This is so dishonest!

Chapter 424 The Ancestral Dragon, Despairing of Life; The God of the Abyss Appears [Two Chapters Combined, 7k]

Mount Olympus.

Deep within Mount Olympus, a long-dormant mountain has been reawakened.

[Zeus] The First Dragon, with the power of the God-King, stirred the fire at the Earth's core, creating a brand new divine forge for the three Cyclopes.

The mountain's interior has been hollowed out, and lava flows through it like golden blood.

Each time the huge bellows pumped, it was accompanied by a thunderous roar.

The three Cyclopes, Bruntes, Stelopes, and Arges, stood before the forge with their bronze upper bodies bare.

They are natural-born masters of forging, with muscles as hard as granite and a burning passion for creation in their single eye.

The air was thick with the scorching scent of metal and sulfur, brimming with a primal and wild power.

[Zeus] The first dragon and the Olympian gods stood at a distance, observing the great project that was about to begin.

His face showed anticipation, but deep down he was shrouded in an inescapable worry.

[I hope Fellow Daoist Xuanqing will go easy on them and not break these divine artifacts.]

Zu Long's gaze involuntarily fell on another figure beside the forge.

Xuan Qing was communicating with the three Cyclopes.

His figure, illuminated by the roaring fire, radiated a sacred glow that transcended all things.

“Your power originates from chaos and the earth, and is full of primal creativity,” Xuan Qing said gently.

"But it's not enough."

Algers, the most hot-tempered of the Cyclops, asked in a gruff voice, "What else is needed?"

“Rules, order, and concepts,” Xuanqing replied.

He slowly extended his right hand, and a pure, radiant light slowly emerged in his palm.

That light was not energy, but a kind of "existence" that seemed to have a physical form and a will.

"This is 'holy light,' the embodiment of 'order.'"

Then, his fingertips began to dance with mysterious runes made of light.

"This is the 'divine word,' the fundamental 'law' of the universe."

The three Cyclopes stared at those things, their single eyes filled with unprecedented shock.

As master forgers, they could clearly sense that these seemingly ethereal things were more "solid" and "eternal" than any divine metal they had ever seen.

"Incorporate them into your forging."

"I'll lead the concept, you'll be responsible for the shaping."

"Together we will create a truly 'divine artifact' unlike anything we've ever seen before."

Xuanqing's voice was full of convincing power.

The three Cyclopes exchanged glances, seeing excitement and fervor in each other's eyes.

“Alright, we’ll do as you say!” said another giant, Bruntes, first.

Upon hearing this, Zeus felt a chill run down his spine.

He rubbed his forehead and smiled wryly: "You've been led astray by just a few words?"

"I shouldn't have had such high expectations of you!"

The first item on the agenda was Hades' artifact.

Hades didn't seem too reassured either.

He arrived at the casting site and emphasized his requirements.

"I need a helmet that will allow me to blend into everything and be undetected."

"At the same time, it must demonstrate my majesty as the lord of the underworld."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Qing nodded approvingly.

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, we will perfectly forge the corresponding divine artifact according to your requirements!"

"Yes, yes, don't worry!"

The three-eyed giants patted their chests and guaranteed it.

Xuanqing faced the three Cyclopes.

"Using the deepest dark crystal as a base, and tempering it with the waters of the River of Oblivion from the Netherworld."

The cyclops immediately sprang into action, their massive hammers striking the crystal, sending up silent black sparks.

Each tap seemed to peel away a part of the "presence" from the crystal.

When the prototype of the helmet was completed, Xuanqing extended his finger.

He wrote in mid-air, imprinting sacred words such as "concealment," "nothingness," and "silence" onto the inside of his helmet.

Finally, he poured a ray of holy light, symbolizing "final judgment" and "absolute order," into the crown of the helmet.

"This item is called 'Kunee,' the helmet of invisibility."

When the helmet was finally completed, it seemed to absorb all the light from the forge.

It was entirely black, yet it emanated a strange, eerie light that seemed to devour all gazes.

Hades eagerly took the helmet.

He could sense the profound and powerful underworld authority contained within it.

He put the helmet on his head.

In an instant, his figure, his aura, his existence, all vanished from this world.

Even Zeus, the ancestral dragon, could only barely sense that there was an absolute "emptiness" there.

"It's a success!" Poseidon exclaimed.

Hades reappeared, a rare look of satisfaction on his face.

The helmet's power even exceeded his expectations.

However, at this moment, a sudden change occurred.

The shadow beneath Hades' feet suddenly began to writhe uncontrollably.

The originally chaotic and disordered darkness automatically rearranged and combined to form a perfect, symmetrical pattern full of sacred geometric beauty.

"What's going on?" Hades frowned.

Immediately afterwards, a pile of untreated bones in the corner of the furnace, exuding an aura of death, suddenly began to piece themselves together with a series of "clicks and clicks".

Instead of being resurrected as the dead, they formed a delicate, small church model built of bones, full of a sense of order.

Hades looked at Xuanqing with a puzzled expression upon seeing this.

Xuanqing smiled and explained, "I have endowed it with the authority of 'order'."

"Therefore, it will spontaneously purify and organize everything 'chaotic' and 'disorderly' around you."

"After all, death should be orderly, shouldn't it?"

"That makes sense," Hades nodded.

"Yes, I have a question."

"Fellow Taoist, please speak."

Hades pointed to the church of holy light and said, "I am the Lord of Darkness, and I will become the King of the Underworld and rule the Underworld."

"Isn't this a bit too obvious?"

He could foresee what his kingdom would become when he wore this helmet and went to that gloomy and chaotic underworld.

Are all his agonizing and wailing souls going to line up and sing hymns as they enter the cycle of reincarnation?
Will his river of blood be purified into crystal-clear holy water?
Xuanqing, as the Underworld Emperor, has a lot to say about this.

He said earnestly, "The meaning of the underworld is not just punishment and chaos, nor is it merely darkness and evil, but rather the maintenance of cosmic order and the help of all beings to be liberated."

"So, isn't it normal for the underworld to have light?"

"Is that so?" Hades felt that Xuanqing was right, but he also felt that something seemed wrong.

Unable to come up with a solution, Hades gave up on thinking about it.

He clutched his divine artifact and turned to leave.

Before they had taken two steps, another unexpected event occurred.

Suddenly, his invisibility helmet changed shape.

The originally dark, majestic, and solemn artifact turned pink, and the plume on its top disappeared, transforming into two long rabbit ears.

Hades's gaze was blank.

He opened his mouth: "Fellow Daoist Yawei, what's going on here?"

Xuan Qing smiled and said, "This is a divine artifact. It's normal for it to be able to transform and change its form!"

Hades' heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "What other forms are there?"

Xuan Qing shook his head: "It's hard to say. This thing can adapt to any situation. What this divine artifact looks like depends entirely on what form you want."

Upon hearing this, the three Cyclopes looked at the pink rabbit-eared helmet and then at Hades.

They grinned and let out a kuku laugh.

Hades desperately wanted to throw away the artifact he held.

"So, besides changing its form, what other functions does this thing have?" Hades wondered anxiously.

"I hope it won't have any weird effects after I wear it!"

"That can't be."

Xuanqing said confidently, "We are all righteous gods, how could we create strange and weird things?"

"If you don't believe me, you can ask the three fellow Daoists."

The three one-eyed giants beside him smiled憨厚ly and nodded: "Don't worry, fellow Daoist, everything will be fine!"

"Alright!"

Hades had no choice but to leave with his divine artifact, his heart heavy with worry.

[Try it and you'll die, didn't I tell you that already!]

[Zeus] Zulong mentally complained, while looking at his elder brother with a sympathetic gaze.

Next up was Poseidon, the god of the sea.

"I need a trident, to command the endless ocean and stir up towering waves!" Poseidon's voice was powerful and resonant.

Xuanqing nodded in acknowledgment.

The forging process was equally thrilling.

With each fall of the Cyclops' hammer, it seemed as if one could hear the roar of the sea and the rumble of the tides.

Xuanqing then inscribed sacred words such as "Dominator," "Storm," and "Life" into the body of the trident.

Finally, he still infused it with a ray of "holy light" and added an extra touch of the concepts of "gospel" and "praise".

"This item is called the 'Tribute of Poseidon'."

The moment this divine weapon was completed, the sound of the ocean waves could be heard throughout Mount Olympus.

Its entire body is azure blue, as if it were formed from the purest seawater, and the tip of the halberd gleams with the light of thunder and storm.

Poseidon excitedly grasped it, feeling as if the entire ocean of the world had become connected to him.

He could clearly hear the breathing of every fish and feel the pulse of every ocean current.

He raised the trident with satisfaction and gently paused it in front of an open space outside the forge.

Boom!

The ground cracked open, and a clear, sweet spring gushed forth, brimming with the breath of life.

"Good! Excellent!" Poseidon laughed loudly.

However, his laughter stopped quickly.

Because the gushing spring water spontaneously began to produce ethereal and sacred choir sounds.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Although the singing was faint, it clearly reached the ears of every deity.

Poseidon's expression became incredibly strange.

He tried to extend his divine sense into a nearby lake.

The fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish in the lake immediately stopped swimming after sensing the power of the trident.

They all turned in unison towards Poseidon's direction, and with an extremely devout posture, began to rhythmically blow bubbles.

The sounds of those bubbles bursting, when combined, surprisingly formed a symphony of the ocean filled with reverence and praise.

"What is this?" Poseidon asked curiously.

"We've incorporated the Avenue of Music into it, which makes perfect sense, doesn't it!"

It wasn't Xuan Qing who spoke, but three Cyclopes.

They chuckled and said, "As the future sea god, wouldn't you like your life to be more interesting?"

"As long as you hold the trident, you can listen to beautiful music anytime, anywhere. How romantic is that!"

Poseidon thought it made sense.

[Zeus] The First Dragon silently covered his face.

I knew it! I knew it would turn out like this!

After only a few days of cooperation, the one-eyed giants have already unconsciously started learning from Xuan Qing!

Hera and the other goddesses wore expressions that suggested they wanted to laugh but dared not, their shoulders twitching slightly.

There were only three Cyclopes, and they didn't think anything was wrong at all.

In their view, these artifacts were incredibly powerful, and as for their additional effects, weren't they all manifestations of "divine miracles"?
"It probably doesn't have any other effect, right?"

Before leaving, Poseidon thought of Hades earlier and glanced at Xuanqing again.

"It doesn't have any special effect anymore."

Xuanqing shook his head.

Poseidon breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to leave with his trident.

"However, if you learn a few incantations, you can unleash the full power of this divine artifact," Xuan Qing added.

He then passed on a few spells to Poseidon.

Poseidon blushed upon hearing this.

"God, does this really work?"

"Don't worry, fellow Daoist!"

"Fine!"

Poseidon left, heavy with worry. Finally, it was the turn of the god-king, Zeus, the first dragon.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"I need a weapon that symbolizes the supreme authority over thunder and the sky."

"It can both destroy the old order and create a completely new one."

Xuanqing's face broke into the brightest smile.

"as you wish."

This time, they did not use any physical divine metal.

【Bruntes】is responsible for summoning the wrath of the heavens, 【Steropes】is responsible for capturing the brilliance of lightning, and 【Arges】is responsible for forging pure thunder.

The three Cyclopes displayed the most advanced skills they had ever possessed.

Xuanqing, on the other hand, poured his understanding of the most fundamental principles of "law" and "judgment" into it without reservation.

The entire furnace was engulfed in dazzling electric light, as if a sun was being born within it.

As the light faded, a scepter made entirely of lightning, imbued with the aura of creation and destruction, floated silently in the air.

It is the thunder itself.

It is the will of the sky.

It is the embodiment of order.

Zeus, the First Dragon, reached out and grasped the Thunder Scepter.

An endless stream of power surged into his body, and he felt as if he had become the center of the entire universe.

This power perfectly matched all his requirements: strong, pure, and without any abnormalities.

A long-lost, genuine smile appeared on the face of Zeus, the First Dragon.

It seems the Heavenly Emperor showed me mercy and didn't cause me any trouble.

He nodded to Xuan Qing with satisfaction, expressing his gratitude.

Xuan Qing simply smiled and replied with a profound statement.

"Fellow Daoist, you know me. You can slowly savor some of the functions of this divine artifact."

Upon hearing this, the First Dragon, Zeus, suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.

Just then, Hera suddenly asked, "Zeus, how are you feeling?"

[Zeus] The First Dragon subconsciously wanted to answer: "It feels great."

But what he said came out as a completely different version.

"According to Article 3, Section 1 of the Olympian God-King Status Feedback Regulations, I, Zeus, confirm that the artifact 'Cenonos' is in good condition, full of energy, and meets the first-level combat readiness standard."

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire forge fell silent once more.

All the gods looked at their god-king with an extremely eerie gaze.

Even Zeus, the progenitor of the dragons, was bewildered.

What did I just say? What regulations?

Poseidon couldn't help but ask, "Sixth brother, are you alright?"

[Zeus] The First Dragon wanted to say, "I'm fine."

But what came out of his mouth was...

"According to Section 7 of the Olympus Family Members' Care Act, the care shown by an elder brother to his younger brother should be acknowledged. I thank you for your greetings and confirm that I am currently of sound mind and logical thinking."

It’s over.

[Zeus] The heart of the First Dragon was ice-cold.

He finally understood what Xuanqing meant by those words.

Xuanqing did not add any funny side effects to his artifact.

He simply imprinted the concept of "establishing and obeying order" deep into the soul of the scepter and its holder.

From then on, he had to follow some kind of strict, almost obsessive "rules" and "regulations" that he himself had set out at some point.

He, Zeus, the king of the gods, became a walking codex.

[Heavenly Emperor, you're truly something!]

Emperor Zulong was both amused and exasperated.

Xuan Qing still wore a smile, as if he had done something insignificant.

"Gentlemen, the divine artifact is complete."

"The future of Mount Olympus is in your own hands."

"Don't worry."

"I am with you all."

The gods looked at the powerful yet strange artifacts in their hands, and then at their god-king who had begun to speak in a serious and methodical manner; their expressions were extremely complex.

They have indeed become stronger.

Seeing this, the remaining three goddesses and the new Olympian gods decided to temporarily refrain from forging the divine artifacts.

They said they would consider it.

Xuanqing and the three Cyclopes all expressed their regret over this.

~~~~
The divine forge on Mount Olympus still retains its warmth, and the newly forged artifacts gleam with a breathtaking light.

[Zeus] The First Dragon held a thunder scepter, his expression solemn, but his eyes concealed a barely perceptible sense of despair.

"According to the revised version of the 'Titan War Phase One Operation Plan,' the second operation, codenamed 'Liberation of the Abyss,' shall be launched immediately."

His voice was clear and standard, without a trace of emotional fluctuation, as if he were reciting a sacred law.

Poseidon suppressed a laugh, patted his chest forcefully, and shouted, "Received!"

Hades wore his helmet of invisibility, his figure appearing and disappearing in the shadows, refusing to reveal himself.

He simply transmitted his voice, saying, "Understood!"

Hera, Demeter, and other goddesses watched their god-king with a mixture of sympathy and worry.

Xuan Qing, the instigator, still maintains the appearance of a compassionate and benevolent God, as if everything is irrelevant to him.

“I will go with you,” he said.

[Zeus] The First Dragon felt a tightness in his heart and almost reflexively wanted to refuse.

Don't follow me anymore. I'm afraid you'll turn even the Abyss into a well-ordered paradise at our next stop.

However, what he said turned out to be...

"According to Article 12 of the Team Operations Safety Guidelines, bringing in strong support can help improve the success rate of the mission. Your participation is in the best interests of Mount Olympus and is hereby approved."

After finishing his words, Zu Long silently shed a tear in his heart.

And so the Olympian gods set off.

Their goal remains the Tartarus Abyss.

Divine light pierced through the void, and they quickly arrived at the entrance to the abyss.

It was a colossal, dark vortex that seemed capable of swallowing the entire galaxy.

A chilling, desperate, and chaotic aura emanated from it, enough to cause any weak-willed deity to collapse on the spot.

"According to the Environmental Adaptability Protocol, the current environment has a continuous corrosive effect on the divine body. It is recommended to activate the Divine Power Shield." [Zeus] the Ancestral Dragon announced expressionlessly.

The gods raised their shields to resist the corrosive aura of the abyss.

Hades, however, thrived here; the helmet of invisibility allowed him to blend perfectly into the darkness.

They ventured deeper into the abyss, following the edge of the chasm.

There is no light here, no time, only eternal depravity and suffering.

Countless imprisoned ancient monsters let out silent roars in the darkness, trying to drag them into an abyss of no return.

But the Olympian gods, wielding their newly forged divine weapons, were awe-inspiring, and those petty villains dared not approach them.

With a gentle swing of Poseidon's trident, the gushing holy spring water purified a large area of ​​pollution, accompanied by ethereal hymns.

Upon hearing the song, the imprisoned monsters' pained expressions eased considerably, as if they had received some kind of redemption.

[Zeus] The First Dragon was oblivious to this and focused solely on leading his troops forward.

Soon, they arrived at the area where the three Cyclopes had said the Hundred-Handed Giant was imprisoned.

It was a vast plain cast in bronze.

In the center of the plain stood three enormous cages, towering into the sky. The cages were made of an unknown black metal and were engraved with powerful sealing runes.

The three hundred-handed giants, Cortous, Briareus, and Cyges, were chained within them.

Each of them had fifty heads and one hundred arms, and their bodies were as majestic as mountains.

At this moment, they hung their heads and fell into a deep sleep, but the terrifying power emanating from their bodies still distorted the space around them.

However, what protects this plain is not only the seal.

In front of the three cages, an unimaginably enormous dragon was coiled up.

This dragon has a strange appearance.

It has a beautiful goddess head, a skeletal body, and thousands of scorpion-like tails.

“Camper,” Hades whispered the name.

"The jailer of the Tartarus Abyss, one of the incarnations of the Abyss's will."

The dragon named Campbell had obviously also discovered the intruders.

It slowly raised its head, its lava-like pupils locking onto Zeus and his ancestral dragon companions.

"The new gods of Olympus, you have overstepped your bounds."

Camper's voice was like countless metals rubbing against each other, filled with a piercing killing intent and warning.

"Passage is prohibited here."

[Zeus] The First Dragon stepped forward, his thunder scepter crackling with electricity.

"According to Chapter 1 of the Holy Declaration of Emancipation, all allies who resist the old tyranny shall be free."

"Our purpose in coming here is to rescue the Hundred-Handed Giant."

"Please step aside."

Campor let out a deep dragon roar, which shook the entire Bronze Plains.

"By order of Cronus, no one shall release them."

"Those who disobey will be executed."

Negotiations broke down, and war was imminent.

"According to Combat Plan B, the target has been confirmed as a hostile unit. Prepare for battle." [Zeus] Zulong calmly issued the order.

Poseidon launched the first attack.

He raised his trident high and roared, "In the name of the sea god, storm descend!"

In an instant, endless seawater appeared out of nowhere in the abyss, creating a massive whirlpool that swept towards Campbell.

Within the vortex, a stirring battle anthem, sung by countless fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish, could be faintly heard.

Camper scoffed at this, opening its massive maw and spewing out a jet-black abyssal dragon breath.

The dragon's breath was filled with corrosive and destructive power, instantly evaporating the seawater whirlpool completely, and even the hymn came to an abrupt halt.

"It's my turn!"

Hera holds a scepter symbolizing authority over marriage and family, the top of which radiates a soft yet resilient light.

"The sacred covenant cannot be broken, and those who betray it shall be punished!"

An invisible shackle appeared out of nowhere, attempting to bind Campbell's soul.

However, as the warden of the Abyss, Camper's will had long been integrated with this chaotic land, and Hera's law attacks had little effect on him.

The dragon lashed out with its tail, which, like a black lightning bolt, lashed out at the gods with the power to tear through space.

Hades vanished instantly, dodging the attack.

Meanwhile, Zeus, the ancestral dragon, took a step forward and held the Thunder Scepter in front of him.

"According to the first rule of the Defense Code, the God-King has an obligation to protect the team members."

boom!
The enormous dragon tail collided violently with the thunder scepter.

[Zeus] The ancestral dragon remained motionless, while Campor's tail was scorched black by the powerful lightning.

Camper winced in pain and let out an angry roar.

The battle then broke out in full force.

Poseidon summoned countless sea monsters made of seawater, which charged toward the dragon one after another.

Hades appeared like a ghost in Campbell's blind spot, using his newly acquired scythe, formed from the aura of death, to continuously leave deep, bone-revealing wounds on the dragon scales.

Hera, Demeter, and other goddesses remained behind, continuously casting divine spells to weaken the dragon's power while providing support for their own side.

[Zeus] As the main attacker, every swing of the Thunder Scepter in his hand is accompanied by a destructive lightning bolt capable of piercing through the heavens and earth.

Their teamwork was seamless, their divine power overwhelming, and for a time they were evenly matched with this terrifying abyssal dragon.

Xuan Qing, on the other hand, remained on the edge of the battlefield from beginning to end, without making a move.

His gaze pierced through the endless darkness, looking towards the deepest part of the abyss.

There, an even more ancient and immense will is slowly awakening.

That is the real Tartarus, the abyss itself.

Xuan Qing's lips curled up slightly.

"It's my turn."

He took a step forward, and his figure instantly disappeared from the spot.

The next moment, he appeared in the core area of ​​the abyss, a place of absolute "nothingness".

A humanoid figure formed from pure darkness was silently suspended there.

The God of the Abyss's gaze was cold and indifferent as he looked at Xuan Qing:

"This is not a place for you!"

"Get out of here!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)