Chapter 152: Let’s Begin the Final Ceremony (Two-in-One)
A calm voice echoed in Rast’s ears.
He turned around and saw an elderly man in a plain white robe, exuding a gentle demeanor, standing in the center of this ancient bronze city.
There was no hint of breath, nor any powerful fluctuations; even in the perception of Rast’s spiritual force, the land he stood on felt like an empty realm… yet that gardener-like elder stood there, as if he was the very center of the entire ancient city.
“Your Majesty Noah.”
Rast respectfully addressed the gardener-like elder.
For some reason, the appearance of this legendary Graveminder at this moment differed slightly from past representations.
On that aged figure, clothed in white robes and surrounded by abundant life, there was a clearer sense of ethereal vagueness—
Not resembling a living human flesh and bl**d, but rather like a shell carrying a human soul.
“Don’t mind it.”
As if sensing Rast’s doubts, Noah spoke calmly to explain.
“What you see is not my true self, which at this moment resides in the Netherworld.”
He gazed at the body that radiated a strong vitality:
“But rather, it’s a manifestation crafted from a root leaf of the Old God of the First Era—”
“An Avatar of Abundance.”
The Old God of the First Era, a root leaf of the ‘Primordial Ancient Tree’?
Rast paused for a moment.
Although he had never heard the name of this Old God, even just hearing the description was enough to understand the impressive status it implied.
This even involved the First Era… the mythical age when the gods had not yet concealed themselves away beyond the threshold of the Radiant Sky, still walking the land.
The organization of Graveminders did not seem like an ordinary affluent group—
Any random member casually using the materials to create an avatar was already a grand endeavor such as crafting relics from Old Gods…
Of course, based on Rast’s shallow understanding of the Graveminders, this was not entirely incomprehensible.
After all, it originated from the initial Age of Gods, spanning the extensive history of human civilization over countless eras.
And as long as one lived long enough, even a pig could become a tycoon—let alone a mysterious organization that had existed for endless ages.
Considering this, it was no wonder that Noah referred to that first generation Graveminder as a “despicable thief”—
Casually picking up scraps from the Age of Gods and placing them in the later generations might just turn them into extraordinary treasures, relics of the Age of Gods… Moreover, even the Flame Seed legacy was regarded as a supreme existence by the Graveminders.
Such thoughts flickered but were restrained deep within Rast’s persona, revealing not a hint of them before Noah.
Listening to Noah’s explanation, outwardly, Rast remained respectful, but deep within his eyes, a flicker of fear unconsciously emerged.
“Your Majesty Noah, are you saying… that what is in the Netherworld is only your Avatar of Abundance?”
Rast glanced at Noah, hesitating slightly to voice his thoughts.
“But after I gather the three keys and revive the God of d*ath’s remains, when I truly ascend to godhood… the commotion during the ascension ceremony will surely be substantial.”
“I have some concerns…”
He seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing.
“I’m worried that the commotion of the ascension might attract Cecil or other concealed legendary figures in this world.”
“And in your current Avatar State, Your Majesty Noah, you might not…”
Rast’s words remained unfinished, but without a doubt, his meaning had been conveyed.
Just as a split manifestation, I am a bit worried you won’t be able to protect me, old man Noah.
Seeing Rast’s hesitant expression, the gardener-like elder’s calm aura seemed to ripple, albeit rarely.
But soon, he spoke again in a tranquil tone: “Being meticulous, cautious, and considering the worst possibilities is indeed a good thing.”
“It is precisely because of sufficient caution that we Graveminders have been able to survive one heavenly trial after another, enduring the cataclysms of the eras until now.”
“However, you need not worry about that.”
Noah spoke: “Although it is just an Avatar of Abundance, with the root leaf of the Primordial Ancient Tree at its core, this Avatar also carries half of my spiritual force.”
“Even if it cannot exist for long, according to my set conditions, this Avatar of Abundance will only activate upon sensing your aura at the abyssal depths of the Netherworld; before that, it remains in a dormant state…”
“However, within the duration it exists, this Avatar of Abundance possesses a status equivalent to that of a legendary being—”
He looked down at the young man before him: “A legendary status Avatar of Abundance is sufficient to protect you and complete the entire ascension ceremony from all the petty watchers coveting the God of d*ath’s throne.”
Sufficient to protect me during my ascension ceremony.
In other words…
Under the intimidation of the legendary Avatar, even if I wanted to pull some tricks during the ascension ceremony, Noah would have absolute confidence to suppress it, allowing the ceremony to follow the course he had set?
Rast discerned the underlying meaning in Noah’s words.
“Of course, in reality—there likely won’t be any powerful figures trying to stop you from becoming a god.”
Noah continued with a detached tone: “At this moment, all the legendary beings still able to act freely in this world, including my true self…”
“Are gathered along the line of the Broken Coast.”
His voice paused: “Today is the day of demise for that despicable thief, Cecil.”
Boom—
As if in response to Noah’s proclamation, a massive roar came from the distance.
Crossing a great distance, the thunderous sound resonated as if it were right at the ear, not diminishing at all.
Arriving with the booming sound was a tremendous shockwave.
The ancient bronze city trembled… while in the vast outer Netherworld, the previously calm ochre sea began to churn with layers of waves.
Undoubtedly, that was the might of legends.
Only the clash between legendary beings could create such a wide-ranging artificial disaster.
Echoing over hundreds of miles without losing strength, capable even of permanently altering local astronomical phenomena.
“It seems the Broken Coast has already begun.”
“The name of the ‘Guardian’ will today… turn to dust in history.”
Noah gazed in the direction of the Netherworld and spoke plainly.
The headquarters of the Guardians, the Watchtower, stands at the midpoint of the Broken Coast defensive line.
And the Royal City of Paradise is also close to the endless sea… therefore, its location is not too distant from the Watchtower, lying along the line of the Broken Coast.
A nearly thousand-mile distance might seem far—however, in terms of legend status, it’s merely a matter of dozens of minutes.
However, as the remnants of the Old God of d*ath, the Netherworld also obstructed Noah’s Avatar of Abundance from connecting with his true self’s spiritual perception, preventing him from sensing the situation at the Broken Coast in real-time.
Of course, in reality, whether or not he could sense it—
When the Battle of the Broken Coast broke out, its outcome had already been predetermined.
Utilizing the three years of preparation time, Noah, as a Graveminder, exchanged his own interests and stakes to bring all remaining legendary beings in the continent under his control.
That was a war only legendary beings and forbidden entities were qualified to participate in.
And faced with an absolute difference in numbers, no matter how formidable the last Guardian was—
What awaited him was only the tragic fate of a solitary d*ath.
…
“At this moment, even those Old Gods hiding on the Threshold of Radiance, merely surviving and watching… must undoubtedly be drawn by the legendary war at the Broken Coast, with no mind for anything else.”
“If one seeks to usurp the God of d*ath’s throne, then now is the perfect time.”
“Do not delay any longer, prepare to begin.”
Noah’s Avatar of Abundance withdrew his gaze and spoke to Rast in a detached manner.
“Remember, there are no free lunches in this world—”
“Even though that Old God of d*ath has fallen, everything he left behind—”
“The Star Cup, the Holy Grail, or the remains of the God that transformed into the Netherworld… are not gifts, but poison.”
“How could the Old God who once sat high on the throne of clouds, gazing down at all beings, generously leave his inheritance to fortunate humans? He is a supreme deity; in his eyes, humanity is as worthless as dust.”
“Everything he has done, the entire Netherworld, and even the emergence of that Helen…”
“Was all intended to discard that non-human form of the mythical race that had been abandoned by the world’s laws and heavenly truths alongside the decline of the Age of Gods—”
“To allow himself to be reborn in a new human form in the distant future.”
There was a faint mocking tone in Noah’s words.
“In the calculations of that Old God of d*ath.”
“Even if there truly were such a lucky human who exerted himself to obtain the powers and faith he left behind, delving deep into the Netherworld… gathering all the keys of the bronze doors, encountering the god at the end of the Path of the Underworld—”
“He would not actually be fortunate enough to inherit the powers of the fallen ancient god but would merely be the one exchanged for their consciousness, offering his body to assist that God of d*ath in being reborn.”
“Using the temptation of ascending to godhood to drive humanity mad, and in the end, turning all efforts into his bridal dress.”
“However… it is a pity that he encountered me, encountered the ‘Graveminders.'”
Noah’s voice held no trace of reverence for that ancient deity: “Our legacy as Graveminders is as ancient as these Old Gods of the Age of Gods…”
“The arrangements of the Old God of d*ath might deceive the new generations of ignorant humans, but how could they affect us?”
“The Old God of d*ath indeed left a backup plan, but after all, that is merely a trace of undying divine thought…”
“As long as one employs specific means to deceive it, providing it with a perfect container, allowing the consciousness of the Old God of d*ath to awaken in another vessel… then, one could usurp that supreme throne through sleight of hand.”
“And that young girl named Helen, who possesses both human and divine bl**d, is the key prepared for this purpose and the best container.”
He gazed at Rast: “Go, do as I say.”
Rast nodded in silence.
He hesitated no longer and simply walked through the ancient bronze city, with its stern altars, heading toward the towering spire.
Tap—
Tap—
His footsteps echoed as he ascended the stairs, and both the Netherworld and the entire ancient bronze city continued to shrink in his sight.
This experience felt oddly reminiscent of Rast’s past life flying on an airplane, gazing down at the ground through the aircraft window—bustling cities appearing like miniature models, glittering with countless lights in the night, dazzling like a sea of stars.
It was a subtle feeling, as if having reached the sky with the airplane, one truly possessed the dignity of a deity gazing down at all beings.
This process lasted a long time.
Until Rast stepped over the last stair, reaching the pinnacle of the towering spire.
On the high platform, dusk had crystallized into substance, resembling the ice coffin made of millennia-old profound ice seen in his past life’s martial arts novels.
However, this coffin was of a dusky yellow hue, akin to the amber that had solidified ancient beings.
Inside the amber coffin was a girl with ice blue hair, curled up quietly within, her beautiful eyes gently closed, seemingly in a deep slumber.
Yet, for some unknown reason.
The expression on Akshia’s fair face did not reflect the calm of a sleeping person, but rather bore a hint of unease.
Until Rast approached that coffin frozen in solid amber, the uneasy look on Akshia’s delicate cheek slowly faded, her face becoming serene and tranquil, much like a cat curled up sleeping in a cardboard box.
Cats only wish to sleep beside those closest to them, for even in deep slumber, the scent of a loved one grants them a sense of security.
So Rast stood quietly by the amber coffin, gazing at the girl inside.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment, everything returning to three years earlier…
In the palace basked in sunset, a girl in a long dress leaned lazily against the throne, her ice blue hair flowing smoothly behind.
Behind her, Rast, who had just entered the royal city to serve as a waiter, was reciting a story from a fairy tale book while combing the Queen’s long hair with a wooden comb.
The ice blue strands reflected sparkling light in the sunset, and time stood still, forever captured as a picture.
Now, three years had passed, and everything had dramatically changed… The once nameless waiter had become the revered wise king of Paradise, while the girl with ice blue hair slept within the Netherworld, forgotten by the world.
What was once ordinary was now never to be seen again.
Rast stood before the amber coffin for a long, long time.
After a long moment, he finally shifted his gaze away.
Then, using his hand as a blade, he pierced it into his left chest.
In the splattering bl**d and the ruptured flesh, the crystalline Star Cup and the illusory Holy Grail simultaneously manifested.
A pale hue spread across Rast’s face in an instant.
His heart pierced through, and the Holy Grail and Star Cup that were the sources of Rast’s power at that moment were also stripped away.
Had it not been for the inherent skill of the “Pale Body,” which rendered his torso devoid of vital organs, Rast would have likely lost the ability to move by now.
Yet, his hand movements remained steady.
He raised both the Holy Grail and the Star Cup and placed them atop the cold amber coffin.
The next moment.
Starlight shattered.
Then, it transformed into a gentle warmth, seamlessly merging into the coffin where the girl slept.
This girl with ice blue hair was the perfect vessel chosen by the Old God of d*ath for himself.
And at this moment, Rast was returning the Star Cup, representing divine authority, and the Holy Grail, embodying the crystallization of faith and the embryonic form of the divine kingdom—everything he painstakingly collected—to the girl sleeping within the coffin.
This was Noah’s plan.
Using Helen as bait, awakening the will of that Old God of d*ath within her.
Then employing prearranged setups to usurp the power of the divine throne.
“Then, let’s begin.”
Rast’s words dissipated with the winds from above.
“The final… ceremony.”
(The End of This Chapter)
