Chapter 109 Tyrant Ke Nian, welcome back. ...
This was not the first time Shen Hengzhen had seen the true form of the Heavenly Venerable Lin Shen, but this was the first time that he and Lin Shen had met privately like this.
Once outside the incense-filled sacrificial ground, Lin Shen looked almost like an ordinary person. Shen Hengzhen, dressed in a black imperial robe, stood before him without appearing weak. Unlike Yun Tianqi, who was filled with trepidation before the gods, Shen Hengzhen simply looked at Lin Shen coldly, with an air of arrogance.
Lin Shen smiled and nodded in approval: "Indeed, this is the demeanor a human emperor should have."
"What brings you here, Celestial Venerable?" Shen Hengzhen was too lazy to exchange pleasantries with him. He could guess Lin Shen's intentions. "Could it be that you've come to take my life?"
Lin Shen strolled leisurely through the hall, observing the surroundings. It was not much different from when Yun Tianqi was in power, except that the altar where the celestial tablet was enshrined was gone. "The celestial being must not harm the lives of mortals, otherwise it would be against the way of heaven and would surely suffer the consequences. Even if I wanted to harm you, I could not do it."
Shen Hengzhen sneered, "But my sister still died at the hands of you gods."
Mentioning Shen Qiongzhi, Lin Shen's smile faded slightly. He was standing at the intersection of light and shadow in the room, and his face, half-lit and half-shadowed, showed a somewhat haggard and weak look. Unlike his former bright and cheerful self, he looked like a patient suffering from an illness.
"The murderer who harmed Miss Shen has been punished. Is Your Majesty still not at peace with him?" he asked casually.
Shen Hengzhen glared at her with hostility, "Relief? Ha, we ordinary mortals are probably not as carefree and magnanimous as you gods. If it weren't for the corrupting influence of this worship of gods, how could Qiongzhi have ended up like this? How could Yunchi Kingdom have been destroyed?"
As Shen Hengzhen said, the joys and sorrows of mortals are insignificant to the gods. Faced with his anger, Lin Shen merely watched coldly and aloofly, without giving any response.
In the end, even Shen Hengzhen felt that he was somewhat ridiculous.
It is said that gods are compassionate, merciful, and love all living beings, but would humans have mercy on ants? Standing on the clouds, possessing supreme power and an endless life, how could they empathize with mortals who are like mayflies to them?
They regard ordinary people as worthless, only needing the offerings of worshippers. And the worshippers' willingness to give all they have incense and candles only fuels their arrogance and indifference.
How unfair!
The provider needs to be mindful of the recipient's mood.
"If the Heavenly Venerable has nothing more to say, please leave. Suppressing the practice of worshipping gods is a national policy of this dynasty, and it will not be changed unless I die."
Lin Shen watched quietly as Shen Hengzhen vented his anger, which turned into sarcasm and then into impatience, while he remained calm and composed throughout.
“Shen Hengzhen, I have not come here today to persuade you to stop the practice of worshipping gods.” As he spoke, he slowly approached, gently raised a hand and placed it on Shen Hengzhen’s head, his smile extremely gentle. “I have only come to help you find yourself.”
"What are you going to do!" Shen Hengzhen stepped back, but how could a mortal like him easily dodge the power of a god?
In an instant, a tremendous force poured into his head like a flood, seemingly about to burst his skull at any moment.
"..."
Shen Hengzhen felt countless images flash through her mind; those unfamiliar faces, scenes, and sounds gradually became clear and familiar in her consciousness.
Kṣṭṭhāṣ ...
He saw himself wearing the robes of a military general, with a solemn face, and wherever he went, low-ranking gods would respectfully bow and pay homage to him.
He saw himself sitting on the high altar, chin in hand, listening listlessly to the prayers and vows of the worshippers.
He saw himself laughing and making plans to drink with a goddess, and then taking turns to hand over his post at the Tianzhu outpost.
Among the myriad worlds and the wonders of the three realms, he was the first creator god, living as long as the Heavenly Pillar that nurtured these gods. For ten thousand years, he experienced neither sorrow nor joy, his heart as still as water, undisturbed by even the slightest ripple.
Until one day, the pillar of heaven broke.
All the images in my mind rushed through me at a dizzying speed, converging on one place and finally settling on the woman's aloof face.
The woman stood on the God-Slaying Lotus Platform, having removed her divine robes and crown, wearing only a white celestial garment. Facing the impending divine lightning from the heavens, she addressed the assembled gods with a mocking smile: "I am innocent."
Her beautiful, bright eyes were dazzling, and wherever her gaze fell, no one could hide.
Shen Hengzhen suddenly opened his eyes, as if he had exhausted a lot of energy in a very short time. He clutched his chest, arched his back, and gasped for breath.
"Ke Nian, are you going to stop me?" The woman held the vajra above her palm, looking over with icy eyes.
“You’ve always been so flamboyant, so… audacious,” he heard himself say.
The woman scoffed and asked again, "Ke Nian, are you going to stop me?"
"Have you thought this through? If you do, there will be no turning back."
The woman's eyes were filled with annoyance. She filled the vajra with divine power and shouted, "If you're not going to fight, then get out of my way!"
Just as the two were about to clash, he dodged and retreated.
"Gods have no mercy, they care nothing for the lives of the people, they are not like gods, they are more like demons. Go do what you want to do, I... will help you..."
Desire...
"Well, do you remember now? Do you know who you are?" The Celestial Venerable before him coiled around him like a venomous snake, hissing and flicking his tongue.
Shen Hengzhen was soaked in sweat. He slowly turned his head to look at Lin Shen, who confidently and arrogantly showed him a victor's smile, just like always.
"Welcome back, Lord Kenian."
Lin Shen even nodded slightly to him, performing a bow of equal rank, showing great familiarity and closeness.
Ke Nian helped Yu Meng escape and was punished by being banished to the mortal realm. At that time, Lin Shen was not yet a Celestial Venerable, but merely a deity with the status of a prince. The two were both divine generals guarding the Heavenly Pillar and had been colleagues for tens of thousands of years, so there was nothing wrong with their etiquette.
But things are different now. Yuan Si is dead, and Lin Shen has ascended the throne. He is now the undisputed supreme ruler of the heavens, leading all the gods.
Therefore, this gesture of courtesy to equals seems somewhat ironic.
It should be noted that although Yuan Si established a crown prince, there was no final decision on who should inherit the position of Heavenly Venerable. In fact, all seven of the original Gods had the opportunity to become the crown prince, including Kenian.
Shen Hengzhen slowly straightened up, his eyes now completely different from before, as if he were a different person.
He has awakened the consciousness of the God of Kenian. Although he is still a mortal, when he looks at Lin Shen at eye level, he is in no way inferior to the deity.
"Congratulations on finally becoming a Celestial Venerable, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Lin Shen paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"It's been so many years since I've heard anyone call me that. It's something to remember."
Lin Shen tried to pat Shen Hengzhen on the shoulder, but Shen Hengzhen indifferently avoided it.
"It was the minor deity who overstepped his bounds."
He missed his target, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face, but he quickly regained his smile.
"Now that you've remembered, Kenian, you should understand that you are currently only trapped in this mortal body. When this life is over, you will still return to your divine position and continue to be a god. And now that you are practicing the path of destroying gods, aren't you also destroying your own interests?"
Shen Hengzhen remained silent, and Lin Shen continued to coax him gently: "As you know, since the Heavenly Pillar has broken, even the gods have to rely on incense offerings from the mortal world to prolong their lives. Aren't you afraid that if you continue to act recklessly, your own divine essence will perish when you return to the Heavenly Court one day?"
"You'll eventually have to understand which side you're on." Lin Shen gave Shen Hengzhen a meaningful look.
Shen Hengzhen remained silent for a moment, then clasped his hands and bowed to Lin Shen, saying, "I understand."
Lin Shen was very satisfied; this time he had finally succeeded in patting Shen Hengzhen on the shoulder.
"It's good that you understand. You were just caught up in the situation before and couldn't see things clearly. Don't worry, I will take care of quelling the anger of your celestial colleagues. Once you have completed your tribulation, I will lead all the gods to welcome you back to the celestial realm. The position of the divine lord will be reserved for you forever."
Lin Shen never worried about what choices Shen Hengzhen would make after regaining Ke Nian's memories. He wasn't crazy enough to do something as stupid as destroying himself.
However, to his surprise, Shen Hengzhen had gone mad.
After leaving Lin Shen, instead of abolishing the decree to destroy the gods, he intensified his efforts to launch a near-frenzied attack and extermination against the remaining divine forces in various regions.
Enraged, Lin Shen went to confront Shen Hengzhen.
But Shen Hengzhen's response was unusually calm—
"Back then, I dreamed of severing the pillar of heaven, and I too could destroy the gods."
However, Shen Hengzhen is still in a mortal body and is also the Human Emperor, so Lin Shen has no way to do anything to him.
Enraged, Lin Shen returned to the Heavenly Court and ordered the officials in the Heavenly Realm to create natural disasters. He also spread rumors that this was divine punishment brought about by Shen Hengzhen's disrespect for the gods.
“Heavenly Venerable, doing this... might violate the laws of Heaven,” the Divine Venerable Yuli gently reminded him.
Before Lin Shen could speak, the other gods immediately attacked him.
"Lord Yuli, what time is it! If we don't take some drastic measures soon, we're all going to be wiped out."
"Yes, let's not be soft-hearted! While everyone's incense offerings still have some influence and they can still use their divine power, we must eliminate this person as soon as possible!"
Yu Li looked at the gods who were attacking him, and asked in a very soft voice, "Even if it means countless lives are lost, is that alright?"
"Hmph, in this world, the gods are supreme, and mortals die and are replaced, life goes on and on. Isn't that normal? As long as my Heavenly Realm stands, the Three Realms can function normally. What does it matter if a few people die?"
Yu Li Goddess fell silent, seemingly persuaded by the other gods, but she also seemed to detach herself from the turbulent court assembly. Her gaze gradually drifted away, looking at the broken pillar, as if she were looking at a person through the remaining remains of the pillar.
"...He was a general about to die in battle, a pitiful mortal about to be left to rot in the wilderness, and all I did was drape a cloak over his shoulders..."
The person's voice and appearance seem to be right before my eyes.
The goddess of yesteryear couldn't bear to leave even a mortal's corpse exposed, yet today's celestial rulers are willing to bring calamity upon the world in order to protect themselves.
“Heavenly Venerable, I am still recovering from my old injuries and am feeling somewhat weak. May I take my leave?” Yu Li suddenly spoke up, asking Lin Shen for permission.
Lin Shen glanced at her and casually agreed.
Yu Li gracefully departed, carrying her magical paper umbrella. Many gods criticized her behind her back, repeating the same few points: "When it comes to life and death, female gods are useless. They can manage childbirth and child-rearing all they want. It's a waste of their divine position."
However, they had no time to compete for the position of god. Having received Lin Shen's orders, they dispersed to the mortal realm and displayed their unique abilities.
As a result, the newly established kingdom, which was thriving under Shen Hengzhen's rule, was suddenly plagued by natural disasters. Sometimes there were torrential rains and widespread floods, other times there was unbearable heat and the earth cracked. Sometimes, a single thunderstorm could burn down an entire village.
Before the power of nature, human strength seemed so insignificant. Rumors soon began to circulate among the people, saying that this was all because the new emperor had disrespected the gods and had suffered divine punishment.
Within six months, civil and military officials jointly submitted a memorial, earnestly requesting the emperor to re-establish the incense-burning altar and personally go there to hold a sacrificial ceremony, kneeling and begging the gods to forgive their great disrespect.
However, Shen Hengzhen simply rejected the memorial. He seemed ruthless and determined to oppose the gods, issuing increasingly harsh decrees against the gods. Anyone who secretly burned incense to worship the gods would be executed without mercy.
Even so, some people still secretly set up shrines and prayed, hoping to get away with it. In the end, Shen Hengzhen increased the punishment to the point of implicating nine generations of relatives, but it was still impossible to stop.
Looking around, one sees corpses everywhere, blood flowing freely, and the heart-wrenching cries of "Tyrant!" rang out as death throbbed across the land, through the streets and alleys, through the cities and villages, and finally reached the imperial palace.
The ministers continued to submit memorials one after another. Even Wei Ji, who was the most supporter of Shen Hengzhen, could not sit still and found an opportunity to offer his advice in private.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should... stop. The power of the gods is irresistible; if this continues, something terrible may happen."
Shen Hengzhen ignored him and buried himself in the calculations on the sand table.
Having already received the memories of the God Venerable Ke Nian, he naturally knew how much incense offerings a god would need to maintain his divine essence after the Heavenly Pillar was severed.
The decree banning gods has been in effect for six years, killing off many low-ranking gods. If we can hold out for another four years, all gods below the rank of God-Emperor will perish. By then, only a few will remain, and without the support of offerings, they won't be able to cause any significant trouble.
Therefore, as long as the people endure these four most difficult years, they will be able to completely break free from the shackles of divine power and achieve true freedom.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please say something!" Wei Ji's eyes were bloodshot, hoping that Shen Hengzhen would respond.
"Wei Ji, there's no need to say such things again. My mind is made up, and there's no going back."
Wei Ji looked disappointed and could only kowtow heavily to Shen Hengzhen before leaving.
The emperor's rebellion against the Heavenly Spirits has implicated countless people, making him even worse than Shen Hengzhen of the previous dynasty. This realization has slowly become a consensus across the land. The people who once sang praises to Shen Hengzhen now wish they could devour his flesh and drink his blood.
Assassins gradually began to infiltrate the palace, attempting to assassinate the emperor. The imperial guards, who were initially loyal in protecting the capital, became perfunctory in their duties. Although they did not openly rebel, they all secretly hoped that this bewitched emperor would die quickly and restore peace to the land.
In the end, Shen Hengzhen didn't even dare to close his eyes to sleep.
Nine years and six months after the decree banning gods was promulgated, on this night, he was beheaded after only dozing off for a moment.
The one who killed him was none other than Wei Ji, his trusted confidant who had followed him through thick and thin and protected him with his life.
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