Chapter 319
by post_apiChapter 319: Journey to the Divine Kingdom
Aurora stood frozen, her eyes fixated on the sight before her. She whispered softly, her voice trembling with emotion.
“In the books I have read, these scenes… and this symbol before me… they match exactly. How could I possibly forget?”
She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
“I will never forget.”
Bitterness and pain etched her face. As the former saintess of the Heavenly God Church, who knew every scripture by heart, how could she not recognize the divine kingdom? The very place described as unified and whole in the sacred texts now lay fragmented, reduced to countless floating islands by an unimaginable force.
The divine kingdom was destroyed.
Her heart sank as the realization hit her. For years, her prayers had gone unanswered. The world’s descent into chaos and His Majesty, the Light God’s silence, now made sense.
Aurora’s sharp mind pieced together the implications swiftly, yet her emotions grew heavier.
Where had His Majesty, the Light God, gone?
A chilling thought surfaced: Had the Light God fallen? Instinctively, she pushed the idea away. It was unbearable to consider, even if it seemed plausible. To Aurora, the Light God was the pinnacle of goodness, her eternal guide. Without His divine prophecy, her life as an orphan would have been bleak. The church had given her a home and purpose, shaped her beliefs, and saved her from despair.
Even though the earthly church had rotted from within, even though the Pope’s deeds had sullied its reputation, Aurora’s faith in the Light God had remained unshaken. Yet now, standing amidst the ruins, despair loomed over her for the first time.
She exhaled deeply and closed her eyes, trying to center herself.
The Light God may not have fallen. Even if He has, divine beings can be reborn. The gods are immortal.
Mu Ling observed Aurora in silence, her empathic abilities sensing the storm within the saintess. Unsure how to comfort her, she reached out telepathically to Maryse.
[This place is sacred to her, and her faith runs deep. We must tread carefully.]
Breaking the silence, Mu Ling spoke gently.
“Don’t dwell on it too much for now. Let’s continue exploring. Perhaps your god has merely stepped away temporarily.”
Aurora forced a faint smile, nodding in agreement.
“You’re right. Maybe I’m overthinking. He could have left after a great battle… Let’s move forward.”
I must guard my heart against despair.
The three women continued their search within the sprawling ruins. Vast and eerily empty, the palace whispered of its former grandeur. Aurora explained as they wandered:
“His Majesty, the Light God, is described as a platinum giant, so naturally, His palace would be vast. What we see here is likely just a fragment of its original glory.”
Hours passed, yet they found little of substance. The silence was broken when they arrived at a scorched expanse of land shrouded in flames.
“Be careful,” Mu Ling warned, stepping ahead cautiously. “This is hellfire. Touching it can burn your soul.”
Aurora stared at the flames, her brow furrowing.
“Could this realm have been attacked by the rulers of hell? The Four Pillars of Supremacy or even the Ultimate Demon?”
Her words hung heavy in the air. Hell, a constant across the multiverse, was an enigmatic and dangerous realm. Its legends spoke of relentless demons and catastrophic forces. The Four Pillars of Supremacy, demonic lords surpassing even high-ranking deities, were nightmares in myth. The Ultimate Demon, a calamity born of despair and destruction, was no less terrifying.
The idea that such entities
might have waged war against
the divine kingdom left them
shaken. Yet the truth eluded
them, hidden amidst the chaos
and ruin.
After further exploration, they
stumbled upon a peculiar
bronze pool. Mu Ling reeled it
up with her enchanted chains.
Within its pristine water rested
two flaming Demon Eyes, their
heat undiminished even by the
pool’s sacred essence.
“It’s Purified Water,” Aurora
whispered in awe. “Said to
cleanse the soul of all
impurities… but I’ve never seen
it in the real world, only in His
Majesty’s divine realm.”
The moment Mu Ling touched
the pool, both the water and
the Demon Eyes disappeared,
transported to some unknown
location. Startled but
undeterred, the trio pressed
onward.
Their journey led them to an
immense cloud island where a
colossal thunder dragon lay
chained. Hundreds of meters
long, it writhed in rage, its
movements causing the
ground to tremble. Lightning
flickered through the air, a
testament to its immense
power.
The dragon roared, gathering
lightning in its mouth. Yet as
the trio approached, its
hostility wavered. Its roar
turned into a deep, almost
pleading sound.
Maryse tilted her head,
listening intently.
“It says it will reward us if we
set it free.”
Despite their hesitation,
Maryse convinced the others
to trust her judgment. With
precise strikes, she destroyed
the enchantments binding the
dragon.
Freed at last, the thunder
dragon soared into the skies
with a triumphant roar. Before
departing, it dropped a
massive lightning sword, its
energy radiating an
otherworldly power.
As they continued their
exploration, Aurora’s heart
remained heavy. The
destruction of the divine
kingdom, the remnants of
hellfire, and the chained
dragon all pointed to a greater
mystery.
Bai Yan, watching silently from
afar, held the black crystal relic
in his hand, murmuring to
himself.
“The ruins of the divine
kingdom… What secrets do
they hold?”
He activated the relic,
preparing for the next stage of
the journey.