Foolish Game of the Chapter 1391: Eras Change, but Birth Never Ceases

anwhile, elsewhere.

It was still the Void.

Before the Divine Pillar strung with countless Life Marker Boards, a striking figure stood in reverent silence.

Today's summons had co without warning, catching Hu Xuan completely off guard. Before she was called, she had been planning to have a child, still debating with her birthing partner over who would serve as the mother first.

But the very next mont, she was dragged directly into the Void and found herself before her Benefactor — Birth.

The Divine Pillar was quite pleased with the rich aura of Birth emanating from this child. Perhaps because she had been fortunate enough to ascend to the rank of Envoy in a mortal body, she walked the path of Birth with extraordinary devotion.

One could say she was the most obedient and most similar child Birth had ever had — one who had steadfastly and unwaveringly carried out Birth's Will.

"You — have done well —"

Birth never withheld praise, just as It never concealed Its disgust.

For instance, when encountering Deceit, other deities might keep a respectful distance, but Birth was different — It would actually lash out and strike It.

Being suddenly praised certainly made Hu Xuan happy, though a thread of nervousness ran through her joy. She couldn't recall any recent accomplishnts on her part, aside from increasing the frequency of her self-birthing. The only other thing would be...

Wait, no — the child with Lu Xia was still in the planning stages. Surely the Benefactor's praise wasn't for that?

Could there be so important mission to be entrusted to her?

Unable to pin down her Benefactor's intent, Hu Xuan could only suppress her doubts and think optimistically. Even if there was a heavy burden to bear, it would be nothing more than so task related to Birth — hardly difficult for a seasoned Life Sage, and the more the rrier.

The Divine Pillar didn't waste words with Hu Xuan. It idly lashed at the Void and declared the purpose of summoning Its follower:

"The era of Void — is about to end —"

"!"

Hu Xuan was startled. She hadn't expected the Benefactor to bring up such a topic.

Birth was famously "neutral" — as long as the Universe didn't interfere with Its practice of Its own Will, It could ignore everything else.

In the past, every ti Hu Xuan had tried to fish for information from her Benefactor through subtle hints, she had been swatted straight out of the Void. Yet this ti, the Benefactor had voluntarily broached the subject...

Could it be that the state of the Universe had grown dire enough to threaten the stability of Birth's Will?

Hu Xuan held her breath and listened intently.

"This era is different from those before —

No matter how much I keep to Myself — the successive falls of the gods tell

—

For a deity to survive this calamity — it seems they must embrace Void —

They are straying further and further from Origin — and wish to drag the entire world with them —

Now all who opposed have fallen — and next —

It will be My turn —"

"!!!"

Hu Xuan's pupils trembled violently, and a strange surge of emotion welled up inside her.

She was a textbook god-worshipper — otherwise she would never have joined the Nature Sect, which had long since strayed from its original purpose. Her madness in daring to ask a god to bear her a child further proved how desperately she wanted to draw close to divinity and gain power.

After becoming the Eternal Sun under Cheng Shi's lucky protection, she had spared no effort in vying for her Benefactor's attention, striving to elevate herself.

Yet she had gradually realized that Birth, who so loved gathering Its children together, was not actually a "good mother" — but rather a "cold mother."

Its eyes held only Origin and the Will of Birth; nothing else mattered.

The "reunion" It sought was rely a pursuit of faith's stability — It needed children to rally behind It and spread Its Will.

But there was no denying that It was at least responsible toward Its own children, especially the obedient Hu Xuan, whom It cared for considerably.

As a deity worshipped for untold ages, Birth could see the scheming hidden within Hu Xuan's devotion, but It saw no issue with that. So long as Its followers still held Birth in their hearts, It could tolerate any desire that sprang from that devotion.

Only when a follower abandoned Birth's Will entirely, leaving nothing but raw desire, would they be cast out as a Corruption traitor.

And so, It often guided Hu Xuan, and the Sage was genuinely grateful for it.

That was why, when she heard her Benefactor say "It will be My turn," Hu Xuan's expression beca deeply conflicted.

For a mont, this fanatical follower of Birth found herself at a loss for words to "comfort" either herself or her Benefactor.

But what she didn't know was that Birth needed no comfort at all. It saw things far more clearly than many deities — because It had never refused to embrace Void!

"You — are good —

But do not grieve for

—

So long as Origin endures — the Will of Birth shall not perish —

No matter how Deceit resists — Origin will not vanish —

Therefore what We must do — is not slow the steps of those who fear —

But draw close to them — and within the new birth they so desire — continue spreading the Will of Birth —

I am Birth — but Birth need not be

—

Child — you must rember these words —

This is the true essence of Birth's eternal existence and eternal continuation —

So long as living beings persist in the Universe — Birth will never disappear —

Let eras change — Birth never ceases —"

"!!!!!"

Hu Xuan was thunderstruck. This was the first ti she had felt divine Will so raw and overwhelming. Every word from Birth was like wind-driven sand laced with gravel, scouring her face, slowly eroding the complex and wavering humanity in her heart and reshaping it into pure, eternal divinity!

This wasn't like the devious intrigues she heard from Cheng Shi's lips, nor the power struggles over Authority she had observed. These were words of faith in their truest, most unadulterated form. In Birth's eyes, there had never been a craving for survival — only an unwavering devotion to the continuation of Its Will.

What was terrifying was that this devotion was not for Its own sake, but for Origin!

One could say that devotion was Its piety, and piety was Its divinity.

The Sage was a clever woman, but even the cleverest mind needed sufficient information to interpret context. Clearly, Hu Xuan lacked the breadth of knowledge to fully grasp her Benefactor's words — though Birth hadn't expected Its follower to understand everything at once, either.

It spoke again:

"You will understand in ti — just as Birth — will inevitably arrive —

I will eventually fall — just as Life — will inevitably et Death —

But before that day cos — you must not speak of today's words to anyone —

Faith is never built in a single stride — and the Universe is never a simple matter of trust and piety —

He will co to find

—

And the beneficiary — is you —"

"???"

Who would co to find Birth? And what did "beneficiary" an?

A na flashed through Hu Xuan's mind almost instantly — soone she trusted more than she trusted Birth itself. And though the Benefactor had said today's affairs must remain secret, if that person was clever enough to figure it out on his own...

'That wouldn't count as

leaking it, would it?'

The corners of the Sage's lips curled slightly as she bowed to her Benefactor with genuine reverence:

"Yes."

The Divine Pillar lashed at the Void, taking in every nuance of Its follower's reaction.

It had foreseen everything, but It didn't mind — because It knew:

Any approach was still an approach.

...