Chapter 11: The Chosen One

Yuanhuang's will was resolute, yet his heart was wracked with pain. War was cruel and merciless, and defeat for the Star Dome Nation now seemed inevitable. Perhaps in a few days, the flourishing Temple of the Star Father beneath his feet would be reduced to rubble, with the Star Father's majesty desecrated.

Within the temple, Yuanhuang gazed at the grand and solemn statue of the Star Father. He knelt with reverence, his hands tightly clutching the scepter planted before the statue, unmoving. Tears streamed down his face; with the last hope shattered, King Yuanhuang finally revealed his most vulnerable side.

He was merely an ordinary child, yet by virtue of his royal birth and the calamities he endured, he was forced to bear the nation upon his shoulders and press forward alone. He exhausted himself, feigning a strength greater than anyone's, but now, before the Star Father he had revered since childhood, Yuanhuang laid aside all pretense.

“Star Father, forgive me my inadequacy, I have tried... I cannot win...”

“Even if those blasphemers kill me, my devotion to the Star Father will never waver!”

His tears fell upon the scepter, and the crystal atop it reflected a faint gleam. Though disappointed, he had not yet succumbed to despair. Death was not the end—perhaps it was another beginning, a return to the Star Father's embrace.

The temple was eerily silent, only Yuanhuang’s breathing echoing through the vast hall. He gazed through his tears at the statue; those eyes, seeming to pierce all things, watched him in silence, offering final comfort.

Suddenly, the entire temple was bathed in a mysterious radiance. Rays of light streamed from the lofty dome, illuminating every corner.

“Devout follower... I have seen your faith shine like gold.”

A majestic and ethereal voice resonated within the temple, as if calling from antiquity, suffused with boundless authority and compassion.

Yuanhuang felt an unprecedented surge of power, his heart pounding, awe rising from deep within. His spirit was shaken to its core, his body trembling involuntarily. He knew—this was the voice of the Star Father, the manifestation of the divine!

“Star Father above!”

Overcome with emotion, Yuanhuang knelt, his eyes glittering with tears, but brighter still was the light of faith and resolve.

“For civilization to advance, unity is essential, and faith must not waver!”

The Star Father’s voice sounded again, clearer and more powerful. As the words echoed, the ground before Yuanhuang burst into dazzling light, and the ancient Star Dome Scepter slowly rose from the earth.

After a thousand years, the scepter was unchanged, its gemstone atop emanating mysterious and potent energy.

Yuanhuang stood, reached out, and firmly grasped the scepter. He felt an unprecedented power coursing through him—bestowed by the Star Father, a weapon against darkness.

“The Star Dome Scepter will grant you sufficient strength,” the Star Father intoned, his face impassive, as if recounting a trivial matter. “With the scepter's blessing, you may wield command over the elements of the world!”

A new insight blossomed within Yuanhuang’s consciousness. He now understood the scepter’s formidable power—it could control the force known as gravity among the stars, and manipulate every element of the world.

He planted the scepter before him and knelt in gratitude for the Star Father’s gift. Upon raising his head again, the Star Father's presence had vanished, leaving only the towering statue gazing silently.

Behind him, the ministers were dumbstruck; it seemed they had witnessed the legendary descent of the Star Father, their legs unconsciously kissing the earth.

Yuanhuang's expression regained composure. He gently raised the scepter and declared,

“Gentlemen, follow me to purge the blasphemers.”

When their figures appeared before the enemy, the foe's catapults had already targeted the temple entrance. Countless boulders rained down upon Yuanhuang and his followers; the ministers, pale-faced, retreated in panic. But Yuanhuang, calm, waved his scepter—bolts of lightning surged forth, reducing the stones to dust.

The enemy ranks below fell into chaos. The thunder shattered both the rocks and their morale.

“Blasphemers must all pay the price! The Star Father grants me divine power to cleanse the world!”

Yuanhuang’s voice carried with the wind into every ear. For a moment, the entire continent seemed to pause, as myriad thoughts stirred in the hearts of its people.

With each sweep of the scepter, the elements danced. In mere seconds, the coalition forces beneath the temple were engulfed by torrents of seawater pouring from the skies.

Yuanhuang's display stunned the ministers behind him. They gazed in disbelief at the king, who now seemed divine—had he alone defeated hundreds of thousands of enemy troops?

No, it was not he alone—it was the power of the Star Father!

The king had said it: this was divine power bestowed by the Star Father.

Thus, the war could finally end. With divine power, Yuanhuang became an army of one, sweeping from the east of the continent, clearing every refugee from the Star Father’s temples. The faithful found their pillar once more, falling to their knees in tears.

In the year 4400 of the Sky Dome Era, Yuanhuang unified the supercontinent and reestablished the Star Dome Empire. All the irreverent were brought to account; humanity’s devotion to the Star Father soared to new heights.

This time, humanity would remember the Star Father's might even more firmly, and their faith would be ever more steadfast.

Shen Xing watched divine power sweep the continent, and could not help but feel a touch of admiration for Yuanhuang. After all, the so-called divine power was but a tiny fragment separated from the laws of the universe, yet Yuanhuang’s mastery of its power and variety was astonishing.

After the continent was unified, Shen Xing no longer appeared before humanity. He did, however, meet privately with Yuanhuang once, warning him that the land beneath his feet would soon fracture, and urging him to prepare by dividing his nation.

This was Shen Xing's considered decision—a unified empire was indeed strong, but without competition, how could progress be made?

Under Shen Xing’s guidance, the supercontinent began to split, much like Earth in a previous age. That small Dinosaur Isle was merged into the largest continent.

He divided the world simply and directly into five continents: Eastland, Southland, Westland, Northland, and Centralland. The seas were split into four oceans: Eastern Ocean, Southern Ocean, Western Ocean, and Northern Ocean.

Naming had always been a challenge for Shen Xing, but he had settled on these names before the division began.

After the supercontinent fractured into five, humanity once more stood in awe of the Star Father’s power—thus, the nations of the five continents did not split further, but established their countries along continental borders.

Civilization soon entered a period of rapid development amid continental competition...