What did it feel like to beco a god?
For Qin Xin, it didn't seem all that different from becoming an Envoy.
As a "veteran" player who had set foot in the Real Universe, visited the Corpse Field of Gods, and learned the truth of the Universe, the only real change — beyond his title — was likely the voting rights that ca with a seat at the Assembly of Gods Convention.
For the Dragon King and Li Wufang, however, the transformation from mortal to deity was seismic. At the very least, the elevation of perspective and consciousness brought the Universe's truth into sharper focus — along with the oppression and terror radiating from the Creator.
As for Nangong...
The poor girl was still in a daze.
Even having inherited everything of Decay, she still couldn't quite accept the fact that she had simply... beco a deity.
'That's a god — a being mortals can only gaze up at and never see. One of the supre powers who bestowed the Faith Ga upon the Universe. And now... I'm one too?'
She was lost in the shock of godhood and the transcendence of divinity, unable to rein herself in — until the Authority settled into her body. Feeling the infinite power of Decay at last pulled her out of that chaotic state. She fell silent.
Life was eternal suffering. The life of a god was no different.
Cheng Shi had been right. If one wished to approach Origin in a pitiful guise and beg for His rcy, one must first endure agony himself.
That was Decay's Will.
Soone who didn't yet know the Universe's truth might have wondered: 'Now that I've beco Decay, why must I still draw near Origin?'
But Nangong harbored no such idle musings. The Fla of Hope had said Decay must endure suffering, so she would endure suffering. As for why... life didn't co with that many "whys." As long as this was a chance to repay everyone, she would simply do it.
And so, Cheng Shi secured four brand-new votes at the Assembly of Gods Convention!
Note: these were Cheng Shi's votes — not the Fear Faction's.
Though Cheng Shi was deeply entwined with the Fear Faction and its mbers supported him, the Faction was ultimately driven by Deceit's Will — an extension of Deceit's design. Everything They did was, at its core, for the sake of Fixed Destiny, not for Cheng Shi.
Even if Cheng Shi was Fixed Destiny.
So those four votes were critically important to Cheng Shi's current position.
More than that, holding four votes gave Cheng Shi far more room to maneuver. The instant Nangong ascended to godhood, he raised a new request to Justice:
He petitioned for the return of Prosperity's voting rights and the reclamation of Prosperity's scattered Authority.
Prosperity's Final Oracle had shattered His Authority and dispersed it, temporarily achieving universal prosperity by an unconventional ans. But that era was past. The true era now dawning was the era of "Universal Fear." So Cheng Shi struck while the iron was hot and demanded the Pact return everything that belonged to Prosperity.
At any other ti, this would have been impossible. Among gods locked in open and covert rivalries with intertwined interests, nobody would willingly spit back Authority already in hand.
But things were different now. Even if the old gods each had their reservations, the new gods' wills had been braided into a single rope — and the other end of that rope was fastened to the Fixed Destiny pulling the Universe forward.
So when Cheng Shi submitted the request, before Justice had even responded, he already held five votes!
Hong Lin leapt to her feet, face alight, and nodded toward Cheng Shi from across the Void. She knew exactly what he ant. At this point, there was no need to keep performing for the old gods.
Justice had anticipated all of this. He simply hadn't expected Cheng Shi to move this quickly.
The Pact could not be defied. He could only convene the Assembly of Gods Convention per the rules and put Cheng Shi's motion to a vote.
There was one wrinkle, however: Cheng Shi wasn't actually Deceit. By rights, he shouldn't be able to propose an Assembly. The Pact did not shelter mortals.
Yet when the Assembly was indeed convened, for one brief instant, Cheng Shi genuinely believed Justice had been fooled as well.
Of course, the likelier explanation was that Justice had streamlined the process again. After all, with this many backers behind him, even if Cheng Shi's proposal were rejected, another true god would simply raise it again.
'Why make extra work?' Justice had simply indulged Cheng Shi, bringing his motion before the Assembly.
Interestingly, aside from the gods already present, no new deities attended this Assembly of Gods Convention.
Folly's absence was a concession of defeat.
For Death, Prosperity's voting rights had always been held by the Fear Faction as a proxy. Transferring them from Deceit to Cheng Shi made no real difference. Considering Fixed Destiny's importance, the Boss had no reason to object.
Silence was even less likely to object. In His eyes, Cheng Shi probably was Deceit. Why would one oppose Deceit's own proposal?
And so the motion effortlessly gathered seven votes — just two short of what was needed for Hong Lin to reclaim Prosperity's voting rights.
But those final two votes proved exceedingly difficult. There were hardly any voting-eligible gods left in the Universe.
Seeing the deadlock, Death let out a faint sigh and cast one more vote.
Cheng Shi stiffened, staring at the Boss in surprise. The green flas in the massive skull's eye sockets flickered as Death intoned:
"This... is... Ti's... vote. He... has no... ti... to spare... so I... cast it... on His behalf."
'Is that even allowed?'
Cheng Shi wondered. 'Can't absent gods simply not vote? Does a proxy vote actually count?'
'If so, then Void's two votes would be guaranteed in the bag...'
But before pursuing that line, Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow at Justice and tested the waters:
"I also have a vote. No — Truth's voting rights are still with . That gives
two votes. So, old fossil, does the motion pass?"
"..."
The Universe fell silent. Justice didn't dignify the insolent claim with a response.
Seeing this, Cheng Shi clicked his tongue and sighed.
'Figures. There's no deceiving the Pact. Even if the process is streamlined, the rules must still hold.'
'But what about proxy votes? Are they valid?'
Before Cheng Shi could even ask, sothing unexpected happened.
No one could have predicted it. At this critical juncture, Birth — who had abstained from every vote without exception — actually cast a vote in support of His sibling god!
"In favor—"
Having spoken, the massive Divine Pillar turned to face Cheng Shi, twisting and coiling.
Cheng Shi t the gaze of the countless tightly shut eyes covering the Pillar's surface. For a mont he was taken aback — he felt that Birth had recognized him. But it didn't matter. As long as the vote landed, that was enough.
The next instant, the tilt of the unbalanced Flowing Light Scales grew more pronounced, and a resonant judgnt rang out:
"Vote valid. Motion carried. Prosperity reclaims scattered Authority and associated voting rights!"
"HUMMM—"
The Pact took effect — the gavel fell.
This Assembly of Gods Convention, which should have been "entirely routine," had produced a surprise after all. But the one left stunned wasn't any absent objector — it was the motion's own proposer, Cheng Shi.
He wasn't alone. Nearly every new god present was bewildered.
'The votes were enough? Proxy votes are valid? Is that really how the rules are written?'
'If not — is this still Justice?'
'Are you sure these Flowing Light Scales aren't Deceit in disguise?'
'Otherwise, why would He lean so heavily toward the Fear Faction? Why force motions through even as the Scales tipped?'
Cheng Shi couldn't figure it out right away, but not understanding didn't an he'd let the opportunity slip.
Spotting a "loophole" to exploit, his spirits surged and he called out again:
"Truth has fallen. I petition to exercise Truth's voting rights by proxy!"
"Denied..."
"Truth has fallen. I petition for Prosperity to exercise Truth's voting rights by proxy!"
"...Voting... begins."
...
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