“The Fire God Cult, Water God Cult, Ice God Cult started rising a few months ago. Ever since then, their numbers have increased so rapidly that an unimaginable number of elites have joined their ranks.”
“Within just these few months, these religious orthodoxies have gained a ton of followers from more than half of Barren Cloud Prefecture. Even the Full Moon Kingdom, who believed in the White Lotus Sage Ruler most, was greatly affected.”
“Right now, most of the citizens have gone over and joined those three religious orthodoxies, choosing to believe in their God instead.”
Upon mentioning this, the White Lotus School Leader and the Immemorial Sage looked saddened. They were clearly frustrated to lose so many followers.
However, there was nothing they could do about it.
As much as they hated to admit it, the Gods that the Fire God Cult and other religious orthodoxies worshipped were more powerful than their White Lotus Sage Ruler.
They were the true Gods, after all.
Besides, it would be easy for them to create a few “miracles” due to the number of elites they had on their side. The other cultivators might know what was going on behind the scenes, but the ordinary citizens would still worship them in droves.
“At first, we didn’t care who the citizens and common folk chose to place their faith in. But as far as we know, the Fire God Cult has been secretly causing a series of disasters just to set the stage for them to save the day and win the people’s hearts. However, it has resulted in the deaths of many.”
“Previously, I met a few of those from the Fire God Cult who poisoned a city’s water supply, causing the people living there to suffer from disease and illness. Nearly a million people died because of that. In the end, the cultists from the Fire God Cult appeared as their savior with an antidote, telling them that it was a blessing from their God instead.”
“How could the common folk know? But because of this, everyone has become followers of the Fire God Cult. This is also the main reason why these religious orthodoxies can grow so quickly in such a short time. The way those people do things is simply despicable.”
The White Lotus School Leader said.
This was why the School of White Lotus deeply resented those religious orthodoxies. However, after trying to expose their heinous acts, they were branded as a heretical cult instead, which led to the heated confrontation today.
“Heh. It seems like they’re using the same old tricks, huh?”
Chu Kuangren sneered.
The methods the religious orthodoxies used to spread their faith were exactly the same as what he heard from the Chaos Daoist Celestial inside the Slumbering Emperor Coffin.
During the archaic ancient times, after witnessing the human race’s rise to power, the Gods caused a series of disasters to continue gaining the Power of Faith from them.
They would always swoop in and take advantage of when the humans were weak and vulnerable.
“So how are you going to deal with these religious orthodoxies, Supreme Elder?”
The Immemorial Sage asked curiously.
Chu Kuangren’s fingers drummed on the armrest of his chair unintentionally before he got up. “Immemorial Sage, can you go out on a walk with me?”
The Immemorial Sage was taken aback. However, she nodded. “Alright.”
The two of them walked out from the White Lotus School.
…
Inside the Full Moon Kingdom.
The gazes of the once energetic citizens of this city were depressed and hollowed. Their expressions were blank as they walked.
They were no different from the living dead right now.
Although these people were alive, it looked as if they had lost the will to live.
Chu Kuangren and the Immemorial Sage arrived at a public square.
There stood several statues, which were erected by the followers of the Fire God Cult. Beside them, a broken statue was on the ground. It was a statue of Chu Kuangren.
Previously, when the three-headed-hound broke free from its seal in the Full Moon Kingdom and wreaked havoc with its demonic qi that leaked everywhere, it was Chu Kuangren who arrived and helped purify it. That was how he gained the gratitude of the city’s citizens, who erected a statue in honor of his deeds.
Now, no one even cared that his statue was lying on the ground.
Chu Kuangren brought that statue back up again using his mind power and spoke calmly, “The citizens of this city have changed a lot.”
“When the White Lotus Sage Ruler they had been worshipping for so long was revealed to be no more than a false god, the impact caused by their shattered faith was just too great. Anyone would be greatly disheartened if the same thing happened to them.” The Immemorial Sage sighed.
“Losing friends and family to a disaster will often create a huge void in the hearts of those people who survived. They can either let time slowly mend the void or let something in to fill it up instead, like… faith! The followers of the Fire God Cult know this as well. That’s why they took advantage of this to increase their number of followers.”
“I understand.” The Immemorial Sage nodded.
She, too, was the same when she was younger. Having lost her family and friends because of a disaster, a great void appeared inside her. It was as if she had lost her sense of living and no motivation to do anything at all.
Later, she joined the School of White Lotus and believed in the White Lotus Sage Ruler. Only then was the void inside her filled.
“I understand that your intentions to expose the Fire God Cult is for the good of the people, but your method of doing this is just too direct. The common people have just been through a disaster, and a new faith has filled the voids in them. Exposing the Fire God Cult to them is no different than simply emptying their hearts again!”
“That’s why the common people will resist this change subconsciously. Even if what you said is true, choosing such a moment to do so will certainly make you appear less credible. Sometimes, it is not that people don’t believe you. They just simply choose not to.”
Chu Kuangren explained.
The Immemorial Sage frowned a little when she heard this. When she recalled the time she exposed the Fire God Cult for what they did, the common folk did indeed seem lost and in a panic. It was as if they had lost a pillar of support.
With just a few words, the Fire God Cult and other religious orthodoxies managed to twist the narrative and turn the School of White Lotus, who were exposing their evil schemes, into the villains. In turn, they were cursed and yelled at by the people. It was unbelievable.
“Supreme Elder, do you mean you’re going to deceive and have them believe the ones who are bringing harm to them?
The Immemorial Sage felt that this was just too ridiculous.
Then again, she had been with the School of White Lotus for so many years. She fully understood the human heart and knew that even such ridiculous things could happen.
“Obviously, no. If we want to change this situation, there’s still another way, such as… Giving them something new to put their faith in!”
Chu Kuangren looked at his statue and said.
Upon hearing this, the Immemorial Sage was shocked, but she seemingly understood what he meant. A look of disbelief appeared in her eyes. “Supreme Elder, do you know who you’re going up against if you choose to do this?”
“Of course I do.”
“The ones you’re going up against are the Gods. Not just one, not just two, but all the Gods in existence since the archaic and even immemorial times!”
The Immemorial Sage knew that Chu Kuangren had become an Emperor.
However, he was only a human.
‘Can he really stand up against the high and mighty Gods?’
“The Gods?”
“Heh, from this day onwards, every being but me are false Gods!”
Chu Kuangren turned and waved his sleeves, bringing up a gust of wind that shattered all the other Gods’ statues into pieces! Only his statue remained standing!
“Let’s head back. It’s time we prepare a head-on confrontation for those false Gods. Those who incur the true God’s wrath will have to pay.”
Chu Kuangren said as he walked towards the School of White Lotus.
Some of the religious orthodoxy followers were incredibly enraged after seeing Chu Kuangren destroying the statues of their Gods. So, they walked towards him and tried to find out why.
However, every step Chu Kuangren took left white lotuses on the ground. Soon, he was surrounded by countless white lotuses that sent the several religious orthodoxy followers, who tried to approach him, flying.
Seeing Chu Kuangren radiating with holiness and the white lotuses that appeared with every step he took, the people who were originally believers of the White Lotus School started to look hopeful.
“Is he the Bachelor Sage?”
“It’s the Bachelor Sage. He has returned…”
Behind him, the Immemorial Sage looked at Chu Kuangren’s back and took a deep breath. “The one true God in this world, huh? That’s something to look forward to indeed… “
