Setsuna stared at Gong Gong's mountain-like form, feeling no joy whatsoever.
After all, the threat posed by this ancient demon god far surpassed that of the time-meddling clown.
"Congratulations, great lord, on regaining freedom!"
The Witch Warriors prostrated themselves, their voices shaking the heavens.
All Taonias were tense. Even the divine beast Hakuryu's face turned ashen.
However, a flicker of confusion passed through Gong Gong's crimson vertical pupils. "Why have you come here?"
Kua Fu looked up, his bronze-like face full of astonishment. "Didn't you, great lord, summon us with your will…"
"Nonsense!" Gong Gong's furious roar made the mountains tremble. His gaze, piercing through eternity, swept over everyone, finally resting on Hakutaku.
"It was this junior Hakutaku, borrowing the myriad abilities of creation, who falsely transmitted this venerable one's will, making you attack the Land of Taonias Sennin so he could steal Hakuryu's power."
Hakuryu's pupils abruptly contracted. He clearly knew that a being of Gong Gong's level had no need for lies.
"Why…" Hakuryu's voice trembled for the first time. "…was it you?"
Hakutaku lowered his head, suddenly sneering. "If that foolish evil god hadn't ruined things, my plan would have succeeded."
He sharply looked up, the lightning in his eyes turning pitch-black. "Humans are greedy and foolish. For their own selfish desires, they can alter river courses, bring calamity upon living beings. Villages upstream, for their own benefit, block the upper reaches, letting floods devour downstream villages. My hometown was destroyed because of this."
"Humans are selfish, foolish, insatiably greedy… including myself. Such an ugly race shouldn't exist in this world. I originally planned to absorb your power, then destroy this filthy world!"
Hakuryu's sigh stirred the sea of clouds. "You are angry because your home suffered calamity. I understand. But people are varied. How can you condemn all because of some sinners?"
Nearby, Kua Fu scratched his bronze-cast head, his rough face full of confusion. "Then… should we go back?"
He cautiously looked at Gong Gong. "Great lord, will you return to our ancestral land with us?"
Gong Gong's mountain-like head slowly shook. "Back then, breaking the celestial pillar caused great disaster. It was this venerable one's voluntary choice to atone here."
Hearing this, Dohko was stunned, 'This ancient demon god… was self-imprisoning?'
Hakuryu was also taken aback. He didn't know such backstory existed.
"Great god Gong Gong!" Dohko suddenly knelt on one knee, mustering courage. "A god named Hades in the West wants to destroy the world. Can you intervene to stop him?"
"Impossible." Gong Gong's voice was like ancient thunder. "Eastern and Western gods long ago made a covenant, using Kunlun as the boundary. I cannot interfere in Western affairs. Their calamity must be resolved by themselves."
Setsuna pondered. In the universe of his first life, the geocentric theory was naturally foolish.
But in this universe where gods manifest, perhaps Earth truly was the universe's center.
Using Kunlun as the boundary, the Western universe belonged to the gods, the Eastern universe to the Taonias Sennin.
"Young man, your methods regarding those barbarians suit this venerable one's taste." Gong Gong suddenly lowered his head, his pupils staring directly at Setsuna.
Setsuna wasn't surprised. For a great god of Gong Gong's level, seeing past events on Kunlun wasn't difficult.
"You have that Western sea god's blood within you. This venerable one will also grant you a drop of water god's blood…"
His massive hand waved. A drop of essence-blood shimmering with bluish-black divine light appeared in the air.
That drop of blood refracted strange light under the sun, faintly visible with images of overwhelming floods and a broken celestial pillar.
"Whether you can stop the Western world-ending calamity depends on your own destiny."
"Thank you for the gift, great god." Setsuna solemnly collected the divine blood.
He could sense the power contained within this drop, which is enough to elevate his strength another level.
Gong Gong slightly nodded. His immense form began slowly sinking.
As Gong Gong slumbered, the Kunlun Land of Taonias Sennin's tremors gradually subsided.
The Witch Warriors, led by Kua Fu, respectfully saluted, then transformed into streaks of light vanishing into the horizon.
Hakutaku stood in place, his snow-white Tattoo still bearing battle scars.
He looked up, his expression indifferent. "Kill me."
This indifferent attitude instantly angered the Taonias he had deceived.
"Kill him!"
"Let this traitor die!"
From the crowd, a maiden clad in a sparrow Tattoo rushed out, tears streaming, blocking Hakutaku. "No! Brother just made a mistake…"
Hakuryu's whiskers lightly swayed. Complex emotions flickered in his golden vertical pupils.
Hakutaku was, after all, his disciple. He also didn't wish to kill Hakutaku.
"Why not let him follow me to battle and atone." Setsuna suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
Though Hakutaku couldn't defeat Kua Fu, that was because Kua Fu was too powerful.
Normally, Hakutaku's strength surpassed that of ordinary Gold Saints.
Hakutaku sneered. "You think I'll obey your orders?"
Setsuna ignored him, looking at Hakuryu. "Hakuryu-sama, may I correct his mistaken thoughts?"
Hakuryu smiled bitterly. With the precedent of the Qing and Dzungar armies, he certainly knew how Setsuna's 'correction' worked.
But with public sentiment inflamed, Hakutaku had to be punished.
Moreover, having his thoughts rewritten was better than death.
Hakuryu slowly nodded. "Do as you say."
Hakutaku's expression changed. "What do you want to do?"
Setsuna didn't answer, merely raising his right hand, fingertips shimmering with dark blue light.
"Genro Mao Ken!"
Hakutaku wanted to resist but was restrained by Hakuryu.
A demonic light pierced between his eyebrows. His originally stubborn gaze gradually turned vacant, then regained clarity, though his eyes now held a trace of obedience.
"I was wrong. I will atone for my mistakes."
Moutan felt a wave of terror. "Brother, what's wrong with you?"
"Don't worry. I merely corrected his extreme thinking. He's still your elder brother." Setsuna calmly said.
Hakuryu sighed. "Using battle to atone for mistakes is more meaningful than simple death."
Mudan now understood, her face pale, but she had to admit this was the best outcome.
Hakuryu looked at Hui and Mudan. "You two accompany them to Sanctuary as well."
Their strength, though inferior to Hakutaku's, was also at the entry-level of Gold Saint power.
…
When Setsuna returned to Sanctuary with reinforcements, a solemn atmosphere greeted them.
"What happened?" Dohko felt an ominous premonition.
Regulus stepped forward, his voice low. "The Pope and Cancer Saint sacrificed themselves. They used their lives as the price to seal the God of Death's soul!"
Shion, tears glimmering in his eyes, added. "Elder Hakurei temporarily assumed the Pope's position. As acting Pope, he alone stormed Hades Castle, broke its barrier, and sealed the God of Sleep's soul with the Sanctuary. But he was ultimately killed by Hades."
The square fell silent, only the wind's mournful howl.
Setsuna closed his eyes, concentrating. Though he anticipated this, when the outcome truly arrived, the weight still felt suffocating.
"Elder Hakurei, before his death…" Sisyphus's voice broke the silence. He knelt on one knee, holding high the bloodstained papal robe. "…designated you as the new generation's Pope."
Setsuna remained silent for a long while. He could feel the surrounding gazes… grief, confusion, but mostly expectation.
He reached out, taking that robe bearing countless burdens. As he draped it over his shoulders, it felt like accepting the weight of the entire world.
"I swear in the name of Athena's Pope." Setsuna's voice wasn't loud but clearly spread throughout Sanctuary. "I will lead Sanctuary to ultimate victory in this Holy War."
The Gold Saints knelt on one knee. Silver and Bronze Saints knelt in waves like ripples.
The square echoed with firm vows. "For love and justice on this earth!"