Chapter 10: Faith on the Brink of Collapse

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Because of their reverence for the Father of Stars, the followers of the Celestial Church are scattered across the world, and the people once donated vast quantities of goods to the church. Now, throughout the continent, the Celestial Church possesses the most land, as well as the richest assets and supplies.

When war ravaged the land, leaving the people destitute and corpses strewn everywhere, survival became the only instinct for many. Faced with starvation, some turned their eyes toward the temples. Though the temples had the protection of the Tribunal’s guards and enforcement powers, these forces were insignificant before the surging masses of refugees, slaves, and local warlords.

After a millennium of peace and development, the strength of these guards had become a mere formality, weakened to the point of irrelevance.

In the east of the supercontinent, in a place called the Hundred United States, a temple was seized by thousands of refugees. Driven mad by hunger and bloodlust, these refugees had lost all reason, becoming like beasts thirsting for blood. Egged on by a leader named Xu Ze, they took that fateful step.

“We’re only plundering the temple, not disrespecting the Father of Stars.”

Xu Ze’s words were nothing but lies, but for the slaves, it mattered little—they needed only an excuse to ease their conscience.

Thus, the temple’s guard force was defeated, the temple was plundered, and the priests and several clergy were killed. Inside the temple, piles of grain allowed the slaves, for the first time in ages, to fill their bellies.

“To hell with the Father of Stars! I’ve worshipped him all my life, and never once have I eaten my fill! Now, in his temple, I finally know what it means to have a full stomach!”

A refugee vented his anger, his words jolting many who, having eaten their fill, suddenly remembered the awe they once felt toward the Father of Stars.

“The Father of Stars is not the Celestial Church; they’re not one and the same. We only took the priests’ grain, not dared to disrespect the Father of Stars…”

“Bah! Why would the Father of Stars care about nobodies like us? Our lives and deaths mean nothing to him!”

“Who do you think you are? The Father of Stars is a great, omnipotent god! What right do you have to expect his concern?”

“The Father of Stars created all things but does not interfere with them. His vastness is unfathomable; stop speaking nonsense…”

The arguments continued within the temple, quickly dividing into two extreme factions, exposing the depth of each person’s faith at a glance.

Shen Xing watched coldly, silently observing all that transpired.

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This was precisely what Shen Xing had anticipated. At present, war engulfed the entire continent, and everywhere, people struggled to feed themselves. Temples being plundered and the Father of Stars’ authority diminished were outcomes Shen Xing had foreseen.

This time, he not only intended to advance human civilization, but also to ensure that all would remember him once more.

For Shen Xing, a thousand years was but a fleeting moment. In this life alone, he had lived through more than a hundred thousand millennia. But for short-lived humans, a thousand years was an eternity, enough for their subconscious awe of Shen Xing to fade drastically.

In Shen Xing’s view, the weakening of faith signified a loss in human unity. Without a shared belief, how could the world’s people unite as one? Shen Xing had to weed out another generation of rebels, and further strengthen the reverence genes in those who remained.

...

Year 4399 of the Celestial Calendar

In the east of the continent, a once-great empire was reduced to a single majestic temple and a small area enclosed by city walls. The Star Dome Kingdom, once a glory of the Celestial Star, now could not avoid being swept into the whirlpool of chaos.

War raged, life was shattered, and the fate of the Star Dome Kingdom seemed to stand at a crossroads.

Since the outbreak of conflict, though the Star Dome Kingdom was situated at the far east, backed by the ocean, it could not escape disaster. Crop yields dwindled, people suffered, but thanks to its proximity to the sea, fishing and hunting became vital sources of food.

This made the Star Dome Kingdom relatively prosperous in the midst of calamity, and since its people were former imperial subjects, internal crisis was minimal.

Yet, in times of chaos, wealth often invites peril. The prosperity of the Star Dome Kingdom drew countless covetous eyes, making it the target of many.

During their resistance against invaders, the old king perished, and his eldest son was defeated and killed. Afterwards, only the eighteen-year-old youngest son, Yan Huang, inherited the king’s authority, becoming the ruler of the Star Dome Kingdom.

Yan Huang, though young, possessed both ability and tenacity, but before overwhelming force, his efforts seemed insignificant.

The enemy’s strength was formidable, and their alliances pressed the kingdom’s territory ever smaller, until at last they could only retreat into the temple.

This thousand-year-old majestic structure now stood as the last land of a once-mighty empire.

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Now, only the temple still resisted stubbornly.

Beneath the temple, the enemy prepared for another assault. Catapults, giant ballistae, and trained animals were dispatched to the battlefield, with massive stones hauled from distant mountains.

Inside, the ministers were anxious, and soon one could no longer bear the silence. He stepped forward hurriedly to report:

“Your Majesty, the enemy has somehow procured a vast supply of provisions and military materials, and seem poised for a ferocious attack upon the temple.”

Yan Huang’s expression was grave. For two years, the reason this last temple had not been breached was the enormous disparity in supplies—the Temple of the Father of Stars held the world’s richest reserves.

Now, the enemy had replenished their stores, instantly leveling the advantage. Except for the remaining city defenses and the high ground, there were no strengths left.

Yan Huang fell silent, but those below were nearly beside themselves.

“Your Majesty, what are we to do?!”

Yan Huang sighed almost imperceptibly, then, helplessly shook his head and said, “I do not know.”

Though the enemy was powerful, Yan Huang’s ingenuity had sustained them for two years, and his ministers still held some faith in him.

Now, even the king was at a loss, which meant the Star Dome Kingdom truly stood at the end of its rope.

“Your Majesty, perhaps… we should surrender?”

A venerable minister said this with difficulty. Yan Huang said nothing, his expression still solemn.

“Yes, Your Majesty! If not surrender, we could slip away in separate directions from the temple—there’s always a slim chance! We could meet again far away and rebuild the Star Dome!”

As they bit the words out, Yan Huang’s gaze grew resolute.

“We cannot surrender. I will not sit by while the Temple of the Father of Stars is plundered!”

“If the Father of Stars’ dignity is lost, as a descendant of the Yan clan, how could I dare worship him again? How could I face the ancestors of my house?”

At these words, all fell silent.

“My last resort is to draw the Star Dome Scepter!”