Chapter 52: On Lifespan |
At this moment, the merfolk also noticed that Mo had returned, and they gathered around him with joyful expressions.
“Mo! You’re back!”
“Mo, are my father and mother doing well in the tribe?”
“Mo…”
Everyone spoke at once, asking their questions.
Mo patiently answered them one by one, informing them that their relatives in the Luo River Tribe were all safe and that life had already gotten back on track.
Hearing this news, quite a few merfolk were moved to tears.
Although they were no longer separated by life and death,
the near sea and the Luo River Tribe were simply too far apart.
This was because the mouth of the Luo River was located at the far southwest of the continent,
while the tribe itself lay in the northeast.
Now that they had begun new lives here, it was impossible to keep traveling back and forth, so knowing that their families were safe brought them great peace of mind.
After the crowd dispersed, Mo said to You,
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to meet Lady Luo Ya.”
You nodded, a faint excitement stirring within your heart.
However, when Mo entered the water,
he turned back only to find that You were still standing where you were.
“What’s wrong?” Mo asked, puzzled.
Mo was one of the most devout believers of God.
If, in the past, God ranked first in his heart,
then Lei, the youngest son of Apollo, ranked second.
Thus, when Lei sought to spread the faith far and wide, Mo had been the first to respond.
But now that Luo Ya had become Pisces,
her position in his heart naturally replaced Lei’s, becoming second only to God.
Therefore, everything had to prioritize Luo Ya.
Not to mention asking Luo Ya to personally come and meet a Recipient of Divine Grace.
Even if Lei himself came, he would not be qualified to have Luo Ya personally go out to receive him.
In Mo’s eyes, the only one worthy of Luo Ya taking the initiative to meet was the great God.
“You, Luo Ya is chosen by God, the incarnation of Pisces in the mortal world. How could a constellation take the initiative to receive someone?”
Mo spoke seriously.
You did not find anything wrong with his words.
A constellation ought to enjoy such honor.
“Mo, it is not that I am unwilling to pay my respects in person.”
“It is just that I am a Recipient of Divine Grace of Leo, and I do not possess the ability to survive underwater.”
Mo suddenly understood.
Before becoming a Recipient of Divine Grace, he had only been an itinerant missionary, and did not fully understand the distinctions between Recipients of Divine Grace and mortals, nor between Recipients themselves.
“I see, it was my ignorance.”
As he spoke, he manipulated the flow of water to form a transparent sphere, enveloping You within it.
“With this, there will be no problem. Let us go.”
Without hesitation, You followed Mo and dived into the sea.
The two of them, one before the other, arrived at that dreamlike undersea city—Atlantis.
Looking at this city that existed beneath the ocean,
a trace of amazement flashed through Your eyes.
This was a style of architecture completely different from that of the Theocratic State of the Stars and the Solar Dynasty, filled with exotic charm.
Soon, the two arrived outside the temple. Mo first went in to ask Luo Ya, and after receiving her permission, he came out to call You inside.
Although Luo Ya herself did not care for such formalities, Mo insisted on maintaining the proper respect due to a constellation.
Entering the temple, You bowed respectfully.
“You greets Pisces.”
After completing the salute, You raised your head and carefully observed this newly ascended constellation—Pisces, Luo Ya.
With just a single glance!
You deeply felt the vast, ocean-like power of the stars within Luo Ya, as well as the surrounding seawater transmitting waves as if rejoicing.
Faintly, You could even see the stars in motion!
This was a constellation!
A surge of fervor instantly filled Your eyes.
At this moment, Luo Ya’s voice slowly sounded.
“Mo said you are the next Pope of the Theocratic State of the Stars?”
She held a rather favorable impression of the Theocratic State of the Stars.
After all, it was precisely because Mo had brought farming techniques and faith that the tribe’s life had improved.
And she herself had received divine grace, becoming one of the legendary constellations!
Now, within the merfolk race, Mo’s status was second only to hers.
You maintained a respectful tone.
“By the Pope’s favor, I have been allowed to inherit the Theocratic State of the Stars.”
Luo Ya pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked,
“But are you certain you can outlive that youngest son of Apollo?”
The moment these words were spoken, Your expression changed drastically, but quickly returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.
“May I ask the constellation to clarify?”
You steadied your mind and asked.
In the current world, only three individuals had lived beyond one hundred years.
Apollo of Leo, his third son Ze, and his youngest son Lei.
And now Lei had already reached a hundred years of age, so in theory, he should not have much lifespan left.
“A constellation holds complete authority over the stars.”
“If they do not wish to pass away, they are truly eternal.”
Luo Ya spoke slowly.
“Although Leo split his authority,”
“if he wishes, he can still live for a long time.”
Though Luo Ya did not continue,
You understood the unspoken meaning behind her words.
If Lei did not wish to die, he could live for a very long time—long enough to completely disrupt all of Your plans!
“But… why is that?” You could not understand.
You were neither a constellation nor a wielder of authority.
Your understanding of Lei was based only on the experiences of Apollo and Ze.
Luo Ya sighed with emotion.
“Deep emotion shortens life.”
“All people have feelings. The deeper the attachment, the greater the depletion of the mind, and thus one more easily returns early to the Sea of Stars.”
If it had been the Luo Ya of the past,
she would never have been able to speak such profound words.
But after becoming Pisces,
it was as if her wisdom had been awakened.
Things she once did not understand,
she could now infer by analogy.
Combined with the circulated 《Legend of Apollo》, she could deduce part of the truth.
This was the grace and mercy that God bestowed upon the constellations!
At this moment, Your heart could not calm down for a long time.
If Lei did not die…
would all You schemes not be in vain?!
But You recalled the scene when Lei had once become utterly despondent after hearing the resentful words of Duke Spiritwind,
trying to comfort Yourself—
perhaps Lei might also die early because of emotion?
Yet Luo Ya’s words still reignited within You the thought of slaying a wielder of authority.
Suppressing the turmoil in Your heart, You respectfully said,
“Thank you, constellation, for the guidance.”
Luo Ya slightly nodded.
At this moment, You raised your head,
your gaze burning as you voiced your true purpose.
“I have come this time to ask the constellation one question.”
“Speak.”
“How can one become a constellation?!”
The moment these words were spoken, Mo’s expression changed drastically.
He had never expected that You would be so bold as to directly ask such a blasphemous and insane question!
However, Luo Ya did not become angry. She answered calmly,
“I do not know the method to become a constellation.”
“But I can tell you how I became one.”
Then, Luo Ya recounted everything that had happened at the Luo River in full detail.
You listened carefully, then nodded in gratitude.
But a trace of madness surged in Your eyes.
Luo Ya’s account
was exactly the same as what You had learned from Mo.
But why?!
Why was it that when Luo Ya prayed,
God responded to her prayer,
and bestowed divine grace,
making her one of the great Twelve Constellations!
Why was it that despite all You schemes,
even going so far as to split an entire dynasty,
You could not obtain even a single glance from God?!
——