Two divine voices rang out without warning, leaving Zhu Ziyang utterly shaken. He curled up at the edge of the staircase, trembling uncontrollably.
Thankfully, aside from those voices, nothing else happened. After a couple of minutes passed without further incident, Zhu Ziyang slowly stood up, still tense, and looked upward toward the unseeable divine temple in the sky, his face filled with hesitation and suspicion.
The mysterious voice seemed to take no notice of his fear and calmly resumed the speech that had been interrupted, finally revealing its origin. Only then did Zhu Ziyang learn the identity of the god who had chosen him.
"Welcome to the Temple of Death, Chosen of the Divine.
You are about to undertake the inheritance trial of the God of Death.
Upon passing the trial, you will earn the right to inherit the divine seat of Death.
Before the trial begins, you may ask three questions."
The God of Death?!
Zhu Ziyang's heart trembled. He hadn't expected that the god who had chosen him would be the God of Death. He had always assumed it would be the God of Light or perhaps the God of Ice—something aligned with his elemental affinities. Yet here he was, standing before the temple of Death.
Could it be that the first unfamiliar voice, the one that startled him earlier, was right?
Was the God of Death actually an evil god?
The thought almost made him laugh.
If being called the God of Death makes one an evil god, then as someone who wields death attributes, wouldn't I be an evil soul master too?
A "demonic" soul master inheriting an "evil" god's legacy… huh, how poetic.
He shook his head and refocused.
"You said I can ask three questions?"
Ziyang looked upward toward the divine temple and spoke clearly.
"Can you guarantee you'll answer them all?"
"I can only answer what I know—or what I am allowed to answer," the mysterious voice replied.
"I see…" Ziyang mused.
"Alright. My first question is: Are you the God of Death?"
"No."
The voice responded without hesitation.
"I am a divine remnant—a trace of divine will left behind to administer this trial.
You may call me Examiner, or simply, Xiao Bai."
"…Xiao Bai?"
Ziyang blinked. The unexpectedly cute name clashed so hard with the dramatic atmosphere that he couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're not the God of Death? Then where is he?" Ziyang asked, recovering quickly.
"Shouldn't the god himself be the one administering the trial?"
"Is that your second question?" Xiao Bai asked, sounding very matter-of-fact.
"…Uh, if you say so," Ziyang replied, caught off guard by the technicality.
"The God of Death has already fallen," Xiao Bai said solemnly.
"I am the will he left behind within his divine seat.
Perhaps, if you're lucky, you might encounter the last fragments of his soul while traversing the Temple."
"I see," Ziyang murmured, a weight settling in his chest.
"Then, for my third question:
Is the God of Death truly an evil god?"
"Heh… gods have no such thing as good or evil," Xiao Bai replied, voice laced with disdain.
"Perhaps the origins of a god's power may be light or dark, righteous or malevolent…
But the gods themselves are not divided by morality.
The true distinction is between purity and corruption.
A fallen god—one who has lost their essence—cannot exist under the stars.
At least, not during this era of balance."
"'Fallen god'?"
Ziyang raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar term.
"How is that different from what people call an 'evil god'?"
"I wouldn't know," Xiao Bai said bluntly.
"I am but a divine remnant."
"Alright," the voice added after a pause,
"Your questions are over. We may now begin the inheritance trial."
"Wait—just one more, please. It's important!"
Ziyang protested, holding up his hand.
"What kind of god was the God of Death?"
"You…"
Xiao Bai sounded mildly exasperated.
"…I'll give you this much.
The God of Death was a Primordial Deity, born at the dawn of the world.
He governed the Laws of Death and was one of the cosmic rulers of this starry sky.
Everything else… you'll learn only after becoming his heir."
"I understand," Ziyang said softly, a new respect forming in his heart.
He didn't yet grasp the meaning of "Primordial Deity" or "ruler of the stars," but he knew someone who might: Electrolux. He would ask his teacher later.
"Shall we begin the trial now?" Xiao Bai asked.
"Yes," Ziyang replied, straightening his posture, face serious and eyes filled with resolve.
BOOM! BOOM!
The divine temple above rumbled. Then, a radiant beam of divine light shot down from the heavens, engulfing Zhu Ziyang in a gentle, grayish glow. The light bathed him in warmth, as though it were comforting and embracing him.
"The Trial of the God of Death shall now begin.
Candidate: Zhu Ziyang,"
Xiao Bai announced, voice now divine and majestic.
Ziyang's soul trembled under the weight of the voice.
A wave of ancient, obscure memories flooded his mind.
He closed his eyes to receive it.
At the center of his forehead, a gray-white flower bloomed—a mark of the divine, the symbol of a Chosen Heir.
After a long moment, Ziyang opened his eyes again.
The divine realm before him had changed.
The staircase now revealed ten steps. The mist shrouding the twin pillars on either side of the tenth step had cleared, exposing carved patterns and a line of text.
But before he could examine them, Xiao Bai's voice returned:
"The inheritance trial of the God of Death consists of nine stages.
With each trial completed, your affinity with the divine seat will increase,
unlocking the next stage.
Once all nine are completed and affinity reaches 100%,
the divine seat shall be yours."
"Zhu Ziyang, the First Death Trial has been unlocked.
You will not be able to return here until it is completed.
Upon passing it, you may use the mark upon your forehead to re-enter the Temple.
For now, you have half an hour to review the trial's terms."
Ziyang steadied his breath and stepped forward.
As his foot landed on the first step, the flower on his brow glowed faintly.
"This staircase is called the Path of Godhood," Xiao Bai explained.
"There are one hundred steps in total.
Each one corresponds to a 1% increase in divine affinity.
When all one hundred steps are lit, you may enter the temple proper and receive your inheritance."
Ziyang nodded in understanding and continued upward until he reached the tenth step—and stopped. Beyond this point, the path was still cloaked in mist.
Now visible on the pillars were carved words:
"Divine Affinity: 10%
First Trial of Death: The God of Death has long perished.
The world has forgotten reverence.
As the Heir to Death, you must rekindle divine awe.
Trial Objective: Slay a creature that falsely claims the mantle of Death.
Requirements: The target must be at least six-ring strength.
Time limit: Five years.
Reward: Unknown."
Ziyang absorbed the inscription's meaning, silently evaluating the trial's difficulty.
"This is the Underworld Pillar—also called the Seal of God," Xiao Bai added.
"Only by completing the trial can the seal be broken, and the divine chain released."
"I understand," Ziyang said calmly.
"Very well. Since you understand the terms of the first trial… it's time to return."
Xiao Bai's tone softened just a bit.
"One last warning: Protect your life.
I searched for ages to find a soul as compatible with the divine seat as yours.
It would be a pity if you died before fulfilling your destiny."
"Heh, no need to worry.
Even without your warning, I plan to treasure this life,"
Ziyang said with a grin.
"I've always been very fond of living, after all."
With those words, he was expelled from the inheritance space.
Through layers of imperceptible fog, his soul returned to his body.
As soon as he woke, Zhu Ziyang opened his eyes. His heart still buzzed with the weight of the otherworldly encounter.
Beside him, a worried voice called out:
"Ziyang, what just happened?
Your soul vanished all of a sudden—only your body remained!"
It was Electrolux, face full of concern.
Ziyang turned to him and smiled warmly.
"Don't worry, Teacher.
Something… good happened."
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40 early chapters available on Patreon: [email protected]/facficmax10Note: I wasn't planning on doing this, but I need a bit of money. Even if no one does anything, I'm still going to finish uploading the novel, just in case anyone's worried. :)