The True Reason Why There Are No Gods in the World

"Little friend, you need not worry. This old man is no demon." The white-robed elder smiled.

Damn it! If you were human, that’s exactly why I wouldn’t feel safe!

This was bad. He had once believed gods didn’t exist in this world, but now he understood—it was simply because he hadn’t reached that level yet.

After all, birds of a feather flock together. Now that he was parading around as the disciple of a god, he had actually attracted a real deity!

Though inwardly cursing, Gu Qingfeng’s smile only brightened further.

"Senior, your presence feels just like my master’s. Could it be that you, too, are a true god?"

Gu Qingfeng subtly brought up his nonexistent master again, aiming to warn the old man—don’t try anything funny, I’ve got a god backing me.

The white-robed elder’s smile remained unchanged, seeing right through Gu Qingfeng’s little act. "There’s no such thing as a true god. That’s just the delusion of ignorant people. Even divine-realm martial artists are merely stronger humans in the end."

"Then may I ask, senior, what brings you here so late at night?"

"This old man recently heard rumors of a divine-realm expert chasing a peak dragon-transformation demon to the imperial capital. I came hoping to meet him, but after wandering the city for days, I found no trace. Just as I was about to leave, the disciple of said divine expert suddenly emerged. So I came to pay a visit. Where might your master be now? I have matters to discuss with him."

Gu Qingfeng was tempted to quip, What matters? But considering the elder’s status and the virtue of respecting one’s seniors, he decided against it.

"Senior, my master roams freely. I don’t know his exact whereabouts. If you have urgent business, you can tell me, and I’ll relay it when he returns."

The old man’s face darkened with regret. "You’re kind, but this matter is too grave. It must be spoken in person. Do you have any way to contact your master?"

Gu Qingfeng feigned distress. Where the hell would I contact him?

The elder continued, "Don’t worry, little friend. I mean no harm. This concerns your master’s life, so it’s best he learns of it soon."

What the—?!

Gu Qingfeng was stunned. How did this suddenly involve his master’s life? My master is me. If his life’s in danger, so is mine!

Seriously, since when was being a god such a high-risk profession?

"Senior, you must be joking. My master is a god. What in this world could threaten his life?"

"If I’m not mistaken, your master must have only recently ascended to the divine realm, correct?"

"Well... you could say that."

"Then it makes sense. As his disciple, not only have you not hidden yourself, but you’ve even become a Paramount Prince, famed across the land. That tells me he must be new to divinity—otherwise, he’d never allow it."

Gu Qingfeng grew more confused. Was the old man implying that gods had to stay low-key, or else face death? Was that why gods were never seen?

"What do you mean, senior? The more you speak, the less I understand."

The elder shook his head again. "The details are not for me to share. You’re young, with the potential to reach divinity one day. Knowing too soon might shatter your Dao heart."

Shatter my... Dao heart?!

Do I even have one of those?!

What the hell is this about?! This old man and his half-spoken riddles! If he weren’t human, Gu Qingfeng would’ve made him regret it.

"Little friend, take this communication jade talisman. If you find your master, contact me immediately. Time is running out.

"Remember, when you see him, just relay this message, and he’ll understand."

"What message?"

"The Heavenly Dao has changed. The Century Calamity will begin in two years."

Gu Qingfeng: "???"

The Heavenly Dao has changed? His mind flashed to that half-blind Heavenly Dao’s Eye. What was wrong with it now?

And the Century Calamity starting in two years? That sounded downright ominous.

"Your master, as a divine-realm expert, must already sense the Heavenly Dao’s shift. Just tell him those words, and he’ll know. You have two years at most. If you don’t warn him in time, all will be lost—not just for him, but for you, his disciple.

"To survive, he must join us in the Shadow Realm. Remember this well."

The Shadow Realm?

So this old man had a whole group of gods behind him? What was the Shadow Realm? A world where gods hid?

"Senior, why does this involve me? I’m not a god!"

The elder gave Gu Qingfeng a deep look. "Because you’re the disciple of a divine-realm expert. Because you’ve been too conspicuous. They won’t let you live."

"Conspicuous? Who are they?"

"You need not know who they are—it wouldn’t help. As for being conspicuous... Why do you think this world has legends of gods but no sightings?

"Because gods do everything to hide their existence.

"Frankly, this is the first time I’ve seen a divine disciple so brazenly flaunting his status. Your master must be newly ascended, unaware of this world’s secrets. Otherwise, he’d never let you gain such fame—it’s practically inviting disaster.

"Enough. I’ve said my piece. Find your master quickly."

As the elder turned to leave, Gu Qingfeng called out, "Senior, may I ask your name? And why share these secrets with me?"

The old man glanced back. "This old man is Jue Mingzi, a guide of the Shadow Realm, tasked with welcoming newly ascended divinities."

"Jue Mingzi?!" Gu Qingfeng blinked. "Then senior’s eyes must be in excellent condition."

But no reply came—Jue Mingzi had vanished as suddenly as he’d appeared.

Gone, leaving Gu Qingfeng in turmoil.

After all that cryptic talk, he understood only one thing:

In two years, both he and his master were doomed. Which meant he was doomed twice.

Gu Qingfeng doubted Jue Mingzi was lying. A god had no reason to deceive him. The message was clear—his "master" must join the Shadow Realm to face them.

But who were they?

Powerful enough to force gods into hiding? No wonder no gods walked the earth—they were all in hiding!

Damn it!

He’d thought pretending to be a god’s disciple was all gain, no risk. Yet in just one day, he’d stumbled into catastrophe.

Honestly, Gu Qingfeng was scared.

If they could make gods disappear, what unimaginable beings were they?

An entire pantheon in hiding, and here he was—not even a god—blatantly using divinity’s name.

He was so screwed.

While his heart raced with fear, Gu Qingfeng grew angrier the more he thought about it. After enduring countless hardships, he had just become a Peerless Prince—only to learn he might die in two years!?

Damn it, is it really so hard to just enjoy life as a prince?

Why does everyone have to stand in my way?