Chapter 1221
The Remains of the Predecessors
This was what Grey had been busy with these past few days.
Eivass was not in Avalon at the moment, so he was unaware that the northern snow mountains had now turned into “Flame Mountain.” The Flame Heavenly Envoy had occupied the mountain as its king, demonized the dwarves’ terrifying factories, transformed the dwarves into Mechanical Dwarves, and controlled the entire production line, as well as all the machinery and military equipment produced by the dwarves.
The few surviving Frost Giants fled overnight, only to be almost annihilated by the spreading flames. Only a small number of dwarves and Frost Giants remained, huddled in the caves of the snow mountains.
Even though elves and dwarves were considered enemies, the situation had deteriorated to this extent, and they could no longer ignore it.
It was like how the Flame Demon had occupied the Silver and Tin Hall in another timeline—now, the entire Northern Mountain Range was occupied by the Flame Heavenly Envoy.
“An enemy of this magnitude is almost invincible. To fight against a deranged Flame Heavenly Envoy is no different from fighting an ancient empire that has obtained divine power, possesses high technology far beyond its era, and operates with a single will.”
Grey boasted in her letter: “But it’s different for me—the Flame Heavenly Envoy and I have a very good relationship. When I was still a Saintess Candidate, I often went to chat with the Flame Heavenly Envoy…
“If the Candlemaster is like a father, then the Flame Heavenly Envoy is like a mother. She always wielded a heavy hammer, and her attendants were either apprentices or assistants… yet she never had any friends.
“So the Flame Heavenly Envoy did not attack me, and I went to her side alone—if there had been anyone else, the situation might have become more troublesome. In order to prevent the world from being destroyed by the deranged Flame Heavenly Envoy, I tried my best to resolve her anger and hatred caused by being betrayed by her own kin.
“Before her ascension, the Flame Heavenly Envoy was a female dwarf. Although dwarves at that time might have been taller than current humans, after all, they were ‘dwarves’ compared to giants… and the current dwarves have degenerated to the point of being like Harpies, no longer the same race as the ancient dwarves. However, they do share the same ancestors.
“Being pulled down by the Ouroboros Ring ritual was inescapable, but even so, the Flame Heavenly Envoy did not directly attack these dwarves. She merely offered advice as a mentor, a master craftswoman, an ancient monarch, and a religious leader—her true anger stemmed from the dwarves’ attempt to kill her.
“The Flame Heavenly Envoy and the Rock Heavenly Envoy were the only two Heavenly Envoys of the ancient dwarves in the Dream Realm, and they were once husband and wife. The Flame Heavenly Envoy was the most loving Heavenly Envoy towards the dwarves—this was also the reason why the dwarves ultimately chose to pull her down. However, it was precisely because of this that the betrayal was particularly infuriating.
“Under my persuasion, the Flame Heavenly Envoy is no longer angry. I have thought of a way for her to resolve the Ouroboros Ring… just like the Silver Crown Dragon of the past, she will discard most of her power, carrying only a small portion of the Heavenly Envoy’s power, and be reborn as a mortal with extraordinary potential.
“I believe that since her path has reached its end—the more extreme this path becomes, the more it deviates from the Origin River of Civilization. It would be better to abandon those unnecessary things, and only then can she go further. Whether it’s the position of Pillar God or changing to a different Path altogether.
“From a rational standpoint, this is the best choice… It’s just that the Flame Heavenly Envoy’s extraordinary potential is insufficient, and she is still hesitating. I haven’t been able to convince her yet. I might need your help then, but if all goes well, it might not be necessary.”
—Is this the Eternal Pope?
Eivass was filled with reverence.
The biggest nepotist in the world, and possibly the most eloquent person in the world—she could even talk to a Heavenly Envoy pulled down by the Ouroboros Ring, and potentially even “talk the opponent to death” without firing a shot!
After explaining what she had been doing these past few days, Grey also revealed all the information about the Sin Thorns to Eivass without reservation: “Also, your guess was correct, Eivass… the Sin Thorns are indeed related to the pre-civilization. I don’t stop you from researching the Sin Thorns… but I hope you will give us a copy of your research results as well.
“Due to moral and religious restrictions, the giant tree does not allow elves to research the knowledge of the Sin Thorns. This belongs to the ‘Secrets of Creation’ and also the ‘Forbidden Secrets’.”
“… ‘Pre-civilization’?”
Eivass softly murmured, contemplating Grey’s words. After careful thought, he continued to read.
“The ‘Sin Thorns’ are the highest level of secret, even within the entire Church of the Nine Pillar Gods, and even within the entire Church State. Half of the Cardinals will never know about it in their lifetime, and the remaining Cardinals basically only know the general idea. Because if this secret were revealed, it could cause controversy regarding the image and perception of the Candlemaster, potentially leading to infighting and disintegration within the Church State… Only the Saintesses of each generation receive the complete inheritance. It is because you are not an elf that I dare to tell you this.
“Your previous judgment was correct. Before the Candlemaster burned the Sin Thorns, there was indeed another predecessor civilization in this World. However, they were completely exterminated due to the persecution of the Twilight Seeds.
“And among the myriad worlds, there is the River of the Dream Realm. Although the names for it differ across worlds, and the coverage and depth of the river vary… it is the same river that flows through countless worlds. The Candlemaster is one of the very few beings in the myriad worlds who possesses the ability of the ‘Dream Realm Boat’.
“Generally, each world has its own barrier to prevent outsiders from entering. But by then, the world had been ravaged by the Twilight Seeds, leaving only a massive hole in the sky—like an apple that had been gnawed by worms.
“This hole is the ‘Tenth Origin River’, and also the ‘Zeroth Origin River’. The Candlemaster entered this abandoned World through that very hole… and discovered the Sin Thorns. What happened next is not recorded. Your speculation that the ‘first Path of the Sun’ was formed by the ignited Sin Thorns is also not in the Saintesses’ inheritance… However, I think your reasoning is sound.
“However, although the Candlemaster did not tell us what happened afterward… She clearly informed us of the true identity of the Sin Thorns.
“—It is not a creation of the Predecessors, nor is it their technology. It is the Predecessors themselves.
“The Candlemaster believes that the Predecessors survived the final devour by the Twilight Seeds by transforming into the Sin Thorns… or perhaps they were the residue left after being completely consumed. These intertwined Sin Thorns are the new bodies formed by the intertwined individuals of a past civilization.
“Within the Sin Thorns, the knowledge, culture, and inheritance of the Predecessors are stored… The Sin Thorns are then burned, their ashes fall into the Origin River, and souls are born from the Origin River, filling the Earth.
“Our current appearance, race, culture, power, and social structure all come from the remnants of the Predecessors, shadows hidden within our souls. That’s why, although the Candlemaster is the God of Creation, her appearance is different from ours… because the Candlemaster is merely a friendly and diligent outsider, and we ourselves are the descendants of the Predecessors.
“—How can one desecrate the remains and bone ash of their ancestors?
“For this reason, the Candlemaster also does not allow us to burn the last piece of Sin Thorns. And Anxi is their ‘resting place’.”
