I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

"It's still there."

Lu Ban answered, and the flames gradually flowed down, slowly engulfing Lao Song's body.

Old Song did not feel any pain, or rather, his body had lost the ability to feel pain.

It was only the slowness of the death process that allowed him to retain some consciousness at this moment.

Upon hearing Lu Ban's voice, Old Song slightly raised his eyes.

The pure fire burned in his unfocused eyes, like the last rays of a civilization's setting sun.

"You said you come from the future, right?"

With his last bit of strength, Old Song asked.

"Yes."

Lu Ban nodded in reply.

"So in the future, in the future you live in, have we already defeated this pollution and successfully escaped the erosion of the Outer Gods? Everything we do now, all the sacrifices we make, will have been meaningful, right?"

Old Song asked.

He seemed to be asking Lu Ban, but also seemed to be asking himself.

Lu Ban remained silent for a moment.

"……Yes."

Xia answered for him.

"We have defeated pollution, and those indescribable great beings have all been sealed away. Everyone can freely acquire and share knowledge. Our footprints have covered all the exotic lands. We have achieved final victory. The statues of you pioneers have been erected in the very center of the city, and you are revered by all."

Her voice was soft, like a silent flame, like a lullaby to lull a baby to sleep.

Upon hearing Xia's words, Old Song's face showed a relieved expression.

"Ah, that's really... wonderful."

The light in his eyes disappeared.

The flames engulfed Old Song's body, leaving no emotion, no trace.

In the sky, the crimson sun was consumed by pure fire, and it continuously poured out black mud, which transformed into hideous monsters that spread in all directions.

In the end, the sun was completely extinguished, but many more impurities had already fled this land in order to escape the purifying fire.

The filth eventually descended upon this world.

They will engage in a struggle with the Pure Fire for thousands of years, driving the world toward destruction.

The fire will spread, and the entire island will be engulfed in flames.

Lu Ban spotted the ship in the distance and wanted to warn the ship to let Changzheng and the others leave quickly.

After taking two steps, he realized that Xia hadn't moved an inch.

"what are you up to?"

Lu Ban asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"Do you remember what we were supposed to do?"

Sia smiled and pointed to the center of the burning, blazing island.

"Witnessing the budding of something."

Lu Ban replied.

The divine cherry blossoms will sprout and grow somewhere on the island, becoming towering trees and the source of the purifying fire.

All the priestesses born in this world in the future will have their souls return to the Divine Cherry Blossom, and will transform into a mighty will to fight against the filth that ravages the island.

"My time is running out."

Sia said, removing her armor and taking off her clothes.

Beneath her clothes, the girl's body, ravaged by pollution and beyond recognition, was a horrifying sight. All her internal organs had lost their original function, turning into writhing, alien creatures that were devouring Sia's life.

If it weren't for her magic, Sia would have died countless times by now.

Even so, she could not suppress the final alienation.

Her life was already like a candle flickering in the wind.

“I said that I met Du Danping in the wasteland, and he met you in the future. I didn’t tell you that I also asked about my future fate.”

"She said, her tone calm, like a pale flame," Sia said.

"Now, it's time for that ending to come."

“I have also encountered the Pure Fire in the Silent Land. I know its origin. It requires the most extreme emotions to create and the most powerful soul to control. I can do it, and only I can do it.”

She spoke as if she were explaining her thesis to her advisor, without the slightest hesitation.

“I’ve improved the spells that Drizzt used in your world. To prevent problems from arising one day, I need to keep adding fuel to the fire. Now I just need you to do one thing for me.”

Sia lowered her eyes slightly. She knew that this was extremely cruel for Lu Ban, but essential for the world. So she spoke and continued.

"Here, the divine cherry blossoms will sprout and grow. I need a constant supply of firewood, I need offerings, I need the most tormented souls, I need the moment when the most hopeful wills fall into the deepest abyss of despair."

"I need you to establish the Kazushima Taisha."

Lu Ban remained silent upon hearing Xi Ya's words.

He glanced at Leopard, whose smile was as pure and bright as moonlight. The girl in the red and white shrine maiden's dress had a bright smile.

Slippery tentacles extended from Sia's body, and the internal organs, no longer bound by magic, began to frantically devour the girl's body.

She turned around and walked toward the very center of the island.

With each step taken, the pure fire seemed to part in fear, making way for him.

Sia's clothes had been burned to ashes, revealing her battered body. Only her slightly curly golden hair flew in the flames, turning as black as ink under the burning fire. Her emerald green eyes, like lake water, were stained with the color of the flames, turning into a pink like flesh and blood.

The flames across the entire island seemed to come under control, suddenly contracting.

Lu Ban soon saw that some kind of surging was blooming from the very center of the island.

A touch of green burst forth from the mountains, and the green quickly spread, covering the entire island. In an instant, a plant occupied the entire field of vision.

The trunk is thick and gnarled, and the branches are covered with lush green leaves.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through this windless zone.

With the gentle breeze, the towering tree took on a touch of cherry blossom color.

Countless flowers bloom in profusion, and the scattered petals fall gently like a rain.

This is what budding is.

Lu Ban now knows what he witnessed.

This is the location of the Wajima Taisha Shrine, and he will visit here again in the distant future and the long past.

Every encounter is a reunion after a long separation.

"The affairs of the ancient times are long gone, unknown to me; maple leaves adorn the Dragon Field River, and the deep, murmuring stream flows on."

Beside him, Leopard recited a waka poem in a low voice. Amidst the falling petals, this incarnation of the Outer God watched all of this indifferently, like a spectator.

Chapter 834 I Am a God

far away.

Upon seeing the towering tree, Ah Xiang felt a tremor originating from his very soul.

He sought the unknown and pursued knowledge, but what he had just seen was so profound and so hopeless.

The overwhelming, twisted monsters surged in like a tsunami, only to be instantly swallowed by pale, colorful flames. Finally, surprisingly, new green shoots emerged from the flames, and the towering trees suddenly covered the island. Pink petals drifted down, and Ah Xiang raised his hand to catch one of them.

He rubbed the soft petals between his two fingers, took a sniff, and the delicate fragrance diluted the saltiness of the sea breeze, making him feel refreshed and relaxed.

Before this, Ah Xiang had seen sea monsters, witnessed the great deeds of extraordinary people, and come into contact with the exquisite craftsmanship of wise artisans. Now, a miracle has appeared before him, enough to shatter all his previous worldview and values.

He couldn't help but kneel down, just like all the other crew members.

thump--

Several crew members began to kowtow and pray for divine protection, not even noticing that a gust of wind had begun to blow through the calm zone.

Ah Xiang stared intently at the divine cherry blossom. His mind went blank, and all reason had vanished. At that moment, tears streamed down his face, and he only wanted to stand there forever.

Captain Nagamasa, however, noticed that a small boat was sailing from the island toward them.

There were two people standing on the boat, a man and a woman, Lu Ban and Bao Bao.

"They are indeed messengers of God."

One of the crew members said this.

"A messenger of God!"

"A messenger of God!!"

"A messenger of God!!!"

The crew members immediately lay prone, not daring to look directly at the two men.

Lu Ban and Bao Bao returned to the ship, looked at the people, and exchanged a glance.

"I am not a messenger of any god."

"Leopard said, which made the crew members who were worshipping stop."

They stared blankly at Leopard in her white robes and crimson trousers, who stood tall and proud, hands on her hips.

"Don't underestimate me, I am a god."

Upon hearing Leopard's words, the crew members were stunned and quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.

"god!"

"god!!"

"god!!!"