Chapter 3106: Past Events of the Lingxu Holy Venerable

"Miti has always held a grudge against you, for when the Three Holy Gods were refining the World Heart Core at a critical juncture, you led the demons to launch a surprise attack, causing their endeavor to fail at the brink of success." He Lingchuan's question was: "Once the World Heart Core is refined, it can solve the problem of dwindling vitality in the heavenly realm. Why did you intervene to stop it?"

The might of the Three Holy Gods of the heavenly realm is beyond doubt, but the ancient demons were no match for Them. Yet They had spent a thousand years refining the World Heart Core, exhausting Their divine power to less than one-tenth, which is why the Lingxu Holy Venerable and other demons seized the opportunity.

The Three Holy Gods were defeated, and the refinement of the World Heart Core came to naught; the aging of the heavenly realm became irreversible. Otherwise, humanity later would not have suffered the demon invasion, nor would all living beings have endured such torment.

Of course, these statements all come from Miti, who necessarily speaks from the perspective of the Ancient God of Death. He Lingchuan could never understand how the Lingxu Holy Venerable could be so short-sighted.

Let the Three Holy Gods finish their task first, let the heavenly realm enjoy a second spring, then rebel if you must, fight if you must—that would be the reasonable course, wouldn't it?

When things deviate from the norm, there must be something strange; He Lingchuan knew there was more to this.

The Lingxu Holy Venerable smiled: "This is what Miti said, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"I personally caused the Three Holy Gods' miserable death, so of course He hates me to the bone. But—" the Lingxu Holy Venerable said slowly, "we were also seizing the last opportunity then—whether it would be eternal servitude or ultimate liberation depended on that all-out effort."

"The last opportunity?"

"Before refining the World Heart Core, the Three Holy Gods were the absolute overlords of the heavenly realm, allowing no deity to defy Them. But Their rule was extremely harsh, especially the Ancient God of Death's methods, which were brutal; any deity who resisted would be refined into a divine puppet. Moreover, while refining the World Heart Core, They simultaneously drew power from all the deities of the heavenly realm, not relying solely on Their own strength." The Lingxu Holy Venerable paused, "Only later did I learn a secret: once the World Heart Core is successfully refined, although the heavenly realm's dwindling spiritual energy can be resolved, the Three Holy Gods could thereby embed Themselves into the very laws of the entire heavenly realm."

Upon hearing this, He Lingchuan understood: "So the heavenly realm would be completely under Their control?"

"Exactly. At that time, They would be the world, and the world would be Them. With a single thought, They could control our life and death; we would be slaves and servants forever, with no hope of rising again." The Lingxu Holy Venerable gazed at the sky outside the tent, "Thus I knew that was our last chance. I urged the deities: if the rebellion succeeded, we would regain our freedom and could also seek other ways to restore vitality to the heavenly realm; if it failed, the heavenly realm's future prosperity or decline would have nothing to do with us, for we would no longer exist."

"Your eloquence is truly impressive."

Divinity is also humanity. He Lingchuan, having governed for many years, understands human nature far better than ordinary people; among the deities, there are those like the Lingxu Holy Venerable who firmly resist, there are those who resign themselves to fate, there are those who willingly serve the Three Holy Gods, and there are those who sit on the fence, ready to inform at any moment.

The Lingxu Holy Venerable had to win over these people while strictly guarding the secret—no easy task.

"Eloquence must be accompanied by means." the Lingxu Holy Venerable said leisurely, "When you subdued the Flashing Gold Plains, did you rely solely on eloquence?"

The two exchanged a glance, smiling in mutual understanding.

Honey or wolf-tooth club? In their hands, either could be played with flair.

Speaking of this, the Lingxu Holy Venerable's face also showed a hint of nostalgia for the past.

"In the era of the Three Holy Gods, I also did the right thing, made the correct choice."

"I see. You won, so later it was your turn to do as you pleased with the deities and humanity?" He Lingchuan laughed helplessly, "You once stood in the rain, you once got drenched, so when others hold up umbrellas on rainy days, you just want to knock theirs down?"

"Isn't there an old saying in the human realm? The Way of Heaven has cycles." the Lingxu Holy Venerable spread his hands, "This is what I should rightfully receive after defeating the Three Holy Gods. Strength and weakness, victory and defeat—how could the treatment possibly be the same?"

"Have you never heard the saying, 'Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire'?"

"Now that you have reached this status and position, do you yourself believe that saying?" the Lingxu Holy Venerable was amused by him, this brat pretending what before him? One who could stand at the pinnacle of worldly power could never be naive and romantic. "If you do not desire something for yourself, then do not impose it on others. Then, in this world, where would there be any order?"

He Lingchuan pondered: "Order?"

"What is order?" the Lingxu Holy Venerable smiled, "Order itself represents compulsion; order means someone must always be in charge. Whoever oversteps the line must be punished! Even if they are unwilling, they still must obey."

"But which living creature would truly be willing to obey another's commands? In your Dragon God army, so many soldiers—do you think they genuinely wish to be ordered onto the battlefield, to bleed for you, to die for you?" he said leisurely, "In this world, all beings must be governed. Not by me, then by you. Since we have established order, they cannot dare to dream of freedom."

"What if your order is overthrown?"

"Then there will be new rulers, then there will be a new order." the Lingxu Holy Venerable said lightly, "Just a turn in the cycle—nothing to make a fuss about."

The order of the Three Holy Gods was overthrown, the Lingxu Holy Venerable rose to power, and the heavenly realm gained a new order;

Perhaps one day, the order forged by the Lingxu Holy Venerable will also be overthrown.

"But first, the latercomers must have that capability."

He Lingchuan gazed at the fireworks occasionally flashing outside the tent, sighed, and said: "You still haven't made it clear—why exactly did you come today?"

"

"After the Black Dragon, you are the second person qualified to converse with me. In three thousand years, few have opposed me for so long and still lived to this day." This time, the Lingxu Holy Venerable reached out to pour water, "I wanted to see you. Once my true form descends to the mortal realm, I fear there will no longer be such calm and peaceful opportunities."

"Have you seen enough? Any thoughts?"

"Our heavenly realm has an old saying: 'When darkness comes, the morning star appears.' Seeing you now, I feel as if I am seeing many years ago my own self."

He Lingchuan laughed.

Is the Lingxu Holy Venerable praising him? No, he is praising his former self.

He praises the self who, in that dark moment, stepped forward to rebel against the tyranny and might of the Three Holy Gods of the heavenly realm—and succeeded!

Now, He sees in Jiuxiao the shadow of His former self, hence this reflection.

He Lingchuan deliberately said: "I thought you came to seek peace."

"If I proposed dividing the world with you, you would not agree, right?"

He Lingchuan turned his cup: "You can try, after all, you came all this way with sincerity."

He had to give the other side some face.