Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In front of the Goddess of Light statue at the Shrine of Light...
“I’ve disappointed you, sir.”
The Holy Maiden of Light hung her head with a look of shame on her face. Behind her also stood four half-deities and three Red-Cloaked Archbishops, who all also looked worse for the wear.
A slightly frowning Pope Hayes gazed at them and said, “Has that Heaven’s Vault Continent deity killed your divine incarnation, too?”
“Yes, he has, sir.”
Altacia felt unbearably ashamed of herself. She had made confident promises to the pope at the point of deployment, yet she had returned after a crushing defeat. She had practically embarrassed herself thoroughly.
“Tell me about the battles,” said Pope Hayes slowly.
“This is what happened, sir.”
The Holy Maiden of Light didn’t dare to keep any secrets from him. She truthfully recounted the battle events—though rather than calling it “events”, one might as well just call it “a recount of how they had been crushed and taken out instantly”.
Meng Lei had only used three moves from start to finish—the gigantic palm strike formed by Power of Existential Plane, the spear formed by Netherworld Divine Fire, and the wind blades that he had used to kill the Holy Maiden Knights.
Was that a battle? Obviously not!
Pope Hayes sank into silence after hearing Altacia’s recount of the incident. Only after a long moment did he finally say, “Never would I have thought that the weak Heaven’s Vault Continent would actually birth such a monster. If my guess is right, Heaven’s Vault Continent must have undergone great changes.”
The Holy Maiden of Light nodded slowly. How could Heaven’s Vault Continent possibly not have undergone great changes when an existence like Meng Lei had emerged? Would he sit by and just allow the four great true gods to occupy Heaven’s Vault Continent?
Of course not!
“He’s a Divine Netherworld Phoenix descendant of lesser deity-level. The other party’s combat strength has surpassed our expectations. The church faces a great crisis.”
Pope Hayes sighed and said, “Everyone, let us prepare ourselves for the imminent crisis that might wipe out the church!”
“Yes, sir!”
...
“You’re really a monster indeed, kid!”
Ol’ Amos had a complex look on his face. “You frequently astounded me when I was traveling around with you back then. That’s when I knew that you’d definitely be going places in the future, but never would I have ever thought that you would reach such astonishing heights in just the short span of three years! A lesser deity, y’know! It’s practically inconceivable!”
Meng Lei burst into laughter and replied, “Don’t praise me anymore, Ol’ President. If you do, I’m gonna float onto cloud nine!”
He was indifferent to other people’s praise. Only praise from Ol’ Amos made him feel good about himself.
“I really don’t know how you managed to cultivate to such a level!”
Ol’ Amos shook his head. Then, he asked, “By the way, how is Heaven’s Vault Continent?”
Meng Lei’s smile gradually toned down at his question. He sighed and replied, “Don’t get mad at me if I tell you, Ol’ President. Otherwise, I won’t say it anymore.”
Ol’ Amos raised an eyebrow. He said, “Get mad? From the sound of it, I can roughly imagine what you must have done—nothing good for sure!”
“Your guess is more or less right.”
Meng Lei didn’t keep it a secret from him. He said, “I killed the Dragon God Empire’s emperor, exterminated the court officials, and also slain the Dragon Island half-deities—excluding your younger sister, of course.
“As for the Dragon People nobles, they’ve either died or been stripped of their titles. There aren’t many of them left anymore. The enormous Dragon God Empire has become my Meng Lei Empire instead.”
Despite having expected it, Ol’ Amos was still incredibly astounded. Killing the emperor, exterminating the court officials, slaying half-deities, stripping the nobles’ titles... Every case and every deed was horrifying and appalling!
Meng Lei had actually done everything that he hadn’t even dared so much as to even think about in the past. It was practically unbelievable!
“Ol’ President, you must be furious, right?”
Meng Lei looked at Ol’ Amos.
“Furious? You’re thinking too deeply into it.”
Ol’ Amos waved his comment off and said, “I’m just astounded by the incidents, that’s all. I’m not mad at all. I’d also have done the same thing had I been in your shoes.”
A smiling Ol’ Amos shook his head and added, “After all, for people like us, deification takes higher priority over everything else. Is there anything that we won’t do for the sake of deification? I’d only have been even more merciless than you had I been in your shoes!”
“Is that really what you think?”
“Duh, of course!”
Ol’ Amos glared at Meng Lei and said, “What about the other three empires, aside from Dragon God Empire? Given your temperament, there’s no way you’d let the other three empires off, right?”
Meng Lei nodded slightly. “I’ve annexed the other three empires and fully unified Heaven’s Vault Continent.”
“You’ve unified Heaven’s Vault Continent? That’s impressive!”
Ol’ Amos gasped and remarked, “Only the Fairy Goddess, the Titan Spiritual God, the Beast God, and the Dragon God have ever accomplished a feat like that, while you’re the fifth groundbreaking person to do so. Who would have ever imagined that the little fellow from years ago would reach such heights today?
“Speaking of which, though, have you come to Light Continent this time to take it over?”
“No,” Meng Lei shook his head, “My purpose in coming to Light Continent was to search for you. Taking over it is secondary. Light Continent hasn’t yet reached a point where I would think much of it.”
Ol’ Amos said dryly, “You’ve become arrogant, haven’t you, brat? How many power of faith domains can you possibly have? To think you don’t even think much of Light Continent! I’ll tell you. Light Continent is much bigger than Heaven’s Vault Continent...”
Meng Lei scratched his head and gave Ol’ Amos a simple and honest smile before he said, “Not a lot, not a lot. Excluding Heaven’s Vault Continent, I only have 48 existential planes as my power of faith domains.”
“How can you become that arrogant when you only have 48 existential pl... Wait a second, how many did you say you have?” Ol’ Amos’ eyes widened and became as big as discs as he stared at Meng Lei. “48 existential planes?”
“Yes, I accidentally killed a Demon God a few days ago and took over its territories. There are exactly 48 existential planes, not one more and not one fewer,” replied Meng Lei with an innocent smile.
“What the hell!”
Ol’ Amos was astonished. “48 power of faith domains? Are you serious?”
“Yes, I am!”
Meng Lei nodded heavily.
“To think it’s actually true!”
Ol’ Amos gasped. “You’re so blessed, kid. I really wish I could strangle you dead and take those 48 existential planes for myself!”
“Must you? It’s just 48 existential planes, Ol’ President.”
Meng Lei rolled his eyes and said, “I’ll give you a few power of faith domains if you want, Ol’ President.”
“Really?”
A huge shudder went through Ol’ Amos as his eyes bore into Meng Lei. Then, he said viciously, “If you dare to lie to me... See if I don’t skin you!”
“...”
Meng Lei was rendered rather speechless. He said, “It’s just a few existential planes. Must you be that worked up? I’ll give you a few right away after we get back. Here’s a disclaimer in advance, though—there isn’t anyone on those existential planes, so you’ll have to manage it yourself.”
“There’s no one there? Why?”
Ol’ Amos was slightly taken aback.
Meng Lei then recounted the cause and effect of what had happened to him, upon which an unaffected Ol’ Amos then waved him off. He said, “As long as the territory’s there, what’s the big deal about it being empty? I’ll just bring a group of humans and Beast People over when I get back. With the humans’ and Beast People’s reproductive abilities, it won’t take even 100 years before they spread throughout the whole existential plane!
“Wahaha! A few existential planes’ worth of power of faith domains! How much power of faith would they produce? The thought of it alone is enough to make my blood boil with excitement and send me out of control!”
“...”
Meng Lei didn’t feel like paying any more attention to the crazed little old man. He brought out a few objects and said, “Ol’ President, there are five lesser deity divine cores here. Take them for now.”
“What did you say? L-lesser deity divine cores? A-and... Five at that?”
Stunned, Ol’ Amos could only stare at the five divine cores sitting in Meng Lei’s palm in disbelief.
Judging from the auras they gave off, they were indeed and undoubtedly lesser deity divine cores, but Ol’ Amos was still filled with disbelief.
Lesser deity divine cores!
And a whole five of them at that!
Oh my goodness!
Were they really lesser deity divine cores?
How did Meng Lei get his hands on so many lesser deity divine cores?
Ol’ Amos was astounded, perplexed, and filled with disbelief. However, he didn’t hesitate at all!