"Ah?!"
When they learned that Ereshkigal had become a Righteous God of the Xianzhou Alliance, nearly everyone was left completely stunned.
In the past, the people of the Xianzhou had different forms of address for Aeons.
Aeons who were revered and worshiped were called "Arbiters," such as the Aeon of The Hunt being addressed as the Reignbow Arbiter, and Qlipoth being called the Firmamend Arbiter.
Aeons toward whom they held a more neutral stance, with little interaction, were referred to as "Sacrosancts," such as the Glowswather (Fuli), the Wisdomwalker (Nous), the Joyseeker (Aha), the Cloudstrider (Akivili), and the Wondergazer (Idrila).
In addition, out of respect, the ruler of the Starsea Empire and some of the foreign gods under his command were also collectively addressed as the Sacrosancts.
As for those who stood in opposition to the Xianzhou, they were labeled as "Authors of Calamity."
This system of titles had persisted for thousands of years. And now, all of a sudden, they were being told that the Xianzhou was about to acknowledge another god?!
Sacrosanct of Reincarnation.
Although she was not addressed as Arbiter, she had still been granted an honorific title, since Ereshkigal was not yet a true Aeon in the strictest sense.
"Uh, General, could you explain what's going on?"
Inside the Palace of Astrum, Fu Xuan looked at Jing Yuan and the others in confusion.
"I was preoccupied with divination matters and did not have the chance to personally visit the Underworld."
"Why is it that after your trip, the Xianzhou suddenly has an extra god?!"
"..."
"Actually, after I reported the situation, the Xianzhou Alliance originally intended to grant her the title of Arbiter. But considering that such matters must proceed step by step, she is temporarily addressed as Sacrosanct."
Jing Yuan replied.
"???"
Fu Xuan and the others were left utterly dumbfounded.
"Sacrosanct?! Why?!"
"..."
"Master Diviner, did you see anything within your divination realm?"
Yukong asked.
"Mm..."
Fu Xuan instinctively tried to perform a divination, only to discover that even her celestial eye could not pierce the karmic threads of another world.
"We made a trip to the Underworld. Although we could not remain long due to the laws of the nether realm, we saw enough."
Yukong let out a sigh.
"That is a world governed by a Sacrosanct. The few individuals previously transferred from the Ten-Lords Commission have already become Judges under her command, responsible for recording sins and passing judgment."
Xueyi and Hanya were already adept at such work. After receiving Ereshkigal's guidance, they were now capable of handling their duties independently.
Stationed within the Hall of Karma, they had become true Judges in every sense.
As for Huohuo, being too timid, she could only follow Ereshkigal around as a small attendant for the time being.
"The cycle of life and death rests entirely within the Sacrosanct's single thought."
As she spoke, Yukong pointed at herself, then at Fu Xuan and everyone else inside the Palace of Astrum.
"You, me, the General, and everyone else—after death, our souls will return to the Underworld. That is the final destination of all."
"The Sacrosanct and the Judges under her command will determine each person's next life according to their merits and sins."
"Whether one suffers eternal torment within the Netherworld, or is sent into reincarnation in a different world—it all depends on the Sacrosanct's decision alone."
"!!!"
Fu Xuan and the others who had come to question them felt as though their worldview had been completely overturned.
Stories of the Reignbow Arbiter, the Calamity Progenitors, and other Aeons were familiar to everyone—but those were matters of the living world.
Now, for the first time, they were confronting the concept of a world after death.
Once one understood that death was merely another beginning, and that the ruler of the Underworld truly existed and governed departed souls, one's mentality would inevitably change.
"This..."
Fu Xuan stood there in a daze, unable to speak.
She understood Ereshkigal's status now.
Nothing surpassed life and death in importance. A deity who governed both was indeed worthy of being addressed as Sacrosanct—or even Arbiter.
"I originally thought it was already unbelievable that the Starsea Empire managed to defeat the IPC... and now this?"
"They even have a god who holds authority over life and death?..."
Everyone exchanged looks.
They could not comprehend what kind of being the ruler capable of commanding the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation must be.
"However... that aside, the reason the Xianzhou Alliance wishes to honor the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation as Arbiter is because we unanimously believe the existence of the Underworld is a good thing."
Jing Yuan pondered for a moment.
"If people know that after death, a god will judge them according to their actions in life, then surely many will think twice before doing certain things."
...
As expected.
When the existence of the Underworld and the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation was officially announced,
it immediately caused a tremendous upheaval across the Xianzhou.
Xueyi, together with the upper echelons of the Xianzhou Alliance, formally and rigorously introduced this new deity to all citizens.
"The Sacrosanct of Reincarnation governs the Underworld and the cycle of life and death for all beings."
"From this day forward, under the Sacrosanct's domain, once a mortal's lifespan has ended, their soul shall descend into the Underworld to be judged by the Sacrosanct and her Judges."
"...The Sacrosanct will determine your sentence according to the merits and sins of your lifetime."
"The virtuous may enter reincarnation once more. Those who commit evil may only be reborn as livestock or beasts. And those guilty of unforgivable crimes shall be cast into the Netherworld for eternity, denied rebirth."
"..."
Though the description contained some embellishments drawn from myth, it largely aligned with the true state of the Underworld.
"!!!"
The people of the Xianzhou were first stunned—then plunged into unprecedented shock.
The world after death truly existed! And it was ruled by the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation!
The clever ones immediately grasped the weight of this Sacrosanct. In a sense, her influence might even surpass that of Aeons like The Hunt, Preservation, or Destruction.
Offend The Hunt, and at worst you might be slain by the Lux Arrow. Encounter Elation, and perhaps Aha would toy with you for a while.
Those Aeons did not pay much attention to ordinary people to begin with.
The Sacrosanct of Reincarnation's domain might not yet be vast, but her authority was absurdly overwhelming.
Overwhelming to the point that almost no one could avoid it.
No one wished for their next life—or every future reincarnation—to be as pigs, dogs, cattle, sheep, rats, or crawling insects.
Not to mention that offending the Goddess of the Underworld might result in being thrown into the Netherworld to endure eternal torment.
Some people breathed a sigh of relief, asking themselves honestly whether they had ever done anything immoral in their lives. Perhaps the Sacrosanct would grant them a favorable rebirth.
Others felt uneasy, uncertain how their sins would be judged after death.
For a time, a fervent wave of worship for the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation swept across the Xianzhou.
Crowds surged toward the Ten-Lords Commission, hoping to pay their respects to the mysterious Goddess of the Underworld.
Unfortunately, the Underworld existed entirely on another dimension. Without the guidance of the Goddess or her Judges, even if one dug up the entire Xianzhou, they would never find the entrance.
...
A few days later.
Taking advantage of a lull in Underworld affairs, Ereshkigal changed into casual attire and wandered aimlessly through the Exalting Sanctum.
Just as she was sampling Xianzhou delicacies and admiring the scenery around her...
She suddenly noticed that in shops throughout the streets and alleys, strange-looking statues were piled high.
There were wooden ones, jade ones, and even some made of precious metals with prices so steep they were shocking.
"What's this? A new toy?"
She picked one up and examined it.
It appeared to be a statue of a goddess—depicting a deity dressed in formal Xianzhou attire, her expression solemn and majestic.
"This is a Dharma statue of the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation."
The shopkeeper answered with a face full of reverence.
"Recently, quite a few people have invited one home for worship. They hope that when they enter the Underworld in the future, the Sacrosanct will be lenient when passing judgment."
"Well... no matter what, since the Sacrosanct governs life and death and reincarnation, it can't hurt to pray a little more, right?"
"???"
Ereshkigal studied the statue for a moment, looking slightly bewildered.
Most people on the Xianzhou had never seen her in person. Their impression of the Sacrosanct of Reincarnation relied solely on imagination and hearsay.
Coupled with their deep awe for this deity who ruled over life and death, the version of her they carved looked almost identical to the Buddha statues enshrined in temples.
Solemn and dignified, with a radiant wheel of merit behind her.
"The Goddess of the Underworld doesn't look like this."
She could not help but complain.
"The Sacrosanct of Reincarnation absolutely looks like this. This was crafted by a master artisan from the Artisanship Commission."
The shopkeeper spoke with unwavering certainty.
"She really doesn't."
"The Sacrosanct definitely looks like this. I run a sculpture shop—why would I sell you a fake statue of the Sacrosanct?"
"Would you like to invite one home for worship?"
"..."
Ereshkigal gave up trying to argue.
...
Meanwhile.
Boom—
In the sea of stars, a ship bearing the emblem of the Whistling Flames Guild departed from the Xianzhou and sailed toward distant constellations.
"Whew... I didn't expect the Goddess of the Underworld to be so formidable."
Inside the cabin, Tingyun waved her folding fan while gazing at the holographic interface before her.
She had met Ereshkigal in person. She had not expected that once the Goddess of the Underworld arrived at the Xianzhou, she would immediately be enshrined as a Righteous God.
Every street and alley was worshiping her.
"Miss Tingyun, would you like to bring back a Dharma statue of the Sacrosanct? I heard the Artisanship Commission even has life-sized versions made of pure gold."
An assistant asked.
"I'll pass."
Tingyun smiled.
She could understand the behavior of ordinary people, but there was no need for her to participate.
"Mm... work comes first. Let's handle the Guild's matters."
She opened the star chart and swiped upward several times.
As an Amicassador of the Sky-Faring Commission, in addition to handling various diplomatic affairs, she also managed the Xianzhou's trade operations.
She often needed to travel personally to conduct market research or negotiate business deals.
"Let's make a trip to Pier Point first and pay a visit to Miss Grey."
"In addition, the Xianzhou may dispatch another delegation to the Starsea Empire in a few days. Mm, I should prepare some gifts for the Sacrosanct in advance."
"I wonder what he likes... I'll ask when the time comes."
She recorded one item after another in her to-do list.
The Starsea Empire was stirring up tremendous waves across this side of the universe. It was foreseeable that the future balance of the entire world would change because of them.
After Ereshkigal revealed her authority, Setsuna's image in Tingyun's heart had become increasingly unfathomable and powerful.
A ruler who could command such an interstellar empire—and have the Goddess of the Underworld as a subordinate—what kind of power did he truly possess?
Tingyun fell into contemplation.
Buzz...
Not far from the ship, in the depths of space.
A mass of emerald flames slowly manifested from the void, shifting into bizarre and ever-changing shapes as it gazed toward the Whistling Flames Guild's vessel.
"Mm... the Xianzhou Alliance... and the Starsea Empire? Interesting."
As a Lord Ravager, Phantylia possessed her own unique aesthetic of destruction.
She did not enjoy personally wreaking havoc. Compared to victory through brute force, she preferred sowing discord among allies and scattering the seeds of chaos.
Letting them destroy each other amid suspicion and turmoil.
From certain reports, she had learned that the Xianzhou Alliance maintained close ties with a powerful empire from another world.
It was practically a perfect stage prepared for her. Phantylia was quite curious about the empire that had crushed the IPC.
She devised countless plans—provoking conflict between the Starsea Empire and the Xianzhou Alliance, manipulating them into killing each other, and so on.
Then she would watch the Luofu crumble from within, infiltrate the Starsea Empire, and carry destruction and chaos into another world.
The plan was exquisite—far more entertaining than any world she had previously ruined.
Of course, all of these schemes required a suitable "identity."
And within that Whistling Flames Guild merchant ship, there happened to be exactly what she needed.
Whoosh—
The flames flickered sharply.
"Then I shall begin with you, Miss Amicassador."
—
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