When Lu Mingze first arrived at the "Divine Kingdom," he was stunned by the sight before him.
A desolate and treacherous land, with towering black mountains that pierced the clouds, standing firmly in the misty distance!
The mountains stretched endlessly, like jagged, menacing fangs, resembling a high wall built at the edge of the world, separating the ancient and mysterious world from the rest.
Looking up at the sky, a dark and profound river of light stretched across the horizon, resembling the Rainbow Bridge described in Norse mythology, creating an awe-inspiring view that spanned the heavens!
In just a few seconds, Lu Mingze deeply realized what true 'gods' were!
In comparison, the former Black King, Nidhogg, with his ancient throne made of ice, seemed almost primitive before such grandeur.
Shocked by the scene in front of him, Lu Mingze's resolve became even stronger.
"Following Mr. Adam, I'm sure I'll find the 'Secret Order' and take back the power that was stolen from me!"
Lu Mingze took a deep breath and quietly clenched his fists.
But a moment later, as he reached the foot of the towering black mountains, he realized a pressing issue—
How was he going to climb such a high mountain?
Staring up at the peak, which nearly pierced the clouds, Lu Mingze fell into deep thought.
The steep mountain wall, nearly ninety degrees, had no steps, and climbing was clearly not an option. This made him feel stuck.
At that moment, an elderly man with graying hair, wearing a colorful shirt and wooden sandals, looking like he had just returned from a seaside vacation, appeared. He seemed completely out of place in this harsh environment.
The old man took off his sunglasses, looked him up and down, and said, "Lu Mingze?"
"Who are you?"
Lu Mingze looked at the old man, feeling a sense of familiarity.
"People used to call me the Last Shadow Emperor, Uesugi Koeru."
The old man grinned, his face full of wrinkles. "As for now, I'm retired, and I'm one of Mr. Adam's followers. I'm here to guide you to the 'Temple'."
The Last Shadow Emperor?
The title made Lu Mingze pause for a moment.
But soon, he figured out the cause and effect and cautiously asked, "Was it 'Adam' who changed your fate?"
In the original timeline, the last Shadow Emperor, Uesugi Koeru, was supposed to be on the artificial firefly island in Tokyo Bay, fighting alone against the overwhelming corpse tide, in order to buy time for Hilbert, Chu Zihang, and Caesar to detonate the alchemical sulfur bomb. He ultimately exhausted himself and died in battle.
And this is how it was recorded in the Cassell College archives.
But now, it was clear that wasn't the case.
"Yes, thanks to 'Adam,' I still have some use."
Uesugi Koeru wasn't being modest, nodding and saying, "After dying in Tokyo Bay, I was resurrected by 'Adam,' and now I am one of His followers."
Followers. Lu Mingze's eyes brightened slightly.
As the name suggests, a follower is someone who has been granted divine recognition and blessing for their extreme faith in a 'god.'
Becoming a follower means that serving and worshipping the god becomes an absolute duty, while the god gives followers various blessings and assistance in return for their faith!
The relationship between gods and followers is mutually beneficial, with a much closer bond between them.
After all, becoming a follower means getting closer to 'Adam.' In a way, they're the closest to Him!
"Hahaha, you don't need to envy me," Uesugi Koeru said with a chuckle, stroking his beard. "Although I'm a follower, your position as a member of the Twilight Hermit Order isn't low."
"I hope one day I can gain 'Adam's' recognition," Lu Mingze smiled, unable to hide the envy in his eyes.
Only those highly recognized by a 'god' could call themselves followers, and that was an unparalleled honor!
Especially after witnessing 'Adam' single-handedly facing off against the terrifying beings from the depths of the stars to protect Earth, Lu Mingze began to respect, or rather, trust Him even more.
"Alright, enough of the small talk."
Uesugi Koeru smiled. "Let's head up quickly, don't keep 'Adam' waiting."
"Okay."
Lu Mingze nodded.
As Uesugi Koeru whispered a soft prayer, establishing a connection with the spirit realm, a beam of radiant light descended from the heavens.
After a moment, the light dissipated, and Lu Mingze opened his eyes, revealing the grand and ancient Corpse Cathedral.
Though he had seen it many times before, he was still deeply shaken.
The ancient church, built from countless skeletal remains, emitted an aura of extreme mystery.
The weathered marks on the outer walls seemed to have endured countless years, and the overwhelming sense of age hit him like a wave from the distant past.
After a moment, Lu Mingze snapped back to reality, facing the elderly man with a look of apology. "Sorry, every time I see this church, it gives me a deep, overwhelming sense of awe."
"It's alright, I understand," Uesugi Koeru said with a faint smile, then added, "Hurry up and go inside. Mr. Adam has been waiting for you for a long time."
Lu Mingze no longer hesitated. After thanking Uesugi Koeru, he took a deep breath and stepped into the sacred and ancient church.
He understood that with this step, he would completely bid farewell to his past world.
As for when he would return, perhaps only fate could decide.
"By the way, you don't meet Mr. Adam often, so there's something I need to remind you of," suddenly, Uesugi Koeru called out to Lu Mingze, his face turning serious.
"Please, go ahead."
Lu Mingze showed great humility.
Though he was a little devil, he understood his place well.
Without strength, any provocation or show-off behavior would only lead to catastrophic consequences!
He was wild, but not foolish.
Uesugi Koeru was pleased with his attitude and smiled.
"Remember, never look directly at a god."
Never look at a god?
Lu Mingze was momentarily stunned. While he understood the literal meaning, he had seen Mr. Adam many times before, hadn't he?
However, Uesugi Koeru did not offer further explanation, disappearing into the radiant light.
With a mind full of questions, Lu Mingze decided not to dwell on them. Looking up at the distant sky, he silently bid farewell:
"Goodbye, brother."
Passing through the great archway of the church, the familiar scene appeared before Lu Mingze's eyes.
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