At that moment, Chu Xuanfeng radiated golden light.
The overwhelming power flowing through his body was beyond imagination.
He could see countless shackles breaking apart.
A dark mark within him shattered beneath the blooming golden lotus.
Was that... the mark of the underworld?
Suddenly, Chu Xuanfeng understood.
At last, the meaning behind the Eternal God's words became clear.
He had been living in the world of the dead all along.
This entire world was nothing more than a ruined graveyard.
A vast, silent cemetery.
In a sense, what the God had given him was nothing short of a new life.
The God had been too generous.
I only slew a few strange beasts, Chu Xuanfeng thought, and in return, He gave me all this.
The grace of the Eternal God was like the sea—
deep, boundless, immeasurable.
Chu Xuanfeng's faith solidified completely.
From this day forward, he would never waver again.
I must devote myself to repaying this kindness. Otherwise, I would be unworthy of His grace.
An old saying echoed in his mind:
"To hear the Tao in the morning—one can die at night without regret."
That was how he felt now.
He knelt on the ground, his forehead and arms pressed flat against the earth.
"Thanks be to the grace of my God.
I never understood my own insignificance until today.
The offerings I have sacrificed before were truly pitiful—
utterly unworthy of the blessings you have bestowed upon me.
It is shameful."
Liu Che chuckled softly.
"There is no need to feel inferior.
No need for sorrow."
"You are my envoy. You should face the world with your head held high—
proudly proclaiming the name of your God."
"There are still many enemies beneath this starry sky for you to overcome and grow stronger."
"Child... I will watch over you from the God Realm.
No one in this world can kill you—except me."
His figure gradually grew hazy.
Finally, He vanished into the heavens and earth.
But His voice resounded across the entire starry sky.
A divine proclamation to all shadow-level beings:
"This child is my divine envoy.
If you dare to harm him...
Come. Try."
The light that had pierced the starry sky slowly faded.
The cold, heavy atmosphere returned.
Only then did the people finally regain their senses.
God had left.
When He appeared, the sky had blazed with light.
The world itself had seemed to bend in reverence.
When He departed, it was like a wisp of dust—
silent, subtle, profound.
The God watches this world, they thought.
But even He mourns that no one remembers His name.
"All hail the God of Eternity!"
The voices of the humans at White Snake Ridge rose as one.
Their faces burned with fanatical devotion.
Their eyes reflected unwavering faith.
After the divine baptism, they realized—
their empty lives had possessed no meaning until now.
After all, none had ever imagined they were dead men walking.
Chu Xuanfeng rose from the ground and shot into the sky.
His divine aura spread across all of White Snake Ridge.
The wind danced around him.
Even the drifting clouds gathered at his command.
"From today onward, this place shall be a holy land for the Eternal Church."
"No matter the cost, we will build a temple here to commemorate the arrival of my God."
"The old ox shall be the Left Guardian. The Black Bull shall be the Right Guardian."
"And as for that brazen White Snake..."
His eyes grew cold.
"Damn it!"
Chu Xuanfeng struck with a single fist.
Flames engulfed the mountain peak.
The thousand-meter-high ridge melted into molten stone.
Even though the Eternal God disdained to strike personally—
He would not allow such defiance to go unpunished.
Everyone watching gasped in awe.
Is this the power granted by God?
It was terrifying.
The mighty White Snake, once thought unstoppable,
was obliterated along with the mountain itself.
What a fearsome display of divine might!
Standing atop the altar, Chu Xuanfeng looked down upon the gathered crowd.
"I don't care what faction you once belonged to.
But today, you have all been bathed in the grace of God.
From this day forward, you are all believers of the Eternal Church.
Henceforth, we are brothers and sisters.
We will spread the God of Eternity's name, conquer new lands, and expand our faith."
"If any of you refuse belief... you may go.
But you must return the blessings of God before you leave."
A chill swept through the crowd.
"Return God's blessings...?"
Everyone understood what that meant.
Death.
Who could not comprehend this?
The members of the three great organizations dropped to their knees and bowed.
"My Lord God—we are willing to spread the faith!"
"From this day forth, we renounce all past allegiances and beliefs.
Only the God of Eternity shall reside in our hearts."
"Please, Lord, enlighten us. We will follow the same path together."
One by one, the leaders and warriors of the three factions swore allegiance.
No one dared refuse.
Chu Xuanfeng smiled, pleased.
So what if we reside in a graveyard?
As long as we spread the faith and baptize living souls—
even if we are a legion of the dead, we can still rise and triumph over all!
"But... I must ask you all one thing."
"You keep speaking of surrender. But how should I trust you?"
His piercing gaze swept across the crowd.
The meditative doctrine of the Eternal Church was already imprinted in their minds.
If they chose, they could spread it to others in mere minutes using their communicators.
Faced with Chu Xuanfeng's naked killing intent, even Lin Neyi—once his lover—shuddered involuntarily.
His eyes were sharp as blades.
If anyone gave the wrong answer now... their head would surely fall.
"Chu Xuanfeng, what must we do to earn your trust?"
A gentle voice called out.
It was Lin Neyi. Despite the fear, she gathered her courage and stood under her clan's urging.
She was as graceful and pure as ever—
like a lotus blooming from mud, untouched and noble.
Chu Xuanfeng remained silent.
Instead, he raised a finger to the sky.
"You should not be asking me."
"You should ask yourselves."
"The God has given us new bodies.
How should we repay Him?"
"Do you believe there is no need to give anything in return?"
Silence gripped the crowd.
Everyone's eyes drifted toward the blood-red altar.
They couldn't deny it.
Just moments ago, many had thought exactly that—
that God's blessings were a free gift.
Now, hearing Chu Xuanfeng's words,
they were ashamed.
"But how could we possibly repay God?"
"Would He even notice our offerings?"
Lin Neyi opened her mouth but could not speak.
Return something?
What could they possibly offer that would matter to a god?
Sigh...
Seeing their bewildered faces, Chu Xuanfeng sighed with disappointment.
"Your vision and understanding are too shallow."
"Faith is not about material value.
It's about sincerity."
"Even a single flower or a blade of grass—
if offered with a willing heart—is meaningful."
"That is what I seek."
"If you only offer treasures valuable enough to impress the gods,
you are not offering sincerity—you are seeking to trade."
Realization dawned on the crowd.
So that was the answer.
A sincere heart.
That was what mattered.
Words alone were meaningless.
After all, no one could truly see into another's heart.
"Of course," Chu Xuanfeng added, "offering just any random flower or blade of grass won't suffice."
"Then... what should we offer?" someone asked nervously.
Chu Xuanfeng's lips curled into a strange smile.
The crowd instantly felt a chill.
They regretted asking that question.
"This is an excellent question."
"The world is reviving.
Rare exotic plants, mystical fruits, and alchemical herbs are valuable offerings."
"And even pure women are acceptable."
A beautiful young woman nearby, her delicate wings trembling on her back, shivered involuntarily.
She quickly noticed that many of those around her had turned their eyes in her direction.