Chapter 522 - 517: The New God

North of Da Li lies the Northern Wilderness, a vast and endless prairie.

Traveling through this region, the earth and sky are boundless, rarely touched by human presence.

At this moment, on a vast prairie, a Black Bull is leisurely pacing, while on its broad back lies a scholarly young man, hands behind his head, a scroll of book covering his face.

"Sir, we are about to reach our tribe," a crisp voice rings out beside him.

The scholar extends a hand to move the scroll, tilting his head to glance sideways, spotting a woman dressed in prairie attire, her black hair woven into colorful long braids, with intricate silver ornaments crossing her hair bun, producing chime-like sounds in the wind, the red bead adorning her forehead like a gemstone, making her shine brilliantly.

Her eyes are bright and spirited, and a sword is slung on her back.

The scholar sits up on the bull’s back, gazing in the distance where smoke rises, indicating homes.

"Do the people in your tribe all worship the Heavenly God?" the scholar asks.

"Yes, the Northern Grassland Tribe all worship the Grassland Sky God," the woman responds with a carefree smile.

"Has your tribe ever seen the Grassland Sky God?" the scholar asks again.

Sang shakes her head and says, "Bu told me the grassland tribes are fraught with danger, and the children of the prairie are always ready to lose their lives but even so, we love this prairie. We defy fate – the Grassland Sky God grants us strength, gives us courage, enabling us to face life and death freely."

The scholar nods, recalling that when he met Sang, her companions had already fallen, yet Sang’s optimism and resilience affected him.

He has read many books, understands many truths, has encountered many people, but no matter how much knowledge or cultivation one has, they remain no different from common people when faced with life and death.

"Sang, if one day... I mean if... you were to find out that there is no such thing as a Sky God, or the God in your heart differs from your imagination, could you accept it?" the scholar asks.

"I’ve never seen the Sky God, and don’t believe the Sky God would protect the prairie natives. My companions and I are innocent, and if it weren’t for you, I’d be dead with them by now. So, I trust you more, but regardless, the existence of the Grassland Sky God provides psychological solace to the people," Sang replies with a clear and pure smile.

A wise girl, Mu Changqing is moved by Sang’s smile.

Sang’s tribe consists of hundreds of households with thousands of people. Upon returning to the tribe, they held memorials for the fallen men, then everything returned to normal.

Mu Changqing stayed with the tribe.

"Why does Sir like reading so much?" On the tribal hill, Sang sits beside Mu Changqing, questioning the scholar lying next to her clutching a scroll.

"Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles reveals the world," Mu Changqing replies.

"Has Sir traveled far?" Sang asks.

"Very far." Mu Changqing nods, having traveled across the Central Plains, reached the academy in Central State’s heartland, journeyed to distant Sea Domain, and now arrived at the Northern Wilderness near the Demon Court.

"Will Sir continue to travel?" Sang seemingly ponders.

"Yes," Mu Changqing answers.

"Can I follow you?" Sang’s cheeks blush slightly as she asks but her bright and clear eyes remain fixed on Mu Changqing.

"It’s a tough path." Mu Changqing smiles, glancing at the beautiful prairie girl.

"I’m not afraid," Sang’s determined gaze reflects a monumental decision.

"You can’t go where I’m headed." Mu Changqing still smiles as he refuses Sang’s enthusiasm.

"Sir, Sang can endure hardships," a dark-skinned man clad in beast skin approaches, carrying wine and meat, reaching Mu Changqing’s side.

"Bu."

Sang feels a bit shy seeing her father’s attention to her words.

The prairie girl decides to follow someone on a journey, implying a lifetime of wandering.

Mu Changqing stands and accepts the wine and meat offered by the man, unexpectedly saying, "Tota, you approve of Sang leaving?"

"She is free, as are all children of the prairie."

"The prairie isn’t free." Mu Changqing shakes his head. Tota doesn’t grasp Mu Changqing’s meaning as sound echoes from afar, vibrating the ground.

Tota’s hair bristles; his gaze becomes eagle-like. The roar from sky and ground approaches, terrifying demon energy sweeps in, and the entire tribe emerges, halting their actions as they see demons appearing in the distance, silently praying to the God.

A cloud of despair and suffocation blankets the entire tribe.

After seeing the demon formation, Tota silently prays.

"It’s the God punishing us for our sins, praying the Sky God protects my daughter Sang and the visiting guest."

Tota looks at Sang, saying, "Take the Sir away."

With that, he draws the curved blade from his back, pointing it at the demons approaching from the sky, striding forward despite knowing there’s no return, yet his eyes show no fear.

The tribe raises their bows and arrows, aiming at the approaching demons.

"Sir, Sang can’t leave with you, I’ll escort you away," the young girl’s eyes exude a resolution of facing death.

"Why leave?" Mu Changqing asks.

"Sir, although demons have previously invaded the tribe, no Demon King ever appeared. The arrival of the Demon King is divine punishment meant to annihilate the tribe," Sang responds.

Fifth Realms’ demons are undeniably an unrelenting force against ordinary tribes.

"What sin did the tribe commit, needing punishment?" Mu Changqing asks again.

"The life forms of the prairie are all protected by the God. Whether demon or human, everyone bears guilt," Sang replies.

"If a God truly exists who doesn’t allow both humans and demons to coexist, then it must be the God who is guilty." Mu Changqing’s bold statement catches Sang off guard.

Soon, the demons encircle the tribe, and arrows fired by the tribal warriors cannot pierce the demonic hides appearing in the sky, and fierce demons are preparing to slaughter.

The prairie girl, eyes reddened, urges Mu Changqing to leave.

The old bull grazing nearby raises its head, red light flickering in its eyes. Then, the tribe witnesses a scene they will never forget — the far-off, fair scholar riding the Black Bull transforms to a thousand-foot form, overseeing the arriving Demon Kings, who fall to the ground in submission, and all bloodthirsty demons kneel.

"Get out!"

The Black Bull spoke human words, and the demons kneeling on the ground rolled away, rolling further and further.

Sang stared blankly at the scholar holding the scroll, his words echoing in her mind: then, surely the Sky God is guilty.

At night, the tribe gathered around the bonfire singing and dancing, Mu Changqing sat in the midst of the crowd, with many girls dancing in front of him.

Sang was right next to him, looking at those girls with an unwelcoming gaze.

"Sir," an elder approached Mu Changqing’s side, he was the tribe’s elder.

"Sir, you must be the Great Cultivator from Da Li?" the elder asked.

"Elder sir, junior comes from Da Li," Mu Changqing stood to reply.

"Sir, please sit." The elder helped Mu Changqing to sit down, then knelt on the ground, quieting those around them.

"Elder sir..." Mu Changqing stepped forward to assist, but the old man continued to kneel, looking up at Mu Changqing: "The tribe has angered the Sky God, the demons are the punishment sent by the Sky God. Although sir drove the demons away, the punishment from the Sky God will not stop there. I plead with you to take the children away from the grassland, they are innocent."

"Elder sir, please sit back down." A force lifted the elder, and he was compelled to sit beside Mu Changqing.

"Junior has some things that are unclear and wish to consult with the elder," Mu Changqing said: "The grassland stretches endlessly, demons rampage. Why has the tribe been able to continuously thrive, and why do they believe that this calamity of demons is the punishment from the Sky God?"

"The grassland is rampant with demons, but there are countless tribes large and small, some with warriors like sir. The Sky God has taught them the ways of cultivation. Over the years, the grassland has endured many hardships, we go out to hunt, demons also come to the tribe to hunt. This is the law of survival on the grassland, but seldom does a disaster far beyond a tribe’s ability appear. If it does, it means it is the punishment from the Sky God," the elder explained.

Mu Changqing nodded: "I will stay on the grassland for a time, and will not leave the tribe yet."

The elder looked at Mu Changqing for a moment, then sighed. He stood and addressed the crowd: "Let us pray together that the punishment of the Sky God does not fall upon the children, that a new life may be found for the grassland fire elsewhere, and also pray for sir."

Everyone stopped their movements, following the elder in silent prayer. Sang glanced at Mu Changqing, then joined them, though she doesn’t truly believe the Sky God exists, it’s a tradition on the grassland.

Mu Changqing watched all of this silently, beneath the dim firelight, it seemed a power of faith pierced the night.

Even in the face of punishment, they still worship their god; the Sky God grants them the courage to face death and hope for life’s continuation.

As a tribe elder, the elder’s words soon came to fruition.

Days later, the grassland trembled, the sky pressed down with black clouds, oppressively so.

Terrifying demon fog enveloped the tribe, a gigantic head emerged from the fog, it was a Fierce Beast Taowu, its eyes brimming with ferocity.

The elder looked up at the sky, despairingly closing his eyes, the tribe was also in despair, they could feel that overwhelming oppression.

A Demon King-level existence, before the arriving demons, they were like ants crawling behind.

The Great Demon’s eyes focused on Mu Changqing.

Mu Changqing raised his hand, reaching towards the sky, an infinitely large sky palm appeared high above, directly smashing down, landing on the Great Demon.

That Great Demon didn’t even have time to unleash its might before it was directly pinned down by the hand. With a thunderous crash, the ground was struck with a deep pit, the hand firmly holding the Great Demon in the pit, its ferocious eyes turning to fear.

The other demons that followed were shocked, evidently not expecting such a scene.

"Boom..." A massive Bull Demon descended from the sky, crushing countless demons underneath, including that Great Demon.

Distant demons fled in all directions.

The elder and the tribe were stunned, quietly watching the silhouette of the frail scholar on the hillside.

"Boom..." In the clear sky, there suddenly came thunder; countless destructive lightning ravaged the various parts of the grassland, and cries of anguish echoed from the grassland.

In an instant, the sky for miles appeared like the end of the world.

Countless people knelt in prayer, seeking the Sky God’s forgiveness.

The tribe too trembled, the Sky God appeared, delivering divine punishment.

The elder trembled and knelt, the tribe had never seen such a scene and also knelt on the ground.

Sang still stood, she stood behind Mu Changqing, silently observing that silhouette.

"Does the Grassland Sky God really exist?" a thought formed in her mind.

She saw the scholar’s silhouette rise, ascending into the sky, beneath thousands of destructive lights.

Mu Changqing looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with anger.

He rarely gets angry, but this time, he was enraged.

Besides anger, there was a hint of guilt.

Is he saving or destroying the grassland?

The faith in the Sky God held by the grassland might collapse, but what after?

Can he stay forever?

Mu Changqing slowly raised his hand, golden divine glory shone on the grassland, an infinitely large silhouette appeared, it was Mu Changqing’s silhouette.

The silhouette had its head skyward, feet planted on the grassland’s earth, the hand it extended turned into an immense golden hand, lifting up the entire sky, blocking the endless destructive light.

Above the sky appeared a face, seemingly confronting Mu Changqing across space.

The tribe watched the figure holding up the skies, then glanced at their worshiped Sky God, the elder shifted direction and knelt toward Mu Changqing’s silhouette.

The tribe also all bowed, the Sky God should not bring disaster but salvation.

Mu Changqing’s eyes still carried anger, since he had destroyed an idol.

Then, he shall become the new god of the grassland!