Chapter 537: Not Quite Consummate

Chapter 537: Not Quite Perfect

Sword light flickered.

Every strike was precisely placed.

When attacking, not a shred of divine power was wasted.

The timing of each attack was also perfectly controlled, leaving the six gods no chance to strike back.

“How is this possible!” Diwu Bufan roared in impotent fury.

Clearly, his divine power far exceeded Qi Yuan’s.

The five gods around him, in terms of divine power alone, also surpassed Qi Yuan, yet facing his lone assault, they felt constrained and hampered.

Or rather, they could not harm Qi Yuan at all, only passively take the beating.

In an instant.

A sword stroke fell, severing the old man’s arm. His eyes bulged with rage as he channeled all his divine power, attacking wildly.

If even one blow landed on Qi Yuan, it would surely inflict considerable injury.

But always, just barely, each time he tried to trade wounds, he fell short by a hair.

“His skill is at its peak!” the old man said resentfully.

“If this continues, we are sure to lose!” Dingyuan Wang was already thinking of fleeing.

Now, after less than ten breaths of combat, each of them bore injuries.

In contrast, Qi Yuan was unscathed, his attacks growing fiercer.

These Divine Weapon Masters had never been so humiliated before.

When they were at the Heavenly level, each of them was an elite, their skills honed to perfection; they could challenge higher ranks and instantly kill their peers with ease.

After stepping into the Divine level, they rarely refined their techniques.

Because divine power was enough to sweep away everything.

As long as one had abundant divine power, one was stronger.

But who would have thought that today someone could overpower them with skill?

Not merely suppression, but utter domination—they were not even on the same level.

“Ah, save me, I can’t hold on!” an old man cried out.

Qi Yuan’s attacks were too fierce; he could not defend at all, and in just a few breaths he was covered in wounds.

In a few more breaths, he might fall.

In the distance, Liu Sheng, who had been about to come to their aid, halted, his eyes filled with shock: “Without Shenlin, he is still this strong?”

After all, he had always believed Qi Yuan’s reliance was on Shenlin.

With Shenlin in hand, he could roam the Divine Realm unchallenged.

But who would have thought that after Shenlin was corrupted and its divine power dissipated, he became even stronger.

Shenlin… seemed like a shackle.

“No!” the old man let out a piercing scream.

Of the five Divine Weapon Masters present, none were willing to sacrifice themselves to save him.

He was unwilling.

If only someone had been resolute enough to block Qi Yuan with their life, he would have suffered at most a minor injury—how could he have fallen like this!

The other five Divine Weapon Masters’ expressions all changed.

“Zhou Zhiqi is dead!”

“Dingyuan Wang, you were closest just now—why didn’t you stop him?”

“What do we do? We are no match for him?”

These Divine Weapon Masters, both alarmed and anxious, began to quarrel among themselves.

At this moment, Diwu Bufan’s expression was particularly grim.

The visitor from beyond had told him that he would win this battle, and the Luocha Kingdom would endure for millennia—so why was he now in peril?

But now, he had no time to ponder.

“Qi Yuan, how about we stop here? Shenlin has fallen, and continuing this fight will only benefit the Feng State.

How about this: I will appoint you as State Preceptor, second only to me, above all others?” Diwu Bufan said through gritted teeth.

“Is there such a good deal in this world?” Qi Yuan said.

Diwu Bufan was delighted, thinking Qi Yuan had agreed.

“You think too highly of yourself. Even if you were my son, I’d despise you for not bathing and being too old.” Qi Yuan’s attacks did not cease.

This Diwu Bufan did not even qualify to be his son.

Diwu Bufan’s face darkened, and he roared in fury: “You are forcing my hand!”

His demeanor suggested he still had a trump card.

The other gods who were still fighting all showed hopeful expressions, wishing Diwu Bufan would unleash something.

However, what reached their ears next was.

“Fake son, don’t run!”

And they saw Diwu Bufan directly flee.

The other Divine Weapon Masters, seeing this, did not hesitate and scattered in all directions.

“Fake sons, don’t run!”

“Randomly picking a lucky audience member—you it is… Dingyuan Wang.”

Qi Yuan’s speed suddenly increased.

The drones in the sky also scattered at that moment, chasing after the other Divine Weapon Masters.

Qi Yuan pursued Dingyuan Wang.

Heaven-Slashing Sword Draw!

Dingyuan Wang’s eyes bulged with rage.

“No!”

He used all his divine power, trying to strike back before death.

But after killing one Divine Weapon Master, Qi Yuan’s level had risen considerably, and his strength had increased greatly.

Dingyuan Wang’s counterattack was meaningless.

A sword stroke fell, and Dingyuan Wang fell!

“This is… a slaughter.”

At this moment, Qi Yuan was no longer Shenlin; he was Qi Yuan.

“Kill!”

He pursued along the drone’s path.

Liu Sheng’s heart trembled: “How… can a man be so strong?”

Seeing a Divine-level Armament Master fleeing toward him, he shot into the sky.

“Brother Qi, this old man will aid you!”

“No!”

“Slash!”

“Ah!”

The chase continued, and death spread.

One by one, Divine-level Armament Masters were slain.

Before Qi Yuan, even a Yang God reincarnate among the Divine-level Armament Masters could not withstand a single blow, let alone these mere ordinary Divine-level ones.

In the end, Qi Yuan cut down every Divine-level Armament Master with his sword, stroke by stroke.

As for Diwu Bufan, he too was slain by Qi Yuan in the royal treasury.

In the royal treasury, Diwu Bufan even produced a treasure that could activate a Divine Domain, initially confident he would kill Qi Yuan.

But who would have thought that even with his trump card, he was but a clown, slain by Qi Yuan.

Diwu Bufan fell, and many Heavenly-level Armament Masters, even Earthly-level ones, drew their swords against Qi Yuan.

No kingdom lacks those who are loyal, who dare to sacrifice, who are willing to be buried with the fallen.

As Lawful Good, Qi Yuan naturally granted their wish.

This day was destined to be recorded in the annals of the Raksha Kingdom.

Shenlin shattered, the seven gods fell, and the royal power of Raksha crumbled.

The moon was bright, the stars sparse.

Qi Yuan sat on the roof of the palace hall.

Today, the palace had seen a period of chaos.

Diwu Bufan’s death dealt a massive blow to the current system.

But fortunately, Liu Sheng stepped in to quell the unrest.

Now, the royal capital maintained a fragile balance.

“99%.”

Qi Yuan scanned the capital, a complex look in his eyes. Diwu Bufan had fallen, and the name Shenlin spread across the land.

Yet the role-playing degree was stuck at 99%.

Only 1% away from completion and unlocking the next task.

But no matter what, it would not increase.

Just then, several figures appeared.

Liu Sheng, Liu Chudong, and the Old Washerwoman emerged.

The Old Washerwoman’s eyes showed a look of loss: “Shenlin… is destroyed?”

Today, seeing Shenlin swallow all the poisonous rain for the city’s people, her heart ached.

In truth, when the poisonous rain appeared, she had a premonition.

The Judge God she revered and admired would drink the poisonous rain for the city’s people.

But… at that moment, a selfish thought inexplicably arose in her heart, wishing the Judge God could be a little more selfish.

Yet the Shenlin she admired still unhesitatingly chose to drain the poisonous rain.

Now, Shenlin was destroyed, and she felt dazed and lost.

The most painful thing in this world is to have hope kindled, only to watch it be extinguished.

“He… is destroyed,” Qi Yuan said calmly. “But not entirely destroyed.”

His words were somewhat cryptic.

Liu Sheng studied Qi Yuan, and a terrifying thought arose in his heart: “Brother Qi… are you Shenlin?”

How could there be such a young Divine-level Armament Master in this world?

If Qi Yuan were Shenlin, one with Shenlin, it would make sense.

Perhaps, through a special opportunity, the national treasure Shenlin had taken human form, gaining its own thoughts and consciousness.

“Are you the Judge God?” Liu Chudong’s eyes were filled with shock.

The Old Washerwoman’s eyes burst with joy.

The Judge God had not fallen?

“Young master is a celestial descending to earth; what if he is Shenlin?” Chen Kangbao replied smugly.

Qi Yuan nodded: “That’s not wrong to say. I can be Shenlin, but Shenlin is not me.”

Liu Chudong looked at Qi Yuan, her heart surging with turbulent waves. Her face showed joy, but also a trace of worry.

Shenlin… had become human, with human emotions and human thoughts. Was it still the impartial and selfless Shenlin?

And then, Qi Yuan’s gaze fell on Liu Chudong.

“Someone like you might often be annoying, but sometimes, also admirable.

Liu Chudong, can you do me a favor?” Qi Yuan asked.

Qi Yuan had seen many people, but rarely such a pure idealist as Liu Chudong.

Even if he did, such people usually lived poorly and were easily called brainless.

“Brother Qi… please speak,” Liu Chudong said, somewhat surprised.

Liu Sheng quickly signaled his granddaughter with his eyes, afraid she might say something wrong.

But in the end, he was playing the lute to a cow; Liu Chudong did not understand his meaning.

He could only apologize: “Chudong is innocent and naive. If her words offend Brother Qi, I hope Brother Qi will not blame her!”

Qi Yuan smiled: “I do have some tolerance.”

Though Qi Yuan had killed many and often got angry because of Bai Yueguang’s words, he still had basic tolerance.

“What do you think Shenlin’s wish is?” Qi Yuan looked at Liu Chudong and asked.

Now, to complete the role-playing of Shenlin, he was still missing the last 1%.

What was missing? Qi Yuan had a vague guess in his heart, but he dared not be certain.

Liu Chudong paused for a moment, her gaze sharpening, and she declared loudly: “Hold the light, drive out the darkness; if there is injustice, call upon Shenlin!”

This is the divine word of the God of Judgment, and naturally, it is also His wish.

He hopes that there will be no injustice in this world, that all shall be equal, fair, and just!"

This, too, was Liu Chudong's desire.

Qi Yuan fell silent for a moment.

I'm afraid that, aside from a few special races, what Liu Chudong spoke of cannot be achieved.

"This will be very difficult to realize," Qi Yuan said.

He could not stay in Raksha Country forever, nor in Qingshan Realm.

To achieve such things... unless he used the Great Forgetfulness Sutra to brainwash everyone in Raksha Country, implanting concepts of kindness and equality into the minds of all living beings in Qingshan Realm.

In that case, all people would be cast from the same mold, living like robots according to set rules.

This would indeed conform to the rules and fulfill the Divine Descent's wish.

However, Qi Yuan was unwilling to do so.

Everyone has the right to live their own life; though they might be slain by Qi Yuan's hand at a whim, their thoughts remain free.

"If it cannot be achieved, does that mean we should not try?" Liu Chudong countered. "If we improve a little each day, and keep improving, one day this world will become a true paradise."

Liu Chudong's eyes were full of hope and expectation for the future.

Qi Yuan found himself quite in agreement with these words.

After all, on Blue Star, he had read plenty of chicken soup for the soul.

It was like the little girl throwing the fish washed ashore by the waves back into the sea.

A passerby, seeing the countless fish, said, "You can't save all the fish. Why waste your strength? Who cares?"

The girl replied, "This fish cares, and that fish cares too."

What Qi Yuan could do was, within his sight, make the world's atmosphere a little better.

Let there be fewer people who curse dirtier than him.

Let there be more people kinder than him.

In that case, his life would surely be comfortable, and even in a quarrel, he could easily win.

Liu Chudong looked at Qi Yuan and said earnestly, "But... the premise for all this is that this Divine Descent must be truly fair and just. Any being with self-awareness must..."

Liu Sheng shot Liu Chudong an anxious glare.

But Liu Chudong paid no heed and continued, "Brother Qi, are you certain you can steer this world in the direction the Divine Descent hopes for?"

Her words were somewhat blunt and not entirely rational.

Yet she still spoke them.

She fixed her gaze on Qi Yuan, waiting for his answer.

Qi Yuan's eyes grew deep. "Troublesome. I have to use my brain again."

He felt a bit irritated, then turned to Liu Chudong. "Tell me, what method can solve this problem?"

Liu Chudong looked at Qi Yuan. "Brother Qi, if what I say next offends you, I beg you to punish only me, and not my family!"

The petite and delicate Liu Chudong, who looked no more than twelve or thirteen, seemed even more fragile than a canary, yet at this moment, her eyes were unusually resolute.

"Say whatever you like. Even if you call me a dog, I won't get angry," Qi Yuan said with a faint smile.

When it came to insults and attacks, nothing could rival the comment sections of Blue Star.

One glance, and you'd be shattered, your blood pressure soaring.

"All people have selfish motives, including me. Though my selfishness is cloaked in the name of fairness and justice, as if for the good of the world, it is still selfishness.

Therefore, to achieve true fairness and justice, one must eliminate human nature. The human heart is the hardest thing to test.

The original Divine Descent might have brought a true utopia to this world, but Brother Qi has his own consciousness and preferences. No matter how fair and just you try to be, there will always be bias."

Liu Chudong's cherry-like mouth showed no mercy. "I hope Brother Qi can... extinguish your own consciousness and let the original Divine Descent return!"

"If Brother Qi falls, I will jump from here as well, so that you won't be alone!"

Liu Chudong's words were enough to shock the heavens and move all who heard them.

It was like a feudal dynasty where a warlord leads his army into the royal city, overthrows the old dynasty, and is about to ascend the throne, only for someone to tell him that the emperor is the greatest calamity under heaven and that he should take his own life for the sake of the people.

The old woman washing silk changed her expression sharply and said anxiously, "How do you know the God of Judgment cannot continue to uphold fairness and justice?"

Liu Sheng let out a faint sigh and said nothing.

There was no point in speaking now.

At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at Liu Chudong, his thoughts tangled, as if his mind was growing.

After about ten or so breaths, a gleam of joy appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes.

"I understand. Since I cannot be the Divine Descent, then... I will give Raksha Country a Divine Descent!"

In that instant, Qi Yuan's mind was suddenly enlightened.

He understood what was missing in his role as the Divine Descent.

This could also be linked to his role as the Blind Artificer.

(End of chapter)