As the gentle voice reached their ears, the Ubuyashiki couple and the Hashira's hearts were instantly filled with warmth. Acknowledged by God, their souls found salvation in that very moment.
What in this world could bring more salvation than being recognized and understood by God?
Yaozai Ubuyashiki's eyes were somewhat moist. As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps and one of the few remaining members of the Ubuyashiki clan, he had upheld the millennium-long mission of demon slaying, and now it had received God's acknowledgment.
Even if most of what Yaozai Ubuyashiki and the Demon Slayer Corps' swordsmen did was for revenge, they still deeply hoped for heaven's approval.
At this moment, the Hashira felt an immense sense of honor in their hearts.
What a compassionate and gentle God, even greater than what the Insect Pillar had described.
"Raise your heads, good children," Xia Wei said, looking at their moved expressions.
Although he was not much older than them, as a God, age held no meaning for him, so calling them children was perfectly fine.
They also did not know how old he truly was as a God; that was a little secret of God.
Everyone raised their heads and looked at the face of God before them. His golden eyes were majestic yet gentle, making them feel genuinely warm from the bottom of their hearts.
"Shinobu has already told you about the 'Blessing', so I won't elaborate on it again."
"You do not yet fully understand me, this God."
"What I am about to say concerns your destiny."
Xia Wei sat before the stone table, while the Ubuyashiki couple and the eight Hashira knelt respectfully on the ground, looking up at him, listening to his next words. Shinobu Kocho stood beside him.
"Shinobu has already told you that I am a God from beyond this land."
"What I want to tell you is that I am not a God of this world; in your understanding, I am an 'Outer God'."
"Currently, my entire pantheon consists only of me as the supreme God."
"Those who are bestowed with my Blessing will be the future great Gods of my pantheon, and they will be the most important Gods in the first tier of the pantheon."
As the Hashira listened to Xia Wei's words, their hearts pounded uncontrollably.
They had some guesses, but they dared not speculate wildly about a God.
"For those of you who receive the Blessing, purging the demons of this world is merely the beginning."
"Thereafter, you will journey to world after world, experiencing battle after battle and adventure after adventure. Perhaps you will encounter danger and fall midway, or perhaps you will face insurmountable difficulties."
"The future will be incredibly long. A hundred years is just the beginning; it might be a thousand, ten thousand, or even endless."
Xia Wei continued to speak, listening to the Hashira's hearts pounding like drums.
"Now, before you lie two paths."
"The first path: the demons of this world will be purged in a very short time, and then you will return to a peaceful and warm life."
"The second path: be bestowed with my Blessing, journey through various worlds to save humanity, save worlds, fight for all that is good, and then ascend to the high heavens to become Gods, maintaining the order of the Gods."
"If you choose a peaceful life, with your contributions to this world, every one of your future lives will be happy and fulfilling."
Xia Wei did not domineeringly force them to become his Family, but instead gave them the freedom to choose their own destiny.
The Ubuyashiki couple and the Hashira's eyes were filled with determination, and flames burned in their hearts.
Before this, they indeed wanted to return to a peaceful life after eradicating all demons.
However, after experiencing the compassionate and great God before them, and sensing that 'goodness', they only wished to dedicate themselves to the ideal of 'fighting for all that is good'.
"God, I choose the second path," Kyojuro Rengoku was the first to speak, saying without hesitation, "My mother told me that I was born stronger than others."
"Having great strength is for helping the weak. Those with extraordinary talent must use the power bestowed by heaven for the world and for others."
"Helping the weak is the duty of the naturally strong."
"After the demons of this world are eradicated, if the power I possess can help people in other worlds, I will not hesitate."
This is my mother's teaching; I must not disappoint my mother. Mother must be watching me from heaven.
And I must never disappoint Lord Xia Wei, such a compassionate God.
Xia Wei smiled at Kyojuro Rengoku: "What a truly perfect and good child. It is your mother's honor to have raised a child like you."
"It is also my honor to be my mother's child," to Kyojuro Rengoku, God praising his mother made him even happier than praising him.
"Your mother has not yet reincarnated because she knows that you, as a Demon Slayer, will inevitably sacrifice yourself to protect others in the near future," Xia Wei looked at the soul kneeling before the Torii Gate.
"She will come to pick you up when you sacrifice yourself. What a great mother."
Kyojuro Rengoku froze, his eyes widened slightly, his nose tingled, and his eyes moistened: "Mother... has she been guarding me all this time?"
At this moment, the Hashira also looked at Kyojuro Rengoku, their hearts churning.
Especially Sanemi Shinazugawa, Giyu Tomioka, and Muichiro Tokito.
Had their friends and family not reincarnated either, and had they been guarding them all this time?
"Lord Xia Wei, I also choose the second path. I am a ninja; returning to an ordinary life does not suit me," Uzui Tengen said.
"I also choose the second path," Muichiro Tokito said, "My thoughts are the same as the Flame Pillar's; I want to help more people."
Giyu Tomioka said, "Me too." Besides wanting to protect more people, it was also to see Sabito; he had so much to tell Sabito.
Mitsuri Kanroji's cheeks were flushed, and her voice was a little unsure: "I, I also choose the second path, God, God..." After she finished speaking, her face became even redder, even starting to feel hot, and smoke almost seemed to rise from her head.
God must know that I just want to find a husband stronger than me who won't dislike me... it's completely different from everyone's great ideals! How embarrassing!
Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately followed, "I choose the second path, God." From the moment he chose to become a Demon Slayer and embark on the path of revenge, he had no other choice.
Iguro Obanai: "Me too." He also had no choice and was unwilling to separate from the Demon Slayer Corps; this was already his home. Moreover, he still had to atone for his sinful birth.
Gyomei Himejima's tears had already soaked the front of his clothes.
"That this body can help people in other worlds is my wish. To be able to follow such a great and compassionate God as you is a merit I have cultivated over countless lifetimes."
Xia Wei smiled, looking at the determined people: "Then, from now on, you are my Family, my subordinates, my priests, my priestesses."
After speaking, he raised his hand, and ten golden particles of light appeared in his palm.
"Then, remember your covenant with me at this moment, and receive this Blessing."