Chapter 275: Chapter 180 Fate Comes Full Circle (Part 1)_1

As the Demonic Qi began to corrupt the Heavenly Tao network, the Main God who remained in the Land of the Gods sensed it.

The corruption of the Demonic Qi was silent and discreet, as nodes of the Heavenly Tao network quietly shattered before it, eventually dissipating into nothingness.

Externally, this manifested as a gradual retreat of the Heavenly Tao network, while the encroaching Shadows silently invaded, engulfing small planets.

And though the Shadows loathed the light, if they amassed in sufficient numbers, even stars could be devoured.

The stars consumed by the Shadows would transform into dark stars, which would release a black light and exhaust their energy at a rapid pace. Even if later reclaimed, these stars would remain forever dim and lifeless, and the planets around them would lose their value, becoming barren wastelands.

“God of Lies, you have fallen so low…”

The downfall of the Gods occasionally happened, each time leading to an invasion by the Shadows. But as long as the response was swift, the impact wouldn’t be significant.

It was just that this time, the timing of the invasion was somewhat dangerous.

Apart from the Main God, all other Gods had been reborn, leaving the maintenance of the Heavenly Tao network solely to Him, though the burden was not too heavy.

However, this time the God of Lies seemed to have introduced some strange elements that temporarily cut off the network’s surveillance of the Shadows, preventing a quick response from the Heavenly Tao network.

At such times, it was necessary to increase the investment of faith, to ignite faith in the Heavenly Tao network to its utmost, fortify its power, and thus expel the Shadows.

Such events had occurred frequently before, so the Main God was confident this matter could be handled well.

However, just in case, He still needed more faith to support the Heavenly Tao network, so He directly contacted the High Priests of various Sects, conveying His will to them.

“Conduct a grand mass, and then fully assist the envoys of the Outer Gods. They are engaged in a righteous deed, do not interfere,” He said.

After a pause, He added, “Treat well and release those who interfere with reality; their existence holds great significance. Do not ask me anything, for I will not have time to respond.”

Upon receiving the message, some Sects immediately released the reality interferers imprisoned in their cells. These Gods were swiftly snatched up by players who had long plotted for them, ready to make a handsome profit.

After all, there were no major issues at the frontline; the Shadows had been contained by the dirty tricks of the players, and everything was basically under control.

As long as logistics were ensured, the final victory was already theirs.

But some Sects hesitated upon receiving the orders from the Main God.

The gods these Sects worshipped were not particularly kind, and vacillation was normal for them; even their gods often showed a certain closeness to the Shadows, influencing the attitude of their followers, causing them to waver.

Especially this time, it was rare for the Main God to ask them to conduct a grand mass, a measure which had been taken before but signified that the Heavenly Tao network faced a severe crisis, requiring the power of all the Gods.

Even more unsettling for them was the fact that this time, the Main God personally delivered the command.

Where were the other Gods?

Rumors began to fly about, and after the Main God conveyed His command, He immersed Himself completely in moderating the network, no longer responding to the prayers of the High Priests.

To Him, mortals only needed to obey the wishes of the Gods, without hesitation.

However, it was this arrogance that panicked the High Priests even more.

They began to pray fervently to their own gods, hoping to hear just a word or two to alleviate the fear in their hearts, but they heard nothing.

Even though the Gods were close at hand, they still couldn’t see them; they continued to pray to the gods of their hearts, but to no avail—there was no response.

Among them was the High Priest of Lady Tragedy, the Hyena Scavenger.

In the prayer room, it chewed on a piece of half-rotten synthetic meat, its melting texture failing to delight him, and filling him with worry instead.

After dinner, it prayed again to Lady Tragedy, but to no avail—heard nothing.

As the High Priest of Lady Tragedy, it knew all too well the nature of its god; that being would not hesitate to use its own followers as pawns for the sake of witnessing tragedy, inflicting a living death through an array of schemes.

This time, it suspected it was going to be made a sacrifice, then served up on Lady Tragedy’s dinner table.

The best gods are indifferent to mortals; lesser ones view them with benevolence, and the worst consider them as food, relishing in their pain and despair.

Unfortunately, Lady Tragedy belonged to the worst category.

Because of its understanding of Lady Tragedy, Scavenger was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, easily frightened by any minor occurrence.

It had a wife and beloved children, and having witnessed the tragedies Lady Tragedy could concoct, it seriously doubted whether she would harm them to enjoy watching its debasement.

She might spare one child and hide it away as a means to keep it in check, forcing it to serve her while hating her existence at the same time.

Ultimately, it would be killed by that very child, who would become the new High Priest and, before long, learn of their origin, sparking a new tragedy.