Chapter 420: The Descent of the Gods
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Southern Capital, Ascension Platform.
At the summit of the towering Ascension Platform, a young maiden stood in a flowing light blue dress, her sleeves billowing in the fierce wind. She gazed down upon the masses with a benevolent sorrow, resembling a divine being poised to deliver salvation.
A golden radiance surrounded her, further inflaming the fervor of the gathered common folk.
Xu Shi Yun glanced at her, then at Lu Chao Chao, who was busy smearing grease across her lips as she ate.
“All beings suffer. Today, I swear upon this platform—I shall ascend to guide the world, heed the voices of dawn, and bring blessings upon all people.”
“May the heavens have mercy.”
Nan Zhi Yi sat cross-legged on the ground, forming intricate seals with her hands while chanting the ceremonial scripture.
The ancient and complex incantations made Lu Chao Chao shake her head in dismay.
“Can’t understand, can’t understand. So complicated—I choose not to ascend…” she muttered, looking utterly resistant.
As Nan Zhi Yi spoke, a multi-colored radiance slowly emerged along the azure horizon.
“Wow! Look, is that the Celestial Gate?”
“I think I see it!”
“That… that must be the legendary Southern Celestial Gate! Heavens! Our Goddess is real!” Initially, the citizens dared not gaze directly at the sky, but the mounting exclamations emboldened them, and they turned their eyes toward the heavens.
The clouds parted gradually, revealing the magnificent outline of the fabled Southern Celestial Gate, just as described in sacred texts.
Even the old emperor, his frail body trembling, struggled to his feet, his face flushed with excitement.
The Southern Celestial Gate—it was truly there!
Nan Zhi Yi felt her inner turmoil dissipate. Fortunately, the Divine Bone had fully integrated into her being—no one could uncover her deception.
A poised smile graced her lips as she slowly rose to her feet.
“Open the gate!” Her crimson lips barely moved as she murmured the command, yet every soul present heard the resounding declaration.
Before countless witnesses, the Celestial Gate slowly swung open.
Overcome with emotion, the people covered their mouths, tears welling in their eyes. Southern Nation had birthed a true Goddess!
They were to become the children of the divine.
Nan Zhi Yi turned back toward the royal family.
With the Celestial Gate ajar, a golden radiance enveloped her.
Her feet gradually lifted from the ground.
“She ascends! The Goddess is ascending! Look!” Even court officials, usually composed, were unable to restrain their awe, bowing deeply in reverence.
Nan Zhi Yi hovered between heaven and earth, drifting upward toward the divine realm as celestial music resonated through the air.
Watching, Nan Feng Yu pressed her lips together, then let a triumphant smile spread across her face. She had deceived both heaven and the gods. Soon, her daughter would be a true deity.
Who could rival her now?
Ning Shi Yun, Xu Shi Yun, Lu Chao Chao—what did they amount to?
At the edge of the crowd, an aged woman with strands of white interwoven in her hair, Madam Ning, leaned against a wall. Her gaze brimmed with unwillingness as she watched Nan Zhi Yi ascend toward the divine realm.
“Heaven is unjust. The heavens are blind!”
“How can such a venomous woman be called a goddess?”
“Nan Zhi Yi massacred an entire village just to obtain the Divine Bone! How dare she claim divinity?” Madam Ning clenched her fists, her eyes brimming with helpless fury.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao shrank behind Xu Shi Yun.
“What’s wrong, Chao Chao?”
In a muffled voice, Lu Chao Chao murmured, “Mama, my enemy is coming.”
Xu Shi Yun: ???
Golden light bathed the sky, and ethereal music filled the air… when suddenly—
A thunderous crack split the heavens, sending a jolt through every soul present.
An ominous presence descended upon the land.
Xiangliu, who had been standing proudly, trembled and dropped to his knees, not daring to move.
The black dragon, Zhu Mo, tucked its tail between its legs and vanished from sight.
The atmosphere thickened, the gentle breeze ceasing. An oppressive force weighed upon all.
A terrifying aura spread outward.
The high-ranking officials, who had just moments ago gazed upon Nan Zhi Yi with reverence, now trembled uncontrollably, their teeth chattering in fear.
“Why are you shaking?” General Lou demanded of Official Ming.
Official Ming, his hairs standing on end, shot back, “You’re the one whose legs are shaking!” Indeed, even the emperor himself wore a grim expression.
Lu Chao Chao, ever the spectator, pointed excitedly at the figures materializing within the clouds.
“Mama, look! There are armored celestial soldiers in the sky! Are they here to welcome the Goddess?”
Only after hearing her words did the people narrow their eyes to observe the heavens.
One glance—and many collapsed to the ground in terror.
“Impossible… utterly impossible!”
As the clouds dispersed, the skies above the Southern Capital revealed an army of divine soldiers. Dressed in silver armor that shimmered with a chilling light, their presence inspired overwhelming dread.
A vast formation of celestial warriors, numbering in the tens of thousands, stood layered upon the clouds, their sheer numbers petrifying even the emperor, who staggered back a step.
The scene was beyond anything ever witnessed.
Even the sky itself seemed to darken.
Nan Zhi Yi’s heart pounded furiously.
Then, something even more terrifying happened—the divine soldiers shifted aside, parting to make way for a robed celestial figure, who gazed down upon her from above.
“Immortal Sovereign, the traces of the Evil God have been discovered.”
The Immortal Sovereign raised his hand slightly, his gaze locking onto Nan Zhi Yi.
The divine soldiers, weapons in hand, fixed their piercing eyes upon her. A shiver ran through Nan Zhi Yi’s entire body.
No… no! Something was terribly wrong!
She stammered, “This humble deity, Nan Zhi Yi, greets the Celestial Lord.”
Immortal Sovereign Han Chuan’s eyes remained frigid. “Nan Zhi Yi, do you acknowledge your sins?”
Nan Zhi Yi: ???
I just ascended today! Could it be… they discovered my integration with the Divine Bone?
Panic took root in her heart.
To the others, however, her reaction appeared guilty.
“You have trespassed upon the divine realm, deceived the sentinels of the Southern Celestial Gate, and stolen the sacred treasures of the heavens. Do you deny it?”
Behind him, a minor deity read from a scroll: “You have stolen 1,300 stalks of celestial herbs, 1,500 immortal peaches, 363 sacred artifacts, 200 divine pills… and numerous other relics.”
“And today, you dare step into the heavens?”
“Do you truly believe our divine realm is without enforcers?” The thunderous voice of the gods made Nan Zhi Yi’s ears ring.
For a moment, her mind went blank.
Deceived the sentinels? Stolen treasures?
Me? Me?!
Her voice trembled, “Surely, this must be a mistake! I have never set foot in the divine realm before today!”
Han Chuan sneered.
“With your aura, do you think you can deceive my divine sight?”
“Guards!” Han Chuan commanded.
“Present!”
“Present!” Voices resounded from all directions.
“Nan Zhi Yi is the incarnation of an Evil God and has stolen treasures of the divine realm, showing no remorse. Today, she shall be seized and struck by ninety-nine bolts of heavenly lightning!”
“To uphold the authority of the heavens!”
With the divine pronouncement, the people finally grasped the truth.
Evil God? Nan Zhi Yi was an Evil God?!
Nan Zhi Yi felt her blood turn to ice. Impossible! She had never set foot in the divine realm!
A single terrifying realization struck her.
The true owner of the Divine Bone had returned!
And she—an imposter—had ascended only to be punished in their place!
Bound by divine energy, she was suspended in midair.
The divine realm would execute her before the eyes of thousands of mortals!