CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 327: RE-GRAZING

"Time and space seemed to freeze."

"The incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ murmured ’Yernalor,’ falling briefly into a stupor. The fierce hostility it radiated moments ago dulled into a daze."

"Of course, you wouldn’t let this opportunity slip. As with the previous fate line, you first utilized the power of the ’Residual Ring of the King of Truth’ to alter the form of the ’Iron Blood Spear,’ and then used the ’Destiny Revelation’ to mislead the cognition of the ’Lord of Deception’s’ incarnation. By repeating this method, you successfully subdued this avatar of the ’Endless Abyss’ ruler, a Pillar being wielding the domain of ’Deception,’ and eradicated the manipulations orchestrated by the ’King of Nature.’"

"Once all this was accomplished,"

"your body rapidly retreated, maintaining a safe distance from the incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception.’"

"’How do you know that name...’ the incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ asked, its hostility retreating like a receding tide. The surrounding force of deception dissipated swiftly. Fixing its gaze on you, it tried to maintain composure, though its voice betrayed a note of doubt."

"Under normal circumstances, you’d likely flash a flamboyant smile and quip, ’Of course, you told me yourself,’"

"but with the ’Divine Descent Ceremony’ now irreversible and the ’King of Nature’ and ’Lord of Myriads’ brimming with malice as they eye everything, the situation is far too critical for such mind games. You cut straight to the point..."

"Drawing from your experience of the previous fate line, you briefly recounted the ’King of Nature’s’ conspiracy."

"The incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ was incredulous, murmuring, ’The ’Lord of Myriads’ has manifested on the Real World’s plane and is seeking to hunt down my true form? That would... they’ve gone mad, haven’t they?’"

"You spoke in a deep, steady tone: ’As hard as it is to believe, it is the truth.’"

"The incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ replied in a low voice: ’If you hadn’t spoken that name, I absolutely wouldn’t have believed something so absurd.’"

"After pausing briefly, the incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ asked again, ’Blaspheming Wizard, you’ve yet to say where you learned that name.’"

"Naturally, you wouldn’t disclose the truth. After all, this being is one of the rulers of the ’Endless Abyss,’ a Pillar representing ’Deception,’ and has even interfered in the events of the ’Day of Fallen.’ If it were to grasp the context, it might deduce that the ’fate line has been restarted.’"

"Realizing you had no intention of answering its query, the incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ didn’t press the matter further. In a grave tone, it said..."

"’You already have a plan, don’t you? What do you intend to do next?’"

"Truly worthy of a Pillar embodying ’Deception’—even an avatar carries such vast, perceptive prowess."

"You couldn’t help but marvel silently, though with urgency pressing down on you, you didn’t want to waste any more time. You promptly cut to the core, saying, ’Soon, I will leave and use the true name of the ’King of Nature’ to influence this Ancient God King who rules over the ’Radiant Kingdom.’ As for the ’Lord of Myriads,’ that’s up to you to handle.’

"’You plan to face the ’King of Nature’ alone? That’s a Pillar-level Old God!’"

"Even the incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’—for all its station—momentarily faltered at your words, suppressing disbelief as it remarked, ’If I’m not mistaken, you’re merely at the level of a ’Star Spirit.’’"

"’That’s not something your mighty self, the ’Lord of Deception,’ needs to concern yourself with. I have my ways.’

"Casually brushing off the query, you didn’t wait to see whether the ’Lord of Deception’ would actually cooperate. You invoked the power of the ’Spiritual Dragon,’ opening a path into the ’Spirit Ocean.’ With your physical form stepping inside, you disappeared from the Holy Land of the ’Seven-Colored Ancient God’s’ church."

"Faintly, you seemed to hear the ’Lord of Deception’ muttering near-rhythmical ravings... ’Destiny, is it?’

...

"The incarnation of the ’Lord of Deception’ did not stop the game character from leaving. Though it didn’t directly express its stance, it could be considered to have tacitly approved of cooperation."

"Yernalor?"

"What on earth could that name mean, to have earned the complete trust of the ’Lord of Deception’?"

"Yang Qizhou pondered for a moment, his gaze falling on ’Mr. Death.’ He casually asked, ’How’s the game character on your side doing?’"

"Completely unaware that he had already been killed on another fate line, Mr. Death lifted his ulcer-ridden hand to adjust his glasses, replying with a hint of smugness, ’Quite well, actually. Among the believers my game character controls, a fifth of them have already altered their prayers to recite the reverent name you provided. Strangely enough, there haven’t been any adverse effects whatsoever.’

"’A fifth, is it? Not bad.’

"Yang Qizhou seemed relatively satisfied."

"In truth, so long as even a single person chants the name, it would be enough to draw the attention of the ’Desolate Mother.’ The reason nothing bad had happened yet—or that there hadn’t been any sign of ’Divine Descent’—might be because this Pillar-level Old God ruling over the ’Desolate Land’ had sensed Asgard’s unpredictable schemes and was still holding back, watching."

"That, at least, counts as one card up your sleeve."

"’Lamp Holder, m-m-may I still be saved?’ Mr. Death’s anxious voice sounded as he instinctively adjusted his glasses again."

"Calling himself ’Mr. Death’ aside, this guy’s genuinely afraid of dying. Yang Qizhou thought for a moment and replied in an exaggerated tone, ’We’re talking about the power struggles of the highest-tier gods in the Old Land here. What my game character can achieve is quite limited.’

"In other words, nope—you’re doomed."

"Mr. Death’s face immediately fell, his entire demeanor deflating miserably."

"’But saving you is no big deal...’

"Yang Qizhou abruptly shifted his tone, causing the leader of the ’Death Cult’ to widen his eyes in disbelief, his face reddening dramatically as he coughed uncontrollably, utterly flustered."