Chapter 30 – The Pitiful Sky God Dyaus (2)
"So powerful… this gravity."
Diving down three thousand zhang, Fan'en already felt the weight pressing on him.
At eight thousand zhang, it was as though a hundred thousand sacred mountains pressed upon his body, slowing his every movement.
Divine power surged through him, protecting his form from the crushing pressure and allowing him to continue his descent.
Twelve thousand zhang.
This was the absolute limit his divine body and power could endure—yet the remains of the Elephant God Ganeva still lay eight hundred zhang deeper.
Fan'en did not go further. The sacred brilliance of the Fire Lingam's mark could ward off the corrosive force of the black floodwaters, but it could not withstand this immense gravity.
But eight hundred zhang of distance was already close enough.
At once—
Fan'en manifested his Form of Wisdom. Sitting cross-legged upon a seven-colored lotus platform, his long black hair swayed with the currents. At his brow burned the flame-mark of wisdom's authority.
His sharply defined features outlined a striking visage; around his neck hung a prayer bead necklace. His eight arms held different divine implements: a vajra, a lotus, a water jar, a sacred vessel, a golden wheel, a bow, a divine sword, and an illusory Veda.
In this Wisdom Form, Fan'en began to meditate upon the remains of the Elephant God Ganeva.
Even the wrathful, witless Asuras had managed to meditate upon these bones to comprehend the authority of Reincarnation. Fan'en did not believe he could fail where they had succeeded.
If he could obtain the power of Reincarnation, he could test the theory within his heart.
To master his own power, Fan'en needed to experiment—one path at a time. This was the meaning behind shattering the skull and entering into Brahman.
Time passed.
In the mortal realm, the black ocean's waters slowly receded. For every inch the waters lowered, Fan'en sank an inch deeper.
After five hundred years, his Wisdom Form finally appeared above the Elephant God's bones.
Yet five centuries of meditation yielded him no comprehension of Reincarnation.
In the blink of an eye—
Six thousand years flowed by.
By now, all the black floodwaters of the mortal realm had poured into Brahma's domain. What happened next was no longer the Earth Goddess Ximi's burden to bear.
With the corrosive energy of the black waters gone, the gods of the Earth lineage descended from Mount Sumeru and began repairing the wounded land with their divine power.
The gods of Heaven watched with envy.
Even simply restoring the land after a flood earned merit.
Though in this early age of Brahman the Trimurti had not yet convened to establish the cosmic Dharma, merit still carried weight.
Those who bore merit were recognized by the Supreme Spirit.
Not immortality, perhaps—but at least freedom from calamity during this primordial age.
For gods were not truly eternal; they too had lifespans and faced tribulations.
Had the Elephant God Ganeva, beneath Fan'en's lotus seat, possessed such merit, he might have survived this tribulation and lived out his natural span.
A lower god's life was but nine Maha-Yugas.A middle god's life extended to thirty-seven Maha-Yugas.An upper god's span leapt in quality—lasting as long as three Manvantaras.
So too with Lord Gods:A lower Lord God lived seven Manvantaras.A middle Lord God, twelve Manvantaras.An upper Lord God could endure for one full Day of Brahma.
As for the Primeval Elemental Lord Gods, their lives were eternal—unless slain by the Trimurti themselves, or if they defied the cosmic Dharma of the future. Otherwise, they were undying, existing until the end of the Three Realms, until Shiva opened his third eye and danced the world-ending Tandava.
"The Sacred Conch can revive the vitality of the mountains. Three thousand years remain before the great Preserver Vishnu reclaims it. Manlina, my child, take this conch and awaken the mountains' life-force!"
The Earth Goddess Ximi's gaze was tender as she handed the innate divine artifact, the Sacred Conch, to Manlina.
She had already earned the great merit of saving the mortal realm.
The smaller, scattered merits she did not wish to compete for with the rest of the Earth lineage.
But Manlina, the Great Tree King whom she cherished like a daughter—Ximi would not be stingy in granting her such a blessing.
"This… I praise the great Mother, the Supreme Earth Sovereign Ximi."
The Great Tree King Manlina had wanted to confess everything to Ximi once the flood crisis ended.
But Ximi's kindness now only deepened her guilt.
She could not bring herself to wound the one who had treated her as her own child.
"Go, my good child."
The Earth Goddess Ximi smiled warmly and waved her off.
"I will not disappoint you, revered Sovereign."
Manlina accepted the Sacred Conch respectfully, resolving that when she returned, she would tell the truth—even if it cost her life should she incur Ximi's wrath.
As Manlina departed, Ximi's lips curved in a satisfied smile.
"Gentle, beautiful, and kind… surely Manlina will win the love of my noble husband."
The Earth Goddess chuckled softly to herself, then went on to the Palace of True Wonders.
She did not seek out Fan'en.
Through her divine senses, she knew her great husband was in no danger.
She would not restrain his freedom.
—
Heaven.
Atop Mount Sumeru, in the city of Shanjian.
The gods looked down upon the mortal realm, eyes full of envy. The land below teemed with merit—yet none of it was theirs.
The great Preserver Vishnu had already agreed to Fan'en's terms.
Thus, the karmic burden of this flood fell upon the Sky God Dyaus and the Creator Brahma.
The merit, however, belonged to the Earth Goddess Ximi.
The dozen Earth-lineage gods who had remained in Heaven were filled with regret.
Had they left that day for the Palace of True Wonders, perhaps now they too would be collecting merit upon the Earth.
"The royal city has been rebuilt. Do you have further commands, Your Majesty, revered King of the Gods?"
The Star Lord Sakhaman approached the Heavenly Gate and addressed the Sky God Dyaus respectfully.
He was the younger brother of Surya, the Sun God Saknas, and he presided over the myriad stars.
"And your brother Saknas? Why has he not come?"
Dyaus' voice carried majesty as he questioned him.
But as he spoke, the corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.
For nailed by the trident to the Heavenly Gate, not only was his divine power sealed, but even the slightest movement sent searing waves of agony through him.
The pain he could endure—but the humiliation? His dignity as the God-King was utterly stripped away.
Two whole Maha-Yugas!
Such a long, endless time to remain pinned here.
Struck by the sudden question, Sakhaman's heart trembled. But he quickly composed himself, replying with deference:
"To answer, O revered God-King—my brother Saknas has gone to the Realm of Light, to invite back the Heavenly Mother of Radiance, Marici, on your behalf