Chapter 136: Turning Point

A female warrior descending from the heavens, wielding divine arms bestowed by the gods, transformed into a dancing fire phoenix.

She displayed elegant and swift martial arts, her combat style identical to the goddess Verna, her divine power stemming from the same source as Verna's, her landing posture exactly matching Verna's, and her face revealed after removing her helmet indistinguishable from Verna's.

Then, what exactly differentiates her from Verna?

"Unlike you, this is a sister who deeply respects me!" Arachne crossed her arms, beaming with pride.

"After all, I'm more like a sister to Verna than you are," said another Arachne who had just landed, smiling as she draped an arm around the other Arachne, speaking to Verna.

Verna was stunned; the confidence and sharpness in the other's bearing made her seem more like Verna than Verna herself.

The ideal "perfect being" is always superior to reality.

The newborn forged by divine power was Arachne's ideal invincible sister!

Verna hesitated, then opened her eyes and faintly perceived the truth—this was also her sister! A manifestation formed from shadow and divine power!

"My sister became two?!"

Verna was bewildered, but seeing her sister—now clearly more cheerful than before—she burst into a quiet laugh.

She remembered childhood, when her sister had told her, "I'm the older sister, I'll protect you."

When did her sister's smile vanish, replaced only by timidness and unease when facing her?

She had always worried that her sister feared being treated as a gift—how foolish. If I truly disregarded sisterly bonds, why would I still keep this weakness?

She had always known her sister's self-doubt and fear. But such things cannot be explained with words.

Only when standing on the same level can one calmly perceive certain truths.

"It seems you received a great gift from Mother." Let those events be forgotten—look forward.

Verna realized Arachne was no longer the former first-rank priestess. Now, the divine energy radiating from her reached the level of a High Priestess!

As devout followers who share the god's power and grace, priests follow the most illogical growth path.

If the deity chooses to expend divine power, they can manifest a miracle and instantly create a High Priestess-level warrior.

In truth, every family head in Mordisilka is a High Priestess—or rather, a "Matriarch-level." They weren't necessarily High Priestesses before becoming heads, but they rapidly rose to that rank after assuming the role.

Sounds unreasonable? Imagine the deity as a bureaucratic hierarchy, standing at the pyramid's apex—it vividly illustrates this subtle selection system.

They can select talent, reward merit; you may advance through patience and time, or strive to earn selection. Once promoted, unless you commit a grave sin, they cannot arbitrarily demote or dismiss you.

If your ability is insufficient, you may remain stagnant at that rank for life (in Ro Si 's era, you'd be dead).

This is the root of dark elves' love for internal strife—they truly have one slot per Luobo; to gain better treatment, you must climb upward.

Internal strife is already part of dark elf culture, though during Ro Si 's era it was more cruel and bloody; now it's slightly more benign (assassinations and rebellions are punished).

The most obvious change: the traditional dark elf "if you don't find it, it's not a crime" midnight killings have vanished.

Upon hearing her sister mention "Mother's (Silver Mirror Lady's) reward," Arachne paused to think.

Arachne had indeed received the deity's gift and promotion, but it was merely a bonus for the victor, an exceptional advancement that merely accelerated her growth.

She achieved transformation first, then received the gift, which accelerated her "hatching" process.

Without this gift, what was meant to come would have arrived eventually.

"No, not Him." Though stating a fact, denying the deity was a profoundly blasphemous statement in a theocratic nation.

Yet Arachne spoke it plainly—even to her sister, the goddess-born.

Turning back, she saw her new sister—brandishing a flaming spear, majestic and formidable—smiling at her. Arachne laughed.

"Someone gave me a great gift. A very great one."

"Is that so? Then we owe someone a favor. Tell me after we return."

Verna smiled. More than her sister's power increase, she rejoiced in her sister's change of heart.

She believed in herself.

She had confidence.

She dared to look directly at herself.

The usually strong younger sister suddenly felt like crying. She had endured so much pressure, yet never received the most important understanding.

"But now, let this 'power' be Mother's favor upon us."

Verna's gaze swept over the Matriarchs, all watching with fear and unease.

When the city lord's gaze passed over them, their expressions turned to deference and obedience.

Some, quick to react, immediately ordered their servants and slaves into battle.

Three goddesses in one family?! Even if exaggerated, the faint divine energy radiating from them proved the depth of divine favor.

From this moment on, all Matriarchs must rein in their ambitions.

They were helpless, but had no choice but to wait again—likely, the Hawk faction would need to retreat for a while.

For a time, the dark elves' momentum surged; the Matriarchs scrambled to prove their loyalty to the city lord, several even taking the field themselves.

The battlefield support ability of High Priestesses needs no explanation; as each descended, the tide of war tilted again.

The High Priestesses continuously released group healing, bolstering slaves, servants, and warriors, while summoning various otherworldly creatures as cannon fodder.

The originally prepared "strategic supplies" became, under the sisters' watch, mere "costs of loyalty."

It seemed the attackers would have to retreat before nightfall.

The two "goddesses" made no attempt to slay the Prince of Beasts—they knew the risk was far too great.

The newborn "warrior goddess," though infused with traces of divine power, had not yet reached true "goddess" status. She needed time to grow; the new "twin" still had much to learn.

Kuku's first seed, due to the divine blood and priestly nature, matured prematurely.

Mordisilka's city lord's position stabilized, influencing the entire battlefield's output.

And this suppressed several impending rebellions, altering the long-term war's trajectory.

Thus, did Mordisilka, originally destined for destruction in the divine oracle, now follow a different fate line?

Li En's party was never outside these events.

The contrast between Dove and Hawk factions shifted again, altering their stance toward surface dwellers; whether they gained this "ally" would further change the pace of sealing the demon god.

"Fate has already begun to turn. Who planted these pieces here?" Even now, the deity could not see the color of the future.

—

The sisters on the wall reconciled; likewise, the "engaged couple" in the envoy delegation reconciled.

Li En had not expected that the one-seventh legacy of the heroic soul had indirectly altered countless fates. He had consistently underestimated the value of the heroic soul legacy.

It was the legacy of ancient ones who had reached the pinnacle of the world—a possibility capable of recreating a historical hero.

Here, one plus one was not two; a hero with potential who received this legacy could easily multiply their future achievements countless times.

Its value had never manifested before merely because the bearers were youths and new recruits, needing time to unlock its power.

When this legacy reached the hands of a "High Priestess," with a foundation sufficient to unleash its strength, it bloomed instantly.

By nightfall, the goddess sisters' visit signaled the wind of fate had turned.

"Perhaps now we can sign the alliance treaty between the two cities."

(End of Chapter)