PSW - Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Yu Yinan had no intention of letting these people kowtow for long. Condensing such a large and intricate water dragon had to be an immense drain on Zheng Yi.
The moment Zheng Yi made her move, Yu Yinan—despite having no prior plan with her—knew instinctively what needed to be done. It was a simple matter of overthrowing a false god and creating a new one. Since the people here couldn't live without faith, Zheng Yi might as well be the one to give them hope. As for killing Wu Banhuai? That man had threatened Zheng Yi, and Yu Yinan had been right beside him when he mentioned the mental brand. It was best to kill him immediately while he was too stunned by Zheng Yi's power to react. Was she supposed to wait for him to come to his senses, activate the mental brand, and drag everyone down with him?
She endured the stabbing mental pain and the ache of her rain-soaked body, the fiery robe behind her billowing though there was no wind. With a burning gaze, Yu Yinan loudly and powerfully recited the Gospel of the Saint, helping these people—who had suddenly lost their "divine protection" and discovered Wu Banhuai's deception—find a new spiritual anchor.
"Zheng Yi is the Saint!"
The stabbing pain and the constant drain on her mind filled Yu Yinan's eyes with bloodshot veins, but she seemed oblivious to her own terrible state. All her mental energy fueled the flames, keeping them burning fiercely, inextinguishably.
In that instant, the rain parted around her. The flames quickly dried her body. Yu Yinan turned to look at the sky and saw Zheng Yi sitting leisurely atop the dragon's head. The water dragon, which should have been a lifeless construct of mere water, instead displayed an air of submission, obediently lowering its head, the ever-glowing meteor fragment still held in its mouth.
For a moment, Yu Yinan, like everyone else, almost believed the water dragon was a living creature.
"This fragment is not a Key, nor is it some treasure bestowed by a god."
"The world changed, and everything began with it. While it has the power to strengthen, you are all too fragile to withstand its energy."
"I will be taking this."
Zheng Yi paid no mind to the names and their contributed Saint Points echoing in her head. Only Zero One was diligently recording each name and value, growing incredibly excited as the total number of Saint Points climbed.
The water dragon in the sky transformed into a silken ribbon of water, paving a crystal-clear path for Zheng Yi's descent. It carried her to the ground, then dissipated into the downpour.
Not a single drop of the pouring rain touched Zheng Yi. Her body still emanated a golden light. She lowered her gaze to the meteor fragment in her arms, and in the next instant, it vanished completely. She looked up at the ability users in the rain. Their faces were soaked, and the pain made it difficult for them to even open their eyes, yet they all stubbornly and piously kowtowed before her.
Whether Zheng Yi was a god or not.
The monstrous water dragon, the meteor fragment she could casually hold, and the fate of Sun Turen, who had exploded and died from the backlash of a single glance—all of it was proof that she stood far above most ability users. If she was the strongest of them all, her power so overwhelming that it crushed all others, then it was no exaggeration to call her a living god.
They had been able to piously believe in Wu Banhuai and build his God Country. Now, it was simply a matter of switching their faith to a new god—and this one was far more real than the one Wu Banhuai had preached about.
As for this Saint of a god taking the meteor fragment? What right did they, mere mortals and devout believers, have to refuse?
Zheng Yi walked to Yu Yinan's side and fed her another Stamina Recovery Pill before turning with a smile to look at Wu Banhuai's former confidants.
With Wu Banhuai dead, the mental brand was gone, and his confidants must have felt its absence. Of course, the shock of it all was so immense that it was only natural for them to be at a loss, unable to react. But as long as they wanted to live, as long as they were intelligent, they would understand what to do next.
With a new god in place, the next step… was naturally to discern her preferences, cater to them, and continue their pious faith… all in the hope of receiving divine protection.
"How many healing-type ability users are there?" Zheng Yi glanced at the dark mass of kneeling people. This display of reverence was completely different from the one when she first arrived in Xuancheng; under the torrential rain, the scene was far more striking. "Who can take charge? If any ordinary people turn into zombies, deal with them immediately. Isolate and treat those with high fevers, and make sure they are properly settled."
Most of Wu Banhuai's confidants didn't react right away.
"I am familiar with all the ability users in Xuancheng. If you require it, I can immediately compile a detailed list for you." The woman who had rushed upstairs to inform Wu Banhuai after Sun Turen's violent death stepped forward. She looked at Zheng Yi, her expression stiff with nervousness, her movements awkward and anxious. It had clearly taken a great deal of courage for her to volunteer, but she met Zheng Yi's gaze and was the first to speak up. "I've dealt with all the ability users. I can handle it."
Having said her piece, she fell silent, waiting stiffly for Zheng Yi's reply. On the surface, this "god" before her was an exceptionally beautiful and harmless young girl; no one would feel guarded upon first seeing her. But to be truly watched and sized up by this gently smiling girl was to feel a bone-chilling coldness, like the approach of death itself, seeping into your very marrow. It felt as if death could claim you at any moment.
Her smile was so gentle, yet the woman felt as if she were about to suffocate.
Fortunately, the coldness quickly dissipated, and the woman's heart gradually settled. She continued to gaze at this "god" and heard her say with a smile, "Very good. What is your name?"
"I… My name is Si Zhuangjing." Her voice cracked with nervousness, but she quickly forced herself to calm down and clearly stated the three characters of her name.
A small, candy-like pill fell into her palm; Si Zhuangjing didn't even see where it had come from. A flicker of fear crossed her mind as a hundred thoughts raced through it, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and swallowed the "pill" without a second thought. Before it was even fully down, she was already moving to kowtow. "Thank you for your gift, my lady!"
The "pill" melted the moment it touched her tongue. With a single swallow, Si Zhuangjing realized its extraordinary nature. Her mental energy was recovering at a rapid pace! As it did, the burning sensation from the rain and the stabbing pain in her head seemed to diminish. Her reverence deepened, but before she could bow again, a current of water lifted her to her feet.
"Dispense with the formalities. Focus on getting things done." Zheng Yi moved to her side, her soft, gentle voice reaching her ears alone. "Go now."
"Remember, I am the Saint."
Si Zhuangjing's spirits soared, her face glowing with renewed vigor. She answered with a loud affirmation, rose, and gave a final bow. Without a glance at her former comrades in faith, she moved quickly toward the crowd.
"This God Country of yours," Zheng Yi began, "how does it normally operate? Where do your food, clothing, and shelter come from? What are the different roles assigned to the ability users? Who is willing to explain?"
The others deeply regretted not being the first to pledge allegiance like Si Zhuangjing. They had no intention of resisting, after all; they had simply been too stunned to react. Having already missed the prime opportunity, they now responded with extreme haste, desperate to be the one to answer Zheng Yi's questions.
Even if some of them harbored a sliver of doubt—Isn't Zheng Yi a true god? Why would a god have questions?—they didn't dare voice it. Instead, they joined the others, each clamoring to explain everything.
Their operations were similar in some ways to those in Zhongshan, but the people here were sustained entirely by fervent piety and the special honor of being close to the "Key." This, combined with the beautiful dream Wu Banhuai had woven, kept them in a stupor, dedicating their all in Xuancheng for the sake of their god and their own next lives.
Was it bitter? Tiring? Painful? Were they hungry? All negative feelings were trials. Did it hurt? It was supposed to! There could be no reward without sacrifice. All the suffering you endure now will return to you as a divine blessing in the future.
Under such extreme conditions, these simple platitudes alone would not have been enough to make people sacrifice everything. But Wu Banhuai was persuasive—that was his ability. He could also use his mental brand to influence them to the greatest possible extent.
In the Wasteland, most ordinary people didn't have grand ambitions, especially after experiencing near-death situations. Having something to eat, a little water to drink, shelter from the elements, and simply being alive was enough to satisfy them.
Resources were scarce and supplies hard to distribute. Everyone alternated between hunger and fullness; no one was truly prosperous. When even a basic material existence couldn't be guaranteed, what else could they do but rely on faith in a god as a spiritual anchor, especially when combined with brainwashing?
In Xuancheng, even ability users were overworked. Plant, water, and electric-type ability users had taken almost no rest since their abilities awakened. Xuancheng's intelligence network extended to the surrounding cities, operating twenty-four hours a day without a moment's pause. All mental and reconnaissance-type ability users worked in shifts, their detection network covering a vast area. This was how they had discovered Zheng Yi so quickly.
"Everyone is willing to sacrifice everything for the god," a woman named Tong Jiefeng said. She detailed the division of labor and task schedules for the various ability users. Though they themselves may not have realized it, the truth was… Wu Banhuai had been exploiting them in every conceivable way!
As the explanations continued, Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan learned that this place even had a special cellar. It was a sterile room Wu Banhuai had constructed, specifically for ability users with "regeneration" and "enhanced self-healing" powers to recuperate.
The weekly meat soup feast that Xuancheng provided for everyone was made from the flesh and blood voluntarily sacrificed by these very ability users!
Furthermore, when meat was scarce, even ability users without those powers would volunteer to have their flesh cut off as an offering. This, however, required the cooperation of healing-type ability users and a long period of recovery in the cellar.
This… could brainwashing really go this far? It was terrifying. Yu Yinan found it hard to believe. She recalled Wu Banhuai's talk of a "reception" and realized it would have been a feast of human flesh.
And yet, while Yu Yinan couldn't accept the idea of consuming the flesh and blood of others, of other believers… if the roles were reversed… if she were asked to offer her own flesh and blood to Zheng Yi, she would do so without a moment's hesitation.
"They were deceived by Wu Banhuai, blinded by his mental ability." But as for whether it was truly voluntary… there was probably an element of self-deception involved as well.
Yu Yinan sighed and muttered quietly, "A bunch of lunatics."
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