Chapter 2812: Overthrowing Everything

Will the trial only end when we''re all dead?

But what if the trial remains uncleared even after I close my eyes and pass away? That would spell all our deaths.

Zu An’s unease deepened at that thought.

No, I must recall what I've overlooked. Otherwise, the decades we've spent planning everything out would have been in vain.

He thought about his encounter with the Deity of Death, as well as everything that had happened after they entered the trial. Not a single challenger had cleared this trial to date, and he didn’t think he was smarter than the powerhouses of the Myriad Worlds.

Granted that he had a huge advantage, knowing the trial world’s background, there was no guarantee that his interpretation of the trial was accurate.

Above all, he still had no idea how the other universal deities had tampered with this world.

Memories flashed across his head before finally settling on the duel with the Mongolian Prince Zhenjin on the mountain behind Chongyang Palace. He had finally figured out what was amiss.

The timeline is wrong!

It’s one thing for us to encounter Daoist Bai Sun and the Master of the Vajra School, but why did the Red Sun Reverend appear in this world as well? Not only is he not a character in Jin Yong’s wuxiaverse, but the timeline doesn’t fit as well.

The Red Sun Reverend is a powerhouse who appeared in the final years of the Yuan Dynasty, so how could he have been Prince Zhenjin’s vassal? Heck, the Yuan Dynasty wasn't even formed then!

There’s also that white-haired man with the flute and that seductive woman. They should be ‘White Hair’ and ‘Ravishing Beauty’ from Huang Yi’s novel. Those are characters who appear in the final years of the Yuan Dynasty as well!

Their appearance here suggests that this world’s timeline has been plunged into chaos.

My solution assumed that this world would follow the normal timeline. If the other universal deities hadn’t tampered with the trial world, it would have been the right answer. But if other universal deities have truly tampered with things here, it won’t be surprising if we fail this trial.

That must have been that being’s doing—the Deity of Chaos and Enigma Mi Li!

She must have tampered with this trial world because she doesn’t want someone to inherit Death’s legacy. She did it so discreetly that there would be no way for one to realize that something was amiss unless one was familiar with its background.

The Deity of Annihilation probably tampered with the Mongols. Their act of killing and plundering is perfectly aligned with the deity's beliefs. With the Mongols strengthened by Annihilation's divine power, Zhang Wuji and Zhu Yuanzhang won’t be able to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty like they did in ‘Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber’.

I wonder how the other universal deities tampered with this trial world...

It’s a pity I discovered it too late. I’m already on my last legs. What else can I do?

Zu An’s eyes, which had grown turbid with age, suddenly regained their clarity.

No, there’s still time. I can still do something about it. I have the perfect tool for that. I am the envoy of not just the Deity of Chaos and Enigma, but the Deity of Memory as well!

Since the other universal deities were able to tamper with this trial world, it stands to reason that I can tap into their powers here as well.

Along with this realization, a mysterious surge of power flowed into Zu An’s body, temporarily delaying his death. He took out the Spring Autumn Brush and the Time Annal.

Since this world is already in chaos, I might as well stir the pot more!

He activated his divine sense, and the Brush of Spring and Autumn began furiously scribbling in the Time Annal.

“This is a world of distorted spacetime, where the Mongols, the Jin, the Qing, the Liao, Western Xia, Southern Song, Dali, the Tibetans, the Oirats, Tshongkha, the Karakhanids, the Persian Ming Cult, Goguryeo, Fusang... all simultaneously exist.

“It is primarily based on Jin Yong’s 14 novels...

“

Ouch! It hurts terribly! Song Qingshu slowly roused from his sleep, feeling as if all his bones had shattered...

“

In the end, Song Qingshu united all factions together to defeat the Mongols and rebuild his homeland...

”

“What should I call it? Under the Madam's... No, that won’t do. I’ll call it The Master Player instead!”[1]

This book’s content is even more chaotic than this trial world. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Chaos and Enigma.

This book records everything that happens here. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Memory.

This book stirs the desires of those who read it. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Bliss and Desire.

This book encourages a proclivity for reproduction. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Reproduction.

This book quells chaos to re-establish order. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Order.

This book records the annihilation of countless nations. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Annihilation.

This book describes beauty beyond measure. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Love and Beauty.

This book’s emperor displays a tenacious desire for longevity. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Longevity.

This book contains ingenious schemes and politicking. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Knowledge.

This book’s protagonist resolutely protects his loved ones and the Divine Continent. I shall offer this as tribute to the great Deity of Protection.

Last but not least, I shall offer the countless souls who have died in war in this book to the great Deity of Death!

...

Zu An had no idea which universal deities had participated in the crusade against the Deity of Death, so he showed his respect to all of them except for the Deity of Nebula. Considering how they had little interest in everything, it was unlikely that the Deity of Nebula would participate in the crusade against the Deity of Death anyway.

There’s nothing I can offer that would interest the Deity of Nebula anyway.

Several surges of divine light flowed into Zu An’s body. Everything began to collapse until the trial world was reduced to a single white dot.

Zu An found himself standing in the middle of a monotonously white world. His previously aged body had reverted to its youthful form, and he'd regained his supernatural powers as well.

The skull stairway appeared before his eyes once more.

“Come up!” a divine voice boomed.

Zu An slowly climbed the stairway a step at a time. He soon reached the end and was met with a pair of gigantic red eyes.

“You’re fated with death. I didn’t think those fellows would tamper with my trial. That explains why no one has been able to clear my trial in such a long time.” The Deity of Death was both infuriated and heartened. “Good. You were born to be the Deity of Death. Are you willing to inherit Death’s authority?”

“Where are my companions?” Zu An asked.

“They’re dead. They didn’t clear the trial.”

Zu An narrowed his eyes. “That’s not true. They played a crucial role in the completion of the trial. I couldn’t have cleared this trial without their assistance. Going by the rules you set, they should be qualified to inherit Death’s authority as well.”

The Deity of Death coldly replied, “Only one person can inherit Death’s authority.”

“Do you truly believe I’d be able to inherit Death’s authority?”

“What do you mean?”

“The universal deities tampered with your trial because they don’t want to see a new Deity of Death. I might have cleared your trial, but my actions must have drawn their attention. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them are listening in on our conversation.”

“...” A long while later, the Deity of Death said with a resigned tone, “I have lost too much of my powers to tell if they are watching us or not, but your words make sense.”

Zu An finally continued, “Entrusting Death’s authority to a single person is no different from a child carrying gold into a busy market—it’ll only lead to death. You might as well split Death’s authority into multiple pieces and entrust them to those who have contributed to the clearance of the trial.

“That would allow Death’s authority to be passed down. At the same time, the other universal deities would view the situation more favorably, as it would ensure that Death’s authority remained under their surveillance, since my companions are worshipers of other universal deities.”

The Deity of Death was silent for a long while. “This means Death’s authority might never become whole ever again. There might never be another Deity of Death.”

“At least hope will be preserved.” Zu An smiled. “I don’t think you have the strength to protect me from the other universal deities in your current state.”

1. This is a webnovel on Qidian. Its original name was Under the Madam's Skirt, then it was later renamed to The Master Player. ☜