Chapter 37: Let the Sun Fall |
Inside the Temple of the Stars.
The solemn and dignified morning prayer had just ended.
Lei stood upright before the Divine Statue, his gaze sweeping over the devout clergy below, yet his brows were slightly furrowed.
You’s position had been empty for several consecutive days.
“Where is You?”
“Why has he not come to pray these past few days?”
The eyes of a nearby cleric flickered for an instant.
He immediately stepped forward and respectfully lowered his head.
“Reporting to Your Eminence, You has been troubled lately.”
Lei’s expression shifted uncertainly,
and in the end, it turned into a helpless sigh.
He understood You— that child had lofty ambitions,
his desire for Divine Grace bordering on obsession.
Having broken his promise himself had likely dealt him a heavy blow.
He waved his hand, his tone weary.
“Forget it, I understand.”
“Let him… have some peace for a while.”
The cleric bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew from the Temple of the Stars.
At the moment he turned and closed the temple doors behind him—
he instinctively raised his eyes,
glancing at Lei, who still stood before the Divine Statue.
The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the window…
stretching Lei’s shadow long across the ground.
That once upright figure
now revealed an indescribable loneliness.
As though, like this increasingly magnificent temple—though radiant on the outside, its interior was hollow and desolate.
Afterward…
the cleric arrived before an inconspicuous low house.
He bent his fingers and knocked rhythmically on the wooden door.
The door silently opened a crack,
and the cleric quickly slipped inside.
Inside, candlelight flickered, illuminating two figures.
One was Shan.
The other—was unmistakably You, who was supposed to be in “seclusion”!
And at this moment, You’s dark hair…
had now turned into a brilliant golden color, and even his eyes had become golden pupils flowing with starlight!
The cleric looked at You’s current appearance,
and a deep longing flashed in his eyes.
He reported in a low voice.
“Your Eminence… asked about you again today.”
Hearing this, You merely gave a slight nod.
“I understand. Next, I will have to trouble you to continue keeping watch over the movements within the temple.”
“It is my honor to serve you.”
The cleric replied respectfully.
His gaze subconsciously swept over You’s dazzling golden hair,
before he bowed and withdrew from the room.
After the cleric left, You and Shan exchanged a glance, then in tacit understanding took out black cloaks and covered themselves completely.
Under the cover of night, the two left the Theocratic State of the Stars and then slipped into the vast primitive forest outside the city.
They moved through the dense forest for a long time.
Finally, they arrived at an extremely concealed cave entrance.
Inside the cave was pitch black, unfathomably deep.
“Praise the great Lord of the Stars!”
Standing at the cave entrance, You spoke slowly.
After a moment of silence, a response came from the depths of the cave.
“Praise the great Lord of the Stars!”
Immediately after, a point of fire lit up within the darkness.
A Recipient of Divine Grace holding a flame in his palm appeared at the cave entrance. Upon seeing You, he immediately knelt down.
“Leader!”
You gave a slight nod. “Enter.”
“Yes!”
The three of them went deeper into the cave, twisting and turning through its passages.
The leading Recipient of Divine Grace stopped before a stone wall and knocked on it rhythmically several times.
With a faint sound, the stone wall slowly shifted aside, revealing behind it— a massive cavern brightly lit with flames!
Looking out—
there were actually over a hundred people gathered inside the cavern!
They were all cloaked, and when they saw You enter, they lifted their hoods, revealing their true appearances.
Without exception,
all of them were golden-haired and golden-eyed Recipients of Divine Grace!
“We pay our respects to the Leader!”
At once, the crowd knelt down, shouting in unison.
Ambition surged within You’s eyes as he slightly raised his hand.
“Rise.”
Ever since obtaining the “Divine Grace Technique” provided by Shan,
You had begun to lay out his plans in secret.
Using the “Divine Grace Technique” as bait…
he promised a future where “Divine Grace would be bestowed upon all.”
He pulled a group of devout believers who longed for Divine Grace onto his chariot.
And he established the “Stars Church,” proclaiming himself its Leader.
Each time he successfully recruited a new member,
You would fully reveal the origin of the Divine Grace Technique, as well as the attitude of the Solar Dynasty toward this matter.
This was both honesty,
and an excellent method of binding them together.
The newly initiated Recipients of Divine Grace understood that they no longer had a way out.
Once the matter was exposed,
not only would the Solar Dynasty refuse to spare them,
even the Pope they had always revered…
in order to maintain the so-called “bloodline” of the Solar Dynasty, might personally take action to purge them.
Because many people knew—
Lei had once promised You that he would grant him Divine Grace.
But after making a trip to the Solar Dynasty,
he regretted it.
It could be said that those who harbored resentment toward Lei were not only You alone.
Even though…
Lei had never promised to grant them Divine Grace.
But if You could obtain Divine Grace, then in a certain sense, it meant they also had a chance to obtain it.
Unfortunately, Lei had destroyed their hope.
One must know, this was the Theocratic State of the Stars!
Everyone here…
devoutly believed in the great Lord of the Stars!
Naturally, their desire for Divine Grace far exceeded that of those without faith.
When the Divine Grace Technique had not yet appeared,
they could only suppress the longing in their hearts.
Because Divine Grace could indeed only be bestowed by a god.
But then, Ze had brought
nearly a hundred Recipients of Divine Grace!
This made them realize that Divine Grace, aside from being granted by a god, could actually be obtained by other means!
Yet in the end, Lei had abandoned bringing Divine Grace back to the Theocratic State of the Stars—how could they possibly accept that?
Thus, when You came to them with the Divine Grace Technique, they chose to abandon Lei and follow You.
Since Lei was unwilling to grant them Divine Grace,
then they would obtain Divine Grace themselves!
Unfortunately, after obtaining Divine Grace,
they also learned that the origin of the Divine Grace Technique could not be exposed to light.
And they understood clearly—
the Solar Dynasty would never allow them to live!
Thus, in order to survive!
In order to have a future where they could walk beneath the sunlight!
They chose to follow You, walking a path of no return!
As long as the Solar Dynasty was erased from existence!
They would no longer need to fear for their lives,
and could truly walk under the sunlight,
instead of hiding within this cave!
“Let us go— to the Solar Dynasty!”
“To make that sun fall!”
“Divine Grace is a gift bestowed by the god upon all beings!”
“They have no right to monopolize the god’s grace!”
You raised his hand and shouted, fanaticism flashing in his eyes!
“Divine Grace is a gift bestowed by the god upon all beings!”
“They have no right to monopolize the god’s grace!”
Inside the cavern,
the fervent echoes were deafening!
……
“Confirmed dead?”
Yula looked at He Yi, who knelt below to report,
his tone calm.
“Reporting to Your Majesty.”
He Yi answered respectfully.
“Yes, I personally saw him fall off the cliff.”
“Mm.”
Yula nodded. It was good that he was dead.
This way…
no one would ever know the secret of the Divine Grace Technique.
From this moment on, the world would only know—
that the Divine Grace Technique belonged to the bloodline of Apollo!
“You may withdraw.”
“Yes.”
After He Yi withdrew,
only Yula remained in the study.
He stood by the window, like Ze once did, gazing at the brilliant starry sky above.