Chapter 462: Chapter 60: I Am Destiny (Part 2)
This was because Order possessed a will of its own. Even when its total power was far less than that of the Chaos Forces, it could completely suppress Chaos. And those beings who answered the call of the Supreme Heaven, ascended, and wielded the authority of Order were known as "Celestial Gods."
They were the apex of all Order Creatures. In essence, they were simply beings granted absolute power when destiny called for them.
This was also why the transformation before and after Ascension was so immense. It wasn’t just a leap in one’s level of existence; it was practically an ascension to a higher dimension.
When destiny required a Celestial God to be born, one would be born. Otherwise, no matter how brilliant or hardworking you were, you could only continue to climb the ranks of mortals. At most, you could reach the peak of the Legend rank. With a bit of luck, you might even achieve the status of a Demigod—but that was the absolute limit.
You could go this far, and no further.
Over time, mortals who realized this stopped pursuing Ascension. They accepted that the Celestial Gods were the true masters and contented themselves with the peace and harmony provided by the Celestial Blessing.
Someone with ambitions of godhood like Westheid hadn’t appeared in centuries. No wonder people were always surprised and then left speechless whenever he brought it up, even those closest to Duke Qinghui.
Westheid raised an eyebrow and said with a smile,
"I know all of this, but... don’t you think I’m the one chosen by fate?"
Before truly ascending, no one could know if they possessed the destiny for supreme godhood. Yet, Westheid was certain.
’I absolutely have it! It’s a given!’
’The main storyline of the Poem of Destiny is the Ascension of a new god, one who will end the turbulent era brought about by the Chaos Tide. And the defining trait of the person chosen by destiny is... [Heart and Soul’s Gift]. Since I have a Talent like that, there’s no doubt I’m the one who will ascend.’
He possessed this confidence and believed it with unwavering conviction.
As she met Westheid’s dark violet eyes, Anise’s initial disdain gave way to gravity.
She considered this seriously for a moment before nodding.
"Hmm... Now that you mention it, a new Celestial God is indeed needed to end this chaos. As things stand, you are the most likely candidate."
She mentally reviewed Westheid’s accomplishments. Among the Lands of Order, Duke Qinghui was already a renowned savior and a great Hero.
Standing before her now was the rebuilder of the Purity Forest, the Guardian of the Imperial Border, the Knight King of the Country of Yonglan, Duke Qinghui of the [Branch of Prosperity], the Demon Slayer, and the protector of the Thousand Laws Royal Court...
Aside from the Celestial Vault Kingdom, Westheid had already made his presence keenly felt throughout the Mortal Countries, becoming a Prominent figure in the world.
If anyone in this era was destined for greatness, Westheid was the perfect fit.
"So, help me. Once I become a Celestial God, no challenge will be too great, and any reward can be easily granted."
Westheid promised with a smile, his words heavy with the implication of the "merit of following the Dragon." ’Doesn’t she get how valuable it is to back the one who’s about to take the throne?!’
Anise said lightly, "I’m not asking for a Celestial God’s reward. Just try not to spawn a big one in the process."
Westheid froze for a second, then realized she was teasing him about the Ascension Ceremony separating off a Great Demon.
Duke Qinghui was not amused. He thumped his chest and frowned.
"Are you comparing me to [Emperor Qianlu]?"
"I, Westheid Qinghui, have spent my entire life accumulating virtue and doing good deeds! My conscience is clear! How could I possibly cast a shadow like that?!"
"...Fine, we’ll go with that. I learned a few things from my father that should be quite helpful to you."
Anise spread her hands. It didn’t matter to her anyway, as long as Westheid fulfilled his end of their contract.
With the help of two beings who were close to Demigods... (The Pure Holy Spirit’s actual power level didn’t quite match, but her rank was certainly there.) In any case, with their assistance, and after Ailorus finished completely imprinting the [Thousand Laws Ceremony] onto the Purity Forest, Westheid officially began his secluded training.
He focused on comprehending the miraculous circuits Emperor Qianlu had once inscribed, slowly converting them into circuits he himself could master.
The process was more time-consuming and laborious than he had imagined, but it wasn’t particularly difficult. After all, within the Purity Forest, Westheid had a complete home-field advantage, not to mention outside help. Even a complete dunce would have had no trouble mastering the techniques of the [Thousand Laws Ceremony]; it was only a matter of speed.
Before entering seclusion, Westheid didn’t forget to instruct his companions to set up defensive points within the Empire’s borders to guard against the possible return of the Dragon Group. Although it was uncertain if the Dragon Race would return, it was always wise to be prepared.
And so, the Qinghui Legion, which had only just begun its respite, set out for various parts of the Empire after a short period of recuperation. They joined forces with the Knight Legion, whose thirst for battle had not yet been slaked, and established fortresses and strongholds across the Empire. There, they rested and prepared for war, quietly awaiting their Monarch’s next summons.
..............
Several months later, deep within the Purity Forest, in a hidden place that no detector could find.
A vast and terrifying energy surged at the focal point of the ceremony. Surrounded by ancient altars and Techniques, a black-haired man in a long robe greedily breathed in the ambient Divine Power.
This Divinity, extracted from the [Thousand Laws Ceremony], was filtered by the Holy Spirit and the Demon before being infused into his body. There, it was subjected to a transformation and baptism by Wan Qi, allowing his body and soul to adapt to the ebb and flow of Divinity. Immersed in this process, he subconsciously mastered the necessary skills and techniques.
This was another reason for Westheid’s confidence in his climb to the Demigod Realm.
’I have so many amazing companions! Why work hard when you can just get carried by your friends?!’
BOOM—
After this long and methodical process had been repeated countless times, Westheid suddenly opened his eyes. A burst of Divine Energy shot forth, mirroring the joy in his gaze. He let out a long breath, and the Divinity that had been surging through the Purity Forest instantly fell silent.
"Yes! I did it!"
Westheid couldn’t help but exclaim as he felt a transcendent sensation wash over him, as if he were ascending to the heavens.
[Your Talent has changed due to a powerful influence.]
[Bright Radiance Manifested in the World]
[You have gained authority equivalent to a Holy Spirit. All conquered and ruled lands can be incorporated into the Purity Forest. You have gained the power to weave a legacy. All those who share your bloodline will be linked to one another.]
[Purity Forest Trait Modified — Demigod Domain]
[You can now deploy an Imaginary Space with the Purity Forest as its core.]
[The purest Holy Spirit Power has cleansed your body. May you be ever-victorious. May your beauty be pure and immortal. May your glory last for all time.]
[Spread the Light of Qinghui! One day, its radiance will outshine the blazing sun!]
’New effects had been added to the original [Bright Radiance Manifested in the World], completely changing its nature. If the previously evolved version was close to a Tier T0 Talent, then this one was now an undisputed Tier T0 Talent.’
’No, even that description doesn’t feel right. It’s wrong to simply assign it a tier. The Talent isn’t powerful on its own; rather, my own power is what has made it so strong!’
In terms of raw power, there isn’t a world of difference between a Demigod and a Legend. The key is the ability to utilize Divinity. A being at the Legendary Celestial Rank who can intercept and use the Divinity descending from the Supreme Heaven—that is a Demigod.
’From now on, I’m invincible in the Mortal World!’
Westheid was eager to share his joy, but the Pure Holy Spirit and the Demon Maiden beside him didn’t seem interested in listening. Both lay down, visibly relieved. The White-haired Holy Spirit curled up into a ball and fell asleep, while Anise managed to prop her cheek up on one hand and wave dismissively,
"Alright, alright, it’s finally over. We can rest now."
"Thank you for all your hard work."
Seeing this, Westheid didn’t press the matter. They had, after all, truly given it their all. If not for them tirelessly inscribing Techniques and regulating the Divinity, he wouldn’t have been promoted so easily, as if he’d been given a free pass.
’Excellent. For at least the next ten years, these two have immunity from any of my complaints!’
And with that, the broad-minded, magnanimous Duke Qinghui strode proudly out of the Purity Forest.
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