Chapter 16: You Are Right

After such turmoil, the delegates no longer had any objections. They hurried back to their own nations to consult with their parliaments, and ultimately, Shen Xing’s proposal was unanimously approved.

Under Shen Xing’s guidance, all the countries on the Celestial Dome had been reunited, forming a single unified nation—the Stellar Empire.

Shen Xing, as the High Priest of the Stellar Faith, became the sole supreme ruler of this empire.

His decisions now shaped the destiny of the entire planet.

After arranging everything for the new empire, Shen Xing set about handling the backlog of affairs that had accumulated during this period.

It took him about two days before he finally found the time to visit the prison. He was determined to meet the proponent of the heliocentric theory, a man imprisoned by the constraints of his era.

When Shen Xing entered the prison, the atmosphere immediately grew tense.

His presence caused every guard’s heartbeat to race, their breaths quickening with anxiety.

They knew that the High Priest before them was the sole ruler of the Celestial Dome, his power bestowed by the Stellar Father, a sacred force far beyond their reach.

It was akin to an Earthling standing before a nuclear bomb; though one knows it won’t suddenly explode, the sheer power is enough to induce nervousness.

Shen Xing’s gaze was calm and profound, sweeping across every corner of the prison, as if he could perceive the soul of every inmate deep within their cells.

He had not come for judgment, but for redemption—for the scientist misunderstood by his era, Wen Jing.

“High Priest Shen, why are you here…” The guard’s voice trembled, filled with reverence and curiosity as he looked at Shen Xing.

“Take me to Wen Jing.”

“Wen Jing?”

The guard was momentarily stunned by the unfamiliar name, but dared not question further. He quickly searched through the prisoner records, seeking the name.

Wen Jing—a scientist imprisoned for his unwavering pursuit of truth. His name had been buried beneath the dust of history, yet his faith and perseverance left a lasting impression on Shen Xing’s heart.

In truth, Shen Xing was filled with complex emotions.

He knew Wen Jing’s conviction was righteous, his theory a scientific truth, a fact that all life on the Celestial Dome ought to accept.

Yet the limitations of the era and the peculiarities of the Stellar Faith had caused Wen Jing to pay a heavy price.

The guards found Wen Jing’s file. Although the charge of blasphemy piqued their interest, they asked no questions, merely gesturing for Shen Xing to follow.

Shen Xing and the guards walked through the prison’s corridors, arriving at Wen Jing’s cell.

The guards followed closely behind, their hearts pounding like drums, anxiously awaiting what was about to unfold.

They did not know what the High Priest intended—was he here to punish the blasphemer, or for some other purpose…

The observation window of the cell slowly opened, and Shen Xing’s gaze fell upon Wen Jing.

Wen Jing was no longer the spirited man he once was; the years had etched deep lines into his face, his pale beard giving him the look of a dying man.

Yet Shen Xing could see that Wen Jing’s eyes remained resolute, his faith unshaken.

“Wen Jing, lift your head.”

“Is it to judge my crime of blasphemy, High Priest?” Wen Jing’s voice was hoarse as he spoke.

He raised his head, beholding the distinctive attire of the Stellar Faith.

His eyes lacked focus, as if his mind were elsewhere, yet he still managed to show proper respect to the priest.

“The theory you once proposed—do you believe it to be correct?”

“Yes, High Priest.”

“But no one believes you.”

“Because of my inadequacy, I cannot fully explain the myriad stars created by the Stellar Father. So I know… they will not believe.”

A trace of admiration flickered in Shen Xing’s eyes, for he saw into Wen Jing’s heart.

He had not lied; he was not questioning the existence of the Stellar Father, but was continually striving to prove why the Celestial Dome revolved around the sun.

Wen Jing’s faith had not collapsed. He sought to prove it scientifically.

For a scientist to attempt to rationalize the existence of a mysterious deity was a constant collision between the soul of a devout believer and that of a rationalist.

And after decades, neither side had triumphed.

Shen Xing stood silently for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice that echoed through the cell: “Wen Jing, your name will forever be remembered on the Celestial Dome.”

“Your theory is the truth that all life on this planet should accept.”

“You are right.”

For a moment, Wen Jing’s heartbeat nearly ceased.

How many years had it been?

He had spent endless days in his dim cell, his faith and theory branded as heresy, his youth and passion slowly worn away in this sunless place.

Yet now, in this moment, he heard Shen Xing’s words—quiet as the first ray of sunlight at dawn, illuminating every corner of his soul.

Wen Jing’s eyes widened, his lips quivering as he tried to speak, but no sound emerged.

His mind raced, striving to comprehend this sudden shift.

“High Priest… has acknowledged… my theory?”

The words echoed in his heart, shock and disbelief entwined.

As the astonishment faded, Wen Jing felt a powerful surge of emotion.

His eyes grew moist, tears slipping down his cheeks. Years of solitude, struggle, and persistence—all the suffering and injustice seemed to dissolve in that instant.

The old man wept aloud in his cold cell.

His cries echoed through the prison’s depths; many inmates were curious, but the guards drove them away.

When Wen Jing’s tears had nearly dried, he wiped his face with a dust-laden sleeve, then took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

He raised his head, his gaze piercing the shadows of the cell, fixing upon Shen Xing. His heart was filled with gratitude.

“Wen Jing, in the name of the High Priest of the Stellar Faith, I acknowledge your theory.”

“High Priest?!”

After gratitude, Wen Jing was overcome with shock.

He knew well the weight of those words—they belonged to the highest echelon of the Stellar Faith, a position unseen for many years.

Since the Stellar Faith had fractured, each continent claimed legitimacy, with their priests and followers closely bound, none acknowledging the others’ authority.

Now, with the emergence of the High Priest, it meant the Stellar Faith… had been unified?

Amid his astonishment, Wen Jing’s heart brimmed with complicated feelings.

He recalled his own perseverance and resistance, remembered those persecuted for his teachings—his students, his teachers, all sentenced to imprisonment, some rumored to have died in hardship.

“Was it all worth it?”