Chapter 1206 - More Human Than Many

The stone monuments merely trembled, yet among the hundreds of star systems, no brilliance shone. It seems that Xu Qing's words here, within the Fifth Starring, fall short of being earth-shattering. As the stone slabs quiver, strands of divine consciousness emanate from each stellar monolith, resonating with ethereal murmurs: "Absurd!" "Gods, simply put, are gods!" "How can they be human?" "No matter the innate nature, even those who later became deities in choosing the path of divine cultivation must, at that moment, forsake all humanity!" "And what you see, what you feel, is merely a false human persona crafted by gods during their cultivation to progress further!" "You are not the first deceived by gods, nor will you be the last." "Young one, heed my caution... Do not let them deceive you!" "From ancient times to now, those befriending gods end up regretting to the extreme!" "Now, retract your words, and I will give you the relics I possess!" These threads of divine thought transform into lingering echoes, filling the starry domain, seeping into Xu Qing's heart and mind. Xu Qing remained quiet, his eyes revealing a trace of reminiscence. He pondered, he deliberated. Here, these bone-buried immortals are no longer spirits; what emanates cannot be truly termed as divine consciousness. It is the obsession of battle-slain immortals. Their entire existence warred against gods, unwavering from life to death, rendering gods a single category in their perspective. Xu Qing, at one point, shared their views. Until he witnessed the empress's transformation and ascent to divinity, reshaping his worldview. Calmly, Xu Qing began to speak: "Honored elders, in my homeland, a sacred land exists where gods run rampant. My kin, my childhood, were tormented by the otherness of gods... And the sacred land was indifferent, fleeing the ancient realm, abandoning humanity." "They hovered high above, indifferent to the life and death of humans, attempting to manipulate and control from the shadows." "But humanity, though waning, saw several monarchs sacrifice their life blood, and even an emperor wielded his sword to majestically safeguard our lands." "Yet still, humanity struggles to rise." "Countless humans... have become fodder for alien races, suffering in extremity—I've seen scenes far more tragic than cannibalism among children." "An entire race, collapsing in darkness, disintegrating from a tribe into mere whispers, on the brink of complete oblivion." "In such times, one person emerged from the catastrophe, from the shattering chaos." "She is the royal of humanity in my homeland!" "All her thoughts severed; all roads before her ceased. She faced two choices." "Either the race perishes or she becomes a god!" "In the end, she chose to become a god!" "Every stigma arisen from defying conventions, she shouldered alone!" "She declared, 'If the sacred land abandons humanity, I shall guard them. I will uphold the legacy of my people by my strength alone!'" "She vowed to bless humanity when heaven and earth abandon them, shielding the ancient kin with her being!" "She aspired not for her own immortality, but for humanity's everlasting prosperity, to restore the ancient pride of the human race!" "She desired not her own sanctification but to elevate all prior human emperors to godhood alongside her." "She decreed, 'Henceforth, the five monarchs shall become corpse-gods, lacking wisdom but wielding divine power, holding the will of humans, following the destiny of humanity to protect our foundations and instill fear in our foes.'" "She exclaimed that she would become a human god, safeguarding our people till everlasting peace!" "Finally, she stated, 'For the causality she incurred and the catastrophes she summoned across ages, she alone bears the burden!'" Xu Qing’s words reverberated across the starry domain, each phrase a vessel of his memory, each word embodied his emotional state. Using these words, this voice, he painted the scene of the empress’s godly transformation for all the heroic spirits. In conclusion, Xu Qing lifted his gaze toward the monoliths. He spoke firmly, “To me, a god like this, is more human than many!” “I acknowledge that not all gods are alike.” “But humans, too, vary in good and evil.” “Among deities, such variation exists, no matter how rare.” “Hence, my conviction shall not waver!” Xu Qing bowed deeply. After this bow, from all the star systems in the stellar region, coldness exuded as every stone slab ceased its tremor, hiding its inscriptions. No relics, no legacies…flew toward him at all. Xu Qing’s words, they did not recognize, nor did they send any ethereal thoughts. Xu Qing turned away silently after a long pause. This time, he left with nothing, yet felt neither regret nor gain. Life is a path to walk oneself, a landscape to behold personally, evolving beliefs only through advancing and observing the vast sceneries. Your perception of life, understanding of the world, and sensibility towards all beings ultimately converge into a unique mindset. This, is humanity. From then onwards, regarding deities, Xu Qing would still slay, still plunder, still stay unsentimental. Yet, for some like the empress, he will fight in her name! For in his heart, the empress is not a god. She is human. More human than many. With this thought, devoid of regret, Xu Qing calmly stepped towards the giant gate, preparing to return to Moyang, awaiting retrieval. Yet, at the moment of approach, as he was about to step through, suddenly... the massive gate rumbled, shaking violently. A cold, killing aura, erupted from within. Xu Qing halted, his eyes narrowing sharply. Outside the giant gate, people were coming! The arrivals were not solitary but more than a hundred. Each donned peculiar armor, stained with blood — some belonging to gods, some their own. Exhaustion hidden beneath all, within which lay sorrow. Silently, they advanced. In the guard's midst, a colossal coffin was borne by more than ten practitioners. Upon the coffin was draped the flag of the Fifth Starring. Witnessing this, Xu Qing withdrew silently, standing aside quietly. The group of practitioners continued, unaware of Xu Qing, marching on steeped in grief until they reached distances afar. As their backs faded from view, Xu Qing could distinctly sense an inherent killing intent amid the grief of the crowd. It wasn’t an energy forged merely from practitioner duels; this raw determination Xu Qing knew well. It was the battlefield essence of killing intent, formed from the pervasive presence in battles! They hailed from war! And the being within that coffin... Xu Qing had found the answer. Surely, a fallen immortal within. With the remains of a fallen god, the valiant spirits were being laid to rest! Solemn, Xu Qing watched them proceed to a void, bidding farewell to the coffin in solemn kneeling, singing ancient ballads imbued with anguish. These ballads, as soul-guiding or as chants of praise, evoked stars in the void, multiplying like sand, like soil, enshrouding the coffin. Gradually engulfing it. With stars like dust, eventually forming a star system, birthing a stone monument. Noble and proud, the practitioners slowly rose, following the lead practitioner’s gesture, they all chorused in unison. “We honor you, Immortal Sovereign!” The cry echoed, full of fervor amidst the farewell, lingering for a long while... Until silently, the military practitioners turned away, departing with mournful dignity. Watching all this, Xu Qing didn't return immediately but approached the bone-burying star system of that heroic spirit, bowing toward the stone slab. "As life is but a dream, the years a song, amidst the stars and sea, ultimately farewells must come." "I am Ling Ke, Immortal Sovereign, sundering true gods, drinking true god's blood, leaving an imprint to usurp, occupying by force, venture forth to glimpse the future… Return, will it be them or me!" "If them, my bones scatter golden light, posterity may erase to obliterate the god's essence; if myself... then silver light shall blaze, and I shall again sever gods!" This figure, distinct from those Xu Qing encountered before, seemed to explore the inextinguishment principles alongside gods! With a keen gleam in his eyes, Xu Qing was about to scrutinize further, only to hear a sigh resonate behind him. Turning towards the sound, he saw an elderly hunchback approaching through the cosmic expanse. It was the guardian at the altar outside the giant gate. Step by step, he arrived before the monument. "The war has moved to its next phase." "Spirit guardians here will increase, and this one I have heard of, spending his life probing the secrets of true gods' immortality." The old man sighed. Xu Qing stepped back a few paces, contemplating before bowing, he posed a question. "Senior, this war is?" The old man turned, gazing at Xu Qing with profound intent. "The storms of the world fall upon all creatures equally, and if one doesn’t feel it, there must be someone blocking the tempest that should be yours." "The Immortal Lord of Zhanlu is that person, guarding the frontiers, securing against Fourth Starring's invasion—a battle of starrings, a struggle between gods and immortals." Finished speaking, the elder withdrew his gaze, peering into the distance. He raised his hand, producing a bronze bell missing its tongue. The bell seemed mundane, yet upon appearance, stirred cosmic ripples, with faint iridescence flowing within. "Once, a friend of mine perished at the hands of a Divine Master of the Fourth Starring, his life extinguished, but his treasure was melted yet not vanished, formed into this shape. Within retains a trace of Divine Master's might. He asked me to find a worthy bond to bestow it upon." Xu Qing’s eyes focused, regarding the elder. The old man gestured, causing the bell to float aside, before turning towards the distance. Yet his voice lingered through the cosmic realm. "I heard your words." "Admiring that empress, as old as I am." "And this world, its complexity matches human nature, so don't mind the opinions of others." "I believe, if these old friends here were still present, in their minds, they would understand." "But now, they are left with obsessions, indomitable against deities." "You're outstanding, shouldn't depart empty-handed." "This gift, I grant to you." The aged figure faded away, disappearing at length, leaving only one final phrase echoing softly. "Such deities... I've met them... more human than many."