Zhongli's golden eyes narrowed sharply. That level of decisiveness—he's serious! Even his stone-crafted heart skipped a beat.
Indra smiled. "Brother Zhong, do you find my offer fair?"
The Geo Archon of the Liyue Pantheon—first among Primary Gods in the rankings. Some even claimed he already had one foot in the realm of Supreme Gods. A few more conquests of major worlds might be all it takes.
As the God of Contracts, he strictly adhered to the principles of equivalent exchange.
Which meant the experience he'd offer as a First-tier Primary God would be nothing short of complete.
Rankings exist for a reason—if you're second, it's because your strength only places you there. The first? It's only because he hasn't yet stepped into a higher plane.
And that next step... surely wasn't far off.
Zhongli's golden pupils slowly returned to normal. Even after experiencing countless affairs, this proposal was enough to shake his composure.
"From a rational standpoint, both of our exchanges are priceless. But if one must weigh them... your offering is something I cannot refuse."
"Still, as a Pantheon's Main God, I must deliberate carefully."
Indra poured Zhongli another cup of tea. "Of course. This matter spans far and wide. But there is time—I can afford to wait."
Zhongli accepted the tea without protest. "If it were merely about 'sheltering under a greater tree,' that reasoning alone would not justify surrendering your pantheon's sovereignty."
A pantheon, no matter what, held supreme authority. And Mount Sumeru was no minor force—it had a wealth of gods and a rich mythological base.
Indra sighed deeply. "To speak plainly, Brother Zhong, I have a good sense of my own limits. No matter how many contributions I earn, I know I will never reach the level of a Supreme God."
"After all, becoming a Supreme God is deeply tied to Truth. I lack confidence I could ever attain that insight."
"Have you ever thought, Brother Zhong, about what happens if the universe continues to evolve? The gap between each divine tier will only grow."
"Even now, Supreme Gods are already beyond the reach of Primary Gods."
"What happens when the universe becomes singular universe? Or even multiversal?"
At this point, Indra's expression grew grim.
"By then, the gap between a Second-tier and First-tier Primary God won't just be like man versus dog—it'll be god versus dog."
"Every day I think of this, and I can't sleep."
"If I remain a First-tier while other pantheons produce multiple Supreme Gods, who would take my offer seriously then?"
"So why not do it now, while the timing is still right—clean and decisive—before future regret sets in?"
"Brother Zhong, surely you can sense this is no lie."
Zhongli fell silent. He'd pondered this very issue himself. But he had confidence—confidence he could become a Supreme God.
He knew all too well the chasm between a Primary God and a Supreme.
Why were Supreme Gods called 'Supreme'? Because they represented true transcendence. They could even rightfully call themselves 'Creator Gods'.
A realm so lofty, ordinary gods couldn't begin to comprehend it.
In the future, when the universe reached singular universe scale, a Supreme God's power could collapse galaxies—reshape universal structures.
First-tier Primary Gods would still be formidable. But ultimately, everything suffered in comparison. It was like the difference between an Aeon and an Emanator
And right now, Liyue's greatest weakness was its mythological heritage. If Mount Sumeru merged into Liyue, then Liyue would have no shortcomings at all.
Not to mention, Sumeru's culture closely mirrored Liyue's—they could almost be called twin leaves from the same tree.
Mythological mergers were not uncommon in legendary traditions—but they did require cultural similarities.
Zhongli's stern expression softened into a smile. "If that's the case, then as the Main God of the Liyue Pantheon, I welcome our new Primary God. From now on, we're one loving family."
Indra grasped his hand firmly, beaming. "Hehehe, Brother Zhong, we've always been one family."
Zhongli chuckled. "Oh, look at me. Of course, we've always been family."
The tea vendor nearby watched the two gods clasp hands and muttered in annoyance. Had the bad habits from the lower realms already reached the Main World? The moral climate really was declining.
And from Liyue, no less. May the Geo Archon protect Liyue's youth from such influence.
Zhongli: "..."
At that moment, both gods heard the Cosmic Nexus Voice in their ears.
[Gift Game Name: Equator of the Heavens]
Myths often share common roots; cultures often inherit similar legacies.
Like twin lotus blooms sharing the same water, all rivers eventually flow into the sea.
Divide into pantheons, unite as a divine collective.
Participants:
1. Liyue Pantheon
2. Mount Sumeru
Leaders:
1. Liyue Supreme Main God – Morax
2. Mount Sumeru Supreme Main God – Indra
Victory Conditions:
1. Prove shared mythological and cultural origins.
2. Provide coherent and unified narrative for both traditions.
Failure Conditions:
1. Shared origin score below 60%.
2. Failure to unify narrative.
3. Voluntary withdrawal.
Penalty for Failure:
Conflicts in human historical mythology will feedback negatively onto both pantheons. Best case: loss of faith and pantheon decline. Worst case: collapse of both pantheons, destruction of divine ranks, fall of gods.
Organizer: The Heavenly Principle, Holy Gods
Witnesses: All Pantheons of the Universe, All Supreme Gods
Note: The merger into a divine collective will profoundly impact Human History. Once initiated, it cannot be stopped.
Note: A divine collective is a union of pantheons forming a unified mythology, wielding the unique authority of the Star-Creation Blueprint, known as:
Pseudo Star Map Creation: Equator of the Heavens
Hssssss—
Zhongli and Indra both inhaled sharply, stunned.
They had assumed merging pantheons simply meant uniting under the same cosmic registry.
They hadn't expected to trigger a cataclysmic event of such magnitude.
This wasn't merely a matter between gods—it was tied to Human History, and affected the entire universe.
Indra's eyes bulged. "Brother Zhong… I think we may have accidentally triggered something unimaginable!"
Zhongli nodded solemnly. "It appears so… a divine collective! The blueprint for a god-forged universe…"
Was such a terrifying authority truly hidden within the cosmos?
A blueprint for the creation of a universe, the Pseudo Star Map Creation—a divine collective's core power, equal to the might of a First-tier Supreme God.
To wield it was to become the universe itself.
Thump thump thump thump—
The hearts of both Primary Gods beat like drums.
They met each other's gaze—and in their eyes burned a shared desire.
Then Indra reined in his ambition. As alluring as the Pseudo Star Map Creation was, wanting it and obtaining it were two different things.
"It all depends on Brother Zhong's resolve. But I believe the potential gains outweigh the risks—it's worth the gamble."
Zhongli nodded. "Indeed. If the probability of success can outweigh the consequences of failure, then it's worth attempting."
"The first to try may not reap the greatest rewards, but they'll be the first to taste its sweetness."
He produced a jade pendant and placed it on the table.
"This is my promised token. For any god, it's priceless."
Indra, of course, understood what this was. Without a word, he swept the jade pendant into his sleeve and examined it with divine sense—his eyes lit up in astonishment.
Hsssss…
He had only hoped to exchange for the complete experience of a First-tier Primary God. But to think it also contained insights into the path of the Supreme God—what an unexpected windfall.
Still, he understood the message clearly: this wasn't a gift. It was assurance. A signal to play nice, and above all—don't get greedy about the Pseudo Star Map Creation.
He knew his place. That kind of power? He wasn't worthy. Keys? More like keep dreaming.
Indra said sincerely, "Brother Zhong, you have my word. I won't let you down."
But even though Zhongli coveted the Pseudo Star Map Creation, he wasn't its primary candidate. Even if he became the first to ascend as a Supreme God, the trial's outcome was uncertain.
Ultimately, the Pseudo Star Map Creation would likely fall into the hands of the second Supreme God of Liyue.
Of course, Zhongli wasn't the only one thinking about pantheon mergers.
Elsewhere—Inazuma.
Grand Narukami Shrine had become an expansive auxiliary world, rivaling the size of Earth.
These pocket worlds were attached to the Main World but lacked autonomous rules, and thus weren't counted as true independent worlds.
Inside the shrine's main hall, the twin Raiden sisters hosted the Primary Gods of the Takamagahara pantheon.
Leading them was Amaterasu Omikami, dressed in a radiant five-color twelve-layer kimono and crowned with a sun diadem. She was stunning—her form youthful, elegant, in her early twenties by appearance.
Behind her stood Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Takemikazuchi, and Sukunahikona, all Third-tier Primary Gods.
Amaterasu herself was a Second-tier Primary God.
Raiden Makoto looked across the table with a composed smile. "So, you believe that by merging our culturally similar pantheons, we'll be more competitive among the divine factions?"
"It's a fine idea—I don't object. Let's be direct. What are your terms?"
"However, let me make one thing clear: once merged, everything must follow our will. I will not allow seeds of division to take root."
"If any such betrayal arises, the instigator will have their divinity and rank stripped and be cast into the Abyss."
"And honestly, even if I did nothing, the Supreme Gods would intervene regardless."
Makoto wasn't blinded by the allure of benefits. If pantheons could merge—they could just as easily fracture.
She wouldn't let herself be used only to be backstabbed.
Amaterasu bowed deeply. "We, the gods of Takamagahara, swear before the Cosmic Nexus that our desire to merge is genuine. If any malice arises, we willingly accept banishment to the Abyss—never to reincarnate."
There wasn't a soul in the Main World unaware of the Abyss.
It was the repository of all worldly darkness. Any being—aside from its natives—would suffer ceaseless corruption.
And they wouldn't even become Abyssal creatures—they would simply rot away, in eternal torment.
It was also the domain of the Supreme God. Entering meant never returning.
Behind Amaterasu, the other Primary Gods took the same oath.
To be a Primary God meant you weren't an idiot.
They shared the same logic as Indra. Their culture matched. None of them would ever reach the Supreme rank.
A pantheon with a Supreme God and one without were worlds apart.
And conveniently, the Takamagahara and Inazuma pantheons shared near-identical roots. Their names were practically the same.
So naturally, the gods of Takamagahara had a bright idea:
Why not just latch on to a stronger tree?
And once that idea emerged—it became unstoppable.
As Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei reached an accord with the Primary Gods of Takamagahara…
the Cosmic Nexus Voice rang out.
[Gift Game Name: All-Beings Doctrine]
Myths often share common roots; cultures often inherit similar legacies.
Like twin lotus blooms sharing the same water, all rivers eventually flow into the sea.
Divide into pantheons, unite as a divine collective.
Participants:
1. Inazuma Pantheon
2. Takamagahara Pantheon
Leaders:
1. Inazuma Supreme Main Gods – Raiden Makoto & Raiden Ei
2. Takamagahara Supreme Main God – Amaterasu Omikami
Victory Conditions:
1. Prove shared mythological and cultural origins.
2. Provide coherent and unified narrative for both traditions.
Failure Conditions:
1. Shared origin score below 60%.
2. Failure to unify narrative.
3. Voluntary withdrawal.
Penalty for Failure:
Conflicts in human historical mythology will feedback negatively onto both pantheons. Best case: loss of faith and pantheon decline. Worst case: collapse of both pantheons, destruction of divine ranks, fall of gods.
Organizer: The Heavenly Principle, Holy Gods
Witnesses: All Pantheons of the Universe, All Supreme Gods
Note: The merger into a divine collective will profoundly impact Human History. Once initiated, it cannot be stopped.
Note: A divine collective is a union of pantheons forming a unified mythology, wielding the unique authority of the Star-Creation Blueprint, known as:
Pseudo Star Map Creation: All-Beings Doctrine
Hssss—
Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, and Amaterasu all gasped.
...
In bustling Liyue, Noah was caught off guard. His golden eyes lit with a faint glow.
Buer, noticing his change, asked softly, "What is it, my lord? You invoked the will of the universe."
She gently wrapped her arm around his.
Noah smiled faintly, revealing a glint of white teeth. "Hehehe… to think it unlocked this quickly. These gods of mine are truly full of surprises—I may have underestimated them."
They had managed to trigger a mythological fusion by merging pantheons—activating a divine supermove.
And 'mythology' reflected the human perspective and understanding of the universe, evolving into a Cosmology.
Coincidentally, the 'Cosmology' had already begun nurturing the Simulated Star-Creation Diagram. Though not complete, it existed.
Like dominoes falling, it triggered the Gift Game of Divine Collective Genesis.
The Cosmic Nexus—the unifying core of the universe—automatically compensates to maintain wholeness. This was one such mechanism.
"Buer, looks like another good thing is about to unfold. The universe is in a growth spurt—so many delightful surprises."
The Food God Tournament hadn't even concluded, and now two divine collectives had emerged.
But really, divine collectives were always an inevitable product of universal development.
Buer's clover-shaped pupils flashed gold as she sensed the change. Her expression turned to awe.
"Divine collectives? Merging pantheons creates divine collectives?!"
"Mythology fusion… this impact is enormous."
Meanwhile—
Celestia.
Phanes' eyes suddenly snapped open.
"The universe has shifted! Human History is trembling!"
As the Holy God overseeing the supreme authority of the universe, she instantly understood what had happened.
"Divine collectives have formed—two Simulated Star-Creation Diagrams have activated!"
"The universe has entered a new phase!"
Phanes rose from the Sacred Throne, joy lighting her expression.
Every step the universe took forward brought her delight.
Gift Games that rocked Human History had to be witnessed by all Holy Gods—she, the judge among them.
Without delay, she reached out to contact the Supreme… the Heavenly Principle.
(P.S. The term "Main God" refers to a Primary God who is the chief god of a pantheon.)
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