The Lost God

This was an absolutely truthful statement.

He was merely a traveler from Blue Star. So-called ancient bloodlines were, for him, nothing but a fairytale. He had just tried asking Sys, but Sys knew nothing either, saying it needed to ask the main system. Then, no matter how Chen Guan called out, it ignored him.

If he had to find some connection, he could only attribute it to an unknown resonance between the gray energy hidden within him and this space.

"You don't know either?"

An Changqing stood frozen in place. This reply troubled him more than any affirmative answer would. The unknown often comes with unpredictable risks.

"I genuinely don't know what ancient civilization's descendant I am."

Chen Guan's gaze swept across his teammates before him.

"But I can sense that they mean me no harm."

He tilted his head slightly, looking back at the stone sculptures still kneeling in reverence.

"Not only that, I can vaguely perceive their emotions."

"Emotions?"

Su Yuehe immediately pressed for more, her eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge.

"What kind of emotions?"

"Submission, and expectation."

Chen Guan carefully chose his words. He could detect an instinctive drive emanating from those stone guardian statues.

These creations had waited here, motionless, for countless ages, only to welcome a specific person.

Chen Guan could sense that the source of these stone men's power was identical to his own gray energy.

Gray energy was likely the unique power system of the Black Wind civilization during the distant Lost Era.

Perhaps he could ask Baal later; Baal was the most ancient being he knew.

As for now, there was no need to summon Him and cause more trouble.

The moment his voice fell, another change occurred in the passage.

Those stone guardian statues, kneeling on one knee, made a new move.

They slowly rose to their feet, the friction of their stone joints creating a uniform sound.

The atmosphere within the group instantly tightened.

Hong Yuan immediately gripped her axe handle tighter, and a faint blue glow rekindled at the tip of Yin Chen's staff.

But the standing stone guardians showed no sign of aggression.

They stepped back in perfect unison, lining up on both sides of the narrow stone path, completely clearing the middle passage.

Then, they placed their right fists horizontally over their chests, lowering their faceless heads.

They had transformed into a silent honor guard, welcoming their master with the most humble posture to continue his journey along this pilgrimage path.

"This…"

Hong Yuan, looking at the path forcibly cleared before her, completely lost her ability to form words.

The kneeling earlier had been shocking enough, but this ceremonial welcome conveyed a ritualistic significance she couldn't grasp.

"It seems they are inviting you to continue forward."

Yin Chen withdrew the glow from his staff.

These stone men couldn't speak, but their body language moved the heart more than any pale words could.

This wasn't a suppression born of strength; it represented recognition by a set of rules. Under these rules, Chen Guan was the absolute master.

Chen Guan looked ahead into the thick darkness, then turned back to see his companions, each with different expressions.

He said nothing more, merely nodded plainly, then stepped forward into the depths of the darkness.

The black panther walked briskly beside him, its tail held high, striding with majestic confidence.

As the saying goes, when one person achieves enlightenment, even their leopard rides the high tide.

An Changqing, Su Yuehe, and the others followed closely behind.

The group advanced in silence.

The stone guardian statues on either side became lifeless sculptures, standing still at the edge of the darkness.

Only the faint blue light from Yin Chen's shield barely illuminated the black stone path leading into the unknown ahead.

"Su Yuehe."

An Changqing lowered his voice, leaning close to Su Yuehe's ear to ask.

"What else do you know about the Black Wind civilization? Are there more records about their king in ancient texts?"

Su Yuehe shook her head.

A mix of excitement and worry played across her face.

"There are very few records about this civilization. I've only seen fragmentary mentions in the marginal notes of some forbidden texts."

She recalled the incomplete words as she walked.

"What I can tell you is only speculation based on those fragmented texts."

She paused to organize the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

"The Black Wind civilization has virtually no records in all existing historical materials, because it's the most ancient civilization known. Even the name 'Black Wind' comes only from that peculiar wind."

"The power structure of this civilization isn't unfamiliar to us. They practiced a hereditary monarchy based on bloodline."

"A monarchy? Like the ancient dynasties?"

Hong Yuan interjected from the side. She wasn't entirely unfamiliar with these historical terms.

"More stringent than that."

Yin Chen took over the conversation, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

"Ancient dynasties could still change."

"But what Su Yuehe mentioned is bloodline inheritance. That means only someone with a specific bloodline could become king."

"This type of power is divinely ordained and innate, impossible to take away by external force."

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Chen Guan, who was walking at the very front.

"Your meaning is that Chen Guan is that chosen one?"

Hong Yuan's expression turned weird.

"He doesn't look the part, does he?"

She remembered the princes in those novels, all elegant and noble. Compared to them, Chen Guan was still too down-to-earth.

"Appearances don't mean anything."

Long Ao spoke up then, walking at the very end of the line, his gaze constantly fixed on Chen Guan's back.

"The essence of power is often invisible to the eye. The rules here acknowledge him; that's enough."

Su Yuehe nodded in agreement.

"Long Ao is right. And this civilization has another peculiar aspect."

"They worshiped a single deity."

"All texts mention that the king was God's representative on earth, and the king's bloodline was an extension of divine power."

"The authority of the king and the authority of the deity were perfectly unified in that era."

"A deity?"

An Changqing frowned.

"What kind of deity? Is there a specific name or record?"

Existing deities all have names, categorized as righteous gods or demonic gods. Their old acquaintance, the demon lord Baal, is the foremost among the demonic gods.

"That's the strangest part."

Su Yuehe shook her head, a deep puzzlement appearing on her face.

"Every record that refers to this deity uses terms like 'That Being' or 'The Most High' as placeholders."

"There's no name and no description. His very name became taboo."

"In later texts, records of this deity, along with the civilization itself, completely vanished."

"I'm sorry, but my so-called knowledge might not be better than a children's picture book."

"A forgotten deity doesn't sound like a good omen."

Yin Chen gave a light snort.

"Usually, when a deity is forgotten by its followers, it either means it has fallen, or it has done something that terrified every last believer."

"So much so that they would rather erase everything than mention it again, speaking of the deities they once served."

These words once again tightened the atmosphere among the group.