Chapter 707: Becoming a God (1)
The Nature of Gods and the Celestial Court's Secret
"What is a God?"
"A God is Rule."
"And what is Rule?"
"The fundamental power of the universe."
"How can I acquire that fundamental power?"
On a beautiful island with azure seas and flowered landscapes, Luke sat in a stone pavilion, laden with various fruits. Across from him sat a woman, a divine being as immaculate as a celestial fairy.
Her skin was extremely pale, emitting a fluorescence like jade. Her beauty was peerless, captivating one's gaze, and her eyes, like a clear moon, sparkled with an ethereal light. A crescent vertical mark on her forehead added an exotic allure to her already perfect countenance.
She was the Moon Goddess, the Cold Moon Princess.
She had appeared right before Luke.
"You wish to achieve godhood?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been cultivating?"
"One year and nine months."
A flicker of surprise crossed Cold Moon's eyes before she regained her cool composure.
"A remarkable individual. Your talent is the greatest I have ever seen. Even in the Age of Gods, you would rank in the top ten."
Top ten?
Luke looked displeased. "Why not first?"
"Have you heard of the First Generation Gods?"
Luke shook his head. "All the myths I know are derived from books."
"Then you are bound to miss a lot."
Cold Moon explained slowly. "The First Generation Gods are also known as the Original Gods. The Earth Mother Goddess Gaia, the creator of the Celestial Court, the true form of Ra—the head of the Ennead—all are Original Gods. They were the earliest Gods on Earth. Before achieving godhood, they were all mortals. They went from mortal to God-King in just a few months."
The last remark implied a deeper meaning, pointing out a temporal oddity and hinting at the true nature of the deities. Luke frowned.
"Are you suggesting they were created?"
"Only they know the truth of that. Unfortunately, they are all dead. No one can solve that mystery. The Original Gods were also the most powerful. Power began to decline with the Second and Third Generations. By the Fourth Generation, they could no longer be called Gods. A God's power is hidden in the bloodline, passed down and weakening with each generation. It's impossible for you to cross that threshold now."
Luke leaned in, staring intently at her.
"The archives in the Rock of Eternity state that the Celestial Court was different from other pantheons. Most of the Celestial Court's Gods were born in the mortal realm, cultivating their way up through effort and talent. Bloodline inheritance was only a small part. If they could do it, why can't I?"
"If the Celestial Court were still active, with your talent, you could certainly become a God. The problem is, the Celestial Court has been destroyed."
Luke grew more confused. "What does my achieving godhood have to do with the Celestial Court?"
"You truly understand nothing."
Cold Moon rose and walked out of the pavilion, gazing at the distant sea and sky.
"The Celestial Master's Tome you practice is quite good. It contains many refreshing concepts. Unfortunately, it's missing some crucial elements. The foundation of the Celestial Court's cultivation method is not the energy freely circulating in the world, but a person."
Luke frowned. "What do you mean? How can a cultivation technique be related to a person?"
"In the beginning, the Celestial Court had no concept of inheritance; it was maintained by bloodline, just like other pantheons. It wasn't until the First Celestial Court Lord—my grandfather—died in battle that the cultivation methods were passed down."
Luke's pupils contracted. Realizing something, his expression turned grim.
"Don't tell me..."
"Yes, it is exactly what you are thinking. The original purpose of creating the cultivation method was to select qualified mortals, change their souls, strengthen their bodies, and inject my grandfather's divinity, allowing them to become vessels for his resurrection at a critical moment, ensuring the Celestial Court's eternal succession."
"..."
The air fell into a strange, ominous silence.
Luke's Personal Cost and The Grand Bargain
After a long silence, Luke suddenly laughed loudly.
"What a Celestial Court! Today, I finally see it. I thought that compared to other pantheons, the Celestial Court was at least morally admirable. I never imagined such a thing."
"Good! Truly good."
Luke waved his hand. The clear sky vanished, the blue sea turned into a raging sea of fire, and the island became a furnace. Cold Moon stood within a crystal, her expression unchanging throughout.
She seemed completely indifferent to everything—the green flames and Luke himself.
"Do you want to die?"
"I am already dead. My era ended on the battlefield. That is the best outcome. You shouldn't have saved me."
Luke: "..."
Seriously?
If I had known she was like this, I wouldn't have wasted that crystal.
"Should I grant your wish, then?"
"Please do."
Cold Moon closed her eyes, peacefully accepting death. Seeing her complete apathy irritated Luke. He wanted to argue but couldn't find the words, so he helplessly walked to the side.
He had come this far. He would not give up, no matter what.
Achieving godhood was essential.
He would carve a path even if he had to chisel one out with a hammer.
"Why do you want to become a God?"
Cold Moon suddenly spoke. "Your current strength already surpasses most deities. Even I at my peak might not be your match. Isn't that enough?"
"No, far from enough."
Cold Moon closed her eyes again. "Greed is the original sin."
Luke smiled and shook his head. "There are some things you don't understand. Achieving godhood isn't just about becoming stronger; there are other reasons. Do you have children?"
Cold Moon frowned. "Why do you ask that?"
"Because it concerns me."
Luke opened his right hand, and green flames flared from his palm.
"It is my innate power. I used to think it was perfect. Only as I grew up did I realize that this power comes with a cost."
Cold Moon asked curiously, "What cost?"
"Children!"
"As long as this power is active, it's impossible for me to have my own child."
Luke sighed, his expression full of frustration. Since he was fourteen, he had been intimate with over fifty women, with unprotected encounters numbering at least four hundred. Over four hundred times, and not one successful conception. That strongly suggests a problem.
He had comprehensive physical examinations, finding nothing wrong. Later, during an experiment, he accidentally discovered the culprit was the green flame.
It was destroying the viability of the fertilized eggs, preventing new life from being created.
"Achieving godhood can allow you to have children?"
Luke nodded. "My control over the green flame isn't perfect. If I can take one more step, I can perfectly control it, or even seal it away, and live as a normal person."
"It seems you are determined to take that step."
"Indeed. If possible, I hope you can help me."
"Why should I help you?"
"You can name your terms. Anything is fine."
Cold Moon smiled faintly, tinged with loss and mockery. Everything she cherished was gone. There was nothing left in the world worth staying for.
Luke stated clearly, "I will help you rebuild the Celestial Court. Is that enough?"
"The Celestial Court is destroyed. How can it be reborn?"
"From life to death, from death to life—it has always been so. The Celestial Court is gone, but that doesn't mean all its people are dead. The contents of the Celestial Master's Tome are almost identical to the Celestial Court's legacy. So, who wrote it down?"
Cold Moon paused, deep in thought.
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