Chapter 674

Meng Ying softly hummed and said, "Your Grace Tina, you are right—my deity is indeed like that."

Empress Tina asked curiously, "Your Grace Meng Ying, does the Lord of Flame possess his own divine lineage?"

Meng Ying furrowed her brow slightly, thinking, "I'm not certain. My deity's divine realm is not manifest, and I do not know whether my deity has his own divine lineage—but…"

At that moment, Meng Ying thought of the Holy Flame Elf Empire in the north of the continent.

Meng Ying did not know the Abyss, but Meng Ying knew the Holy Flame Elf Empire.

Meng Ying had spent some time in the Holy Flame Elf Empire, and during her journey to the Purple Gold Empire with Princess Chenxi, they had spoken at length.

If it had been in the past, Meng Ying would have found it normal.

But now, after gaining greater understanding of the Heavenly Realm, Meng Ying suddenly realized that other deities each possessed only one realm, yet the Lord of Flame possessed two.

Most crucially, these two realms were one human realm and one elf realm.

And within the human realm, there were even beastmen—but since they were part of the same realm, it could be overlooked.

A deity's divine radiance is relatively concentrated; when divine radiance is cast down from the Heavenly Realm, it can only be directed to one realm.

No one would choose to cast divine radiance into two different realms, because divine radiance cannot be split.

No deity could do such a thing.

The question arose: how could the Lord of Flame simultaneously possess two realms?

Unless…

Through a divine lineage!

At that moment, Meng Ying thought of the Greenland Elves in the empire, who worshipped the Lord of Flame while also worshipping an elf goddess.

Meng Ying did not know that elves generally practiced dual or even multiple faiths.

So in Meng Ying's mind, was that elf goddess perhaps a member of the Lord of Flame's divine lineage?

Empress Tina said, "The standard for determining whether a deity has a divine lineage is whether that deity possesses multiple realms, and whether the people in those other realms practice dual faith!"

"Ah!"

Meng Ying gasped softly: "Then it really might be possible…"

Immediately, Meng Ying realized this might reveal the Lord of Flame's true power.

A flicker of surprise passed through Empress Tina's eyes; she said, "Your Grace Meng Ying, do not worry—I will not leak this, nor do I harbor ill intent."

The imperial performance lasted a long time before ending.

After this performance, several more solemn acts followed, and the festivities continued until midnight, when the banquet finally ended!

This millennium birthday celebration had come to a complete close!

Meng Ying bid farewell to Empress Tina and prepared to return to rest.

"Your Grace Meng Ying, when do you plan to leave?"

As they parted, Empress Tina asked.

Meng Ying said, "Tomorrow. I will come to bid you farewell before I depart, Your Grace Tina."

Empress Tina nodded and said, "Mm."

The two women exchanged goodnights and then went their separate ways.

Empress Tina returned to the inner palace, where she was still alone.

She walked again to the depths of the palace, extended her hand, and prepared to open the passage to all the rooms of the Magic Mirror.

But halfway through extending her hand, Empress Tina retracted it.

"If I asked you to first join a divine lineage for protection before attempting your breakthrough, you would most likely refuse."

Empress Tina whispered.

She understood her sister too well.

That was why she had stopped.

"But what if I sacrifice my own most sincere faith to seek a fourth-tier deity to intervene for you?"

Empress Tina murmured again.

"Yet the Lord of Flame appeared so suddenly, and his power is not yet definitively known. Moreover, your breakthrough this time might actually succeed. Faith is no trivial matter—I will investigate further, and decide only when you can no longer hold out."

In the palace, Empress Tina's whispers faded slowly.