Chapter 205: The Gift
“To confirm it personally?” This was very much in line with Li Wen’s understanding of her own personality. Even when facing a deity, she had to see it with her own eyes to be sure that it was what she needed. And there was one thing she had always wanted to verify: whether the Path to Ending required the complete Original Text, or merely the knowledge contained within it. If it was the latter, then she wouldn’t need to obtain the Original Text; merely perusing it would be enough to meet the requirements for advancement. However, it was clear that given Li Wen’s memory loss last time and the fact that The Primordial Codex of Ending remained unchanged, she clearly needed the complete Original Text.
This was very troublesome. The only things that could be considered equal to the Original Text were the Original Text itself. Li Wen only possessed The Primordial Codex of Ending that fit this description; even Urd’s Sting was a step below. It was truly difficult for her to offer something of equal value to The Emerald Tablet in exchange for it as requested by “The Sun of Sustenance.”
“I truly do not possess anything equivalent to The Emerald Tablet,” Li Wen stated, meeting the gaze of the platinum eyes, her voice calm and firm. “But I can help you maintain the completeness of your divinity.”
The infant’s fingers, which had been drawing, paused slightly, and the Sea of Time rippled. She raised her head, the golden halo of her hair’s tips tracing delicate trajectories in the void. “Do you know what you are saying?” Her voice suddenly became ethereal, as if emanating from an immense distance. “Mortals who attempt to interfere with divinity will only be burned to ashes.”
Li Wen remained unmoved. “The method of sustenance for the Sunset Ritual is flawed. Those Silver Elves are burning their Spirituality to maintain the ritual; this kind of consumption is not sustainable.” The reason “The Sun of Sustenance” still had residual will was because, in a corner far from the Mortal Realm, a group of Silver Elves was using the Sunset Ritual as an anchor to sustain “The Sun of Sustenance.” However, this ritual was not a long-term solution; it had a significant flaw, even requiring a vast quantity of believers to continuously burn their Spirituality to maintain its progress. She recalled the elves in the monastery whose pupils flickered with golden flames—those flames were not blessings but a curse that slowly consumed life. Every Sunset Ritual meant more elves would become walking dead.
“ I can try to improve the ritual,” Li Wen continued. “At least to the point where it no longer requires a life as a price.”
The infant was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft laugh. The laugh was childish yet carried the unique ethereal quality of a deity, causing ripples to spread through the void. “Do you think mortal life can be compared to the Original Text?”
As her words fell, the Sea of Light in the void suddenly solidified. Countless star fragments, pierced by chains, froze above Li Wen’s head, each fragment reflecting a cross forged from blazing light. Li Wen could only be grateful that the deity’s transient form’s attitude was far gentler than she had anticipated; at least she hadn’t killed her on the spot, instead showing a willingness to listen to the words of an ant.
“Mortal life naturally cannot compare to the importance of the Original Text, but what about the life of a deity?” Li Wen spoke words that were both blasphemous and suicidal. “Even if you were stripped of your authority, dethroned by that Sage, your life damaged and your divinity lost, you still rely on rituals to maintain your existence. I presume there are things you cannot let go of, right? For example, the Silver Elves in that city, they are your last followers; or that Sage, the one who usurped your position, you must hate them, right?”
But the deity merely cast her a brief glance, with no other reaction. Her gaze seemed to penetrate Li Wen’s very soul, seeing through all her thoughts. “You want to anger me.” The infant’s voice echoed in the void, carrying a sense of ancientness that transcended time. “You are interesting,” she said, a faint glimmer flashing in her platinum eyes. “But your proposal is meaningless. I have already fallen; what remains are merely insignificant obsessions and phantoms. The rituals of those poor children are merely a futile attempt to cling to the last glimmer of a sunset that has long since faded.”
Li Wen tightened her grip on the rib bone in her hand, the runes on the knuckles growing hotter. She realized she had made a mistake—the deity before her was not intentionally using the Sunset Ritual to extend her own existence; it was an act initiated by the Silver Elves of their own volition.
“Then,” she adjusted her strategy, “what if I am willing to pay a price?”
The infant tilted her head, an action that made her resemble a true child. “A price?” she repeated softly. “Mortals are always fixated on transactions; Hermes was like that too. But what can you offer? Your Soul? Your memory? Or your insignificant life?”
Li Wen took a deep breath. “I can complete one task for you, anything.”
These words caused the Sea of Light in the void to suddenly boil. The infant stood up, her White Robe billowing in the void without any wind. She slowly walked towards Li Wen, each step causing ripples in the surrounding darkness. “Anything?” she stopped in front of Li Wen, lifting her childish face. “Including killing a Pillar God?”
Li Wen’s pupils constricted. This request far exceeded her expectations, but on second thought, this might be a continuation of her dealings with the “Impurities”—that being sealed within the Stone Egg probably wanted to use her to fight a certain Pillar God.
She remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, “As long as you give me The Emerald Tablet, I swear that once I have that strength, I will surely offer you that Pillar God’s blood.”
The deity chuckled, her voice like that of a young child who had found a fun and novel toy. “You dare to agree without even knowing who that Pillar God is? What if I asked you to kill the supreme God of Glor, how would you do it then?” That would be quite the filial impiety. Li Wen dared not respond. She was confident that if she could ascend to the position of the Twilight Pillar, she would be able to deal with any Pillar God, but not Glor.
“Besides, don’t let my current appearance deceive you; I am not a child, and I am not so easily fooled. What if you agree, and then you die?”
Li Wen remained silent; she didn’t have the audacity to deceive or fool a deity. “Ha, forget it. I’m not Hermes, I don’t play such wicked jokes.” It was clear that this deity indeed had a great opinion of the Sage. “I do desire to kill a Pillar God, but it’s not Glor, nor is it Hermes, but the being you call ‘Mother.’ I don’t need you to be the executioner; if the time comes, I hope you can assist, contributing your humble effort to the fall of that ‘Mother God.’ Only then can I hand The Emerald Tablet over to you.”
