"I have no reason to enter the Outer Third Ring now!" the Dean of Statues exclaimed angrily. "You've violated your promise!"

The Dean of the Orphanage chuckled and waved his hand:

"Calm down, old buddy. Who says you have no reason? I admit there have been some unforeseen developments; the container has exceeded our control, and now it has attracted the attention of the gods. But isn't this precisely your best opportunity?"

As he spoke, he swirled his wine glass and downed its contents:

"As far as I know, various outer divine churches have bishops arriving or about to arrive in the Outer Third Ring. This is a contest, and it will be a war."

"And you, my friend, want to strip away a portion of reality to create your own War Domain, ascending to the status of a pseudo-god. At least nine pseudo-gods will be competing; this will be your best ceremony for becoming a deity."

The Dean of Statues relaxed slightly:

"With the Great City and its restrictions in place, I cannot enter the Outer Third Ring. If I force my way in, I will be…"

Before he could finish, the Dean of the Orphanage raised his hand to interrupt:

"My friend, you are still too rigid and narrow-minded. The Great City is preoccupied with itself; how could they care about you? Our Spirit Church and even the Abyssal Void will help you become a deity, but there is one condition."

"Please, go ahead." The Dean of Statues looked slightly more at ease.

The Dean of the Orphanage gazed out at the rising sun and smiled:

"When you ascend, the descent of the gods should just have concluded. That will be the true moment when the struggle begins. The pseudo-god you become will not be weaker than the bishops who are arriving; the Abyssal Void needs your help."

The Dean of Statues frowned deeply:

"In the eyes of the Great City, I would be a traitor!"

"Become a deity, then join our Spirit Church or even the Abyssal Void, or continue as the Dean of one of the four academies of the Great City. You can choose, but entering the Third Ring requires approval from the Dean."

Hearing this, the Dean of Statues fell silent for a moment and said solemnly:

"I understand."

"If I truly take that step, I will assist you."

"Excellent! A wise choice!"

The Dean of the Orphanage stood up:

"Let's check the time; the container should have already arrived at Saint Luo Square. Come, my friend, the descent of the gods will be five minutes before midnight tonight."

………………

"Look," said an investigator dragging Chen Xiang.

"Many of the riffraff from the Outer Third Ring are watching us—oh, they're watching our Son of God."

He pulled on the chain inscribed with secret runes, which completely immobilized Chen Xiang's body. He laughed:

"Son of God, these cultists still only know the old tricks; they lack any new ideas."

"Less chatter," another senior investigator reminded. "Just do your job."

He then flashed an apologetic smile at Chen Xiang.

The last time Chen Xiang entered the Secret Investigation Office, this senior investigator happened to be present and knew that the arrested cultist seemed to have some connection with Deputy Director Wu.

Who knows how this will end?

It's better not to offend, if possible.

The young investigator pouted:

"Captain, I'm just saying a few things; it's not a big deal. Dragging this guy on foot across the entire Outer Third Ring early in the morning is really—"

"Enough! Shut up!" The older investigator reprimanded him.

Chen Xiang was dragged along, his eyes slightly closed, his body covered in dirt, appearing somewhat disheveled.

He was oblivious to all external matters, quietly waiting.

Failure was imminent; all eyes were on today.

The investigators were all martial artists of the second or even third tier of the Mystic Arts, and they quickened their pace, generating a strong wind despite walking, while the chains scraped against the ground, leaving long marks.

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They soon crossed the Seven Rings Bridge, reached the Eighth Ring, and were approaching the Ninth Ring.

The newly rebuilt bridge between the Ninth and Eighth Rings was already in sight.

'Vroom!!'

Suddenly, engine roars echoed from all directions. The team of investigators looked around warily and saw cars speeding toward them from all sides,

and saw one after another 'mob' emerging from alleyways between buildings, wielding rifles and even shouldering rocket launchers!

"What do you want?!" the young investigator shouted fearlessly, his voice booming: "The Secret Adjustment Office is in operation; any unauthorized personnel must leave immediately, or be considered obstructive and dealt with on the spot!"

He flexed his muscles, producing a thunderous roar that resonated down the long street!

But the cars continued to approach, and the civilians dressed in pure white ceremonial garments, armed with heavy weapons, advanced silently.

They were surrounded.

The Outer Third Ring was peaceful now, but before order was established, each of them could be a thug.

They all knew and remembered who had provided this peace and order.

Whether out of faith or to maintain hard-won order,

more and more people rushed to the scene, the encirclement growing larger, with thousands of rifles and dozens of rocket launchers aimed at the team of investigators!

The expressions of several investigators changed.

Martial artists of the second tier of the Mystic Arts could ignore light weapons, but they couldn't withstand rocket launchers!

If a conflict erupted, besides the captain standing in the extraordinary realm, none of them would survive!

"Gentlemen!"

The captain was sweating profusely. Anyone would feel immense pressure with thousands of guns trained on them.

He spoke loudly:

"We are only carrying out orders. Please remain calm!"

No one replied; thousands of civilians silently held their weapons.

The crowd kept growing.

The atmosphere had dropped to freezing point. Not far away, a rumbling sound arose. The captain looked over, his eyelids twitching.

Damn it, are those tanks?!

Where did these rabble get them from??

Oh, right, the governing office of the Ninth Ring has long been gone.

Two old tanks, somewhat rusty, rolled in, their cannons pivoting silently to aim at the investigators,

while the people remained silent, waiting for his command.

Chen Xiang lifted his head.

He spoke softly:

"The establishment of order has never been smooth; I foresaw all the tribulations. Let the pure white knights halt; when I am not present, they will maintain order."

Someone shouted:

"Son of God, just give the word, and we'll rebel! Let's storm the Great City!"

"Let's storm the Great City!!" many voices echoed together.

The investigators listened to this ridiculous, overreaching shout, not laughing but sweating even more.

They exchanged glances, recognizing the fear on each other's faces. Didn't they say that this so-called order cult was only established eight days ago?

"Madness, all madness!"

Chen Xiang tugged at the corners of his mouth and chuckled softly.

"In the Eastern Hong Kingdom, there is a word called 'Nirvana.' I am currently experiencing fire, undergoing suffering, but the suffering is almost over."

"Today, they will nail me to the cross."

"Tomorrow, I will walk down from the cross."

"At that time, the Holy Church will shine with an unprecedented glory."

The people listened quietly.

In the end, Chen Xiang said, "So, put down your knives and guns, go home, and wait quietly for tomorrow's dawn. That is the true dawn."

After a brief silence, one by one, the crowd silently lowered their rifles, parting to clear a path to the Ninth Ring Road.

"We await the dawn!" someone shouted loudly.

"It is already on its way," Chen Xiang responded.

The investigators were drenched in sweat, and under the watchful eyes of thousands of people, they no longer dared to drag Chen Xiang along. Instead, they lifted him up, passing through the throngs of dark-clad citizens, amidst their piercing gazes that felt like swords and axes.

They moved unusually quickly.

For the remainder of the journey, the young investigator didn't dare say another word and just kept wiping the sweat from his brow. The captain remained frightened, as wherever they went, countless people stood along the long streets and high buildings, their gazes fixed on them, creating unprecedented pressure.

This was a pressure that even facing the most malevolent and mysterious things could not compare to.

A history professor residing in the Ninth Ring quietly recorded everything. He followed the crowd, trailing behind the investigators, all the way to Saint Luo Square.

In the center of Saint Luo Square stood a massive cross made of bronze, but it was inverted and embedded in the ground. It bore ancient and difficult-to-read inscriptions, along with some rust.

When the Son of God was suspended upside down on the cross, and as his palms were nailed, the countless citizens surrounding the square clenched their fists.

At some point, thirty-six pure white knights raised their guns, swords, and shields, seemingly ready to charge at any moment!

"We await your will!" Li Rong'en shouted, eyes wide.

The youth, hanging inverted on the cross, closed his eyes and said, "We await the dawn, just as the first ray of sunlight breaks on the morrow."

The pure white knights pounded their fists on their armor, creating a resonant sound!

"We obey your command!"

The history professor's lips trembled slightly as he took out his pen and paper, trembling as he wrote down everything.

【On the eighth day of the Son of God's descent.】

【The heretics nailed Him to the inverted cross; the people were enraged, and the pure white knights raised their guns and shields.】

【He said, I am experiencing fire; this is suffering and the last darkness before dawn.】

【He said, on the ninth day, I will walk down from the cross.】

【He said, and when He descends, the dawn will also come, just as the sun rises on the ninth day.】

【The people believed firmly, and then they worshipped around Him, while the heretics fled in fear.】

【This is the eighth day, the day of darkness.】

The history professor set down his pen and paper, joining the thousands of people around the square as they humbly bowed down. They worshipped the figure hanging on the inverted cross.

They accompanied him, waiting together, while the investigators fled in a panic, not daring to stop for a moment.

And in the center of the square, on the massive bronze cross, Chen Xiang opened his eyes while hanging upside down, feeling a surge of faith, a faith that was tenfold, a hundredfold greater than before!

The number of casual believers was dwindling, while the fervent believers grew in number.

Two iron nails and four chains sealed away all his power but could not restrain the continuous and explosive growth of faith!

Chen Xiang quietly felt this extraordinary power, the bits and pieces of faith, seemingly intertwined with the heavens, the earth, and the universe, in an inseparable, close connection.

Faith comes from reality.

Unbeknownst to him, the sky darkened, and layers of dark clouds began to gather, and then the rain fell.

"Go back," the Son of God on the cross commanded, and then the rain began to flow backward, and the clouds dispersed.