CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 4 IT TURNS OUT I’M THE CLOWN_1

"What’s going on?"

"The altar is actually glowing?"

"Is this some kind of illusion?"

"The patterns on the altar have come to life; am I seeing things?"

One martial artist after another looked at the altar in bewildered awe, their trembling voices betraying the fear and unease in their hearts.

This doesn’t seem to be an illusion, Feng Qingyang’s expression froze. As a powerful Innate cultivator, his senses were incredibly sharp. As the patterns lit up, he faintly perceived an indescribable, majestic force emanating from the altar. This force was indescribable, unportrayable, elusive, and unfathomable. Could there really be a Divine Spirit?

Could there really be a Divine Spirit? DongFang Bai’s beautiful large eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed firmly on the altar.

MOO.

ROAR.

As everyone watched in horror, the sacrificial animals on the altar broke free from their bindings, issuing sharp roars. One by one, the animals soared into the sky, crying out loudly, their bodies visibly and exponentially expanding. Endless divine light enveloped them as the sacrificial animals and grains underwent a tremendous transformation.

Oxen turned into divine oxen.

Horses turned into Heavenly Steeds.

Chickens transformed into Luanfengs.

The livestock all transformed into Divine Beasts.

The five grains transformed into Divine Valley, emitting a scent so refreshing it touched the core of one’s being, filled with boundless vitality and life. They had no doubt that a single bite could ward off all diseases and greatly increase one’s lifespan.

"Oh my gosh, this is a miracle, a true miracle!"

"The gods, they have truly appeared!"

"There really are gods!"

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Many collapsed to the ground, their eyes filled with both terror and excitement, continuously kowtowing towards the altar, praying for the God of Hongmeng’s forgiveness.

"How is this possible? Are there really gods in this world?" Feng Qingyang could no longer maintain his masterful composure. His eyes were wide with shock, his body trembled, and he struggled to keep himself from kneeling.

DongFang Bai’s face paled, utterly dismayed. This scene was beyond her imagination.

Suddenly, she thought of Yue Buqun’s sacrificed daughter.

Turning her gaze, she saw Yue Lingshan surrounded by all the Divine Beasts, clad in green, radiating divine light, akin to a Goddess descending from heaven, her divine might supreme. The dazzling light was so intense that even with her Innate cultivation level, she found it hard to look at directly, causing her eyes to ache. She had no doubt that at this moment, Yue Lingshan could kill her with a single glance.

Is this the might of a Divine Spirit? DongFang Bai felt her world turned upside down. Previously, she could have killed Yue Lingshan with one strike, but now she felt like an ant in comparison. This realization was a harsh blow, difficult for her to accept.

BOOM!

Suddenly, a clap of thunder roared across the sky, winds surged, and lightning struck with devastating force. The stars swayed, the earth quaked, and the Three Thousand Rules materialized, as if some grand existence was about to arrive.

Everyone instinctively looked up. Fear, reverence, and disquiet filled them.

An overwhelming celestial might suddenly poured down from the heavens, like an Ancient God Mountain bearing down. The pressure was terrifying.

All instantly knelt. Feng Qingyang and DongFang Bai also knelt. Under this celestial might, their vaunted martial arts seemed laughable, fragile, and powerless.

THUMP!

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

With the thunder, waves of Dao sounds descended, as if baptizing everyone’s souls. Fear dissipated. Terror ceased. It was as if returning to a mother’s embrace, as if seeing the warm sun on a winter day. Expressions of bliss appeared on their faces, satisfaction filling their hearts.

In the sky, petals of golden flowers scattered down, while golden lotuses sprang from the earth. Dragons and phoenixes sang harmoniously, and miraculous sights abounded.

In the hearts of all, an involuntary thought emerged: The Divine Spirit has descended.

They looked up.

A Golden Light Path stretched forth from the depths of the sky, appearing to stem from an unfathomably terrifying, unknown realm. They knew that was where the divine spirits dwelled. That was the exalted Divine Realm, the abode of the divine spirits.

A fairy in white rode a Luanfeng down the Golden Light Path, approaching under their astonished gaze. Her beauty was peerless, her elegance unmatched. In her presence, the world seemed dull and colorless. All were captivated by her, worshipping her.

Is this the God of Hongmeng? Feng Qingyang, DongFang Bai, and others felt perplexed. They had never imagined that the God of Hongmeng, the deity Yue Buqun sacrificed to, would be a goddess.

Yue Buqun, unlike the others, recognized her right away as You Ruo, who had been offered as a sacrifice by Xiong Ba, having learned from Ying Zheng’s precedent.

At this moment, he felt incredibly fortunate for having offered Yue Lingshan as a sacrifice. From now on, I, Elder Yue, also have connections in God’s kingdom!

You Ruo, riding the Luanfeng, hovered above the altar. Then, her slender and graceful form knelt towards God’s kingdom, hands raised high above her head. "I humbly beseech My God’s Divine Mandate!" she declared respectfully.

"What?"

Everyone’s eyes widened, their minds blank. My God! This peerless fairy, riding upon the divine Luanfeng, is actually just a servant? Then how majestic must the God of Hongmeng be!

As I thought! DongFang Bai had a sudden realization. The title ’God of Hongmeng’ doesn’t sound like a name for a goddess. And although You Ruo is much more powerful than Yue Lingshan, she doesn’t seem like the kind of great Divine Spirit who could easily elevate Yue Lingshan to such a formidable state. It makes sense if she’s a servant of the Divine Spirit. Yue Lingshan, having been sacrificed, must be a similar kind of servant.

"Granted!"

A grand voice came from the distant horizon, echoing through the starry sky, through eternity, and through their very souls.

Everyone, in a trance, saw an indescribable, magnificent entity. In the span of a breath, countless Ancient Universes were born, evolved, and destroyed. He seemed to be the center of the cosmos, The Sovereign of all creation. He was One. He was All. He was Everything.

So this is the God of Hongmeng, truly magnificent! No wonder even a divine messenger like a Nine Heavens Goddess is merely a handmaiden! Everyone felt as if awoken from a dream.

A Golden Command interwoven with the Path and Rule descended from the heavens, enveloped in purple mists, profound and unfathomable, landing in You Ruo’s palm. You Ruo held the Command in both hands and stood up. Her piercing gaze swept around, her divine might like a prison. No one dared to look directly at her.

"Hear the Divine Mandate of My God: the mortal Yue Buqun from the lower realm has rendered meritorious service in the sacrifice."

"Confer upon him the post of Divine Envoy of this world."

"Grant him Thousand Years Power and the Divine Skill—Sword Qi Rolling Dragon Wall."

"Grant Ning Zhongze a hundred years of power and everlasting youth."

"So decreed."

The majestic voice exploded in everyone’s minds, causing their hearts to tremble with envy and jealousy. The post of Divine Envoy! That meant being a messenger of the Divine Spirit. Who would dare to offend him? Not to mention the Thousand Years Power—Yue Buqun had become invincible. And that Divine Skill, bestowed by a Divine Spirit, must be extraordinary.

"Thank you, My God, for your divine grace!" Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze kowtowed in gratitude, their voices trembling.

The Golden Command descended from the sky. Yue Buqun respectfully received it with both hands. As the Golden Command touched his hands, he felt a delicate coolness. An indescribable power surged into his body, and Yue Buqun’s cultivation level soared at a rate visible to the naked eye: Innate, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, Supreme Grandmaster, Land of Immortal! His powerful aura spread out as he floated into the air, reverting to his youthful appearance, the Divine Spirit Mark shimmering on his forehead. He appeared noble, mysterious, and majestic.

At the same time, a stream of golden light from the Golden Command entered Ning Zhongze’s body. Ning Zhongze’s cultivation level immediately soared to the Peak of Grandmaster, and her appearance underwent a startling change. She, who had still possessed mature charm, now looked as if she had returned to her twenties.

In that moment, the older generation of martial artists seemed to see Ning Zhongze of Huashan from twenty years ago, then a peerless beauty. Their expressions were dazed as memories flashed before their eyes...

All the martial artists of the Jianghu were dumbstruck. Feeling Yue Buqun’s terrifying and suffocating aura, watching him and Ning Zhongze regain their youth, they were filled with shock, envy, and jealousy. They wished they could rush forward and take their place. Unfortunately, they knew it was futile. Never mind a Divine Envoy; even the current Ning Zhongze could suppress them all with one hand.

"Yue Buqun, see to it that you conduct yourself well and do not fail My God’s high hopes!" a leisurely voice drifted from the horizon.

Yue Buqun clasped his hands and bowed. "Thank you, Divine Envoy. Yue Buqun will certainly not fail My God’s high hopes! I will dedicate myself completely, until my dying day!"

You Ruo nodded, then, riding the Luanfeng, she flew back along the Golden Light Path into the depths of the starry sky. Yue Lingshan, all the Divine Beasts above the altar, and the Sacrifices followed her as if summoned, entering the firmament along the Golden Light Path and disappearing from view.

Peace returned to heaven and earth. Everything seemed like a dream.

Yue Buqun floated in midair, the Divine Spirit Mark on his forehead flickering as he surveyed the world below. He looked majestic and dominant. Ning Zhongze, rejuvenated and at the Peak of Grandmaster, also exuded an aura that suffocated everyone.

"My God is benevolent! With Shan’er Ascending God Country, I am also at ease!" Ning Zhongze was not overjoyed by her regained youth and great strength; instead, she was more concerned about Yue Lingshan.

"Junior Sister, you can rest assured," Yue Buqun comforted her. "Did you know? The Divine Envoy just now is the daughter of a Hegemon from another Martial Path world, who was sacrificed. Before that, she was just an ordinary martial artist!"

Seeing his rejuvenated Junior Sister and feeling the immense power within him, Yue Buqun’s once-dormant heart regained its vitality. He felt as vigorous as a dragon and as fierce as a tiger. Tonight, I’m going for ten rounds!

Thank you, My God! Yue Buqun felt immense gratitude, his devotion deepening, and his reverence and longing for the Divine Spirit’s power growing even stronger.

"My God is kind and virtuous! Thank you, My God!" Ning Zhongze felt even more reassured upon hearing this. It seems that reaching God’s kingdom is quite a good outcome.

On a distant mountaintop, Feng Qingyang staggered to his feet. Looking at the rejuvenated and spirited Yue Buqun, he felt a deep sense of irony. He had always looked down on Yue Buqun, considering him rotten wood that could not be carved. When he saw Yue Buqun performing the sacrifice, he had found it utterly disgraceful, like watching a buffoon, unbearable to behold. Yet... now...

Turns out I was the fool! Feng Qingyang gave a self-deprecating smile, seeming to age a decade in an instant. He staggered away towards Remorse Cliff, his figure desolate.

...