

Nuo said with a cough, smiling as he looked around.

A single generation’s time was not enough for an organization to decay, especially in an era when the Transcendent revealed their sanctity. Thus, he could proudly declare that everyone present was a devout believer, each endowed with exceptional abilities. Even if they had differing opinions, they were all striving only to make Silver Moon City’s future better and spread the Lord’s Faith.

However, a true sage always looks further ahead. Although Nuo never considered himself a sage or a prophet, by learning from the past downfall of Bronze Humanity, he learned many lessons. Therefore, meeting the gazes of everyone present, he spoke his first ’last words.’

"I have much I want to say... but most importantly, from the beginning, the church shall not have an immortal Patriarch."

Stroking the armrest of his wheelchair, Nuo’s voice was steady and unhurried.

"Life belongs to the Mortal Realm, the soul to my Lord. Those unwilling to return to the embrace of the Lord should naturally not become His spokesperson on earth."