The great sun hung high.
Countless drifting Extraordinary Essence revolved around this gigantic sun. The entire world was covered in boundless light, with no darkness. The Wine God’s head lowered, and he found that even his own shadow was nowhere to be seen.
This was a world of only light.
And that dazzling "sun," which was too bright to look at directly, was Gu Changzhi.
Truly seeing Gu Changzhi... the Wine God was horrified to find that he couldn’t utter a single word. Covered in ten thousand rays of radiant light, he felt like a shadow pinned to a stone slab, at any moment risking incineration.
"In the ’Old World’... you once spied."
The man on the Light God’s Throne spoke very softly, "I thought you would remember that and dare not look again."
The moon-white robe began to burn within the Golden Divine Domain.
Like a youth stepping out of a mural, he raised his hands and fearfully clutched his throat. He wanted to say something, but found it extremely difficult to squeeze out even the slightest sound... among the Seven God Seals, his spiritual power was the strongest. The fire had given him incomparable "infectiousness," allowing him to travel the Five Continents to preach and spread benevolence, with the most numerous Angel Envoys under his command.
But to gain is to lose.
The Wine God had always avoided conflicts with other Divine Thrones because his Power of Fire was not suited for one-on-one Divine Wars... let alone comparing with a top-tier powerhouse like Gu Changzhi, who was unparalleled across the Five Continents.
However, before the descent of the gods, he was prepared.
He knew there would be a gap.
But he never thought... the gap would be so vast.
In this Golden Divine Domain, his spirit was being melted... he didn’t even have the strength to gaze upon the man on the Light God’s Throne.
"Get out of the East Continent, and then tell them... I am still alive."
Gu Changzhi spoke each word slowly.
The high-hanging great sun emitted billions of splendid rays, causing the Wine God to crouch and curl up on the ground like a dehydrated shrimp.
The robe burned away, revealing the scale armor beneath.
Even the top-notch Soul Protection couldn’t withstand the scorching of the sun’s Chi Huo, beginning to melt.
The curled Wine God’s expression turned pale as he felt the searing heat burning him... it wouldn’t be long before he would be completely incinerated.
Gu Changzhi’s words were like a life-saving grace to him.
"...Alright! Alright! Alright!"
He used all his strength to shout, trying hard to make his voice reach the far-off Light God’s Throne.
The boy’s face, once innocent and harmless, had now been scorched and became ferociously hideous, filled with pain like a ghost.
After hearing the Wine God’s response.
Gu Changzhi, seated at the highest place, slowly nodded.
There was no visible action, just a slight nod, and the intense rays gradually retracted. The great sun remained magnificent, but only a slightly cool twilight boundary was ceded. In this narrow region, the blazing light’s burn was no longer severe. This was still a high temperature unbearable for ordinary people, but for a "Divine Throne," it was enough to rest and recover... The Wine God lay sprawling on the ground, the world before his eyes a dazzling white.
The most terrifying thing in the world was not being in infinite darkness.
But being in boundless, endless light.
Darkness doesn’t take away one’s sight.
The Wine God panted heavily, gradually feeling his spiritual power returning, the Power of Fire continually burning, sending vitality to his withered spirit... yet a growing terror took over his expression.
After a moment of rest.
His vision was still filled with silver light, not recovering.
The burning fire provided him with enough spiritual power; the broken scales were self-repairing one by one, and the moon-white robe, almost entirely burnt to pieces, once again draped neatly over him... He still was the high and mighty Wine God.
But now, he lost the ability to "see."
The Wine God, dazed, stretched out a hand and slowly waved it in front of himself.
He could feel his hand sweep through.
But... he couldn’t see it.
Suddenly, he sat up, turning his head, strong light fiercely shooting in from all directions. He could still sense the "sun’s" location — Gu Changzhi’s Divine Throne — but he couldn’t see anything.
"Don’t bother trying anymore."
From the distant sun came an extremely calm voice.
"You won’t see again... even leaving this Divine Domain won’t change that."
The Wine God’s face instantly turned pale.
"The last time, I had already warned you... but you didn’t take it to heart." Gu Changzhi said slowly, "Even gods must bear responsibility for their mistakes... The punishment for those who gaze too much is to strip them of their sight, never to see again."
The young boy in the moon-white robe looked as if struck by lightning, dazed, and muddle-headed.
"Surely once they see you... they will all understand that I am indeed still alive." Gu Changzhi said, "From today, you need to get used to a life without sight and accept the fact that you have become blind."
A bolt from the blue.
But soon... the Wine God slowly recovered from his stupor.
He still had his fire.
He was still the "god" who commanded the people.
So what if he was blind?
Spiritual power dispersed, easily encompassing hundreds, thousands of meters, noticing every movement... Yet Gu Changzhi’s next words shattered his revived resolve.
"I hope from now on, you can honestly live as a blind man. I will be watching you... every sunrise, every morning. As long as there is light, there is me."
"If you use ’Divine Thought,’ then I will strike again..."
"Next time, it won’t be just ’blindness.’"
The Wine God was stunned.
Before this, such words couldn’t have frightened him. Returning to Source Tower, the first thing he would do was divine a way to heal his eyes, then use the fire to compensate for his perception during his blindness.
He didn’t believe someone like Gu Changzhi, who could barely protect himself, had the ability to keep watching him...
Just as he hadn’t believed Gu Changzhi was still alive before his descent into Da Du.
But now... he truly didn’t dare not believe.
"Why... why?" The Wine God’s voice trembled with anger, "Why do this to me? What right do you have?"
"Six hundred years ago, our ancestors migrated from the ’Old World.’ They decided to split the ’Gospel Box’ into seven fire seeds, intending to find a ’Savior’ who could save the world... Every person who obtained and tamed a fire seed should be prepared to dedicate their life to humanity’s future, to burn everything they had."
"But what did you do with your fire seed?"
The man on the Divine Throne’s voice was as steady as ever.
"Your Angel Envoys traversed the Five Continents, did they eliminate more black spots, or provide more energy by looting Extraordinary Essence for the Source Tower?"
The Wine God was stunned again.
"Do you remember your grand vow before taming the fire seed? And what are you now?"
"With ’god’s’ power, you should fulfill ’god’s’ responsibility. Those Angel Envoys were so innocent, guided by the divine, thinking they walked a right path... yet unaware their piety was used by you."
Each word, each sentence, struck the Wine God’s heart, making it tremble. He felt ashamed and dared not lift his head.
"Now answer your previous question. Why do you think... I have the right to punish you?"
From the Divine Throne came a majestic voice, striking directly at his soul.
"Because I am Gu Changzhi."
(PS: It’s the end of the month, with one last day and 300 votes short of 2000. Though hopes are slim, I still ask for your votes. The second Chapter of tonight will be out in about half an hour.)