Chapter 834: The Assembly of the Gods? I vaguely remember it (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
The black-clad warrior, who considered himself quite old and, while not necessarily worldly-wise, had few truly frightening things that could stir his inner fears. Yet, Shen Youli before him had managed to do just that.
After the other person finished saying "Damn, three years old, kill him" in a murderous tone, their expression suddenly changed the next second. The murderous intent was replaced by innocence and grievance. Even a change of expression couldn't be faster than that.
Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and moist, and her lips were pouting as she grumbled pitifully, "You're yelling at Youli! You're such a bad person! What right do you have to order Youli around? Youli has been so bored lately, and I finally got a new toy and a new friend. I don't want to break it so soon! I'm not listening, I'm not listening, you're just nagging! You're bullying Youli, and Youli is going to tell all the other kids!"
As he spoke, the scythe in his hand nearly severed his head. The black-clad warrior barely dodged the fatal blow, his injuries meeting the mockery, naivety, and cruelty in those almond-shaped eyes. Instantly, a strange suspicion welled up in his mind.
Did he really manage to dodge the attack on his own?
Or was it a deliberate manipulation by the other party, enjoying the prey's struggle before death? At this moment, Shen Youli seemed like a pure, innocent, and naive child, saying that she wanted to be friends with the caterpillar, but in her hand she was holding a stone and smashing the caterpillar into mincemeat.
In a child's eyes, life and death are vague concepts, or they may not even have a concept of life and death yet. They simply enjoy deriving pleasure from their own actions. Shen Youli in front of me seems to be playing the role of a child smashing caterpillars.
The black-clad warrior tried to evade Shen Youli's lock.
Unfortunately, the other party kept pestering him, like a persistent ghost.
The next moment, Shen Youli's expression changed again, her tone filled with fierce anger: "What are you doing, acting all cute? It's one thing to be a yandere with other people, but you're going to be a yandere with me? Are you a three-year-old? You're going to complain to Wu Hui and the others? Have you no shame! If you can't get this man in front of you, just admit you're not good enough. If you can't, give me back my body. I can, I'll take over!"
Shen Tang thought that the children mentioned by the three-year-old benevolent mind were Chu Yao and his group, which the evil mind had mentioned, and her anger soared to ten points!
That's shameless! They even tattled on me!
Shen Tang cursed and swore, her emotions running high as she launched into a tirade, her words clear and distinct: "The Gods' Guild, is it? Stirring up trouble, is it? Let them come one by one, one day I'll shove a plunger right up their ass to their throats! What kind of cult dares to steal my thunder? Not only will I feed that bastard with the ashes of his ancestors for eighteen generations, but I'll also chop off their heads and use them as chimes, and I'll even scald the maggots in my outhouse with hot water to disinfect them!"
"Three years old, did you hear me?"
Shen Tang's last words were full of warnings of danger.
"Waaaaah, you're so mean!" Shen Youli's expression changed again. First, her eyes welled up with tears, and I, seeing her pitiful state, uttered the most pitiful words while simultaneously employing the most venomous move. In an instant, her voice turned sinister, and she giggled, "If you're mean to Youli, next time we're face to face, be careful Youli might pluck your head off! Hehe, Youli has never played with her own head before..."
Shen Tang: "..."
Is this really me when I was a child?
How could I have been so abnormal when I was a child?
Even if she's a pervert, I still think she's a pervert!
Shen Tang was furious: "Kill him!"
Shen Tang felt like she was playing a novel turn-based game, with the three-year-old Shan Nian saying one thing and her responding. As for the black-clad warriors whose skin was being scraped away by the scythe, leaving thin, almost transparent strips of flesh? That was just part of their game.
A three-year-old's kind thought: "No."
Shen Tang urged, "Kill him!"
Three-year-old Shan Nian even stomped his foot when he had a moment: "No way!"
Because Shen Tang had returned, both Wei Shou and Chu Jie felt a sense of relief at surviving a calamity. If their lord hadn't returned soon, Chu Jie would have had to gamble with his own life. One strike would be enough to kill the black-clad warrior, even if it was a higher-level attack; the next strike would miss, leaving Chu Jie with no choice but to self-destruct.
When it came to the crucial outcome, Chu Jie hesitated to make a move.
The pressure then fell on Wei Shou's side.
No matter how tough he is, with a defense as strong as a tortoise shell, he will eventually be shattered by the black-clad warrior.
With Shen Tang's arrival, Wei Shou's life was spared.
He took a few deep breaths to calm his breathing, and his complexion was much better than before. He asked Chu Jie, "How are you?"
As his martial energy accumulated and surged, his skin was stretched to its limit, and Chu Jie's face turned so red it was almost blood-dripping. At first glance, he looked like a huge meatball wrapped in an extremely thin dumpling skin. After steaming, you could see the pinkish flesh through the translucent skin.
Chu Jie dared not open his mouth.
The moment he opens his mouth, you get the illusion that he's unleashing a martial spirit.
Wei Shou frowned as he looked at the restless, erratic dragon shadow on his arm and asked worriedly, "Then what are you going to do about this?"
Holding back martial energy will easily damage your meridians. Does the lord expect us to bring the black-clad warrior over and hand over his head to Chu Jie?
Chu Jie shook his head again, indicating that he was fine.
Just then, the catapults above the heavy shield warrior legion below simultaneously conjured new siege stones. The catapults, having all charged, flew towards the city wall at a command. Chu Jie glanced at his opponent, whose body was being toyed with by Shen Jun, knowing the latter was doomed today. He flashed to the sky above the Chaoli Pass city wall, conjuring a weapon and pouring all his martial energy into it.
With a single swing, a golden blade of light hundreds of feet long tore through the darkness.
The golden light was dazzling, and many people instinctively closed their eyes.
Puff puff puff puff—
The stones, flying halfway through their flight, instantly shattered into dust upon contact with the golden light, scattering and falling in a flurry of motion. Their remaining force swept towards the giant catapults with overwhelming force. The lead catapult was instantly engulfed, and the enemy, reacting quickly, formed a defensive formation to protect it. They simply hadn't expected that this single strike would be enough to kill a sixteenth-rank Grandmaster!
The golden light broke through three layers of military defenses.
The remaining force was still enough to destroy another catapult and severely damage another. The damaged giant catapult would require a large amount of morale to repair and reuse. Having completely expended his accumulated martial energy, Chu Jie's face turned deathly pale, and he could barely maintain his airborne state. Just as he was preparing to gather his remaining energy and land safely, a powerful incantation struck him precisely above his head.
The Dan Mansion was like parched land receiving sweet rain.
Based solely on the familiar aura of the scholar, he knew who had made the move without even searching, which greatly improved his mood. His action significantly reduced the pressure on the city wall's defenses, and Chu Jie landed safely, coincidentally right beside Chu Yao. More accurately, beside his avatar.
I'm in charge of the home game and don't have time to deal with him.
Chu Jie quickly sat down to meditate and regulate his breathing.
With Shen Jun present, and her presence overseeing things, there shouldn't be any need to worry about high-level enemy martial artists causing trouble for the time being. He opened his eyes after only one small cycle of Qi circulation: "I just heard Shen Jun mention the Gathering of Gods."
Chu Wenqi's incarnation, Yao, had been rushing around the city walls and battlefields, but Chu Jie had directly destroyed their catapults. It would take time for the new catapults to be assembled, and with the help of his own troops to distract and disrupt them, this time could be extended even further.
He can finally catch his breath.
Chu, the embodiment of literary talent, Yao: "The assembly of the gods..."
Chu Jie chuckled: "I haven't heard that name in a long time."
Chu Wenqi, incarnation of Yao, frowned and said, "How does my lord know about the Council of Gods? Could it be that my lord has been in contact with them?"
His face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Chu Jie knew why he did that.
This is like the old farmer Chu Yao, who toils year-round tending his fertile fields, working from dawn till dusk, only to find his harvest stolen by a landlord. The fact that Chu Yao didn't grab a weapon and slaughter the landlord's entire family is a testament to his good character…
"The Pantheon is no good. Shen Jun is still young. If he gets involved with this stuff, even if his ancestral graves are buried in a feng shui treasure land, they will collapse..." Chu Jie muttered twice, his words filled with undisguised hatred, his eyes flashing with ferocity.
Chu Wenqi, the embodiment of Yao, resolutely said, "No! Fifth Brother is by no means an ignorant, stupid, greedy person."
He spoke with absolute certainty.
He knew his lord.
When Goro redeemed him from Yuehua Tower, it proved his destiny, and the other party would never do anything to dig his own grave.
Chu Jie, however, was not so optimistic.
Before long, they heard Shen Tang's long string of curses, and their expressions instantly turned strange. Chu Jie was taken aback for a second, then slapped his thigh and burst into laughter: "Shen Jun... no, my lord, she's truly a wonderful person! She's amazing!"
The name "Alliance of the Gods" is rarely known to outsiders.
However, he is a household name in certain small circles.
Chu Jie also learned of its existence by accident.
Specifically, he found out through Chu Yao.
Chu Yao received a mysterious letter after returning from the Northern Desert battlefield when he was young, and Chu Jie had also seen it. The letter was completely black, made of some unknown material, and felt like a piece of top-quality mutton fat jade, delicate and smooth to the touch.
On the front are three characters written with a murderous intent in their brushstrokes—
The Assembly of Gods
The young scholar frowned and remained silent as he looked at the post.
Chu Jie strode over, all carefree: 【No worries! No worries!】
Chu Yao rolled his eyes rudely: [Are you trying to summon a spirit?]
The burly Chu Jie scratched the back of his head: "Wu Hui, it's been so long since I've seen you! How are those barbarians from the Northern Desert? Are they as ferocious and savage as the rumors say, covered in fur, drinking human blood, eating raw meat? Haha, do you know you're now one of the 'Three Heroes of Chu Kingdom,' and you're still the youngest. Take care of your brother from now on."
Chu Yao turned away, not wanting to pay attention to his nagging.
With Chu Jie around, there wouldn't be any awkward silences, because he'd always find something to talk about: "Hey? Whose invitation is this? How unlucky! Black background with yellow lettering, and something about 'The Gathering of Gods'? That name sounds weird. Which organization is hosting this 'Floating Wine Cups' banquet?"
Chu Yao poured himself a cup of tea.
Chu Jie curiously opened the invitation and gasped in surprise.
[Wow! What arrogance! They think they can control the entire universe? Are all these gods a bunch of lunatics?]
As he continued reading, Chu Jie's expression became even more peculiar.
Judging from the invitation, the Pantheon seems to be an alliance of both scholars and warriors, whose members are all prodigies or renowned figures. It boasts an extremely long history, possesses the richest resources on the entire continent, and its members are spread across the globe. This time, they've taken a liking to Chu Yao's early success, valuing talent and hoping to recruit him as a member. They guarantee that once Chu Yao joins the Pantheon, his future achievements will far surpass his current level; he shouldn't be confined to a small place like Chu Kingdom!
Chu Jie shook his head vigorously: "No, no, Wu Hui, we can't be fooled. This 'Gods' Society' looks suspicious; it's probably some kind of illegal trafficking organization. Wu Hui, you look down on them, right? We've already made a deal: from now on, I'll be the commander-in-chief, and you'll be the strategist, as we expand our territory!"
Annoyed by his antics, Chu Yao snatched the invitation from his hand and glanced mockingly at Chu Jie, who was like an ant on a hot pan.
After a long pause, he gave a slow and deliberate response.
I don't plan to, but I'd like to go and take a look.
Even if Chu Yao is precocious, he is still a young man.
He was forever filled with curiosity and a thirst for exploration regarding the unknown, and at the same time possessed an indomitable tenacity—he wanted to see if these gods were truly as they appeared, or merely a facade. Were there really so many outstanding talents among them?
Chu Jie was relieved: [Really just going to look?]
Chu Yao, holding up his teacup, said: "A promise is a promise."
Chu Jie picked up his teacup and clinked it against his.
A promise is a promise.
Chu Jie, disguised as Chu Yao's personal guard, and the two audacious young men arrived as scheduled. This gathering of gods was shrouded in mystery; all attendees wore masks, and some even muffled their voices. Even so, Chu Yao recognized a few people among them—
Every single one of them is an outstanding individual!
Judging from their conversation, this banquet was merely a regular gathering of members of the Pantheon from several nearby small countries, belonging to the marginalized group. It is understood that the Pantheon has different ranks within its ranks, with newly joined members being at the lowest level.
If a member gains a certain reputation or status, they can be promoted to a higher rank after review by the branch. Only true big shots can join the core of the Gods' Society. It is said that core seats are extremely rare, and each seat belongs to a powerful figure who can turn the tide of events at will.
Members can cooperate and communicate with each other.
It may be for profit, or for spiritual practice.
The Gods' Guild has little power to control its members; on the contrary, members enjoy access to its resources. Rare and precious ancient texts of the Word of Power, treasured by noble families and elites, are readily available and easily accessible here. As a result, the Gods' Guild has a large number of die-hard followers.
After walking around with him, Chu Jie was also tempted.
[So many benefits?] You can enjoy the resources of the Pantheon, and you can also make friends with countless high-ranking and powerful people. There are kings and nobles everywhere here, and powerful families are everywhere... If you can get one or two of their help in the future, your future will be limitless!
Chu Jie was tempted, but Chu Yao had little interest in it.
He asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Chu Yao frowned and said, "The Pantheon is not a benevolent organization."
Chu Jie recalled what he saw and heard during this trip: [Was there?]
It is clearly a charity even more charitable than a traditional charity.
Chu Yao said with a solemn expression: "Didn't you notice the conversation among these members? Today, two of them were chatting and laughing, and their words were full of political maneuvering, manipulating the political landscape, and even hinting at starting wars... There was even a hint of competition between them..."
[These are matters that often involve countless lives...]
It was just a joke they told us...
The boy was so angry that his eyes were red.
Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together!
Chu Jie clapped his hands in delight: 【Hmm, hmm, hmm, we're on the same page! With your talent and reputation, Wu Hui, you'd be a worthy successor even outside the Gods' Guild. What a crappy Gods' Guild, to hell with it!】
However, it was the State of Chu that encountered the ghost.
Although it was Xin Kingdom that sent troops to conquer Chu Kingdom, it was actually the work of members of the Pantheon in Xin Kingdom, because Chu Jie recognized one of them by his voice and figure... Chu Kingdom? Chu Kingdom was just a game played by members of the Pantheon out of boredom.
|ω`)
The Pantheon is ostensibly an elite organization, with members outside the core admitted through a recommendation system, making them difficult for outsiders to contact. Their logic for stirring up trouble is clear: a unified government on the continent would inevitably need to consolidate resources from all sides, and would hardly allow such an organization to exist. In other words, Tang Mei and her group are unificationists, while the Pantheon is a separatist. Maintaining a power split in this world is the safest and most profitable option for them.
P.S.: This is not a reference to any real-life event or prototype. Please don't bring up any real-world examples, or I might get reported or banned.
P.S.: Hehe, while writing this, I suddenly remembered that Lin Feng might also have received an invitation. Later, Tang Mei impersonates someone to attend, using the cult's name to wipe out all its members within the country—open the door, delivery!
(End of this chapter)
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