Should Injustice Arise, Call Upon Divine Descent!

Heavy rain poured down in torrents. Sheets of water merged into a single curtain; slanting eaves seemed like mountain slopes cascading with waterfalls. Across the vast Linhai City, few people walked the wide streets beneath the torrential deluge. Clop, clop, clop. Through the heavy downpour, an emaciated old horse plodded forward in the rain. Water washed over its eyes, yet they remained wide and bright. Leading the horse, Liu Sheng trod against the ground, splashing water with every step. He looked into the rain, his tone tinged with nostalgia. "A hundred years ago, even when downpours raged and unspoken rules ran rife through this world, people still believed the true rules would triumph over the unspoken ones. "What a pity that after a hundred years slipped by, not only have unspoken rules eclipsed the real rules, but the rules themselves... have become a laughingstock." Liu Sheng's voice sounded aged. He had indeed been born a groom. An official's son became an official; a merchant's son became a merchant; a groom's son was merely a groom. His family had been grooms for generations, and without surprise, his descendants would have continued to be grooms one after another. Fortunately, in his youth, he had witnessed the advent of Divine Descent. In this world, no occupation was noble or base. If you chose to lie flat, then lie flat. But as long as you strove hard and had the ambition to advance, you would achieve something. Doing his job well as a groom, Liu Sheng had become a first-generation model "groom," just like Wang Kong's grandfather, who was a model laborer. He gained "rights" and a "voice." He had also attained relative freedom and stepped onto the path of a weapon wielder. One must understand that in the past, how could an ordinary groom ever have been qualified to cultivate? Cultivating and becoming a weapon wielder... that was a privilege reserved only for the wealthy and those in government. "In the beginning, this old man always felt... the world hustles and bustles entirely for profit. Could there truly be a deity as selfless and impartial as Divine Descent?" Liu Sheng gave a self-deprecating chuckle. It was understandable for the common people at the bottom to have blind faith in Divine Descent. As a weapon wielder, one likely realized long ago that so-called deities were merely powerful living beings. No matter how selfless Divine Descent might be, it surely harbored desires of its own. Even if It was a divine artifact. Still, the master who forged this divine artifact, Sheng Nü... surely she had pursuits of her own? "Young Master, do you believe this world can truly be fair and equal... as Divine Descent envisioned?" Liu Sheng turned his head, looking toward Chen Kangbao and Qi Yuan on the carriage. Qi Yuan reached out a hand, catching the falling raindrops. "In reality... it might be very difficult. But this is a game. Anything is possible." Liu Sheng blinked slightly and smiled wryly. The Divine Descent of old had shattered in the end. Now, a new weapon wielder held control over it. What path this weapon wielder would walk, and what thoughts he harbored, Liu Sheng naturally had no way of knowing. "Among the Seven Gods of Rakshasa, setting aside this old man, the other six are Prince Dingyuan, Prince Shanhe, Prince Zuifang... and the Rakshasa Emperor, Diwu Bufan. "The strongest among them is Diwu Bufan. Over the past century, he has lived in seclusion, rarely showing himself. "Rumor has it that he is already infinitely close to Divine Descent in its prime!" Liu Sheng spoke, worry evident in his eyes. He did not know how much combat power the present Divine Descent could still unleash. "As the saying goes, all men are created equal. In my eyes, he is no different from you," Qi Yuan said calmly. Hearing this, Liu Sheng's body trembled slightly. Holding the reins, he led the horse through the curtain of rain. The rain fell harder and harder, showing no intention of stopping. Liu Sheng took a seat at the front of the carriage and swung his whip. The carriage moved through the veil of rain. Even the pouring rain could not halt the carriage's progress. Leisurely and unhurried. Ten days later, in Dingbo Province, travelers saw a carriage traveling from south to north, crossing Hengduan Mountain. When a Heaven-rank guiling wrought havoc, the carriage groom formed a sword with his fingers and casually slew it, leaving onlookers dumbfounded. Half a month later, a carriage crossed the Wuding River and entered Xianle Province. Wild winds roared, filling the air with dust and sand. Xianle Province lay at the southeasternmost edge of Rakshasa Country, dominated by desert terrain and bordering Da Feng. Luofeng City, where Divine Descent had fallen back then, was located right here in Xianle Province. In recent years, Da Feng and Rakshasa Country had clashed repeatedly; Rakshasa Country lost far more often than it won, having already ceded seven cities. All seven of those cities lay within Xianle Province. Plumes of dust swirled above the official road. Li Wan was dressed in men's attire, with a smudge of dirt smeared on her face to make her look more masculine. Mounted on horseback, she glanced at the nearby carriage, a flicker of curiosity rising in her eyes. Their party consisted of seven people, intending to traverse the official road toward Xianlong Commandery. Along the way, Li Wan had spotted this carriage and grown curious. This official road was far from safe; for a single carriage to travel alone, the owner's strength could not be underestimated. Li Wan was confident in her own party, but thinking that another companion brought more safety, she went up and asked if they could travel together. The carriage's owner did not refuse, but Li Wan was somewhat surprised, as the master of the carriage was extraordinarily young—looking not even twenty. Could it be... that old man who kept eating steamed buns was the powerhouse? With that thought in mind, Li Wan said as they rode, "In the past, although Xianle Province lay at Rakshasa's southeastern fringe, its economy was the most prosperous. On this official road, endless merchant caravans could be seen every day." Li Wan's family had been merchants for generations. In the past, merchant caravans from Rakshasa Country would depart from Xianle Province to Da Feng and other nations. Commerce had flourished here above all else. "Unfortunately, nowadays, you can't even spot a single guiling on this road," Li Wan chuckled. "It's better without guiling—makes the journey safe," a burly man chimed in. He carried a broad saber at his waist, his chest bare because of the sweltering heat. "Don't raise flags," Qi Yuan spoke up from inside the carriage. "Haha, even if we run into guiling, it won't matter. Don't we have Uncle Li?" Li Wan laughed. Uncle Li was an Earth-rank weapon wielder, which made him quite a powerhouse in these parts. Uncle Li tilted his head proudly. His gaze settled on the carriage, and recalling something, he probed tentatively, "Is the young master heading to Xianlong Commandery to visit relatives, or...?" "To kill someone," Qi Yuan replied flatly. Uncle Li was taken aback upon hearing this, then exchanged a look with Li Wan and shook his head. Originally, seeing Qi Yuan's extraordinary air, they had hoped to build a good connection with him. That way, the Li family would gain another friend and an additional path. Yet now, Qi Yuan gave such an answer without the slightest disguise. Evidently, trouble trailed his heels; such a person was not worth getting deeply involved with. Hearing this, Li Wan felt a touch of disappointment. "What are you heading to Xianlong Commandery for?" Qi Yuan asked casually. He suffered from social anxiety and didn't know how to start conversations. When someone asked what he was doing, he had to ask back. Li Wan remained silent for a long moment before answering, "To break an engagement." "You?" Qi Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. "The one getting the engagement annulled wouldn't happen to be surnamed Xiao, would he?" Li Wan shook her head. "No." She was curious—what was wrong with being surnamed Xiao? "As long as it isn't. Otherwise, this game would be stitching together way too many tropes." The bad news was that too many things were stitched together; the good news was that everything was stitched in. "???" Li Wan was thoroughly confused. She continued, "Surnamed Shi." "Shi?" Qi Yuan's brows twitched. Right at that moment, Uncle Li, who had been riding his horse, subtly shifted his expression. "Not good! Da Feng cavalry ahead!" He hurriedly pulled on the reins and leaped into the air to look. With just that glance, his face filled with tension and fury. "Three thousand Da Feng cavalry ahead! They... they are capturing our Rakshasa commoners!" Ahead, dust billowed as three thousand cavalrymen prowled the outskirts, laughing, shouting, and cursing. The cavalry formed a perimeter, encircling over a thousand captive commoners in the center. Herded like cattle, they were trapped in the middle. Anyone who walked too slowly was lashed with a whip. Cries and sounds of struggle rose incessantly. Some were struck across the back with a whip and collapsed, never to rise again. Uncle Li's face was dark with rage. Da Feng's army frequently raided Xianle Province to forage and plunder. Generally, they only plundered some grain or abducted a few women. Abducting commoners in bulk to sell into slavery was rare. "Despicable!" Li Wan looked at the massive clouds of dust ahead, her hand gripping the hilt of her blade so tightly that veins bulged like vines. "We must detour! If those cavalrymen spot us, it will be hard for us to escape!" Uncle Li said in a hushed voice. The other men nodded in agreement. Furious as they were, they had no choice. How could their small group fight against three thousand cavalry? That would be nothing short of seeking death. Yet right at that moment, Chen Kangbao cracked his whip, accelerating the carriage straight toward the front. Seeing this, Li Wan grew frantic. "Young Master... what are you doing? It's dangerous ahead!" Mounted on her horse, she desperately wanted to ride after them, yet hesitated in deep conflict. Uncle Li was stunned as well, at a loss for what to do. Chase after them? They didn't dare. Was the carriage owner... suicidal? Or could he be from Da Feng? At that moment, a calm voice drifted from inside the carriage. "I'm going to save them." "But..." "No buts. Because of Divine Descent." "Divine Descent?" Li Wan's thoughts raced wildly. "Are you from the Council of Judgment?" Only that could explain it. Yet even someone from the Council of Judgment could hardly withstand three thousand cavalry. Among those three thousand cavalrymen, there might even be a Heaven-rank weapon wielder holding down the line. There was no time for them to ponder. Uncle Li grew anxious too, secretly worried for Qi Yuan. Meanwhile, someone among the cavalry seemed to have spotted the carriage. At once, dozens of riders came charging over, cracking their whips with ferocious, mocking grins. "Someone actually dares approach? Looking to die?!" "A few more slaves! That's good money!" However, their smiles froze almost instantly. All of a sudden, a vast, majestic voice echoed across the vault of heaven: "When the world knows no light, Divine Descent appears. "Holding the light aloft, dispelling all night. "Should injustice arise, call upon Divine Descent!" The voice surged mightily, carrying across the wilds. Horses neighed continuously, rearing on their hind legs. Everyone was stunned by this abrupt, monumental voice. "Who is it?!" "Who's playing tricks?!" The cavalrymen looked utterly bewildered; some wore expressions of dread, while others gripped their reins tightly, scanning their surroundings in panic. In contrast, the Rakshasa commoners trapped in the center showed varied expressions. An old woman seemed to recall something, a fervent look overtaking her face. "Divine Descent... The God of Judgment has returned!" "'Should injustice arise, call upon Divine Descent'... Divine Descent!" Tears welled in the eyes of a young man. Memories of his childhood resurfaced. Once, his grandmother had told him stories of the God of Judgment, telling him that whenever he suffered injustice, he could softly call the name of Divine Descent, and Divine Descent would right the wrong for him. Sadly, he had called for Divine Descent countless times as a boy, yet Divine Descent had never appeared. Only after growing up did he learn that Divine Descent was likely dead, or perhaps nothing more than an illusion. How laughable those myths he had believed in his childhood seemed. Yet now, this voice... Looking toward the vault of heaven, then at the surrounding cavalry, he suddenly roared with all his might, "Divine Descent!" Now, he was facing injustice! Now, he had heard the divine voice! If not now, when else would he call for Divine Descent?! "Divine Descent!" His cry ignited the others. The memories buried within the commoners were torn open. "Divine Descent!" "Divine Descent!" Children, old men, old women, youths—every single one stood on their feet at this moment and shouted in unison, "Divine Descent!" For they had heard that when calling for Divine Descent, one must stand tall, and only then would the God of Judgment descend. The shouts crashed like ocean waves, sweeping over the plains like a heatwave. Warhorses panicked and whinnied wildly; dread and bewilderment spread across the faces of the cavalrymen. Just then, a beam of blood-red light plummeted from the sky, bathing the entire earth in crimson. In that instant, everyone instinctively looked up toward the heavens. There stood a colossal, terrifying giant nearly two hundred meters tall, towering against the horizon. No—It was no terrifying giant. It was an awe-inspiring god! It wore blood-red armor all over, scales cold and grim, Its expression aloof and detached. It stood there in silence. A physique so immense, an appearance so chilling and fearsome—any mortal would be gripped by primal terror at first sight. Fear of the unknown. Many commoners dropped straight to their knees. Yet at that moment, the young man who had been the first to roar for Divine Descent straightened his spine, looked at the awe-inspiring giant, and bellowed, "Divine Descent!" Those two words, "Divine Descent," poured forth all the grievances and injustices he had suffered in his life. And now, that fifty-zhang-tall figure moved. It simply threw a single punch. That punch was an answer to the young man's cry. The heavens and earth seemed to freeze. That terrifying fist became the only thing in existence. This was the punch of a god. Boom! Perish! In an instant, three thousand cavalrymen and their steeds were blasted off their feet. Before such dreadful divine might, three thousand cavalry were as fragile as ants. Let alone three thousand, even thirty thousand could never withstand such a terrifying blow. Shock, wild joy, and profound reverence filled the hearts of all the commoners. Many fell to their knees, prostrating themselves and crying out, "Divine Descent!" At this moment, Qi Yuan felt something stir within him. He remembered the original intention behind the creation of Divine Descent. "Stand up! "You have no need to kneel before Me! "Divine Descent requires no worship!" This divine voice seemed imbued with magical power. The commoners present rose one after another. Every single person stood up, tilting their heads back to gaze upon that colossal entity. Even if fear still lingered in their eyes, they forced them wide open, braced their spirits, and watched attentively. On the other side, Li Wan's body was trembling, her upper and lower teeth chattering against each other. "Uncle Li... is It the God of Judgment?" Sweat poured down Uncle Li's stout belly. As he stared at that towering figure, his calves trembled uncontrollably. "Most... most likely." "Divine Descent... has returned," Li Wan murmured with mixed emotions. She looked from afar at the carriage still trundling steadily forward, her feelings a tangled web. The Young Master Qi on that carriage... the one who had just been chatting with her... was he the God of Judgment? Or did he wield the mightiest divine artifact under heaven... Divine Descent? "The skies over Rakshasa Country... are about to change," Uncle Li sighed softly, his voice complicated, unsure whether he felt joy or sorrow. Sometimes, people hoped for change—could things really get any worse than they were now? Sometimes, people disliked change, feeling that things were fine as they were. Yet at this moment, Uncle Li understood that whether he wished for it or not, the skies of Rakshasa Country had changed after all. "Should injustice arise, call upon Divine Descent!" Uncle Li straightened his body, squaring his shoulders and straightening his spine. In his youth, he too had once called upon "Divine Descent."