Chapter Twelve: The Covenant of the Gods

After nine peals of thunder, a gentle drizzle began to fall from the sky. The city of the Qilin was shrouded in the fresh breeze and fine rain, imparting a unique sense of renewal and clarity.

Within the Temple of the God of Food, both Nanluo and the Fat One were lost in deep contemplation over the events that had just transpired. For a moment, silence reigned in the grand hall.

“Was what I saw just now an illusion, or a glimpse of the future?” Nanluo recalled himself seated upon the Twelve Imperial Violet Dragon Thrones, wielding the supreme authority to govern all beings. He could not help but feel a surge of joy in his heart.

For a being like Nanluo, an innate divine demon, what is illusion? What is the future? Surely Nanluo could distinguish between the two. The future is not fixed, liable to change at any moment. No immortal or god can fully grasp what is to come. Yet, the future is also ordained. If one follows the destined path of history, forging a great momentum, the future becomes inevitable.

Nanluo was convinced that, as long as he founded the Divine Clan and unified the primordial world, establishing an unstoppable trend, his future would be to rule over all. “I sought to create the Divine Clan for the sake of cultivation. Now, I must found the Divine Clan and pacify the primordial world. I will reign supreme!” Nanluo unconsciously clenched his fists, letting out a silent, wild roar within.

“Were the nine thunderbolts just now because Nanluo mentioned the Divine Clan?” The Fat One, God Demon of Food, gazed at the misty rain beyond the temple, his eyes narrowing even further. “And that awe-inspiring heavenly might!” He remembered how, under the majesty of the thunder, he had involuntarily bowed to Nanluo. Shame and anger surged within him, but he was also perplexed. “Could Nanluo be the one destined by Heaven?”

He stared intently at Nanluo, his eyes widening in astonishment, as if witnessing something unimaginable. Fear gripped his heart, and he could not help but cry out, “How can this be?!”

For a Fat One of innate divine demon status, even he could not remain composed before Nanluo at this moment.

Above Nanluo’s head, his fortune was manifested as a three-zhang-long golden canopy—a fortune befitting a primordial innate divine demon. Yet after the nine thunderbolts, Nanluo’s fortune transformed into a nine-zhang-long golden canopy. Though this nine-zhang canopy was somewhat ethereal, it was at least equal to a six-zhang golden canopy.

All beings of the primordial world possess their own fortune, from birth to death. Fortune is ranked from high to low in colors: purple, gold, green, black, red, and white. These correspond, from highest to lowest, to the five realms: Divine Lord, Divine Monarch, Divine King, Main God, True God, and Mortal Spirit. The shapes of fortune, from high to low, are: sacred throne, canopy, heavenly umbrella, earth pillar, and mortal thread. Fortune ranges in strength from one to nine zhang.

In the primordial world, billions of beings have mortal threads, millions have earth pillars, hundreds of thousands have heavenly umbrellas, and only one possesses a canopy—none possess a sacred throne. At present, the chiefs of great clans in the primordial world have no more than a six-zhang golden canopy. Yet Nanluo, alone, possessed a six-zhang golden canopy. How could other beings compare? How could those clan chiefs, who had battled for countless years, bear it?

It could be said that Nanluo had ascended in one leap. Whenever he wished, he could break through and become a Divine Monarch, dominating the primordial world.

If the nine thunderbolts and heavenly might had stirred the Fat One's heart, Nanluo’s nine-zhang golden canopy had completely won him over. Now, the Fat One had only one thought: to follow Nanluo! To cling to the mighty leg of the Divine Clan!

Nanluo, observing the Fat One’s astonished gaze, exaggerated expression, and wild shouting, wondered at himself, and was in turn stunned by his own nine-zhang golden canopy. The thunderbolts had revealed Nanluo’s fortune to the world.

“How can this be?” Nanluo widened his golden eyes, staring at the nine-zhang golden canopy above him, and became momentarily lost.

Just then, the Fat One rushed up, suddenly embracing Nanluo, and shouted excitedly, “From now on, I’ll follow you, Boss!”

Nanluo, startled, quickly pushed the Fat One away, holding him at arm’s length, and looked at him with sincerity, laughing heartily, “No problem! From now on, we are brothers—through life and death, sharing glory!”

“Thank you, Big Brother!” The Fat One clasped his hands in gratitude.

With a bow and thanks, their lord-and-retainer bond was sealed.

The melodious divine music sounded once more in Room 9527. Countless graceful divine maidens carried jade trays and entered the room again. Hundreds of rare divine dishes were placed before Nanluo and the Fat One, after which the Fat One dismissed the music gods and maidens.

“Congratulations, Big Brother, on receiving Heaven’s mandate. From now on, nothing can stand in your way!” The Fat One raised his wine cup to toast Nanluo, who now naturally sat in the chief position, while the Fat One took the lower seat with tacit understanding.

Both Nanluo and the Fat One knew in their hearts—having established their roles as lord and retainer, they ought to observe the proper rites.

After a few rounds of drinks, Nanluo brought up the topic he had mentioned at the start. “Fat One, I wish to found the Divine Clan and pacify the primordial world, but I lack helpers. I hope to enlist the aid of the princes of the Alliance of Gods. Can you contact them?”

Nanluo’s eyes burned with sincerity as he asked the Fat One.

At the dawn of the primordial world, countless innate divine demons were born. These were known as “Primeval Divine Demons.” As the first to arise in the cosmos, they were supreme, noble, and mighty. The beings of the primordial world envied the Primeval Divine Demons, longing to replace them.

Thus began a long, bloody slaughter. Countless weaker Primeval Divine Demons were hunted down. Especially after it was discovered that devouring a Primeval Divine Demon could lead to breakthrough, not only did other creatures hunt them, but powerful Primeval Divine Demons began to prey on the weaker ones.

Under such circumstances, Nanluo, the Fat One, and their kind formed the Alliance of Gods for mutual protection. The Alliance only accepted Primeval Divine Demons, offering them sanctuary. Nanluo and the Fat One were among its founding gods.

However, as the cultivation of the gods within the Alliance advanced, it gradually became fragmented. By now, Nanluo knew only the whereabouts of the Fat One, not the other Primeval Divine Demons.

Suddenly, the Devouring God Ring on the Fat One’s left middle finger glowed, projecting twelve figures radiating powerful, noble, and ancient auras.

“Big Brother, take a look. The Alliance of Gods has endured many rises and falls—now, only fourteen Primeval Divine Demons remain. Besides you and me, there are twelve others,” the Fat One explained, pointing at the figures.

“The Goddess of Fate, Miaoyan,” a regal goddess holding a divine staff, emanating an aura of absolute control.

“The God of Slaughter, Yuanlu,” a blood-hued figure wielding a blood blade, exuding pure, ultimate killing intent.

“The God of Earth, Buxu,” a yellow figure holding the earth scepter, radiating the power to subdue the heavens.

“The God of Light, Baihua,” a white figure with the wheel of light, shining with dazzling brilliance.

“The God of Darkness, Heian,” a black figure holding the wheel of darkness, radiating pure, ultimate darkness.

“The God of Creation, Jehovah,” a golden figure holding the Book of Genesis, showing compassion for all things.

“The God of Order, Tianjun,” a golden figure holding the scales of judgment, upholding the order of heaven and earth.

“The God of Time, Nigu,” a gray figure holding the Tower of Time, as if existing beyond this space and time.

“The God of Thunder, Leixing,” a violet figure wielding the hammer of heavenly thunder, surrounded by arcs of purple lightning.

“The God of Literature, Fangyan,” a white figure holding the pen of all beings, radiating wisdom.

“The God of Martial Arts, Wupotian,” a red figure with a martial spear, emanating the aura of war against heaven, earth, and all beings.

“The God of Dreams, Huanhun,” a phantom-like figure, as if everything were a dream.

All the major supporting characters requested by the readers have now appeared. Click, recommend, and collect—wherever you please.