The assassin's remains were quickly taken away. The surrounding crowd murmured among themselves, their faces still filled with indignation.
"That was their own fault—"
"Look at what he said! 'That's because we didn't break the law'? Ha! Of course we wouldn't break the law!"
"It's ridiculous. My cousin's house was half-burned down by the neighbor's kid who was studying magic. That family bribed the judge at the time, and in the end, she got absolutely no compensation..."
"If a judge doesn't act according to the law, what do we need judges for? Committing crimes and blaming others... Back when my mother was sick, I worked four jobs by myself, and I never went out to rob anyone..."
They obviously strongly disliked the assassin's remarks, and before leaving, they even expressed their condolences to the Chief Justice.
Su Cheng watched the guards carry away the remains.
Kurt was speaking with several other officials. They looked like the people responsible for maintaining order in the area, and they were apologizing profusely.
A magnificent carriage had already driven down the tree-lined avenue and stopped in front of everyone.
"Your Excellency," Kurt left behind the pale-faced officials and turned to look at Su Cheng, "we can go now."
The carriage drove out of the bustling district and soon arrived at the manor.
Snow-white stone walls surrounded the castle. The crystal floor-to-ceiling windows and jade pillars all reflected the sunlight. The lawn was impeccably manicured, and the water jets of the marble fountain were perfectly uniform.
The entire manor was symmetrical along its central axis, looking full of the aesthetic beauty of restraint and order.
Kurt led her through the foyer. The polished floor reflected their figures, and the high-vaulted ceiling had no murals, only pure white.
At regular intervals along the corridor stood giant hourglasses. Inside their translucent crystal shells, white sand slowly flowed through the narrow necks, making a faint rustling sound.
Su Cheng looked at them carefully. "Are you a believer of the Lord of Time?"
Kurt shook his head slightly. "I just want to remind myself that the law of the passage of time is the most unshakeable—"
Su Cheng blinked. "If you were His Blessed, you could shake it, you know that, right?"
Kurt: "..."
He looked like he wanted to punch her a little.
Kurt: "I know, but I am not. After all, I have nothing I want to undo."
Su Cheng was a bit surprised. "Undo?"
"I know some members of the Sand Oath Society, including Blessed of the God of Time. Those people often have a strong obsession with a certain past, inwardly longing to return to a specific moment to make a change—"
He stopped walking, seemingly not intending to accompany her any further. After a polite farewell, he walked straight into an adjacent study and shut the door behind him.
Su Cheng stood in the hall that led in all directions, thought for a few seconds, and decided to head north.
She walked to the end of the long corridor and pushed open the glass door. A warm and moist breath blew against her face. Outside was a greenhouse made of black iron frames and crystal wall blocks.
The smell of damp earth, the fragrance of flowers, and the scent of rotting fallen leaves mixed together. Giant umbrella-like ferns stretched their emerald leaves, orchids wrapped around dead wood and hung down, and from the top of an artificial hill made of volcanic rock, clear water trickled down, flowing into a shallow pool below where magnificent aquatic plants grew.
Su Cheng stood in this vibrant greenhouse, feeling the wildness and vitality exuded by those magical plants. However, they were confined within this framework of crystal and steel; no matter how freely they grew, they would not cross the boundaries.
She reached out to touch a plant that looked exactly like a mimosa. The curled leaves gently wrapped around her fingers, clinging to them reluctantly.
Su Cheng: "...Is the Chief Justice a Blessed of the God of Abundance?"
These magical plants were growing too well, especially since some of the varieties had extremely harsh environmental requirements that could not be solved by a mere greenhouse.
And their condition was so active.
"Hard to imagine, right?"
A soft chuckle came from behind.
It was that familiar yet unfamiliar voice again.
"That Mr. Kurt pursues order, but this cruel world can hardly satisfy his desires—"
The low, melodious voice drew closer. "So he chose the existence closest to order that mortals can touch: the law. Through coercion, universality, and logic, he attempts to build a controllable framework within the chaos..."
"So," Su Cheng sighed with emotion, "the God of Abundance's mortal enemy is the God of Plague, right? That assassin today wasn't standing up against injustice for anyone at all; it was entirely just infighting among the Blessed."
The sound of clapping echoed from the side.
"Darling, you are truly sharp—" Someone approached from the side and intimately wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "So, are you interested in truly joining this game?"
Su Cheng turned her head to look at him.
The young man with black hair and purple eyes tilted his head with a smile, meeting her gaze with a gentle expression.
That handsome and bewitching face set among the flowers, amidst the dreamy, nebula-like deep blue phalaenopsis orchids, appeared even more like an illusory beauty from a dream.
He seemed to be in a male avatar now, dressed like a noble at home, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a flat, lean chest.
Su Cheng: "...Are you asking if I want to become a god?"
He blinked, a smile blooming in those soul-stealing purple eyes. "And what are your thoughts?"
Su Cheng hesitated to speak, "Be more specific, what exactly should be done?"
"It's very simple," he said with a smile. "Find those authorities that haven't been bound yet, understand them, and merge with them. I will help you."
Su Cheng looked at him thoughtfully.
If she had traveled back to the past, then given her strength, it wasn't surprising for an ancient god to issue an invitation to godhood.
But she always felt that something was wrong.
Su Cheng: "If I want to become a god of darkness, do I have to snatch this power from the Chaos Dragon King—"
"No, darling, Caecilius is darkness and chaos itself. You don't need to snatch it, and you cannot snatch it—"
He spoke in a light and cheerful tone, "There can be connections between authorities, just like Euphoria and Her master, Galmos and His teacher."
Su Cheng: "...If I want to become a god of darkness, and I don't want the chaos part, I want to control a kind of power that can resist the light and reversely destroy life."
He didn't look surprised either. "Then go and defeat Him. In this process, you will comprehend the rules you desire from Him."
Su Cheng sighed softly.
It seemed this was the reason Elin went to duel with the version 1.0 commander.
But considering this battle wasn't one-on-one, there were obviously other issues.
"So," the God of Illusion looked at her with a smile, "did you get the answer you wanted?"
"...Actually," Su Cheng crossed her arms, "no. Once, I asked you for your name, and you didn't give it to me. You said next time we meet. Now we have met."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Once?"
Su Cheng rolled her eyes. "Yes, that happened in my past. So to me, now is our reunion, it is the next time. As for you possibly not remembering, that's your problem."
She spoke with an imposing confidence, despite her skewed logic.
The Ancient God before her seemed amused by her words. "Ah, my dear, time does love to toy with people's perceptions. But to me, every encounter is truly unique—"
Su Cheng puffed out her cheeks. "Don't try to coax me. You don't remember me at all. Or just tell the truth: what exactly have you and Logos planned? Why are you going around selling people on the idea of becoming gods?"
"The two of them and I have different views on many issues," he said thoughtfully. "Essentially, they want to complete their project. I, on the other hand, am probably just a bit tired and want to change to a different playground."
Su Cheng: "?"
Su Cheng: "What do you mean? You want to dump this mess onto someone else?"
"You can't exactly put it that way," he said calmly. "They desire power and authority, so let them have what they wish for. When the time comes, they will realize that not every stairway leads to heaven. What those standing at the peak see is not eternal bliss, but the shadow of the end and the countdown to the silence of all things. Isn't that quite fascinating?"
"Oh," Su Cheng nodded in understanding. "So, essentially, you still just want more people to share the burden of this mess."
The God of Illusions gave her an unfathomable smile, then vanished from the warm, cozy greenhouse.
Su Cheng teleported away without hesitation.
Her intended destination was the Southern Continent. Theoretically, this was the longest teleportation possible—from the Silver Moon Empire to the Crimson Sun Empire—but it went unexpectedly smoothly.
Standing once again at the entrance of the library in Greenpine City, several guards saw her appear out of thin air. A look of awe and fear crossed their faces as they bowed respectfully.
Inside, a group of mages walked out, chatting and laughing. The ones leading the group were quite elderly, their bodies radiating abundant and stable magical energy.
A blonde youth was among them. His handsome face bore a gentle expression, and he nodded in agreement from time to time. He seemed to be getting along with them perfectly.
His long, pointed ears were hidden, making him look almost identical to an ordinary human, save for his exceedingly beautiful face.
"...Su Cheng?"
Ian turned his head and saw his old friend.
Su Cheng waved at him.
The mages couldn't help but size her up as well. One of them stroked his beard and nodded. "Your friends are also quite outstanding, young Mr. Gromell."
The man wore a Grand Magus insignia on his chest, along with a highly intricate embroidered pine tree motif, which seemed to symbolize a certain academy.
Ian stepped out from the group, and Su Cheng pulled him to the side, looking him up and down.
The half-elf still possessed his handsome and radiant appearance. He had shed his light hunting leather armor and changed into an ivory-white, floor-length robe.
The satin fabric of the garment was smooth and lustrous. The collar and cuffs were adorned with pine tree patterns, and his slender waist was neatly accentuated by a jewel-studded belt.
He also wore a gilded academy badge on his chest. The brand-new leather boots peeking out from the hem of his robes were decorated with gold ornaments. From head to toe, he exuded an air of luxury.
"...You're back," the blonde youth said, looking down at her. "But I'm guessing you won't stay."
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow. "We will meet again, trust me."
"Yes," his eyes flickered, and then he gazed at her earnestly, breaking into a smile. "I have a plan—"
Ian gently raised his hands and held her shoulders. His movements were very slow, as if giving her plenty of time to step back.
Su Cheng stood completely still.
This seemed to give him more confidence, so he reached out, wrapped an arm around the back of her neck, and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
"...I will become a god, too."
He rested his chin on the top of her head, his gaze falling upon the clear sky outside the library. A brilliant golden morning sun hung high in the heavens, shedding its blazing radiance.
"...The strongest one. Even the Dragon race will fear me. But humanity will love me, because they always find it so hard to see the truth of things."
"Alright." Su Cheng let out a long sigh. "I'm guessing some people must have pointed the way for you. If I throw cold water on this now, it might seem like I'm ruining your dreams—"
"No," he held her closer, the fingers pressing against the back of the girl's neck tightening slightly. "I believe He harbors ill intentions."
"Hmm?"
"...Am I really that stupid?"
Ian let her go slightly and looked down at her, a smile surfacing in those golden eyes. "How could I completely trust the Lord of Illusions? I can tell He has ulterior motives. But unseen despair is merely a phantom; only by failing to grasp power does one fall into the abyss. I will seize everything they have, until I make them look up to me."
Su Cheng: "..."
Su Cheng: "Have you chosen your authority?"
Ian looked up at the sky in silence.
Su Cheng: "?"
It was a known fact that the Sun God only ever manifested in female avatars, which meant that before ascending to godhood, they were highly likely to have been a woman.
So what was he looking at?
Su Cheng: "Holy crap!"
Su Cheng grabbed the blonde youth by his collar. "It really is you!"
Ian was completely stunned. "What?"
Just as Su Cheng was about to speak, the entire world suddenly shook violently. Everything grew dim and then began to shatter.
Her vision went black.
Then came the scorching, scorched dust, violently flooding her nasal passages and rudely awakening the slumbering person.
"..."
Su Cheng opened her eyes amidst the shattered bricks and stones. She saw dust filling the sky, illuminated by the light of dawn, weaving a light, floating curtain in the air.
Beside her, a massive temple forged from snow-white jade and inlaid with countless gold ornaments had mostly collapsed. Only a ruined outer wall and broken stone pillars remained, still standing beneath the hazy daylight.
She looked around. As far as her eyes could see, pitch-black flames were burning.
And further away, from the temple grounds out to the streets, the smooth, white stone ground was pierced by a massive scar—
A terrifying, bottomless slash trench that was dozens of meters wide!
It began at a breach in the distant city wall, savagely and straightly tearing through the earth. It severed the plaza and the commercial streets, splitting countless magnificent halls right down the middle.
It finally extended to just a short distance from her feet before coming to a halt.
On the ground on both sides of that massive, deep trench, everything from building rubble to deity statues had been burned completely clean by the black flames, leaving almost no trace behind.
Su Cheng heard screams coming from afar, along with the sounds of crowds running in panic. More magical energy surged like a tide, and the golden radiance of holy arts continuously lit up amidst the ruins.
She stood at the end of that scorched rift, looking at the ruins beneath her feet and listening to the chaotic commotion of war and panic.
—This was the Holy City of the Church.
Theoretically, she had been traveling here just a short while ago. But thinking about it now, it felt as though many years had passed, perhaps because she had stayed in the Echo Plane for so long.
Su Cheng was fully awake now.
She recalled everything about the Divine Grace Trials, both the first and the second times, and many clues were already beginning to connect in her mind.
For instance, the God of Purity had once been chosen by the God of Time.
That was why his magical talent was so terrible, yet he was still able to become a top-tier powerhouse who mastered both magic and martial arts—at least, by human standards.
And then there were the pasts of those deities.
The Ancient God she encountered in the Echo Plane was probably also a memory fragment, which was why the God of Illusions didn't recognize her and had even invited her to ascend to godhood.
A shadow fell from her side.
Su Cheng turned her head.
Ian stood beside her, looking at her.
—Now, he was the fully mature version.
Curly hair like a river of gold cascaded down his back. Even amidst the smog and haze of the ruins, that excessively beautiful face remained so exquisite it made the heart skip a beat.
Su Cheng crossed her arms. "...I don't want to talk to you right now, Lord God of Light."
He hesitated, then said, "I just wanted to tell you—"
A stream of fire forged from black flames shot straight at him, cutting off his unspoken words.
The power of the natural laws contained within that fire was unimaginable; even he had to retreat and evade it.
"Didn't you hear what she said?"
Someone walked out from the dust and smoke. His steps were steady and unhurried, possessing an agility that belied his towering physique, making almost no sound at all.
He stood amidst the ruins, his raven-black curls whipped up by the wind, revealing a handsome, chiseled face.
His titan-like frame was corded with muscles as hard as steel. Every inch of his half-bared chest and abdomen was as flawlessly sculpted as a masterpiece.
The dark-haired man watched them quietly. His cold golden eyes, featuring black vertical slits, pierced through the drifting dust and landed squarely on her face.
Su Cheng threw herself at him without hesitation.
He opened his arms and caught her in a tight embrace.
