Chapter 1668: Being Abandoned by God Consequences

What good was the monster's power? Before a deity, King Yao's control was incredibly clumsy, like a five- or six-year-old playing with a toy car.

The effect of this blow was similar to the explosion Qingyang had just endured that afternoon. The imperial guards around King Yao were sprawled everywhere; even with elemental energy protecting them, blood seeped from their noses and mouths, and they felt dizzy and disoriented.

A large fissure opened in the ground, like a belly that had been pierced.

This was despite the Frost Immortal Hall itself being protected by formations; otherwise, the damage would have been much worse.

Among everyone present, King Yao was surprisingly the least injured. He was merely knocked down, seeing stars, but sustained no substantial damage. The Chamberlain of the Palace, loyal to his master, had lunged forward to shield him, taking most of the damage himself and now lay barely alive, unable to move. Furthermore, the inner core in King Yao's hand glowed faintly, absorbing the shockwaves caused by the trident.

Wu Linghe calmly turned around, and behind him, a massive phantom reappeared: a flower basket and a venomous snake.

A large number of temple soldiers behind Bai Tan clattered to their knees, proclaiming "Goddess."

This was the Goddess Fengho, not Myojin Ten.

She pointed at King Yao, and her voice shifted to the magnificent tone unique to deities: "Seize him!"

With Goddess Fengho's personal command, the crowd had no further doubts and charged forward like zealots.

How did the tables turn so suddenly, making them the weaker side? King Yao clutched the inner core tightly and cried out, "Save me!"

The moment the first word left his lips, the giant python, still outside the courtyard, transformed into a wisp of white mist and returned to King Yao's side.

The trident, deeply embedded in the ground, was casually pulled out by the python and swept, sending a large number of soldiers flying.

Goddess Fengho took two steps forward, raising her head to King Yao, and asked, "Seeing my presence, why do you not kneel?"

King Yao stood at a higher position than her, but judging by her demeanor and bearing, he should have been prostrating himself before her.

The old king's eyes were red from the stinging snow and grit. He glared fiercely at her, like an old wolf at the end of its rope:

"Why! Were the temples I built for you not enough, or was my tribute insufficient? Why do you want to ruin my foundation, seize my kingdom!"

The last few words were a desperate roar, filled with endless fury and grievance.

He couldn't understand; he truly couldn't. Yao State was the sole power in the Glimmering Gold Plain. Without it, through whom would the Heavenly Gods fulfill their will and plunder the nightmarish aura of all beings?

"Is this Yao State truly your foundation, your kingdom? As long as the Heavenly Gods nod, it can be called Yao State, or Shen State, or any other country," Goddess Fengho said, her calm tone laced with mockery. "You've lived sixty years, yet you're more naive than an infant. That's why you deserve to be in this situation today."

Qingyang and Bai Tan were both present, and this was surely a warning directed at both of them, wasn't it?

King Yao could sit securely on his throne because the Heavenly Gods allowed it.

The moment the Heavenly Gods forbade it, that throne would change hands.

Yao State had tried every means to shirk the most important task assigned by the Heavenly Gods. So no matter how many temples King Yao built for the Heavenly Gods or how much tribute he offered, it was merely perfunctory! The Heavenly Gods knew that deep down, he was far from respectful enough towards them.

His ancestors had been compliant, understanding the need to prioritize the Heavenly Gods' desires.

But his unfilial descendants two hundred years later had forgotten.

"Serving the deities, the most important thing is sincerity of heart. Your ancestors warned you to build temples before palaces, yet you completely forgot," Goddess Fengho said, pointing at him. "You—"

The next two words pierced King Yao's heart like nails:

"—are utterly disrespectful!"

"I..." King Yao opened his mouth, but a lump formed in his throat.

Indeed, there was such a rule passed down through generations of the royal family.

It both demonstrated the supreme status of the Heavenly Gods and expressed the royal family's reverence for them.

The temples built by successive Yao kings for the Heavenly Gods were far too many! Just for Myojin Ten, King Yao alone had overseen the construction of over twenty temples since his ascension!

The only exception was the recent eastward expansion of Tianshui City.

Time was short, the task was heavy, and the national treasury was empty. The Yao court had to rush construction frantically within a limited time to attract large amounts of wealth nationwide. That's why they prioritized expanding the royal residences!

Only by first building royal palaces could they reassure the populace and make them willingly contribute money. Building temples wouldn't have had that effect, would it?

Besides, they weren't simply neglecting temple construction; the blueprints were already drawn!

It was just this one exception, just one!

How could he have foreseen such severe consequences?

But King Yao couldn't utter any of these words. As a monarch, he had long understood a true saying:

"If you want to condemn someone, you'll never be short of a pretext."

The Heavenly Gods had abandoned him.

The Heavenly Gods had abandoned Yao State.

Goddess Fengho pointed at the giant python again and said, "Harboring the external avatar of True Master Thousand Illusions in private—this is irrefutable proof of Yao's treachery!"

For over a hundred years, Yao State had bathed in the divine grace of Myojin Ten, yet it secretly hid the dharma body of the Great Immortal of Spirit Mountain in Jade Spring Palace, even using it as a reliance against the Heavenly Gods!

Such double-mindedness and playing both sides was tantamount to betrayal in the eyes of the Heavenly Gods!

King Yao could only swallow his bitterness, then put on a humble expression: "That was a misunderstanding, a colossal misunderstanding! Decades ago, a venerable master bestowed this dharma body upon the late king, saying it possessed boundless power and could shield Yao State from one calamity that would destroy the nation. But it had to be kept in an icy-cold place and regularly nourished with life essence. So, the late king took the opportunity during the renovation of Jade Spring Palace to seal it beneath the icy spring, and then transplanted a pear blossom tree demon by the spring to provide it with nourishment."

Qingyang and Bai Tan, who were nearby, finally understood when they heard this.

No wonder King Yao was so concerned about the old pear blossom tree at Jade Spring Palace and went to great lengths to nourish it. It turned out the old pear tree was merely a conduit, absorbing various nutrients, converting them into life essence, which was then absorbed by the giant python.

Qingyang recalled the exhaustion and helplessness he had felt from the old pear tree before it withered.

After being drained for nearly sixty years, even this good-natured old tree demon could no longer hold on.

No wonder after the old pear blossom withered, King Yao continuously tried to transplant various flowers, trees, and even tree demons into Jade Spring Palace. He must have been afraid the giant python would have no sustained source of nourishment.

Goddess Fengho's eyes flickered. "Who was the person who produced this dharma body?"

This person must be connected to True Master Thousand Illusions. The Heavenly Gods were very interested.

"I don't know," King Yao hastily said. "This matter is not recorded in any document; my father only spoke of it to me on his deathbed. Tomorrow, no, I will issue a nationwide decree right now to build temples for Myojin Ten and Goddess Fengho, to increase offerings and dedicate ourselves fully! We will, we will certainly satisfy the deities!"

He pointed at Bai Tan and said, "I have governed the nation for decades; how can I not be more adept than this shameless scoundrel?"

He was still trying to regain the Heavenly Gods' favor.

Goddess Fengho smiled faintly. "You are still loyal to the Goddess, willing to prostrate yourself at her feet?"

"Of course, of course!" King Yao exclaimed, his face filled with extreme trepidation and humility. "My loyalty to the Goddess is witnessed by the sun and moon!"

"Very well," Goddess Fengho said, "If that's the case, let's see if your actions match your words—" She jutted her chin out. "Your subordinates are still struggling needlessly; make them kneel."