Ch 196: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Mu Xing let out a quiet sigh.

Ever since news of the miracle in the temple had spread, the temple had grown lively.

Even the king and queen of Naya came together in person to pay their devout respects.

If not for Mu Xing disliking the noise, they would have even arranged for craftsmen to repair the temple on the spot.

Or was overjoyed. During this period, Mu Xing could clearly see the change in the high priest.

No longer gloomy, and under Mu Xing’s guidance, Or treated all believers with great generosity, gentleness, and composure.

Except when it came to a certain big lion.

For some reason, since that day, Amos had been visiting the temple every few days.

Or hated seeing him, but every time the man came bearing a pot of flowers, putting on a show of sincerity.

Or would swear on his own faith: this Vistan never had any true belief in Naya’s god.

He must be hiding some despicable motive.

Yet the god seemed to like him.

So all Or could do was remain on guard, to prevent this loathsome foreigner from doing anything disrespectful to the god.

This day Amos, as usual, came in carrying a pot of expensive gilan flowers, ignoring Or’s unfriendly gaze. In high spirits, he said, “Great and exalted God of Naya, since I am not yet sure of your divine office, allow me this blunt title. I offer you my highest respect.”

He solemnly set the gilan flowers beneath the dais, golden eyes fixed intently on the crystal orb.

Or’s face was stiff. “Amos, our God has already received your respect. You may leave.”

Amos, displeased, glanced at him, then looked at the crystal ball with itching eagerness. He asked, “Perhaps the god is merciful—may I change into my beast form and nap here in the temple for a while?”

Or: “…”

His hand clenched tightly around his staff, teeth grinding. “Amos! Don’t you dare go too far!”

The god truly was far too patient.

Before hurling a fireball, Or thought resentfully: how could the god tolerate this rude outsider’s offenses?

He did not know that, in the god’s eyes, Amos appeared as nothing more than a beautiful big cat, always itching to stretch out his furry paws, eager to be close.

There was no malice—how could that be called offense?

He was obviously just adorable.

By now, Mu Xing’s impression of this so-called “godslayer” of the original tale had completely changed.

He was no ruthless beastman at all—just a silly, mischievous big cat.

Watching the two of them spar in their ordinary way, restrained only because they were inside the temple, Mu Xing found it rather amusing.

Unable to act too wildly in the temple, Amos left in a huff.

Or frowned and murmured, “My god, you are far too gentle. I fear this will cause some to lose their reverence.”

The majesty of a god was not to be profaned—so Or believed.

*

On the eighty-first day,

Mu Xing’s divine soul in the darkness finally touched upon some unseen barrier.

His immense soul force turned into a sharp blade, piercing the barrier with ease.

Across all former territories of the Naya Empire, every temple flared with a brilliance brighter than the sun.

Within the radiance, a majestic divine statue gradually took form.

Clad in green robes, embroidered with silver threads into flowers and plants, the god’s countenance was beautiful and gentle, long black hair falling down his back, a crown of wheat and gilan blossoms encircling his head.

Mu Xing lowered his gaze slightly. Wherever believers dwelled, his sight could reach.

The power of earth and nature surged into his palm, coalescing into a silver scepter.

Suddenly, the skies opened with rain.

Where the spring rain fell, withered ground burst into greenery, every plant swaying lightly, bowing before their god.

In an instant, all of Naya bloomed with flowers—nature’s offering to celebrate the birth of their god.

In the farmers’ fields, every crop thrived with boundless vitality. This year was destined for abundance.

The newborn god parted his lips, and an oracle descended: “I am the God of Earth and Nature. All lands under my protection shall be spared the scourge of storm or drought. All things shall flourish. My faithful shall know no hunger.”

The people of Naya, no matter where they were or what they were doing, all knelt and bowed their heads deeply.

Tears of joy streamed down their faces.

They had waited for this day for far, far too long.

Pale green divine power scattered into countless motes of light, falling upon the ground of the divine realm.

From the great trees and blooming flowers touched by the god’s grace, entirely new beings were born.

Plant spirits.

They were attendants of the God of Earth and Nature, charged with tending to his domain.

Because they had been created by the god’s own hand, these spirits were intimately familiar with his temperament.

Unlike the other believers, they did not fear him—instead, they would affectionately crowd around, giggling as they rubbed against him once or twice before going about their work.

Mu Xing looked around with curiosity.

The instant he became a god, countless truths had naturally come to him, so he did not experience any sudden ignorance or confusion.

But all of this before his eyes was still wondrous and new.

Gods, he realized, were not the same as the cultivators he had once known of.

Here in this divine realm, he had the distinct sense that he was truly omnipotent.

The rising of the sun and moon, the cycles of life and death—all of it rested within a single thought.

He had never felt so powerful before.

And it was, without a doubt, a profoundly intoxicating feeling.

The little ball of light had awakened at some point.

It asked with delight, “Well? Well? Don’t you feel absolutely invincible now? You could try it—you could, in a single instant, wipe out every living being in this divine realm. And the next moment, with just a blink, you could create an entirely new realm again.”

It was a deeply tempting lure.

But Mu Xing only looked at him with puzzlement. “Have you been sleeping so much that your head’s gone soft? What meaning would there be in such a thing?”

The ball of light: “?”

“Besides…” A cool sensation brushed his fingertip.

Looking down, he saw a tiny sprite wearing a crown of flowers. It had gathered its courage to sneak over and touch the god’s fingertip with its little hand.

Realizing it had been caught, the sprite’s face flushed crimson in an instant. Even its wings forgot to flap, and with a “plop” it dropped straight into the flowerbed.

Mu Xing smiled. “They are this adorable.”

“They were born, and thus they are living beings. Even if I could recreate countless lives in the blink of an eye, those would not be them.”

The ball of light stared blankly at him.

Even after gaining such overwhelming power, power that transcended reincarnation itself, he still held reverence for fragile, powerless life?

“Ahh…” With a sigh, the white light-ball spun rapidly in place until it made itself dizzy.

Mu Xing could only watch, bewildered.

He heard it murmur hazily, “Oh no, I’m dizzy. I need to sleep.”

Mu Xing: “…”

He had neither the time nor the patience to figure out what odd thing the ball of light was up to now.

But then he had heard the prayers of the believers below.

It had been several days since the god’s revival.

Across all of Naya, every temple now had a brand-new divine image, the god depicted as radiant and merciful.

The faithful had gathered of their own accord to repair and beautify the temples.

Master painters and sculptors worked to adorn the walls and domes with murals and carvings anew, while bards roamed the land singing of the countless miracles brought by the reawakened god of Naya.

In Bailing City—

The temple where the first miracle had appeared was now completely encircled by soldiers sent to guard it.

When Mu Xing cast his sight there again, he almost thought he had gone to the wrong place.

It was utterly different from the ruined, dilapidated temple he had seen before.

Every building had been repainted and restored, gleaming anew. The temple walls and domes were covered with colorful frescoes, rare pearls and gemstones inlaid throughout.

Glorious and magnificent.

Upon the high seat at the very center, a divine figure sat in solemn dignity—a statue carved by a master sculptor after the likeness of the great statue that stood in the city square outside.

As Mu Xing’s divine thought fell upon it, the statue instantly became his incarnation.

Or, who had been praying in the temple, sensed something in that very instant.

He raised his head sharply, staring in shock and elation at the figure before him. “God… is it you?”

His legs moved on their own, and he stood at once.

The god before him looked down with a smile. “Or.”

Or’s expression froze in astonishment.

Mu Xing normally had no desire to listen to the inner voices of his followers, but Or’s emotions were so intense he could not help but hear them.

The dignified, composed high priest’s heart was screaming with joy: The god actually knows my name! Or could die without regret!

Before he could even say a second word, Or dropped to his knees with a thud, pressing his lips reverently to the hem of the god’s robe. “My god, what commands do you have for me?”

Mu Xing: “…”

He had no commands—he had only wished to come see him.

But he could not say that.

He feared if he did, the high priest would faint from happiness.

“…Rise, and speak.”

Or carefully stood, not daring even to look directly at him.

Mu Xing did recall one matter. “I have heard many prayers. In the kingdom of Nato, things seem… unsettled.”

At the mention of business, Or at last regained some composure.

He told Mu Xing that because of the god’s revival, the people of Nato were yearning urgently to return.

There had never been enmity between the two kingdoms, and all were Naya people.

They should gather again as one, and reforge the glorious Naya Empire.

But the royal house of Nato was unwilling. The small duchies and minor lords mattered little, but if the two kingdoms merged, then—who would hold the crown?

What was more, the royal family of Nato had long since pledged themselves as followers of the God of Light.

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