The high priest raised his chin slightly. "It's not cheap. Without them, I might not have been able to hold out until the gods return. Their lives are also essential to me."
Ye Tianxuan remained silent, slowly stood up, and strolled to the window.
Because of the rumors of a new god appearing in Changsheng City, people who had seen Ye Tianxuan or not gathered below the main city, trying to catch a glimpse of the new god to confirm that they truly had new hope.
The crowd of people thronged beneath the main city, each face looking up a testament to their will to live. Little did they know that their revered high priest regarded them as mere edible flesh and blood, as disposable commodities.
"What do you take them for? And what do you take yourself for?" Ye Tianxuan looked at those people, his blue eyes slightly raised, staring at the high priest. "They are human, and you are human too. Your life is no different from theirs. What right do you have to deprive them of their hope of living in order to help yourself?"
"Of course, because I am the High Priest! I possess the power of God! I have lived for so many years! I am the only one who can wait for God to return!" The High Priest answered without hesitation, her gaze towards those people was extremely cold, "And believers will come sooner or later, their sacrifices are all necessary sacrifices on the road to waiting for God's return."
Ye Tianxuan was puzzled by her overbearing sense of conviction, "...High Priest...it sounds like a good position, but even if you have some divine power, weren't you originally a human being? Have you lived for so long that you've even forgotten that you are a human being?"
The high priestess frowned, her pretty face full of displeasure. "I'm not like them. I am the high priestess personally chosen by the gods. I have responsibilities that surpass all theirs. Even if the City of Immortality is destroyed, I will live..."
"Live and wait for God's return, let her know that nothing here has changed with this eternal appearance."
She muttered to herself, her words seemingly carrying a sorrow only she could understand, but it did not change the fact that she now controlled the City of Immortality, treating all residents as lifespan reserving devices and ruthlessly dealing with the lower classes.
"The City of Immortality is in your hands; it will be destroyed sooner or later." Ye Tianxuan wasn't even angry with her.
Such a person, who regards the lives of others as resources, is completely opposite to Ye Tianxuan's long-held beliefs.
He always strived to give others the right to live, to give them hope and a new life, even at the cost of his own life.
The High Priestess, on the other hand, was completely different. She didn't care about the lives of others; as long as she survived, that was enough. What did it matter if the entire city was wiped out? As the High Priestess, she would still be alive, and sooner or later she would have to face countless believers.
Ye Tianxuan didn't want to say anything more to her. He withdrew his gaze from the window, turned around and walked towards the elevator. Facing his own reflection in the cold iron wall, his voice was incredibly resolute, "After seeing you, my thoughts have become even more firm."
"I will become the new god of this City of Immortality."
The high priest turned around instantly, glaring at him and shouting, "I said! Longevity City doesn't need a new god! I don't care where you're from! Get out of Longevity City! You're not welcome here!"
"What right do you have to kick me out?" Ye Tianxuan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his blue eyes as cold as a deep pool, and pressed the button to go down. "You can't kick me out now. I'm going to take root here. I'm going to keep everyone alive right under your nose."
"City of Immortality is no longer under your control. If you don't believe me, let's try."
"You really think you can save the people of Longevity City just because you have a little lifespan?" The high priest gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "I've been in Longevity City the longest. I know the people here. They can't live without their faith! They will never betray the God of Longevity! And they will never betray me either!"
"As long as I issue an order forbidding them from worshipping the new god, your presence will not shake the City of Immortality at all!"
"Then let's see which is more important, faith or life." After saying this, Ye Tianxuan stepped into the elevator, waved to the high priest with a friendly expression, and then closed the elevator door.
He knew very well that he was facing not just the high priest, but the unshakable faith rooted deep in the hearts of the people.
This has been the case in the City of Longevity for more than just a day or two. More than one or two people have died because their lifespan has run out. Are the people of the City of Longevity really so foolish as to be controlled by the High Priest without even realizing it?
Seeing those kneeling below the main city makes it clear that this is not the case; some people are conscious.
But the people here have faith, rely on faith, and do not rebel against faith.
They assumed that God's commands were everything, that God would never abandon them, and that everything related to God was inviolable.
Even though lifespan has become a bargaining chip for everyone, and we teeter on the edge of death every day, living in constant fear, we remain indifferent to the deaths of those around us, and can only pray that God will return and change everything.
Before that, all they had to do was try to survive.
As the elevator reached the ground floor, the white-clad messengers received new information from the upper levels.
They glanced at Ye Tianxuan as he came down, somewhat surprised, and then whispered among themselves. As Ye Tianxuan walked out, they followed him out.
As soon as they left the main city, they were met with enthusiastic gazes from everyone. Among them were ordinary people they had seen before, as well as newcomers who had come to watch the spectacle. They were filled with hope as they watched the divine messenger emerge with the mysterious person who seemed to be a god.
Has the High Priest reached an agreement with the new god? Has the High Priest accepted the new god's favor in the City of Immortality? Have they finally made it through and are they about to return to their former lives?
Under the expectant gazes of countless people, the divine messenger dressed in white was the first to shout through a megaphone: "The High Priest has issued a new decree. A charlatan has come to Changsheng City. He is neither a true god nor capable of saving everyone. All residents of Changsheng City are urged to stay away from this suspicious person, have faith in the High Priest, and believe that the High Priest can lead everyone to persevere. Be sure to stay away from those who will bring disaster to Changsheng City!"
After speaking, the other person glanced at Ye Tianxuan.
The crowd gathered below was stunned for a long time, their faces full of disbelief. They had watched with their own eyes as that person measured an infinite lifespan, just like the god of yesteryear!
How did he become a liar?
"Really? Is it a scam?" someone asked skeptically.
Another person immediately retorted, "The High Priest has confirmed it, so it must be true. We have to trust the High Priest!"
"But...but I saw his test results with my own eyes before. Is he...is he really not a god who came to save us?"
The expectations and enthusiasm in everyone's eyes have all dissipated, leaving some feeling disappointed.
Meeting everyone's gaze, Ye Tianxuan calmly reached out and snatched the megaphone from the person next to him. Just as the person was about to get angry, he kicked him down and then loudly proclaimed, "Everyone, I reiterate, I am indeed not your God of Immortality."
"But I come from another world, and my purpose in coming here is to give those who want to live a new life."
"You can choose not to regard me as a god, or you can regard me as someone who has come to extend a helping hand to you."
"As human beings, I want to ask you," his blue eyes shone brightly and clearly against the incredibly gloomy sky of Changsheng City as he gazed at the crowd, "Do you really want to die here?"