Chapter 1134
Great Sin: Alistair of Desire
“—Flame Heavenly Envoy?” Sherlock reacted.
Aivass hadn’t mentioned the Dwarves, and he had almost forgotten about them. Although there were scattered Dwarves in places like Avalon and Iris Flower, most of them were still in the Northern Mountain Range, isolated and enduring the harsh cold. Only the Frost Giants accompanied them in their mining.
The Dwarves had been cut off from the world for hundreds of years, and no one knew what they were concocting these days.
Sherlock had only learned from Aivass that… they seemed to be carrying out a “Man-made Pillar God” plan. They wanted to elevate the Flame Heavenly Envoy they worshipped to the position of a Pillar God.
“—Under these circumstances, they would pull down the Flame Heavenly Envoy?”
Sherlock frowned deeply. “This is illogical. The abnormal, large-scale fall of Heavenly Envoys clearly signifies a major event… The world’s chaos is most likely to trigger a change in Pillar Gods. If I were a Dwarf, I would try my best to protect the Flame Heavenly Envoy in such a situation.”
“That’s assuming the Dwarves are as intelligent as you are.”
Aivass shook his head. “The Flame Heavenly Envoy is one of the very few—or rather, the only Heavenly Envoy who doesn’t live with the Candlemaster—in the Path of Devotion. She actually doesn’t agree with the theory of devotion…”
He then recounted the secrets between Heavenly Envoys and Pillar Gods to Sherlock.
Of course, this wasn’t exactly a secret… Even the Flame Heavenly Envoy herself deeply respected the Candlemaster; it was merely a difference in their understanding of the Origin River.
The incantation to summon the Flame Heavenly Envoy was “Heavenly Envoy of Burning Iron and Melting Steel, Heavenly Envoy of Crucible and Furnace,” with no mention of “for others.” The Flame Heavenly Envoy was gradually transforming her domain towards “Mechanical Heavenly Envoy.” If she succeeded, she would undoubtedly be the most likely candidate to succeed the Candlemaster.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that domains like “Factory,” “Machinery,” “Production,” and “War” are closer to the requirements of the Origin River of Civilization than “Devotion.” Mutual help is a form of civilization, and technological iteration is also a form of civilization. Furthermore, with the development of the world, technological progress is unstoppable.
Based on the Flame Heavenly Envoy’s theoretical system, the Path of Devotion itself obstructed the evolution of civilization.
This was because the Path of Devotion only offered help but no elimination.
The Flame Heavenly Envoy’s theory was very comprehensive.
It was close to the Path of Authority and Path Adaptation, and it also touched upon the Origin River of Creation—emphasizing survival of the fittest while also explaining how to become the “fittest.” War was also a facet of civilization, an unavoidable part of civilization’s self-dissolution and self-renewal, much like how animals need to excrete. As technology advanced and productivity increased, the proportion of individuals who were weaker naturally decreased within the concept of “civilization.”
—Just as factory automation supplants the place of artisans in civilization. The more powerful the machinery, the more it weakens the value and meaning of “devotion,” “groups,” and “others.” With further automation and unmanned operation, even the “human” element might eventually become unnecessary.
It was precisely because of this that the Flame Heavenly Envoy remained at the Heavenly Envoy realm, never reaching the Pillar God level.
She was incredibly close to the position of Pillar God… yet moving further seemed to distance her from the Origin River. The core of civilization was production and technology, but when this concept was strengthened to a certain extent, the power of “civilization” would, in turn, rapidly decline.
For this reason, the Flame Heavenly Envoy stopped at this point, halted her progress, and began to reflect on where she had gone wrong.
“But the Dwarves can’t wait any longer,” Aivass said sarcastically. “The world is in chaos now, and they can’t help themselves.
“—Because there’s another situation here. Many of the Dwarves pursue trades in the ‘Blacksmith’ profession. If the Flame Heavenly Envoy were to be vanquished like the Fallen Heavenly Envoy and the Blood Heavenly Envoy, causing the energy level of the Path of Devotion to rise… it would mean their own energy levels could be improved.
“And if the Flame Heavenly Envoy could communicate amicably, it would also greatly enhance their technology; there’s also the most crucial secret…”
Aivass looked at the Heavenly Envoy Fragment in his hand. “That is the Heavenly Envoy Fragment.
“Under normal circumstances, outside of the Ouroboros Ring, it’s practically impossible to obtain this from the Material Realm. Only unparalleled geniuses might resonate with a trace of law within the Origin River of the Dream Realm and thus gain the favor of a Heavenly Envoy Fragment… Of course, we all know that this ‘genius’ is just flattery. The real way to obtain a Heavenly Envoy Fragment is actually very simple.”
“—Luck.”
Sherlock also knew that answer. “Other methods merely maximize the element of luck. Even the strongest souls might still fail to gain the favor of a Heavenly Envoy Fragment… Just as the Bear Heavenly Envoy had to plunder Heavenly Envoy Fragments herself back then. If talent were sufficient to obtain a Heavenly Envoy Fragment, then the Bear Heavenly Envoy, as the reincarnation of Supreme Heaven, should have become a Heavenly Envoy upon entering the Dream Realm.”
“Yes, plunder…”
Aivass narrowed his eyes. “Exactly. And for the Dwarves, if the Flame Heavenly Envoy refuses to yield…
“…They can simply take her place, use this Heavenly Envoy Fragment to forge a Heavenly Envoy that truly belongs to the Dwarves, and thus fulfill their racial mission.
“In any case… even if they don’t summon the Flame Heavenly Envoy, others will. Once the Flame Heavenly Envoy dies at the hands of someone else, their plan will be completely ruined.”
In the original timeline, it was because the Shadow Heavenly Envoy rampaged in Avalon that the Church, in its desperation, summoned the Candlemaster. However, in this world, such a thing was clearly impossible.
The descent of the Geometric Heavenly Envoy and the Flame Heavenly Envoy were both inevitable. It was only a matter of when.
“It’s the same for Anxi,” Aivass said, recalling the letter he received, a faint smile playing on his lips. “The Lord is the one who signed a contract with the Abyss Heavenly Envoy. Although there was also a part of the Path of Balance, Transcendent Path, or Path of Love, etc… the proportion of the Twilight Path among them was 100%.
“Now that the Transcendent Path and Path of Love have removed their upper limits, chaos is coming. Some cities have their own Sixth Tier, while others do not. So, when do you think they will pull down the Abyss Heavenly Envoy?”
“When the cities without a Sixth Tier can no longer defend themselves,” Sherlock replied nonchalantly. “That’s why I say… the world is about to descend into chaos.”
Such a degree of deduction didn’t even require him to exert his brain.
“Are we still going to Anxi then?” Isabel asked with some concern.
“Yes, why wouldn’t we,” Aivass replied with a smile. “I have Viness and Alistair…”
As he spoke, Aivass brought the Great Sin Card where Alistair was residing into contact with the Heavenly Envoy Fragment.
“—What do I have to be afraid of?”
The moment the two touched, they both erupted with dazzling crimson light.
That transparent, diamond-like card, originally embellished with a fox’s head in blood-red ink… now transformed into a picture, depicting Alistair’s appearance.
Immediately after, Alistair manifested.
Unlike Viness, who had matured, Alistair had become even younger.
New text then began to be branded onto the system, word by word, like an electric weld—not appearing, but being created.
[Great Sin: Alistair of Desire (Priestess, Universe)]
[Rank: 51]
[Path of Love, Attribute: Water]
[Positive Summoning · Sacred Blood Baptism]
[Cost: Water 5]
[Instant, Self, Continuous Effect]
[Effect: Control any amount of your own blood to leave your body and sanctify it into Sacred Blood. If it lands on any material, it can temporarily or permanently bestow life; if attached to any life, it can temporarily or permanently bestow strength]
[Reverse Summoning · Alistair]
[Cost: Water 5]
[Maintenance: Water 5 * Daily]
[Action, Summon]
[Effect: Summon the Beast of Lust · Alistair to fight for you. Alistair is considered a summoned creature; in non-combat states, the Beast of Lust · Alistair can transform into a Perfect Being and enter a follower state. Only one Beast of Sin can exist at a time]
[Authority: Creation · Bloodline Descendant, Desire · Mind Reconstruction]
