RNP Chapter 46 So-called Gods
Chapter 46 So-called Gods
As the ceremony progressed, the clergy presiding over it recited the founding declaration of the United Empire in a loud and solemn voice, their voices echoing throughout the square and piercing the sky. The crowd in the square gradually quieted down, even their breathing became soft, and everyone's gaze turned to the sky, their eyes filled with anticipation and awe.
As the last rays of the setting sun gradually sank below the horizon, the orange-red sunset faded little by little, and night, like a thick velvet curtain, slowly enveloped the entire Backlund. Just then, six distinct beams of light suddenly descended from the sky, piercing through the clouds and landing on the altar in the center of the square, instantly igniting the emotions of everyone in Backlund—the light was dazzling yet not blinding, each beam carrying the unique pressure of a god, permeating the entire square and even spreading to every corner of Backlund.
The two Grand Consuls rose first, bowing slightly in a respectful yet not servile manner—a gesture of reverence for the gods and a tribute to the source of power. The dukes below followed suit, all rising and bowing in homage. Their usual arrogance and sharpness vanished, their eyes devoid of any emotion. All the nobles, extraordinary individuals, and even the clergy maintaining order in the square who had come to witness the ceremony rose without hesitation, bowing deeply towards the six figures in the sky. Not one dared to be the slightest bit presumptuous.
They are the six orthodox faiths of the United Empire, the terminators of the Solomon Empire, and the supreme beings who govern the order of the Northern Continent—the Eternal Sun, the Lord of Storms, the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, the Goddess of Night, the Earth Mother, and the God of War.
The radiance of the eternal sun is warm and intense, like the midday sun, surrounded by golden flames that dispel the chill of the night. Its form is indistinct yet grand, yet it exudes boundless warmth and majesty.
The Lord of Storms radiates a deep blue light, carrying the howling wind. Clouds churn around Him, as if a colossal wave is about to rise at any moment. His ferocity and power inspire awe.
The radiance of the god of knowledge and wisdom is a tranquil blue, surrounded by a faint scholarly aura, as if it contains all the mysteries of the world, and its eyes are gentle yet possess a penetrating insight.
The goddess of the night radiance is a deep black, like an endless night sky, gentle and mysterious, surrounded by a faint starlight that unconsciously brings peace to the heart.
The radiance of the Earth Mother is a deep green, carrying the fragrance of soil and vegetation, calm and profound, as if bearing the power of the entire earth.
The God of War's radiance is an eternal orange, tinged with the tranquility of dusk, surrounded by a faint aura of menace. His sharpness and bravery are the majesty of a warrior who has fought on a blood-soaked battlefield.
The falling night only served to accentuate their sacredness and inviolability. Every ordinary person in Backlund, whether a beggar on the street or a nobleman in their household, could clearly see the six rays of light in the sky, and the gods they worshipped. Backlund was the city with the strongest faith in the six gods. The people here grew up bathed in the radiance of the gods, devoutly believing in them. It was precisely because of this strong faith that the United Empire chose to establish its capital here, using the majesty of the six gods to consolidate the Empire's rule.
Otherwise, the capital of the United Empire should be located in the central part of the Northern Continent, near the Intersea, such as the area where the former capital of the Solomon Empire was located. It would never be Backlund in the eastern part of the Northern Continent, which has no other advantages except for the Tasok River that connects to the outer sea.
Snow certainly wouldn't be unwise enough to spy on the Six Gods at this time—that would be asking for trouble. Besides, he was nourished by the divine fire, had the residual spiritual energy of the Red Moon, and possessed the blade of the Dark Empire. He had too many secrets, and even if the gods casually followed his gaze and made eye contact with him, they might get into trouble.
He lowered his head slightly, shifting his gaze to a safer spot, where he could clearly see that all the civilians within his sight were prostrate on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the earth, their hands clasped together, devoutly chanting the names of the great beings they worshipped. Their voices were loud and clear, and not a single person made a ruckus or behaved inappropriately.
Under the orderly guidance of the clergy of the six major churches, the common people's prayers became unified and rhythmic. Every recitation and every gesture revealed the utmost piety. They presented this heartfelt faith to the gods in the heavens without reservation, praying for divine protection, for the peace of the United Empire, and for a peaceful and prosperous life for themselves.
This process seemed even longer and more solemn than the speeches given by the two consuls. Snow and the other nobles, though not required to prostrate themselves like the commoners, were still forced to maintain a bowed posture. No one dared to rise, nor to speak casually; they had become mere background figures, mere accompaniments to this divine feast. Even the dukes, usually so high and mighty, remained standing, not returning to their seats, giving the Six Gods ample pomp and circumstance on this special occasion.
The nobles who worshipped the Six Gods even followed the rhythm of the prayer, making standard prayer gestures, gazing up at the radiance in the sky, and softly chanting the name of the deity, their expressions devout, as if at this moment they were no longer nobles in charge of a region, but just ordinary believers.
Snow and Karen remained bowed, but showed no further reaction. Karen's expression remained aloof, her grey eyes slightly lowered, revealing no emotion, as if this grand ceremony, this divine descent, had nothing to do with her.
Snow lowered his eyes slightly, inwardly grumbling—frankly, if he had known beforehand that this was not just a simple ceremony, not just a formal event, but also an invisible test of obedience waiting for him, his previous enthusiasm would probably have been greatly diminished.
No wonder Mr. Men didn't come, and no wonder he didn't see any nobles from the Abraham family—given the Abraham family's background and the special nature of the Men's path, they didn't need to participate in such an obedience test, much less bow down to the Six Gods. Otherwise, the Abraham family should at least have sent one of their angels to go through the motions. Their absence must have been at Mr. Men's special instruction, as they didn't need to participate in this kind of formal performance.
Snow gently closed his eyes, deciding to stop thinking about it and simply experience the atmosphere of this era firsthand, feeling the majesty of the arrival of the six gods. He figured his trip to Backlund wouldn't have been in vain.
If you think about it from another angle, as long as you don't treat Liushen as a god and see everything as a large-scale fan meeting, then you won't feel awkward or uncomfortable at all. After all, it's Liushen himself posing on the stage.