As the Disc of Usurpation spun, the God-Slaying Ritual rapidly progressed, presenting a myriad of bizarre and fantastical Authorities before Seiya.
"The Adamantine and Indestructible Body. Legend says Sun Wukong forged this body with Samadhi Fire after consuming peaches of immortality, imperial wine, and celestial pills. It is impervious to blades and axes, spears and swords, lightning and fire, remaining completely unscathed. Later, it was further tempered in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, forging a heart of gold, lungs of silver, a head of bronze, and a back of iron. When borrowing the Banana Leaf Fan for the third time, Sun Wukong swallowed the Wind-Settling Pill from Bodhisattva Lingji, making his organs and bones completely solid."
"The Somersault Cloud. A cloud-soaring technique taught by Patriarch Bodhi, allowing one to traverse heaven and earth in an instant. To ride this cloud, one forms a hand seal, chants the true words, clenches one's fist, shakes one's body, and leaps up. A single somersault covers one hundred and eight thousand li. A distance of ten thousand li becomes like a stroll in a courtyard; it is the ultimate art for crossing seas and flying over mountains."
"External Incarnation. Once one attains a celestial body, their spirit can transform in limitless ways. Since Sun Wukong achieved the Dao, he has had eighty-four thousand hairs on his body, each capable of transforming at will. From one comes ten, from ten a hundred, and from a hundred a hundred million—all are manifestations of the External Incarnation art."
"Heaven and Earth Manifestation. Transforming into a colossal Dharma body, ten thousand zhang tall, with a head like Mount Tai, a waist like a great mountain range, eyes like the sun and moon, a mouth like a pool of blood, and teeth like door panels. The staff in hand reaches the Thirty-Third Heaven above and the Eighteenth Hell below."
"Three Heads and Six Arms. Transforming into a Dharma body with three heads and six arms, wielding three Ruyi Jingu Bangs. This was used to counter Nezha's own Three Heads and Six Arms during their great battle. It was also used when besieged by the Gods of Thunder, preventing them from getting near."
In truth, even before the God-Slaying Ritual had begun, as his battle with Sun Wukong neared its end, Seiya was already calculating which Authorities he would usurp.
Because there were far too many he wanted.
Hundreds of years of suppression and hardship had weakened Sun Wukong's ferocity, but the accumulation of his divine skills and Authorities placed him at the pinnacle of all Heretic Gods Seiya had ever faced.
The Authorities of most East Asian deities, with China at their core, often embody the principle of Authorities and divine skills being two sides of the same coin.
For example, Luo Hao has cultivated Divine Speed, Clairvoyance, divine transformations, and the ability to summon divine beasts—skills comparable to Authorities. By the same token, Authorities also possess the characteristics of divine skills, allowing one's will to be carried out freely and unimpeded.
According to Daoist internal alchemy, after a person achieves the Dao through the cultivation of the Golden Elixir, their body and mind undergo a qualitative transformation, granting them various divine skills.
At this stage, they are called celestial immortals. Luo Hao's state of Nirvana symbolizes her attainment of the immortal Buddha level, beyond age and death.
Among the Authorities held by Sun Wukong, the most powerful was undoubtedly the Adamantine Indestructibility, symbolizing steel.
A difficult Heretic God naturally comes with great benefits. If he could obtain this Authority, Seiya would instantly possess an adamantine and indestructible body, a heart of gold, lungs of silver, a head of bronze, and a back of iron, as well as the Ruyi Jingu Bang as an external manifestation of this divine skill.
It would be comparable to the level Luo Hao achieved after three hundred years of development.
Next were the Authorities of External Incarnation and Heaven and Earth Manifestation, both of which were extremely practical and possessed immense power.
Beyond those, there was also Drawing a Circle as a Prison. By using a weapon to draw a circle on the ground, it protects those inside. It is stronger than bronze walls and iron ramparts; tigers, leopards, wolves, demons, and monsters dare not approach.
Following that were endless transformations of weapons, Planting a Golden Lotus in Fire, the Samadhi Fire, Moving Mountains and Shrinking the Earth, Carrying Mountains and Chasing the Moon, Overturning Rivers and Stirring Seas, Summoning Rain and Calling Wind, Manifesting the Primal Spirit, Exhaling Mist and Spraying Clouds, Kicking the Heavens and Disturbing Wells, and Shifting the Dipper and Moving the Stars—all were potential drops from Sun Wukong.
It was because he wanted so much that Seiya forcibly activated the Prometheus Tablet, which barely met the conditions for use, in an attempt to usurp Sun Wukong's steel.
But the specific outcome would have to wait until he returned.
And now, as the Disc of Usurpation officially began to operate, it meant he had to make a choice.
Seiya gazed at the various bizarre scenes displayed on the disc.
Just as he was about to choose Shifting the Dipper and Moving the Stars, he suddenly saw an Authority that pointed to the very core of Sun Wukong—
—The Intelligent Stone Fetus.
As the saying goes: The spiritual root is nurtured and the source flows forth; the mind is cultivated and the Great Dao is born.
Before chaos was divided, heaven and earth were a blur, vast and unseen. Since Pangu shattered the primordial chaos, the clear and turbid have been distinct. Living beings look up to His utmost benevolence; the myriad things He created all tend toward goodness. To know the merit of creation's course, one must read the Journey to the West.
A long time passed in the spiritual realm, but in reality, it was but the space of a few breaths.
Returning from the starry sky to the ground was also within a single thought of Seiya's.
Before the tips of his toes touched the soil, Stella was already charging toward him with boundless rage.
However, when her gaze fell upon the Golden-Winged Great Peng folding its heaven-blotting wings, and then upon Cult Master Luo Hao, who followed closely behind with a majestic air, her fury instantly froze. It finally turned into a cold snort, and after glaring fiercely at Seiya, she turned and stormed away.
She could act spoiled in front of Seiya and be arrogant before the Onmyoryo, but she knew that if she showed any hint of insolence in front of this Godslayer, she would genuinely be flayed alive.
Luo Hao, however, was unaware of this.
Instead, she was amazed by Seiya.
"As expected of the emperor who defeated the God of Combat, you truly are no mortal. To be able to force a heavenly god to be your slave, Seiya, I admire you for that!" Luo Hao showed a look of considerable shock.
"That is only natural. Only a great righteousness can serve as a beacon on the path of life, but where can strength pushed by ruthlessness lead?" Seiya gazed out at the sea, revealing only his handsome side profile, as defined as an ancient Greek sculpture.
In truth, forcing Stella to become his subordinate god was all thanks to Athena, and a bizarre deity like Stella was indeed a rarity.
But one couldn't say that to a Godslayer like Luo Hao, who believed only in power.
He couldn't show weakness in front of her; he had to maintain a self-centered front.
With a woman like Luo Hao, you needed to show that you were stronger and tougher than her.
But was that enough to make Luo Hao submit?
Sensing Seiya's surging aura, a flash of understanding appeared in Luo Hao's eyes.
"I see. Could it be that the path I have walked all this time was wrong?"
For the first time in her life, Luo Hao began to question if her path was mistaken.
Ever since she first held a sword as a child, she knew she would be the paramount of the sword path, the number one under heaven in the martial world.
All things would revolve around her, and those who opposed her would perish.
That was why she, unlike Marquis Voban, did not covet the Authorities of gods, for if she desired power, she could draw it from within herself.
But sensing the hegemonic will Seiya exuded upon his return from the starry sky, even Luo Hao's non-existent manhood had been stirred.
What warrior could possibly stand against such power?
Luo Hao closed her eyes.
Some enter the martial world for righteousness; some enter it to establish a heart for the world, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace for all generations!
"I see. To go and go again; what comes is as it was. But one must see the common people, understand the common people, and finally, become one of the common people." Luo Hao nodded.
"The more clearly one sees, the more one knows which path to walk." Seiya's voice was calm as he continued to gaze at the churning sea.
Erica stared blankly at the supreme figures on the mountain peak.
What on earth were they talking about?
Why couldn't she understand a single sentence, and why did she feel an urge to cry?
Could this be the root of why she could never become a Godslayer? Was she already lacking by an insurmountable margin in terms of fundamental nature and capacity?
"The martial world bestowed upon him high spirits, and it bestowed upon him lonely fragmentation." Lu Yinghua sighed in a low voice.
"You can understand?" Erica looked at Lu Yinghua beside her in shock.
She had previously thought this young master of the Hong Kong Lu family, whom she had met once before, was merely a pitiful man with exceptional martial arts.
She never imagined he could grasp the deep meaning in the two kings' words.
In truth, Lu Yinghua didn't understand at all.
But having been beaten enough times, he knew that at a moment like this, he had to play the straight man for his master, or rather, build up the atmosphere.
Otherwise, a bloody flaying awaited him.
"Mortals look to the past to console the present; love's bond remains though seas dry and rocks crumble, a quiet sorrow not buried in the yellow earth." Liliana murmured beside them, her eyes distant.
Erica glanced sideways, looking incredulously at her dear friend and rival from Naples.
Your ancestors for ten generations were Italian, so why are you wearing such an empathetic expression?
In truth, Liliana didn't understand either.
It was just that her hobby was writing novels, and this line had suddenly come to mind, prompting a slight, genuine display of emotion.
"Though the blossoms fall, they still create a beautiful scene. If the bud could remain forever, would there ever be a time of withering?"
"Though the blossoms fall, they still create a beautiful scene. If the bud could remain forever, would there ever be a time of withering…" Ena Seishuin cradled the divine blade Ame no Murakumo, her gaze fixated on the towering figure on the peak, lost in fascination.
Erica was utterly speechless, feeling completely drained.
It was as if the clouds had suddenly parted, revealing that she was merely of mortal stock.
But it couldn't be her problem; she must have been knocked silly…
"The bright moon has set into the western sea; where does this mournful wind hasten the eight wildernesses? The landscape may change, the years may pass. It has been my fortune to accompany you on this leg of your journey. The road ahead is long; take care of yourself." Luo Hao clasped her fist in a salute, her words sincere.
Then, she summoned the Golden-Winged Great Peng once more.
With a clear cry, it beat its wings and tore through the sky, disappearing over the horizon in an instant.
That old broad is finally gone…
Seiya stood on the mountain peak, his clothes fluttering.
If she hadn't left soon, he wouldn't have been able to keep up his act.
The battle was over, and what followed was the cleanup work by the state agencies.
Sayanomiya Kaoru arrived swiftly on site.
After the customary compliments, she reported the damage to him.
Seiya looked out.
The once scenic Senjogahara Plain was now a shocking expanse of ruins.
"Toshogu Shrine… has been completely destroyed. The restoration work will likely take many years." Sayanomiya Kaoru's voice had lost its usual composure, revealing genuine anxiety.
"As for these massive craters on the plain… how to explain them to the public, my colleagues and I are still in urgent discussion." She was clearly at her wits' end over this.
Sayanomiya Kaoru had lost her usual calm; it seemed she was truly troubled.
Seiya gazed at the devastated battlefield before him.
This was the result even after he had used his greatest former Authority to protect the ley lines and the people.
To humans, Godslayers and gods were both irresistible natural disasters.
Fortunately, in this world, all battles that crossed into the divine domain, and everything witnessed by ordinary people, manifested as natural disasters.
"The citizens and tourists who were turned into monkeys are also regaining consciousness in various places. We are beginning to provide them with psychological counseling."
"Psychological counseling?"
"Yes. Most of the rescued victims have lost their memories of being monkeys. However, a portion of them claim to have seen Sun Wukong and Flower-Fruit Mountain, having nightmares of being turned into monkeys.
Many tourists from the Western Continent are even saying that spiritual energy has been revived, that they are the reincarnation of Sun Wukong, and that they dreamed of a time they attacked the Heavenly Court."
This was no longer a matter that could be brushed off by blaming it on faulty water pipes.
Whether it was a gas problem or a solar flare eruption would depend on the skill of Japan's public relations.
As if sensing something, Seiya looked into the distance.
Then handed over the post-disaster cleanup to Sayanomiya Kaoru.
His figure vanished.
Seiya seemed to sense something, his gaze turning to a distant point.
He then delegated all subsequent matters to Sayanomiya Kaoru, and with a flicker, his figure vanished from the spot.
Night fell, and a bright moon hung high in the sky.
A young girl of peerless beauty stood quietly atop Mount Nantai—no, it should now be called Flower-Fruit Mountain.
From here, the myriad lights of the mortal world below looked like scattered stars.
An alloy disc of gold and iron, about the size of the girl's fist, was engraved with markings reminiscent of a sword.
The girl stared at the medallion's surface for a long while.
Then, the pattern increased; the third brand of steel appeared on the circular relief.
"After Perseus and Susanoo, now the Great Sage Equaling Heaven has been vanquished, and their steel has also been left behind on the earth. So it is true. That Great Sage will not be the last hero to appear in this world…"
The beautiful, blonde girl looked like a classic porcelain doll, about twelve or thirteen years old.
If Seiya were here, he would recognize her at a glance.
This was the Marin who had taken care of him for three years (Guinevere), a loli who could be his mother.
"Even the Great Law of the Covenant and the Steel of Defiance have manifested. I was just thinking it might be possible, that the last to appear would be the Star of the Sword, destined to become the strongest steel… Though incomplete, he can use it so flexibly. As expected of the most renowned of hero gods."
She sighed and put away the circular medallion.
Just then, Guinevere sensed a presence.
"Prince, although you possess the power of divine speed, you are not skilled in the art of hiding in the darkness…"
"Hmph, you witch. Your sense of smell is as sharp as ever."
The person who emerged from the shadows of the volcanic rock was the Black Prince Alec.
His real name was Alexander Gascoigne, and he was one of the Godslayers with the strongest presence in the hidden world.
"I just wanted to probe a little, to see what you are plotting."
"The prejudices in people's hearts are a great mountain, Prince… But I'm sorry, regarding this question, I feel I should inform the master of this place first."
The master of this place?
Alexander was stunned.
The publicly known administrator of Athena's Sanctuary was that Saint, Seiya, wasn't it?
By the time he realized this, the figure had already appeared before him.
______
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