novelraw Chapter 85: Modifying the Oath
Chapter 85: Modifying the Oath
An overwhelming sense of ’presence,’ so vast and profound it rendered all else dim and lackluster. Beside it, the perceived material world felt like nothing more than an illusory bubble.
It was so majestic, so indifferent. Though one could see nothing but a faint apparition when looking up, everyone present knew... It was watching.
A great being from the Supreme Heaven, towering above the mortal world.
Utterly incomprehensible. Utterly indescribable.
Aside from the clear knowledge that the Celestial God was watching, mortals could glean no other information.
"The... The Divine Ancestor has cast down Its gaze!"
After the initial stupor, everyone in the Holy Tree Palace Square, be they royalty, nobility, or common folk, knelt without hesitation in reverence for the Divine Ancestor.
It was not a common occurrence for a Celestial God to personally send down Its will. The Barrier between the Supreme Heaven and the Mortal World was absurdly thick. While transmitting Divine Power was relatively efficient...
...accurately conveying words was another matter entirely. A Celestial God’s voice would be constantly distorted, and the final product that reached the Mortal World would be utterly abstract—things like "spaghetti mixed with No. 42 concrete," or "also edible for those with sensitive skin; kids who’ve used it all say it’s great!"
This was why Celestial Gods were all notorious riddlers. Aside from their thoughts and wills being vastly different from those of mortals, communication was also a chronic, difficult problem.
Therefore, unless the occasion was of particular importance, a Celestial God would never issue a decree to the Mortal World.
And for one to now personally send down Its will, regardless of the cost... there was only one possibility.
The Secret Realm Trial had produced a result that pleased the Radiant Holy Tree, one significant enough to make the Celestial God personally cast Its gaze down.
’As expected.’
Regent King Sylvia immediately led her courtiers in kneeling on one knee, their heads bowed in silence.
They weren’t overly shocked; one could say they were already prepared.
When they saw Scorching Wings slain, the audience knew this Secret Realm Trial was anything but simple. A Secret Realm Trial was held during every Holy Tree Festival, but it was rare for a Celestial God to personally promise the fulfillment of a wish.
It had been one hundred and twenty-six years since the Divine Ancestor last showed such favor.
"Westheid Qinghui."
"Reiya Gleamleaf."
The voice seemed to come from all directions, yet also seemed to spring directly from the depths of their hearts.
It was not a voice a mortal could produce. It belonged to no language, had no timbre, no tone. There was only a boundless will that filled everything in an instant, yet any sentient being could understand the meaning it conveyed.
"The valor, wisdom, and will you have displayed please Us."
"Step forward. We permit you to make a wish."
The Radiant Holy Tree’s words were extremely concise and flat, betraying no emotional fluctuation. However, most people were already trembling uncontrollably with excitement just from hearing the Celestial God’s voice, not daring to harbor any thought of analyzing it.
Even Westheid, who did not share the fanatical worship an Imperial Citizen held for the Radiant Holy Tree and even harbored some blasphemous thoughts, found his mind unable to wander when truly awed by the Radiant Holy Tree’s will.
He took deep breaths, kneeling on one knee under the "presence" that filled the world, and met his teammate’s gaze.
Reiya looked at him and nodded gently, indicating that he should speak first.
"Brother, Brother... the family..."
Yolanda, meanwhile, was whispering constant reminders to Westheid, who couldn’t help but admire his sister’s fixation.
’While everyone else doesn’t dare to breathe, Yolanda actually has the audacity to blink frantically at me, trying to interfere with the Wisher’s will. She’s being far too bold.’
’You’re not that loyal to the Divine Ancestor either, are you!’
However, Westheid had long since decided what wish he would make, so he naturally paid no mind to Yolanda’s interference. He stood up and walked to the open space before the Holy Hall, beneath the branches.
The crowd secretly watched Westheid’s back, whispering among themselves:
"What wish is Duke Qinghui going to make?"
"I think it’ll most likely be related to the Qinghui Territory. The Duke is still in a state of having lost his lands."
"That’s right. Thinking it over, that’s the most plausible option. Recovering his lost lands would require a great deal of help and resources."
"The Qinghui Territory will be revitalized now..."
Although the Divine Ancestor spoke of granting a wish, a Celestial God wasn’t some kind of wishing machine that would let you indulge in any wild fantasy.
In essence, it was merely a reward from a superior. Making a wish like, "Can I have the throne?" would be rather tactless.
Throughout history, the lucky few who received this chance had all been clear-headed. Some of the most ambitious ones had, paradoxically, made innocuous wishes.
Because the point was never the boon from the Divine Ancestor itself, but the fact of "having received a boon from the Divine Ancestor"!
In the Radiant Holy Tree Empire, this was the ultimate political trump card. The rest of one’s life would be a smooth road to success, a rapid rise through the ranks.
In the eyes of the onlookers, the only wish Westheid could make was to restore his territory with the Empire’s help.
"Great Divine Ancestor, what I pray for is..."
Westheid looked up and declared in a clear voice:
"To amend the Oath signed between the Pure Holy Spirit and You."
The moment his words fell, they sent ripples through the crowd.
A confused "Hm?" came from Yolanda.
The crowd murmured, "Well...," as they pondered Duke Qinghui’s maneuver.
And the Regent King let out a soft "Ah!" as she realized his true intentions.
Westheid’s words had completely baffled everyone.
The so-called Oath was the legal basis for why a Branch of Prosperity was called a Branch of Prosperity.
During the Imperial era of the Great Expedition, when the Expeditionary Army encountered established indigenous populations during its expansion, the usual policy was complete extermination and forced assimilation. There was only one exception.
Lands that were already under the protection of a Holy Spirit.
The Radiant Holy Tree was also a Holy Spirit. When one Holy Spirit meets another, their eyes well with tears. How could kin kill kin?
That just won’t do, neighbor.
Thus, the magnanimous Celestial God signed a contract with Its junior, establishing the Prosperity Oath. The local region would be allowed autonomy while nominally entering the Imperial framework. The rights and obligations of both parties constituted the content of the Oath.
For centuries, the Oath had never been changed or altered. All Branches of Prosperity abided by the Oath, becoming the Autocratic Dukes who guarded the Empire’s frontiers.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
Yolanda’s purple eyes widened as she asked in a faint, trembling voice.
Westheid ignored Yolanda completely and continued with conviction:
"The fate of the Qinghui Territory has forced us to reflect on our painful experience. I hope the Divine Ancestor will permit an amendment to the contract signed long ago between the Pure Holy Spirit and You, and allow a new Prosperity Oath to be signed with the Qinghui Clan!"
Westheid had only made this request after deep and careful consideration.
’Recovering the Qinghui Territory is something I should do myself. It’s best not to rely on external forces. As for wealth and position, those are just worldly possessions—utterly impure!’
’Ask the Radiant Holy Tree to grant me an Empowerment to advance to Exemplar, or even Hero? It sounds wonderful, but I have no desire to be infused until I’m shaped like the Holy Tree.’
’Therefore, the most pressing problem I need to solve is the Prosperity Oath, a matter tied to the very causality of my bloodline.’