At that moment, Xia Chuan, who was residing on Xuanhuangxing, suddenly heard a series of notifications resounding in his mind.
"Ding Dong, your followers have sacrificed a manual, Qiqiao Locking Heart Sword."
"Ding Dong, your followers have sacrificed a manual, Three Lights and Wonders."
"Ding Dong, your followers have sacrificed a manual, Esoteric Handprint."
…
A flood of knowledge surged forth, pouring into the Book of Wisdom and inscribing itself upon its pages. The book, already a repository of endless knowledge, seemed to glow with renewed vitality as it absorbed the essence of the Thunder Kingdom's treasures.
In an instant, the collective wisdom of the entire Thunder Kingdom was cataloged within the Book of Wisdom, every secret and technique now fully recorded.
"Magnificent," the Book of Wisdom hummed with excitement, its voice filled with satisfaction. For it, knowledge was sustenance, a source of infinite growth and evolution. The influx of wisdom was like a feast, nourishing and expanding its potential.
It reflected on the past masters it had served. None had ever amassed such an overwhelming collection of knowledge. The book could feel its power growing exponentially, the very fabric of its existence becoming denser. Its pages multiplied, each inscribed with invaluable insights, techniques, and mysteries.
Xia Chuan's gaze softened as he observed the changes. "Not bad," he murmured, clearly pleased. The sacrifices offered by his followers had granted him a deeper understanding of transcendence, bringing him one step closer to entering the transcendent realm.
Turning his focus inward, he extended his voice along the threads of faith connecting him to his followers. "I am greatly pleased with your sacrifices. Tell me, what is it that you desire?"
His voice echoed in the spiritual consciousness of Li Xiao and the others, brimming with divine authority and assurance.
Xia Chuan knew well that rewards were essential. To nurture devotion, he needed to fulfill their desires, ensuring their loyalty and fervor grew stronger. Believers who were satisfied in their faith would strive even harder to bring him treasures and offerings.
If, like Grandet, there was only intake and no output, no matter how devoted the followers were, they would eventually lose faith and leave.
…
At that moment, Li Xiao and the others, who stood solemnly at the altar, heard Xia Chuan's divine voice reverberate through their minds. A wave of ecstasy rippled through them, their expressions alight with fervent excitement.
"The Lord God has spoken! The Lord God has answered us!"
"The gods are pleased! Our sacrifices were not in vain!"
"To hear the voice of the Primordial God once more—it is an honor beyond measure!"
"Every time I hear the Lord's voice, it fills my heart with boundless joy and satisfaction."
Despite having heard the voice of their deity before, the experience never lost its awe. To hear the divine once was a privilege; to hear it repeatedly was a blessing of unimaginable proportions.
But as the initial surge of excitement subsided, a pressing question loomed in their minds.
"The Lord God has offered to fulfill one wish. What should we ask for?"
The weight of the decision settled upon them. A single wish carried immense importance. To ask for too much might offend the deity and invite divine wrath. But to ask for too little would be a waste of their painstaking offerings.
"Why not wish for a mountain of divine rice?" someone suggested.
He recalled the last time the Lord God had bestowed sacred rice upon them. Each grain, massive as a stone, held a taste that lingered in their memories, unmatched by any mortal delicacy. Sadly, after three or four years, the sacred rice had been consumed entirely.
"Foolishness," another objected. "To squander this rare opportunity on something as trivial as food? Tang no longer struggles with famine. Sacred rice may be precious, but it is not our most pressing need."
As the debate grew, Li Xiao raised his hand, his expression calm yet resolute.
"I already know what we should ask for," he declared.
The gathered ministers fell silent, their attention fixed on him. For weeks, similar discussions had been held in hushed tones. Everyone understood the gravity of a wish; none dared to approach the altar unprepared. Li Xiao, as their ruler, had naturally considered the matter deeply.
"Your Majesty, as expected, you've already decided."
"But what is it?"
"Could it be… immortality?"
"Impossible! That would be too audacious, risking the ire of the gods. His Majesty wouldn't be so reckless."
Speculation filled the air, but Li Xiao's voice cut through it with clarity and purpose.
"My Lord God," he began, his tone solemn and reverent. "As you know, the Kingdom of Tang has annexed the Kingdom of Thunder, expanding our territory many times over. Yet this rapid growth has left us struggling to govern such an immense empire. I beseech you, O great one, to grant us the wisdom or the means to ensure this empire endures for generations to come."
His words resonated like a thunderclap.
The ministers exchanged glances, their admiration for Li Xiao deepening.
They knew the challenges they faced. History was littered with empires that had risen to great heights, only to crumble under the weight of their own expansion. Many disintegrated after the passing of their founding ruler, splintering into warring states.
But if the Lord God could bestow the secret to eternal governance, Tang could achieve what no empire had before—a legacy of unending strength and unity.
It was a wish of unparalleled foresight, one that could transform the fate of their nation.