Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

In later ages of The East, there once was such a tale.

In the vast land of the Red Countenances, after the first empire that unified the domain post the period of feudal chaos crumbled, mortals aspiring to the supreme position rose up against one another, with regional lords vying for control.

They wrought bloodshed upon the Mortal Realm, with countless ingenious strategies and distinguished individuals emerging abruptly, yet contrary to many people’s expectations, the one who ultimately became the new ruler of the world was a minor official from a small town.

However, when looking back at history, this was actually not very surprising, after all, slaves can become generals, beggars can split the land and proclaim themselves emperors; this shows that a person’s achievements are related to their birth, but not absolutely so.

In any case, this old troublemaker who was no longer young when he started out ultimately succeeded in unifying the lands and ascended to the highest position among mortals.

But it’s easier to conquer the world than to defend it. Not only did he have to contend with all kinds of political intrigue but the seasoned warrior also shockingly discovered that many of his brothers-in-arms, who had fought for the world alongside him and who were not from noble or affluent backgrounds, were more like butchers and dog-killers.

Incidents of drinking nectar and brawling in court, drawing swords and striking pillars, continued unabated, leaving him deeply frustrated.

Life was like this before he became the emperor, and it continued to be so after he assumed the throne. Had he become the emperor in vain? Fortunately, at this time, an official in charge of rituals and music from the previous dynasty, who had pledged allegiance to him early on, emerged from who knows where.

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After some maneuvering, he successfully convinced the emperor and took the lead in creating a set of rituals that emphasized the grandeur and dignity of the ruler—probably by making some modifications to the framework of the previous dynasty.

And when these rituals were carried out for the first time, the old troublemaker was greatly shocked. Observing the orderly ministers and guards moving about in accordance with the ritual protocols, he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Only today do I realize the honor of being an emperor."

Whether this rumor is true or whether such words have indeed ever been spoken, later generations do not actually know. But if Zeus had the opportunity to hear this story, he would certainly consider the old man a kindred spirit, for at this very moment, he was thinking the same.

Ever since his early ascension, the Divine King had not spent a day without worrying about his future.

The shock he received from the power of the Primordial Gods during the change of eras never faded, keeping him from ever feeling at ease. It wasn’t until he also mastered that power that a string in his heart seemed to loosen, and Zeus finally felt a sense of relief.

Even though he was still outwitted by Erebus shortly afterward, the initial shock and anger gave way to a clearer understanding of the situation.

The Lord of Darkness had not acted personally but had instead borrowed power that did not belong to him. This understandably made Zeus wary, but it also proved something.

Just as he, as the Divine King, was not entirely free to act as he pleased, perhaps the Primordial Deities also could not intervene at will in the material world. If that was the case, then a lot of things made sense.

"I’m starting to understand, Zephyrus," he said.

Walking out from the depths of the island, the Divine King was draped in a wide cloak.

The sound of the West Wind rustled the cloak, and the God of West Wind showed no surprise at the sight. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"It seems you’ve discovered some mystery that only the Divine King can grasp," Zephyrus said, his voice respectful.

"Hahaha... Yes, Zephyrus. At least this time, it truly is something only the Divine King can comprehend," Zeus replied, shaking his head and in good humor.

"I’m slowly understanding why my grandfather was so brutal to the Titans, and under what circumstances the previous generation of deities chose to create humans."

"They didn’t know what faith was back then... but I guess they must have thought something like this:"

Admiring the beauty of the sunrise, Zeus spoke in a strange tone:

"’Only today do I understand the honor of being a deity.’ Those Titan gods might not have said it out loud, but that’s probably what they were thinking."

"To behold a world of deities everywhere would make gods seem ordinary. Only through comparison can one find joy, and without mortals, this joy would undoubtedly be reduced. With this in mind, the gods created the Golden Humanity—a very rare event that nearly all deities participated in."

"...Yes, Your Majesty, you always see what others cannot, striking at the very Origin of things," Zephyrus spoke softly, also glancing out to sea.

While Zeus admired the rising sun, Zephyrus thought of another god who was still trapped and suffering for his actions at the bottom of the sea, tormented day and night by the East Sea.

His reasons for creating humanity were probably not just for a sense of superiority over mortals... but now he can only be locked beneath the sea’s eye, suffering the East Sea’s torture.

"It is said that Iapetus, the former God of Speech, also once supported the creation of humanity, and he was indeed one of the earliest supporters, yet his power was the weakest among the Titans," Zeus continued.

"But you are different, Your Majesty. The weak can only produce ideas, while the strong can bring them to fruition. Iapetus and his progeny created the silver and the bronze generations, but only you are the true master of this world."

This time, Zephyrus’s words contained a hint of sincerity, which was also the reason for his pursuit of power. And in front of him, listening to the flattery of the God of West Wind, Zeus once again laughed heartily.

"Hahaha... That’s what I like about you, Zephyrus. Even though I know you are flattering me, I just love to hear it."