“So they were members of the Sacred Cult all along...” Yang Yang pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “All this time, I thought you were members of the Arcane Temple.”

 

“Yes, Junior Brother Yang. We foolishly made a deal with the Sacred Cult and accidentally became their slaves. As for what we have done... Well, I’m sure you know that we can’t say anything about it.” 

 

Yang Yang looked at the little girl from the God’s Hand Tribe. “This child is also part of the Sacred Cult?”

 

“Her tribe is a part of the Sacred Cult. Although the Eleventh Layer is controlled by the Arcane Temple, the truth is that they just have a lot more control over the land than we do. The Sacred Cult still controls a decently large part of the Arcane Mountain Range. At least the few hundreds of mountains neighboring Mount God’s Hand are own by the cult.” 

 

“You had it hard, Senior Sister Jade.” Yang Yang walked to the little girl. He lifted her up and smiled. “Your name is Zi Ling’er? That is a beautiful name. Could you please lead us to your tribe?”

 

Zi Ling’er was stunned by Yang Yang’s charming appearance and graceful aura. She looked deep in his eyes that were like the very essence of nature and life itself. It was no exaggeration to say that she had fallen into a trance by looking at his eyes. 

 

“Ah? This girl is not a magus?” Yang Yang snapped his finger and Zi Ling’er returned to reality. “Um, sir, what did you say?” 

 

“Please lead us to your tribe.” 

 

“Yes, yes, yes!” The little girl led Yang Yang and Seventh Sister Jade down Mount God’s Hand. When they arrived at the village under Mount God’s Hand, Yang Yang was shocked. 

 

“Senior Sister Jade, are mortals common in Arcane Mountain Range?” Although he kept his composure, Yang Yang was breathing slightly faster than usual. 

 

“Pretty much everyone local to the Arcane Mountain Range are mortals. I was astounded when I first saw this too.” Seventh Sister Jade nodded and did not thought much to Yang Yang’s shock. 

 

Mortals were classified as people who had no magical power or could not cultivate magical power. Usually, the term mortal applied to magus children who had yet to awakened their grimoire or rare people who truly could not use magical power. The latter category of mortals would be left alone by the magus world, even sealed off to protect mortals from the outside danger.

 

However, the invasion of the Demonfolk throughout the years had severely dropped the number of mortals in Ivory Continent. This was especially so in eastern frontier where the demons had relentless pushed forward. There were probably less than a hundred thousand mortals left on Ivory Continent and only a total of one million mortals in the entire world. 

 

The population of mortals in the Arcane Mountain Range easily reached a hundred million. Thus, to people of the world outside, the mortal population here was absolutely absurd. 

 

However, Yang Yang was more shocked than any outsider’s initial reaction. 

 

Before he died, Yang Yang was born in a higher plane of existence, to a world more powerful than the Dawn Rift World. As one enter a higher plane of existence, the likelihood of seeing mortals are slim to none. Yet, they were absolutely vital in the matters of faith. 

 

Mortals were gifted in a way different from magi. Magi were allowed to control magic and bend the magical laws of the universe to their will. On the other hand, mortals complied with the magical laws and were protected by it from the world of magi, which often had deadly conflicts. Of course, when the world of magic does get involved, like the Demonfolk’s invasion, mortals would get mowed down. 

 

To many magi, and even angels, mortals were useless in every way. However, to gods and scions, mortals were absolutely treasures of faithful energy. 

 

Mortals had souls that were considered purer and cleaner by the magical laws established by the gods. The faith of a mortal would be worth two to three times that of a magi. Moreover, when the faith of mortals combined, they result in exponential boost of faithful power, not additional like the combined faith of magi, who were distinct from one another and less zealous. 

 

One of the most essential aspect to ascending to godhood was the faith of mortals. 

 

“This is it. This is it! I lost some hope when I learned the little amount of mortals in the four continents. But now, I can actually see the light! The light of Heaven! Godly ascension is absolutely possible before she comes!” 

 

“Ah! Grandpa!” Zi Ling’er ran toward a one-armed old man. The one-armed old man hugged the little girl and kissed her forehead. “Thank the Overseer! You are fine, Ling’er. I was afraid you would go too when I heard an explosion on top Mount God’s Hand.” 

 

That was when when he noticed Yang Yang and Seventh Sister Jade. His knees quivered and he prostrated himself. “Greetings, exalted immortals!” 

 

The one-armed old man, Zi Tianhou, greeted them with a loud voice that attracted the other tribesmen who quickly gathered and kneeled as well. “Greetings, exalted immortals!” 

 

Yang Yang calmed himself down. “One shall abstain. One shall abstain. One shall abstain...” 

 

He mumbled to himself, but could not control the excitement boiling inside him; it was a deep madness that emerged from his soul and onto his aura. He summoned everything in his inventory and presented himself in the most lavishing way possible. The jade-gold light of godliness and majesty erupted in the same way he shown toward the Bone Squad. 

 

This was the innate spell that all scion knew: the Light of Faith. 

 

This was a spell that affected mortals and magi alike, and when used resulted in absolute obedience. It was the easiest way for scions and gods used to obtain the faith of lesser beings, but most effective on mortals.  

 

“Greetings to all of you. I am Yang Yang, the Scion of Life, and I am here to tell you the teachings of the Life God. Your god had abandon you long ago, and the Life God has appeared to give you the salvation you need. Repent for your sins, and reclaim your life.” 

 

Yang Yang’s holy words touched the tribesmen’s weak souls, influencing them to the most profound level. The tribesmen fell into a trance at the sight of the jade-gold light. They bowed one after another, giving their faith to a new god and his prophet without any chance to resist nor feeling any need to resist. 

 

“Now this is what I’m taking about. I haven’t felt this way in a very, very long time.” As he feel the warm faithful energy, Yang Yang smiled. He could feel immense power in him and then he turned toward Seventh Sister Jade. “Senior Sister Jade, let me help you with that backlash of yours.” 

 

“Uh, actually, maybe I’ll-” Seventh Sister Jade turned around when she saw the mad look on his face. However, the jade-gold light entered her eyes. 

 

In a complete instance of sheer recklessness and wildness, Yang Yang had converted the entire God’s Hand Tribe and Seventh Sister Jade. He felt pure ecstasy as faith circulated around him and was unaware at the red light that gleamed in his eyes.