Chapter 1763
Chapter 1763 - 1759: The Reward of Loyalty
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Compared to back then, Lu Ping’an, now reverted to his juvenile state, had undergone significant changes.
Yet, in the eyes of the attending big shots, he was still him... Their greater curiosity lay in Chris’s current state. As the conversation unfolded, someone even raised a possibility.
"Twin Gods..."
These words caused an immediate stir among the big shots present, even leaving Lu Ping’an momentarily stunned.
But truth be told, it might just be the case.
Sharing similar origins and closely connected in many aspects, potentially walking the same path, yet being entirely distinct entities.
This wasn’t simply a matter of one plus one equals two, but rather about two similarly originated individuals capable of "fusing" at the conceptual level. The operations include, but are not limited to, "becoming each other’s mirror (Moon God)," "resonant fusion," and "mutual spatial guidance."
The Moon God’s path boasts an array of twin-related abilities, and this kind of mutually constraining "entangled relationship" holds a major advantage—preventing either side from straying down a wrong path... Ordinary extraordinaries might go to extremes along their chosen path, but twins often validate each other, embarking on a steadier journey, going further. If one side veers into the extreme, it can attempt to pull the other back.
It’s like looking into a mirror. Many professionals only realize something is amiss when they’ve ventured to the point of no return, misled by the newfound powers themselves... Having a continuously validating "counterpart" reduces this possibility significantly.
However, it’s rare for top-level extraordinaries to follow the same path; only those with matching talents or even similar genetic traits—"twins"—are more likely to develop such relationships, hence the term Twin Gods.
This is why, despite the kitten perched on Lu Ping’an’s head, he has become an object of envy among the big shots.
Still, this remains merely a minor interlude.
"...The Religious Affairs Department of Eastern Country has proposed several measures based on current circumstances, the first being to replenish the proper gods’ ranks..."
Lu Ping’an’s urgent summons to Wanjing naturally concerned significant matters.
Though the war was ongoing and expected to last a long time, everyone knew the outcome was already determined. It was now time to deal with the post-war aftermath.
After a hard-won victory, countless individuals and forces had given their all; some were thoroughly battered, fragmented, collapsed.
If issues like post-war compensation, spoils distribution, merit rewards, and traitor handling weren’t properly addressed, the warriors’ dissatisfaction could lead to severe consequences—ranging from widespread apathy in the next plane war to outright rebellion or defection among factions.
Some matters had to be discussed privately before being publicly announced.
"...Everyone knows the proper gods’ numbers peaked at around 150, but now we’re down to only 65. Wanjing’s stance is to first increase that number to 99."
Evidently, for the various forces in Eastern Country, the allocation of proper god positions was the primary focus.
It wasn’t even about territorial dominance; a separate development area, easily granted operational traits, as long as the operator demonstrated sufficient intelligence, could ensure a considerable standing within the nation.
"Only 65 left? So many have perished?" Lu Ping’an expressed surprise. Even though he knew the Xingtian Evil Beast had killed a significant number of deities, proper gods were typically the strongest among deities—not necessarily frontline combatants—and even if they were, their survival rate should still have been higher.
"The missing positions aren’t primarily due to battlefield deaths but a mix of other reasons. Once the Foreign Domain reconnection resumed, some fled outright, others vanished mid-combat with unresolved cases after post-war assessments, and the two-faced who defected to the enemy side..."
The Land of Ten Thousand Gods, originally Earth, suffered significant losses not just in deities but also in World’s Reason connected to it.
If they hadn’t consumed portions of the God Above Gods to compensate for the losses, the entire world might have plunged into a period of decline and instability... A weakened World Rules naturally invites greater contamination and erosion, hastening subsequent plane wars.
Many worlds weren’t as unfortunate as Earth, facing the God Above Gods in their first plane war and successfully enduring the first few encounters.
But as conflicts escalated, coupled with the losses and defections of their respective deities, those worlds gradually couldn’t withstand the invasions.
Eastern Country’s proper gods operated under a registration system—official recognition granting freedom to act and operational rights within the nation’s borders.
The number of deities remained substantial, yet Eastern Country seemed intent on exploiting the opportunity for a comprehensive purge... Those whose loyalties wavered, or who contributed little, would naturally be eliminated. Their positions would serve as rewards for the meritorious.
𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
And now, it might truly be the so-called "time to divide the spoils."
Those present were largely contributors, comprising idle quasi-gods and top combat power under proper gods, their shared trait being their unwavering loyalty during the war.
To tackle the conflict, proper god positions had been expanded several times during the battle. Yet, post-war calculations revealed fewer than half the previous numbers.
"You can submit application reports. If quasi-gods wish to ascend as proper gods on home soil, we can provide support and assistance across all fronts..."
The speaker glanced at Lu Ping’an as they spoke, possibly hinting at the "younger generation" he represented.
But Lu Ping’an merely shook his head; he had no interest in godhood, even a chance to become a proper god.
Still, it didn’t mean he couldn’t vie for it...
"How about advocating for the God of Redemption?"
After some consideration, Lu Ping’an penned an application report.
Though the God of Redemption (Brother Guan) was weak, his loyalty was unquestionable. Coupled with the merits Lu Ping’an had achieved, his strong recommendation, and the massive personnel gap in this first wave, there was indeed a chance for him to ascend as a proper god.
This time, the process didn’t involve the prolonged ritual of submitting an application, holding numerous meetings, juggling responses over months, and looping in administrative cycles before final approval.
Things moved quickly and urgently; Eastern Country needed revival, public morale required stabilization, and proper gods had to be onboarded... Even foundational professions ensuring entry-level professionals’ safety relied on gods deemed trustworthy—not ones that would lead their adherents astray.
Wanjing’s stance was to announce a nearly complete list of close to a hundred names, ensuring public reassurance.
. Thus, reports and lists were generated during local meetings, swiftly deliberated, calculated, and decided upon by Wanjing’s side, either approved or rejected in short order.
"Seems like Old Guan won’t make it..."
The silence following Lu Ping’an’s report submission for half a day was unusual. Meanwhile, the confirmations racked up with names of veteran god figures far superior to him.
"Approved?! Is this for real..."
Lu Ping’an had underestimated his "importance," as his endorsement alone secured Guan Xinxian’s application for proper godhood.
On one hand, Guan Xinxian’s loyalty, seen in his abandonment of Mercury’s development for wartime participation, was deemed excessive. On the other hand, Lu Ping’an’s influence played a decisive role... In a sense, this was Lu Ping’an’s "allocated spot."
But with the approval, the real challenges had just begun... Guan Xinxian’s Church currently consisted of only a handful of followers; meeting the requirements for an independent region under proper god forces demanded much more supplementation.
"At least, it’s a happy sort of trouble."
— End of Chapter 1763 —