Chapter 785

The main reason is that humans in the Dark Abyss are like a giant lantern—too conspicuous; as soon as they enter, they're overwhelmed by dark creatures!

So usually only the Yucai Society enters the Dark Abyss.

To avoid becoming giant lanterns themselves, these Yucai Society members disguise themselves by gathering dark matter around their bodies, making themselves appear as dark creatures.

Now, in Empress Tina's mind, Angesite was precisely such a case.

"When did the Elven race produce such a powerful being? Could she be from another region of the continent?"

Empress Tina couldn't help wondering.

Whether the Eternal Night Empire, the Flame Empire, the human kingdoms and empires farther north of the Flame Empire, the Dark Forest, or the two neighboring Elven Empires—all lie in the northern section of the Gods Continent.

Elves naturally exist in other regions as well.

Chenxi and Lomina spent over several months flying their airship to collect over a million elves; even now, the combined elves of the two Elven Empires make up only about half of the total elven population on the Gods Continent.

In incredibly distant lands, vast numbers of elves still live.

But according to Empress Tina's knowledge, the northern Elven Empires seemed to have no Yucai Society members at all.

Yet the Angesite before her gave Empress Tina the impression of at least an equal-level powerhouse—more likely, even stronger than her!

This forced Empress Tina to speculate about Angesite's origins.

Meng Ying knew little about the Dark Abyss.

But seeing Angesite's transformation, Meng Ying exhaled in relief.

That faint sense of unfamiliar familiarity made Meng Ying puzzled, yet she had no desire to attack Angesite.

Since this was the Flame Empire, Meng Ying spoke first:

"This is the Flame Empire. Are you an elf from the Loki Elven Empire?"

Meng Ying didn't have as many suspicions as Empress Tina; her understanding of the Gods Continent was far inferior to Empress Tina's.

And in Meng Ying's knowledge, the Sacred Flame Elven Empire had no such powerful being as Angesite.

That left only the Loki Elven Empire.

Hmm, Meng Ying wasn't particularly familiar with the Loki Elven Empire either.

"Flame Empire?"

Hearing Meng Ying's words, Angesite repeated those four words.

Seeing Angesite's reaction, as if she knew of the Flame Empire, Meng Ying said: "Yes, the Flame Empire."

Angesite suddenly asked: "Do you worship the Great Flame Lord?"

Angesite's words made Empress Tina, who had been silent until now, blink sharply.

Because her phrasing included the three words "Great."

This indicated that Angesite knew of the Flame Lord.

Moreover, she recognized and even revered the Flame Lord—otherwise, such a powerful Yucai Society member would never choose to use those three words.

Meng Ying didn't think that deeply; she nodded and said:

"Yes, Your Excellency. We worship the Great Flame Lord."

After hearing her, Angesite said: "Flame is my Lord. So this is my god's realm."

With that, she activated her power and rose rapidly.

She wanted to see her Flame Lord's realm.

And nearby, Empress Tina, upon hearing Angesite's words, widened her beautiful eyes once again!

Flame is my Lord!

"She is also a worshiper of the Flame Lord!"

Empress Tina drew a deep breath.

She had merely assumed Angesite knew of the Flame Lord and acknowledged him.

Who would have thought Angesite actually worshipped the Flame Lord!

Heaven!

Angesite was at least an equal-level powerhouse!

Not a Second Rank Yucai Society member.

But a Third or Fourth Rank Yucai Society member!

Such a powerful Yucai Society member also worshipped the Flame Lord!

As Empress of the Eternal Night Empire, Empress Tina had guarded the Eternal Night Empire for a thousand years on behalf of her sister, the Eternal Night Goddess.

She naturally knew how difficult it was to gain the faith of a Third or Fourth Rank Yucai Society member!

Even some realms ruled by Fourth Rank deities lacked Third or Fourth Rank Yucai Society members to guard them!

Achieving Third or Fourth Rank in the Yucai Society stage is extremely difficult.

It cannot be accomplished merely by spending time.

Some Yucai Society members spend thousands of years stuck in the first stage, still unable to break through to the Third Rank, let alone the Fourth Rank.

Generally, only the top ten empires of the Gods Continent have Third or Fourth Rank deities to guard them.

And the deities of these top empires are all among the most powerful in the Fourth Rank.

The situation of the Eternal Night Empire is, of course, an exception.

The Eternal Night Empire's top-ten ranking was entirely won by Empress Tina herself.

"Could the Flame Lord also have a top-ten empire?"

Empress Tina couldn't help wondering.

She had some knowledge of the top ten empires of the Gods Continent.

All top-ten empires were ancient, existing for thousands—even tens of thousands—of years.

Compared to them, the Eternal Night Empire was merely a youngster, and even that, it hung at the very bottom.

On the Continent of Gods, ranking among the top ten meant much; this was one reason why, the moment the Eternal Night Goddess revealed her weakness, the Eternal Night Empire would face encirclement.

Yet after considering all possibilities, Empress Tina could not think of any top-ten great empire whose faith was devoted to the Lord of Flame.

But this did not in the slightest stop her shock!

It once again refreshed Empress Tina's understanding.

To gain the devout faith of such a powerful Sacred Realm—and for that powerful Sacred Realm to be an elf—carried immense significance.

Elves were not like humans.

For a human god to win the faith of an elf was exceedingly difficult.

Even a goddess found it hard.

A male god found it even harder.

Yet the Lord of Flame possessed an elf nation in the north.

And had won the faith of this powerful elf Sacred Realm.

Did this mean that the Lord of Flame was not only powerful, but more importantly, reliable?

In terms of "divine quality," there was certainly no issue.

The Lord of Flame's philosophy revealed him to be a benevolent, enlightened, innovative deity who, at critical moments, never hesitated but acted decisively.

Such a deity was precisely the kind Empress Tina sought as an ally.

Moreover, such a deity was worthy of Empress Tina's faith.

Yes, Empress Tina's long-standing plan had always been to exchange her most devout faith for the aid of a powerful deity.

Deities never acted without cause.

Especially when there was no connection whatsoever.

Thus Empress Tina must pay a price—and the price she paid was herself.

Offering faith was not easy.

Especially given Empress Tina's immense strength and her goddess sister, who understood deities profoundly.

If Empress Tina did not sincerely believe in a deity, even if she wished to worship one, she could not!

But now, the Lord of Flame had already earned her deep inner recognition!

"No wonder I always felt a faint sense of familiarity about her—she too is my god's believer."

On the other side, Meng Ying, upon hearing Angesite's words, thought to herself.

"No, if she were merely a believer, she shouldn't have evoked that faint sense of familiarity..."

Meng Ying thought again.

"Empress Tina, let's go—let's follow them and see."