Forge a path to success.

Chapter 406 Gods are Immortal, Heroes are Beloved
The light from the Thorn Crown burst forth, piercing through numerous glowing corpse giants. The purified and annihilated colossal spaces connected above the sea, forming a massive, crater-like void. Old Thorn Sha's punch sent Furudan crashing into one of these voids, the chaotic demon's massive body twisting from the immense impact.

He raised his fists high in the air, like a green sun swooping down, and with a roar, his fists struck Furudan squarely in the waist.

"Double attack!"

“Don’t get carried away!”

Furudan suddenly raised its head and opened its massive jaws, biting down on Jing Sha's shoulder. Its sharp teeth tore off large chunks of flesh, and almost half of Jing Sha's left arm was exposed to bone. However, old Jing Sha showed no sign of weakness. He simply compressed his strength further, pulled his fist back further, and unleashed all the life force in his body in the most unrestrained way, smashing his mighty fist into the giant wolf's fangs!
"A triple strike!" Jing Sha laughed.

The giant wolf howled in fury, its clenched teeth biting off three of Jing Sha's fingers, while its fearless iron fist shattered Fu Ruidan's long fangs. That punch, like an incomparably sharp spear, pierced right through both sides of Fu Ruidan's long snout, the wolf teeth biting into his arm serving as the mechanism to hold the spear in place.

Old Jing stood on both feet, raising his left arm high. Using his single arm as a fulcrum, he pried open the chaotic demon, lifting its enormous wolf body above his own head!
"Four-hit combo!"

He swung his arm and smashed the chaos into the seabed, like a giant destroying a towering mountain!

The divine power surged into the wolf's body through the impact, instantly freezing its chaotic and unpredictable form. Old Jing Sha locked the wolf's head with one arm, flipped over and sat on the giant wolf's back, and brought down a barrage of punches with his other fist.

A strange-colored blood gushed out—the blood vomited by Chaos from his severe injuries, and also the blood that Jing Sha himself had continuously shed during the battle. Both were enduring the same pain, but in terms of sheer damage, Jing Sha had actually suffered more. This was because his offensive capabilities were actually inferior to Chaos's, and even the wounds he sustained during the entanglement were comparable to the direct blows he had inflicted on his opponent.

But Jing Sha fought with increasing ferocity, his momentum rising steadily. His power was so great that the surrounding smoke signals dissipated, and the Sea of ​​Corruption couldn't even get close to the gods' battlefield; the seawater was blasted outwards, forming a tsunami!

"Five-hit combo!"

With a final blow, a massive fist slammed into the chaotic eyes, a single strike intended to rob the demon of its sight. However, the imprisoned giant wolf suddenly laughed, its body dissipating into smoke, the thorny fist penetrating the smoke and reaching deep into the earth.

"You arrogantly wield your power, thinking you can set an example for your people?" Its laughter dissipated in the smoke. "You've hit me so many times, but what effect have you really had on me? Such a foolish choice only exposes your own aging!"

Jing Sha stretched his thick neck, like a boxer heading to the ring. Ignoring his wounds, he smiled and said, "Ever since we suppressed you, we have come to understand the true nature of you, you old dog."

"You're a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong; all you're good for is a tough mouth. What do we have to fear from a cowardly god like you!"

"Then die with your fearlessness," Fridan said coldly.

Its smoke gathered and then dispersed, each wisp of smoke, as thin as a hair, transforming into a rabid wolf, each possessing the same destructive power as its original form. It raised its head and howled, its howl as fierce as a curse, and then the pack of wolves leaped out, opening their blood-red mouths to the old man.

The demigods of Point 6, far away on the front lines, felt a sudden blinding light, unable to even determine the number of attacks. Quantity, speed, direction, even timing—all the attacks were uncertain, and the battle itself was built amidst an unbelievable cloud of smoke. That was the Chaos Demon's signature tactic: to utterly destroy the rules upon which it depended for survival, revealing the ultimate curse of death only at the very last moment.

"Hunting the Pack of Wolves!"

Jing Sha sent the mad wolf flying with a powerful punch, smashed its head with a headbutt, and charged through the pack with his massive frame. However, he was outnumbered; the wolf pack was boundless, countless plumes of smoke gathering amidst their howls, and numerous attacks coalescing into incredibly fine lines. Countless purple lines pierced the old man's body, swallowing his flesh and blood before returning to the mist.

A moment later, Furudan raised the swirling haze of his berserker weapon and slammed it deep into the sea. Hundreds of millions of purple lines erupted simultaneously, converging into the weapon, turning Old Jingsha into a withered skeleton devoid of flesh and blood.

However, the mangled human figure remained standing, his arms still raised high, his fingertips pointing towards the sky!

"The Holy Body, the Immortal Tree!"

And so, people's prayers poured in. They prayed for the prosperity of the city-state, for victory in war, and for the longevity of their homes. The prayers of 17 billion people became a torrent of life, and the body of the thorn-clad figure was reborn in an instant.

Blood was replenished, muscles regenerated, and his cloudy eyes regained their luster. He was a god whose regenerative abilities surpassed all others; as long as he had the support of his people, no matter the injury, he could heal completely, for the City of Thorns never feared pain. All wounds would eventually heal, becoming yet another set of glorious medals!
"In our first battle years ago, you were defeated by us. For the past two thousand years, you have been suppressed and have used every means at your disposal, yet you still cannot defeat us."

The old man laughed proudly, "Furuidan, you old dog, you can run rampant with your sharp teeth and claws, but even if you gnaw for millions of years, you will never be able to pierce our hearts. If there is any destiny, then we are your natural enemies!"

Frydane met his gaze for a moment, his smile undiminished.

“Well said, Jing Sha. I must admit, fighting you was the worst experience for me.”

"That's why I'm avoiding a one-on-one confrontation with you by everything I can. After all, I don't have the means to defeat you..."

"But among the other gods, there are also your natural enemies."

Jing Sha frowned and suddenly clutched his chest. He felt the strength supporting him crumble, followed by the devil's sinister laughter.

"That previous recovery must have taken a toll on your strength. This is the moment I've been waiting for!"

·
"The Divine Tree is fighting hard, everyone must remain vigilant!"

"Leave it to us!" "We will never bow down to them!"

On the main battlefield, the Divine Tree of Unity is fighting fiercely in the Kingdom of Gospel. The captains controlling the tree are all holding back their power, fighting cautiously to weather the brief moment of Thorn Robe's emergency recovery. But at this very moment, the Kingdom of Gospel is turned upside down. For the throne deep within the kingdom has changed; the Holy Mother, the embodiment of heaven and earth, is rising from that throne.

As the fluorescence gradually faded, people were able to see the true face of the deity. She had an ordinary face, wore a white robe, and walked through the light with her eyes closed and hands clasped together. Her every move was devoid of any worldly air, only filled with compassionate love for all humanity.

Judging by appearance alone, anyone would assume she was a compassionate nun. Yet beneath her white robe lay countless heads—worldly beasts, sea creatures, and countless struggling, crying human faces. Each head dissolved into her robe in the light, as if billions of wronged souls were supporting the one and only Mother Teresa.

That was the true face of Lavaiva, the goddess of destruction; she was twisted love, a tragic redemption. She humiliated humanity with the poison of light, and filled heaven with corpses—she was a utterly wicked and hypocritical goddess!
Lavaiva stepped across the ocean and arrived before the sacred tree. She pointed a finger at the thorny flower at the center of the tree, and glistening water droplets fell from her fingertip, like the tears of the Virgin Mary.

Just as Old Jing Sha was reshaping his body with the Immortal Tree, a tear fell into a petal and scattered across every branch of the Jing Sha city-state!
"Bow down and worship the name of God, and turn to the light for salvation."

The gospel shines brightly, bringing joy to the heart and keeping one far from sorrow and distress.

"Eternal Light Divine Law - Seed of the Gospel of Self-Joy!"

The thorns withered instantly, shrinking into luminous "seeds." Centered on these seeds of holy light, the power of emotion swept through the entire city, settling in the hearts of every citizen. They were instantly filled with joy and delight, as if in paradise. Beautiful angels descended from the light, guiding all beings toward heaven.

There is no need to conform to the masses, no need to remain trapped on a battlefield of despair. Everyone has a place in heaven, and everyone can find their own fulfillment. Thus, the group dissolves, becoming countless independent individuals. Individuals drift away, flowing into the light of compassion. The colossal body of the Unity Tree abruptly halts, and the five major meridians of its unity begin to loosen and detach under the influence of the seed of light. The torrent of life is about to cease, for the path of unity has been obscured by compassion!
"Your people are the source of your strength, but also your fatal weakness."

On the surface of the Sea of ​​Corrupted Light, another seed of light appeared in Old Thorn's chest. The light of compassion dominated his body, and Furudan's beastly claws pierced through his chest, seizing his illusory heart.

"People always crave something given without effort more than a hard-won peace. That's why Parriman and Du'ai were able to rise to power in your city so easily, and why the Courtyard Mother could destroy your sacred tree with a single blow." Fruidan sneered. "You really should listen more to Du'ai's words. You're too old, too old to evolve. Your methods, though powerful, are outdated. Everyone knows your secrets perfectly well."

"The Mother of the Courtyard has studied your weaknesses for 357 years, and her seed of light is an insurmountable obstacle for you!"

Why is it that despite Thorn Robe's immense power, Parriman and Du Ai firmly believe in his inevitable defeat? Why, despite repeated setbacks, does the Holy Mother and Chaos still strike... and even Eternal Time asserts Thorn Robe's demise?

The reason lies here. The rigidity of the system, the isolation of a kingless state—weaknesses inherent from its inception—along with the harsh environment, drove the city-state to its doom. Since city-state civilization had reached its limits, it was destined to be replaced by something else. The only difference lay in the identity of the replacement…

It simply depends on whether one deity replaces another or the other.

"Goodbye, you old fool," Frudan said coldly. "You really should listen more to your Speaker, after all, your people once had the chance to live in peace!"

"What you said is quite true."

Old Jing chuckled softly.

"But what makes you think we haven't heard of it?"

Furudan immediately sensed something was wrong, for the old man had seized its beastly paw. This old tree should have crumbled under the erosion of the light seed, but some unknown force had sustained its existence, holding back the collapsing city-state. It raised its head with a low laugh, the gray lines on its face becoming prominent and tangible, transforming into a familiar mask!
"--speaker!"

The Divine Tree of Thorns' expression changed, his gaze beneath the mask becoming deep and restrained, strikingly similar to that of the former Speaker. That was the gaze of the Divine Tree of Unique Love. He slashed down the chaotic wolf claws, the light within his body bursting forth and forming a white military cloak behind him.

That was the image of a "hero" who was once adored by the people, but now, this hero has stepped onto the battlefield to protect the country!

"Holy Wings, heroes are loved by all!"

At the same time, a powerful roar erupted from within the Divine Tree of Unity. It was the united roar of 17 billion people. Their voices caused the large lilies on the tree's surface to bloom in the wind, and the city's defense devices shifted to the back of the tree. The fluttering petals formed a pure white cloak. Amidst the roar of the crowd, it spread its wings and soared into the sky!
The poisonous light that had corrupted the city-state surged towards the Holy Wings, and the planted seeds of light were transformed, becoming the power of the Hero's Wings. Lavaiva raised her hands, releasing seeds of light like rain. The pure white Holy Wings sliced ​​through like sharp blades, shredding the numerous seeds of light into fragments. Lilies bloomed on the sacred tree's chest, replacing thorns, and from within the flowers came the languid voice of the current Captain-Commander.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. You've been holed up in the tower for too long, and you probably don't know much about the situation in our city-state."

“Just minutes ago, we declined the Speaker’s invitation to independence. Your meticulously crafted ultimate spell is useless against us now!”

This is a natural development.

Some had already taken the lead, spreading the ideology of exclusive love throughout the city-state. It was precisely by transcending that ideology, which arose from within, that the divine tree was able to stand on the battlefield today.

How can citizens who have transcended individualism and chosen unity care about the mere Kingdom of the Virgin Mary!
Old Thorn Tree cast aside the wolf's claws and clenched its fists again. For the first time, Chaos lost its composure; it could hardly believe what it was seeing. For it was an impossible counterattack, defying the predetermined outcome of time. The Thorn Tree should have perished a second ago, yet it had unleashed its most cherished power!
"The purified curse? You? Why?!"

"Why? That's a strange thing to say. Speaker Parriman has always been a citizen of the city-state, and he has been fighting for the common people for the past 20 years. Although he went astray at one point, his will is ultimately imprinted in the history of the city-state."

"Then what's so strange about the city-states inheriting his power?"

Old Jing patted his shoulder and shook his head with a smile.

“You heretics are just like that stubborn emperor, believing that only a civilization that ‘does not make mistakes’ is the best. Because you only ever see civilizations that perish because of mistakes, while ignoring the nations that have risen up by overcoming those mistakes.”

"All ideologies and choices are part of the evolution of civilization. Whether it is justice or evil, selfishness or universal love, its very existence is the 'meaning' of civilization. To overcome it, to assimilate it, and to preserve its essence as part of the nation's history—that is our civilization."

"Indeed, the transformation of exclusive love once drove us to the brink of despair. But it is precisely because we overcame that the thorns you face have become stronger than before!!"

He brought his fists to his waist, his muscles tensing, his divine heart pounding heavily, and immense power surged from his limbs into his fists. Old Jing Sha's aura reached its peak; he was about to unleash the strongest attack since the founding of the city-state, an attack that would annihilate all enemies before him!
The chaos had long since dissipated into smoke; having failed in its plan, it decisively abandoned the battlefield, rapidly flying towards the Sea of ​​Illusions. Old Jing Sha's gaze followed the chaos into the distance; the Holy Light of the Courtyard Mother was contending with the Divine Tree. He continued to gather his strength, shouting, "Second Captain!"

"it is good!"

The divine tree, soaring high into the sky, clasped its hands together and forged an incomparably sharp sword with its divine power. That sword was as large as a city-state; it was the embodiment of the courage and steadfastness of all living beings. Driven by the will of warriors, it soared into the sky, tearing through the false holy light and slicing through the cruel heavenly kingdom.

"Holy Judgment, Justice in the Thorns!"

"With such deep-seated attachments, how can you escape the sea of ​​suffering!"

Lavaeva pointed to the sky, and arms formed of holy light rose from the sea to meet the holy sword of righteousness. It was an absolute protection created with pure positive emotion, symbolizing the loving arms of motherhood.

Eternal Light Divine Law - Embracing Light Sacred Wall!
The Sword of Justice slashed at the Absolute Defense Arm, and Old Thorn Robe leaped out, heading straight for the mad wolf that had fled into the deep sea. Just before the two were about to clash, the old man roared.

"Captain-in-Chief!!"

"learn!"

And so, at the heart of the Divine Tree of Unity, the newly appointed captain pressed the compass of justice. In an instant, the divine being and the divine tree, all living beings and individuals, exchanged positions.

The majestic, mountain-like sacred tree cleaved down like a giant sword, the power of justice parting the sea and striking the fleeing wolves squarely. And Jing Sha, surpassing even the light of absolute protection, appeared before Lavaiva in an instant, unleashing a devastating punch upon the Virgin Mary!

"Holy Holiness, Billion Impact!!!"

The fading light, the horrified gods, the purified toxins dissipating like droplets of water, the warrior's blood boiling under the intense heat. The old man threw a punch, like an arrow released from a bow. Divine power, spiritual power, and blood formed a triple ring before the fist, the incomparably powerful fist dispelling all the noise on the battlefield.

This was an unparalleled strike, achieving ultimate sublimation on the verge of death. The will of one god and one nation converged into ultimate power; that punch pierced through the Elysian Kingdom of the Firefly Corpse, striking the divine body of the Holy Mother in the courtyard!
(End of this chapter)