"The Age of Gods was an era when gods existed, and also an era when humans and gods lived side by side."
The instant Wu Ling said those words, Bibi Dong almost stood up in shock.
At present, ninety-nine percent of people believed gods were fictional, fantasies imagined by mortals. Yet experts at her level understood that gods truly existed. She herself was even walking such a path.
But Wu Ling, a child from a rural village, had so decisively spoken of the existence of gods. Bibi Dong could not help wondering whether there really had been an era when humans and gods coexisted.
Although she was shocked inside, Bibi Dong had experienced too much to show it openly. She simply continued listening to Wu Ling's explanation.
"According to the information, the Age of Gods can roughly be divided into three stages.
"The first stage was called the Primordial Age. In that era, the gods stood at their height, while the human race was weak.
"At that time, humans had only just passed through the period of eating raw meat and drinking blood. They began building tribes, and the concept of a nation gradually emerged.
"The gods, meanwhile, were born from heaven and earth. Each god represented part of the world's rules.
"With their own immense power, the gods walked upon the earth. Humans were little more than their playthings. When the gods were pleased, they bestowed favor. When they were angered, they sent divine punishment.
"A thousand years passed in this way. Human nations had largely taken shape, and among those many nations, the strongest and most ambitious king set his eyes upon the gods.
"One reason was that he did not want any other being standing above him. The second was that he coveted the gods' endless lives.
"In the end, through human schemes, a god who had no natural enemy and had grown lazy over long ages... was killed.
"With the death of the first god, the war between humanity and the gods began. The king who caused the war received the punishment he deserved. Not only did he fail to obtain the immortality he desired, his kingdom also perished because of him.
"But the wheels of war had already begun to turn. The footsteps of the age could no longer stop.
"Thus, the Age of Gods entered its second stage. Its name was Heroes.
"At first, the gods suppressed humanity with their overwhelming power. Some humans who leaned toward the gods also defected to the divine side.
"But humans can be good or evil, and gods can be benevolent or wicked. Of course, it is also possible that the gods had lived too long and were too bored. Perhaps they felt that simply crushing the humans would make such an interesting war dull. So some gods chose to join humanity's side.
"As people from both sides defected, the scales gradually balanced. The war continued for years, and after those years, a turning point appeared.
"By observing the battles of the gods, some exceptionally talented humans created martial arts that belonged to humanity.
"By studying the gods' power, some humans of extraordinary wisdom created Magecraft that belonged to humanity.
"By learning from the gods' techniques, some uniquely gifted humans created culture that belonged to humanity.
"And so, the scales of war began to tilt.
"During that period, countless people who achieved feats in martial arts, Magecraft, and culture, reaching realms ordinary people could never reach, left their names in history. They possessed legends of their own and were later called heroes.
"So, Your Holiness, do you understand now what kind of figures I mean when I speak of heroes?"
"..."
When he received no answer from Bibi Dong, Wu Ling cautiously lifted his head. He found that Bibi Dong was still stunned.
The story Wu Ling told was simply too shocking. Bibi Dong had considered the possibility that Wu Ling had made it up, but how could a "six-year-old" child create such an epic out of nothing?
Therefore, aside from information transmitted by his Martial Soul, Bibi Dong could think of no second possibility.
Suddenly, Bibi Dong reacted.
"Wait. What happens afterward? You only mentioned the second stage. What about the third?
"Why is a world where humans and gods coexisted now left with only humans? Why was such important information not recorded? Why do we have no impression of those people at all?"
Bibi Dong acted somewhat unlike her usual status, but this made her seem less severe and more alive. Her charm did not decrease. If anything, it increased.
It made sense. Bibi Dong devoted herself to pursuing greater power, and a vigorous desire for knowledge was an important part of that. After learning that the world had once held such a stretch of history, it would have been strange if she were not excited.
Facing Bibi Dong's questions, Wu Ling scratched his head in distress.
"Your Holiness, forgive my incompetence. My power is limited, so I cannot obtain all of the information. What I know is only the portion I just described."
Bibi Dong immediately suppressed the surging desire in her heart. She possessed a broad view of the whole situation. She would not fully trust Wu Ling because of a single story.
"It is not enough. This story is not enough to convince me.
"You said your Martial Soul can summon those heroes to possess you. Then use your first Spirit Skill and show me. Only after I personally confirm it can I believe you."
"Yes."
Wu Ling answered, then stood. He summoned his Martial Soul and lit his only Spirit Ring. A shadow appeared again at the center of the Heroic Spirit Disc.
Looking at that shadow, Bibi Dong murmured, "Could that be..."
As he merged with the shadow, Wu Ling's body grew slightly. A lock of his hair turned deep blue, and his entire presence became utterly different from before.
Unafraid of exposing his ability, Wu Ling openly explained it to Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness, the one summoned by my first Spirit Ring is a swordsman. He dedicated his life to the sword, and in the end, his swordsmanship even reached the realm of the gods."
As Wu Ling spoke, he drew the longsword, and his body assumed the stance for the technique.
"At that swordsman's peak, he could cut three times. Because my foundation is lacking, I can currently force out only two slashes.
"Then... please excuse this poor display. Swallow Reversal!"
As Wu Ling used the technique, Bibi Dong observed his movements with complete focus.
Several seconds later, Wu Ling sheathed the blade. Bibi Dong fell silent.
To put that technique simply, it was as if the same person could appear in two different places at the exact same moment. Of course, that was not the most important part. If it were only that, some clone abilities could do the same.
The most important part was that Wu Ling's technique was pure skill. There was not the slightest trace of spirit power mixed into it.
Even if Bibi Dong herself tried it, even with her current power as a Titled Sage, she would probably find it extremely difficult to reproduce that move.
This kind of technique could never appear among Spirit Masters who focused only on Spirit Rings. Because of that, Bibi Dong confirmed it: the previous era truly existed.
Bibi Dong used spirit power to release the seal on Ghost's five senses, then spoke.
"Ghost."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Pass down my order. From today onward, Wu Ling is my disciple."
"Yes."
After speaking, Ghost gave Wu Ling a discreet wink. Wu Ling reacted at once and hurriedly expressed his thanks.
"Thank you, Your Holiness!"
"Hm?" Bibi Dong made a light sound when she heard his address.
"Thank you, Master!"
Only after Wu Ling changed the title did Bibi Dong nod in satisfaction.
"Good. Very good."