Chapter 16 – Earth Goddess Ximi's Battle Form:
Miaozhen Palace, Grand Hall.
Among the dozen or so gods present, only six were high gods, while the rest were main gods wielding elemental authority.
"What about the other gods of the Earth Lineage?"
Fane asked slowly.
"Respectfully reporting, Your Excellency, the oppression of the Heavens ten thousand years ago forced over fifty gods of our Earth Lineage to reluctantly join the Heavenly Court," the Mountain Main God Qiucha said respectfully.
"Now, aside from us, fewer than ten gods have fled to the Underworld for refuge."
Fane, though only a high god, was well-known among all cosmic deities because Earth Sovereign Ximi loved him deeply.
Thus, even main gods dared not show disrespect, especially the main gods of the Earth Lineage.
Hearing Qiucha's words, Fane nodded.
He sensed the number of gods across the Three Realms using his consciousness power.
"Over three thousand gods… an increase of two thousand compared to thirty thousand years ago. Brahma's sons and daughters truly are prolific—no wonder they bear the title of 'Creators of Life.'"
The term "Creator of Life" refers to those born specifically to bear gods.
Otherwise, the difficulty of conceiving gods is evident from Fane and Ximi's own experience.
Crucially, among these over three thousand gods, more than 2,600 were born through creators.
In other words, only around 500 gods derived naturally from elements.
Among them, over 300 belonged to the Sky Lineage, and the Earth Lineage had only seventy to eighty.
The remaining hundreds resided in the Underworld.
The Underworld was despised by the gods, so its denizens were not formally considered gods.
The gods preferred to call them Asuras.
Unlike later generations of Asuras, these were elemental derivatives, not Brahma's offspring rejected from the Heavens and sent to the Underworld.
"Exalted Consciousness God, can you really watch as the children of the Earth Sovereign are oppressed by the Heavens?"
Seeing Fane silent, Earth Main God Bolster urged anxiously.
"Presumptuous! Are you trying to coerce the great Fane?"
Sensing the sharpness in Bolster's tone, Ximi immediately rebuked him.
Bolster trembled in fear and knelt, begging Ximi to calm her anger and seek Fane's forgiveness.
"You may step aside; I need to discuss matters with Mother Ximi," Fane said calmly.
"Exalted Consciousness God, may we wait outside? This way we can listen to the beautiful yoga sounds and avoid Heavenly oppression."
The main gods, including Bolster, Qiucha, and River Main God Fudiman, knelt and requested.
Listening to yoga was the pretense; avoiding the Heavens was the truth.
Fane knew this but said nothing. He merely looked at Ximi, who understood immediately.
"Your Excellency, Fane is merciful. You may stay outside."
Once the gods departed, Ximi's expression shifted from majestic and proud to that of a gentlewoman.
"Despicable Daius has extended his hand into the Earth Lineage—his actions are truly vile and base."
Though she disliked conflict, Ximi could not bear to see her lineage oppressed.
"What should I do, my love?"
Ximi looked to her cornerstone, Fane.
Fane pondered briefly. He knew Ximi neither wanted to be God King nor Earth Queen, so conventional methods would not work.
If she did not seek supreme divine power but wanted to protect her followers, a direct approach was required.
"Go. Let Daius feel your authority. Let the gods of Heaven know that the Earth Sovereign's majesty cannot be violated, my beloved Ximi."
Fane's gaze was steadfast and encouraging.
"Do you want me to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Court, my love?"
Ximi asked, startled.
"Only by hurting Daius can the Earth Lineage gods be protected. Isn't that so?"
"Yes, indeed. Your wisdom convinces me."
Ximi stood and walked outside, emanating a formidable battle aura.
The palace gates slowly opened.
As she emerged, the gods were astonished by Ximi's aura.
"What is this?"
Bolster asked respectfully.
"I am going to the Heavenly Court to battle Daius!"
Her voice radiated majesty and overwhelming war intent.
The gods froze, then their faces lit up with excitement.
"Great Earth Sovereign Ximi, you have finally decided. Praise the wisdom of Consciousness God Fane!"
"We will fight alongside our Sovereign against the Heavens!"
"The God King throne is yet unsettled. What Daius can do, our great Earth Sovereign can match!"
"We are willing to lay down our lives for mighty Ximi and march against the Heavens!"
In that moment, the dozen or so Earth Lineage gods were fired up as if on adrenaline, eager to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Court.
Since Sky God Daius planned to establish the Heavenly Court and claim the God King throne, he had oppressed the Earth Lineage gods.
Without Ximi leading, they dared not confront Daius directly.
Even among main gods, their powers varied greatly.
For example, Bolster and Qiucha—the disparity in their great divine power was immense.
Qiucha wielded mountain authority, lower tier, equating to a lower main god.
Bolster wielded earth vein authority, upper tier, equivalent to a high main god.
Above high main gods were Primordial Elemental Main Gods, also called Sovereigns, with the power to strip high main gods of their authority.
The immense strength of the Primordial Elemental Main Gods is why, during the Primordial Calamity, the Three-Faced God eliminated such unstable forces of cosmic order.
"No. I shall fight the Heavenly Court alone!"
Ximi's majesty-filled voice rang out.
Under the gods' astonished gaze, Ximi transformed into her battle form.
Her form towered ten thousand zhang; she had two heads, four arms, and a serpent body.
One hand wielded a black great hammer
One hand a golden axe
One hand held a lotus flower
One hand wielded a divine whip
Two snakes dangled from her ears; a black naga coiled around her jade-like neck.
Boom~
As her axe struck down, the void split, and ferocious earth, fire, wind, and water forces surged, strong enough to tear apart a high god.
The next moment, Ximi advanced into the battlefield.
Fane emerged, watching Ximi head to the Heavenly Court, and smiled faintly.
"Exalted Consciousness God, did you see? She went alone to the Heavens!"
"Isn't this dangerous? Daius has already gathered over a thousand gods in the Heavenly Court!"
Hearing their concern, Fane said calmly:
"Trust in the greatness of Earth Sovereign Ximi. Her strength is unquestionable."
With that, Fane left Mount Sumeru, intending to visit that cerulean-blue planet while the gods' attention was fixed on the Heavenly Court.