Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 387 Especially Trapping One's Own People

The spacious hall was brightly lit, and the walls were covered with various oil paintings and ornaments with strong religious connotations. Behind the main seat was a statue of a six-winged angel.

But upon seeing the pure white angel sculpture, Rean felt a strange sense of familiarity.

It seems that the face that has been hidden is one that I am very familiar with.
"We have successfully rescued the druids and are on our way back."

Rean glanced at Dania across the table and spoke.

The candidates for the heroic spirits sat on either side of the long table. The deity who should have been presiding over the gathering simply played the harp silently in the main seat, seemingly having no interest in interfering in the mortal world.

As a deity, perhaps such an attitude is more reassuring.

"That sapphire dragon." Dania was a little surprised. This was much faster than expected. Wasn't it dealt with as soon as they arrived? According to the plan, they should still be adjusting and preparing for battle in the dark elf city, and shouldn't have even entered the demon realm yet.

"Something went wrong, we didn't stop along the way. The dragon is dead, but we'll bring back the two dragon heads."

Slaying a dragon is always a morale-boosting event, and right now Rean needs fame and achievements, so he naturally plans to drag the dragon's head through the streets.

"Let's talk about it in detail when we get back." Dania looked around; this wasn't the right environment to discuss this privately, so she didn't dwell on it any longer.

The deity sat in the main seat at the long table, with Rean at the first seat to his left and Dania at the first seat to his right. This was not an arrangement by the deity, but rather a seating arrangement decided by the candidates themselves after the seats became available.

Rean's subordinates are mainly the successors of the previous heroes, such as Kuku, while Dania's subordinates include not only the alchemists but also the successors of this new hero. They have subordinates on both sides.

This seems to suggest an internal bias within the team.

However, the fact that they were divided into two columns has already shocked many people, who have probably realized that Rean is not Dania's "subordinate".

In the past, Rean might have considered whether to sit under Dania to avoid trouble, but now he probably feels it's better to take control of his own destiny.

Whether directly or indirectly, Emma told him so much about the legacy that he now looked around and felt a very subtle feeling.

"Do these people really deserve to become Heroic Spirits?"

Even without using Kuku and Suer as standards, if you consider Emma's strength, Rean would doubt that they are from completely different styles. Emma is a powerful cultivator in a fantasy world, while Emma is a survivor struggling in a real fantasy world.

Having figured all this out, Rean felt a little more at ease.

What do rights, status, or even mere force amount to in the grand scheme of history?

Emma's only "advice" was to make Rean "immortal" as soon as possible. Although there is no such thing as true immortality in this world, only by reaching a certain level can one avoid being swallowed up by the oncoming giant wave.

"Snapped."

Suddenly, the deity put down his instrument.

"I wish to spread our beliefs; are you willing to follow?"

When gods appear before mortals, they lose some of their aloofness. When a god directly asks if you are willing to work for him, those who have come here naturally will not refuse.

The gods changed the terrain of the Hall of Heroes for a reason.

At each seat on the long table, there appeared a white bowl, which seemed to contain an enticingly fragrant fish soup.

"As you wish, finish it."

At this moment, not only were the other candidates confused, but Rean was also dumbfounded. What did this mean? Why hadn't anyone mentioned this before?

"puff!"

Someone took the initiative, but immediately spat it out.

"So bitter, so bitter"

Is this some strange ritual? A loyalty test? That's unnecessary, everyone follows the gods. While most people were still hesitant, Rean decided to give it a try, thinking that He probably wouldn't betray him.

"Bitter, it really is bitter."

Of course it's bitter; that's the taste of "life".

A seven-year-old child, having lost everything in the war, begged his way to the big city. He longed for happiness, love, power, and status. He gave everything in his pursuit, only to die on the way. His life, devoid of anything, had perhaps one bright spot: his once devout faith in a certain deity.

"Pastors are the shepherds of God who shepherd the world. If you don't even know what a human being is, how can you guide mortals on their path?"

Another bite, this time it was sweet at first but bitter later. Her happy childhood did not give her a good future, but instead gave her an arrogant and disdainful personality. As a result, after her family fell into decline, she made too many enemies in the brothel and died alone in a dark alley, suffering from various illnesses.

There were no miracles, no turning points; both lives were filled with busy pursuits and aimless existence, and a destiny that led them down a path to hell.

"But this is the life of mortals."

Some people started drinking the soup containing "memories," while others were completely unable to move after taking a sip. Some even spat it out, got up cursing, and then disappeared on the spot.

Whether you're crying or vomiting while drinking, as long as you sit down and savor the bitterness of mortal life, the gods will continue to watch over you silently.

Time passed silently. Someone finished drinking first, then covered his face and questioned the meaning of life. Born into a noble family, he had never seen a life as meaningless and cheap as weeds.

Some drank faster and faster, crying as they drank, their tears and snot mixing into the soup, yet they felt nothing. She had been drawn into the helplessness and pain of ordinary people, gradually losing herself.

Some people, while drinking, burst into laughter. The painful lives of others, those lives that felt like a stab to their own lives, only made them stick to their own path and decide not to become slaves to fate.

"Life is meaningless, all beings suffer; what do you consider joy?"

Suddenly, the presiding deity asked a question.

"It's definitely bitter, but there's also sweetness, and it's that sweetness that keeps you going."

The god smiled and nodded.

"Pleasure is merely anesthesia and self-deception; we should cast aside these weaknesses and change our terrible fate."

The deity continued to smile and nod.

"I will strive to bring joy to others. I cannot give them a wonderful life, but I can at least give them temporary pleasure."

The god still smiled and nodded.

It seems that as long as the answer comes from the heart, He will accept it with satisfaction. But in His presence, deception is impossible.

"I want to end the suffering in the world; I will give them new suffering."

Even with this answer, the gods still approved of it.

What is pleasure? What is joy? Why create pleasure? Is it to escape the painful reality? Or to guide the way to reality? To spread positive emotions? Or to make people forget everything in revelry?
Everyone has their own answer, and perhaps at this moment, the "doctrine" and "answer" about pleasure have already emerged.

A pastor is destined to be a mortal, a bridge between gods and mortals. His shepherds need to appreciate the greatness of gods, but even more so, they need to understand the helplessness and despair of mortals.

"I want to create a country where everyone can smile. Even if the conditions are not good now, I will try my best to make things better for my people."

And Dania seemed to have revealed her true feelings as well.

The cunning god, through a surprise attack, caused all the inheritors to reveal their true nature, and also allowed Rean, who was observing and recording everything, to obtain some very important information.

However, this "test" finally came to him.

Many eyes turned towards it, seemingly eager for this answer.
"Me? I just want to be able to smile and be able to help my family. If the situation allows, I'll save as many as I can."

Rean's answer was perhaps the most ordinary, yet also the least like that of a so-called hero.

But then the god spoke again.

"So, if one day you have the power to change the entire world, and you reach the top of the world..."

"Then I will banish all suffering and make everyone's life filled with laughter."

"Then, the oath is fulfilled."

(End of this chapter)