Chapter 189: Believe Him or Believe Me, Who is Qin Shi Huang? (Three-in-one)
“I am very fond of you.”
If these words came from a beautiful Roman empress, Shaya would probably just feel flattered and reply, “Are you Roman too?”
But coming from this old monster, whose age was unknown, and whose gender, living or dead status, was uncertain, Shaya could only feel a chill crawl up his spine.
However, on the surface, he maintained an attitude of slight confusion and bewilderment.
After sensing the anomaly within the Lost Island beneath the Veil of Eternal Night, Shaya had pondered for a long time.
Should he enter the Lost Island, investigate its secrets, and even make contact with the source of the taboo?
After all, from all perspectives, the secrets hidden within the Lost Island were likely connected to the Creator of the Glorious Era.
And after actually entering the Lost Island and conducting numerous explorations, this guess of Shaya’s had been confirmed.
Although Shaya had encountered quite a few evil gods and demigods in Escarnia during the late Fourth and Third Eras.
In the battle where he returned to the Imperial Capital alone, Shaya had slain five or six demigod incarnations, and the title “God Slayer” had even begun to shift from gold towards red.
It was fortunate that the title could be freely removed and donned by Shaya; otherwise, he estimated that once he truly wore the title that came with a taunt against mythical creatures, he wouldn’t be able to get by in the First Era, and he would be hunted relentlessly by the half-mad mythical creatures currently wandering the mortal world wherever he went.
However, compared to all the evil gods and demigods Shaya had encountered before, that Sun God was an entirely different existence.
There were differences among deities, and the title of Creator alone was enough to explain everything.
According to his own words, before falling during the Great Calamity, he had contained his divinity at its peak state, his power already half a step beyond the realm of deities, on the verge of reaching a higher status that no one had ever touched.
Even after experiencing that Great Calamity, the Sun God’s state was undoubtedly very unstable. What remained on the Lost Island was perhaps only a sliver of the Creator’s residual power.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have created the Veil of Eternal Night to obscure the vision of other mythical creatures and hide the Lost Island from external detection.
But no matter how unstable his state was, interacting with an existence of that level would inevitably carry risks.
Yet, in the end, Shaya still chose to enter the Lost Island.
The reason of his Golden Elf Shī Jiang was only one aspect.
If the situation became truly untenable, Shaya would, even if it meant bearing the infamy of betraying his master and kidnapping an Elf maiden, and causing his Shī Jiang to misunderstand, forcibly take her away from the chaotic vortex of the Lost Island.
The more important reason was that Shaya had vaguely sensed a connection between the secrets within the Lost Island and certain signs in later eras.
For example, the Golden Dawn.
And also Hathaway’s future state of being unable to return to the Prime Material Plane, and the various anomalies appearing around him.
Since the hidden dangers and secrets within the Lost Island already existed, pretending to be a turtle and ignoring them would not mean these dangers no longer existed.
Perhaps as long as he didn’t touch them, these hidden dangers would not erupt in the short term.
But what was bound to come would eventually come.
Escaping like an ostrich would never truly solve the problem.
Shaya was very satisfied with his current life in the Fourth Era.
With the Cult suffering heavy losses, and the Oathbound Families and High-ranking nobles who always sought trouble either dead or crippled, he had finally attained the peaceful life he had dreamed of.
Ultimately, a man’s lifelong pursuits were nothing more than love and career.
As for love, there was no need to elaborate. Although it was still a long way from his initial dream of writing a “Guide to Evaluating Exotic Racial Customs,” and considering the power status and possessiveness of the tigresses in his family, it was highly likely that he would never complete it.
But overall, it could certainly be considered blissful.
And in his career, Shaya, with his identity as a Sword Holder, was truly second to none in the Empire.
Although there was an Empress above him, she was also his second wife.
In front of outsiders, Shaya would respectfully address her as Her Majesty the Empress. As for who was on top and who was on the bottom in their bedroom at night, that was another question.
Except for being somewhat drained every night, causing him to feel sore and weak in the mornings and occasionally needing to replenish his qi and blood, it could generally be called a double harvest in both love and career.
Therefore, Shaya would not allow anyone to disrupt his life.
Whether it was the resurgence of the Holy Sword and Holy Spear, or the various hints from the Quicksilver Snake, or even Hathaway’s predicament at the current node in time.
All undoubtedly indicated that the peaceful life of the Fourth Era would not continue indefinitely.
After the “Land of Calamity,” the rule of gods remaining silent and saints and angels no longer walking the world might also be broken.
The abnormal large-scale divine descent in the Imperial Capital was a prime example.
Therefore, rather than passively waiting for death, Shaya preferred to take the initiative.
And from this perspective—
The current Sun God, who was not in good condition and had to ensconce himself in a corner like the Lost Island, was undoubtedly the best opportunity to make contact and probe his true state.
Even if the situation turned out to be unfavorable, facing the Sun God, whose main body was still in slumber, Shaya still retained the means to escape.
These complex thoughts flashed through Shaya’s mind in an instant.
On the surface, Shaya raised his head with some confusion, “I don’t quite understand what you mean, Creator.”
His words carried a hint of bewilderment and doubt.
“If you are truly the great being who created the Glorious Era and ascended to the Throne of Heaven, then why do you need to merge with me?”
Shaya’s demeanor showed a trace of yearning for the Creator of the Glorious Era, and gratitude for His condescension in conversing with him.
But at the same time, it was mingled with a subtle hint of distrust, just enough for the other party to notice.
Doubt about why the Creator of the Glorious Era and the Sun God had ended up in this remote Lost Island.
After experiencing the baptism of two Historical Echoes, Shaya’s acting skills could be described as masterful, having cultivated the actor’s self-cultivation to its extreme.
Because he was worried that the remaining soul of the former Sun God might possess abilities like mind-reading or intuition due to his residual high status.
Therefore, before entering the Lost Island, Shaya had used “Tsukuyomi” to set up several different self-hypnosis and shallow personalities for himself in advance.
In other words, his current yearning for the Creator and his doubts about His status were entirely genuine and from the heart, and even if the fragmented Sun God truly possessed mind-reading abilities, he wouldn’t be able to detect the slightest flaw.
And the ancient will, suspected to be the Sun God, did not seem to care about Shaya’s attitude.
This was also quite normal. After all, if anyone suddenly received a text message on their phone saying, “I am Qin Shi Huang, give me 648 yuan to unseal me, and when I revive, I will rebuild the Great Qin Empire and appoint you as the Grand Marshal of the Army,” they would probably be suspicious.
It was just that in the First Era, humans didn’t have anywhere to download anti-fraud apps, otherwise Shaya would have wanted to reply, “Believe him or believe me, who is Qin Shi Huang?”
And it seemed that he was indeed very fond of Shaya, quite patient with him, or perhaps genuinely wanted to persuade Shaya.
The Elf legend, whose body was occupied by the Sun God’s will, merely glanced at Shaya before speaking indifferently again.
“Before the Glorious Era, there was actually another period of time.”
“It was an era of chaos and darkness, so mad that even written records were non-existent, a time when the world transitioned from disorder to order.”
“In that Chaotic Era, when the Prime Material Plane had just been opened, the scattered rule fragments on the Western Continent forged many extraordinary races.”
“Griffins, Krakens, Dire Wolves… and so on.”
“They gradually awakened wisdom amidst chaos and instinct, discovered writing, and from then on, recorded history was born…”
“Later, it was I who hunted those mythical creatures, gathered scattered divinity and authority, ascended to the Throne of Heaven, and began the journey of the Glorious Era.”
His words remained indifferent.
As if the story of the ancient Sun God’s rise from nothingness, slaying the many ancient gods that roamed the Western Continent during the Chaotic Era, and finally ascending to the Throne of Heaven—a story that could be described as epic—was merely a trivial matter.
“And in the mid-Glorious Era, when I discovered that haphazardly absorbing authority and divinity, and relying on quantity over quality, not only failed to advance me further but instead led me step by step towards disorder and collapse, I made my first attempt.”
“Giants, Ancient Dragons, Elves… among these Three Great Royal Courts…”
“Giants and Ancient Dragons were merely races I chose to bear my superfluous divinity.”
“And the sole reason they were chosen by me and established Royal Courts was that the physiques of these two extraordinary races were robust enough, and their strong individuals were sufficient to contain the most violent and disordered divinity.”
“But the Elf Race was different.”
“The Elf Race, although undoubtedly much stronger in racial talent than pure-blooded humans… compared to giants and ancient dragons, let alone extraordinary races like griffins, krakens, and dire wolves, they held no real advantage in terms of physical body, combat power, or lifespan.”
“The reason I chose them was simply because the Elf Race possessed the strongest spiritual inspiration among many extraordinary races.”
“Elves have an innate affinity for the Spirit World. Even low-level elves can occasionally sense the inner thoughts of others, and high-level elves can directly achieve revelation through spiritual intuition.”
“And the strongest spiritual inspiration—”
“Also means that the Elf Race is the best carrier for souls and spirits…”
“Or rather—”
“A vessel.”
When the indifferent voice of the Sun God echoed.
In Shaya’s mind, the faint mist lingering around the Lost Island finally dispersed in an instant, and everything became clear.
No wonder, among the Three Great Royal Courts of the Glorious Era, the Elf Royal Court had so many unique aspects compared to the Giants and Ancient Dragons.
After all, based on Shaya’s observations, the elves on the Lost Island, while it might be an exaggeration to call most of them useless trash—
Except for Hathaway, none of the remaining eight elders in the vast Council Hall had even reached the end of their Legendary stage, let alone qualified to impact the boundary of demigods or thrones.
From Shaya’s current perspective, it was indeed a bit lacking.
Compared to the Ancient Dragons, where each one started as a Legendary upon reaching adulthood and maturity, and some like Ye were even born as mythical beings, it was like a world of difference.
There was no reason why, with the powerful vitality of Ancient Dragons and Giants, their Royal Courts were completely annihilated into nothingness after the Great Calamity, their civilizations erased, with only a few bloodline remnants left… yet only the Elves survived and even retained a complete civilization on the Lost Island.
And now, it seemed that his teacher’s extraordinary spiritual intuition and the Elves’ seemingly favored status by the goddess of luck had found a complete explanation.
“Due to the specificity of the Elf Race, from the beginning, I did not simply use them as a dumping ground for uncontrolled divinity like the Ancient Dragons and Giants.”
“I subtly, using bloodlines as a mystical catalyst, incorporated the entire Elf race into my control with my divinity and status…”
“Including the Elf Kings who ruled the Royal Courts; no matter how they changed, they were actually my controlled avatars.”
“When the first attempt of the Three Great Royal Courts was confirmed to have failed irreversibly, I began to prepare for the subsequent steps.”
“The Lost Island was my second attempt.”
“According to my original plan, after detonating those excess disordered divinities and authorities, I would be able to transfer my spiritual power and remaining divinity into the body of the Elf King—”
“And achieve true rebirth.”
To call it rebirth.
In reality, it was the old monster replacing the new one through possession. Why phrase it so nicely?
Shaya’s subconscious grumbled in his mind.
But his shallow consciousness personality, which had undergone memory sealing through “Tsukuyomi,” expressed the shock and reverence he should have at this moment, according to the pre-arranged logic.
Spanning ancient and modern times, encompassing an entire epoch.
Abandoning the Creator, the Sun God, and the Throne of Heaven worshipped by all beings, achieving rebirth.
What great ambition, what immense courage.
A grand plan spanning millennia!
“However, despite preparing hundreds of years in advance, I still underestimated the power of disordered divinity.”
“Those numerous, messy divinities on the verge of losing control were not so easy to get rid of.”
“Even after switching to the Elf King’s body, the loss of control caused by cutting off divinity and changing bodies still drove me half-mad, forcing me to suppress myself through deep sleep.”
“Before falling into slumber, I used my last strength to cut off a part of the Elf Royal Court, which fell into the endless sea, and then set up this curtain to prevent outsiders from knowing of its existence.”
“And when I woke up nearly a thousand years later, after suppressing the tendency towards disorder—”
“I found that the current body had also become decayed due to prolonged divine outbursts and deep sleep, forcing me to find a new body.”
“However, after a thousand years, the Elf bloodline within the Lost Island had long been corrupted by the polluting authority of the Great Calamity, becoming impure.”
The residual soul of the Sun God’s words remained calm and indifferent.
It seemed that the failure of his second attempt to change bodies had not affected his state of mind in the slightest.
“Relying on the backup plans I left behind, I have absolute control over all those with Elf bloodlines…”
“But the remaining elves on the Lost Island today, even those so-called elders of the Council Hall and legends, have bloodlines so impure that they are not even qualified to bear my divinity and spirit.”
“Because of this, the only choice for the new vessel carrying my soul… is that surviving pure-blooded Golden Elf.”
He looked at Shaya and spoke slowly.
“Originally, I planned to wait until I fully recovered before formally transferring into the pure-blooded Golden Elf’s vessel.”
“But your appearance gave me a new option.”
“Humans…”
“You do not possess the strong spiritual intuition of Elves, but your affinity for the spirit is sufficient…”
“And more importantly, in humans, I see more diverse possibilities.”
“Just like the wondrous thing you have demonstrated, called magic.”
“All extraordinary races are formed from scattered rule fragments from the Chaotic Era. The more innately powerful extraordinary races are, the more rule fragments are carried within their bloodlines.”
“But you humans are an anomaly among them… I saw no trace of rule fragments in you.”
“This certainly means the innate weakness of the race, but it also means that the limitations you suffer are fewer.”
“The previous failure made me realize…”
“Simply accumulating divinity and authority is probably not the path to reaching a higher status.”
“And the true new path might not be ‘increase,’ but ‘decrease.'”
“Races and bloodlines, as well as divinity and authority, might allow one to become a Legend, or even an innate Demigod.”
“But when one wishes to surpass True Gods…”
“These past dependencies will become burdens that must be discarded.”
His gaze was sharp as he looked at Shaya.
“My previous statement of being fond of you was not a mere exaggeration.”
“In you, I truly see the possibility of reaching a higher peak.”
“Of course, you might worry that after your body is taken over by me and your consciousness is devoured, you will become my subordinate.”
“But I can promise you that your consciousness will be completely preserved.”
“When I fully recover and surpass the limits of True Gods, ascending to a higher status, I will create a brand new, powerful body for you.”
“At that time, if you are willing… then you will be the new master of the Throne of Heaven, becoming a big figure in the entire Multiverse.”
“As I promised—”
“It will be the view and glory from the highest place you have never experienced.”
Do less to achieve more…
Understood.
So, after all that talk, you’re just coveting my body, aren’t you?
Shaya’s eyes flickered.
He would not be so easily deceived by the other party’s words.
Let alone the fact that the remnant soul of the Sun God before him was in such a sorry state that he couldn’t even take care of himself.
Based on Shaya’s guess, it was likely that he was indeed related to the Sun God.
However, the information he revealed was probably not the truth of the Great Calamity and the Glorious Era.
At least, not the whole truth.
That Creator, the remnant of the Sun God…
Was this truly the only residual soul?
If so, why was the Lost Island shrouded by the Veil, and where was the authority of the blazing sun for which the Sun God was famous?
As for the promises that followed.
Such as him ascending to the supreme Throne of Heaven, and the scenery never before experienced.
And the glory of being a big figure, Shaya wouldn’t believe a single word.
He had seen too many tricks of drawing a big picture.
Norton loved to draw, Vortigern loved to draw, and Goodrian loved to draw.
These guys who considered themselves cunning strategists all liked to paint a rosy picture whenever they met him, and even this Sun God who claimed to be the original Creator was no exception.
After all, there were no Heavenly Dao Oaths or Primordial Spirit Contracts like in cultivation novels in the Material Plane. One could break a promise as they pleased, and no one could stop them.
Moreover, even if it wasn’t a bluff but a genuine promise, Shaya would not accept it.
Shaya had a very clear understanding of himself; he was a petty and terrifyingly possessive person.
Back in the Historical Echoes of Escarnia, he had torn off his disguise at the risk of being pierced through the chest by the Holy Sword, let alone his own body.
Furthermore, even without the other party’s gift, Shaya had absolute confidence in himself.
As long as he was given enough time.
Then, whether it was the glory of a so-called big figure, or the scenery from a high place.
Even the Throne of Heaven, he might be able to reach.
His subconscious mind raced, while on the surface, Shaya showed a conflicted expression.
After a long moment, he gave a wry smile.
“Since the Creator has revealed so many secrets about you and the old era to me.”
“Then, I suppose even if I refuse, there’s no room for regret, right?”
The Elf legend whose body was occupied by him opened his mouth, about to speak.
But then, his gaze shifted slightly.
Then, his indifferent and distant gaze fell in the direction of the Elf Royal Court.
Although Shaya had already sensed it, he was a step behind the other party and looked blankly in that direction.
He only saw, under the brilliant starry night sky.
A brilliant golden radiance tore through the sky, flying straight towards the branches of the World Tree.
