Chapter 664 They Heard It (5800)

Holy Calendar 8284, September 23rd.

Having settled down, Red Hand, along with the veterans of his mercenary团, accompanied a group of Dawnlight Society residents to the lands of the Northern Barbarians.

The Barbarians' homeland was the Frostwind Icefield, a frigid and nearly desolate place. Even the most daring adventurers wouldn't casually set their sights there. Only those with a death wish, villains exiled from the continent, and the Barbarians, more terrifying than the worst villains, lived there.

Red Hand had heard many legends about the Barbarians and the Icefield. He knew the biting cold of around -200 degrees Celsius was no joke—many divine-intent-realm ice spells left similar lingering effects. Living in the Icefield was like living in the aftermath of countless divine-intent-level ice spells.

But today, standing on the deck of a warship, deep in the Icefield, Red Hand didn't feel the bone-chilling cold he expected.

A slightly warm breeze spread in all directions, and in the center of the sky, which should have been an eternal night, a ball of light flickering with lightning illuminated the heavens and the earth, bringing light to the entire Frostwind Icefield.

Without the bitter cold, the Northern Icefield wasn't such a harsh place. Even with the continuous mountains as barriers, they couldn't stop the strong who were determined to carve out a path.

While riding the warship into the mountains, Red Hand witnessed many astonishing scenes.

He saw a red-haired woman piloting a giant steel puppet, splitting mountains and ridges with explosions and flames, melting rugged cliffs with fire, and opening a straight path through the winding mountains.

He saw giant silver warships traveling back and forth across the snowfield, melting ice and solidifying frozen earth, forging a black rock road across the endless white plain.

All the Barbarians, all the demonized, all those who heard that call and wanted to enter the Icefield, advanced along this road in the mountains, this path across the ice and snow.

At the same time, Red Hand also saw many Northern Barbarians.

These Northern Barbarians were fully armed. Usually, they would start fighting anyone not of their tribe without a word and wouldn't be friendly to anyone.

But now, they were guiding pioneers, each tribe lighting torches as beacons, extending a road of flames across the vast white snow, guiding the many warships traveling back and forth in the Icefield.

Red Hand was fortunate enough to interact with these Barbarians, whom he had never met before but who were rumored to be like demon gods, only knowing how to kill. He found that as long as he showed a friendly attitude, they were very peaceful and friendly. They even had their own poetry, and their artistic level was not inferior to the most outstanding artists in the Empire.

Red Hand didn't know. He had never tried to understand the Barbarians before, so naturally he never understood their thoughts and culture.

He was demonized; he had no chance. But what about others?

Red Hand had already talked with his old brother Cicero. They hugged each other tightly when they met, marveling at each other's changes over the past year.

Red Hand praised Cicero for becoming stronger, for following a true powerhouse, while Cicero humbly said that what he did was something everyone could do, and the skills taught by that great figure could be learned by anyone. With Red Hand's talent, as long as he studied hard, he could definitely become stronger than him in the future.

Red Hand doubted this. He had suffered enough from not having a proper inheritance.

Demonized people, barring accidents, could not learn origin-energy skills through normal means. Their guiding arts, their methods of using origin-energy, all came from their bloodline or were accidentally obtained from various ruins. In short, there would not be any normal powerhouse in this world who would teach their inheritance to a demonized person.

But facts speak louder than words. Red Hand was now on his way to the center of the Icefield, to witness that figure teaching and explaining his inheritance and principles to everyone in the world.

Soon, they arrived at the center of the Icefield, a huge metal hall.

The hall's style was simple, but its enormous size gave it an ancient solemnity. Its outer structure was supported by sixteen giant pillars, its base rooted in the earth, with root-like structures penetrating deep into the crust and even the mantle, making it obviously unshakably solid.

The beams, hundreds of meters high, were almost like peaks reaching the sky, and the sixteen pillars were densely engraved with all kinds of strange origin-energy skills, all different.

From the great elements to body-tempering martial arts, from secret methods specializing in the spirit and soul to gardening for summoning natural spirits and cultivating sacred trees, all the inheritances that humans had ever possessed or imagined were engraved on these mountain-like pillars. Anyone could freely refer to them and learn them.

These pillars alone made Red Hand's eyes stare blankly, in disbelief. He knew at a glance that these inheritances were all genuine and profound, with advantages and mysteries that his current guiding arts could not compare to at all.

Anyone, as long as they had a little origin-energy talent, would have a chance to achieve Mind Light (xin guang) if they practiced these skills. Even demonized people could have the basic strength to resist the erosion of demonization sickness.

After disembarking from the warship, on the flat square outside the hall, Red Hand saw batches of teams lined up neatly.

Those teams were all young demonized people, mostly strong and sturdy, with long breaths and strong blood and qi. They trained in the light and snow, sparring and competing with each other, engaging in actual combat. Each of them started ruthlessly, without any intention of holding back.

Seeing this scene, Red Hand was greatly surprised. Even their mercenary团's training only went as far as being covered in sweat. How could it reach the point of seeing blood and broken bones? It should be known that training injuries would take ten days or half a month to recover, and then it would take time to restore their condition, which was not worth it at all.

But he also saw that under the illumination of the lightning tree in the sky, which flickered with dazzling light and looked like an arm, endless vitality turned into cyan stardust, falling towards the injured people. In just a few breaths, those who were injured due to training were healed.

They shook their arms and bodies, and after confirming that there was nothing wrong, they shouted and started fighting again.

Training to this point was no different from actual combat.

Red Hand carefully observed for a while and had to admit that even his battle-hardened mercenary团 might not be much stronger than these trained people in terms of combat performance. At most, they were more adaptable to various completely different combat environments.

"Huh?! How, how can there be children?"

What surprised Red Hand the most was this.

In the training team closest to the hall, he saw many children who were at most in their early teens. Most of these children were demonized, but their actual combat training was quite organized, and their control over origin-energy was extremely skilled, as if they were veterans who had experienced several major battles.

"Those are Professor Svetozar's first batch of disciples." A passing Dawnlight Society member said. She noticed the direction Red Hand was staring and explained to him with a smile, "Professor Svetozar was originally the院长 of an orphanage. Those children were orphans from the orphanage and were initially taught by the Professor."

"Their strength is very good, and the strongest of them are already approaching the Mind Light realm."

Red Hand was more than surprised; he was simply stunned in place—teenagers, already approaching the Mind Light realm?

He, an old mercenary who had fought all his life, was only at the high level of the Mind Light realm!

"Look at that one."

Finding Red Hand's surprise interesting, the passerby stopped and explained to him with a smile, "That young man who is taking care of everyone's training, the one who looks very handsome, is one of Svetozar's three strongest students, Chief Seneca."

"He has actually reached the Mind Light realm, but the cultivation method he practices is quite special. He needs to 'origin-energy-ize' his organs one by one before he can condense his Mind Light Body and completely enter the Mind Light realm."

"This cultivation method can greatly increase everyone's resistance to origin-energy erosion. Once Chief Seneca completes this step, Professor Svetozar will summarize and refine his cultivation process and teach it to everyone, so that all of us can practice according to this method."

Resisting origin-energy erosion, teaching it to everyone.

Red Hand could understand every word, but he didn't want to believe it was true… He raised his head and looked at Seneca, the chief disciple whose appearance was comparable to an elf. Red Hand could even sense a hint of danger from that beauty who looked more beautiful than an Imperial princess.

This meant that although Seneca's strength was not as good as his, he could already pose a slight threat to him.

An ordinary demonized person who had only been cultivating for more than a year could pose a threat to a demonized mercenary who had fought all his life…

"Don't be discouraged."

A hand reached out and patted Red Hand's shoulder, who was a little lost. The Dawnlight Society resident smiled and said cheerfully, "In the final analysis, it's just that their cultivation method is stronger than yours and mine."

"But, look, all the essence cultivation methods are engraved on the pillars of the hall, and Seneca's and the other chief disciples' cultivation methods are also on them. As long as it's suitable, you can also practice them!"

——Everyone can practice, regardless of race or class.

This Society resident used the clearest and most straightforward words to inform Red Hand of this core concept of the Dawnlight Society.

Red Hand calmed down slightly.

The mercenary with a somewhat aged face couldn't help but raise his head and look around the hall.

Under Professor Svetozar, the three strongest students were Seneca, Loya, and Gasha.

Among these three disciples, Seneca's strength was actually the lowest, but his personality was the most stable. He had been following the Professor, managing the other children who originally came from the orphanage.

Some people said that Seneca was Svetozar's chosen successor. Although it was just a rumor, the credibility was not low.

As for the other two chief disciples, Loya was following another powerhouse by Professor Svetozar's side, Firelight Master from the Gleaming Light Order, to the Gleaming Light Order's headquarters for notification and discussion. Professor Svetozar was willing to share many secret methods with the Gleaming Light Order, provided that the Gleaming Light Order also made their skills public.

Both sides would be open and honest, facing the calamity of the Holy Sun extinguishing together, a threat to the entire world.

As for Gasha, the strongest of all the disciples, was now patrolling the entire Icefield with the First Dawn Warship.

They didn't drive away those origin-energy beasts. As long as the intelligent origin-energy beasts were willing to cooperate, the Professor was willing to teach them, so that these so-called barbaric beasts could also share the light of civilization.

Education for all, the path of the great Dao.

After learning about the actions of these Svetozar's disciples, Red Hand no longer had any jealousy in his heart. He just sighed, sighing that their teacher was indeed carefully teaching them, and that they, as disciples, were excellent enough to shoulder such great responsibilities.

Moreover, most importantly, these children, the oldest Seneca, was not even seventeen years old, and the youngest Loya was only fourteen or fifteen years old.

When they reached the age of twenty, wouldn't they all break through to the divine-intent realm, or even touch the threshold of the Calamity realm?

In another ten years, this batch of orphans under Professor Svetozar would probably all be Calamity realm powerhouses, right?

Although it was unbelievable, after thinking that it was indeed possible, Red Hand couldn't help but scare himself.

If an entire sect were all in the Calamity realm, then no matter how powerful the Asmodeus Empire was, it would be impossible to defeat groups of walking natural disasters.

Even if the Sun Emperor was truly powerful to the point that he was unmatched by any Calamity realm powerhouse in history, there was still Professor Svetozar on this side, who was equally strong in an unbelievable way. No matter how he thought about it, the outcome had already been decided.

At least, with the current strength of the Asmodeus Empire, it was impossible to defeat that kind of future.

Walking along with the mercenary团, in the end, Red Hand still entered the metal hall with the silent crowd, with a heart of reverence.

The hall was nameless; Professor Svetozar didn't give it a name, but according to the Dawnlight Society members next to him, they called this hall the Preaching Hall.

Standing in the very center of the Northern Icefield, the extreme point of the world, the inside of the Preaching Hall was warm as spring.

As soon as he entered, gentle light surrounded his entire body, fatigue and hunger disappeared, and the group of demonized people led by Red Hand even subconsciously straightened their backs. They felt that all the pain caused by origin-energy erosion in their bodies had disappeared. The deep-seated, fiery stinging and twisting sensation instantly dissipated, as if it had been driven away.

This was not an illusion, because when Red Hand raised his arm, which was no longer painfully entangled as if it was burned by flames, he was shocked to see strands of black smoke overflowing from his arm.

All those chaotic souls and twisted origin-substances had left his body.

Although his strength would decrease in a short period of time, his true combat power had increased by more than several times!

For a time, Red Hand even fell into confusion—the pain that had plagued him for decades had disappeared in an instant, leaving him without any preparation.

And in this daze, Red Hand was brought into the hall by his excited companions.

It was an incredibly wide lecture hall.

Larger than the Imperial Colosseum, the huge lecture hall, which could accommodate hundreds of thousands or even millions of people, was almost full. Because no one in the hall would be hungry or tired, the hall was silent, just waiting quietly.

Waiting for the white-haired old man in the center of the lecture hall to speak.

Under the guidance of a ray of light, Red Hand and others sat in their seats, and they also fell silent, waiting.

Time passed, perhaps long, perhaps fleeting.

[Today.]

Finally, a calm and grand voice sounded.

In the center of the lecture hall, the white-haired old man looked around at everyone present, and he spoke: [I will explain the essence of demonization.]

[I will explain the relationship between the Holy Sun, the Demonic Moon, and origin-energy.]

[How to avoid the erosion of origin-energy during cultivation, how to strip off the influence of demonization through guiding arts, turning it into strengthening, and how to allow ordinary people to obtain this gift of power.]

[I will prove to everyone that behind all the suffering in this world, there are hidden blessings. Demonized people are not abandoned; they are just lost people who have not been guided.]

He said, his grand voice resounding in everyone's ears, his words clear and reaching directly into their hearts.

The people in the hall heard it, and the people outside the hall heard it.

In the eternal night, under the illumination of the Candlelight Sacred Tree, the tribesmen on the Icefield who were guiding and gathering the crowd raised their heads. They looked up in admiration at the light in the sky, wanting to bow down, but straightened their bodies because they remembered the teachings of that figure.

They praised, sang, and cheered, trying to engrave that figure's words in their hearts. The priests who knew how to write articles and engrave runes quickly picked up their pens and knives, trying to record those mysterious sentences with their own methods, passing those powerful inheritances on to the world.

[I will tell you that the world is about to face the end, the Holy Sun will extinguish, but do not be afraid.] That voice said, with firm confidence: [I tell you the truth, all this is not worth fearing. As long as the living beings of the Aeon world are willing to work together, if the Holy Sun extinguishes, we will ignite the Holy Sun. If the end arrives, we will shatter the end.]

[And now, I will tell you the path to the future.]

He began to speak, speaking of the methods, wonders, and exquisite skills of origin-energy cultivation, and most importantly, the heart.

Everyone heard it.

Outside the Icefield, in Frostdelay, the soldiers and civilians who were still on the road, unable to reach the depths of the Icefield, heard it.

In the Dawnlight Mountains, the farmers who remained in the fields, harvesting crops, and the people who were reclaiming the wasteland, heard it.

At the edge of the Northern Territory, the people of the mobile cities residing within the Empire, near the border, heard it.

All the intelligent origin-energy beasts around the Dawnlight Mountains, and even within the Northern Icefield, those lives that could understand human speech, all of them stared blankly. These beasts also heard it.

They heard thunder, lightning, and roars, as well as enlightenment from the soul.

From the silent dream, from the long-forgotten ideals, wishes, and the extinguished flames in their hearts, they heard the sound of the path to the future being opened.

The flames crackled, because the reality, talent, and suffering, the sparks extinguished by survival, were now rekindling in their souls. They were ignited by a ray of light called hope. The future might still be extinguished, but definitely not now.

If everyone could live their lives again, then most people could become great, because they knew what mistakes they had made in their lives, and they knew how to avoid these mistakes.

And now, Su Zhou bestowed upon everyone the power and opportunity to live their lives again. He awakened those who were muddle-headed, and he granted them the great axes and hammers to open the path ahead.

Of course, before changing the world, they needed to use these axes and hammers to chop their bodies, carving out a new appearance. They needed to use the world as a furnace, burning the old selves that had been hammered to pieces into molten iron, and then pouring them into shape again.

Su Zhou knew that not everyone could succeed. Even if he preached, not everyone could regain their true selves, find the selves that wanted to become better.

But, he would bless them.

[My Dao is here, but if you forget, you can come back.]

[The inheritance is engraved on the pillars and walls of the hall. They will not disappear. If you forget, then go and remember again. I will tell you again, again and again.]

He blessed everyone.

Below the stage.

Although he was in the calm hall, Red Hand's heart was roaring with wind. He stared blankly at the man on the stage, and his heart was gradually filled with determination.

"I will spread his principles and inheritance to all who should hear them."

Originally, Red Hand was not afraid of death. If it was for the future and survival of his brothers, as a demonized person who was not far from death, he could die bravely without hesitation.

But now, he didn't want to die.

He wanted to live, even if it was more difficult than dying bravely, he absolutely wanted to live.

And spread more teachings, more principles, to everyone.

At this moment, the light of the Candleligh Sacred Tree reached the sky and the earth.

The voice of the Primordial Candleligh spread thousands of miles, its aftersound resonating throughout the continent. Half of the world was shaken by it, causing the wind in the North to howl and sweep towards the distant horizon.

Far away, above the Tower of Babel, the blonde emperor raised his head, his eyebrows raised, his eyes deep.

Below the Tower of Babel, the generals and knights also raised their heads, stunned, and then pondered.

In the Gleaming Light Order, under the sacred Gleaming Light Sanctum; in the Holy Sun Church, before the Three Sages' Mechanum; in the coastal city, on the towering guiding lighthouse, there were people listening, thinking, and silent.

They all heard it.

Therefore, the world changed drastically.

Here is a half-chapter first. The later part is too long, I'll post a big chapter tomorrow, and ask for a monthly ticket first!